Spell Bound by F. T. Lukens

Abstract

Reviewed by: Spell Bound by F. T. Lukens Natalie Berglind Lukens, F.T. Spell Bound. McElderry, 2023 [336p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781665916226 $19.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781665916240 $10.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 8-12 After the death of his sorcerer grandmother, non-magical Rook was cut off from his magical community—until he lands a gig doing desk work for Antonia Hex, a powerful sorcerer who runs a shop for dealing with magical hijinks. Sixteen-yearold Rook may not have magic, but he is a genius, and he's been working on a Spell Binder, a device that can detect ley lines and potentially offer him a way back into the magical world—he just has to keep it hidden from both Antonia and the Consortium that enforce the rules imposed on magic. Meanwhile, nonbinary Sun apprentices for Fable Page, a rival rule-following sorcerer to Antonia's chaotic disregard for authority. When the two pairings clash, Rook and Sun have a lively chemistry inhibited only by their masters, but it's just a matter of time before Fable finds out what Rook and Antonia are up to—teaching a non-magical person magic—and reports them. The Spire City setting is a delightful blend of the modern and the magical, positioning smart phones and cars alongside petty jinxes and devilishly cursed curtains, and the level of indulgence in magical nonsense and parody of common fantasy tropes is pure, shameless fun. Romance readers who like a little fantasy in their fare are sure to be satisfied by the grumpy/sunshine dynamic of the main duo, while Lukens' current fanbase can be assured that this book is just as fantastically entertaining as their other work. Copyright © 2023 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois