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Spellbound: A YA Library Witch Adventure
Emily Carlisle was never the main character of her own story. Known only as the Witch of the Stacks, she helped any hero or heroine who asked. Potions, spells, and the occasional magical artifact were passed on. She never kept the power for herself, and never wanted to be anything more than a support character. That is, until the Rot began to spread throughout her library. No one knows where it came from or what triggered it. They only know it consumes everything in its path, and it has set its sights on her books.
Suddenly, Emily is thrust into the role of heroine, with only her faithful betta fish, Orpheus, and reluctant Heroine Ozioma Monroe, by her side. She must use all of the tricks at her disposal to reach the heart of her magical library and stop the Rot from taking away the only home she has ever known.
Suddenly, Emily is thrust into the role of heroine, with only her faithful betta fish, Orpheus, and reluctant Heroine Ozioma Monroe, by her side. She must use all of the tricks at her disposal to reach the heart of her magical library and stop the Rot from taking away the only home she has ever known.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 18, 2024
24 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
About the author
Avery Carter
12 books26 followersAvery Carter is an English teacher and walking art museum, covered in tattoos, ocean blue hair tied out of their face, and square, purple glasses. They proudly proclaim that they are the "coolest person you know" to their students, and spend each day trying to live up to that title. They are a nonbinary queer author living in South Korea with their wife and two dogs. They spend their days writing new stories, and teaching their students to love words as much as they do.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 3, 2024
Spellbound was such a fun and cozy read! The entire book is set in a magical library, and the world building was very easy to follow. The characters are so well written, including the betta fish, Orpheus, and the Griffon, Nike, who have very big personalities. Another exciting aspect is that there is art throughout the book! As Emily enters deeper into the library, each new level gets an illustrated page, which I thought was such a nice touch. I especially loved that, while it’s cozy, serious topics are touched on: imposters syndrome, loss, toxic education systems, and more. Last but not least, the romance was so cute! It is rivals to lovers, and it had me giggling and swinging my feet with joy.
October 12, 2024
This is such a cute magical library story. I really enjoyed the simplicity of it. It’s short and easy to read, but there’s a lot beneath the surface. It’s worth the read.
May 14, 2024
This review was originally published on Reedsy Discovery.
Emily Carlisle is a Witch of the Stack, tasked with taking care of the most powerful magical library in existence and assisting heroes and heroines on their quests with the help of Orpheus, her betta fish Companion. Her daily life goes by peacefully between a magic potion and a spell, until a mysterious Rot starts destroying her library - and everything she holds dear. Having reluctantly enlisted powerful heroine Ozioma Monroe to help her fight the Rot, Emily is suddenly forced to stop assisting and start leading her own adventure, or it might be the last thing any of them do.
Spellbound is a deeply charming and engaging novel brimming with magic and presenting a cast of endearing characters. It is impossible not to root for Emily as she fights hard to save her home, and it is easy to connect with her as her past is slowly revealed. Emily's relationships with her fish, Orpheus, and with heroine Ozioma are also great, with the banter providing several light-hearted moments while maintaining the dialogue feeling natural. The deep bond between the witch, the heroine, and their companions was also deeply touching, and it is clear that great care and tenderness went into drafting it.
As most of the action takes place within the magical library, the worldbuilding is pretty clear and easy to follow. At times, though, references were made to other locations that seemed set partly in a fantasy world and partly in the real world, which became slightly confusing and left the status of the world outside the library unclear. The magic system was explained very well and used consistently throughout, and it was a delight to travel with Emily within the Stacks and discover what the next level held in store. The Stacks themselves are described vividly, and it is almost possible to see them while reading!
The novel is well-paced, even though the ending felt slightly rushed and could have probably used a bit more breathing space to bring everything to a close comfortably. There was at times some confusion around the protagonists' ages, as in a couple of sections it is mentioned they are seventeen but the way they talk about their life experiences and how they interact made them come across as much older than that. It is not a big issue in itself but sometimes felt rather jarring.
This is mostly a cosy read with some elements of adventure and danger, and as such would perfectly suit a young adult audience as well as some older adults looking for a light, fun and heartwarming read.
I received a free copy of this book via Reedsy Discovery. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.
For more reviews, visit Book for Thought.
Emily Carlisle is a Witch of the Stack, tasked with taking care of the most powerful magical library in existence and assisting heroes and heroines on their quests with the help of Orpheus, her betta fish Companion. Her daily life goes by peacefully between a magic potion and a spell, until a mysterious Rot starts destroying her library - and everything she holds dear. Having reluctantly enlisted powerful heroine Ozioma Monroe to help her fight the Rot, Emily is suddenly forced to stop assisting and start leading her own adventure, or it might be the last thing any of them do.
Spellbound is a deeply charming and engaging novel brimming with magic and presenting a cast of endearing characters. It is impossible not to root for Emily as she fights hard to save her home, and it is easy to connect with her as her past is slowly revealed. Emily's relationships with her fish, Orpheus, and with heroine Ozioma are also great, with the banter providing several light-hearted moments while maintaining the dialogue feeling natural. The deep bond between the witch, the heroine, and their companions was also deeply touching, and it is clear that great care and tenderness went into drafting it.
As most of the action takes place within the magical library, the worldbuilding is pretty clear and easy to follow. At times, though, references were made to other locations that seemed set partly in a fantasy world and partly in the real world, which became slightly confusing and left the status of the world outside the library unclear. The magic system was explained very well and used consistently throughout, and it was a delight to travel with Emily within the Stacks and discover what the next level held in store. The Stacks themselves are described vividly, and it is almost possible to see them while reading!
The novel is well-paced, even though the ending felt slightly rushed and could have probably used a bit more breathing space to bring everything to a close comfortably. There was at times some confusion around the protagonists' ages, as in a couple of sections it is mentioned they are seventeen but the way they talk about their life experiences and how they interact made them come across as much older than that. It is not a big issue in itself but sometimes felt rather jarring.
This is mostly a cosy read with some elements of adventure and danger, and as such would perfectly suit a young adult audience as well as some older adults looking for a light, fun and heartwarming read.
I received a free copy of this book via Reedsy Discovery. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.
For more reviews, visit Book for Thought.
November 10, 2024
A cozy adventure for those who dream of getting lost in a magical library! Emily is relatable and adaptive even in the hardest of times. I look forward to more adventures!
October 25, 2024
sweet take
This is a sweet story of a young witch, caretaker of the stacks, confronting a great adventure. Of course she has companions alongside her.
This is a sweet story of a young witch, caretaker of the stacks, confronting a great adventure. Of course she has companions alongside her.
May 14, 2024
An amazing magical library?
Yes please!
This was quite a fun adventure. I really enjoyed how magical the library was and the adventures one could have among the stacks.
The relationship was very sweet and I did love how they came together.
Yes please!
This was quite a fun adventure. I really enjoyed how magical the library was and the adventures one could have among the stacks.
The relationship was very sweet and I did love how they came together.
December 7, 2024
Who wouldn't want to be the keeper of the library? Emily is the keeper of the stacks and tasked with protecting the library and its information, while also aiding the heroes as they need it. When the library gets infected with the rot, Emily needs a hero to help her save the knowledge inside. What she doesn't expect is that the hero she gets is Ozioma.
This story is a friends/enemies to lovers, but you can't really call them enemies when the animosity is one sided. Emily, having been expelled from Hero Academy, does not feel like she has the magic or the strength to battle the rot and find the heart of the library, but together, they may be able to accomplish this goal.
This book features magical powers, battles, magical creatures, and a blossoming relationship. It was a quick and fun read for those who enjoy fantasy.
This story is a friends/enemies to lovers, but you can't really call them enemies when the animosity is one sided. Emily, having been expelled from Hero Academy, does not feel like she has the magic or the strength to battle the rot and find the heart of the library, but together, they may be able to accomplish this goal.
This book features magical powers, battles, magical creatures, and a blossoming relationship. It was a quick and fun read for those who enjoy fantasy.
December 23, 2025
A delightful, cozy, and wonderfully charming YA fantasy. Avery Carter introduces us to Emily Carlisle, the lovable "Witch of the Stacks," whose quiet life of assisting heroes is upended when a mysterious Rot threatens her magical library. Forced to lead her own quest with a reluctant heroine and her betta fish companion, Emily's journey is brimming with magic, endearing characters, and touching bonds. The magical library setting is vividly realized, and the story balances light-hearted banter with genuine heart and stakes. A perfect, heartwarming read for anyone who loves books about books, magical libraries, and underdog heroines.
June 7, 2024
I really enjoyed this! It's a charming, clever cozy fantasy story set in a well-developed and vivid world. I thought the idea of the stacks was so cool. Each level brought new adventures and stunning imagery. The wider world structure around the Hero Academy, the List etc. was so cool and the book gave a really interesting meta commentary on hero stories and what they mean. I also adored the animal companions. I got very emotional about THAT moment. Would recommend :)
May 4, 2025
You had me at library and magic! What a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed this. It's an easy read in the best way - you can really dive into the story without getting bogged down in fancy words. I love a good sidekick and there are TWO in this story, and the romance is very sweet. My favourite part is all the magic, exploring all the levels of this epic library and learning more about the way magic works in Carter's world.
May 16, 2024
Oh my GOD. I can't believe how quickly this hooked me in. I want my own magical library and betta fish companion. Carter spun a truly spellbinding world that is heart-warming, funny, emotional, and beautiful from beginning to end. One of my favorite reads this year. I can't wait for book two!
April 18, 2025
This story lacked lustre for me. I so wanted to love it, I love the representation of same sex love, but the character development and world building just didn’t do it.
August 5, 2025
3.5 stars
January 16, 2025
I read Spellbound originally as I had the eARC for the sequel, Honorbound, but I found I really enjoyed this cozy fantasy read!
Emily as the Caretaker of the Stacks (magical library) is such a real and relatable character. What brought her to being the Caretaker was thoughtfully shared, giving a lovely insight into what makes her tick. I especially loved Orpehus, her betta fish companion!
Ozioma, a Hero from the Hero Academy, shows up at the library for assistance. Except.. Ozomia is the reason Emily was expelled from the Academy!
A true enemies to lovers story, the adventure of Emily and Ozioma venturing through all of the Levels of the library to the centre, in order to save the Stacks from the encroaching rot is wonderfully and descriptively written.
Emily as the Caretaker of the Stacks (magical library) is such a real and relatable character. What brought her to being the Caretaker was thoughtfully shared, giving a lovely insight into what makes her tick. I especially loved Orpehus, her betta fish companion!
Ozioma, a Hero from the Hero Academy, shows up at the library for assistance. Except.. Ozomia is the reason Emily was expelled from the Academy!
A true enemies to lovers story, the adventure of Emily and Ozioma venturing through all of the Levels of the library to the centre, in order to save the Stacks from the encroaching rot is wonderfully and descriptively written.
June 25, 2025
Stuff your kindle day for Fantasy over the weekend.
I love to sit and have a cuppa and shift through all the books available. Cuddled on the sofa with my little she pointed out a few book covers she liked, Spellbound was her favourite one cause she loves fish 😂
So decided to dive into this one today as she's asked me about 20times since Friday if I read the fish yet 😂
This is a YA cozy read! We follow the caretaker of the magic library who has to enlist the help of a reluctant heroine when her library is under attack from some dark magic and rot. With some banter and hatred all mixed in together and some friendly animal companions. Will they be able to save the Library!
I love to sit and have a cuppa and shift through all the books available. Cuddled on the sofa with my little she pointed out a few book covers she liked, Spellbound was her favourite one cause she loves fish 😂
So decided to dive into this one today as she's asked me about 20times since Friday if I read the fish yet 😂
This is a YA cozy read! We follow the caretaker of the magic library who has to enlist the help of a reluctant heroine when her library is under attack from some dark magic and rot. With some banter and hatred all mixed in together and some friendly animal companions. Will they be able to save the Library!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews