Sherry Gloag's Reviews > Spellbound
Spellbound
bySamantha Combs, Elaina Lee (Goodreads Author)
bySamantha Combs, Elaina Lee (Goodreads Author)
Review:
Writing in the 1st person can be restricting, but Ms Combs overcomes both this, and head-hopping, in Spellbound with her masterly use of giving various characters their own sections in the story. Not only does the reader see the events from multiple viewpoints, but each one segues neatly into the next without slowing the pace of the story.
There is a large cast of characters, but the author’s technique ensures the reader never loses track of her main players. I did find keeping track of what the different coven members specialised in a bit hard, but once again Ms Combs kept prompting me as the story progressed.
Logan and Serena’s meeting is the catalyst for change in their lives. For Logan, it is about discovering a whole new aspect of life and coming to terms with it when he discovers the girl he is falling in love with is a twitch – teenage witch – then his widowed mother reveals secrets which tilt his new and topsy-turvy life upside down. That he adjusts copes so well with each revelation and its consequences might have the author turning him into some sort of super-human, but no, under Ms Combs influence Logan grows and matures with a compassion and understanding that never becomes mawkish or unrealistic.
While Serena seems to have her future mapped out for her and her elder and younger sisters around for support, encouragement and sharing, it soon becomes clear that that any reader pre-conceptions soon go up in a puff of demonic smoke. Her new boyfriend is not the only one who finds his life tilting on its axis as revelations aplenty are thrown at her. Serena’s strength of character matches that of her boyfriend, Logan and together with the support of some fun and entertaining characters face their biggest challenge knowing the cost of losing would be death for at least one of them.
The secondary characters all play their parts in moving the story forward and come from different arenas and yet all come together at the end of this fluently written and fast-paced story in such a manner this reader was sad to part company with them at the end of their tale.
For those who enjoy YA, paranormal and romance all wrapped up together, then Ms Combs is an author to watch out for.
Writing in the 1st person can be restricting, but Ms Combs overcomes both this, and head-hopping, in Spellbound with her masterly use of giving various characters their own sections in the story. Not only does the reader see the events from multiple viewpoints, but each one segues neatly into the next without slowing the pace of the story.
There is a large cast of characters, but the author’s technique ensures the reader never loses track of her main players. I did find keeping track of what the different coven members specialised in a bit hard, but once again Ms Combs kept prompting me as the story progressed.
Logan and Serena’s meeting is the catalyst for change in their lives. For Logan, it is about discovering a whole new aspect of life and coming to terms with it when he discovers the girl he is falling in love with is a twitch – teenage witch – then his widowed mother reveals secrets which tilt his new and topsy-turvy life upside down. That he adjusts copes so well with each revelation and its consequences might have the author turning him into some sort of super-human, but no, under Ms Combs influence Logan grows and matures with a compassion and understanding that never becomes mawkish or unrealistic.
While Serena seems to have her future mapped out for her and her elder and younger sisters around for support, encouragement and sharing, it soon becomes clear that that any reader pre-conceptions soon go up in a puff of demonic smoke. Her new boyfriend is not the only one who finds his life tilting on its axis as revelations aplenty are thrown at her. Serena’s strength of character matches that of her boyfriend, Logan and together with the support of some fun and entertaining characters face their biggest challenge knowing the cost of losing would be death for at least one of them.
The secondary characters all play their parts in moving the story forward and come from different arenas and yet all come together at the end of this fluently written and fast-paced story in such a manner this reader was sad to part company with them at the end of their tale.
For those who enjoy YA, paranormal and romance all wrapped up together, then Ms Combs is an author to watch out for.
Well what an introduction Sam! I love Sam's, I always have girl crushes on girls named Sam, and if you read my Forever review on boys named Sam too. So e-mail me rhiannonpaille at gmail dot com. I'm on skype and yahoo just as much as twitter, liveperson, and my blog. I hate facebook but I do go over there sometimes. Can't wait to have a new bestie!
ReplyDeleteRhiannon! Thank you for posting....I'm excited to have a new bestie too! I'm racing right over to your fbook page right now and stalking you and sending you an email. Look for me!
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