ARC Review: Spellcaster by Cara Lynn Shultz

Spellcaster by Cara Lynn Shultz
Release date: March 27th/12
Source: Galley from publisher
Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads:
Finding your eternal soulmate - easy. 

Stopping a true-love-hungry evil - not so much… 

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 sixteen-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 and Brendan's deepest fears to reveal damaging secrets and destroy their trust in each other. And Emma's crash course in über-spells may not be enough to keep them safe…or to stop an inhuman force bent on making their unsuspected power its own.


Warning: Review may contain spoilers to Spellbound, Shultz first book in this series.


My thoughts:
I really enjoyed Spellcaster, it was a great companion to Spellbound. I enjoyed that fact that Emma and Brandon have been dating for a few months and are over that awkward get-to-know your soul mate phase of there relationship :). Brendan is still the charming knight in shining armour that I loved in the first book. And Emma is still the tough, petite, head-strong heroine. In this book we get to see a more in depth look at the insecurities Emma faces with this relationship (i.e. Brandon's very LONG list of past conquests) insecurities that are constantly thrown in her face by her peers. But we see that Brendan also has his own fears of inadequency when it comes to his and Emma's relationship. I liked seeing these vulnerable sides to these characters because I think that this is something many couples face, although I did kind of want to smack them after the third discussion of "You're too good for me" "I'm not good enough" haha.


There were quite a few steamy scenes between these two in which I had to remind myself that this was in fact a YA title haha. Honestly you're constantly questioning will they/won't they?


There is a couple aspects of this novel that irked me a bit though:
1. Angelique's P.O.V.- There's a couple of chapters told from Angelique's point of view and I just couldn't stand them, but I think this is due in large part to the fact that I'm not a fan of this character. I just don't like her judgement towards Brendan, however, her behaviour is explained in this installment. The only thing I liked about reading from Angelique's P.O.V. is that we get to see Brendan's reactions and feelings towards Emma without her being in the scene- I always love to see how deeply he cares for her :) Love you Brendan!
2. The mystery, or lack there of I should say. There's really not that much of a mystery to figure out in this book. We basically find out who the culprits of these attacks, against Emma and Brendan, are about a third of the way through the book and it's basically who I suspected from the beginning.


With all that said, I would definitely recommend this installment to those who enjoyed Spellbound or who enjoy a quick Paranormal YA read. I look forward to the next title Shultz offers! :)


Happy Reading!!!