Spellbound

by Nicole Ford Thomas

Sixteen-year-old Davida Archer’s life would be fine if she could just be free of Boston Falls. Ostracized by locals for being the daughter of a witch, she’s welcomed by the one group of people she knows she doesn’t belong with, her mother’s coven. Davie’s autistic mind operates in the rational, so she calls out witchcraft for what it a hoax to stroke the egos of narcissists. How else could she have gone her whole life without witnessing anything remotely magical? When pressured to take over as the coven’s next High Priestess to allow her mother’s retirement, Davie lashes out, bringing about results she never thought possible, changing the world around her.

When Boston Falls is locked in a sleeping spell under an invisible dome, Davie is forced to consider there’s more to magic than she believed.

Luckily, she’s not alone in this reckoning. Unluckily, she’s joined by Gretchen, the Artsy Girl; Jordan, the Basketball Star; and Bryony, the Mean Girl. While the other three quickly overcome their differences to put a plan into action, Davie struggles to find her place in this new reality. Having to trust her childhood bully and two strangers with her life pushes her farther than her understanding of the world can handle.

Guided by Edward, a ghost with his own mysterious motivations, this ragtag group of unlikely allies must learn to use magic before the vengeful spirit of a murdered witch and her zombie army destroy the ensorcelled town.

The rules and boundaries the teens built their identities on crumble without gatekeepers to tell them who to be.

When everything they know to be true about themselves and their standing in high school hierarchy is shaken like the snow globe they’re trapped inside, who will be the real witches when the flakes finally settle?

290 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 31, 2025

Reviews

[Jay Shiplett · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I adore Nicole and everything she writes. Spellbound was so fun and magical mixed with mystery and suspense. You never knew what was coming next! I loved this book and I can’t wait to see what Nicole comes up with next!

[J Noble · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the characters in this book. Nicole did a great job making sure their individual voices were clear. She created a world that was believable and fun to connect with throughout the whole story. I can't wait to read more from her.

[amanda]

spectacular! Great author too. we met her and she was so cool to talk with.

[Aisling Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable YA book about magic, found friendship, and mysterious forces. I won't spoil the ending, but I liked the way the characters developed. There is an autistic skeptical character, which really made me feel seen (HA!). This is a well-paced adventure, and it was a real pleasure to read. Pick this book up if you are looking for a read with a unique magic system and interesting younger characters!