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Lexie Carrigan Chronicles #1
Spells and Sorcery
You have magic.
One sentence, three words, four syllables. Enough to change my life forever. And I'm not talking about the whole spells and sorcery thing.
Lexie Carrigan thought the weirdest thing about her was she preferred watching documentaries and reading the newspaper to reality TV and Twitter. But on the eve of her fifteenth birthday, her aunt and sisters drop a bomb — she's magical.
Now the girl who never made waves is blowing up her nightstand and trying to keep from wreaking havoc on her school. When a kind stranger shows up with all the answers, Lexie hopes he'll be able to help her control her newfound powers. But Gavon may not be as kind as he seems, and soon Lexie finds out that being magical is the least weird thing about her.
Spells and Sorcery is the first YA fantasy from S. Usher Evans, author of the Razia series, the Madion War Trilogy and Empath.
One sentence, three words, four syllables. Enough to change my life forever. And I'm not talking about the whole spells and sorcery thing.
Lexie Carrigan thought the weirdest thing about her was she preferred watching documentaries and reading the newspaper to reality TV and Twitter. But on the eve of her fifteenth birthday, her aunt and sisters drop a bomb — she's magical.
Now the girl who never made waves is blowing up her nightstand and trying to keep from wreaking havoc on her school. When a kind stranger shows up with all the answers, Lexie hopes he'll be able to help her control her newfound powers. But Gavon may not be as kind as he seems, and soon Lexie finds out that being magical is the least weird thing about her.
Spells and Sorcery is the first YA fantasy from S. Usher Evans, author of the Razia series, the Madion War Trilogy and Empath.
380 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2016
73 people are currently reading
1709 people want to read
About the author
S. Usher Evans
74 books510 followersS. Usher Evans is an author, blogger, and witty banter aficionado. Born in Pensacola, Florida, she left the sleepy town behind for the fast-paced world of Washington, D.C.. There, she somehow landed jobs with BBC, Discovery Channel, and National Geographic Television before finally settling into a "real job" as an IT consultant. After a quarter life crisis at age 27, she decided consulting was for the birds and rekindled a childhood passion for writing novels. She sold everything she owned and moved back to Pensacola, where she currently resides with her two dogs, Zoe and Mr. Biscuit.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
October 20, 2016
It has been awhile since I read ya fantasy, but when I saw the cover for Spells and Sorcery and read it's synopsis, I knew I wanted to give it a try.
The story follows Lexie who, on her 15th birthday, finds out she has magical powers.
She and her sisters are witches. They lost their parents so their aunt (who is also a witch) took them under her roof.
I went into this book without high expectations, but with a lot of adrenaline (not literary, but you know what I mean).
I was on, ready to love it to bits and to finish it as fast as I could.
First thing didn't happened, but the second one did!
I read this book in a record time - just one day!
Who'd say I could read 386 pages in just one day?
I certenly wouldn't!
What I'm trying to tell you here is that the writing style is pretty easy to read and it makes you turn those pages even if the story is not too original nor interesting enough.
I came to conclusion that Evans has put so much energy into describing this world and how the magic system works, that in a way she forgot to make interesting side stories that would keep this book compelling.
There was no secondary stories then the main one. All that this book was about was Lexie finding out about magic and doing researches about this new system. It was like she had no life before her 15th birthday.
What bothered me the most was how she was always alone, without any friends to mention, while she was still going to public school she went to prior her birthday that changed her life.
There are only two people that are mentioned briefly: Joel and Callista, and Lexie didn't even have a normal conversation with them through the whole story.
If she was a loner, bullied, rebel or someone no one wanted to talk to, I would understand, but in this case it felt like an author simply forgot to create a decent teenage life for her character.
Let me ask you this: do you think Harry Potter books (and I appologize to compare this book with HP because they are not similar at all, the only thing in common they have is magic) would be so good if Harry didn't have Ron and Hermione by his side? If he was an outcast without friends, do you think people around the world would enjoy reading those books so much? I don't think so, because friendship has a big part in those stories.
Here, there was a great potential to make Spells and Sorcery so much more interesting.
If Lexie had a friend by her side when exploring this new world and her abilities within it, this book would be so much more fascinating.
It surely wouldn't feel like reading a magic encyclopedia as it felt at some points.
Another thing I didn't like was how Lexie's sisters left her all alone in this new situation she found herself in.
They were not helping her at all, and I can imagine that if they knew Lexie will get her powers at age of 15, they should have prepared her for it years ago.
That leads me to my third complain (or have I lost my count?): If her sister pepared her for what was coming, Lexie wouldn't have to take instructions from some strange middle aged man who just showed up out of nowhere.
That was too weird (and I could see from the biginning who he really was because that was the only thing that was logical to me).
What was even weirder was how Lexie didn't have the need to tell anyone about Gavon (that is his name) or how all she wanted to do was spend time with him (and now I'll probably sound sick to some of you, especially if you read the book and know his story, but she wasn't even attracted to him).
The last 5 chapters were the best in the story.
Everything before that felt like a slow overtire, and then, in the last 5 chapters, the real story began.
Overall, this was a quick story to pass time, and will probably appeal to younger audence.
Read this and more reviews on my blog: http://bookdustmagic.wordpress.com
The story follows Lexie who, on her 15th birthday, finds out she has magical powers.
She and her sisters are witches. They lost their parents so their aunt (who is also a witch) took them under her roof.
I went into this book without high expectations, but with a lot of adrenaline (not literary, but you know what I mean).
I was on, ready to love it to bits and to finish it as fast as I could.
First thing didn't happened, but the second one did!
I read this book in a record time - just one day!
Who'd say I could read 386 pages in just one day?
I certenly wouldn't!
What I'm trying to tell you here is that the writing style is pretty easy to read and it makes you turn those pages even if the story is not too original nor interesting enough.
I came to conclusion that Evans has put so much energy into describing this world and how the magic system works, that in a way she forgot to make interesting side stories that would keep this book compelling.
There was no secondary stories then the main one. All that this book was about was Lexie finding out about magic and doing researches about this new system. It was like she had no life before her 15th birthday.
What bothered me the most was how she was always alone, without any friends to mention, while she was still going to public school she went to prior her birthday that changed her life.
There are only two people that are mentioned briefly: Joel and Callista, and Lexie didn't even have a normal conversation with them through the whole story.
If she was a loner, bullied, rebel or someone no one wanted to talk to, I would understand, but in this case it felt like an author simply forgot to create a decent teenage life for her character.
Let me ask you this: do you think Harry Potter books (and I appologize to compare this book with HP because they are not similar at all, the only thing in common they have is magic) would be so good if Harry didn't have Ron and Hermione by his side? If he was an outcast without friends, do you think people around the world would enjoy reading those books so much? I don't think so, because friendship has a big part in those stories.
Here, there was a great potential to make Spells and Sorcery so much more interesting.
If Lexie had a friend by her side when exploring this new world and her abilities within it, this book would be so much more fascinating.
It surely wouldn't feel like reading a magic encyclopedia as it felt at some points.
Another thing I didn't like was how Lexie's sisters left her all alone in this new situation she found herself in.
They were not helping her at all, and I can imagine that if they knew Lexie will get her powers at age of 15, they should have prepared her for it years ago.
That leads me to my third complain (or have I lost my count?): If her sister pepared her for what was coming, Lexie wouldn't have to take instructions from some strange middle aged man who just showed up out of nowhere.
That was too weird (and I could see from the biginning who he really was because that was the only thing that was logical to me).
What was even weirder was how Lexie didn't have the need to tell anyone about Gavon (that is his name) or how all she wanted to do was spend time with him (and now I'll probably sound sick to some of you, especially if you read the book and know his story, but she wasn't even attracted to him).
The last 5 chapters were the best in the story.
Everything before that felt like a slow overtire, and then, in the last 5 chapters, the real story began.
Overall, this was a quick story to pass time, and will probably appeal to younger audence.
Read this and more reviews on my blog: http://bookdustmagic.wordpress.com
October 31, 2016
So here I am, the day before my review is supposed to go up for the blog tour trying to write my review. I think I read this book over a month ago now, but I have put off writing this review. Even though I knew I had to write it since I promised it for this tour. But I couldn't. I am not even sure I can now....but I must as I am running out of time.
Are you wondering why I didn't want to write this review? Are you afraid it is because I hated the book? What could possibly keep me from wanting to write this review aside from being a huge procrastinator?
Well, aside from the procrastination thing....it is because I don't have the words to describe this book for you. Not really anyways.
No it isn't because I hated it.
It is because I loved it. It is because I devoured it. It is because I want the rest of the series to be out so I can read the whole story up and keep my thoughts, opinions, and memories of reading it happily bottled up inside me.
That is right. I loved this book so much that I don't really want to share it with you, but I will. It is only fair after all.
What is Spells & Sorcery about? It is about Lexie. A girl who is told the night before her birthday that she is a witch and that her powers are going to come to her at midnight.
That wouldn't throw anyone for a loop. Especially not a teenager. It isn't like they are already wondering about themselves enough as it is, but then to add magic to the mix...and she didn't even know magic existed! Yeah. I aside from getting magic myself, I don't envy Lexie whatsoever.
Lexie discovers quickly that no one really is able to help her. Is it because they don't want to? Or because they can't? And everyone assumes she should be able to control her magic without any practice and then get mad at her whenever she uses it accidentally or when her magic goes BOOM.
This is a story about self discovery for Lexie. About herself and about her family.
It is such a wonderfully crafted story. The world, which is mixed in with the world as we know it, is very wonderfully crafted. If there really is a hidden magic world, I am very upset that I am not apart of it!
One thing that you can really tell from reading this book is that S. Usher Evans really likes Harry Potter. You can see the influence all over be it jokes or references. It fed my Harry Potter loving heart!
So read it. You know you want to. You won't regret it!
This review is based on a copy provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Find more of my reviews here:
http://readingwithcupcakes.blogspot.com/
Are you wondering why I didn't want to write this review? Are you afraid it is because I hated the book? What could possibly keep me from wanting to write this review aside from being a huge procrastinator?
Well, aside from the procrastination thing....it is because I don't have the words to describe this book for you. Not really anyways.
No it isn't because I hated it.
It is because I loved it. It is because I devoured it. It is because I want the rest of the series to be out so I can read the whole story up and keep my thoughts, opinions, and memories of reading it happily bottled up inside me.
That is right. I loved this book so much that I don't really want to share it with you, but I will. It is only fair after all.
What is Spells & Sorcery about? It is about Lexie. A girl who is told the night before her birthday that she is a witch and that her powers are going to come to her at midnight.
That wouldn't throw anyone for a loop. Especially not a teenager. It isn't like they are already wondering about themselves enough as it is, but then to add magic to the mix...and she didn't even know magic existed! Yeah. I aside from getting magic myself, I don't envy Lexie whatsoever.
Lexie discovers quickly that no one really is able to help her. Is it because they don't want to? Or because they can't? And everyone assumes she should be able to control her magic without any practice and then get mad at her whenever she uses it accidentally or when her magic goes BOOM.
This is a story about self discovery for Lexie. About herself and about her family.
It is such a wonderfully crafted story. The world, which is mixed in with the world as we know it, is very wonderfully crafted. If there really is a hidden magic world, I am very upset that I am not apart of it!
One thing that you can really tell from reading this book is that S. Usher Evans really likes Harry Potter. You can see the influence all over be it jokes or references. It fed my Harry Potter loving heart!
So read it. You know you want to. You won't regret it!
This review is based on a copy provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Find more of my reviews here:
http://readingwithcupcakes.blogspot.com/
October 19, 2016
Fourteen year old Alexis Carrigan is a smart, hard-working and high achieving student. She and her two older sisters and they have all been brought up by their aunt after their mother died when Alexis was born. Everything seems fine, though Alexis (Lexie)'s sister Marie always seems to pick on her. That's until the evening before Lexie's fifteenth birthday. That's when Lexie discovered that she will be able to do and control magic as soon as she's fifteen - starting from midnight. That's when Lexie changes in other ways, too. She is magically powerful, so powerful she has problems controlling her magic - with some dire and some funny consequences.
Get ready to discover more about her powers, who will help her learn to control them and about the relatives she never knew she had! There's a lot more to this magic lark than she could ever have dreamed of, especially as it works best when she's calm and controlled - and Lexie is anything but calm! There are other magical people who will make themselves know, skills to learn, angst and turmoil, too, in this well paced start to what promises to be a truly magical series. There are secrets to be revealed and dangers to be overcome - I can't wait to find out what happens next in the life of this powerful young lady!
I received an ARC of this. This is my honest review after reading it.
Get ready to discover more about her powers, who will help her learn to control them and about the relatives she never knew she had! There's a lot more to this magic lark than she could ever have dreamed of, especially as it works best when she's calm and controlled - and Lexie is anything but calm! There are other magical people who will make themselves know, skills to learn, angst and turmoil, too, in this well paced start to what promises to be a truly magical series. There are secrets to be revealed and dangers to be overcome - I can't wait to find out what happens next in the life of this powerful young lady!
I received an ARC of this. This is my honest review after reading it.
September 15, 2016
Actual rating: 3.5 Stars
*This review can also be found on The Reader and the Chef. Huge thanks to the author for the review copy in exchange of my honest opinion.*
When I heard that S. Usher Evans was starting a new YA fantasy series, I knew I just had to get my hands on the first book pronto. If there's something that Sush can do is create magical worlds with their own set of awesome new rules.
So really, it was no surprise that one of the biggest things that I enjoyed of Spells & Sorcery was how the magical system works. It reminds me of the one found in Sabrina the Teenage Witch, how with the flick of her wrist and a thought she can get what she wants without being tied down to a wand. It's a lot more practical! I also loved how S. Usher Evans includes small snippets of history and magical writing from Sorcery books. I wouldn't mind more reading like that inside the book, it's informative and pretty darn cool.
Now, Spells & Sorcery per se was a bit of a slow read in the first half since there's a lot of world-building going on. Lexie learns about her magic, how it works, about her family, and so on. I wish things would have been a lot quicker, like in the last quarter of the book. We get to see a new dimension parallel to the normal world and I wish we could have spent more time on it, to explore it & meet interesting characters.
The characters we get to meet in Spells & Sorcery are not bad, but I honestly couldn't care less about them in the first half. It's not until the last chapters that I finally warmed up to Lexie because in the beginning she was just a silly and immature character who trusts in strangers too much and doesn't question things enough in a smart manner. I liked her sister Marie more than her or her other sister, Nicole, because at least she showed some attitude. Everyone else was just too infantile regardless of their age.
I also feel that Spells & Sorcery needed some normal non-magical human characters to make the experience all the more real. I wish I could have seen Lexie struggle hiding her powers from her non-magical best friend (who does not exist) or just getting her as a side-kick. There is a couple who hang out right besides Lexie's locker but they don't really add much to the story. Hopefully in the next installment though!
Final Verdict:
Spells & Sorcery is a new fantasy book that I would recommend to the younger Young Adult audience. S. Usher Evans introduces an exciting new magical dimension in the second half of the story and the magical system is really fun to read about. And although the characters weren't as great, I feel that they will be better in the sequel now that Lexie knows about magic and some secrets have been exposed. :)
*This review can also be found on The Reader and the Chef. Huge thanks to the author for the review copy in exchange of my honest opinion.*
When I heard that S. Usher Evans was starting a new YA fantasy series, I knew I just had to get my hands on the first book pronto. If there's something that Sush can do is create magical worlds with their own set of awesome new rules.
So really, it was no surprise that one of the biggest things that I enjoyed of Spells & Sorcery was how the magical system works. It reminds me of the one found in Sabrina the Teenage Witch, how with the flick of her wrist and a thought she can get what she wants without being tied down to a wand. It's a lot more practical! I also loved how S. Usher Evans includes small snippets of history and magical writing from Sorcery books. I wouldn't mind more reading like that inside the book, it's informative and pretty darn cool.
Now, Spells & Sorcery per se was a bit of a slow read in the first half since there's a lot of world-building going on. Lexie learns about her magic, how it works, about her family, and so on. I wish things would have been a lot quicker, like in the last quarter of the book. We get to see a new dimension parallel to the normal world and I wish we could have spent more time on it, to explore it & meet interesting characters.
The characters we get to meet in Spells & Sorcery are not bad, but I honestly couldn't care less about them in the first half. It's not until the last chapters that I finally warmed up to Lexie because in the beginning she was just a silly and immature character who trusts in strangers too much and doesn't question things enough in a smart manner. I liked her sister Marie more than her or her other sister, Nicole, because at least she showed some attitude. Everyone else was just too infantile regardless of their age.
I also feel that Spells & Sorcery needed some normal non-magical human characters to make the experience all the more real. I wish I could have seen Lexie struggle hiding her powers from her non-magical best friend (who does not exist) or just getting her as a side-kick. There is a couple who hang out right besides Lexie's locker but they don't really add much to the story. Hopefully in the next installment though!
Final Verdict:
Spells & Sorcery is a new fantasy book that I would recommend to the younger Young Adult audience. S. Usher Evans introduces an exciting new magical dimension in the second half of the story and the magical system is really fun to read about. And although the characters weren't as great, I feel that they will be better in the sequel now that Lexie knows about magic and some secrets have been exposed. :)
July 22, 2016
Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
DNF @ 22%
I know I typically go to 25% before DNF-ing a book, but even getting to 22% was a bit of a stretch for me. I started having issues at 7% of this one because of characterizations and the way that the magic was being handled. Mostly because I really disliked all the characters tbh.
It seems as though all of the characters are acting the way they do to fill a stereotypical role that we see in Fantasy: Marie is the bitchy older sister, Jeanie is the distant guardian who is strict but informative, Nicole is the fun one that let's them get away with more (Edit: Um Nicole is her sister? Glad that was made super clear to me while reading), Gavon is the mentor who will help Lexie with her magic, and Lexie is just an idiot. While stereotypes are fine -- and I actually enjoy these types of stereotypes and tropes in Fantasy -- I thought that the characters were on course to stay rooted in their roles without much growth, except Lexie who would become less naive (maybe), and I didn't care about any of them.
At the same time, the magic system is awkward. I thought from the initial description of magic that Lexie receives from her elder sister and aunt that the magic powers would be "awoken" at 15, meaning she didn't have any prior to being 15. But just now (~23%), it seems like the "magical" (*sighs* don't even get me started on the fact that people with magic are called "magicals") have magic from birth, they just can't access it until they are 15. Which is a better way of doing it but I was confused why there were two different descriptions of the same thing.
Also the fact that Lexie doesn't feel the need to tell her adult guardians about the fact that a strange male found her, gave her a gift, and then magically disappeared is ALARMING to me. I don't care if he explains everything to her (which is what was happening when I started skimming) because it is weird and creepy. And she brushes it off by saying "well maybe this is what always happens" but like ask that? Don't just assume? Especially since she is (currently) complaining about how no one tells her anything, yet she doesn't ask a question to learn more information. She is just stupid and makes stupid decisions and I don't want to read about them anymore.
I have no interest in finishing this one. I don't care how many Harry Potter references a book makes, if it isn't my cup of tea, I'm not going to finish it.
Books and Ladders | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
DNF @ 22%
I know I typically go to 25% before DNF-ing a book, but even getting to 22% was a bit of a stretch for me. I started having issues at 7% of this one because of characterizations and the way that the magic was being handled. Mostly because I really disliked all the characters tbh.
It seems as though all of the characters are acting the way they do to fill a stereotypical role that we see in Fantasy: Marie is the bitchy older sister, Jeanie is the distant guardian who is strict but informative, Nicole is the fun one that let's them get away with more (Edit: Um Nicole is her sister? Glad that was made super clear to me while reading), Gavon is the mentor who will help Lexie with her magic, and Lexie is just an idiot. While stereotypes are fine -- and I actually enjoy these types of stereotypes and tropes in Fantasy -- I thought that the characters were on course to stay rooted in their roles without much growth, except Lexie who would become less naive (maybe), and I didn't care about any of them.
At the same time, the magic system is awkward. I thought from the initial description of magic that Lexie receives from her elder sister and aunt that the magic powers would be "awoken" at 15, meaning she didn't have any prior to being 15. But just now (~23%), it seems like the "magical" (*sighs* don't even get me started on the fact that people with magic are called "magicals") have magic from birth, they just can't access it until they are 15. Which is a better way of doing it but I was confused why there were two different descriptions of the same thing.
Also the fact that Lexie doesn't feel the need to tell her adult guardians about the fact that a strange male found her, gave her a gift, and then magically disappeared is ALARMING to me. I don't care if he explains everything to her (which is what was happening when I started skimming) because it is weird and creepy. And she brushes it off by saying "well maybe this is what always happens" but like ask that? Don't just assume? Especially since she is (currently) complaining about how no one tells her anything, yet she doesn't ask a question to learn more information. She is just stupid and makes stupid decisions and I don't want to read about them anymore.
I have no interest in finishing this one. I don't care how many Harry Potter references a book makes, if it isn't my cup of tea, I'm not going to finish it.
Books and Ladders | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
October 3, 2018
After DNFing this book at first, I knew I’d eventually go back and give it another shot. It just wasn’t the right time for me to read it. I’m glad I brought it with me on my trip though because it’s one of those easy to read books that fit with all my running around.
I like Lexie. I feel like she could be a younger me. Yes she’s immature and doesn’t think things through. Name me a teenager that does. I’ll wait. She fits the book perfectly and that’s all that really matters.
Her family though. Oh man. They drove me insane. I hated how in the dark even we were as readers let alone Lexie herself. Their reasoning made no sense to me and I hated not having any idea what was going on. Sure I had my guesses but I needed a confirmation at some points.
The plot was fun and went by really quick. I like being able to read a book fast like I did with this one. No unnecessary drama thankfully. This book didn’t need fillers and side plots. It stood just fine on its own.
I like Lexie. I feel like she could be a younger me. Yes she’s immature and doesn’t think things through. Name me a teenager that does. I’ll wait. She fits the book perfectly and that’s all that really matters.
Her family though. Oh man. They drove me insane. I hated how in the dark even we were as readers let alone Lexie herself. Their reasoning made no sense to me and I hated not having any idea what was going on. Sure I had my guesses but I needed a confirmation at some points.
The plot was fun and went by really quick. I like being able to read a book fast like I did with this one. No unnecessary drama thankfully. This book didn’t need fillers and side plots. It stood just fine on its own.
October 14, 2016
Originally posted on RecommendsBook
I read it every day on the bus to and from school because that was like my only time in the day to read. Now my bus ride is less than 10 minutes every day but I was able to get 2-5 chapters done a day. It took a few weeks but when I was done I was really sad that I wouldn’t have anything to do on the bus now. Luckily I now have like six unread S. Usher Evans books on my phone (I think I might actually have all her books.) and I’m going to read them every day until I run out.
The characters in this book were probably the most relateable I’ve read in a while. Lexie the main character is literally me. She is awkward, overachieving and she doesn’t stand for people telling he she can’t do things. Her older sister Marie is kind of like me acting towards my brother but in a more extreme way.
There’s a few times in the book when Lexie does not have good judgment. She’s putting all her trust in strangers she just met and accepting help without questioning them. There are a few times that she should be going to her aunt and telling her stuff that could save Lexie’s life but she doesn’t do that. You know that line that has been drilled into your brain “don’t talk to strangers”? Maybe you should listen to that.
I loved this book. Lexie is like my spirit animal. I gave this book a 4/5 stars and I cannot wait for Magic and Mayhem next year!
I read it every day on the bus to and from school because that was like my only time in the day to read. Now my bus ride is less than 10 minutes every day but I was able to get 2-5 chapters done a day. It took a few weeks but when I was done I was really sad that I wouldn’t have anything to do on the bus now. Luckily I now have like six unread S. Usher Evans books on my phone (I think I might actually have all her books.) and I’m going to read them every day until I run out.
The characters in this book were probably the most relateable I’ve read in a while. Lexie the main character is literally me. She is awkward, overachieving and she doesn’t stand for people telling he she can’t do things. Her older sister Marie is kind of like me acting towards my brother but in a more extreme way.
There’s a few times in the book when Lexie does not have good judgment. She’s putting all her trust in strangers she just met and accepting help without questioning them. There are a few times that she should be going to her aunt and telling her stuff that could save Lexie’s life but she doesn’t do that. You know that line that has been drilled into your brain “don’t talk to strangers”? Maybe you should listen to that.
I loved this book. Lexie is like my spirit animal. I gave this book a 4/5 stars and I cannot wait for Magic and Mayhem next year!
December 13, 2016
******** I received an e-arc from the author. These are my 100% honest opinions.*******
So…….. I loved this book. The book drew me in, grabbed my attention, and didn’t let go. The characters had such different personalities which was really nice to see in a novel. Usually, when I read a book, only two or three personalities stick out to me. But with this book, I could honestly say that everyone character is different from the other. And I love that so much. It just making the novel more interesting because personalities clash when brought together, some go together perfectly for the most part.
The plot seemed unique, which was also really nice. I don’t think I’ve read or looked at another book that goes in this direction. Now, of course, there were parts that you could call “typical” to some YA plot points, but doesn’t every book just about have those checked off?
I mostly guessed everything. Well, almost. There was one part near the end that surprised me. I’m not the best person to ask if something is predictable though because as you guys know, I usually can guess what major events happen.
Spells and Sorcery has so many bookish references in it. They are all at amazing parts, sometimes when you wouldn’t think a reference would work because it is more serious or sad or something, but the reference would fit perfectly.
So…….. I loved this book. The book drew me in, grabbed my attention, and didn’t let go. The characters had such different personalities which was really nice to see in a novel. Usually, when I read a book, only two or three personalities stick out to me. But with this book, I could honestly say that everyone character is different from the other. And I love that so much. It just making the novel more interesting because personalities clash when brought together, some go together perfectly for the most part.
The plot seemed unique, which was also really nice. I don’t think I’ve read or looked at another book that goes in this direction. Now, of course, there were parts that you could call “typical” to some YA plot points, but doesn’t every book just about have those checked off?
I mostly guessed everything. Well, almost. There was one part near the end that surprised me. I’m not the best person to ask if something is predictable though because as you guys know, I usually can guess what major events happen.
Spells and Sorcery has so many bookish references in it. They are all at amazing parts, sometimes when you wouldn’t think a reference would work because it is more serious or sad or something, but the reference would fit perfectly.
August 23, 2017
At first (well a long time) things did annoy me. Like why was her sister such a bitch! Trust me, such a bitch, that girl needs a slap in the face. And why couldn't they just teach her magic? And tell her things? For the love of magic tell her stuff! Also everyone So over reacted. Chill people, chill.
BUT, in the end there was a reason why they did not teach her and tell her everything. Though I still felt they could have chilled a bit and told her some. Though why her sis was a raging bitch beats me. Lexie was also really immature, I mean who starts spending time with some old man they just met? Girl, haven't you watched movies?!
Still it was light and I kept wondering why they did not spill the beans. What was up with that? What was up with the secret...I can't say? I needed answers and fast. And at the end I did want more. I am still curious how things will work out when things are out in the open. Some major twists and turns there.
Narrator:
Hmm, is it the author herself? Nothing on GR.
But she does a good job and her voice fits that of a teen who is way over her head ;) Its light and nice
I enjoyed listening to this book
BUT, in the end there was a reason why they did not teach her and tell her everything. Though I still felt they could have chilled a bit and told her some. Though why her sis was a raging bitch beats me. Lexie was also really immature, I mean who starts spending time with some old man they just met? Girl, haven't you watched movies?!
Still it was light and I kept wondering why they did not spill the beans. What was up with that? What was up with the secret...I can't say? I needed answers and fast. And at the end I did want more. I am still curious how things will work out when things are out in the open. Some major twists and turns there.
Narrator:
Hmm, is it the author herself? Nothing on GR.
But she does a good job and her voice fits that of a teen who is way over her head ;) Its light and nice
I enjoyed listening to this book
July 28, 2019
*I received a free e-arc from the publisher in exchange of an honest review. This does not affect my review in any way.
I found this book so good and intriguing that I managed to read it in two days—and I believe by now that everyone knows that that doesn’t happen very often with me! With every page I turned and every plot-twist (or weird thing) that I encountered, I was left wanting more and more until, you know, it ended. And even in the end I was left wanting more! And I need more!
Lexie’s story, besides being magical, was fun, interesting, intriguing and even fascinating. At the beginning, I admit that I felt kind of lost with Lexie and what was happening around her, but once things clicked inside my head, I couldn’t stop reading! This story was short, fast-paced and so full of magic that I just couldn’t stop! Once again I believe that S. Usher Evans did an amazing job throughout the story and I completely loved this younger and innocent take on her writing. Something that I completely loved about Lexie’s story was the history behind the magicals and everything that composed their world and the way it worked! Her family, the secrets, the guilds, the clans, what happened years and years before and everything else!
Once again, S. Usher Evan’s writing was fantastic and easy to follow. I found it so easy to connect with Lexie after the first few pages! And like I mentioned before, I completely loved this new take on a different—and younger—character! Also, the settings we get to visit through the story were great! I loved how we got to go from Lexie’s house to the park where she went to to get all the answers her family refused to give her, from her school to the beach where she practiced her magic, and from the beach to the world beyond the tear which I’ll leave as a total mystery.
Anyway, moving on! The characters we get to meet through this first installment of the Lexie Carrigan Chronicles were all very interesting, and very, very important. I loved how well the author managed to make them all unique and connected, in one way or another, with each other. Besides our fun and interesting main character Lexie, we also get to meet people from her family: Jeanie, Marie, Nicole and Grams, and some other important—and very interesting—characters like: Gavon, James, Cyrus, Nina and more! Thanks to them, Lexie’s journey was fun, interesting and completely magical! I found that all the characters were well executed and I have to say that they did an amazing job bringing up some twists that were pretty obvious, and others that you wouldn’t even see them coming, making the levels of intensity in the story blow up!
In the end, I had normal-hopes for this little book; they weren’t high nor low, but I have to say that they were exceeded! I loved reading Lexie’s story, and now I can’t wait for book 2 and see what’s coming next for Lexie, her family and her enemies!
I found this book so good and intriguing that I managed to read it in two days—and I believe by now that everyone knows that that doesn’t happen very often with me! With every page I turned and every plot-twist (or weird thing) that I encountered, I was left wanting more and more until, you know, it ended. And even in the end I was left wanting more! And I need more!
Lexie’s story, besides being magical, was fun, interesting, intriguing and even fascinating. At the beginning, I admit that I felt kind of lost with Lexie and what was happening around her, but once things clicked inside my head, I couldn’t stop reading! This story was short, fast-paced and so full of magic that I just couldn’t stop! Once again I believe that S. Usher Evans did an amazing job throughout the story and I completely loved this younger and innocent take on her writing. Something that I completely loved about Lexie’s story was the history behind the magicals and everything that composed their world and the way it worked! Her family, the secrets, the guilds, the clans, what happened years and years before and everything else!
Once again, S. Usher Evan’s writing was fantastic and easy to follow. I found it so easy to connect with Lexie after the first few pages! And like I mentioned before, I completely loved this new take on a different—and younger—character! Also, the settings we get to visit through the story were great! I loved how we got to go from Lexie’s house to the park where she went to to get all the answers her family refused to give her, from her school to the beach where she practiced her magic, and from the beach to the world beyond the tear which I’ll leave as a total mystery.
Anyway, moving on! The characters we get to meet through this first installment of the Lexie Carrigan Chronicles were all very interesting, and very, very important. I loved how well the author managed to make them all unique and connected, in one way or another, with each other. Besides our fun and interesting main character Lexie, we also get to meet people from her family: Jeanie, Marie, Nicole and Grams, and some other important—and very interesting—characters like: Gavon, James, Cyrus, Nina and more! Thanks to them, Lexie’s journey was fun, interesting and completely magical! I found that all the characters were well executed and I have to say that they did an amazing job bringing up some twists that were pretty obvious, and others that you wouldn’t even see them coming, making the levels of intensity in the story blow up!
In the end, I had normal-hopes for this little book; they weren’t high nor low, but I have to say that they were exceeded! I loved reading Lexie’s story, and now I can’t wait for book 2 and see what’s coming next for Lexie, her family and her enemies!
November 6, 2016
*I received a free digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.*
Spells & Sorcery is just pure magic! Not since Harry Potter have I enjoyed a book on teens with magical abilities more and I could definitely see the influence that Rowling’s work had on the author in this book.
In this fabulous book, we meet Lexie, a teen who has just learned that she is a magical with special abilities that will kick in on her 15th birthday…oh, which just happens to be tomorrow. Lexie struggles with her new abilities leading to some humorous moments for the reader. But she also struggles with the secrets her sisters and aunt have kept from her and begins to feel a bit ignored by them when it comes to assisting her in learning more about being a magical.
This leads her to the park where she meets a mysterious stranger named, Gavon, who provides her with books on magic and magical history and seems to know a lot about the magical world and Lexie’s family. He gains her trust, but should she really trust him…well, let’s just say, you’ll have to read to see what happens. But it is definitely worth-reading.
S. Usher Evans has created such entertaining characters and a wonderful world that I wish I could leap in the book and be a part of the story. I loved the interactions between Lexie and her sisters and aunt. They felt like a real family and I could definitely relate to being the younger sister who feels a bit out of the loop.
As for Lexie, our main character, she was so real with all the imperfections, snark, and uncertainty that you’d expect a scared 15-year-old to have upon learning they have magical abilities. As the story progresses and things get more complicated for Lexie, she also shows growth as a character and matures as one would hope to see. She learns a lot more about the magical world, its history, as well as her family, as secrets get revealed and things get dangerous. That’s a lot for an adult to handle, yet alone a teenager, but she manages to do it with a few expected hiccups along the way.
Spells & Sorcery definitely took me on a rollercoaster of emotions as I felt things I wasn’t expecting based on the blurb and cover. Not going to spoil anything, but there were times I was laughing, crying, angry, and…you name it. The author did such a fabulous job of making me feel connected to the story and its characters. I became invested in what was going to happen to them and couldn’t wait to see where the story would take us. And the final scenes with the main antagonist of the story were just so well done!
I not only want more books featuring Lexie and her magical world, I need more books! I cannot wait for the next installment in this fantastic new series!
Spells & Sorcery is just pure magic! Not since Harry Potter have I enjoyed a book on teens with magical abilities more and I could definitely see the influence that Rowling’s work had on the author in this book.
In this fabulous book, we meet Lexie, a teen who has just learned that she is a magical with special abilities that will kick in on her 15th birthday…oh, which just happens to be tomorrow. Lexie struggles with her new abilities leading to some humorous moments for the reader. But she also struggles with the secrets her sisters and aunt have kept from her and begins to feel a bit ignored by them when it comes to assisting her in learning more about being a magical.
This leads her to the park where she meets a mysterious stranger named, Gavon, who provides her with books on magic and magical history and seems to know a lot about the magical world and Lexie’s family. He gains her trust, but should she really trust him…well, let’s just say, you’ll have to read to see what happens. But it is definitely worth-reading.
S. Usher Evans has created such entertaining characters and a wonderful world that I wish I could leap in the book and be a part of the story. I loved the interactions between Lexie and her sisters and aunt. They felt like a real family and I could definitely relate to being the younger sister who feels a bit out of the loop.
As for Lexie, our main character, she was so real with all the imperfections, snark, and uncertainty that you’d expect a scared 15-year-old to have upon learning they have magical abilities. As the story progresses and things get more complicated for Lexie, she also shows growth as a character and matures as one would hope to see. She learns a lot more about the magical world, its history, as well as her family, as secrets get revealed and things get dangerous. That’s a lot for an adult to handle, yet alone a teenager, but she manages to do it with a few expected hiccups along the way.
Spells & Sorcery definitely took me on a rollercoaster of emotions as I felt things I wasn’t expecting based on the blurb and cover. Not going to spoil anything, but there were times I was laughing, crying, angry, and…you name it. The author did such a fabulous job of making me feel connected to the story and its characters. I became invested in what was going to happen to them and couldn’t wait to see where the story would take us. And the final scenes with the main antagonist of the story were just so well done!
I not only want more books featuring Lexie and her magical world, I need more books! I cannot wait for the next installment in this fantastic new series!
July 7, 2016
So, there are other magical coming-of-age stories out there, but here's why you should read this one. Lexie Corrigan's discovery that she has magic comes on top of all the maddening teenage problems that even adults can identify with, like a charmingly dysfunctional family, the stresses of school, and the frustration that comes when it seems like everyone but you has everything figured out. She's a very real girl with very real problems, when whomp! she has to figure out how not to screw up with magic as well. The way magic works in this book is also very believable and meshes well with the real-world setting; it's clearly not a quick fix for life's problems but as much of a complication as it is wonderful and cool. I really enjoyed the creative re-imagining of the significance of the Salem witch trials and Lexie's relationship to the descendants from Salem. Lexie's sense of humor is also fantastic; I cracked up at her tongue-in-cheek references to Harry Potter. Can't wait to read what happens in the next book; it looks like Lexie might be caught in the middle of a big magical war....
I received an advance copy of the book in exchange for writing an honest review.
I received an advance copy of the book in exchange for writing an honest review.
November 3, 2016
Lexie Carrigan's world is turned upside down when she learns she is a witch, and all signs point to her being a very powerful one as she almost blows up her room her first night with magic. But her aunt and sisters refuse to help her rein in her power, or even talk much about it. Luckily she meets Gavin, a kind stranger, who seems to know all about being a witch and Lexie's particular brand of magic. Even with a mentor, it seems nothing will ever be simple in Lexie's life again.
S. Usher Evans puts a fun spin on being a witch in SPELLS AND SORCERY, book one of the Lexie Carrigan Chronicles. Despite being nerdy, Lexie proves to have a hot temper (and being magical means she might literally catch things on fire!). I'm a sucker for a story with complex sister relationships, and there were two in this story to satisfy me in that regard. And that's only the beginning of the complex family issues Lexie faces. The story starts out a little lighthearted but gets really intense by the end. I'm excited for book two!
S. Usher Evans puts a fun spin on being a witch in SPELLS AND SORCERY, book one of the Lexie Carrigan Chronicles. Despite being nerdy, Lexie proves to have a hot temper (and being magical means she might literally catch things on fire!). I'm a sucker for a story with complex sister relationships, and there were two in this story to satisfy me in that regard. And that's only the beginning of the complex family issues Lexie faces. The story starts out a little lighthearted but gets really intense by the end. I'm excited for book two!
September 10, 2016
Okay, I was on the fence about reading this one for a while, mostly because the main character was so young. I don't typically relate to YA geared toward the younger half (13-15) but decided to go for it anyway.
Throughout most of the book Marie, the bitchy older sister was my absolute favorite! I can't say why really just that I enjoyed her and always felt she knew way more than she let on. I think the oldest sister could have been more fleshed out, we really didn't get a lot from Nicole. I enjoyed that Jeanie was absent a lot and really didn't know what to do with these kids she'd acquired.
Lexie and Gavons relationship irked me at first but eventually made sense and the story itself took turns I definitely didn't expect. The vibe was super cool and over all it was a really fun read.
Don't get me started on Gran though. I can't with that woman.
I'm definitely looking forward to book 2!!!
Throughout most of the book Marie, the bitchy older sister was my absolute favorite! I can't say why really just that I enjoyed her and always felt she knew way more than she let on. I think the oldest sister could have been more fleshed out, we really didn't get a lot from Nicole. I enjoyed that Jeanie was absent a lot and really didn't know what to do with these kids she'd acquired.
Lexie and Gavons relationship irked me at first but eventually made sense and the story itself took turns I definitely didn't expect. The vibe was super cool and over all it was a really fun read.
Don't get me started on Gran though. I can't with that woman.
I'm definitely looking forward to book 2!!!
October 9, 2016
Ms. Evans is easily one of my favorite Indie authors of late and I was eager to delve into a world she'd created that included magic. Because, well, magic :) And this novel does not disappoint. Lexie, while a little younger than I normally read about, is faced with an earth shattering, mind bending revelation...and then just left to deal with it on her own. I felt her frustration and couldn't believe that no one was stepping in to help her out. Gavon was a great character in his own right, and I am eager to learn more about him as the series continues. Lexie's family dynamics are unique and I enjoyed seeing her relationship with her sisters especially--it comes across as both very real, and very difficult to deal with. Lexie is the perfect nerdy girl who handles these situations as one might expect for a 15-year-old, but also with the grasp of someone who will grow into great power. Overall, a great story, fun characters, and an enjoyable read. Highly recommended!
January 15, 2017
I have been a big fan of S Usher Evans since I picked up her first book, but never have I been so enthralled with a book. Spells and Sorcery takes you on a magical journey following young Lexie as she discovers that her life is not all it has seemed to be. She is trying to find herself in this brand new world and is trying to figure out what is true or not. It has been a long time since a book has wrapped me up in it and made me not want to put it down. I tore through this book within 24 hours of opening it up, I had to know what was going on with Lexie and it was good all the way up to the last word. Do yourself a favor and preorder this book you will not be disappointed.
July 27, 2016
I had the opportunity to beta read this book and I thought it was wonderful! Overall enjoyable, fast paced, and intriguing. I definitely recommend keeping this one on your radar for a fun, quick read with a great plot.
January 16, 2018
Originally seen on
Emily Reads Everything
I read a few reviews (when will I learn?!?) and I talked to a few people. It made me a little concerned. I really wanted to like this book. Now that I've read it, I see their concerns. I really do. There are a few issues. This book is a really slow starter. I see that some people have chosen to not finish it and I totally get it. The first 50 pages or so are full of set up and back story but not much happens. However, the end totally makes up for it. Stick with it to the end! It's worth it.
At first, Lexie's relationships with her Aunt and her sister's were difficult for me to understand. I think it's because it is very rocky. I've always had a great relationship with my parents and my sister. However, it would be totally different if I had to move in with an aunt. You can bet it would have been contentious. That realization completely flipped the way I saw Lexie's interactions with her family.
This book was so much more than I expected.
For a long time I wasn't sure where it was going. I could tell that something was building but I honestly had no idea what. This book had a solid ending that made me anxious for the next book.
Emily Reads Everything
I read a few reviews (when will I learn?!?) and I talked to a few people. It made me a little concerned. I really wanted to like this book. Now that I've read it, I see their concerns. I really do. There are a few issues. This book is a really slow starter. I see that some people have chosen to not finish it and I totally get it. The first 50 pages or so are full of set up and back story but not much happens. However, the end totally makes up for it. Stick with it to the end! It's worth it.
At first, Lexie's relationships with her Aunt and her sister's were difficult for me to understand. I think it's because it is very rocky. I've always had a great relationship with my parents and my sister. However, it would be totally different if I had to move in with an aunt. You can bet it would have been contentious. That realization completely flipped the way I saw Lexie's interactions with her family.
This book was so much more than I expected.
For a long time I wasn't sure where it was going. I could tell that something was building but I honestly had no idea what. This book had a solid ending that made me anxious for the next book.
October 18, 2016
This book actually surprised me - I went into it fully expecting a light-hearted young YA read full of reminiscing about my childhood of "Charmed" and "Sabrina The Teenage Witch." and what is great is that I got that; but I also got a well plotted story and interesting world building right alongside the magical coming-of-age of Lexie Carrigan.
That's not to say that I didn't have some issues with this book - I did, but the overall enjoyment factor leads me to a 4 star rating.
The main character, Lexie, is only just turning 15 years old - and that means there's a whole lot going on in her life right now - normal teenager problems. And then there's the fact that she didn't know that she was magical and would suddenly be growing into her powers on her 15th birthday.
I think that the portrayal of Lexie is done fairly well, although she does make some frustratingly silly decisions throughout the story. I could see that most of these are probably age appropriate decisions/mistakes. The one thing that really irked me is that when she met Gavon in the park there wasn't truly a hint of suspicion from her side - she didn't find anything worrisome about meeting a strange man in the park who knew about her magic and just happened to hand her a magical spell book. Other than this though I was able to accept that for the most part Lexie was acting like a normal 15 year old girl - angst and all.
There's a bit of extra fluff around the story that didn't really need to be there - there's A LOT about her schoolwork which isn't really important to the overall plot (although obviously I'm not sure where the series arc is going) and these pages could have been better spent growing the characters of Lexie's family or possibly introducing some regular human friends to Lexies life (even a geeky introvert has at least one friend at school, right?) but I managed to overlook these issues when it came down to the second half of this story. It's a short and quick read but the first half of the book is relatively slow as there's the introduction to magic and some world building. I did appreciate that it wasn't a huge info dump and that it did unravel as we went through the book.
Another thing that I loved about this book was that there is ZERO ROMANCE. These days it feels as though YA authors think that it's an unwritten rule that we need romance in YA books - but that is not true! This is about the bonds of family and how they can be strained, tested and broken. There's not one hint of a love interest and I thoroughly enjoyed that fact. Again, I'm not sure where the series is going to take us but for this first book, the focus was entirely on family.
At the end of the book I was more than happy with how things had progressed. The plot had definitely thickened, there was some great character growth and a very interesting set-up for book number two.
Overall this was an entertaining and fun read and I'm going to be eagerly awaiting the release of the second book.
"I used to be calm and rational. I also used to not shoot purple flames out of my hands. Things had obviously changed."
February 6, 2017
I've read a few of Usher's books, and, honestly, I think YA is where she shines. By far this was one of my favourite narrative voices of any of her works. Lexie read like a very real, very tangible 15-year-old protagonist to me. I knew people like her in high school, the somewhat awkward, anti-social folks who buried themselves in work. You didn't realize they had a whole shitstorm happening in their personal lives because they kind of just shuffled in, shuffled out, killed it on exams, and then were gone. I understood who Lexi was and what she was all about immediately. Her impatience, her frustration with suddenly not being the best at everything... it made her all very human to me.
I can see where people might get annoyed with this book. Spoiler alert: this is a highly character-driven read. Plot obviously happens. A lot happens, but it doesn't seem like it in the grand scheme of things because we are so focused on Lexi growing into her magic. If you're not a fan of character-driven books, where it is more about growth and exploration than explosions and backstabbing, maybe this isn't for you. I really enjoyed it. Lexie made me laugh and roll my eyes, and I enjoy that in characters.
A quarter of a star was knocked off because of all the secret-keeping from Lexie in the beginning, along with her sisters and aunt being insanely annoyed by Lexie not able to control her powers right away. Guyz. You know she's a big deal. You know her magic SPOILER has been suppressed since she was born and now it's just waterfalling out of her. Have a little compassion and understanding, ffs. That was my primary issue with the novel, though it was a small one that didn't detract from my reading experience.
Overall, Spells and Sorcery almost reads like a prologue. We're getting introduced to the world, the characters, the magical system, with a hint of action toward the end that I'm sure will ramp up in the next book. The writing was strong and nuanced, particularly with the relationships between the sisters. I admit that I got a little misty-eyed when Lexie was actually upset when Marie said she planned to get the hell out of there ASAP. It was a really well-done moment.
I recommend this for folks who want to get behind a character and cheer her on through her successes, failures, and growth. Looking forward to book #2!
I can see where people might get annoyed with this book. Spoiler alert: this is a highly character-driven read. Plot obviously happens. A lot happens, but it doesn't seem like it in the grand scheme of things because we are so focused on Lexi growing into her magic. If you're not a fan of character-driven books, where it is more about growth and exploration than explosions and backstabbing, maybe this isn't for you. I really enjoyed it. Lexie made me laugh and roll my eyes, and I enjoy that in characters.
A quarter of a star was knocked off because of all the secret-keeping from Lexie in the beginning, along with her sisters and aunt being insanely annoyed by Lexie not able to control her powers right away. Guyz. You know she's a big deal. You know her magic SPOILER has been suppressed since she was born and now it's just waterfalling out of her. Have a little compassion and understanding, ffs. That was my primary issue with the novel, though it was a small one that didn't detract from my reading experience.
Overall, Spells and Sorcery almost reads like a prologue. We're getting introduced to the world, the characters, the magical system, with a hint of action toward the end that I'm sure will ramp up in the next book. The writing was strong and nuanced, particularly with the relationships between the sisters. I admit that I got a little misty-eyed when Lexie was actually upset when Marie said she planned to get the hell out of there ASAP. It was a really well-done moment.
I recommend this for folks who want to get behind a character and cheer her on through her successes, failures, and growth. Looking forward to book #2!
September 10, 2016
I loved this book. While I had my issues with it, such as pacing and character fleshiness, it is a solid start to a new S. Usher Evans series which will definitely be finding a home on my shelf.
First off, Lexie is a brat. But, honestly, can’t a lot of teenagers be brats at times? She’s already dealing with all of the normal teenage stressors, like keeping on top of school work and putting up with an older sister who is prone to being mean, when on top of this, *BAM*, she suddenly gets powers that she doesn’t understand and no one will properly explain to her. So, maybe her being a brat can be excused. Plus, this sets her up for character growth and maturation, which Sush just has a way of writing.
This novel has zero romance, which is bloody fantastic for a change. Instead of focusing on how soft so-and-so’s lips are and what they smell like, we get to experience the magnificent world building and see family relationships, which is something that is not addressed nearly enough in fantasy stories. And, who knows, perhaps a cute magical will make their way into Lexie’s life further down the road, and perhaps not. The girl DOES have other, bigger problems on her hands. Either way, I have confidence that Sush will do an excellent job of it.
Now, speaking of those family relationships, I surprisingly adored Lexie’s interactions with Marie. They act like they absolutely loathe each other most of the time, but then you see those rare moments where the love they have for each other is strong and, as a girl with three siblings, I can assure you that (at least in my family) this is accurate. Her relationship with Nicole and Jeanie, on the other hand, needs work. Lexie is always fighting with them and they’re always punishing her for things that they haven’t exactly explained and I feel that this hinders their character development. Plus, we don’t have the chance to learn much about them. I feel that as the series continues, however, we will see more of them, Nicole in particular, and come to understand them and why they act the way they do.
Lastly, this story does start out really slow. Lexie needs to work on learning how to control and understand her powers, but this slowness allows us to learn and experience the magical world and system with her. Then, before you know it, *WHOSH* you’re thrown into a whirlwind of magic and mayhem ( ;) ) and are set up for the craziness that is sure to be book 2.
First off, Lexie is a brat. But, honestly, can’t a lot of teenagers be brats at times? She’s already dealing with all of the normal teenage stressors, like keeping on top of school work and putting up with an older sister who is prone to being mean, when on top of this, *BAM*, she suddenly gets powers that she doesn’t understand and no one will properly explain to her. So, maybe her being a brat can be excused. Plus, this sets her up for character growth and maturation, which Sush just has a way of writing.
This novel has zero romance, which is bloody fantastic for a change. Instead of focusing on how soft so-and-so’s lips are and what they smell like, we get to experience the magnificent world building and see family relationships, which is something that is not addressed nearly enough in fantasy stories. And, who knows, perhaps a cute magical will make their way into Lexie’s life further down the road, and perhaps not. The girl DOES have other, bigger problems on her hands. Either way, I have confidence that Sush will do an excellent job of it.
Now, speaking of those family relationships, I surprisingly adored Lexie’s interactions with Marie. They act like they absolutely loathe each other most of the time, but then you see those rare moments where the love they have for each other is strong and, as a girl with three siblings, I can assure you that (at least in my family) this is accurate. Her relationship with Nicole and Jeanie, on the other hand, needs work. Lexie is always fighting with them and they’re always punishing her for things that they haven’t exactly explained and I feel that this hinders their character development. Plus, we don’t have the chance to learn much about them. I feel that as the series continues, however, we will see more of them, Nicole in particular, and come to understand them and why they act the way they do.
Lastly, this story does start out really slow. Lexie needs to work on learning how to control and understand her powers, but this slowness allows us to learn and experience the magical world and system with her. Then, before you know it, *WHOSH* you’re thrown into a whirlwind of magic and mayhem ( ;) ) and are set up for the craziness that is sure to be book 2.
October 29, 2016
I loved Spells & Sorcery – it’s my first foray into the books out S Usher Evans, but it won’t be my last (not least because there’s another #LexieSpells book coming in April next year). It’s one of those books that you just fall into right away, and it reminded me so, so much of my favourite TV show when I was younger, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, they’re very similar. Learning the have magic as a teenager (Lexie is 15, Sabrina 16), living with an Aunt (although in Sabrina’s case it’s 2 and in Lexie’s case it’s one and 2 annoying sisters), dealing with school and magic at the same time, all Lexie was missing was her very own Harvey Kinkle, but I hear that MAY be coming in book 2?!??!
Seeing Lexie come into her powers was both amazing and frustrating. Amazing because learning you’re a witch has been my dream for forever (I’m not kidding) and while Lexie struggled with it at first, it kinda came naturally to her but it was also frustrating because no one helps Lexie. Marie, Nicole, Jeanie, no one helped Lexie, or explained anything and while it does all eventually tumble out, a lot could have been explained before hand and they just irritated me, with their know-it-all looks and ability to yell for yelling’s sake. I did, however, like the introduction of Gavon, who seems to mentor Lexie, helping her the way her family should, and their interactions were so much fun.
I really enjoyed this, this really set the world going forwards with the series, and it was actually quite refreshing to have a YA book without a romance, there wasn’t even a sniff – it was all about Lexie learning about her magic, controlling it, and that was so much fun to read. All that was missing was a talking cat named Salem. This is the perfect read for Sabrina fans, I’m not even kidding. I lapped it up and I’m so, so excited for Magic & Mayhem and more from Lexie Carrigan!
Seeing Lexie come into her powers was both amazing and frustrating. Amazing because learning you’re a witch has been my dream for forever (I’m not kidding) and while Lexie struggled with it at first, it kinda came naturally to her but it was also frustrating because no one helps Lexie. Marie, Nicole, Jeanie, no one helped Lexie, or explained anything and while it does all eventually tumble out, a lot could have been explained before hand and they just irritated me, with their know-it-all looks and ability to yell for yelling’s sake. I did, however, like the introduction of Gavon, who seems to mentor Lexie, helping her the way her family should, and their interactions were so much fun.
I really enjoyed this, this really set the world going forwards with the series, and it was actually quite refreshing to have a YA book without a romance, there wasn’t even a sniff – it was all about Lexie learning about her magic, controlling it, and that was so much fun to read. All that was missing was a talking cat named Salem. This is the perfect read for Sabrina fans, I’m not even kidding. I lapped it up and I’m so, so excited for Magic & Mayhem and more from Lexie Carrigan!
September 8, 2018
I can't tell you how many times I would have given anything to be told "You have magic"!!
That is what happens to Lexie! I am so jealous!
Lexie finds this out the day before her 15th birthday. Getting told this out of the blue and to have a million questions with no answers makes for an interesting story. Typical teen rebellion happens!
This was a fun book, Lexie is just frustrated, her aunt and sister are no help at all. Then she meets a Gavin who is willing to help her. But is he really helping her?
That said, a lot of chaos happens - we are talking about a teen after all!
As usual, there is something about S. Usher Evans books that just suck me in and I don't stop until I reach the end of the book!!!
Looking forward to more adventures with Lexie!!!
That is what happens to Lexie! I am so jealous!
Lexie finds this out the day before her 15th birthday. Getting told this out of the blue and to have a million questions with no answers makes for an interesting story. Typical teen rebellion happens!
This was a fun book, Lexie is just frustrated, her aunt and sister are no help at all. Then she meets a Gavin who is willing to help her. But is he really helping her?
That said, a lot of chaos happens - we are talking about a teen after all!
As usual, there is something about S. Usher Evans books that just suck me in and I don't stop until I reach the end of the book!!!
Looking forward to more adventures with Lexie!!!
July 21, 2016
A GREAT FIND. I loved it and can't wait for book 2. A young girl discovers magic and her life is turned upside down. Mystery, intrigue and excitement. I couldn't put it down.
January 10, 2017
Very enjoyable.
March 22, 2019
Spells and Sorcery by S. Usher Evans is a YA paranormal novel about a young girl who learns, rather suddenly that she is about to come into magic. All her life, she’s been the smart one, adept at handling book situations and coming out on top when it comes to her school work. Granted she’s struggling a bit with chemistry, but only because her sister convinced her to take it because it was so simple for her (the sister). Lexie is the youngest of three sisters. Now…one would think…well, why didn’t one of the others, or her Aunt who is raising her, have told her about her uniqueness before it surfaced? Simple answer? They couldn’t. But instead of being understanding and rationale about it Lexie makes a complete 180. Controlling magic isn’t exactly her forte in the beginning, but with the help of a mysterious man she begins to gain control of her magic. But what is this guy’s agenda? Is he doing it simply to help her? Or is there more than meets the eye?
Being an avid reader and lover of paranormal and YA fiction, when I saw this book and read the blurb I was eager to read this book. It was likened to Sabrina the teenage witch, and while I honestly don’t know a lot about her, I like witches so I thought that this book would be fun to read. I will admit that when I started reading this book I was drawn to Lexie. I could relate to her. She was a bit of a bookworm and didn’t have any friends really. I like that she was so focused on her school work and strived to be the best. I figured that once she came to terms with her magic that she would settle in, adjust, and continue doing what she needed to so that she could be the best. I will admit that the author kept me engaged in the story, but it was for multiple reasons. I kept waiting on her to can the attitude, and then I wanted to see when she’d finally get some sense and reveal what was going on to her family.
I do understand that this is a YA novel, but I have to admit that Lexie started to get on my nerves. It’s like when she gets her magic that a switch is flipped inside her and now she’s gone rogue! She’s told “don’t use your magic in school” and she does it anyway! When she makes mistakes or goes overboard she automatically expects someone else to step in and clean up her mess. I couldn’t help but become disappointed in her. I’ll also admit that I was shocked that she never once questioned who the mystery man, Gavin, is. I kept waiting on her to question his motives, but it never happens!
It’s not unusual for me to have a love/hate relationship towards a character, and this is a YA novel with a teenage main character. I just honestly wish that her Aunt was tougher on her in certain aspects. All in all, the book did keep me page-turning. The pieces begin to fall into place and things do become revealed so I’ll readily admit that this book is good. So, for that reason…I am rating this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Being an avid reader and lover of paranormal and YA fiction, when I saw this book and read the blurb I was eager to read this book. It was likened to Sabrina the teenage witch, and while I honestly don’t know a lot about her, I like witches so I thought that this book would be fun to read. I will admit that when I started reading this book I was drawn to Lexie. I could relate to her. She was a bit of a bookworm and didn’t have any friends really. I like that she was so focused on her school work and strived to be the best. I figured that once she came to terms with her magic that she would settle in, adjust, and continue doing what she needed to so that she could be the best. I will admit that the author kept me engaged in the story, but it was for multiple reasons. I kept waiting on her to can the attitude, and then I wanted to see when she’d finally get some sense and reveal what was going on to her family.
I do understand that this is a YA novel, but I have to admit that Lexie started to get on my nerves. It’s like when she gets her magic that a switch is flipped inside her and now she’s gone rogue! She’s told “don’t use your magic in school” and she does it anyway! When she makes mistakes or goes overboard she automatically expects someone else to step in and clean up her mess. I couldn’t help but become disappointed in her. I’ll also admit that I was shocked that she never once questioned who the mystery man, Gavin, is. I kept waiting on her to question his motives, but it never happens!
It’s not unusual for me to have a love/hate relationship towards a character, and this is a YA novel with a teenage main character. I just honestly wish that her Aunt was tougher on her in certain aspects. All in all, the book did keep me page-turning. The pieces begin to fall into place and things do become revealed so I’ll readily admit that this book is good. So, for that reason…I am rating this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.
May 21, 2017
I have a soft spot for books and TV shows about witches, especially witches who are also sisters. I don't know if it's all tied into the notion of witchcraft as a very female dominated sphere and the way in which it empowers women, but in any event, this book should have been a huge hit with me but it wasn't.
This is probably one of those "it's me, not you" things to an extent. It's a lot more fantasy than I thought it would be, which sounds stupid when said in reference to a book that's clearly about magic, but I prefer books about "quiet" witchcraft where it just happens to be a part of life (think Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic); books where the women actually practise witchcraft rather than just throw spells about with flashy purple lights. (Side note: I'm using the words witchcraft and witches here but in the book I don't think it's ever referred to as such.)
For me, if you're going to go all out with the fantasy element and the idea of this whole other world of magic, clans and guilds, and different classes of magical beings then that world has to be built for the reader to understand and, for me, it all happened too fast. Having said that, if you are a fantasy lover then I doubt you'd be bothered by this.
Some of the characters themselves felt a little flat for me, other than Lexie herself, who I found to be rather naive and self-centred at points. Marie was the only character that I felt any real understanding of. Nicole and Jeanie just seemed to be there, occasionally reacting to things Lexie was doing, but not real people with their own motivations and opinions. For example, Jeanie - who is she as a person? We never even find out what she does as her job. She turns up when it's convenient for the story and disappears when it isn't.
Again, I think this is more me than necessarily the book itself. Characterisation is sacrificed in favor of the fantasy and necessary explanations behind the magic in the book.
If, unlike me, you're a witch lover (magical lover?) willing to suspend your disbelief and throw yourself fully into the fantasy then you'll probably enjoy this book.
Final point: this book does get kudos for having zero romantic storylines and being all about Lexie and her magic. This is such a novelty in YA fantasy and even just plain YA fiction today.
This is probably one of those "it's me, not you" things to an extent. It's a lot more fantasy than I thought it would be, which sounds stupid when said in reference to a book that's clearly about magic, but I prefer books about "quiet" witchcraft where it just happens to be a part of life (think Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic); books where the women actually practise witchcraft rather than just throw spells about with flashy purple lights. (Side note: I'm using the words witchcraft and witches here but in the book I don't think it's ever referred to as such.)
For me, if you're going to go all out with the fantasy element and the idea of this whole other world of magic, clans and guilds, and different classes of magical beings then that world has to be built for the reader to understand and, for me, it all happened too fast. Having said that, if you are a fantasy lover then I doubt you'd be bothered by this.
Some of the characters themselves felt a little flat for me, other than Lexie herself, who I found to be rather naive and self-centred at points. Marie was the only character that I felt any real understanding of. Nicole and Jeanie just seemed to be there, occasionally reacting to things Lexie was doing, but not real people with their own motivations and opinions. For example, Jeanie - who is she as a person? We never even find out what she does as her job. She turns up when it's convenient for the story and disappears when it isn't.
Again, I think this is more me than necessarily the book itself. Characterisation is sacrificed in favor of the fantasy and necessary explanations behind the magic in the book.
If, unlike me, you're a witch lover (magical lover?) willing to suspend your disbelief and throw yourself fully into the fantasy then you'll probably enjoy this book.
Final point: this book does get kudos for having zero romantic storylines and being all about Lexie and her magic. This is such a novelty in YA fantasy and even just plain YA fiction today.
January 22, 2019
The night before she turns 15, Lexie learns that she has magic. She learns her sister Marie is a healer and that her sister Nicole is a potion maker. Her aunt Jeanie, who has raised all 3 girls from the time Lexie was born, is also magical. While it's hard to believe she is suddenly going to have magic at midnight, Marie flaunts her own magic right in front of her, but it's still a hard pill to swallow.
As far as her sisters, Marie took the cake. She was absolutely flat out cold and mean to Lexie, more than your typical sibling issues (as someone with two older sisters, I couldn't have put up with Marie *at all*). Nicole was a mother-hen to Lexie. Losing their mother so young often forces the oldest to take on that role. And while they did have Aunt Jeanie, parenting didn't come easily to her.
So when Lexie learned she had magic, she had no one willing to teach her what to do, and a whole family telling her what not to do. So when she met Gavon, who was more than willing to share his knowledge, she latched on. In a way, he was the father she never had. I worried about the amount of time Lexie spent with Gavon. because she literally had no friends, which seemed really sad to me. With both her aunt and sisters keeping her in the dark and no friends to help her experiment and work through this new world, of course, she would latch onto Gavon.
I didn't love all the secrets involved, especially the ones the family was keeping from Lexie. She's very strong-willed, as teenagers are, and keeping her in the dark was probably the worst thing she could have done. She's trying to learn to control her magic and she's being told, just control it. I could completely empathize with her frustration with her sisters and aunt.
I had my eye on Spells and Sorcery for a while, and I was so pleased when I found this through the inter-library loaning system. I raced through the entire book in a day, and while some of the logistics were slow, once the pace started to pick up, it just kept on going, making it a fast and really easy read. The writing style is smooth and easy, I loved all of the characters, even the ones we were meant to hate. Definitely a great read for fans of YA and Fantasy.
As far as her sisters, Marie took the cake. She was absolutely flat out cold and mean to Lexie, more than your typical sibling issues (as someone with two older sisters, I couldn't have put up with Marie *at all*). Nicole was a mother-hen to Lexie. Losing their mother so young often forces the oldest to take on that role. And while they did have Aunt Jeanie, parenting didn't come easily to her.
So when Lexie learned she had magic, she had no one willing to teach her what to do, and a whole family telling her what not to do. So when she met Gavon, who was more than willing to share his knowledge, she latched on. In a way, he was the father she never had. I worried about the amount of time Lexie spent with Gavon. because she literally had no friends, which seemed really sad to me. With both her aunt and sisters keeping her in the dark and no friends to help her experiment and work through this new world, of course, she would latch onto Gavon.
I didn't love all the secrets involved, especially the ones the family was keeping from Lexie. She's very strong-willed, as teenagers are, and keeping her in the dark was probably the worst thing she could have done. She's trying to learn to control her magic and she's being told, just control it. I could completely empathize with her frustration with her sisters and aunt.
I had my eye on Spells and Sorcery for a while, and I was so pleased when I found this through the inter-library loaning system. I raced through the entire book in a day, and while some of the logistics were slow, once the pace started to pick up, it just kept on going, making it a fast and really easy read. The writing style is smooth and easy, I loved all of the characters, even the ones we were meant to hate. Definitely a great read for fans of YA and Fantasy.
November 11, 2016
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
For the most part Lexie is your typical teenager. She has two older sisters, one who annoys her to no end, and they live with their aunt, after their mom passed away when Lexie was born. All that typical life is about to change at midnight, when Lexie turns fifteen. Her aunt and oldest sister inform her that she has magic, and Lexie is distraught at the idea. Her whole world is turned upside down. Then there is the fact that no one is really explaining this whole magic thing, or what to do with it to her. Enter Gavon, who has magic and explains things to her, or is he. The truth may be more than anyone in the family can handle. Spells and Sorcery follows Lexie as she comes to grip with magic, what it means in her life, and tries to find her center once again. Author S. Usher Evans has written a coming of age, fantasy, paranormal tale that may revolve around magic, but there are so many other layers woven into the story that you like.
While Spells and Sorcery is billed as the first book in the Lexie Carrigan Chronicles, it definitely ends with more questions than answers, but at the same time you feel as if Lexie and her sisters have been left out in the cold by a large extended family to sink or swim on their own. Author S. Usher Evans builds a story that you think is going one way, only to have it turned completely upside down at the last minute and you are left wondering, probably feeling the same as Lexie. This is a young adult book, and it is clean with no sex, a little language, but nothing more than kids have heard at school already. I would recommend it for any reader, young or old, and I think you will find yourself understanding the complex issues of life and magic in this book.
For the most part Lexie is your typical teenager. She has two older sisters, one who annoys her to no end, and they live with their aunt, after their mom passed away when Lexie was born. All that typical life is about to change at midnight, when Lexie turns fifteen. Her aunt and oldest sister inform her that she has magic, and Lexie is distraught at the idea. Her whole world is turned upside down. Then there is the fact that no one is really explaining this whole magic thing, or what to do with it to her. Enter Gavon, who has magic and explains things to her, or is he. The truth may be more than anyone in the family can handle. Spells and Sorcery follows Lexie as she comes to grip with magic, what it means in her life, and tries to find her center once again. Author S. Usher Evans has written a coming of age, fantasy, paranormal tale that may revolve around magic, but there are so many other layers woven into the story that you like.
While Spells and Sorcery is billed as the first book in the Lexie Carrigan Chronicles, it definitely ends with more questions than answers, but at the same time you feel as if Lexie and her sisters have been left out in the cold by a large extended family to sink or swim on their own. Author S. Usher Evans builds a story that you think is going one way, only to have it turned completely upside down at the last minute and you are left wondering, probably feeling the same as Lexie. This is a young adult book, and it is clean with no sex, a little language, but nothing more than kids have heard at school already. I would recommend it for any reader, young or old, and I think you will find yourself understanding the complex issues of life and magic in this book.
October 24, 2016
Spells and Sorcery is a modern-day witch story that follows the life of Lexie, a teenager who is thrown into an unknown world of magic and witchcraft. I loved that Lexie is not only focused on self-discovery in this book, but she is also adventurous. Unbeknownst to her, she is tossed into a world where she has to discover her own witch powers, deal with school problems, while also trying to uncover the secrets hidden from her by her family.
Because there is SO much miscommunication and lack of communication between the characters, Lexie is positioned into a world of chaos. Often times, when Lexie is frustrated with the idea that no one is explaining her powers to her or how to use them, I was also becoming irritated with the mysteries surrounding her family, her past, and her current witch powers. This book requires patience, and at the end, you are crying out for more backstory, more chapters, and more of Lexie’s sassiness.
In regards to the author’s take on witchcraft, I really enjoyed the background story that connects Lexie’s powers and her family to Salem, Massachusetts. The Salem Witch Trials have always fascinated me, and I love that Evans brings in a new and refreshing backstory to her own book of witches. In Evans’ next book, I am really looking forward to learning more about Lexie’s Salem ancestors and how their magical secrets affect Lexie as a 21st-century witch.
If you love coming-to-age stories with angsty teenagers, mystical witches, and mystery with a dash of sisterly and strong familial bonds, Spells and Sorcery is the book for you. As each chapter unravels, the magic in Lexie’s world becomes more and more intriguing.
Because there is SO much miscommunication and lack of communication between the characters, Lexie is positioned into a world of chaos. Often times, when Lexie is frustrated with the idea that no one is explaining her powers to her or how to use them, I was also becoming irritated with the mysteries surrounding her family, her past, and her current witch powers. This book requires patience, and at the end, you are crying out for more backstory, more chapters, and more of Lexie’s sassiness.
In regards to the author’s take on witchcraft, I really enjoyed the background story that connects Lexie’s powers and her family to Salem, Massachusetts. The Salem Witch Trials have always fascinated me, and I love that Evans brings in a new and refreshing backstory to her own book of witches. In Evans’ next book, I am really looking forward to learning more about Lexie’s Salem ancestors and how their magical secrets affect Lexie as a 21st-century witch.
If you love coming-to-age stories with angsty teenagers, mystical witches, and mystery with a dash of sisterly and strong familial bonds, Spells and Sorcery is the book for you. As each chapter unravels, the magic in Lexie’s world becomes more and more intriguing.
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