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Spellbringers #1
Spellbound
The Demon Re’Vel stalks his prey in the forest of dreams, slowly gaining control over the mind of his victim. Rachel doesn’t realize the Demon is real. In fact, she doesn’t believe in magic, Demons, Hunters, or any of the other things the Alexanders have warned her about. She resists their protection, but can’t resist her overwhelming feelings for Jace.
Alisa has been drawn to Jace since the day she saved him from a Hunter attack. A mere human in a world of Spellbringers, Alisa has been embraced by the Alexander family as a hero, but not everyone is willing to accept her. Jace’s intimidating older brother, Bryce, keeps his emotions and his secrets hidden. When Bryce confides in Alisa, it puts her relationship with Jace and the entire Alexander family at risk.
Danger, secrets, and betrayal collide, and when the Demon makes his claim, the small, southern town of Oaktree becomes a battleground for Rachel’s life.
Formerly published under the title 'The Claiming Words,' Spellbound is a completely re-written, re-vamped novel featuring added scenes, additional chapters, and a new ending.
Alisa has been drawn to Jace since the day she saved him from a Hunter attack. A mere human in a world of Spellbringers, Alisa has been embraced by the Alexander family as a hero, but not everyone is willing to accept her. Jace’s intimidating older brother, Bryce, keeps his emotions and his secrets hidden. When Bryce confides in Alisa, it puts her relationship with Jace and the entire Alexander family at risk.
Danger, secrets, and betrayal collide, and when the Demon makes his claim, the small, southern town of Oaktree becomes a battleground for Rachel’s life.
Formerly published under the title 'The Claiming Words,' Spellbound is a completely re-written, re-vamped novel featuring added scenes, additional chapters, and a new ending.
263 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 2, 2014
12 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
About the author
Tricia Drammeh
28 books90 followersTricia Drammeh is a wife and mother of four children who lives in New Hampshire. Her published works include The Fifth Circle, The Seance, Better than Perfect, and the Spellbringers series. She is currently working on her ninth novel. When Tricia isn't writing, she can be found hanging out with her dog, devouring books, or drinking record-setting amounts of coffee.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 9, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. Drammeh does a wonderful job of bringing the paranormal and normal together and giving them a balance. I was especially happy to see that not all characters had powers. Some, like Alisa, are your average, kid-next-door types who are still portrayed as strong and an important part of the story. I can't wait to see where she takes her characters next!
February 18, 2015
The lives of Rachel and Alisa, one of the popular girls and the school outcast, will never be the same once new boy Jace moves into town. Though both girls are instantly attracted to him, it's Alisa, the loner, who gets taken home to his family - not as a date, but as the girl who helped him fight off hunters, monsters who devour magic.
Jace's mother reveals that they are Spellbringers, a magical race descended from Faes, and they're in town seeking an innocent; a Spellbringer who doesn't know about their own heritage. Sadly for Alisa it isn't her, but that doesn't stop her from befriending - and falling for - Jace. even though his older brother certainly doesn't approve.
Then, at the school dance, Jace finds the one they're looking for, the innocent. It's Rachel. Their hearts and minds touch and there is no question that they belong together. But how can they be happy when Rachel's strict religious upbringing refused to let her accept herself and get magic? Or when they're being together might hurt Alisa. And, if she's so in love, why does Rachel keep dreaming about the mysterious and romantic Re'Vel?
I love, love, loved this book! Though I connected more to Alisa than Rachel, I thought both were well developed and realistic for their backgrounds and environments. The mythology and world building were awesome, and when it comes to the writing, not a word is wasted; no superfluous sentences to skip or page long descriptions. Well paced, it left me wanting more and I read the last 60% in one setting (instead of doing what I should have been doing) and I started the second book immediately. Yes, it's that good!
Jace's mother reveals that they are Spellbringers, a magical race descended from Faes, and they're in town seeking an innocent; a Spellbringer who doesn't know about their own heritage. Sadly for Alisa it isn't her, but that doesn't stop her from befriending - and falling for - Jace. even though his older brother certainly doesn't approve.
Then, at the school dance, Jace finds the one they're looking for, the innocent. It's Rachel. Their hearts and minds touch and there is no question that they belong together. But how can they be happy when Rachel's strict religious upbringing refused to let her accept herself and get magic? Or when they're being together might hurt Alisa. And, if she's so in love, why does Rachel keep dreaming about the mysterious and romantic Re'Vel?
I love, love, loved this book! Though I connected more to Alisa than Rachel, I thought both were well developed and realistic for their backgrounds and environments. The mythology and world building were awesome, and when it comes to the writing, not a word is wasted; no superfluous sentences to skip or page long descriptions. Well paced, it left me wanting more and I read the last 60% in one setting (instead of doing what I should have been doing) and I started the second book immediately. Yes, it's that good!
August 28, 2014
Absolutely loved this read. It had all the right mix of ingredients for me. Fantasy, with a dash of intrigue and of course a great romance, which is essential. Spell bound is an apt title, as that's what it does, wraps you up and doesn't let you go till you finish the final pages. Great pacing, great character development and fabulous read. I am a fan, and can't wait to read the next in the series.
August 26, 2015
This is one of those books that sat on my TBR list for so long, not because I wasn’t interested, but because I had a feeling once I started I wouldn’t want to stop, and I was right. I’m so glad the summer afforded me the opportunity to read this book without the constant interruptions I’m used to.
Spellbound tells the story of two girls who seem to live in completely different worlds, though they reside in the same town and go to the same school. The thing that draws these to ladies together is the pleasantly invading presence of the Alexander family. One of the girls could be “the one” this magical family has been looking for while the other will alter and change their lives in ways they hadn’t expected from a mere human.
Before I go into the why I loved this book, and I totally did, I just want to say that this author is amazing. I’d read her blog a bit before, but never really followed her writing; what a mistake. Her attention to detail and her respect for the diversity of her characters empowers me to be bolder in my own writing. She’s now one of my favorite authors and I’ll probably start stalking her a bit…Now back to the book.
Obviously from my last statement, you can surmise that the characters of this book are well developed and likable. If you’ve read any of my other reviews, you know that YA is a struggle for me in general because of all the teen antics. This book was no different, but for some reason, I grew to like these characters and quickly got over there teen drama, especially when they started to face real physical and life altering threats.
I like the way the setting aids the story. It takes place in a small town, but the world travels of the Alexander family plays a role in their daily lives. It’s sometimes easy to think that whatever is happening in the story will only affect their little town, but when characters star “popping up” out of the blue from around the world, it really puts matters into a global perspective.
I don’t usually go into too much detail about specific characters in my reviews, but I knew from the start I’d like Bryce, even if he didn’t start out in the best light and wasn’t around much. The descriptions of all the pretty people in this book had me shaking my head and remembering a few good times from high school when I dated basketball players. Ah, youth.
Then there’s the magical element of the story that goes beyond the surface. In this story, magic isn’t a separate entity that affects the character’s world; it’s part of their culture. There is a gray matter that I have been unable to clarify in the use of magic within this story, but I’m hoping the next two books (which I’ve already purchased) will straighten it all up. There are clear good guys and bad guys in the first story, but there’s foreshadowing that implies some characters and events will be more about picking sides than being right and wrong. Plus the ancestors of those with magic all seem to come from the same “people” but are dark and some are light…I can wait to read more.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes YA and or Fantasy and even a few who don’t. Anyone who appreciates cultural diversity in fiction will also appreciate this book, even if they’re not big into fantasy.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest opinion, which has in no way affected the rating of this piece.
Spellbound tells the story of two girls who seem to live in completely different worlds, though they reside in the same town and go to the same school. The thing that draws these to ladies together is the pleasantly invading presence of the Alexander family. One of the girls could be “the one” this magical family has been looking for while the other will alter and change their lives in ways they hadn’t expected from a mere human.
Before I go into the why I loved this book, and I totally did, I just want to say that this author is amazing. I’d read her blog a bit before, but never really followed her writing; what a mistake. Her attention to detail and her respect for the diversity of her characters empowers me to be bolder in my own writing. She’s now one of my favorite authors and I’ll probably start stalking her a bit…Now back to the book.
Obviously from my last statement, you can surmise that the characters of this book are well developed and likable. If you’ve read any of my other reviews, you know that YA is a struggle for me in general because of all the teen antics. This book was no different, but for some reason, I grew to like these characters and quickly got over there teen drama, especially when they started to face real physical and life altering threats.
I like the way the setting aids the story. It takes place in a small town, but the world travels of the Alexander family plays a role in their daily lives. It’s sometimes easy to think that whatever is happening in the story will only affect their little town, but when characters star “popping up” out of the blue from around the world, it really puts matters into a global perspective.
I don’t usually go into too much detail about specific characters in my reviews, but I knew from the start I’d like Bryce, even if he didn’t start out in the best light and wasn’t around much. The descriptions of all the pretty people in this book had me shaking my head and remembering a few good times from high school when I dated basketball players. Ah, youth.
Then there’s the magical element of the story that goes beyond the surface. In this story, magic isn’t a separate entity that affects the character’s world; it’s part of their culture. There is a gray matter that I have been unable to clarify in the use of magic within this story, but I’m hoping the next two books (which I’ve already purchased) will straighten it all up. There are clear good guys and bad guys in the first story, but there’s foreshadowing that implies some characters and events will be more about picking sides than being right and wrong. Plus the ancestors of those with magic all seem to come from the same “people” but are dark and some are light…I can wait to read more.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes YA and or Fantasy and even a few who don’t. Anyone who appreciates cultural diversity in fiction will also appreciate this book, even if they’re not big into fantasy.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest opinion, which has in no way affected the rating of this piece.
August 26, 2015
Originally posted in Daydreaming Books.
**I received a digital copy of this book as a part of the book tour hosted by Diverse Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.**
I really didn't know what to expect from this series when I signed up as the blurb definitely seemed exiting. So I kept a neutral opinion and delved into it. I'm so glad I read this series. It was definitely something new and fresh, the concept, the characters were all intriguing, I loved the alternative POVs of Alisa and Rachel, it definitely gave a better perspective of everything and it was a fascinating read overall.
The story is about two girls named Alisa and Rachel. Whereas Alisa is the loner type, Rachel is miss popular. They are both immediately attracted to Jace, the new boy in school who is actually a Spellbringer. Alisa and Jace becomd good friends after she saves her from an attack and when she brought to his home she learns about who they are and why they are here. Jace's family moved here looking for the "Innocent," meaning the one who who has no idea that he/she is a Spellbringer. Jace finds out that Rachel is the Innocent and they develop a bond quickly. But nothing can be simple when there’s a demon involved, specially when he claims he has claiming rights over Rachel.
First of all, I loved the plot. It was fresh and interesting. We are introduced to the world of the Spellbringers and their lifestyle. Rachel finds out that she is a Spellbringer herself and she is brought under the care of the Alexander family who are the Spellbringers. They all have their own unique abilities which was interesting to read about. The twist with the demon Re'Vel was another intersecting concept. Rachel had no idea that the person in her dreams was actually a real demon with whom she feels a strange connection though she fell in love with Jace. I really liked the backstory behind the connection between Rachel and the demon.
The characters were good. I loved Alisa. She was the loner type, she barely had any friends but she was pretty brave. When Jace was once in trouble, without thinking she helped him and then she was introduced to the Alexander family. She liked Jace, more than a lot but Jace's eyes were fixed on another. I liked Rachel though I didn't warm up to her. I know, they connected in a different way but I think it was just too fast. I didn't like Jace either. I guess he was an okay character but he seemed a bit immature. Though I definitely loved Bryce, Jace's older brother. He was rude and arrogant at first but I loved seeing how he and Alisa slowly developed a relationship over time. And how can I forget Jerica, Jace's mom. She was simply awsome, the best kind of mother anybody could ever have. She was loving, caring, understanding and protective.
The writing was simple and easy to read. The pace was even throughout the book. Though at some parts I did feel a little bored but I liked the book overall.
Recommend it?
Yes.
**I received a digital copy of this book as a part of the book tour hosted by Diverse Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.**
I really didn't know what to expect from this series when I signed up as the blurb definitely seemed exiting. So I kept a neutral opinion and delved into it. I'm so glad I read this series. It was definitely something new and fresh, the concept, the characters were all intriguing, I loved the alternative POVs of Alisa and Rachel, it definitely gave a better perspective of everything and it was a fascinating read overall.
The story is about two girls named Alisa and Rachel. Whereas Alisa is the loner type, Rachel is miss popular. They are both immediately attracted to Jace, the new boy in school who is actually a Spellbringer. Alisa and Jace becomd good friends after she saves her from an attack and when she brought to his home she learns about who they are and why they are here. Jace's family moved here looking for the "Innocent," meaning the one who who has no idea that he/she is a Spellbringer. Jace finds out that Rachel is the Innocent and they develop a bond quickly. But nothing can be simple when there’s a demon involved, specially when he claims he has claiming rights over Rachel.
First of all, I loved the plot. It was fresh and interesting. We are introduced to the world of the Spellbringers and their lifestyle. Rachel finds out that she is a Spellbringer herself and she is brought under the care of the Alexander family who are the Spellbringers. They all have their own unique abilities which was interesting to read about. The twist with the demon Re'Vel was another intersecting concept. Rachel had no idea that the person in her dreams was actually a real demon with whom she feels a strange connection though she fell in love with Jace. I really liked the backstory behind the connection between Rachel and the demon.
The characters were good. I loved Alisa. She was the loner type, she barely had any friends but she was pretty brave. When Jace was once in trouble, without thinking she helped him and then she was introduced to the Alexander family. She liked Jace, more than a lot but Jace's eyes were fixed on another. I liked Rachel though I didn't warm up to her. I know, they connected in a different way but I think it was just too fast. I didn't like Jace either. I guess he was an okay character but he seemed a bit immature. Though I definitely loved Bryce, Jace's older brother. He was rude and arrogant at first but I loved seeing how he and Alisa slowly developed a relationship over time. And how can I forget Jerica, Jace's mom. She was simply awsome, the best kind of mother anybody could ever have. She was loving, caring, understanding and protective.
The writing was simple and easy to read. The pace was even throughout the book. Though at some parts I did feel a little bored but I liked the book overall.
Recommend it?
Yes.
September 11, 2014
Before Jace came to Oaktree, Alisa was friendless and unpopular. After she saves him from a Hunter, everything changes. Jace and his family introduce her to the world of Spellbringers, and change the way she looks at everything, including herself. Of course, Jace's older brother, Bryce, is very vocal with his opinions about letting a human in on their secret. When Bryce finally opens himself up to her, things change between them in many ways.
Rachel is every bit your average high school student. Popular, athletic, and has an amazing boyfriend. When Jace shows up on her radar, everything begins to change. He helps her unlock a part of herself she didn't even know existed. When her dreams of Re'Vel, a powerful demon, start taking a turn for the worse, Rachel has to accept her gifts and look towards Jace and his family.
A dark family secret, danger, and magic, Rachel and Alisa have learn how to adjust to life with their new knowledge and be wary of The Claiming Words.
I can honestly say that this rewrite has turned what used to be The Claiming Words into a more driven and intense story that is now Spellbound. Tricia Drammeh has worked her bottom off to make this every bit the novel that she initially wanted. The care and concern for this story as a whole are evident with every turn of the page.
As someone that has read both The Claiming Words and Spellbound, I can tell you that the story is very different. If you think you shouldn't read it because you already have read TCW then you're sadly mistaken. This book is phenomenal and I would recommend it to just about any one.
Amazing job, Tricia!
Rachel is every bit your average high school student. Popular, athletic, and has an amazing boyfriend. When Jace shows up on her radar, everything begins to change. He helps her unlock a part of herself she didn't even know existed. When her dreams of Re'Vel, a powerful demon, start taking a turn for the worse, Rachel has to accept her gifts and look towards Jace and his family.
A dark family secret, danger, and magic, Rachel and Alisa have learn how to adjust to life with their new knowledge and be wary of The Claiming Words.
I can honestly say that this rewrite has turned what used to be The Claiming Words into a more driven and intense story that is now Spellbound. Tricia Drammeh has worked her bottom off to make this every bit the novel that she initially wanted. The care and concern for this story as a whole are evident with every turn of the page.
As someone that has read both The Claiming Words and Spellbound, I can tell you that the story is very different. If you think you shouldn't read it because you already have read TCW then you're sadly mistaken. This book is phenomenal and I would recommend it to just about any one.
Amazing job, Tricia!
August 16, 2014
From the opening sentence of Spellbound I was hooked. Tricia Drammeh expertly weaves a tale of great fascination. I read in a fury wanting to know more. I was enthralled with the story and indulged myself until I got to the end. I couldn't put this book down. That is how good it is.
Alisa's story touched me and I could relate to her insecurities. She is a teenager who has to deal with a constant bully who happens to be her cousin.
Written in such a way it was easy to connect to her and what she was going through.
I liked that this story shared different viewpoints, going from Alisa to Rachel. Both stories seemed to parallel the other. Really felt like I was getting into their heads. So good to get more than one perspective.
I guess you can call this a coming-of-age story yet it isn't quite what it seems. There are paranormal aspects that kept me guessing and a well developed plot line that kept me on my toes. So many twists that I did not see coming.
I don't think you have to be young to enjoy this YA story. I ate it up in one sitting. This book is fast paced, wildly entertaining and easy to escape into the unknown that was Spellbound. Highly recommend reading this book before book two, Firebound comes out. This is a great start to the Spellbringers series.
Quote ~
"My worry over Jeffrey would be a constant tickle in the back of my mind, probably for the rest of my life. I longed for days past when the only things I had to worry about were grades and college applications.I used to live in a world where magic only existed in my silly little vampire novels. Now magic followed me everywhere, and I couldn't find safety even in my dreams."
Alisa's story touched me and I could relate to her insecurities. She is a teenager who has to deal with a constant bully who happens to be her cousin.
Written in such a way it was easy to connect to her and what she was going through.
I liked that this story shared different viewpoints, going from Alisa to Rachel. Both stories seemed to parallel the other. Really felt like I was getting into their heads. So good to get more than one perspective.
I guess you can call this a coming-of-age story yet it isn't quite what it seems. There are paranormal aspects that kept me guessing and a well developed plot line that kept me on my toes. So many twists that I did not see coming.
I don't think you have to be young to enjoy this YA story. I ate it up in one sitting. This book is fast paced, wildly entertaining and easy to escape into the unknown that was Spellbound. Highly recommend reading this book before book two, Firebound comes out. This is a great start to the Spellbringers series.
Quote ~
"My worry over Jeffrey would be a constant tickle in the back of my mind, probably for the rest of my life. I longed for days past when the only things I had to worry about were grades and college applications.I used to live in a world where magic only existed in my silly little vampire novels. Now magic followed me everywhere, and I couldn't find safety even in my dreams."
September 1, 2014
I just finished reading Spellbound. Immediately went to Amazon to get Firebound and discovered that it's not released yet ! Can't wait to read the next book in the series. Tricia Drammeh did an excellent job with Spellbound. I am sure I won't be disappointed with Firebound. I will get and read all her other works as well. I highly recommend this author!
May 10, 2019
At first, I thought this being told from two POVs would be confusing, but it was handled beautifully. Both characters were different and highly enjoyable to read about their journeys. I did like Alisa more than Rachel, but I couldn’t see the story only being from Rachel’s POV.
The romance is done very well. Rachel and Jace are pretty insta-love, but it is explained in the novel, so it didn’t bother me too much. I loved how Alisa and Bryce come together. It was really sweet and reminds me of me and my fiancé.
The magic is a bit underwhelming, but I hope it’s expanded on in the second novel. I liked the demons, though. I wish they had more time in this novel.
This is a solid novel, and I do recommend it.
The romance is done very well. Rachel and Jace are pretty insta-love, but it is explained in the novel, so it didn’t bother me too much. I loved how Alisa and Bryce come together. It was really sweet and reminds me of me and my fiancé.
The magic is a bit underwhelming, but I hope it’s expanded on in the second novel. I liked the demons, though. I wish they had more time in this novel.
This is a solid novel, and I do recommend it.
September 27, 2019
Romance and coming of age aside, the setting and background story are great and somewhat fresh. Loved some of the adult characters and found most of them credible.
March 26, 2024
I loved the book the love between the characters the plot twist of the friends is crazy totally recommend
August 29, 2015
The Plot: The Demon Re’Vel stalks his prey in the forest of dreams, slowly gaining control over the mind of his victim. Rachel doesn’t realize the Demon is real. In fact, she doesn’t believe in magic, Demons, Hunters, or any of the other things the Alexanders have warned her about. She resists their protection, but can’t resist her overwhelming feelings for Jace.
Alisa has been drawn to Jace since the day she saved him from a Hunter attack. A mere human in a world of Spellbringers, Alisa has been embraced by the Alexander family as a hero, but not everyone is willing to accept her. Jace’s intimidating older brother, Bryce, keeps his emotions and his secrets hidden. When Bryce confides in Alisa, it puts her relationship with Jace and the entire Alexander family at risk.
Danger, secrets, and betrayal collide, and when the Demon makes his claim, the small, southern town of Oaktree becomes a battleground for Rachel’s life.
Formerly published under the title 'The Claiming Words,' Spellbound is a completely re-written, re-vamped novel featuring added scenes, additional chapters, and a new ending.
Key Characters: Alisa's character develops throughout this novel and I love seeing her grow and develop into a better, stronger person. I also much enjoyed Bryce's character development into something a bit softer, but just as fierce. Jace was a so-so character. I loved to hate him and hated to love him. He was a bit comical at times and unbelievable. I loved him paired with Rachel, however. Rachel is so anal retentive that Jace gives her the looseness that her character needs. I am very intrigued about Rachel's character and I want to learn more about her. I hope that Jace's character gets a revamp though, because I find him a bit juvenile and annoying.
Likes: I really like the relationship that developed between Alisa and Bryce. It was unexpected and perfectly done. They pair off together so well that you see the flaws in Jace and Rachel's relationship. I like Rachel's attraction to the Demon and I want to see more of what is going on there. Is it just the Claiming Spell or is there an actual attraction? I think it is just the Claiming Spell, but if it is anything like Alisa and Bryce's, it is going to be really hard to resist. I like that Alisa and Bryce's relationship is more mature and I hope to see it expanded on in the second book. I feel like their relationship makes this book in a better position for a transition to an older audience and less high school orientated.
Dislikes: I feel like this book is for a younger crowd. I think that high school girls would love this book and rave about it more than me. Towards the end, it got more mature and grown up. It makes me look forward to the second book to see if this mature theme stays or not. I didn't really like Jace. I think his character could have been done differently to make him more likable. Some parts of the novel were a bit slow and boring, although most of it wasn't at all. I don't really have a whole lot of dislikes to be honest. I thought the story was executed beautifully.
Overall Opinion: Overall, I really loved this book, but I feel like most of the book is for high school age girls and not necessarily young adult. If the second book continues to mature and grow out of the high school format, I think that it will have a lot of potential as a series that I would like to continue. I am looking forward to reading the second book. I actually just started reading the second one earlier this week. I will be uploading reviews on the other two once I finish them, but the book tour is over with this post. I'll still use the book banner, so you know I received it from the tour and I'll state it in the review itself. The writing is very distinctive and I think the story can only go up from here. I think there is a lot of potential for the series to get better. Again, I have rated it three stars, because the story was a bit young for me. If the next one is more mature, I could see giving the next one a higher rating. Please let me know, if you guys like this type of short review. I really enjoyed writing it.
3 out of 5 stars
Alisa has been drawn to Jace since the day she saved him from a Hunter attack. A mere human in a world of Spellbringers, Alisa has been embraced by the Alexander family as a hero, but not everyone is willing to accept her. Jace’s intimidating older brother, Bryce, keeps his emotions and his secrets hidden. When Bryce confides in Alisa, it puts her relationship with Jace and the entire Alexander family at risk.
Danger, secrets, and betrayal collide, and when the Demon makes his claim, the small, southern town of Oaktree becomes a battleground for Rachel’s life.
Formerly published under the title 'The Claiming Words,' Spellbound is a completely re-written, re-vamped novel featuring added scenes, additional chapters, and a new ending.
Key Characters: Alisa's character develops throughout this novel and I love seeing her grow and develop into a better, stronger person. I also much enjoyed Bryce's character development into something a bit softer, but just as fierce. Jace was a so-so character. I loved to hate him and hated to love him. He was a bit comical at times and unbelievable. I loved him paired with Rachel, however. Rachel is so anal retentive that Jace gives her the looseness that her character needs. I am very intrigued about Rachel's character and I want to learn more about her. I hope that Jace's character gets a revamp though, because I find him a bit juvenile and annoying.
Likes: I really like the relationship that developed between Alisa and Bryce. It was unexpected and perfectly done. They pair off together so well that you see the flaws in Jace and Rachel's relationship. I like Rachel's attraction to the Demon and I want to see more of what is going on there. Is it just the Claiming Spell or is there an actual attraction? I think it is just the Claiming Spell, but if it is anything like Alisa and Bryce's, it is going to be really hard to resist. I like that Alisa and Bryce's relationship is more mature and I hope to see it expanded on in the second book. I feel like their relationship makes this book in a better position for a transition to an older audience and less high school orientated.
Dislikes: I feel like this book is for a younger crowd. I think that high school girls would love this book and rave about it more than me. Towards the end, it got more mature and grown up. It makes me look forward to the second book to see if this mature theme stays or not. I didn't really like Jace. I think his character could have been done differently to make him more likable. Some parts of the novel were a bit slow and boring, although most of it wasn't at all. I don't really have a whole lot of dislikes to be honest. I thought the story was executed beautifully.
Overall Opinion: Overall, I really loved this book, but I feel like most of the book is for high school age girls and not necessarily young adult. If the second book continues to mature and grow out of the high school format, I think that it will have a lot of potential as a series that I would like to continue. I am looking forward to reading the second book. I actually just started reading the second one earlier this week. I will be uploading reviews on the other two once I finish them, but the book tour is over with this post. I'll still use the book banner, so you know I received it from the tour and I'll state it in the review itself. The writing is very distinctive and I think the story can only go up from here. I think there is a lot of potential for the series to get better. Again, I have rated it three stars, because the story was a bit young for me. If the next one is more mature, I could see giving the next one a higher rating. Please let me know, if you guys like this type of short review. I really enjoyed writing it.
3 out of 5 stars
October 9, 2015
Spellbound (Spellbringers #1) by Tricia Drammeh (4.3 Stars)
The Book
There are two narrators in this story, Alisa Cole and Rachel Stephens.
Alisa is the school’s outsider. She cannot disappear, as her cousin Becky is the main oppressor – especially after new boy Jace Alexander arrives, whom every girl immediately crushes on, and Alisa can’t escape it either. Alisa knows there is something different about Jace even before she sees that he is attacked by a Hunter on his way home from school, and she saves his life. Jace comes from a magically gifted family, a people called Spellbringers. As she saved his life, she is welcomed into the family, but there is one exception to the welcome, Jace’s brother Bryce. Bryce is cold, distanced, and seems to want nothing more than to see Alisa leave the family alone, ignorant of their powers.
Rachel is one of the populars at school. In fact, she is Becky’s best friend, and not seldom involved in Alisa’s, as well as others, bullying. But she also keeps a secret from everyone around her. When, at a high school dance, she is asked to dance by Jace, they have an immediate, magical connection. Rachel is an Innocent, a Spellbringer who didn’t know about her magical heritage, and the Alexanders had moved to town to find her, teach her, and introduce her into the magical community.
Why I Read The Book
I’m not exactly sure why I read the book. I think I downloaded it out of boredom. (I would like to state at this point that the name “Jace”, and one’s immediate connection to The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, had absolutely nothing to do with my decision. No way!) I shouldn’t even have wanted to read the book, since it clearly offered a love triangle between Jace, Alisa, and Rachel, and I don’t like them (I might have mentioned). Well, I may also have read the summaries to the other two books in the series, by which time I decided that I wanted to read the entire series.
The Idea
Magic. I must admit that I am currently not too familiar with the magic side of young adult fiction. Since I am always open for new subgenres, here I am. The Spellbringers sounded interesting, especially since they never painted their people as a blissful community, but the dangers of being one of them are shown immediately – as Alisa saves Jace from a Hunter. Naturally, I wasn’t drawn by the idea of a love triangle, but the dark and brooding Bryce gave hope that it wouldn’t be everlasting, and I was curious how the change in feelings, both in Bryce and Alisa, came about – especially since Jace and Bryce are brothers. Lastly, I was curious about the narration-style, giving two main narrators and storylines.
Characters
Alisa opens the novel by narrating the first chapter. She was my favourite character in the novel, particularly because I could relate to her in so many ways. She is shy, an outsider, unable to form a coherent sentence with peers she considers above and beyond her. At the same time, when she doesn’t think about what she is doing, she is undeniably brave. Her development throughout the novel is interesting to see, as the friendship with Jace brings her out of her shell, and her budding romance with Bryce shows unanticipated courage.
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The Book
There are two narrators in this story, Alisa Cole and Rachel Stephens.
Alisa is the school’s outsider. She cannot disappear, as her cousin Becky is the main oppressor – especially after new boy Jace Alexander arrives, whom every girl immediately crushes on, and Alisa can’t escape it either. Alisa knows there is something different about Jace even before she sees that he is attacked by a Hunter on his way home from school, and she saves his life. Jace comes from a magically gifted family, a people called Spellbringers. As she saved his life, she is welcomed into the family, but there is one exception to the welcome, Jace’s brother Bryce. Bryce is cold, distanced, and seems to want nothing more than to see Alisa leave the family alone, ignorant of their powers.
Rachel is one of the populars at school. In fact, she is Becky’s best friend, and not seldom involved in Alisa’s, as well as others, bullying. But she also keeps a secret from everyone around her. When, at a high school dance, she is asked to dance by Jace, they have an immediate, magical connection. Rachel is an Innocent, a Spellbringer who didn’t know about her magical heritage, and the Alexanders had moved to town to find her, teach her, and introduce her into the magical community.
Why I Read The Book
I’m not exactly sure why I read the book. I think I downloaded it out of boredom. (I would like to state at this point that the name “Jace”, and one’s immediate connection to The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, had absolutely nothing to do with my decision. No way!) I shouldn’t even have wanted to read the book, since it clearly offered a love triangle between Jace, Alisa, and Rachel, and I don’t like them (I might have mentioned). Well, I may also have read the summaries to the other two books in the series, by which time I decided that I wanted to read the entire series.
The Idea
Magic. I must admit that I am currently not too familiar with the magic side of young adult fiction. Since I am always open for new subgenres, here I am. The Spellbringers sounded interesting, especially since they never painted their people as a blissful community, but the dangers of being one of them are shown immediately – as Alisa saves Jace from a Hunter. Naturally, I wasn’t drawn by the idea of a love triangle, but the dark and brooding Bryce gave hope that it wouldn’t be everlasting, and I was curious how the change in feelings, both in Bryce and Alisa, came about – especially since Jace and Bryce are brothers. Lastly, I was curious about the narration-style, giving two main narrators and storylines.
Characters
Alisa opens the novel by narrating the first chapter. She was my favourite character in the novel, particularly because I could relate to her in so many ways. She is shy, an outsider, unable to form a coherent sentence with peers she considers above and beyond her. At the same time, when she doesn’t think about what she is doing, she is undeniably brave. Her development throughout the novel is interesting to see, as the friendship with Jace brings her out of her shell, and her budding romance with Bryce shows unanticipated courage.
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April 9, 2016
Spellbound is the tales of two extremely different girls who discover magic. On before it's within her, the other because she was in the wrong (right) place at the wrong (right) time.
If I like Alicia a lot and could sympathize with her and relate to her, I don't like Rachel all that much. I have a mix feeling about this book because if the story was really good, I had trouble with the relationship between the characters, especially the "love at first sight" type of thing.
I like Alicia because her character seems genuine and she has real problems from the start. She seems real, she is bullied by her cousin for an obscure reason. She has a personality that stays consistent through the entire book. Even though I can't understand the choices in a relationship, I can still see that she is true to herself in her choices. The only flaw in Alicia's character is her unrealistic fighting ability, but at least it makes that part of the book fun.
I have more problem with Rachel because we meet her at a moment of her life when she does a 180 degree turn, cuts all her previous friendship to become something she doesn't seem cut for or not even want. She has also a lot of twist and turns going on, a lot of lying and using people who are trying to help her which I really can't stand and a lack of maturity despite her upbringing. She seems a lot less real than Alicia.
Then there are the relationships which all seem a bit rushed to me. I really hate it when a new guy arrives in high school and all the girls are ready to dumb their boyfriends for him or say they love him on the first day even though they don't know him.
The world development and the plot are really good. There is no mystery remaining even though it's the first of the series with an open ending. We learn with the girl what is a spellbringer and what they can do and who are the enemies. I would have loved to have something from one of the boy's point of view, though, being in Jace or Brice's head for a while would have been interesting.
All in all, I enjoyed reading this book and might add the second one to my to read list.
I would recommend to anyone who wants to see high school girls falling in love in a very different magical world full of more dangers than mysteries.
If I like Alicia a lot and could sympathize with her and relate to her, I don't like Rachel all that much. I have a mix feeling about this book because if the story was really good, I had trouble with the relationship between the characters, especially the "love at first sight" type of thing.
I like Alicia because her character seems genuine and she has real problems from the start. She seems real, she is bullied by her cousin for an obscure reason. She has a personality that stays consistent through the entire book. Even though I can't understand the choices in a relationship, I can still see that she is true to herself in her choices. The only flaw in Alicia's character is her unrealistic fighting ability, but at least it makes that part of the book fun.
I have more problem with Rachel because we meet her at a moment of her life when she does a 180 degree turn, cuts all her previous friendship to become something she doesn't seem cut for or not even want. She has also a lot of twist and turns going on, a lot of lying and using people who are trying to help her which I really can't stand and a lack of maturity despite her upbringing. She seems a lot less real than Alicia.
Then there are the relationships which all seem a bit rushed to me. I really hate it when a new guy arrives in high school and all the girls are ready to dumb their boyfriends for him or say they love him on the first day even though they don't know him.
The world development and the plot are really good. There is no mystery remaining even though it's the first of the series with an open ending. We learn with the girl what is a spellbringer and what they can do and who are the enemies. I would have loved to have something from one of the boy's point of view, though, being in Jace or Brice's head for a while would have been interesting.
All in all, I enjoyed reading this book and might add the second one to my to read list.
I would recommend to anyone who wants to see high school girls falling in love in a very different magical world full of more dangers than mysteries.
August 16, 2015
Spellbound Author Tricia Drammeh.
Spellbound is a fantastic and intriguing read.. About magical people and their family. As they are brought into Rachael and Alisa lives to help them both in different way. What I liked about this novel was that Alisa is a normal girl with a lack of confidence brought on by her cousin's ill treatment of her. However when Jace befriends her life changes and throughout the novel her character grows.
My favourite character through was Bryce mainly because he wasn't nice all the time or perfect but a character over the course of the book that a reader could really get to know slowly and he really grew on me.
Overall this book is a great YA read with magic and demons and a deep family mystery that makes you want to know more. A real credit to the Author..
Spellbound is a fantastic and intriguing read.. About magical people and their family. As they are brought into Rachael and Alisa lives to help them both in different way. What I liked about this novel was that Alisa is a normal girl with a lack of confidence brought on by her cousin's ill treatment of her. However when Jace befriends her life changes and throughout the novel her character grows.
My favourite character through was Bryce mainly because he wasn't nice all the time or perfect but a character over the course of the book that a reader could really get to know slowly and he really grew on me.
Overall this book is a great YA read with magic and demons and a deep family mystery that makes you want to know more. A real credit to the Author..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2016
3.5 STARS
I tried this book after seeing it on a list of free books. It was an appealing subject that I could easily become interested in. The characters are relatable and the relationships sweet. I loved Bryce and Alisa. They wormed their way into my heart almost immediately. I wasn't as invested in Jace and Rachel. I didn't feel the pull and connection with them I did with Bryce and Alisa. The romance between Jase and Rachel felt too instalove and unbelievable. The plot was fascinating with its magical journey and growing. It was slow moving in places that caused my attention to waver, but picked back up. I do recommend this book when looking for an entertaining weekend read. It will have you laughing and nervously reading ahead to see what happens.
I tried this book after seeing it on a list of free books. It was an appealing subject that I could easily become interested in. The characters are relatable and the relationships sweet. I loved Bryce and Alisa. They wormed their way into my heart almost immediately. I wasn't as invested in Jace and Rachel. I didn't feel the pull and connection with them I did with Bryce and Alisa. The romance between Jase and Rachel felt too instalove and unbelievable. The plot was fascinating with its magical journey and growing. It was slow moving in places that caused my attention to waver, but picked back up. I do recommend this book when looking for an entertaining weekend read. It will have you laughing and nervously reading ahead to see what happens.
February 8, 2015
Woaaa... Gak nyangka aku bisa nyelesain novel ini dalam waktu beberapa jam saja. Alur nya cepat tapi bisa diimbangi. Kata-katanya gak ribet dan ngalir. Asik dibaca untuk romance dengan aksi yg gak begitu serius. Walau terkadang bosen karena ada dua heroin dg masing2 problem nya. Bab pertama juga bagus hingga mau gak mau baca tanpa berhenti sampe akhir. agak kecewa kenapa Jace sama Rachel. Hahaha. Tapi overall we get what we need, not what we want..
April 14, 2015
Enticing and addictive
I honestly could not stop reading this book. It's packed with action and love along with so many twists it makes you lose yourself in this world the author has created.
I honestly could not stop reading this book. It's packed with action and love along with so many twists it makes you lose yourself in this world the author has created.
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