plaidpladd's review against another edition
3.0
This book was pretty fun! I liked the setting a lot and many of the minor characters were really fun. I wish there had been more world building, though, especially around how the system of magic works. The knitting was great and didn't feel kind of shoe-horned-in like in a lot of hobby-themed books.
nickym96's review against another edition
3.0
A cute, light, magical romantic comedy. Kind of intense action at the end. Some of the magic was a bit corny and out there. But its a book about a magical town full of magical creatures, so it really goes there. A good start to what I hope is an interesting series.
kaypendragon's review against another edition
It was a paranormal-knitting-mystery-romance. Kind of like the displays at borders exploded and formed a new book. It wasn't bad but I wasn't thrilled.
iffer's review
3.0
A solid 3-star book, maybe higher since I was amused by the dorky knitting references and puns, as well as some practical knitting tips at the end. I think this new-to-me genre of hobby books is going to become singer of my favorite brain book candy.
This story turned out to be more of a romance than a the cozy mystery that I war anticipating, but it had the charm of witch romances and postcard New England that I've enjoyed previously. I had to suspends my disbelief, but if you go into it existing a little but of cheese, it's thoroughly enjoyable.
I also had to tamp down the irritation that Chloe is magically worthwhile now that she's come into her powers ::eye roll:: (um, she was worthy of love and happiness before that). I enjoyed the story, but I don't really want to stop to think about the literal, in this story, transformative power of love. I mean, I get that love is literally magic in this book, and that sparks will literally fly, but it's kind of annoying to me that the only way for Chloe to come into her magic power, the inheritance of 300 years of powerful female ancestors, is to fall in love with a man? Bah. (Note: I've been treating a LOT of feminist books lately.) It niggled a little that the magical community was not only dismissive, but borderline racist towards humans, but I can see how he author is using this as the necessary romance story obstacle. Although Casting Spells switches between Chloe and Luke's perspectives, I found it a little jarring, because Bretton doesn't write a man convincingly at all. Luke has the same voice as Chloe, so I had to double take whenever there was dialog at the beginning of each section, wondering who "I" referred to. the only difference was that Bretton threw in sports references when the make characters were thinking and speaking?
A very fun, entertaining, well-written read, though definitely light-hearted, and reminiscent of, but not nearly as emotionally meaty as something like Garden Spells.
This story turned out to be more of a romance than a the cozy mystery that I war anticipating, but it had the charm of witch romances and postcard New England that I've enjoyed previously. I had to suspends my disbelief, but if you go into it existing a little but of cheese, it's thoroughly enjoyable
Spoiler
though I was bummed about the convenient death of Chloe's best friend who also happened to be a hunky nice guyI also had to tamp down the irritation that Chloe is magically worthwhile now that she's come into her powers ::eye roll:: (um, she was worthy of love and happiness before that). I enjoyed the story, but I don't really want to stop to think about the literal, in this story, transformative power of love. I mean, I get that love is literally magic in this book, and that sparks will literally fly, but it's kind of annoying to me that the only way for Chloe to come into her magic power, the inheritance of 300 years of powerful female ancestors, is to fall in love with a man? Bah. (Note: I've been treating a LOT of feminist books lately.) It niggled a little that the magical community was not only dismissive, but borderline racist towards humans, but I can see how he author is using this as the necessary romance story obstacle. Although Casting Spells switches between Chloe and Luke's perspectives, I found it a little jarring, because Bretton doesn't write a man convincingly at all. Luke has the same voice as Chloe, so I had to double take whenever there was dialog at the beginning of each section, wondering who "I" referred to. the only difference was that Bretton threw in sports references when the make characters were thinking and speaking?
A very fun, entertaining, well-written read, though definitely light-hearted, and reminiscent of, but not nearly as emotionally meaty as something like Garden Spells.
auntblh's review
3.0
I would give it 3 1/2 stars if I could. It was a cute story albeit with slighlty dark overtones...fight over the book of spells, the banshee wails, and the evil Isadora. I would probalby read a sequel. I enjoyed when Chloe was started coming into her powers and things were flying around.
witandsin's review
4.0
Originally posted on Joyfully Reviewed: http://joyfullyreviewed.com/reviews/Feb09/castingspells.BB.html
Sugar Maple, Vermont is the picture perfect town. It has no crime, no police force, and no human residents. Well, almost none. Chloe Hobbs, owner of the popular knitting shop, Sticks & Strings, is the only human living in Sugar Maple. She’s also the daughter of a sorceress and holds the town’s very future in her hands. When the spell protecting the town from harm begins to weaken, the town residents are out in full matchmaking force for Chloe. Then Sugar Maple experiences its first murder when a tourist, Suzanne Marsden is found dead. And that’s only the beginning of the trouble.
Luke MacKenzie has been sent to Sugar Maple to investigate the death of his childhood friend, Suzanne. What he finds is a town that is much more than it seems, a town filled with secrets an outsider like him isn’t supposed to uncover. Luke also finds himself deeply drawn to the beautiful owner of Sticks & Strings. But love between Chloe and a man who’s fully human is the last thing the residents of Sugar Maple want to occur.
Casting Spells is an enchantingly written yarn that captured my interest from the very first page and didn’t let go. It’s a fresh, fun, captivating read that still puts a smile on my face when I think of it.
I’ll be honest; I generally do not like romances written in the first person, as I don’t feel as connected to the protagonist who isn’t narrating. Yet Barbara Bretton deftly works around this by writing the book from both Chloe and Luke’s points of view (with clearly labeled viewpoint changes, which I appreciate). I loved being inside both their heads, getting to connect fully with both hero and heroine. Both Chloe and Luke are immensely likeable, and by writing the story in the first person, Ms. Bretton gifts readers with insight into all their individual eccentricities without it ever seeming forced or detracting from the story. Put simply, Chloe and Luke felt real and they were characters that, were they real, I would love to know.
As for the other residents of Sugar Maple, the faeries, vampires, werewolves, and the like, they were vast, varied and interesting. A town filled with magical beings makes for some quirky incidents, and I loved every one of them. After finishing Casting Spells I wanted nothing more than to visit Sugar Maple, and admittedly cursed when forced by reality to acknowledge that I couldn’t. I absolutely loved Casting Spells. It was a fluid, fast-paced tale filled with original, memorable characters I grew to love. This may be the first book I’ve ever read by Ms. Bretton, but it will definitely not be the last. Pure magick!
Sugar Maple, Vermont is the picture perfect town. It has no crime, no police force, and no human residents. Well, almost none. Chloe Hobbs, owner of the popular knitting shop, Sticks & Strings, is the only human living in Sugar Maple. She’s also the daughter of a sorceress and holds the town’s very future in her hands. When the spell protecting the town from harm begins to weaken, the town residents are out in full matchmaking force for Chloe. Then Sugar Maple experiences its first murder when a tourist, Suzanne Marsden is found dead. And that’s only the beginning of the trouble.
Luke MacKenzie has been sent to Sugar Maple to investigate the death of his childhood friend, Suzanne. What he finds is a town that is much more than it seems, a town filled with secrets an outsider like him isn’t supposed to uncover. Luke also finds himself deeply drawn to the beautiful owner of Sticks & Strings. But love between Chloe and a man who’s fully human is the last thing the residents of Sugar Maple want to occur.
Casting Spells is an enchantingly written yarn that captured my interest from the very first page and didn’t let go. It’s a fresh, fun, captivating read that still puts a smile on my face when I think of it.
I’ll be honest; I generally do not like romances written in the first person, as I don’t feel as connected to the protagonist who isn’t narrating. Yet Barbara Bretton deftly works around this by writing the book from both Chloe and Luke’s points of view (with clearly labeled viewpoint changes, which I appreciate). I loved being inside both their heads, getting to connect fully with both hero and heroine. Both Chloe and Luke are immensely likeable, and by writing the story in the first person, Ms. Bretton gifts readers with insight into all their individual eccentricities without it ever seeming forced or detracting from the story. Put simply, Chloe and Luke felt real and they were characters that, were they real, I would love to know.
As for the other residents of Sugar Maple, the faeries, vampires, werewolves, and the like, they were vast, varied and interesting. A town filled with magical beings makes for some quirky incidents, and I loved every one of them. After finishing Casting Spells I wanted nothing more than to visit Sugar Maple, and admittedly cursed when forced by reality to acknowledge that I couldn’t. I absolutely loved Casting Spells. It was a fluid, fast-paced tale filled with original, memorable characters I grew to love. This may be the first book I’ve ever read by Ms. Bretton, but it will definitely not be the last. Pure magick!
hisaacson's review
4.0
Full review at:
http://hollybooknotes.blogspot.com/2009/10/casting-spells-by-barbara-bretton.html
http://hollybooknotes.blogspot.com/2009/10/casting-spells-by-barbara-bretton.html