Author: Maya Gold
Title: Spellbinding
Publication: April 1, 2013
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
~Website
Synopsis
Salem is the bewitching backdrop to this lush, fast-paced tale of one girl discovering the source of her powers.
It is during a routine school project that Abby Silva--sixteen and nearly friendless--makes a startling discovery: She is descended from women who were accused of witchcraft back in 1600s Salem. And when Abby visits nearby Salem, strange, inexplicable events start to unfold. Objects move when she wills them to. Candles burst into sudden flame. And an ancient spellbook somehow winds up in her possession.
Trying to harness her newfound power, Abby concocts a love potion to win over her longtime crush--and exact revenge upon his cruel, bullying girlfriend. But old magic is not to be trifled with. Soon, Abby is thrust headlong into a world of hexes, secrets, and danger. And then there's Rem Anders, the beautiful, mysterious Salem boy who seems to know more about Abby than he first lets on.
A reckoning is coming, and Abby will have to make sense of her history--and her heart--before she can face the powerful truth.
Salem is the bewitching backdrop to this lush, fast-paced tale of one girl discovering the source of her powers.
It is during a routine school project that Abby Silva--sixteen and nearly friendless--makes a startling discovery: She is descended from women who were accused of witchcraft back in 1600s Salem. And when Abby visits nearby Salem, strange, inexplicable events start to unfold. Objects move when she wills them to. Candles burst into sudden flame. And an ancient spellbook somehow winds up in her possession.
Trying to harness her newfound power, Abby concocts a love potion to win over her longtime crush--and exact revenge upon his cruel, bullying girlfriend. But old magic is not to be trifled with. Soon, Abby is thrust headlong into a world of hexes, secrets, and danger. And then there's Rem Anders, the beautiful, mysterious Salem boy who seems to know more about Abby than he first lets on.
A reckoning is coming, and Abby will have to make sense of her history--and her heart--before she can face the powerful truth.
Thoughts: I was really excited to read this one; the cover is absolutely beautiful and is what initially drew me to this book. However, this wasn't as “spellbinding" as I had hoped. Abby has been on the outskirts of the popular crowd for a while, being virtually a ghost but completely aware of her surroundings. High school hasn’t been easy socially for her, now that her best friend has gone away and they no longer keep in touch. She isn’t completely friendless, she has one friend Rachel but other than that she is unnoticeable, until one class assignment leads to the discovery of her life.
Abby notices a gap in her family history, while working on a class project. Encouraged by her teacher to delve deeper for additional credit, she decides to conquer her fear of water by traveling to Salem for more information. Abby discovers her family’s secret; she’s a witch. What does she do with the magic she now possesses? She decides to do little dirty magic to get back at some of the people that have been mean to her, one person in particular, Megan Keith. Abby must open her eyes come to understand the desires of her heart and what she thinks wants. In addition to coping with her new powers and her crushes, Abby learns she is the key to exacting revenge on the people of Salem. No longer invisible, Abby must decide to do what’s right or succumb to the fire that seeks to destroy everything.
Okay, the pace of the story is fast but the plot just didn't feel all the way there for me. However, I would recommend this to teens that are reluctant to read because of its length, quick pace and the paranormal aspects in the story.
Aw, I hate it when a book doesn't live up to my expectations. I'm sorry it wasn't as spellbinding as you would have liked. I may try to read it and then coax the cell phone away from my niece and replace it with a book.
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