The Spells We Cast

The Spells We Cast #1

by Jason June

Nigel Barrett has spent his whole life preparing for the Culling, a spell-casting competition that determines which of the world’s teenage magicians will be stripped of their powers to preserve magical balance. But nothing could have prepared him to face Ori Olson, a broody rival whose caustic wit cloaks a painful past.

From the moment Nigel and Ori meet, sparks fly. Their powers are stronger, more thrilling, the closer they get—not that they can risk becoming attached. Because as the field narrows and the Culling grows more dangerous, Nigel and Ori realize there’s more at stake than just their powers. The greatest threat to magic, their future, and all of humanity might be the connection growing between them. . . .

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Queer, LGBT, Magic, Audiobook

352 pages, Hardcover

First published October 3, 2023

Reviews

[Noah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well now… I didn’t love this. Sorry. I think it was around the halfway point when I realized that I was chanting to myself: “The only way out is through. The only way out is through. THE ONLY WAY OUT IS THROUGH!” So that’s probably not a good sign. This book has a lot in common with other Young-Adult Fantasy in that they always seem to have these great, lofty goals about how wonderfully fleshed out their fantasy world will be that they forget to focus on the core story in the actual book. This story is supposed to be about a cowboy wizard (sure, why not) going to magic school and his budding romance with another student, but it quickly gets bogged down by endless introductions of forgettable characters and magical terms that I’m just supposed to accept at face value. Not even three chapters in and within the span of a couple sentences Nigel mentions the existence of Orcs, Elves, and Fae, without more details. I guess we’re supposed to use our knowledge of other fantasy stories to fill in the blanks? Now, this probably doesn’t seem like a big deal, but the fact that Nigel is so offhanded in his statement of all this info made it feel like the author wanted to get these lore bits out of the way, rather than organically integrating these characters within the story at hand. It was like these characters were just included because it’s a fantasy story, so of course there’s got to be all these fantasy races! This is why it’s always helpful in contemporary fantasy stories to have a main character who doesn’t know anything about the magical world they’re in. Just a complete airhead. That way we can learn about this world alongside our hero. Which also helps to endears us to them, by the way. Another issue that this book shares with contemporary fantasy (because this book doesn’t even have unique problems) is that it basically explains away the reason why the magic society doesn’t do anything about real world issues like racism, sexism, and homophobia with a lukewarm… “the rules don’t allow them to.” Whatever. Why even bring up issues if you’re not even going to address it in any meaningful way? The book doesn’t even explore fantasy bigotry with all of its fantasy races! So I was left with just one thought: why? Why, why, why?

I don’t know, when you have a fantasy that’s feels so deliberately whittled down to the absolute barest essentials and doesn’t even try to explore anything the tiniest bit challenging, then what are we even doing here? I was so bored throughout most of this that my eyes were basically permanently glazed over! Ever read a book in 480p? Now’s your chance with The Spells We Cast! I wish I had Adam Sandler’s Click powers so I could fast-forward through all the bits I was snoozing at. It didn’t help that barely any character made a splash except for Ori, and that’s not really a good thing because all he accomplished was that he seriously pissed me off. You know the reason why people like the whole “enemies-to-something-better” trope is because of the banter, right? When you have one character (Ori) just being a complete dick to the other (Nigel Thornberry), then it’s not exactly interesting to read through. Don’t get me wrong, the person I was mostly annoyed at in this dynamic was actually Nigel! He would constantly try to get closer to Ori and after being completely rebuffed several times, he’d continue and continue to try to get him to soften up towards him. Give it a rest dude, just leave him alone. Anybody with a pinch of social skills would interpret Ori’s actions as genuine dislike. Yeah, so I didn’t really like the characters or the story! Ori’s mean without snark, and Nigel’s pushy to the point of being off-putting. If your characters have negative chemistry and your adventure isn’t all that fun and the fantasy world is dull, then what’s left? I thought my disinterest was, like, a “me” thing, but then I went to go read something else and, I won’t name names, but that book had my full attention. I felt rejuvenated, like I had a full factory reset! So, sorry The Spells We Cast, it’s you, not me. Anyway, this will sound totally hypocritical, but despite everything, I do appreciate this author. Or rather, what he's doing and how he continues to write inclusive Young-Adult fiction. And even if I don’t enjoy them, I like that books like this one exist in the world now. At the end of the day, if even one person can read a book about going to a magical school and still feel loved and like their identities are accepted, then who the hell cares what I have to say?

“They’re soulmates.”

Nah, they were like… lab partners at best.

[Lisa Andres · Rating 2 out of 5]

"."

TL;DR: If you like Jason June's other YA books, you'll probably like this one.
An overly-stuffed, whiplash-inducing fast paced, queer cowboy romance with a fantasy subplot (more on that below) that has so. much. potential. That potential is ultimately glossed over in the interest of another physical-attraction-is-romance story where "Love" is the main magic. Ticks all the boxes for a YA Fantasy Epic, but fails to engage with them or do something different.
Heads up: if I love a book (or straight up hate it), my review is going to be fairly short -- I want you to read it, to experience it for yourself, and my needlessly gushing for 1000 words isn't going to really tell you much more than my initial thoughts.
But when I'm frustrated by a book, my reviews tend to be longer -- because I want to explain that I'm not bashing or attacking the story for arbitrary reasons, but trying to explain why I was frustrated, what I found problematic, and what didn't work *for me.*
I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Vibes: IDK. Honestly, this was all over the place.
Harry Potter + Hunger Games + Yellowstone + a chaotic mish-mash of magical systems & creatures.

Genre: True YA Queer Romance.
There are fantasy parts to this story, but this is, first and foremost, a romance story.

Romance Meter: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤
See above.

Character MVP: Probably Bex -- Nigel's "best friend" (I use scare quotes because they seriously know each other for 2 days and are like, "BFFS!") who seems to be the only one who has some sense.

Verdict: 2.5 stars, rounding down.
This book made me mad. And when I wasn't mad, I was eyerolling.
Warning: Massive spoilers will abound below.

So, I did what I said I wasn't going to do, which is read another Jason June book. I tried their first 2 books, and was very "meh" about them, one for admittedly personal, subjective reasons. But it's Pride Month -- and I love queer stories, and I love supporting queer authors, and I really, really, really wanted to love this book.

But.

I didn't.

And before I get into why, let me just reiterate that two of my biggest pet peeves are:
(1) lackluster world-building and
(2) when MCs in fantasy stories -- specifically those with High Stakes World Ending Events that the MCs are trying to stop/solve/thwart -- stop their mission to be romantic. (I don't mean a tearful kiss goodbye; I mean a full on make-out session or throw a party.)
There's a reason that the Fantasy Greats are just that -- "great." It's because the world is so carefully thought and planned out, the magic system so carefully crafted that it (largely) makes sense. No series is perfect -- there are always going to be questions and minor plot holes; why *didn't* Gandalf just fly with the eagles to throw the One Ring into Mount Doom? -- but for most of the series, it seems logical and inevitable, and you accept it.

That did not happen here.

Before I get into why, let me clarify what I think Jason June did well here:
✓ -- as always with Jason June's stories, the representation is one of the saving factors. There's so much diverse representation -- not for the sake of diversity -- that it's normalized and inclusive and feels natural.
And if I had a voracious reader -- particularly a LGBTQ+ teen -- I'd probably recommend this book to them, based on that fact alone. But I think that there are queer authors doing great worldbuilding work *and* character development -- like Kalynn Bayron or Anna-Marie McLemore or Tracey Deonn -- that I'd recommend them first.
✓ -- strong female characters. Both Bex -- Nigel's friend -- and Meema (Nigel's grandmother) are unapologetically strong female characters, and I appreciate that.
✓ -- creative potential. There's a strong potential here, and the chapters where June focuses on what should be the main focus of the story (e.g., the second Culling task, where Nigel and Ori work together) are some of the strongest in the book.

But, just as they did with Out of the Blue, the fantasy elements seem to be this creative way to support the romance, rather than a fully developed magical system.

Here's what didn't work for me:

✖️ -- Telling, not showing.
So much telling. Not nearly enough showing.
The whole magical system is info-dumped in the first few chapters, and even emotions are told. Nigel is "so lonely," "so guilty," etc. There's so much potential for emotional depth here, but since it's told, I didn't feel connected to any of the characters.

✖️ -- An overstuffed plot.
This book is about ~350 pages, and honestly? There are *at least* 3 books' worth of content here.
Book #1 -- we learn about the magical world Jason June is building, and are introduced to The Guild and The Culling. We should see more of Nigel's interactions his grandma and sense of loneliness and isolation, as well as the tension he has between his magical and non-magical lives. Also, more interactions with his dad, because that relationship is supposed to be an emotional underpinning of the book -- his dad is awful to him! -- but it just falls really flat. We'd also be able to *be shown* more of the magical world, and really understand the threat of the Knife. (<-- The Big Bad, who is just that; a Big Bad that you know will inevitably be defeated because there's no depth there.)
Book #2 -- after ending Book #1 with the trial -- or imprisonment of Nigel & Ori -- we focus here on getting the magical implements needed to defeat the Knife. Because this is like, literally 2 chapters. The focus here could be on the clear corruption within The Guild and set up that plot and characters and make their turns and "betrayals" deeper and more poignant. There's a solid point there, but Alister (and Laurel) feel like one-dimensional villains with vague motivations -- Money! Power! -- who just hate Nigel because...he's the MC and needs conflict?
Book #3 -- the defeat of the Guild and the Knife. Because honestly? The Knife is also defeated in like one chapter and I honestly skimmed it because it seemed predictable.
There is another book planned, so clearly there are more twists planned, but so much more needed to be developed.

✖️ -- One of my major discomforts with the book is the premise of the magical system.
According to June, "Ancestrals" (full magical creatures -- elves, goblins, fae, sprites, and nymphs) gave humans magic to balance out the hate in the world. When did they do this? Good question:
"When settlers first came to America, cruelty was on high, as you can imagine. Genocide of the Native populations, enslavements everywhere you looked. The awful beginnings of our country created Depraved in numbers the Ancestrals had never before reckoned with."

Which...okay. Let me be very clear: the colonization and settling of America was a horrific time. The treatment of Native peoples and enslaved peoples was unequivocally cruel, awful, and wrong.
But there's something about this being the moment that magical beings stepped in that just didn't set well me. At this point, humans have been around for thousands of years, and *this* is when Acestrals step in? It seems awful America-centric, especially as we're given no indication that magicians exist in other countries (like only Americans were given this special gift) and what about the suffering and evils that existed before America was colonized? IDK. Even Rick Riordan acknowledged that America was only the current heart of civilization and it had existed many places before Manhattan; and even JKR -- as misguided as she was in some of those portrayals -- didn't portray magic as something only the British had.

✖️ -- The Punishment of the Culling is to have your magic ripped from you, forever.
I'm going to give Jason June the benefit of the doubt here -- with a plea to engage with this more in the sequel.
The magicians in June's world -- if they fail to advance in The Culling -- is to have their magic horrifically and painfully stripped from them, leaving them a hollow shell of themselves.
To me, this seemed to be a parallel of "conversion camps," which "promise" to reprogram gay teens into "normal" ones. It's awful, barbaric, and just plain wrong.
But the idea that something which is so innately a part of you -- something you're born with, something you don't choose, something that IS you -- can be ripped away from you, isn't really engaged with.
Now, maybe Jason June meant for the reader to draw this parallel on their own, and felt that would be enough. That just making that connection would be enough to understand how awful and damaging it is.
But no one in the book really seems to question it. Some characters question The Culling itself, and the Guild, but not really the practice of stripping away the magic. And I would think that Nigel, being a gay teen, would have emphasized the Wrongness of that more. Instead, it just feels like an "oh, yeah, this is something bad that could happen and I'm afraid it could happen to me." And that didn't sit well with me either.

✖️ -- Another instance of Jason June's romances being centered on physical attraction. Which, as I've said in my reviews of the other 2 books, I don't deny is a key element of a relationship! Physical attraction is VERY important. But here, again...
(1) From the moment Nigel meets Ori, their relationship is defined by 2 things: (1) the "warm tingles" Nigel gets every time they touch (cue Cascada music) and (2) the snarky disdain Ori treats Nigel with.
Yes, a reason is provided for this -- but lord, y'all. The cringiness of this reason...
(2) "There's a magic version of that, too. Your whole body lights up when you meet that *someone,* and in magicians, it boosts their power. It's what I was telling you before. There's a power in love. A love magic."
And, then, later:
"A bond that's instantaneous, built on unexplained, yet undeniable attraction.[...] It can be summed up simply: You're soulmates."

Which...*sigh*
Yes, a few pages later Ori does make it clear that he doesn't *love* Nigel yet, because he's only known him a few days! And Nigel begrudgingly admits that he also doesn't love Ori, because again, ITS ONLY BEEN A FEW DAYS.
But while both MCs admit that it's not love, they're also deemed soulmates based solely on physical attraction. And when you have a magical connection between your characters, you don't have to develop the relationship or show WHY they love each other -- the reader is just supposed to know that They Are Soulmates and They Are In Love. Despite one MC never really being very nice to the other one. It's a really frustrating instance of telling, not showing -- particularly because this could have been a really interesting plot point, if it had been developed and curated over the course of the story.

✖️ -- Plot Holes.
As I said before, no story -- especially a fantasy one -- is going to be devoid of plot holes. But I shouldn't spend the whole book scratching my head and asking questions and being frustrated that I don't know things.
Here are just a few of the things that bothered me:
--Why would Meema *legitimately* keep Nigel isolated on the ranch? I know there's the "reason" of "no one can see Dad and the demons!' but this is even further undercut by the end of the story. As a senior Guild Member and descendant of The Great Savior, wouldn't she know that alliances and networking and connections are important?
--Seriously -- in 250 years of Magician history NO ONE else has ever formed this magical love connection? Especially when we've seen 3 instances of it in this story alone?
--Why does Magic get depleted? This is a crucial plot point, but it's never really explained.
My initial complaint was that it seemed like a liability -- if you only have X numbers of magicians, all of whom can be depleted during a battle, why would you have the Culling at all?
Again, this is somewhat addressed at the end, because it's revealed that The Culling didn't really need to exist, but still. Magical creatures gave humans magic to battle Evil, but it's a finite resource? Linked to emotions and intentions? This seems problematic, and I have questions.
--Why does Alistair hate Nigel? Before he knows about The Magical Love Connection? If he's concerned with money and power (I'd say spoilers, but not really) wouldn't he want to ally with the family? Wouldn't he want to, like, marry Nigel to Laurel to consolidate their power and wealth and positions? He reeks of Lucius Malfoy, but like, a flatter caricature of him.

I really, really wanted to...if not love, enjoy this book, especially as my last read was "meh" as well. But the lack of cohesive worldbuilding and the lost potential for something different or a powerful social commentary on hate, prejudice, intolerance was just frustrating.

Oh, and I'm pretty sure the Secret Magician Bex is taking them to at the end is Nigel's mom. Which is something I think TJ Klune did at the end of one of his Extraordinaries books? That just seems like a "Chekov's gun" placed at the beginning of the story that seems like it's going to come back into play.

[Edward]

You had me at fantasy cowboy written by Jason June.

[Jared Mazeika · Rating 2 out of 5]

…oof. Gay cowboys with magic is the book of my dreams. Unfortunately, things started going downhill for
me 1/4 of the way through when the main characters used a Taylor Swift song to open a portal.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this queer YA horror/romance/fantasy so so much! Set in a realistic world where magic does exist in secret, there was a lot of relatable content (queerphobia and hate). I loved that this was a completely different direction for author Jason June and I was totally here for it!

This story features a gay magical cowboy, a spell casting competition to "cull" out the less magically gifted, found family, scary monsters, loss, love and everything in between. This was also GREAT on audio narrated by the author himself and the way things ended left it open for a sequel or series (fingers crossed)!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review! The overall message of the power of love to conquer evil and hate was powerful and applicable to the everyday life queer teens are faced with all the time.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, thrilling, heartwarming YA cowboy fantasy novel! A bit cliche at some points, but self aware enough to make it a laugh, this book created an interesting magical world and left it open to a mysterious sequel.

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Spells We Cast is a gay YA fantasy standalone (but maybe also a potential series starter?). Gay cowboy Nigel with a magical family legacy has come of age and must now enter The Culling, a cut-throat (figuratively but sometimes literally) competition where all magical teens must compete for the right to keep their magic. There, he meets Ori, a broody young man with effigy magic and a mission. Together, they discover that when they touch, their magic become so much more powerful, to even explosive and deadly results. And when they accidentally empower the greatest threat to magic and the human world, they must fight to discover what their magical connection means in order to correct their mistake.

I don’t know if this book just didn’t jive with me, but I did not like The Spells We Cast. I found it an incredibly frustrating read. Every character is just an over-the-top caricature of who they should be. It’s like that one annoying person in your friend group, but it’s everyone instead. It’s kind of insufferable. I think the author was going for camp, but this was not it. Then outside of the two main characters and the one best friend, every other secondary character is just a terrible person. From the father to grandmother to the competitors to the senior magicians, nearly everyone immediately had it out for the protagonists for some reason and had little to no redeeming qualities.

Then SO MANY THINGS happen in this YA-sized 350-page book. It’s one after another that there isn’t any room to marinate on anything. Everything just happens instantaneously—instant soulmate, instant best friend, instant rivals, instant enemies. Then there are just so many plotholes. The reasoning for the Culling never made sense to me (and after the twist, I was apparently right, but it was never believable in the first place). Then the hostility towards Nigel never made sense either when apparently only his bloodline can retrieve and use this one super powerful weapon to defeat the ultimate big bad. So why was it even a question that he gets to keep his magic? Then the love magic connection as some new-ish discover just isn’t believable at all.

As much as I enjoyed the author’s other YA novels, The Spells We Cast was not for me.

[Jess Twibey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just the cutest queer cowboy story! All magicians must go through the culling, because magic needs to be culled to be safely controlled. Nigel and Ori should be rivals, but all Nigel has ever wanted is to find his people and have true relationships with people he doesn’t have to hide his magic from, and Ori is determined to ignore Nigel, tragically fighting to have what killed his older sister. The boys are opposites in many ways, their type of magics are strong individually but together? It’s beyond what’s anyone’s ever seen and as great as that sounds it’s not what’s expected of them and causes lots of unforeseen issues. The boys are in trouble, they must fight their way through the culling, keeping their magic secret but their connection refuses to let anything be that easy. A crushing system pits all these teens against each other, the pressure from the adult magicians is intense and the way forward is rarely easy and clear but this blooming relationship will surely endure all and come out swinging

[Bridget · Rating 1 out of 5]

Luister ik geef een boek niet snel 1 ster, maar dit boek had verschrikkelijke karakters, het plot was dodelijk saai en ik kan dit gewoon niet uitlezen (70%).

[eve.lyn._.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

For Ori, knowing Taylor Swift songs can save lives.

[Frank Chillura (OhYouRead) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gawwwwwwd! I am always here for a Jason June book!!! I have been a huge cheerleader of his since I read his first YA book, Jay’s Gay Agenda, and I don’t see that ever changing. I love that no matter what, I can always see myself in his characters.

The Spells We Cast is his first foray into Fantasy and I really hope it’s not his last, because I loved it. It was the perfect mixture of The Wizards of Waverly Place mixed with Spellbound by FT Lukens and every gay cowboy fantasy of my teenage years!😂

The Guild is an organization made up of 5 separate magical factions. Every year, they hold a competition to decide who gets to keep their magic and whose is bound in The Culling. They make each of the chosen compete against other teenagers, not to the death a la Hunger Games, and the winners move on to the next round, while the rest lose their magic forever.

Nigel is doing whatever he can to make it out of The Culling with his powers intact. His father was the first Barrett to ever fail and he doesn’t want to grow up to be as miserable and angry as him. This competition determines which of these magical teenagers are powerful and prepared enough to train. And all of his preparations are thrown out the window when he meets Ori.

They are exact opposites in many ways, but while they’re both determined, Ori is much more focused and plans on being the best. The only problem is that the closer in distance they get, the more out of control their powers become. For some reason, their powers are reacting to each other and they have to figure out what’s happening before they create a disaster… or they’re culled themselves.

I loved their relationship from the start. Nigel is a bright and happy cowboy who carries a lasso and Ori is a little grumpster who can’t handle the emotions he starts to feel. We definitely know from the start that they’re meant to be together, but there is a lot that happens in between to get us there.

This is another win IMO for Jason June. But I need another book set in this world… and I need it now! I’ll be having my Veruca Salt moment now, THANK YEWWWWWW!!!

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thrilling fantasy adventure filled with cool world building and relatable, nuanced characters.

The plot and the world are pretty instantly familiar since it takes pieces from other novels like Harry Potter and Hunger Games (which took from others as well) and blends them into a chosen one fights the system all while figuring themselves out thing. It reads fun and fast paced.

Maybe too fast. I thought the enemies to lovers meet cute was great but the soulmates aspect developed super fast so we never truly know if they are only together due to their magical connection. The guild hall world is confusing and if I am frank, silly. If magicians lose strength as they use power, why is the hall set up as a constant magic struggle? To build their power? Didn’t work for me.

The mystery of the magical world, the Culling, the demons, all pulled me into wanting to know more. I hope there is a main baddie in the next one, aside from some nasty Guild members, who have personalities worthy of fighting.

I hope there is a follow up because it was a good cliffhanger. The world is ripe for change, there are great characters we can now see deepen and grow into full fledged people. I cared about them already and want to see what happens.

[S B · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading Jay's 'Gay Agenda,' which I really liked, I eagerly anticipated June's new book. It had everything to convince me: cowboys, a grumpy love interest with freckles (I'm such a simp for those 😩), lesbian and trans representation—all set in a magical school? Count me in.

The story started strong. Nigel is a sweetheart, and his relationship with Meema was adorable. Despite emotional neglect from his father, Nigel handled it well. Reading about his dad's behavior made me furious, but Nigel didn't let it dim his sunshine.

And Ori, with his moody, brooding personality, became a character I had a soft spot for. There's always more to characters like him, and Ori experienced so much pain. I understood his reluctance to get close to anyone.

Yes, their dynamic worked, and they were cute together, BUT, the crucial part for me was that they didn't actually know each other. The literal magic of love didn't feel sincere, a point Ori acknowledged towards the end. When two side characters faced a similar predicament, I had to roll my eyes. It lacked originality, and I could've done without it.

Lastly, the setting was enjoyable until they reached the school after their first test. From then on, it was pure havoc—fighting, arguing, and more fighting. I missed something nice in between, like a ball or just a dinner. Give these kids some rest, for goodness' sake!

So overall, my 13-year-old self would have loved this book. I don't regret buying a copy; it still offered wonderful queer content, and that alone is enough to continue reading June's novels!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lot of fun! My only complaint was that I wish there was a little more build up for the mcs and his love interest’s relationship. It leaned to heavily on the soulmate insta-love.

[Bethany Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nigel Barrett faces the Culling, a competition where teenage magicians are stripped of their powers to maintain balance, only to find himself drawn to rival Ori Olson. As their bond intensifies and their powers grow stronger, they must navigate the dangers of the Culling and a connection that could threaten not just their future, but all of humanity.

If you enjoy magic, drama, and a touch of YA swooning, this audiobook is an absolute gem - the narration for Meemaw alone is worth it! I keep calling it the magical gay cowboy book and honestly, it’s a vibe. I loved it. Yeehaw!

[ferdi &#x1f349; · Rating 1 out of 5]

i fucking did it. i actually fucking did it. i managed to finish this absolute hot garbage of a book.

i had read jason june's "out of the blue" back in 2022, and it was sadly one of the worst books i had read that year (which is lamentable since it's one of the few queer mer romances i've gotten the chance to read), and i thought that maybe, just maybe, this book would be better than that one. i decided to give june a second chance and borrowed this book from the library, thinking it might finally be it. but, oh boy, was i so fucking wrong.

let me start pointing out everything that drove me insane while listening to/reading this book, and why you should just avoid it for the sake of your own sanity.

- nigel is a fucking wimp. im sorry but he straight up is. there's nothing i hate more than a main character who has the backbone of a cracker and lets everyone walk all over them. it's ridiculous.

- nigel's family is full of pieces of shit, and everyone that surrounds him is also a piece of shit. even the love interest, orion, is genuinely just a horrible person to him (even freaking called nigel selfish after his breakdown when he realized he was the one who had to save the freaking world from impending doom and had just watched his horse DIE. like yeah that's sooo selfish. wtf). and if u think his grandma is off the hook, oh she is so not. she treated nigel like shit too and was even convinced that he'd unleashed terror across the world when she RAISED him and KNOWS he wouldn't. she also allowed her abusive, alcoholic son to live with them and harm nigel. like what the fuck. what the actual fuck.

- and going back to orion...i have never seen such inconsistency in trying to write a character until this book. idk wtf june was going for when writing ori, i just know they fucked it up. orion would switch between moods every single page of this book, there wasn't a single second where he was consistent or sure about something. he treated nigel like crap and saw him as a nuisance the entire time.

- the pop culture references. oh my god. i wanted to claw my eyes out when taylor swift was brought up. pls for the love of all that is good and holy, never fucking do that again. the whole "orion being a swiftie and using her songs to make spells" was not something i was counting on, and i wish it was never written in the first place. ugh.

- the world building is subpar at BEST. it tried too hard to implement magic into the real/human world, like some slice of life, but it failed epically at doing so. none of it made sense. and the magic systems, less so. none of the magic in this world makes sense and the divisions between the different "species" of magicians was messy as hell too. again, no consistency. the author tried too hard to make it seem like there were different divisions of magic (like some ppl can make plants grow, others manipulate elements, etc) but everyone can do the same shit at the same time???? it's weird.

- let's also talk abt how june (a white author btw) rlly wrote the same shit that jk rowling did when asked why the wizards never did anything to stop shitty stuff from happening across the world when they had the power to do so...the answer? bc they needed to keep magic a secret and couldn't risk being involved in "human affairs". like holy fucking shit. u straight up did not just write that. like june really wrote that with their whole chest. oh my god.

- speaking of rowling, this book was obviously trying way too hard to emulate harry potter, and although i could give two pickles abt copying off of that franchise (lord knows that terf doesn't need more money), it did such a terrible job at it that it almost amazed me. it also tried too hard to be like rainbow rowell's simon snow trilogy. it's really disappointing too bc june could have done better, and made his own lil harry potter parody the way rowell did, but failed miserably. the idea was there and the plot was amazing, but it was executed so terribly, it fills me with disappointment.

- another thing that sort of popped out to me, was that the depraved (the monsters in the book) are obviously curses. like from jujutsu kaisen. like idk but to me that was so weird. like yeah, monsters that are born off of negative human emotions like stress, anger, grief, etc...oh so u mean curses? that a bunch of magical ppl have to stop from harming humans and other sorcerers? sorcerers who go to a school for sorcerers and use their powers to protect the humans who are non-sorcerers????? hmmm where have i heard that before....🤔🤔 maybe im reaching but, yeah...

- oh and in that same line, nigel and orion were obvious copies of will solace and nico di angelo from rick riordan's percy jackson series. so do with that what u will (hahaha, get it? will?).

anywayyyyy that's that. if u actually read this whole thing and got to the end, thank you! i hope i've been of some help.

i have to say this again: the author had a good idea and plot, but it was executed terribly. it's disappointing, too, because i feel like this book could've been so much better and so much more, but ended up as a dumpster fire.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Christie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I don't know, y'all. I think, try as I might, I'm just not a fan of Jason June's writing. I'm zero for two on their books and I think I disliked this one even more than Out of the Blue. I think his books absolutely have a niche, and I'll even put them on on my school bookshelves because I can see a few students who will absolutely love the hell out of this one in particular, but they just aren't for me.

The Spells We Cast is a quirky, cowboy fantasy story that fails to ever live up to its grand potential. June crams three books worth of what kind of passes for a plot into 350-pages, and the entire story suffers for it - but, honestly, all of the plot takes a backseat to Nigel and Ori's hot-and-cold insta-soulmates story.

When we meet our hero, Nigel, he's just been dumped, but barely has time to mourn the end of his beloved relationship because it's the start of the Culling - which will, for hand wave-y don't over think it reasons, select only 5% of the current crop of magicians to keep their magic in a series of trials, while the rest are "culled" of their magic and doomed to live out their lives as normies. During his first trial, Nigel becomes absolutely smitten with cold, snarky Ori, becomes BFFs with Bex the shapeshifter, tames a wild magical ice horse he names Frosty, and manages to alienate himself from the entire rest of the incoming class (but especially Laurel and Jaleesa because of reasons or something). And then he enters the magical sanctum, where half the elder magical users also inexplicably hate him and his Meema is angry at him - but he has his magical horse just walking around with him and no one questions this at all. And so on.

I don't know. This story had potential. The bare bones of the plot are genuinely there and interesting! But we could have easily broken one book into a trilogy, cut back on the pop culture references and excess of cowboy puns and jokes, and had a reasonable story. As it was, I was just... bummed. Nothing ever has time to land with any emotional impact because it all feels so rushed (literally there is a couple of huge deaths near the end and we just keep rolling with next to no pause for a moment of sadness?!), and I never quite bought the relationships between the characters. Nigel's friendship with Bex was too instantaneous, his rivalry pops up out of nowhere, and the soulmate situation has next to no feeling.

As I said, I'm sure June's books are for someone and I hope my students will see the appeal. I just have to call that they aren't for me.

[Lee [Bibliophile Tings] · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Spells We Cast is so Jason June. Sadly, this book is not the one for me.

“When you’re fighting [demons], remember to steel your heart with the strongest of emotions: love.”

Love may be the power these magicians need, but that wasn’t what I saw.

Saying that the main characters can perform “love magic” is such a stretch. There’s instant physical attraction, not love. The main characters themselves even admit that they’re not in love!

I found myself getting more and more frustrated, so I ended up skimming to the end.

Bottom line: The Spells We Cast tried to be cute and quirky, but it fell flat for me.

──✒ pre review initial thoughts
my least favorite jason june read

The Spells We Cast -2✰✰
Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball - 3✰✰✰
Out of the Blue - 4✰✰✰✰

⸻ᥫ᭡
my blog!

[Courtney Vickers · Rating 4 out of 5]

There has better be a sequel coming soon, please! You can’t end on a cliffhanger like that and not expect me to beg.

Guys, The Spells We Cast was such a fun ride. The main character is a magic cowboy, for crying out loud; how would this book ever not be a hoot? Nigel Barrett is a sweetheart, a born and raised cowboy who wants to find where and with whom he belongs, having just been dumped, and hopes that making it through the Culling, a magic competition which decides if teenage magicians get to keep their magic or not, will finally give him that. And then, he meets Orion Olson during the first task.

From the first moment they meet, Nigel is weak in the knees, filled with sparks and develops the mother of all crushes. It's adorable. It’s also magical. Whenever these two touch, their magic gets amplified, causing a lot of problems that are in desperate need of fixing. Stat.

The only issue I have with this book is that the whole thing takes place over about 3 days. Don’t get me wrong, that makes for an exciting and fast-paced adventure, but for romance, it makes it a lot unbelievable. Though still cute, and I plan on reading the next instalment if/when that arrives.

[trishla ⚡ | YourLocalBookReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A bond that's instantaneous, built on unexplained, yet undeniable attraction. It can be summed up simply: You're soulmates."

The Spells We Cast is a start of a fantasy cowboy series full of soulmates, anti establishment tendencies and queer love. The Guild, made up of human descendants of five magical beings, goblins, fae, sprites, nymphs and elves, fight the evil Depraved, magical creatures born out of fear and hatred. Nigel is an elf, the latest of the descendents of the powerful Barrett line. But even he must go through the culling too - a competition where magicians must prove that they are deserving of their magic or risk it being taken away - like his fathers' was.

Nigel wants nothing more than to make his family proud, protect the world and possibly make a friend or two. While all the other apprentices tend to be distrustful or have their own cliques, Nigel wants to make friends so badly - that when he runs into Ori, an emotionally closed off sprite he falls hard. But with their magic reacting unexpectedly when they touch - they pose a danger to everyone around them. Fighting to both understand their connection AND keep their magic - suddenly the Depraved are growing in numbers and strength, Nigel and Ori must use their newfound and violate connection to save the world.

Jason knows how to write incredible fantasy settings, even in a modern world you feel so teleported to a hidden one under the veil of our human world. Nigel and Ori are an adorable grumpy x sunshine couple, and even with their instant love, they take time to explain that they needed more time to really come to the idea of "loving each other". It was the perfect blend of a slow burn with the two of them being thrown together by magic alone.

As for the actual plot - Nigel is a bit brainwashed by the organization as it's all he's known his entire life. But with the help of Bex and Ori around him and seeing other's lose their powers - he grows to want to argue for magic for all. The ending was an explosive note and a massive cliffhanger that left me needing book 2!

rep// mlm, side wlw

cw// death, blood, gore, drowning

Find me on: instagram | tiktok

[Rachel Buckley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coming into this story about a magical Culling, a competition that secures one's spot in an elite society called The Guild, I expected this to be much more focused on the mission at hand. Instead, this was a romance novel with fantasy and action in the background. Even in the midst of intense battles, Nigel was too busy focusing on the way Ori's touch gave him butterflies and the possibility of them being together once this was all over...Like, people's lives are on the line, dude. Get a room and settle all that tension later. Don't get me wrong. I love me a good romantasy. But this was not balanced at ALL, and romantic moments were happening in all of the worst moments, making it seem like our characters cared more about each other and their own wants than the lives they were attempting to save.

This also read REALLY young, even for YA. If you liked the writing in Once Upon a Broken Heart , this felt very similar to me. Very "tell, don't show," with important points being repeated numerous times to leave no room for nuance or interpretation. If you're gonna spell everything out for me, though, make it make sense. There were a lot of points that contradicted themselves throughout the story, and one of them was a MAJORLY important (are these people really your friends, or were you not socialized enough as a child and are now "desperate enough" to be friends with your supposed soulmate and new bestie?).

I found myself getting sucked into the story at points. The action scenes that actually focused on the action were so fun to read, and I genuinely rooted for our main characters. The ending left room for a sequel, and I'd likely still read it. I love Jason June as a speaker, and I'm hoping fantasy just isn't his strongest genre because I really do want to love his writing too. This one just wasn't it.

Read-Alikes:
- Once Upon a Broken Heart
- The Marvellers
- Seekers of the Wild Realm

[Cai · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the fourth book I've read by Jason June, and it is absolutely my least favourite. Honestly, I feel like he hasn't quite figured out how to write fantasy in a way that works with his writing style and not against it. I say this because his contemporary YA books worked for me in ways that his fantasy books just don't, and the more fantasy elements one of his books have the more...disjointed it ends up feeling. (I.e., I found this book more frustrating to read than Out of the Blue.)

I think my biggest complaint about this book is how repetitive the problems felt. Any time a character seemed to have grown as a person, something would happen and we'd be right back to square one. There are only so many times two characters can rehash the same argument before it gets irritating to read! And look, I think there is merit to sometimes having characters freak out in times where they're in danger—especially when they're literally a kid. But when you are writing a fantasy novel with life-or-death stakes, where your main character is literally trying to get into the Making Life-or-Death Decisions Organization, you can't have him become incapacitated by self-doubt/fear/indecision every single time something bad happens. The first time? Sure! Absolutely! But there needs to be growth. I think that Jason June sometimes used mid-battle exposition to build stakes, and while it was certainly successful in stressing the hell out of me, I think it's important to remember that fights happen fast and an unscrupulous use of exposition can totally take readers out of the moment. More than once I found myself wondering how on earth Nigel was still alive when he'd spent so long just standing still and thinking in the middle of an active battlefield—without even bothering to take cover!

Content warnings: Animal death, death of a family member, abuse, homophobia

[Carys · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

This book was a really enjoyable read! I struggled a little to get into it because there were a lot of pop culture references, something I'm not a huge fan of but that's just personal preference. Once I got past that, I realised that the story at the heart of this book was super heartwarming with loveable characters and an extremely diverse cast. I've never read any of Jason June's works before and this was definitely a great introduction to his writing.

The Spells We Cast was fast paced, there was action on nearly every page and the world building was really fascinating! We follow Nigel, a cowboy with magical powers that have been passed down through his family for generations. In the magical society that he's a part of, there is a culling every year for all the 18 year olds which decides whether they get to keep their magic or have it stripped away forever! During the first task, Nigel meets Orion, a fellow magic weilder with whom Nigel feels an immediate spark.

The romance in this book was so cute, and I don't feel that it took away or overpowered the plot at all. Both things worked really well together, with the romance influencing the plot and vice versa. There are also lots of side characters which are well fleshed out and interesting in their own right.

The only reasons I didn't rate this book higher were the constant pop culture references, which I feel won't age particulary well, and the fact that the romance moved extremely quickly for the time period that the book was set over (less than a week). Other than those small hang ups, this book was delightful and I'll definitely be looking out for the sequel, especially after that cliffhanger!

I recieved a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publishers in return for an honest review. All of the opinions above are my own.

[Meg · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Spells We Cast is a YA, LGBTQ romcom that follows Nigel Barrett, a teenage magician, as he embarks on the adventure of his lifetime: the Culling. The Culling is a spell-casting competition, used to determine whether or not a teenage magician should keep their powers. Sparks fly when he meets Ori Olson, and the competition really ramps up.

The book is incredibly fast-paced from the jump, which definitely makes it a compulsive read. However, I would argue that there is simply too much going on for one book -- especially in one that already seems so clearly set up to be part of at least a duology, if not a longer series. This book desperately needed to slow down and flesh out its characters and its world. Instead of the insta-love and insta-friendships that we got, I would have appreciated some more thoughtful explanations of the history of magic, the numerous magic systems, the Guild, and the Culling itself. It was difficult to invest in anything that was happening because it all seemed to get resolved in a matter of pages. The entire book takes place over just a few days, and I'm not sure when our characters even had time to breathe during that time, much less build real relationships and demonstrate their magical skills.

June absolutely has a fun and adventurous story to tell here. If there is a second book on the way, I hope that the history and magic systems can be explored more in depth, and that the characters have the chance to really interact in meaningful ways. I think readers of June's other works will definitely enjoy the story that's developing here.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc of this book.

[Ryann Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jason June gives us another swoon-worthy and magical YA book!

The spells we cast follows Nigel and Orion (Ori) as they enter the culling, which is a magical competition meant to test ones magic - only the strongest make it and all others are dispelled of their magic forever. I am a SUCKER for a magical competition and add in queer romance, "written in the stars" energy, quirky side characters, a political structure you can't really trust and a grumpy/sunshine rivals-to-friends-to-more romance plot line and I'm a happy reader.

I did feel like this plot moved so fast, and because of that a lot of the magic, mystery, conflict and lore was thrust on the reader in quick succession. Minor whiplash injuries but I'm a seasoned vet and could hold my own. I loved all of the magical creature and the insta-attraction didn't give way to insta-love which I REALLY APPRECIATED. Jason June does a magnificent job writing characters that battle with real insecurities and wrestle with strong emotions and I was happy to see that though our 2 MMC's had a strong connection, they weren't calling it something it wasn't.

Hidden within this exciting story was a real look at some hard hitting issues. Issues like oppressive government, interracial relationships, homophobia and classism were expertly and seamlessly woven into the characters and conflict of the story. Yet another thing I find highly impressing Jason June .

If you have read anything by this author and enjoyed it then this book will be right up your alley. I read it in a single sitting! Such a great queer story perfect for Fall/Spooky season

[Rose Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like this book is over hated. It’s a fast paced, fantasy book with romance and humor and magic. It gives Hunger Games meets Percy Jackson meets Wizards of Waverly Place. Sure the entire book took place within a few days but it was still fast paced and full of action and heart. I read a couple reviews that claimed there was a lot of info dumping and telling rather than showing but it’s not as bad as they make it out to be. The magic system, the world building had to be explained somehow! And it’s not hard to follow at all and actually pretty interesting.

Slight spoilers ahead:

The way I see it is that everything in their world reflects our normal world. I’ve seen some criticism that the villains weren’t good villains because their only motive was power and money. Does that not sound familiar within the world we live in?

The book themes are centered around hate and how hate creates monsters. The Guild is filled with so much greed that they are creating the monsters and fueling negativity (jealousy, competition, homophobia, etc.) and therefore creating the chaos in the human world with the Depraved and demons. That’s why it makes sense for the villains to be the way they are.


Another issue I saw was that Nigel and Bex shouldn’t have become best friends after a couple days of knowing each other. All I have to say is why not? Did we read the same thing? Every apprentice in the Culling are encouraged to treat each other as competition. Bex and Nigel don’t think that way. They are the only ones who showed each other kindness and understanding that they don’t have to be each other’s competition. Why shouldn’t they become such quick friends when they were all each other had to lean on?


Then, there’s the how Nigel and Ori are soulmates thing and how no one may have had the same connection as those two in the past and in the Guild—like how did no one know about this connection between magicians before Nigel and Ori?

Seriously did we read the same thing? Because it was explained…

Spoilers (quotes directly out of book):

No one knows much about it because those who have the connection either aren’t aware of it (Jaleesa and Laurel) or keep it hidden from everyone else (Bex’s dads). The Guild fuels competition amongst the magicians and therefore there’s no room for love and positive connections to grow between one another. It was stated in the book by Jameson in chapter 25.

“For some, like the girls, their power grows as their love builds over time. Apparently, anyone can harness it as long as their heart is open to making that bond. Or it can happen between magical family members and friends, when deep love is felt in times of crisis.’” (297)

This quote shows that literally any magician, including family members (like Ori and his sister) can have these connections and not just soulmates.

“A familial connection like that is often unseen in the Guild, where interactions are so focused on competition and success,” (297)

However, soulmate do exist in this world as well.

“Then there’s another type of love—what I believe we’re seeing in you two. A bond that’s instantaneous, built on unexplained yet undeniable attraction. The same bond that formed between [Bex’s dads]. It can be summed up simply: You’re soulmates.” (297)

And the boys even acknowledge that they don’t love each other because it’s been a few days which is understandable. But that doesn’t mean they don’t feel an attraction towards each other (like Nigel calls it from the beginning “a crush”). And at least they’re willing to take things slow and see where they end up, and they even acknowledge that they are in fact attracted to one another.

This book is meant to be a romance between these two boys, but I also want to let you know that soulmates aren’t just love connections and attraction doesn’t just mean romance. Soulmates can happen between friendships too and found family members. Attraction can also mean feeling like you have to get to know someone even without the romance part. I hope this is making sense.



Also, you have to remember that these “apprentices” are only 18 years old. They’re still kids figuring out themselves and their hormones. They can easily be manipulated and/or make poor decision. Not only that, but they’re going to be insecure, angsty teens. Especially when going through a competition in which the prize is to keep their magic! They’re not going to feel good enough, but at the same time, they’ll want to prove that they should keep their magic. Don’t hold that against them when they’re still just kids. Even Nigel said he had just graduated high school just a few weeks prior to the culling.

Speaking of which… Nigel moving on from Jeremy so quickly is probably due to the fact that Nigel mentions that they had been drifting apart and seeing less and less of each other leading up to their break up. He doesn’t even cry over it because he knew it was for the best. Heck, Nigel didn’t even notice him at all before Jeremy asked him out, and he decide “why not?” because he didn’t know anyone else. To me, this tells me that Nigel wasn’t all that into Jeremy. And literally right after their breakup, Nigel got the invitation for the culling, so he was going to be surrounded by magicians who understood him the most. So, let it go that he wasn’t more upset over the break up.



Either way, I hope I addressed the major issues people are deeming plot holes which aren’t really plot holes.

Some things I do wish we got more of:
1. Nigel’s dad and the conflict between them: this could be fixed with more interactions between them
2. …

Honestly, that’s my only complaint.

I loved the female strength of Bex and Meema making them two of my favorite characters.

I loved Frosty and his relationship with Nigel, too. Still heartbroken.

I loved the grumpy/sunshine rivals-to-lovers between Nigel and Ori. And their shared tragic backstories as they open up to one another!

I loved the complexities between Laurel and Jaleesa.

I loved the magic system. Honestly. I thought it was pretty creative.

I loved how much humor went into this book.

I’m excited to read the next book in the series and hopefully get some answers! What’s the resistance and how long have they been operating? What happened to Nigel’s mom? Will the Guild finally get overthrown? What will happen between Nigel and Ori? What will happen with the claw that’s keeping Nigel alive? How will Nigel react when he learns the truth?

I can’t wait to see what other adventures these boys go on.

Rating: 4.5 stars rounded up

This book didn’t deserve all the hate it received.

[Lucy Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not a super big Jason June fan just because his endings in all the books I’ve read so far make me so sad, but I decided to give this one a try because it’s a duology and not a standalone like his others.

Just as I predicted, I was not happy with the ending of this book but I’m leaving my feelings open to interpretation because there is a second book and sometimes the endings of books with sequels are more cliffhanger-y then those without. One thing I super liked about this book though was that it had a really interesting magic system. I liked this idea that magic came from the original magical beings who gave it to certain groups of humans to help them protect other humans against the monsters created by their own pain and malice. And the fact that they had families or groups that had different types of magic like the descendants of elves, sprites, sirens, etc.

I also did like the romance between the two characters. I was a little hesitant to see how it would go but I really liked both Nigel and Ori. Nigel was just a softhearted sweetheart of a farm boy and Ori was a little bit of a jaded cynic who’d been hurt before. I wasn’t sure how it would go with the two of them – one so open and the other so closed off but it really did work, and they are super cute. I can’t wait to see how their romance goes in the second book. The spicy level was a level 1.

Overall, I would give this story a 4.5 out of 5 star rating. I really loved it and I want to find a way to read the second book as soon as possible.

[Kj · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Fun world, fun characters, playful queer aesthetics.

But it's an unnecessarily long haul to not much pay-off plus an unsatisfying cliffhanger. And as an induction into a magical narrative world, it was way overloaded with confusing and clunky exposition. Some of the first chapters were literally the main character explaining to the reader how every type of magic and magic being functioned, which was hard to follow without characters and story to connect the info to and was unnecessary because we (re)learn most of this later as we meet characters with different abilities and backgrounds. That felt like a fantasy writing basic rule--help us discover the world by being part of it, don't give a lecture at the start.

I also had difficulty picturing most of the environments and encounters. Either something was spatially off in the description (how did 400+ apprentices fit into a hospital wing for a healing demonstration?) or the writing just didn't hold all my comprehension points enough to let me fully visualize and feel immersed in the world. I settled for just following the dialogue and accepted that I wouldn't ever quite picture what I was supposed to be seeing.

But as a golden gallop through sprite magic, queer Texas, and magical heartthrobs, it was nice.
Or, I can definitely say it's the best gay teen cowboy wizard book I've ever read.
(Not sure I'll test this commendation by reading the sequel though).

[Kirstie Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this more than I did, but I just felt that this was ultimately a bit 'meh'. It's a very fun (and funny) concept, bringing together some classic fantasy tropes with cowboy vibes, and the queerness is delightfully through the roof.

But towards the end, I found myself tempted to skim more and more, just to get to the end and be done with it. While things start very strongly with the promise of magic and some sort of gauntlet-like challenge for the main character to pass/qualify and keep their magic if they enter the Guild, it really felt like the plot hardcore stalled beyond that point.

If you're reading this book, you're there for the characters. Nigel and Ori have a cute romance that slowly builds itself up to facing the truth of their feelings towards each other. But yeah, beyond the relationship between those two characters, there isn't much new or exciting introduced beyond the first 20%.

It's hard to put a finger on it exactly, because the book is very innocent and clearly intended as simply a lighthearted bit of entertainment, but I do feel that there was a missed opportunity for this to have been developed into something a bit *more* and become truly fabulous. So at the end, I'm feeling unsatisfied.