A review by alexreadsabook
The Spells We Cast by Jason June

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

If you’re looking for a book to replace that really popular fantasy series with the crappy author, The Spells We Cast by Jason June is the one for the job. It was truly a magical adventure from beginning to end, and I can not wait for the next book. 

Firstly, it features a gay, magic-wielding cowboy. If that’s not enough to convince you to read it, I don’t know what is. 

The world-building is extraordinary. It featured a fairly unique magic system but was explained in ways that made it easy to understand and related it back to some classic magic systems. I loved the different types of magic and the unique ways in which they were used by the characters. 

 

The main characters, Nigel and Ori, were an interesting pair. I loved the opposites attract, rivals to lovers aspect. The tension and angst and “will they won’t they” had me hooked. I had accidentally left this book at work over the weekend and literally could not stop thinking about it to the point where I considered breaking and entering just so I could finish reading it. 

All of the side characters, even the ones that you’re supposed to dislike,  made the story so much better. Not only did they let us see the magic types that our main characters didn’t have, but they also added so much depth and contrast to the story. This is a very fast-paced book, yet every character felt well-rounded and had a personality that made them stand out from the others. 

Side note: I couldn’t help but picture Meema as Meema from Young Sheldon and it honestly made her character even better. 

The queer representation throughout this book was really well done. Not only were the main characters queer, but a lot of the side characters were as well. There was also a lot of discussion around what it’s like to be queer in places where it’s not widely acceptable (like in the South, specifically Texas in this case). I love seeing this rep in YA books especially. 

I don’t want to spoil the plot twist at the end, but I was shocked yet pleased with the message and how close to home it hits with the society we currently live in. I genuinely can not wait for the second book. 

Overall, I adored this book. There were a few things that could be improved, but I think it was a super fun read, and will be recommending it to anyone who loves fantasy.