Spellbinder (Spellbinder, #1)

by Helen Stringer

[Briana @ Pages Unbound]

3.5 stars

This review is also posted at Pages Unbound Book Reviews.

Spellbinder is a fun and slightly quirky novel that brings readers on a romp through the world of the dead in order to save the land of the living.  Some of the elements and the characters are standard fantasy fare, but the writing is solid and the overall premise imaginative.  It is not a surprising read, but it is an enjoyable one perfect for anyone who likes middle grade fantasy adventures.

The two protagonists are a loner girl (Belladonna) and a troublemaker boy (Steve) who, predictably, become “unlikely” friends.  Stringer fleshes them out from being mere types, however, and their relationship, as it evolves and grows, is fun to read about.  The two develop a lively dynamic that aids them in their quest to save their world.

Many of the other characters are drawn in the same way.  There is the insanely organized aunt, the strict principal, the crazy apothecary, the quirky grandmother.  They, like Belladonna and Steve, walk the border between character and stereotype.  Their existence, however, does mean there is a strong adult presence in the novel.  These no-nonsense adults are generally responsible and caring, meaning both that adults are not the bad guys—as can happen in middle grade—and that their reluctance to let children into danger allows Belladonna and Steve to take very active roles in their own story.  They do not just save the world; they have to take matters into their own hands, secretly, to do it.  Rule breakers are always exciting in literature.

The book’s greatest flaw is a plethora of loose ends.  Stringer fails to address so much: specifics about the role of a spellbinder, what exactly some characters know and how they came to know it, and whether some of the theories presented about ghosts are fact or simply character speculation.  The quick pacing of the novel keeps these matters from being distracting during reading, as one will probably assume such details will be addressed later in the novel, but they become obvious once the book ends and there are still questions.  There are sequels, but there is no obvious set-up suggesting any of the questions I personally had will be answered.

Spellbinder is a fast, pleasurable read.  It explores the concept of death creatively and quirkily, imagining ghosts not as monsters but simply people who are now living in an alternate world, one similar to our own.  This, along with a smattering of mythological facts, makes the book a nice blend of entertainment and light education.  Great for readers who like magic, myth, and spunky kids.