Title: Spells
Author: Aprilynne Pike
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: May 4, 2010
Hardcover: 368 pages
Where’d I Get It: Library

Synopsis (From Goodreads): Six months have passed since Laurel saved the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Now she must spend her summer there, honing her skills as a Fall faerie. But her human family and friends are still in mortal danger–and the gateway to Avalon is more compromised than ever.

When it comes time to protect those she loves, will she depend on David, her human boyfriend, for help? Or will she turn to Tamani, the electrifying faerie with whom her connection is undeniable?

My Thoughts: It has taken me a while to gather my thoughts on this book.  While I enjoyed the novelty of the first in the series, Wings, it seems this one fell a little flat.  Laurel is less likable in Spells, simply because she’s teetering on being just a touch flaky when it comes to choosing her love interest.  Also, while I enjoyed the descriptions of the school at Avalon, the novel itself just felt somewhat -empty- of actual content about the place.  It’s quite a lot of filler and not a lot of actual events.  Sure, things happen, but I’d have expected a little more to be packed in.  Despite all that, I did enjoy the read, and I think Aprilynne Pike’s writing style is one I could get used to.  The world of Avalon is one I’d really like to get to know more about, because it seems as though Pike’s given a lot of thought to the social structure and class systems.  It could be something pretty intriguing.  If there’s another in the series, I will read it, though I am not anticipating it as much as I was anticipating this one.  We’ll see how it goes.

Rating: 6 of 10

Bellaesque Rating: Laurel is not at all Bellaesque, but…she’s not exactly she-woman either.  She needs just a touch more maturity, I think.