Brandy's Book Nook: Review Spell Book and Scandal
Spell Book & Scandal
by Jen McConnel
Publication date: October 31st 2017
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult
Shelby King is tired of living in her sister’s shadow. Just because Christina is the most powerful caster in school doesn’t mean Shelby’s any good at magic; she’s a scribe, like her mom, and everyone expects her to write spells for her sister, the way her mom always has for her dad. But Shelby’s spells fail spectacularly, and by the time she’s a sophomore, Christina won’t touch them with a ten-foot-pole; their parents aren’t much better. Shelby is fed up, and she decides to show the world she doesn’t care if she isn’t as good as her stuck-up sister, or as talented as their powerful parents. In fact, she decides it’s time to break all the rules, magical and otherwise, and she starts sneaking out to meet Jeremiah Smallwood, the second-best caster in school at illegal pop-up spell battles around town. She may not be able to scribe for him, but she doesn’t mind letting him think that she could; Shelby’s been half in love with Miah as long as she can remember, but he’s never paid attention to her until now, and she’s not going to risk her chances worrying about a pesky thing like the truth. But when Christina rats her out to their parents, Shelby can’t control her anger, and words come pouring out of her that she can’t take back even if she wanted to, threatening Christina’s future…and Shelby’s own chances with Jeremiah. It’ll take more magic than Shelby’s ever dreamed of to set things right, but no scribe has that much magic…right?
My Review
✩✩✩✩✩
I really enjoyed this book. Think Freaky Friday, but with magical sisters and bigger consequences. Scribes write the spells that castors use, and there is a balance between the two groups. Shelby is a scribe and her sister is a castor. Since they come from a powerful family, and Christina has been doing amazing spells it is thought that Shelby is her scribe, and both are powerful. However, Shelby can't even scribe a simple spell that doesn't end in disaster.
Christina has been focused on training for her 3s. Which is a magical test of three challenges that will determine your magical career and which coven you enter. When a caster joins a coven they take their scribe with them. If no caster wants you then you have to take a scribe test which is the ultimate humiliation.
As the sisters fight, and everything reaches a boiling rage for Shelby she scribes a spell that could ruin everything for both sisters. As they start to see each other in a different light, they must try to work together to fix the affects of the spell. If they don't and fast Christina will fail her 3s and they can't be rescheduled or retaken. You only get one shot, and there are almost no rules.
There is lots of teen turmoil including Shelby sneaking around behind her parent's back, and illegal spell battles. Shelby has to decide if a boy likes her for her or the magical power he thinks she has. Plus her dad is on a magic police force, and if she gets caught there will be big trouble. I would say this would be good for ages 13+.
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About the Author
Award-winning author Jen McConnel writes NA, YA, and nonfiction. When she isn’t writing, she can be found on her yoga mat or wandering off on another adventure. Visit www.JenMcConnel.com to learn more!
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