Two rival apprentice sorcerers must team up to save their teachers and protect their own magic in this lively young adult romantic adventure from the New York Times bestselling author of In Deeper Waters and So This Is Ever After.

Edison Rooker isn’t sure what to expect when he enters the office of Antonia Hex, the powerful sorceress who runs a call center for magical emergencies. He doesn’t have much experience with hexes or curses. Heck, he doesn’t even have magic. But he does have a plan—to regain the access to the magical world he lost when his grandmother passed.

Antonia is…intimidating, but she gives him a job and a new name—Rook—both of which he’s happy to accept. Now all Rook has to do is keep his Spell Binder, an illegal magical detection device, hidden from the Magical Consortium. And contend with Sun, the grumpy and annoyingly cute apprentice to Antonia’s rival colleague, Fable. But dealing with competition isn’t so bad; as Sun seems to pop up more and more, Rook minds less and less.

But when the Consortium gets wind of Rook’s Spell Binder, they come for Antonia. All alone, Rook runs to the only other magical person he knows: Sun. Except Fable has also been attacked, and now Rook and Sun have no choice but to work together to get their mentors back…or face losing their magic forever.

As I read Spell Bound by F.T. Lukens, my first impression was that this is a sweet LGBTQ YA romance. When I read it, I found myself loving the way the characters were created. Rook and Sun are authentic and realistic teen characters. Neither is all powerful, they are both learning but each has skills that can help their mentors. I also appreciate the slow development of feelings between the two, as they learn about each other and grow to care. Each of them is unique. Antonia and Fable, their mentors, are equally interesting and engaging. 

Within the story, I also like how Rook develops his abilities, how he blends technology and magic to help him to learn. I like the way the world is built too, that the characters have to deal with a regulatory arm that is not especially flexible in their rules. Ultimately, I love that it is about friendship and found family, that Rook and Antonia become family to each other as Rook learns and grows. 

The story truly is a sweet LGBTQ YA romance with a ton of heart and characters that are both fun and authentic. If you have a teen reader, they might find this the perfect read. I loved it even as an adult. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 coffees.