Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Spellcaster

Review Time! Spellcaster is the second book in Cara Lynn Shultz's Spellbound series! I really enjoyed Spellbound which was a very note-worthy YA debut of 2011. When I first picked this up, I couldn't wait to read it! You can purchase a copy at Booktopia | Fishpond | The Nile | The Book Depository. Thanks to HarlequinTeen for the review copy!


(Goodreads) Finding your eternal soulmate - easy.

Stopping a true-love-hungry evil - not so much…


After breaking a centuries-old romantic curse, Emma Connor is (almost) glad to get back to normal problems. Although... it's not easy dealing with the jealous cliques and gossip that rule her exclusive Upper East Side prep -- even for a sixteen-year-old newbie witch. Having the most-wanted boy in school as her eternal soul mate sure helps ease the pain... especially since wealthy, rocker-hot Brendan Salinger is very good at staying irresistibly close…


But something dark and hungry is using Emma and Brendan's deepest fears to reveal damaging secrets and destroy their trust in each other. And Emma's crash course in überspells may not be enough to keep them safe...or to stop an inhuman force bent on making their unsuspected power its own.
The Short Story? - Spellcaster was a solid read with good writing, a strong romance and some pretty awesome characterisation. I can't say I enjoyed more than Spellbound ( which was amazing) but Spellcaster was good. I had some problems with the plot but overall, still one of the better sequels I've read. If you like witches, rich kids and sizzling romance than you should put this series on your radar!


The Long Story? -  I had this major issue with Spellcaster and that kind of nagged at me throughout the novel. I didn't like the plot. It was good but it left me deflated and unsatisfied after reading Spellbound! If I had to put my finger on it - I would say Shultz was trying to write a story that just wasn't there. The ending of Spellbound really didn't call for a sequel because it finished off nicely but when I heard there was going to be one I assumed that it would have the same antagonist and kind of link with the first novel. I didn't like how Shultz tried to create a new problem, a new villain and how she "tried" to drive a wedge between Emma and Brendan with the trust issues ( overdone in YA but hey, at least it's not a love triangle). In my opinion, the new direction that she took the series in was a little tacky. She created this beautiful story about a curse that separates these two reincarnated lovers and yet she insists on writing  plots that kind of degrade this age-old curse. I would have liked to see a more dramatic plot. However this is just my agenda because Spellcaster had action, romance, a plot ( even if I didn't really like it) and what more could you ask for in a novel right? Beautifully written as well.

The characterisation was one of the highlights of Spellcaster. I liked the character development, Shultz has really made Emma and Brendan better characters then they were in Spellbound Emma is definitely tougher, she can throw a hell of a punch yet Shultz has kept the easy-to-like personality. In parts I thought Shultz tried a little "too" hard to make Emma funny but overall Emma was still a brilliant character. Brendan has really turned over a new leaf. He's still absolutely hot but now he's got a gentlemanly side as well and I like that. The romance between the two is filled with chemistry and I loved the kissing scenes, I wish these two cool kids will never stop kissing!

In a nutshell, I think I might be crazy because I just went through Goodreads reviews and everyone else is RAVING about Spellcaster! Maybe I wasn't in the mood for a paranormal? I definitely liked Spellbound better but honestly Spellcaster wasn't all that mad. So I didn't completely agree on the plot but there were some very enjoyable parts ( especially the kissing scenes and the adorable "I love you" scenes), I'm keen to see where Shultz takes the third book because I'm hoping for a rebound read! Despite the plot, it's still one of the better books I've read this year! :D

What's it Worth? - Squeeze Into the Budget/ Hand Over the Paycheck


Badass Bookie xx

2 comments:

  1. I was really hoping that Spellcaster would just follow Angelique and my favorite parts were definitely from her point of view (especially as I'm not really a fan of Brendan either). Then it could have still been part of the same trilogy but expanded even more.

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  2. Is there going to be a third book?

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