💖💚🖤🪄 Spell Bound ARC Review 🪄🖤💚💖

Thank you so much to FT Lukens and netGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Spell Bound is a fantasy LGBTQIA+ romance set in a world where magic, hexes and curses exist. Rook has just graduated from high school and he is determined to get a job working for the best sorcerer in the city, but he doesn’t possess any magic himself. However, he’s hired on when he is able to fix the office technology, which doesn’t always play nicely with magic. When a cute delivery person comes by the office to drop off some cursed items, Rook is immediately taken with the grumpy yet adorable Sun

This was such a fun read! The grumpy sunshine dynamics between Rook and Sun are absolutely fantastic!! I loved their evolution from rivals to frenemies to friends to more! The Magic system was super unique and really interesting. I loved all the little magical touches, like self-cleaning floors (which I need in my house BTW!) 🤪

Overall this was a wonderful 4 star read for me - a super cute story of outcasts finding where they fit in! I would have loved to see more of Rook and Sun’s relationship after, but that’s a “me” issue because I’m greedy and I loved them so much…definitely not a book issue. Though there’s lots of tension and some on page kissing, there’s no smut - so one flame for spice!

If you love books with grumpy sunshine, rivals to lovers, unique magic systems and strong found family vibes - then definitely pick this one up!

This review will also be posted to Amazon upon publication.

Edison Rooker — Rook — seems to be your normal average teenager looking for a job until the real reason why he singled out Antonia’s shop is revealed. He doesn’t have any magic, and the closest he’s ever been to the magical community was when his grandmother was alive. After his grandmother’s passing, he created the Spell Binder, a device for detecting magic, to be able to regain access to the magical world. The problem: technically, the device is illegal; and the fact he has it, a non-magical person, makes it worse.

On the other hand, Sun is magical through and through. We meet them as Fable’s (Antonia’s rival) apprentice on their way to deliver a box of cursed items to Antonia’s shop to be “fixed”. If Rook needs the help of the Spell Binder to see the ley lines, Sun’s special ability allows him to see magic (in addition to being able to use / wield it).

In Spell Bound, the chapters switches between Rook’s and Sun’s point of view. Sometimes it’s of the same scene (like Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen), but most of the time the scene continues on.

One of the things I enjoyed while reading Spell Bound was how magic was incorporated in the story. Since one of the main characters isn’t magical, we got explanations on the differences between a jinx, a hex and a curse. We are also somewhat enlightened on what ley lines are and how they work. (I’m sure some of you are already familiar with what they are, I however am grateful for the quick lesson on the terms.) We were also shown on just how destructive magic can be in the hands of the wrong people.

Although the main thing I enjoyed about this book is the wholesome slow burn between Rook and Sun. I liked the banter, the mutual respect on each other’s boundaries, and the chemistry between these two characters to a point I couldn’t wait to see if they will ever get together.

"Sun. Sun. Sun, who made me giddy, quite frankly. Who stopped me in my tracks with their quick wit and wry smile and who was genuinely funny once you were able to get past their wall of defensive sourness. Sun, who had a cute nose and pretty eyes and sometimes wore earrings and other times a ball cap and other times huge hoodies and other times loose shirts, but always wore jeans. Sun who was prickly and vulnerable at the same time, who wanted to follow the rules because they were comforting, who took a chance and became my friend.

And despite Antonia’s intense gaze, the lump in my throat, and the fear pooling in my veins, the thought of Sun still made butterflies dance in my stomach, sparklers set off in my chest, and candy dance on my tongue."

If there was one thing I needed more of, it would be more information on why the Magical Consortium decided to keep non-magical folks from accessing magic. What could’ve happened? Was there some sort of argument in the olden days? Did a non-magical person break a magical law or treaty? Or could it simply be a case of they just don’t want to, period?

Overall, I liked this book and would definitely read it again. This is my first F.T. Lukens book and I’m looking forward to reading more of their work. I also would love to see of a possibility of a Spell Bound sequel because I need to see the Consortium (and their rules) taken down. Ha!

Imagine growing up in the magical community, only to be kicked out the day your grandma dies because you don’t have any magical ability.

For Edison Rooker, he doesn’t have to imagine. But that’s okay, because he has a plan: he’s gonna get an internship with Antonia Hex and secretly work on a device that lets him see magic until he can force himself into the magical world.

One of the very first things I enjoyed about this book was the characters and how quickly I could come to care for them. Rook immediately falling on his face at the beginning of the story had me intrigued about his character and really sucked me into wanting to learn more, while Antonia’s ability to break every single piece of technology she comes across made her seem more like a person and less like the intimidating boss Rook should probably be afraid of. Fable and Sun, a sorcerer and apprentice duo that gets introduced early on as well, were an interesting foil to Antonia and Rook, as the assumption that they are a more “experienced” pair gets immediately shattered when Sun drops a box and unleashes a bunch of cursed items from their containment.

I also liked the relationship between Rook and Sun, who are immediately interested in each other but have to put that to the side to focus on their “rivalry.” Their grumpy and sunshine dynamic was really fun to see throughout the book, and I really enjoyed seeing how much they supported each other despite being “rivals.”

It’s easy to tell through some of the examples I’ve already wrote that this book isn’t afraid to be silly at times, but one of my favorite parts of the writing was the running gags. The first few times a running gag pops up (such as “You.” “Me.” or “Hex-A-Gone is a terrible name”), the humor is there, of course, but closer to the end of the book, these running gags feel much more comforting and help build a sense that everything is going to be okay despite the conflict going on.

I will say, however, that I was not a fan of just how far I had to get into the story before I felt like I had gotten past the basics. I’ve found that 25% of the way through a book is generally when the details that have been talked about in the description have been laid out and we begin getting into the main meat of the story, but in Spell Bound, I didn’t feel like we were getting into the “main part” of the story until 57%! This makes the beginning drag on and feel a little worthless, like the details don’t matter because we “haven’t actually started the plot yet”, and definitely left me wondering when we were going to get to the good part!

Still, I really enjoyed seeing Rook and Sun’s adventure throughout this book, and I definitely recommend picking this up!

Spell Bound was pure joy to read. F. T. Lukens knows exactly how to capture the feeling of having a crush, that sparkly, magical, butterfly-inducing first stage of a relationship, so vividly it jumps off the pages. Rook & Sun are perfectly matched and have such a great dynamic, and I loved the care and thought that the author put into all of the small details that make them perfect for each other.

I do think that this novel is an improvement from the author's last release, So This is Ever After, in several significant ways. But it also has some of the same pitfalls. The worldbuilding is very thin and easy to poke holes in if the reader starts asking questions. The plot is paced a bit oddly (if not necessarily badly.) The primary conflict wraps up way too quickly and conveniently in the end. There's also a major reveal around the 80% mark that I didn't care for at all, as I felt like it really undermined the message and made the worldbuilding even more confusing. (Seriously, what IS magical aptitude in this world? Like what does it actually mean? What is the test... testing?)

I don't say this often, but I actually think this book could have been longer. I would have been glad of a little more of a deep dive into the world, the magical community, and some themes the author presents that I felt they didn't get a chance to fully flesh out.

All things considered, I would still highly recommend this book to anyone looking for something cozy, funny, & romantic.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Edison Rooker is feeling adrift after his grandmother dies and he is cut off from the magical community. He seeks out the most notorious curse-breaker in the city to ask for a job, but he doesn’t know how much his life is about to change.

I loved this sweet novel! I have read two other books by this author, and I think this one is my favorite. I found these characters and this story so endearing. The world-building and magic system were presented seamlessly, kind of magical realism woven into a recognizable world. The romance was a really cute grumpy-sunshine situation, and shout out for the non-binary main character representation. Pick this up if you like magic, found family, and first love!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I feel conflicted about my rating for this book, as I know that I’m not truly the demographic for this story (and yet I asked for the ARC, I know I know…) and my reservations come from the story and plot style just not being the right fit for me rather than it being poorly done.

This feels skewed to the younger end of YA, and the magic system is just not robust enough as I typically like in my fantasy. Spells are “thrown” out and the correlation between seeing ley lines and actually casting magic feels shaky. The magical government is VERY focused on the fact that you must be able to see the lines in order to use them, despite having secret evidence that this isn’t necessary, and not ever going into details about why they feel the need to restrict access to spell casters whose only shortcoming is not being able to see the lines but I suppose that’s governmental oppression for you. The “buck systems of oppression” message is actually great and gives you a cause to root for. But the magic is described as sparkly butterflies and popping candy and while sweet, many of the details can start to feel a bit twee.

BUT. Sweet, gentle stories featuring LGBTQIAP+ characters and multiple trans characters are so necessary and this story deserves to be read by so many people who yearn for magic that accepts instead of excludes people and audiences. While I like my magic a bit darker and more complex, this is a lovely story that young and older readers alike can enjoy and celebrate.

F.T. Lukens books are just always a delight. This one feels a little more serious than past works by Lukens, but it's still light hearted I really appreciate the conversation about being treated as dangerous because you're different and I think it will resonate with a lot of teens - especially with all of the anti-trans, anti-LGBTQIA+ bills happening around the country. I also really love the found family element.

Spell Bound is a fun, entertaining romp through a magical universe with an evil bureaucracy hoarding the magic for themselves. If you want an opposite of a chosen one story with a cast of entertaining characters, this one's for you. And if you want some fun, queer, trans magic so you can avoid the work of a certain real life witch, this is a great one!

This is a story about finding your place in your world.  Edison Rooker grew up with a magical grandmother.  When his grandmother passed away, it was determined by the omnipresent Magical Consortium that Edison was not at all magical, and he was forced to move to part of town without magic.  So he is hesitant to approach Antonia Hex, the powerful sorceress who runs a business responding to magical emergencies.  He is hoping she'll give him a job, so he can continue work on the not exactly legal tool he has invented, called the Spell Binder, which will allow a non-magical person to access the magical world.

At first, Anontina seems skeptical, but she eventually agrees to take him on as an office manager and even gives him a nickname, Rook.  Rook is determined to earn Antonia's confidence, even as he tries to keep his work on the Spell Binder hidden.  Soon, Antonia is allowing him to accompany her to projects in the field, where they keep running across Antonia's rival, Fable, and his apprentice, Sun.  Despite their name, Sun is perpetually grumpy -- but Rook finds himself looking forward to their encounters and hoping they can become friends ... or more.  

Then, the Consortium learns of Rook's Spell Binder, and they come after Antonia, who they have long had problems with.  Rook seeks out the only other magical person he knows, Sun.  It turns out that Fable has also been attacked.  So the two team up to rescue their mentors, and for Rook to save the only community he has left.  But are these two rookies any match for the Consortium?

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel!  I am a big fan of the author's previous books, In Deeper Waters and So This Is Ever After, and I was excited to dive into this one.  This was another terrific story that uses magical themes and fantasy to examine questions about the experience of young adults as they explore romance and identity.  Rook and Sun are such compelling characters.  In Rook and his experiences, the author captures the tensions where one's talents are not necessarily valued or acknowledged by the world in which they find themselves.  Rook is often recognized as a genius but he is not magic -- and that dictates everything from where he lives to what jobs he can hold in this world, which he struggles with as he seeks to build community following his grandmother's death.  The relationship between Rook and Sun, as they are in the process of figuring out their own place in their world, is well done and highly engaging.  

Strongly recommended!

4.5 stars Rook and Sun were wonderful their relationship is believable and the plot of the story was great. This is the second novel I read by F.T. Lukens it definitely lived up to the other novel I've read by him. The story is fast-paced and smooth with each of the main characters getting their own chapters. Lukens knows how to write for the LQBTQIAP+ as a representative. I say if someone loves magic, found family, corrupt government getting what's coming to them, and a human turned into an animal, read this. I look forward to Lukens's next writings.

*4.5

I had no idea what to expect when reading this but it was a lot of fun. Rook and Sun are so adorable and I love them. Seeing them develop a real friendship and realize that they bring out the best in each other made me so happy. Sun always saw who Rook was even when no one else did.

I received an arc through netgalley.

I read So This Is Ever After by this author last year and laughed my way through it – I adored those characters. When I saw their new title on NetGalley, I immediately requested it.

My heart went out to Rook. Declared nonmagical, he lost access to the magical world when his grandmother passed away, and he was cast out of the only home he’d ever known by the Consortium. With no other family or friends to speak of, he’s lived alone for the past year and is desperately lonely. The day after he graduates high school, he pleads with powerful sorceress Antonia Hex to give him a job. At least he’ll be on the fringes of the magical world he misses so dreadfully. Antonia may be intimidating, but underneath – way deep down – lies a squishy heart, and she hires him.

Both main characters are polar opposites – which made them perfect for each other. Rook is full of sunshine, friendly, and wears his heart on his sleeve. Sun prefers all black clothing, shuns people in general, and is kind of prickly. Watching the two of them awkwardly stumble into a relationship brings moments of amusement, sadness, and hope – all kinds of cinnamon roll goodness. I also enjoyed the occasionally combative, mutually respectful, and sometimes friendly relationship between Antonia and Fable. They make a good team.

At its core, Spell Bound is about finding your family and your place in this world. It’s full of endearing characters, hexes and curses, a frenemies-to-lovers trope, rival sorcerers (but maybe really friends), a spelled coat rack named Herb, and battles against inequality. A feel good read I highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I’m a huge fan of Lukens and absolutely adored her other two books. While Spell Bound was good and I liked Rook and Sun, something was just missing for me. Overall it was cute though!

A super cute read. The romance was adorable and the plot was compelling. I loved both Rook and Sun, and the relationship between Antonia and Fable was hysterical. I liked the way magic and technology were mixed. However, everything wrapped up a bit too quickly and neatly for me.

Spell Bound by F.T. Lukens is a Queer YA fantasy filled with magic, laughter and first loves.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters are all solid and entertaining. Rook who inside feels alone and is yearning to belong to the world of magic his grandmother introduced him to, but on the outside he looks for the positive in every situation. Sun, the grumpy to Rook's sunshine, may be magically gifted but they feel just as lonely as Rook. The banter between them from beginning to end is highly entertaining and kept a smile on my face. They go from frenemies to friends to first kisses.

In Spell Bound you'll find two apprentices trying to find their footing in the magic world who find themselves on the run, a cursed doll and a haunted house, first spells and first kisses, witty banter, friendship, and found family.

Like the other book I’ve read by F.T. Lukens, I found this book fun and sweet at times, but not my favorite ever.
First, characters. I really loved both Sun and Rook, but the other characters were great too. My overall fave was Antonia because she was simultaneously amazing and horrible. I didn’t see a whole lot of depth in anyone, but it didn’t keep me from enjoyment.
Next, relationships. Sun and Rook were really sweet, but I also loved the friendships and familial elements, primarily the tentative relationship between Fable and Antonia. I thought they were all really fun.
Finally, worldbuilding and plot. There wasn’t a lot going on for those, but there was some buildup and, ultimately, execution. Was it intricate, complex, or perfect? Nah, but I enjoyed myself.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but not more than most others. I liked a lot of elements, I just didn’t find them super compelling. I’d still recommend this to fans of casual fantasy or shorter, lighter YA.

Lukens is definitely one of my auto-buy authors and this was a highly anticipated 2023 release for me!

I absolutely adored Spell Bound! It has so many elements I love in a story: found family, a grumpy/sunshine dynamic, and good LGBTQ+ rep. Both Rook and Sun were complex characters and I couldn't help loving them. I also adored Antonia, she's truly a force of nature. I often struggle with any sort of urban/contemporary fantasy, but Lukens created a world that I slipped into easily and that I wanted to stay in. I would love it if they wrote another book in this universe! I can't say enough nice things about Spell Bound. Lukens' writing is so good. If you're a fan of found family, you must read this one!

first i’d like to say that the world building in this book is top tier.

the plot, drama, & suspense was GREAT! and have you seen the cover of the book????

the banter & dialogue in this book was top notch. makes me want to read it over and over again.

4 stars!

I had such high hopes for this book after loving Lukens’s last two books but sadly this was a let down. The characters and romance are as sweet as ever - Lukens definitely knows how to write young romance - but the plot was underdeveloped. It wasn’t until around 70% of the way into the book that the actual conflict came about which made more than half the book set-up and fluff, while rushing the last 30% percent.

I also didn’t love that the conflict was primarily resolved by the actions of the various adult characters, rather than by the younger main characters.

Grumpy meets sunshine is only the beginning of the fun in Spell Bound. F.T. Lukens’s tale of magic, rebellion, and coming into one’s own is engaging, interesting, and wholly entertaining.

Rook is a genius but that doesn’t help him after he’s cut off from magic with the death of his grandmother. He wants to belong and is so lonely it broke my heart. He goes to the office of Antonia Hex, a rebellious and incredibly powerful sorcerer, and asks for a job. Antonia sees something in him and agrees and to take him on, bringing Rook back into the world of magic he’s been so desperately missing. Now all he has to do is keep his invention – the Spell Binder – secret because it would land he and his boss in a world of trouble and upset the control the Consortium has over all magical society. Oh, and he has to keep his cool around Sun, the apprentice of Antonia’s frenemy, Fable. The latter isn’t easy because while Sun is grumpy and prickly, they also make Rook want to swoon. But then something goes wrong and Sun and Rook have to figure out a way to save their mentors and themselves before magic is cut off from all of them forever.

In Spell Bound, Lukens creates a wonderful world of magic that is interesting and well-rounded. I loved learning about the magic, the rules, and those that rebel against the Consortium. Discovery is what makes this book so entertaining so I can’t say much without spoiling it. We see different sides of magic, from the mundane to the extraordinary, and it’s wonderful. The different facets made me want to stay in this world longer, to learn more through Rook and Sun’s eyes.

And speaking of Rook and Sun, our protagonists the heart of the book and they are a delight. Rook is eager, brilliant, and sweet in a way that charmed my socks off. Sun is talented, inquisitive, and – despite their prickly, antisocial exterior – kind. Rook throws them off their stride, but I loved their relationship and how it grew over the course of the story. The two of them fit perfectly and there were times I simply melted as their feelings for each other grew. Spell Bound is filled with magic, discovery, challenging gatekeeping, and finding your own power. I truly enjoyed it from beginning to end and I cannot wait to revisit this story again.