Book Review: Spellbound (ARC)

Spellbound
by Cara Lynn Shultz
Paperback, 384 pages
Expected publication: June 28th 2011 by Harlequin Teen
Source: ARC from NetGalley & Harlequin Teen

Summary:

What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

Review:

Reincarnation. Soulmates. Spells. Cursed lovers. Insta-attraction. Too perfect to be true male MC. New girl who thinks she’s not pretty enough and yet, manages to catch the attention of the two most sought-after boys in school. Girl must stay away from boy (because boy is bad news) but boy is too dang attractive to ignore. Well, if you put it like that, Spellbound has all the cliché I dislike in a paranormal YA romance book.

However, strangely enough, Shultz managed to incorporate all these cliché in one book without making it annoying cliché - which, I tell you, is a first among all the other PNR YA books that I read with the exact same elements. And they are quite a handful! Some, I couldn’t finish and some, I was able to finish but not without holding a grudge or getting the urge to hit the characters. I love that this all happened for a reason and not just by some too good to be true fluke of nature.

Brendan’s character is portrayed very well from the start. It’s practically impossible not to fall for him. He’s just smoking hot! It’s also easy to connect with the characters. I like it very much when Emma thinks dirty thoughts about Brendan. The legends told provide for a fascinating, yet creepy read too. Truly, Spellbound is a one enthralling read that intertwines magic, legends and a cursed romance that is surprisingly very well-written you’ll be spellbound before you know it.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars!

Disclosure: This e-ARC was received from the publisher (Harlequin Teen via NetGalley) for free in exchange for an honest review.