Category: Grumpy & The Sunshine

Review: F.T. Lukens' SPELL BOUND.

5/3/2023

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

In F.T. Lukens’ YA Queer fantasy Spell Bound, there’s a world of magic that the protagonist Rook is sadly on the periphery of. But fear not, gentle reader, Rook doesn’t stay there long & that’s part of the fun of the book.

Rook had a magical grandmother so he’s aware of what magic is. Also that he doesn’t have it. But he seizes his destiny—or at least, part of it—by approaching a hex breaker & fighting for the chance to work with her, eventually as her secret apprentice.

That’s how he meets Sun, an apprentice to a different wizard.

There’s a sweet & gentle grumpy & the sunshine relationship between Rook & Sun, greatly based off respect including when it comes to touch.

There’s also a winning growth arc for the characters, especially as they make choices to change, found family, & a really cute closing chapter.

This is a fun story & a definite YA win.

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

4⭐️. Out now!

Please see a trusted reviewer's list of CWs. ID: Jess' white hand holds the ebook in front of a sunset. Trees and a green field are in the background also.

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC and the publisher for the complimentary hard copy. All opinions provided are my own.

5⭐️. Out now!

CWs: Parental estrangement; parental neglect; parental “cruelty.” References to drug use & emotional abuse at alternative school.[ID: Jess, a white woman wearing a yellow coat & pink scarf, holds the book while sitting on a deck. A blue-ish gray sky is in the background, as is a greenhouse.]

Thanks to the author for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

4.5⭐️. Out 11/15.

CW: please consult the author’s note for a detailed list of CWs.ID: a white hand holds up the ebook in front of assorted plants in a greenhouse including an avocado tree & mums.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

3.5⭐️. Out now!

CW: Her previous fiancé cheated on her with BFF. Sexism in the workplace.ID: the ebook rests half on a wooden table & half on a blue & white patterned shirt. Three flowers are placed around it: yellow, hot pink, & salmon.

Hi and welcome to my Blog Blitz stop for Sangu Mandanna's The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches!A big thank you to Berkley Publishing & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own. I hope you'll stick around for more reviews!Happy reading!

Summary.

My Review.

5⭐️. Out 08/23.CWs: abuse; previous death of parent. Mothers of witches die soon after having witches.​ID: an ebook rests on an open hardback. To the left is a bright yellow coat. The coat & the table everything sits on are strewn with sunflowers.

An excerpt.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

4.5 ⭐️. Out now!Additional CWs: consensual rough sex. Their first time Asher deliberately taunts Harry into it.[ID: a white hand holds an ebook in front of a white bookcase in a yellow room. To the right is a brown wooden desk with a Van Gogh sunflower print on top.]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

4 ⭐️. Release date: 07/12.Please check out CWs from a trusted reviewer. [ID: an ebook rests on an open hardback surrounded by various covers featuring moon & stars.]

Thanks to the author for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

Release date: 06/06CWs: Murder. There’s a peephole in the vacation house. Reference to a previous child kidnapping case.[ID: a red vintage style halter bathing suit is next to the ebook on a bed with white sheets with a blue floral pattern on them.]

Thanks to Harlequin for the complimentary galley & the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

5 big ⭐️ for this one. Please check it out! Release date: 05/31.ID: a white hand holds up an ebook in front of an open hardback. Behind is a painting of a white woman wearing a nineteenth century white and red polka dotted dress; it rests on a desk & against a bright yellow wall.]

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Please see a trusted reviewer's list of CWs.
ID: Jess' white hand holds the ebook in front of a sunset. Trees and a green field are in the background also.

CWs: Parental estrangement; parental neglect; parental “cruelty.” References to drug use & emotional abuse at alternative school.

[ID: Jess, a white woman wearing a yellow coat & pink scarf, holds the book while sitting on a deck. A blue-ish gray sky is in the background, as is a greenhouse.]

CW: please consult the author’s note for a detailed list of CWs.

ID: a white hand holds up the ebook in front of assorted plants in a greenhouse including an avocado tree & mums.

CW: Her previous fiancé cheated on her with BFF. Sexism in the workplace.

ID: the ebook rests half on a wooden table & half on a blue & white patterned shirt. Three flowers are placed around it: yellow, hot pink, & salmon.

Hi and welcome to my Blog Blitz stop for Sangu Mandanna's The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches!

A big thank you to Berkley Publishing & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

I hope you'll stick around for more reviews!

Happy reading!

5⭐️. Out 08/23.

CWs: abuse; previous death of parent. Mothers of witches die soon after having witches.

ID: an ebook rests on an open hardback. To the left is a bright yellow coat. The coat & the table everything sits on are strewn with sunflowers.

4.5 ⭐️. Out now!

Additional CWs: consensual rough sex. Their first time Asher deliberately taunts Harry into it.

[ID: a white hand holds an ebook in front of a white bookcase in a yellow room. To the right is a brown wooden desk with a Van Gogh sunflower print on top.]

4 ⭐️. Release date: 07/12.

Please check out CWs from a trusted reviewer.

[ID: an ebook rests on an open hardback surrounded by various covers featuring moon & stars.]

Release date: 06/06

CWs: Murder. There’s a peephole in the vacation house. Reference to a previous child kidnapping case.

[ID: a red vintage style halter bathing suit is next to the ebook on a bed with white sheets with a blue floral pattern on them.]

5 big ⭐️ for this one. Please check it out! Release date: 05/31.

ID: a white hand holds up an ebook in front of an open hardback. Behind is a painting of a white woman wearing a nineteenth century white and red polka dotted dress; it rests on a desk & against a bright yellow wall.]