*Disclaimer: I have received a free digital copy of this title and it will not affect my thoughts of feelings towards it*

OMG this book was such a great emotional ride! All the feels! THE CHARACTERS were just so FUNNY!!! This book strives in amazing banter and a ton of heart! Rook and Sun were amazing and were super cute! Antonia was by far my favorite character with her amazing banter and chemistry with anyone. The pacing was great and never seemed to moving too fast or too slow. My only complaint was a lack luster ending but it was still a satisfying ending so I wasn't bothered by it too much. Overall if your a fan of any magic by witches or The Owl House this book is just for you!

5/5 stars!

“What had they done to Fable? To Antonia? How had they been able to capture the most powerful sorcerer in an age? What would happen to us if we were caught? How were we going to resolve any of this?”

When his grandmother passes away, taking with her his only connection to the magical world, sixteen-year-old non-magical Edison Rooker isn’t sure where to turn. The only way he can figure out how to regain that connection is to go to Antonia Hex, a powerful sorceress who runs a magical emergency call center. When Antonia gives him a job and a new name—Rook—he’s thrilled. And when she finds out about his illegal magical detection device, the Spell Binder, and is actually interested in helping him make it work—as long as he can keep it hidden from the Magical Consortium—he’s even more excited. But when the Consortium finds out about Rook and the Spell Binder, they capture Antonia and her rival colleague, Fable, and almost get their hands on Rook too. Desperate, Rook runs to Fable’s annoyingly cute apprentice, Sun—his maybe-almost-friend. Together, the two must figure out how to evade the Consortium and get their mentors back—or they could lose their magic forever.

Reading SPELL BOUND was my first foray into F.T. Lukens’ work, and let me tell you, I now absolutely can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of their other books! SPELL BOUND is an action-packed YA romantic adventure that makes it almost impossible for you to put down. Y’all know I’m a huge fan of dual-narration, and Lukens handled it brilliantly in this book. My favorite element, though, was the voice. Both Rook and Sun have distinct, fantastic voices that distinguish their narration and give us great glimpses into their characters, and I just wanted to spend hours in their world. With a sweet romance, heart-pounding moments, and one very adorable cat, SPELL BOUND is perfect for anyone who wants to add some magic and adventure to their life.

Content Warnings: Strong language, death of a loved one, anxiety, violence, claustrophobia, action, blood

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

Thanks to NetGalley & Margaret K. McElderry Books for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not going to lie, I was hoping for more urban fantasy than romance, but it was heavily focused on romance. Which is fine, though. It was an upbeat romance book with some fantasy in the background and the characters were pretty modern in their language. So much so that I had a hard time keeping up with the current terminology, lol.

It was still a sweet read, though the characters acted like they were all 15-17 years old, even the adults. Weird, but still fun to read.

This was a hard audiobook to listen to. Sun is one of the mains and prefers they/them pronouns. I started out listening to this book and had to switch to the ebook copy where it would never have been an issue at all. "Come along, Sun" and other variations said by their mentor always sounded like masculine pronouns and I was like, no, that's not right. Every single time.

That aside, these characters felt younger than the other FT Lukens books I've read which may be untrue but they felt younger maturity wise as well. I was certain that Rook's grandmother bound his magical abilities (based on the title of the book) when Sun mentioned that they could see the magic lines flowing through him. That ended up being a red herring and a missed opportunity.

I didn't feel much chemistry between Rook and Sun but we were nudged at it by all of the other adults in the book and I just didn't see it. I desperately wanted to. Sun was shy and standoffish and Rook was like this one is mine based on literally nothing. They were ghosting Rook when the bulk of the drama unfolded and only broke that based on necessity.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Audio for a copy of the audiobook and Netgalley for a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

Spell Bound, a fascinating take on magic and family by F. T. Luken, is a truly delightful read. The world built in this story presses against the problems bureaucracy has in our own world while pushing at and past some of the definitions of magic fantasy currently has. I really enjoyed the characters, they were well developed and felt realistic. Motivations and conflicts felt clear and well thought out. My only fuss with this book is simply the pacing. At times I didn't feel like pacing matched up and at the end it felt the climax/main conflict had been a bit rushed through. Overall, a fun and exciting read that I look forward to purchasing for my physical bookshelves!

The first book was so great, but this one was really a mess for me. I just couldn’t get behind it, and I had such high hopes that I would.

So I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as 'So This Is Ever After' but it was still a great book! This one focuses more heavily on the queer romance and found family aspects. There is some "bring down the evil government" plot line but it's very much just a side plot to add in some tension. Honestly if that had been fleshed out some more this book probably could have been 5 stars. While the stakes were objectively high, when there's only two or three chapters left in the book at that point, you know it's not going to be too deep.

I really loved Rook and Sun. They were fantastic characters and I loved seeing them grow from frenemies to friends to lovers. It was very cute and I enjoyed their journey. That being said I do feel like some of our side characters could have been fleshed out more as well. Antonia and Fable were great but with just a little more flourish they could have been even better and added more to the story.

The worldbuilding was decent, the world was interesting but again, I wish there had been more of it.

Overall, while I did want more from this book, I had a fantastic time reading it and I am always a sucker for a found family and a cute romance.

I loved so this is ever after but this one missed it for me. I was hoping for something similar. I found is boring and slow instead. I don’t think this was bad but it just didn’t grab my attention or give me anything.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!

First of all, I love when world are queer normative and the world building was great. The magic system was really cool, and I liked that the different spellcasters had different "special" abilities.

Two rival sorcerer apprentices? Teaming up and falling in love? SIGN ME UP.
Loved this, hilarious, adorable, amazing. F.t. Lukens knows how to deliver and keep me coming back for more everytime.

Spell Bound by F.T Lukens tells a tale of 2 sorcerers and their apprentices navigating a world of magic and finding each other. If you are a sucker for the found family trope, THIS IS FOR YOU!
Lukens creates a world of wonder and inclusivity. Watching Rook & Sun's relationship develop was wonderful and incredibly wholesome. 4.5/5.
Huge thank you yo Netgalley, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing & Margaret K. McElderry Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review of content.

This is my first F.T Lukens book, and after reading I am highly anticipating reading their previous books.

Spell Bound is a fun almost-cozy urban fantasy. I loved the magic system and world-building in this book. The book is mostly character and relationship driven - and Rook and Sun are extremely compelling characters. I do wish the plot was just a little more fleshed out - the ending felt a bit rushed, and left more questions about the world-building beyond the few character we meet.

Overall though, I highly recommend Spell Bound!

Spell Bound by FT Lukens is one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it came out last week. Suffice to say that I was not disappointed.
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Rook and Sun are magicians' apprentices. Rook has never been able to see and use magic, but he wants to be a part of the magical world regardless, as it ties him deeply to the grandmother he loved. He gets a job with Antonia Hex, an incredibly powerful, if rebellious, sorcerer.
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Sun, however, is the most magically inclined person in their magical family, and they work with Fable, who is a stickler for rules.
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As they start running into each other more, Rook and Sun progress from frenemies to something much more tender. The way that @ftlukens wrote this relationship feels so genuine and intentional and I cannot overstate how much the care that they took means.
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While this is a fun, silly story about magic and relationships, it deals with much deeper themes as well, such as building a community that feels like a family and the need to fight back against unjust institutions. I found some later scenes dealing with the latter theme in particular to be quite poignant.
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Beyond all that, the cover art by @sam.spectre is absolutely amazing on all of Lukens' books and I love nothing more than these covers.

This was an amazing fantasy romance novel, and another F.T. Lukens hit! The magic system was very well written and it felt inspired by The Owl House, which I am obsessed with. I also like the allegory to people with learning disabilities. Rook cannot see magic, and it isolates him from the community he grew up with. But with the use of technological innovation on his part, he can access the knowledge he is not afforded. I loved that aspect of the magic system and challenging who has access to magic. The romance between Rook and Sun was so cute! Love seeing them go from frenemies to lovers. The touch aversion being discussed in their relationship was also very masterfully done. I had never read consent so organically before when it came to someone not liking physical touch and Lukens does it effortlessly.

Edison Rooker grew up adjacent to the magical world, living with his grandmother who was a low-level sorcerer. However, once she died, the Magical Consortium would no longer let Rook live in her home and so he has spent a lonely year on his own. Now that he has finished high school, Rook is looking for job — and a way to connect with magic once again. Rook has invented a device he calls the Spell Binder that gives him the ability to see the ley lines, something only those with magic should be able to do. He hopes that with this device, magic may actually be possible for him. Rook goes to see Antonia Hex, one of the most powerful sorcerers in the world, hoping for a job. At first, Antonia has no interest in hiring a human with no magical skills, not to mention officially she isn’t even allowed by the Consortium to bring on an apprentice. However, eventually Rook’s enthusiasm and his ability to repair all the electronics she keeps breaking (combined with Antonia’s desire for some minor rebellion against the Consortium), see her hiring Rook to help manage her office. Rook is disappointed that Antonia detects no magic in him, but still happy to be a part of the magical world again, even if just tangentially.

One day, Rook meets Sun, the apprentice of Fable, Antonia’s friend and sometimes rival. While Sun is grumpy and doesn’t seem to want much to do with Rook, Rook can’t help find them adorable. The two teens end up spending more time together as Antonia and Fable work with one another on some jobs, and eventually a friendship begins to form. Sun still is very reserved, but the pair are starting to connect and an attract is growing between them.

While things are going well with Rook and Sun, there is still the matter of Rook’s illegal Spell Binder device. And the fact that technically Rook shouldn’t even be working for Antonia. And, Antonia definitely shouldn’t be teaching Rook magic. Not to mention that while Rook and Antonia may be ok breaking some Consortium rules, Rook and Fable are less so and it is causing tension among the group. But when the Consortium gets word of what is going on and come for the mentors, Rook and Sun must rely on each other to find a way out of the situation. They may just be apprentices, but they are determined to stand up to the Consortium and help their mentors, no matter what it takes.

I really found this magic-filled, young adult story by F.T. Lukens to be just delightful. There is a nice sense of world building, a sweet couple in Rook and Sun, and a fun dose of adventure. Lukens has created a world that is very much like our modern one, with the addition of magic. Rook grew up surrounded by magic only to have it ripped away from him when his grandmother died and he is desperate to reconnect with that part of his life. He has not just lost something important to him in magic, but the sense of comfort and love from his grandmother. This past year has been hard, as Rook is really on his own, despite being not even 17. Rook’s story dovetails nicely with Antonia’s, as she is being punished by the Consortium for transgressions related to her last apprentice and so she too understands the idea of being held back from your potential and being kept away from something that is a part of you. So there is a kinship there that has Antonia serving as a friend and mentor to Rook. She enjoys breaking the rules a little, so she lets Rook get away with things he shouldn’t in terms of learning magic and helping out. But she also becomes someone solid in Rook’s life, which he really needs.

The initial conflict here is Rook figuring out how to get magic back into his life, then it slowly morphs in to the conflict with Sun and Fable, as they are both much more strict rule-followers and it doesn’t take long before they realize that Rook and Antonia are breaking plenty. It causes a nice conflict for Rook and Sun as they build a friendship, and then start some shy feelings for each other. Philosophically they contrast in terms of their views on the rules, but also they really like one another and struggle for that balance. The larger conflict here that develops is with the Magical Consortium, which gives Rook and Sun a chance to work together to fight the Consortium’s threats and the danger that results when they learn more about what is going on. I did feel the pacing was off a little here, as a lot of the story seems to be setting up for this conflict, which doesn’t come until the second half of the book. Things take a turn in intensity, danger, and adventure here and it feels a little later in the story than I would have wanted it to really kick off. I so think this story has a nice young adult arc, with the teens being forced to stand up and fight against the authority figures and even to save their adult mentors. So I found their adventure a lot of fun and it gives the teens a chance to really come into their own in the later part of the book.

Sun and Rook are sweet together with a grumpy/sunshine vibe. They are shy and adorable and trying to find their way with one another. They are also strong and brave and smart and figure out how to save the day together. While there is some danger and a few intense moments with their fight against the Consortium, on the romance end this is very much on the tame side. Rook and Sun share a few kisses that are very much G-rated, so definitely more sweet than sexy. I really liked the dynamic between them and watching them grow both individually and together.

I found this one a lot of fun and a very engaging story with a nice magical twist. Lukens has a great writing style and I enjoyed this one a lot. If you like magical world building and young adult adventures, Spell Bound is definitely one to check out.

I loved this novel! I've read other works from this author and was happy when I received this ARC. I wasn't disappointed. The book was sweet and charming while still invoking lots of emotion. It had a bit of grump-sunshine to the relationship that I couldn't get enough of. Rook is easily my favorite character I've spent time with this year. Be sure to pick this one up!

This story was a well written YA novel that had amazing representation! Sun and Rook's relationship ship is sweet and just as flawed as one would find in real life. Antonia is a wonderful mentor character it is too easy to love, while Fable takes a while to warm to. Overall, this book was one that made me feel warm and happy, even when dealing with tough topics like exclusion and authoritarianism. Rook was one of the best characters I've read this year, and I really loved his character the most, It was so easy to identify with his loss and desperation. I enjoyed the underdog themes, the dystpoian sequel feel, and the lovable characters.

Sweet, magical, and much like Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way.

One of my only gripes with this book comes with the marketing for it, though that isn’t actually reflective of the book or its quality. The description for this book places an emphasis on the protagonists, Rook and Sun, teaming up to save the sorcerers that they work for… except that that doesn’t actually happen until closer to the 70% mark. The rest of this book, up to that point, is a slow burn of Rook and Sun’s relationship as they work on different cases with their respective mentors. It’s a great slow burn, to be sure—but because of the descriptions giving away so much of the third act, I spent so much of the book wondering just when these mentors would be in trouble. I’m worried that some readers might be disappointed by the pacing of this book because of this, but I personally really enjoyed it for what it is: a cute book about found families in an urban fantasy setting.

Anyway, aside from that, I loved the characters in this book and the setting. Everyone was fun and interesting, and I was genuinely excited to keep reading! The writing style is accessible and grounded, yet still funny and quick. I think a lot of people who want a breezy yet emotionally resonant book (with a very diverse and very queer cast) will love this book.

Overall, I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s fun and cute—just expect a slightly slower pace than the description might suggest.

Spell Bound was incredibly cute and had all of the charm that I’ve come to love from F.T. Lukens’ writing. It was just so much fun and I can’t wait for everyone else to read it!

Lukens has a way of pulling you into a story and making you feel deeply for their characters in a short amount of time. Rook and Sun are just so likable and you want to learn more about them from their first interactions. Rook’s determination to be back in the world of magic and just wanting a place to belong is deeply relatable and it was just wonderful watching him grow into himself as a person and apprentice. And Sun, my sweet baby. I loved them so much. They’re the grump to Rook’s unyielding sunshine and it’s the perfect pairing. This was such a fun frenemies-to-lovers storyline. <spoiler> And the whole section with Sun as a cat???? Hands down my favorite part - the emotional vulnerability between them was just unmatched. </spoiler>

I liked both So This Is Ever After and In Deeper Waters, but this one felt different - maybe more complex? The drama and conflict held a lot of weight and I was constantly guessing how this was going to end up. <spoiler> I felt myself rooting for Rook and Sun to dismantle the Consortium - and for Fable and Antonia to set aside their own differences and come together to protect their apprentices. </spoiler>

My biggest complaint, and why I can’t rate this higher than 4 stars, is the pacing. It took FOREVER for this story to really get going - and I didn’t truly feel invested in the plot until about 50% in. It took me a week to read 150 pages and then I finished the rest in a day and a half. The first half is almost solely exposition and character/world set-up, but it could have used more action. I don’t think that this was necessarily marked in the right way - the storyline with the Consortium and Rook’s Spell Binder doesn’t occur until really late and it almost feels like a spoiler to have it in there?

Overall, I really enjoyed this and I can’t wait to see what else F.T. Lukens publishes!

Thanks to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Two young sorcerers unite to save their respective mentors in this young adult fantasy. Bit of a slow starter, but once I got into it I really enjoyed it! A sweet romance and a strong fantasy, this is a book worth picking up.

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for review.