Review: Spellbound by Avery Carter

I received an advanced review copy of this book for free via Reedsy Discovery. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.

Pages: 218

Synopsis

Emily Carlisle was never the main character of her own story. Known only as the Witch of the Stacks, she helped any hero or heroine who asked. Potions, spells, and the occasional magical artifact were passed on. She never kept the power for herself, and never wanted to be anything more than a support character. That is, until the Rot began to spread throughout her library. No one knows where it came from or what triggered it. They only know it consumes everything in its path, and it has set its sights on her books.

Suddenly, Emily is thrust into the role of heroine, with only her faithful betta fish, Orpheus, and reluctant Heroine Ozioma Monroe, by her side. She must use all of the tricks at her disposal to reach the heart of her magical library and stop the Rot from taking away the only home she has ever known.

My Thoughts…

This review was originally published on Reedsy Discovery.

Emily Carlisle is a Witch of the Stack, tasked with taking care of the most powerful magical library in existence and assisting heroes and heroines on their quests with the help of Orpheus, her betta fish Companion. Her daily life goes by peacefully between a magic potion and a spell, until a mysterious Rot starts destroying her library – and everything she holds dear. Having reluctantly enlisted powerful heroine Ozioma Monroe to help her fight the Rot, Emily is suddenly forced to stop assisting and start leading her own adventure, or it might be the last thing any of them do.

Spellbound is a deeply charming and engaging novel brimming with magic and presenting a cast of endearing characters. It is impossible not to root for Emily as she fights hard to save her home, and it is easy to connect with her as her past is slowly revealed. Emily’s relationships with her fish, Orpheus, and with heroine Ozioma are also great, with the banter providing several light-hearted moments while maintaining the dialogue feeling natural. The deep bond between the witch, the heroine, and their companions was also deeply touching, and it is clear that great care and tenderness went into drafting it.

As most of the action takes place within the magical library, the worldbuilding is pretty clear and easy to follow. At times, though, references were made to other locations that seemed set partly in a fantasy world and partly in the real world, which became slightly confusing and left the status of the world outside the library unclear. The magic system was explained very well and used consistently throughout, and it was a delight to travel with Emily within the Stacks and discover what the next level held in store. The Stacks themselves are described vividly, and it is almost possible to see them while reading!

The novel is well-paced, even though the ending felt slightly rushed and could have probably used a bit more breathing space to bring everything to a close comfortably. There was at times some confusion around the protagonists’ ages, as in a couple of sections it is mentioned they are seventeen but the way they talk about their life experiences and how they interact made them come across as much older than that. It is not a big issue in itself but sometimes felt rather jarring.

This is mostly a cosy read with some elements of adventure and danger, and as such would perfectly suit a young adult audience as well as some older adults looking for a light, fun and heartwarming read.