Witty, action-packed, and surprisingly poignant, Kelly McCullough’s Spirits, Spells, and Snark is a breathless go-kart race of a novel, likely to delight readers of Rick Riordan or Roshani Chokshi.

I think I enjoyed this book even more than the first. We learned more about the system of magic, and it seemed like Kalvan really grew as a person. Some of the secondary characters were developed a little more, as well. I appreciated the author's treatment of mental illness and the effect it can have others while still remaining respectful. There is a bit of language so I don't think I'll be adding this book to my elementary collection, but I think it could be a strong addition to middle school if you're looking for fantasy.