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Spellbound Universe #1
Spellbound Freshman: A Slice Of Life Magical Academy HaremLit
Lightning should’ve killed Marcus Shaw.
Instead, it awakens him as a storm-caster—a mage who can link with others and fuse their power into something terrifyingly stronger.
Fenwick University has a secret beneath Spellbound Academy, where gifted freshmen train in covert while rival agencies fight for control of the next generation. Marcus is drafted into an unlikely found family—Elena, a ruthless strategist; Sage, a theory prodigy obsessed with pushing limits; Kira, a half-fae shield with sharp edges; and a steady “reality anchor” who keeps their magic from spiraling out of control.
Their breakthrough is called collaborative casting: consent-based links, synchronized spellwork, and a progression system that rewards trust, teamwork… and intimacy.
The establishment is already scared of what they’re becoming.
Victor Ashford isn’t scared—he’s hunting. He recruits in public and kidnaps in private, building his own “assets” from the students no one can afford to lose. When his campus trap springs, Marcus and his partners have one shot to level up their bond fast enough to survive the ambush—and keep Spellbound Academy from collapsing into a hostile takeover.
Spellbound Freshman is Book 1 in the Spellbound Universe: a new-adult (18+), consent-positive, why-choose academy romance with progression mechanics, covert-program intrigue, and team-based power that hits harder the closer they get.
Instead, it awakens him as a storm-caster—a mage who can link with others and fuse their power into something terrifyingly stronger.
Fenwick University has a secret beneath Spellbound Academy, where gifted freshmen train in covert while rival agencies fight for control of the next generation. Marcus is drafted into an unlikely found family—Elena, a ruthless strategist; Sage, a theory prodigy obsessed with pushing limits; Kira, a half-fae shield with sharp edges; and a steady “reality anchor” who keeps their magic from spiraling out of control.
Their breakthrough is called collaborative casting: consent-based links, synchronized spellwork, and a progression system that rewards trust, teamwork… and intimacy.
The establishment is already scared of what they’re becoming.
Victor Ashford isn’t scared—he’s hunting. He recruits in public and kidnaps in private, building his own “assets” from the students no one can afford to lose. When his campus trap springs, Marcus and his partners have one shot to level up their bond fast enough to survive the ambush—and keep Spellbound Academy from collapsing into a hostile takeover.
Spellbound Freshman is Book 1 in the Spellbound Universe: a new-adult (18+), consent-positive, why-choose academy romance with progression mechanics, covert-program intrigue, and team-based power that hits harder the closer they get.
626 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 2, 2025
208 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 19, 2025
Disjointed ai mess
This series is obviously written using AI. The story bounces all over the place, jumping forward and back in time, repeating introductions, changing character descriptions and personalities randomly.
The story seemed interesting but it was just too disjointed to really get invested in and appreciate. The whole series is obviously AI written when you notice the book publication dates and sizes. Multiple books were basically published on the same day and they keep getting smaller and smaller.
Hopefully Amazon starts cracking down on these AI stories and banning these “authors”
This series is obviously written using AI. The story bounces all over the place, jumping forward and back in time, repeating introductions, changing character descriptions and personalities randomly.
The story seemed interesting but it was just too disjointed to really get invested in and appreciate. The whole series is obviously AI written when you notice the book publication dates and sizes. Multiple books were basically published on the same day and they keep getting smaller and smaller.
Hopefully Amazon starts cracking down on these AI stories and banning these “authors”
July 21, 2025
AI tool prompt still present in a chapter (one full page of instructions).
June 14, 2025
Wasted Potential
Started out okay, but several issues cropped up.
In one chapter, the MC meets a character, and the next, they can't recognize the same character, even though they are supposed to be interacting often.
MC has problems controlling his magic, and with nothing showing him really working on control, he's suddenly improved.
Plus, little to no emotional or relationship development shown on the page.
Just feels like it should have been longer, to allow for more development.
Started out okay, but several issues cropped up.
In one chapter, the MC meets a character, and the next, they can't recognize the same character, even though they are supposed to be interacting often.
MC has problems controlling his magic, and with nothing showing him really working on control, he's suddenly improved.
Plus, little to no emotional or relationship development shown on the page.
Just feels like it should have been longer, to allow for more development.
September 22, 2025
Questionable start to a series
I am leading with I will be reading book two of this series. Why after rating the first book a three? I would have rated it a two and a half but the ratings system doesn’t allow me to.
I would have rated the book a five just based on the storyline only. The reason for the reduced rating was due to the atrocious grammatical errors and various time frame discrepancies / occurrences throughout the book. I found the magical corroboration theme to be quite interesting and why I will continue onto the next book.
Such as MC Marcus speaking in the third person within the same sentence. Author introduces Sage as a female but throughout the first half of the book flip flops Sage’s gender from she/her to him/he.
The main antagonist Victor Ashford is introduced about 40% into the story as villainous character, who is initially defeated by Marcus and his friends, then in the next chapter, Victor and his group have been disbanded and are on the run. One or two chapters later Victor and his group are back after Marcus and his friends and as the writings suggest they are unaware of who Victor is what previously happened earlier in the story.
Two thirds through the book the author introduces a wide spread conspiracy that Marcus and his friends uncovers. A couple of times thereafter the conspiracy comes up in other sequences and Marcus and his friends don’t remember they uncovered it previously, they act as if this was the first time the conspiracy has come to light.
In full disclosure I was almost going to stop reading this book about half way through because I was frustrated by the errors and timing issues. Two things kept me from ditching this book.
One was that the author stated before the start of the story that he has several rewrites/updates (as of 9/14/25) made to this book due to storyline issues in future books that he tries to introduce / clarify here in this book. I have leaned into the premise that the author edit/updates were applied haphazardly and said book wasn’t put through a full review to ensure continuity of said story.
Secondly, usually once I’ve invested my time with a book, I’m just stubborn about not completing what I’ve started.
FYI, there are no harem issues or spicy content in this first book, though the potential is there for future books in the series.
I am leading with I will be reading book two of this series. Why after rating the first book a three? I would have rated it a two and a half but the ratings system doesn’t allow me to.
I would have rated the book a five just based on the storyline only. The reason for the reduced rating was due to the atrocious grammatical errors and various time frame discrepancies / occurrences throughout the book. I found the magical corroboration theme to be quite interesting and why I will continue onto the next book.
Such as MC Marcus speaking in the third person within the same sentence. Author introduces Sage as a female but throughout the first half of the book flip flops Sage’s gender from she/her to him/he.
The main antagonist Victor Ashford is introduced about 40% into the story as villainous character, who is initially defeated by Marcus and his friends, then in the next chapter, Victor and his group have been disbanded and are on the run. One or two chapters later Victor and his group are back after Marcus and his friends and as the writings suggest they are unaware of who Victor is what previously happened earlier in the story.
Two thirds through the book the author introduces a wide spread conspiracy that Marcus and his friends uncovers. A couple of times thereafter the conspiracy comes up in other sequences and Marcus and his friends don’t remember they uncovered it previously, they act as if this was the first time the conspiracy has come to light.
In full disclosure I was almost going to stop reading this book about half way through because I was frustrated by the errors and timing issues. Two things kept me from ditching this book.
One was that the author stated before the start of the story that he has several rewrites/updates (as of 9/14/25) made to this book due to storyline issues in future books that he tries to introduce / clarify here in this book. I have leaned into the premise that the author edit/updates were applied haphazardly and said book wasn’t put through a full review to ensure continuity of said story.
Secondly, usually once I’ve invested my time with a book, I’m just stubborn about not completing what I’ve started.
FYI, there are no harem issues or spicy content in this first book, though the potential is there for future books in the series.
July 28, 2025
I usually don’t read Fantasy type books but this storyline intrigued me…i rated it lower because it has potential to be a great story BUT work needs to be done. I thought it was a brilliant idea to have the main character, who appears to be a normal guy, be caught in a weather related incident and all of a sudden have magical powers/energies! All at once, his eyes are opened to a whole new world…one that exists simultaneously with his “regular” college life. Not only is he going through his regular routine but now he is exposed to new classes and friends, all the while trying to reign in this really powerful magic he now has. Suddenly in the story, assassins are trying to destroy him…apparently he is an abomination even to the magic world. His powers seem to be stronger than the old world ideas and that is unacceptable! The story guides Marcus and his new friends as they work together to figure out who is after him…I don’t want to give too much away though. As I said above, this story was intriguing and made me go away from my usual genre. However, the story is very disjointed. I’m not sure that it was edited or edited by a human….the story jumps around, days don’t match up and characters are introduced as if you know the, already. Was there a prequel to this series? Not sure but it seems a little background info could be helpful to the reader. Also, at times, the main characters human roommate is not supposed to know one of the new friends or that they have powers and at lunch, he has this knowledge. Bounce back to another chapter and they are explaining the magic to him… I caught many errors where letters were left out of words and the main Professor goes from a woman to a man to a woman again.
July 29, 2025
I gave up and stopped reading early. DNF @8% (did not finish)
The book starts with an "author's note" saying it has been revised to fix continuity errors. Yeah, right. In chapter one we are told it's Tuesday:
But then
Later that night, he gets home and we learn
In the next chapter, which we are told is 24 hours later, Tuesday is only 3 days away.
These are not the only errors, either. Professor Storm gives our MC her business card and invites him to her class twice in two separate scenes. Other reviews suggested this is AI slop, yeah very well could be, it has that six-finger vibe to it.
The book starts with an "author's note" saying it has been revised to fix continuity errors. Yeah, right. In chapter one we are told it's Tuesday:
“This is insane,” I said. “This is Tuesday,” she corrected.
—Duskborn, Marko.Spellbound Freshman: A Slice Of Life Magical Academy HaremLit (Spellbound University Book 1) (p. 5). Independent. Kindle Edition.
But then
(She says) “Or you meet me Tuesday evening at seven o’clock, room 301 in the Whitmore Building. And you learn what you truly are.”
—Duskborn, Marko.Spellbound Freshman: A Slice Of Life Magical Academy HaremLit (Spellbound University Book 1) (p. 7). Independent. Kindle Edition.
Later that night, he gets home and we learn
Tuesday was five days away. Five days to pretend everything was normal. Five days to avoid frying any more electronics. Five days to decide if I was brave enough—or stupid enough—to find out what came next.
—Duskborn, Marko.Spellbound Freshman: A Slice Of Life Magical Academy HaremLit (Spellbound University Book 1) (p. 9). Independent. Kindle Edition.
In the next chapter, which we are told is 24 hours later, Tuesday is only 3 days away.
These are not the only errors, either. Professor Storm gives our MC her business card and invites him to her class twice in two separate scenes. Other reviews suggested this is AI slop, yeah very well could be, it has that six-finger vibe to it.
June 18, 2025
Spellbound Freshman: A Slice Of Life Magical Academy Harem (Spellbound University Book 1) by Marko Duskborn
I enjoyed this book because of the theme. It's not my usual genre so it was easy to follow everything as the story progressed.
Story starts out with Marcus and he acquires abilities he didn't know he had.
He ends up going to an academy where he can learn more about his abilities and how to control them. Nobody even knew the level he was at.
The team consists of Sage who's a brilliant researcher with master in magical theory, Kira half fae and like Marcus, trying to find her place among them all, and Elena who's family has connections.
Besides them all becoming friends they learn of others who want to expel Marcus because he wasn't born with the magic in his bloodline.
With help from them all Marcus is able to show enough power to take one assassin down and leave another unconscious in front of the elite party who are trying to expel him.
There are just a few involved and the researcher has found all the underlying evidence in plain sight and Victor goes under scrutiny from the panel...
Very entertaining book with sides of human, sci fic and magic and mystical overtures.
I enjoyed this book because of the theme. It's not my usual genre so it was easy to follow everything as the story progressed.
Story starts out with Marcus and he acquires abilities he didn't know he had.
He ends up going to an academy where he can learn more about his abilities and how to control them. Nobody even knew the level he was at.
The team consists of Sage who's a brilliant researcher with master in magical theory, Kira half fae and like Marcus, trying to find her place among them all, and Elena who's family has connections.
Besides them all becoming friends they learn of others who want to expel Marcus because he wasn't born with the magic in his bloodline.
With help from them all Marcus is able to show enough power to take one assassin down and leave another unconscious in front of the elite party who are trying to expel him.
There are just a few involved and the researcher has found all the underlying evidence in plain sight and Victor goes under scrutiny from the panel...
Very entertaining book with sides of human, sci fic and magic and mystical overtures.
July 28, 2025
This book is missing entire chapters
I dropped it after chapter 5, we are missing so much info it's literally unreadable, I hate doing this to new authors, but the entire first part of this book probably needs a rewrite. We have characters just randomly popping in out of nowhere that clearly have history with the MC. We have a roommate who doesn't know about magic, then suddenly he's at lunch joking around and does know everything, and then we have the MC debating on telling him because he doesn't know about magic. Then there is the fact that he was going to school that's completely forgotten, and he only has magic classes with no interduction. Originally, he was just meeting the teacher a couple of times a week and presumably still attending normal school. This book has great premises but is incredibly poorly executed, at least in the first 20%, and it's a shame, hopefully it's fix and I can come back to this one.
I dropped it after chapter 5, we are missing so much info it's literally unreadable, I hate doing this to new authors, but the entire first part of this book probably needs a rewrite. We have characters just randomly popping in out of nowhere that clearly have history with the MC. We have a roommate who doesn't know about magic, then suddenly he's at lunch joking around and does know everything, and then we have the MC debating on telling him because he doesn't know about magic. Then there is the fact that he was going to school that's completely forgotten, and he only has magic classes with no interduction. Originally, he was just meeting the teacher a couple of times a week and presumably still attending normal school. This book has great premises but is incredibly poorly executed, at least in the first 20%, and it's a shame, hopefully it's fix and I can come back to this one.
March 9, 2026
2026 Revised and edited version
I have really enjoyed the storyline and I'm looking forward to diving further into the Spellbound world.
The only issue I had is it felt like I was was reading both the original and the edited version at the same time. for example, Chapters were repeated but the scenarios were different, there are gaps where it feels like there is missed information, especially at the beginning of the book, which then adds to the confusion about the bad guys.
It is probably an editing error but it does need revising. I would love to be able to read this book again and understand what is going on from start to finish. 😊
I have really enjoyed the storyline and I'm looking forward to diving further into the Spellbound world.
The only issue I had is it felt like I was was reading both the original and the edited version at the same time. for example, Chapters were repeated but the scenarios were different, there are gaps where it feels like there is missed information, especially at the beginning of the book, which then adds to the confusion about the bad guys.
It is probably an editing error but it does need revising. I would love to be able to read this book again and understand what is going on from start to finish. 😊
August 9, 2025
I thought this would be a lot spicier than it actually was. I feel like the book description I was given (which is totally different from the description posted here on this site btw), does not at all match the book that I read. It did have a few interesting moments, particularly the creature combat sessions. It might have been a lot better if the discoveries there were further probed, and of course if the plot points in my description were included. I received a free copy from Hidden Gems and this is my honest review.
July 12, 2025
Odd story
I don't normally review this low but plot errors are a problem. Earlier in the text, MC is intimate with a character then it seems like that is forgotten as to decide to form a group. Another area, one character is a friend and then it seems like they haven't met. Author is either an AI of high functioning autistic. And I have no idea what the phase 3 section meant. I cannot recommend this story.
I don't normally review this low but plot errors are a problem. Earlier in the text, MC is intimate with a character then it seems like that is forgotten as to decide to form a group. Another area, one character is a friend and then it seems like they haven't met. Author is either an AI of high functioning autistic. And I have no idea what the phase 3 section meant. I cannot recommend this story.
September 24, 2025
Hot mess
This book is disjointed. Hoping from one scene or place to the next out of nowhere. Also at the beginning of the book we are introduced to a character that is male. Then for a while the character is referred to as a female. A couple of characters later the same character is again referred to as a male. At that point I just could not take it anymore. All this was by chapter 5.
This book is disjointed. Hoping from one scene or place to the next out of nowhere. Also at the beginning of the book we are introduced to a character that is male. Then for a while the character is referred to as a female. A couple of characters later the same character is again referred to as a male. At that point I just could not take it anymore. All this was by chapter 5.
October 2, 2025
Are the reviews getting padded on this?
This book is all over the place. One moment the storm happened last Saturday, then next it's been 3 years. Then one of the characters turned from a man to a woman, and one of the teachers also went from a scary man to a lady teacher. I'm completely lost, it's like I'm reading a horribly translated novel. How are people giving this 5 stars? There's something going on here...I spy with my little eye a conspiracy.
This book is all over the place. One moment the storm happened last Saturday, then next it's been 3 years. Then one of the characters turned from a man to a woman, and one of the teachers also went from a scary man to a lady teacher. I'm completely lost, it's like I'm reading a horribly translated novel. How are people giving this 5 stars? There's something going on here...I spy with my little eye a conspiracy.
November 2, 2025
the version I started said edited as of October 2025
Disjointed and missing chapters as a result of hasty editing is the most generous take I can give. I’m open to guessing AI slop. Characters are mentioned as not met yet a chapter after they were also credited for beating the MC into buying something. A fight is referenced without it ever actually happening. I gave up after about 1/3 of the book.
Disjointed and missing chapters as a result of hasty editing is the most generous take I can give. I’m open to guessing AI slop. Characters are mentioned as not met yet a chapter after they were also credited for beating the MC into buying something. A fight is referenced without it ever actually happening. I gave up after about 1/3 of the book.
November 7, 2025
For some reason, the Kindle app and my Kindle didn't want me to leave a review, so I have to leave it only here.
I wanted to like this book. I actually did quite enjoy the story line. There actually were quite a few things that I liked about this book. Unfortunately, there were some very jarring transitions between chapters.
I know the foreword said that this has been edited, but it needs another.
Recommended. Just watch for the chapter transitions.
I wanted to like this book. I actually did quite enjoy the story line. There actually were quite a few things that I liked about this book. Unfortunately, there were some very jarring transitions between chapters.
I know the foreword said that this has been edited, but it needs another.
Recommended. Just watch for the chapter transitions.
July 5, 2025
YA harem?
Competently written but very simplistic. The plot is very trophy where rich people bad, "common" people good. There is a liberal use of plot armor and dues ex to move things along. The MC comes across as a beta type male who gets unearned power and somehow turns into a sigma male but is still mentally weak.
Competently written but very simplistic. The plot is very trophy where rich people bad, "common" people good. There is a liberal use of plot armor and dues ex to move things along. The MC comes across as a beta type male who gets unearned power and somehow turns into a sigma male but is still mentally weak.
July 24, 2025
Chapters seem jumbled up
The book is good, and the writing feels well done. However, some of the chapters seem to be out of order. I'm not even halfway through the book and 2-3 chapters seem to be out of order, and not flashbacks. There will be introductions of characters we've already met, references to things that haven't happened yet, and out of order time jumps.
The book is good, and the writing feels well done. However, some of the chapters seem to be out of order. I'm not even halfway through the book and 2-3 chapters seem to be out of order, and not flashbacks. There will be introductions of characters we've already met, references to things that haven't happened yet, and out of order time jumps.
July 17, 2025
Interum review
Will change my stars later after I’ve finished the book and have a better understanding for where it should rate however this book is in desperate need of an editor to cut out continuity errors and repeating scenes
Will change my stars later after I’ve finished the book and have a better understanding for where it should rate however this book is in desperate need of an editor to cut out continuity errors and repeating scenes
July 23, 2025
First Fantasy!!!!
I enjoyed my first fantasy!!! I enjoyed the world building, learning the magical systems and the universal world of magic. The magical politics encountered were eye opening. As Marcus was learning about his new abilities so was I.
I enjoyed my first fantasy!!! I enjoyed the world building, learning the magical systems and the universal world of magic. The magical politics encountered were eye opening. As Marcus was learning about his new abilities so was I.
July 26, 2025
They are in trouble before school has even started and they need to get their power under control. They will need help so see where that help will come by
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and an unusual read
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and an unusual read
August 11, 2025
Not great
between the dialog jumping around without any discernible sequence and characters changing gender or accents from one paragraph to the next it was a very trying read. Loved the concept, just couldn't deal with the inconsistent dialog. Unfortunate.
between the dialog jumping around without any discernible sequence and characters changing gender or accents from one paragraph to the next it was a very trying read. Loved the concept, just couldn't deal with the inconsistent dialog. Unfortunate.
August 15, 2025
Not for me
Only managed 4 chapters, for me it was one of the most boring reads I have attempted in the last five years. It may suit some
but I must say as a 74 year old that graduated college before Disney World was open I can't imagine.
Only managed 4 chapters, for me it was one of the most boring reads I have attempted in the last five years. It may suit some
but I must say as a 74 year old that graduated college before Disney World was open I can't imagine.
October 30, 2025
Interesting story
Unfortunately, too much of the time it felt like the story skipped forward and important details had been skipped. The overall flow of the story seemed off and not smooth which breaks the readers attention.
Unfortunately, too much of the time it felt like the story skipped forward and important details had been skipped. The overall flow of the story seemed off and not smooth which breaks the readers attention.
June 20, 2025
nice!
This book was so good. I loved how exciting it was. I didn’t want to put it down. I can’t wait for the next book!
This book was so good. I loved how exciting it was. I didn’t want to put it down. I can’t wait for the next book!
June 23, 2025
Magical
Spellbound freshman was about school life, and romance and easy to get in to this book and not want to put it down. Great book can't wait until the next one comes out.
Spellbound freshman was about school life, and romance and easy to get in to this book and not want to put it down. Great book can't wait until the next one comes out.
July 27, 2025
I enjoy the overall story but hard to follow the storyline I had reread many parts of the book more than twice
August 18, 2025
awful. sporadic and could be written much more consistent.
September 19, 2025
It's rather sexist to flip all these female characters to male
time dilation too
time dilation too
December 23, 2025
reads like the author not only let an ai do the writing but also let it do the plot.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews