Spellcaster by Cara Lynn Shultz

CLShultz-Spellcaster

CLShultz-SpellcasterTypically, when I adore a book as much as I loved Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz, the sequel isn’t quite up to par. That was not the case with Spellcaster. In fact, I think I might even love it more than I love Spellbound (and I didn’t think that was possible.) Because Emma and Brendan defeated their curse and accepted each other as soulmates, there was a lot less teenage angst and none of the he-loves-me/he-loves-me-not, that dominated Spellbound. Instead, the plot of Spellcaster was filled with action, suspense, humor and some sexy times that somehow managed to stay PG-13.

After breaking a centuries-old romantic curse, Emma Connor is (almost) glad to get back to normal problems. Although…it’s not easy dealing with the jealous cliques and gossip that rule her exclusive Upper East Side prep, even for a seventeen-year-old newbie witch. Having the most-wanted boy in school as her eternal soul mate sure helps ease the pain—especially since wealthy, rocker-hot Brendan Salinger is very good at staying irresistibly close….But something dark and hungry is using Emma’s and Brendan’s deepest fears to reveal damaging secrets and destroy their trust in each other. And Emma’s crash course in überspells may not be enough to keep them safe…or to stop an inhuman force bent on making their unsuspected power its own.

Spellcaster features a blood thirsty witch, bent on getting revenge, as the villain; and because it was an actual person as the villain, not just a curse, she made Spellcaster more intense. At first, it seemed like someone was just playing mean pranks on Brendan and Emma but then it quickly turned into something more deadly. I can’t say too much without giving away plot twists but there few several intense fight scenes.

Emma had grown up a lot since Spellbound. She is less angsty, more assertive. Before, she was more likely to run away from an attack since she didn’t know any self-defense. In Spellcaster, she finally learned some and was more than capable of stopping a would-be attacker. She was far from perfect, though. She struggled with her magic and with self-doubt…especially about Brendan since he was a bit of a man-slut before he met Emma. I completely understand how running into a plethora of exes can make a girl feel uncomfortable, but after awhile I just wanted to shake Emma. I mean, she knows Brendan was her soulmate and it was quite obvious that he wasn’t even looking at those girls anymore. But Emma just couldn’t get that into her head. And that was my only complaint with Spellcaster.

Brendan was the perfect guy. He was attentive, supportive and protective. But the rest of the world only saw him as a spoiled rich boy who had attitude problems. He was all of that, though he tried to hide his problems from Emma. Like any alpha man, he didn’t want Emma to have to fight the witch, claiming he could do it even though he didn’t have any magic; but with her new found assertive side, Emma refused to back down.

Spellcaster exceeded my expectations by leaps and bounds. It had more magic, more fighting, a sexier romance and a scarier villain than Spellbound. Even as I devoured the pages, rushing to the end, I wished Spellcaster would never end. While Emma and Brendan’s story is undoubtedly over, I really hope there are more stories set in this world.

Read Order:
Spellbound
Spellcaster

About Casey 203 Articles
Casey is the founder of Heart Full of Ink, Director at Reading Until Dawn Con, and a full time cheese addict. She's been ranting and reviewing for Literary Escapism since 2010, and is part of the trio #3Bloggers1Series podcast. When she's not reading, looking for new books, or stalking authors online (waiting for more books), she can be found binge watching Netflix. But really, her life is all about DEM BOOKS!