Review by Maia Dueck
Margaret K. McElderry Books, Simon & Schuster, April 2023
336 pages. Paperback. CDN $19.99. 9781665916226
Young Adult, Ages 14 – 16
Fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQIA+
She huffed. “Magic and machines don’t mix.”
I clutched my bag at my feet.
“And I am magic, and I break electronics all the time.” She sighed. “I really wanted that coffee.”
My heart leaped, and my thoughts buzzed in the face of a potential opportunity. Maybe there was another way in. I cleared my throat. “I can fix that, you know,” I said, nodding toward the phone. “And the coffee maker. I wasn’t lying when I said I was a genius.”
If you’re like me, you’ve hoped that one of these days, you’ll encounter a magical world via a wardrobe, a portal in a book, or a Hogwarts letter. But have you ever wondered what our world of cars, technology, and screens galore would look like infused with magic? How would magicians conduct their businesses? And how would non-magical people, dreaming of being included, navigate the magical world they can’t tap into?
In Spell Bound, author F.T. Lukens crafts a modern world with a magical flair. Curses, hexes, and jinxes abound in a world where bus commutes remain long and hot in the summertime. Luckily, your iced coffee is spelled to remain ice cold, even if you leave it unattended for two hours studying with your crush (no major spoilers, but let’s just say our characters have first hand experience here).
Our main protagonist, intelligent Edison Rooker – Rook, for short – yearns for the magic that he was cut off from when his grandmother died. When Antonia Hex, a notorious magician, agrees to hire him as office staff, Rook sees it as a perfect opportunity to immerse himself in magic, as well as test out his Spell Binder: an invention of his own creation. It tracks the ley lines that criss-cross the magical world which the Consortium, the magical government body, prohibits non-magical people like Rook from seeing or interacting with. With his highly illegal device in tow, Rook sets out on curse-breaking missions with Antonia, where they run into another sorcerer named Fable Page, and Sun, their constantly scowling, grumpy apprentice. When the Consortium finds out about the Spell Binder, Rook and Sun find themselves on the run, striving to find a plan to rescue their captured mentors – while growing closer and closer in the process.
The world of Spell Bound is incredibly immersive, creating distinct environments that drew me in. Lukens’ also captures the often awkward, new, and exciting adolescent experience of budding relationships and crushes through Sun and Rook’s endearing ‘grumpy and sunshine’ dynamic. Their banter carries most of their relationship, which felt more slow burn than instant romance, and moved forward in subtle, gradual ways. The style of writing is to-the-point and generally slower paced with a focus on character dialogue and inner monologue rather than a driving plot. At times, I found myself wanting more character development and tension, as Rook tends to observe the story rather than being an active participant in it. However, Rook’s bright personality and care provided a sympathetic and relatable main character that the audience can root for.
While more depth or expansion of the character relationships could have led to a more satisfying ‘found family’ ending for me personally, it was a quick, sweet read with themes of magical realism and belonging. It would be a great fit for YA readers ages 14-16.
Maia Dueck is an avid reader and writer currently taking a general arts degree at UBC with an interest in English and Creative Writing. Her favourite trope is probably enemies-to-lovers.
YOUNG ADULTING 