Book Review: Spell Bound

Spell Bound

By:  Kelley Armstrong

Publisher:  Dutton Books

Publish Date:  July 26, 2011

Format:  Hardcover 325pgs

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  12th in The Otherworld Series; Book 11 ~ Waking the Witch

Recommendation:  Yes, for a quick magical read with all mixes of Magical races, and you enjoyed Waking the Witch you HAVE to pick this one up too!

Book Synopsis:
Savannah Levine has grown up to become a paranormal-investigating knockout.  As a witch endowed with an array of spells, she is a force to be reckoned with.  But, in her last case, innocent lives were lost and a family was torn apart.  To put right the mess she helped create, she swears she would give anything...even her powers.  Little does she know that someone or something has taken her up on that.

Defenseless and on the run from the witch-hunting assassins who are following her ever move, Savannah soon stumbles upon a gathering storm that may tear her entire world apart.  The danger is real.  The whole Otherworld will have to come together to fight the dark force that threatens its very existence.

Savannah has no idea how to restore her powers just when she needs them the most, facing a host of deadly enemies but on destroying not only her, but the very fabric of the supernatural world.  As dark forces gather, Savannah isn't just fighting for her life, but for everything and everyone she loves...

First Sentence:
He watched the girl stumble from the motel office, room key glinting under the harsh lights of the parking lot.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Whirling from the sadness and regret of what happened with Kayla and her grandmother along with the people who died while she was on the case, Savannah wishes she could do something to help Kayla.  Even give up her powers to make it all right again.  Savannah wakes in her hotel room to find her best friend Adam - whom she's loved since she was twelve - sleeping in a chair beside her.  He had found her.  Then to find she is powerless.  The one thing she depends on deeply, her magic, is gone.  Not knowing who took it without a deal being made.  On her way to get a drink, Savannah is reminded there's a witch-hunter after her.  Not being able to use the one reflexive defense she has, Savannah has to learn to protect herself again.  Savannah has to redefine who she is as a person to make it through the troubles to come, and win the love of her life.

I started late into this series with Waking the Witch, which starts with Savannah's story line so was a great time to jump in.  I've enjoyed these two quick reads.  Savannah is a little young but she is growing and learning, the hard way.  Savannah hits a bottom here she never thought she would hit, but she starts to come back and want more of herself.

This book starts exactly where Waking the Witch ended.  And the prologue is a wonderful start!.  It brought me up to where I was with Savannah at the end of Waking the Witch, and made me curious again with its hints.  I even went back and read the prologue again after finishing the book.  I would suggest reading Waking the Witch before reading this one, but books prior to that I don't think you need.

The characters we meet!  There is a huge cast of characters in this series, and I guess being 12 books there would be.  I loved meeting them and getting little glimpses of their histories, who they are, and even a touch of cases from the past.  All this has me wanting once again to pick up all the previous ten books I haven't read to get to know them all better.  I really enjoyed these characters and the way they respond to each other.  Oh and Adam... he is here in this book full force and I just loved him.  He is adult yet feels of young innocent fun with Savannah.  And some sexy to him too.

I enjoy the writing style Kelley has here.  If I think back to Waking the Witch and this one it seems like one on going story with the two.  Kelley guides us along through the stories that are connected deeply but leads into the next situation.  Like there is no time that passes and we follow each day with Savannah.  They stories evolve to a different level as you go and the story becomes more than just the simple case Savannah was working on.  There is more to them and they flow together.  I like that the books fit so close together like this.

This book could be read by Young Adult readers.  There is just a touch of alcohol mentioned here as Savannah is twenty-one.  But there is no sex.  This is a story easy to follow and read through quickly.

There is so much more to Savannah's life than she knows.  And all is about to change with the war on the horizon.  I definitely want to continue reading these books, and what Kelley has coming next too.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.


This book qualifies for the Horror and Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge hosted by Book Chick City.