The Binding Spell: an atmospheric contemporary fantasy

The Binding Spell is a dark, enchanting YA novel that weaves witchcraft, family secrets, and ancient superstition into a compelling story set in the mist-shrouded village of Weir Hinny. 19-year-old Morgan, long haunted by nightmares, believes she has finally outgrown her terrifying visions, or has she?… Her father, an archaeologist, has moved the family from London to a small town in Wales called Weir Hinny. This town is where her mother lived and she hopes that she will be able to learn more about her from the villagers. She immediately befriends a local boy, Joe Harper, whose secrets seem as tangled as hers and for a while, their time together is magic. However, when her father begins work on an ancient burial site - Morgan's bad dreams return. With every relic he unearths, she sees a creeping horror emerge. Why has her father never brought them to the village before? Why are the locals suspicious of them? Can she convince her father to give up his dreams and stop the dig before it's too late?

The story is set in a creepy, rural village that has long-standing superstitions and legends linking it to witches and druids and all other supernatural beings. The characters are likeable, complex and their personal journeys are deeply emotional, especially Morgan's. As the plot thickens, Morgan begins to realise and learn things about her family that she could never imagine. Will she be able to cope when she finds out what she really is?

The author Marisa Linton is a respected historian who has specialised in witchcraft and magic and it clearly shines through this book. Her writing is totally immersive and she easily transports the reader into her dark, witchy debut novel. The magic and mystery is suitable for the 14 + reader due to the dark and at times sinister content. With all the magical twists and turns this is a perfect novel for those YA readers that love a dark, magical realism.

464 pages / Reviewed by Linda Brown, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 14+

When Morgan and her family are forced to move back to her mother's hometown, she has no idea of the history and trouble that await. Village talk of the Pouka King that dwells in the woods, and a niggling voice in her head, add to Morgan's unease. Meeting a local boy who seems to have all the answers is just the beginning, and once her father's archaeological dig unearths a body, darkness is unleashed.

The Binding Spell is a thrilling and mysterious story with witches, folklore, history, and family at its core. Set in a quiet village steeped in tradition and witchcraft, it is brought into modern times with mobile phones and local corruption. The narrative is peppered with red herrings to keep the reader guessing and the family's past is revealed at a timely pace that mirrors the village's secrets and historical involvement in disappearances. Although there is magic, unusual creatures, deadly apparitions and ghosts, the story feels almost as if it could be true or based on real events.

My only slight criticism is the addition of a love interest early on that runs through the book. The author notes at the end that her daughters helped explain teen life, so perhaps this addition is essential, but I long to read a book about a female protagonist that does not need a love interest to be successful! Family dynamics including parental abandonment, grief, responsibility and sibling bonds, are well covered and believable, with the characters likeable and endearing. Similarly, locals and superfluous characters are well drawn, adding to the overall feel of the book and community.

Teens will be drawn to the creepy and at times gruesome nature of the tale, along with the mystery and suspense. A great read that keeps you enthralled and excited to the end. Recommended.

464 pages / Reviewed by Lorraine Ansell, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 14+