In the realm of love and desire, there exists a mystical enchantress who captivates the hearts of all who encounter her. Her name is Genevieve, a witch who weaves her spells across time. Born centuries ago, she possesses an ethereal beauty that transcends eras, drawing in those who gaze upon her with an irresistible allure. Men and women alike find themselves enamored by her bewitching presence, falling under her spell without even realizing. Genevieve's powers extend beyond her physical appearance, for she holds the ability to manipulate time itself. With a mere flick of her wrist, she can transport her admirers to different eras, allowing them to experience the romance and intrigue of bygone centuries.
Title: Spells Trouble (Sisters of Salem #1)
Author: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Publisher: Wednesday Books, May 25, 2021
Pages: 320
Intended Audience: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Pacing: Medium
Moods: Adventurous, Dark, Emotional
Content Warnings: Death, Grief, Violence, Blood, Sexual Content
Cast and Kristin Cast Publisher Wednesday Books, May 25, 2021 Pages 320 Intended Audience Young Adult Genre Fantasy Pacing Medium Moods Adventurous, Dark, Emotional Content Warnings Death, Grief, Violence, Blood, Sexual Content. I m not super vocal about it, but I do practice witchcraft, and the way the Casts describe spell work and the Goode girl s connection to magic felt very real to me.
With a mere flick of her wrist, she can transport her admirers to different eras, allowing them to experience the romance and intrigue of bygone centuries. It is through this mastery of temporal magic that she ensnares the hearts of her lovers, taking them on a whirlwind journey through history. As Genevieve weaves her spells across time, she leaves behind a trail of lovesick souls who become spellbound by her magical allure.
ARC Review: Spells Trouble by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.
Her life was about to change, in an amazing and magical way, but still. Change was big. Change was difficult. And Hunter wasn’t sure if she was ready.
Spells Trouble (From ARC, quotes may have changed in publication copy)
Thank you, NetGalley and Wednesday Books, for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Title: Spells Trouble (Sisters of Salem #1)
Author: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Publisher: Wednesday Books, May 25, 2021
Pages: 320
Intended Audience: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Pacing: Medium
Moods: Adventurous, Dark, Emotional
Content Warnings: Death, Grief, Violence, Blood, Sexual Content
Hunter and Mercy Goode are twin witches, direct descendants of the founder of their town of Goodeville. As their ancestors have done before them, it is now time for the twins to learn what it means to be Gatekeepers–the protectors of the Gates to different underworlds, ancient portals between their world and realms where mythology rules and nightmares come to life.
When their mother becomes the first victim in a string of murders, the devastated sisters vow to avenge her death. But it will take more than magic to rein in the ancient mythological monsters who’ve infected their peaceful town.
Now Hunter and Mercy must come together and accept their destiny or risk being separated for good.
When I was a teenager, I fell in love with The House of Night Series. It combined my love of vampires, witchy stuff, and romance into one book series (which I admittedly still need to finish). So, when I saw that P.C and Kristin Cast were coming out with a new series focused on witches, I knew I had to read it.
The novel focuses on twin witches (Twitches, anyone?) Hunter and Mercy Goode, descendants of one of the first three women accused of witchcraft in the Salem Witch Trials, Sarah Good (spelled Goode in the book). Hunter and Mercy are complete opposites. Mercy is outgoing, energetic, and a social butterfly, whereas Hunter is introverted, calm, and would rather stay home to write her romance novel. But despite their differences, they have a profound bond.
On their 16th birthday, their lives get turned upside-down when the five Gates to the underworld, of which their family has been Gatekeeper over for generations, begin to open. Their mother manages to close one, sacrificing herself in the process, but a creature from another gate gets loose and starts wreaking havoc on the town. Now, Hunter and Mercy must take on the mantle of Gatekeepers themselves to protect the town and prevent any other creatures from escaping from the mythological underworlds into the living realm.
The thing I liked most about Spells Trouble is the world-building. Now, anyone who’s read The Crucible or studied the Salem Witch Trials knows that the women accused of witchcraft were not “actual” witches, but in the case of Spells Trouble, at least one was: Sarah Good. And that’s where this book starts. The prologue opens with Sarah Goode’s imprisonment and subsequent escape using magic. As someone who both read and was in a production of The Crucible in high school, I loved this nod to historical events. It totally grabbed my attention and had me invested in what would happen next.
In terms of the magic system, it seemed to be heavily inspired by modern Wicca, paganism, and witchcraft. I’m not super vocal about it, but I do practice witchcraft, and the way the Casts describe spell work and the Goode girl’s connection to magic felt very real to me. It was well thought out and well researched, and it made reading it really enjoyable. It was also reminiscent of The House of Night, which also had some pagan elements to its magic system.
That being said, there were some things that I didn’t quite like about the book, but I think they’re mostly revolved around Mercy. I couldn’t really connect with her as a character, and she often confused me. I didn’t like her boyfriend at all. Time and time again, she compromised herself and her relationship with his sister for him. It seemed almost like a forced narration point, I couldn’t understand it, and I spent more time than I would have liked waiting to find out if she would end up kicking him to the curb.
Also—spoiler, but I feel like it’s essential since this is marketed as a young adult book—there’s a surprisingly in-detail sex scene in the middle of the book. It wasn’t terribly graphic, but this is marketed as a young adult book, and the characters are teenagers. It was also kind of out of place and seemed like its graphicness could have been cut out while still maintaining the emotional inner monologue that ran through it.
Despite the elements I didn’t like, I ended up really enjoying Spells Trouble. I liked the shifting perspective between Hunter, Mercy, and the antagonist, and I loved the real-world ties to Wicca and paganism. I’m excited to follow the series as it’s released, and now I definitely want to go back and reread The House of Night.
Buy Here
Her life was about to change, in an amazing and magical way, but still. Change was big. Change was difficult. And Hunter wasn’t sure if she was ready. Spells Trouble (From ARC, quotes may have changed in publication copy)
Once enchanted, they become willing captives, willingly surrendering their hearts to her and succumbing to her every whim. Genevieve understands the power she holds over her admirers, and she is not afraid to use it to her advantage. However, like all things magical, there is a price to pay for falling under Genevieve's spell. Those who become enamored by her find themselves trapped in a perpetual longing, yearning for her presence even in her absence. Time becomes their enemy, as they long for the next encounter with their captivating witch. Yet, despite the pitfalls and the inherent danger of falling for a timeless enchantress, there is an undeniable allure to Genevieve and her magical spells. It is the allure of experiencing a love that transcends time and defies all boundaries. The understanding that one's love for Genevieve will be eternal, even if it is not reciprocated. In the end, Genevieve remains an enigma, with her true motivations and emotions concealed beneath layers of enchantment. Perhaps she herself is a victim of her own powers, forever searching for a love strong enough to break through her mystical facade. Or maybe she simply revels in the power and adoration that she commands. Whatever the case may be, Genevieve continues to cast her spells across time, forever ensnaring the hearts of those who dare to fall under her enchantment. To be enamored by her is to be drawn into a world of magic and mystery, where love knows no bounds and time stands still. It is a journey that few can resist, and those who do find themselves forever changed by the bewitching spell of Genevieve, the timeless witch..
Reviews for "Enchanted by Time: Exploring the Magnetic Attraction of a Witch's Love"
1. John - 2 stars
I found "Enamored by a Witch Who Casts Her Spells Across Time" to be incredibly confusing and disjointed. The storyline jumped back and forth between different time periods without any clear transitions, making it difficult to follow along. Additionally, the characters felt underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it hard to connect with them. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 3 stars
While the concept of time-travel and witchcraft seemed intriguing in "Enamored by a Witch Who Casts Her Spells Across Time," I found the execution to be lacking. The writing style was overly descriptive, with lengthy passages that slowed down the pacing of the story. The plot also felt convoluted at times, with too many different storylines and characters to keep track of. I was hoping for a more captivating and engaging read, but unfortunately, this book fell short for me.
3. Melissa - 2 stars
I struggled to get through "Enamored by a Witch Who Casts Her Spells Across Time." The narrative was overly repetitive, with the author often reiterating details that had already been established. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and the romantic subplot lacked chemistry and believability. Overall, I did not find this book enjoyable or well-crafted, and would not recommend it to others looking for a captivating witch-themed story.