Spellcaster (Spellbound, #2)

by Cara Lynn Shultz

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 seventeen-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's and Brendan's deepest fears to reveal damaging secrets and destroy their trust in each other. And Emma's crash course in uberspells may not be enough to keep them safe...or to stop an inhuman force bent on making their unsuspected power its own.

• ISBN10: 0373210507
• ISBN13: 9780373210503
• Publish Date: 27 March 2012 (first published 1 January 2012)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: Mills & Boon
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 371
• Language: English

Reviews

[Angie]

Of course, Emma and Brendan can't just live happily ever after. In Spellcaster, someone is after them. Emma is attacked by a masked person with a knife. Her cousin suddenly seizes and ends up in the hospital. Then Brendan is possessed and says a lot of hurtful things to Emma. Emma thought she just had to worry about Anthony coming back for her, but this attack is clearly magical in nature. It's time for her to learn to use her powers because a fight is coming.

Spellcaster was quite cheesy, but it was still super fun! Sometimes that's all you need! I really enjoyed that there was a bigger focus on magic this time. Angelique and Emma spend a lot of time working on spells, which don't always go the way they imagined. It was also interesting to see how using magic more and more was changing Emma. Then there's this huge revenge plot! It felt kind of random and weird, but I enjoyed it! It's sort of one of those "if I can't have him, no one can" deals, which I love! Although this person is totally nuts. I also loved that finally a character tries to go the legal route when dealing with a stalker, rather than just facing it alone. Of course, it's magic that saves the day, but it was still smart and refreshing to have a character use their brain.

Spellcaster was a fun follow up and great end to Emma and Brenda's story. True love is powerful thing! But it also makes people do crazy things. I also really liked how there was this theme of being careful how you treat people. A lot of this could have been avoided if certain people had been more aware of other people's feelings. But they're teenagers and self absorbed!

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Cocktails and Books]

What do you do when you and your destined soul mate break a centuries old curse? For Emma Conner and Brendan Salinger, you try to put the past behind you and act like a normal couple. Or as normal as a new witch and her boyfriend can be. Unfortunately, for Emma and Brendan, his past and Emma's newfound witchy power crash into one another. Emma needs to get up to speed with her spells in order to save the day.

I wasn't sure what to expect with Spellcaster. I figured once the curse had been broken, Emma and Brendan would go off on their merry way. Luckily for us, they do hit a few snags in their journey to happily ever after. The snag being Brendan's past.

Brendan didn't live the life of a saint before Emma came along and Emma tended to be a tad bit jealous over being reminded just how many "hook ups" Brendan had. So it was fitting that one of those hook ups, one who happened to be a witch, decided to get a little retribution while attempting to gain some evil powers.

While Emma had to deal with the fact that someone, was again, trying to kill her, Brendan also had to deal with the knowledge that something he did in the past is coming back to harm someone he loves. It was refreshing to see the gut wrenching emotions that Brendan went through, trying to figure out if it would be better for Emma if he broke things off with her (which you could tell would kill him). It made me forgive Brendan for his slutty ways and hope they could defeat the evil witch.

After finishing Spellcaster, I hope to see more to the series. Brendan and Emma grew, but I'd like to see what else may be in store for them...especially as Emma's powers grow.

[Suz @ Bookish Revelations]

Spellcaster is a spellbinding intensely action packed magical tale of suspense, danger, and love at its inner most core. It is dark and hungry, filled with primal urges, impending danger, hidden secrets, and evil forces hell bent on taking unsuspected powers for their own. In the center of the story, is the sweet and engrossing tale of two soulmates - Emma and Brendan - who are incredibly amazing enough not to take their relationship at face value, as they delve more into the nature of their history. Shultz does a wonderfully brilliant job of evoking such deep seeded fears, the unveiling of innermost secrets that could harm, and threats to damage the trust these two have placed in one another. There are so many incredibly twists and turns throughout this story that are enough to keep readers guessing and craving the answers.

Shultz writing style is focused on all of the right elements that it should be. It's a perfect balance, between attention to detail, story arcs, and character development. Emma is such an endearing character, who seems to have grown stronger and a bit more brave than she was in Spellbound, which has a way of making her even more likable. She's just as independent, caring, and loyal as she always has been, but with even more depth and courage. Brendan, on the other hand, is still just as mysteriously handsome and brave as he was before, but he's also a bit more secretive and cryptic and a little bolder. I personally enjoyed the few intense moments that both Emma and Brendan shared and the fact that they actually had to work at making their relationship work and creating a deeper meaningful connection.

Spellcaster features an interesting and cleverly written take on reincarnation and soulmate mythology, that seems to give it a more modern edge. The story arc was beautifully fleshed out and the imagery was well written. The execution of certain moments, scenes, and powerful forces at work was off the charts amazing. There were also many interesting supporting characters that managed to bring their own unique quirks and facets to the story. It has this way of asking; just how far one person would go in terms of faith and loyalty, for another.

Throughout the story, both Emma and Brendan's strength of courage, loyalty to one another, and faith are tested over and over. It's enough to leave readers entranced and wanting more. Spellcaster is a richly compelling novel that will hook readers even more as they delve further into the story. It is phenomenally gripping; action packed, and filled with incredibly tension and sweet romance. It is a virtual thrill ride that is full of action, danger, and an interesting and unique take on reincarnation and the love of two soulmates. Vastly clever and highly suspenseful, fans of Shultz first novel Spellbound will fall even more in love with Spellcaster.