#The Spells We Cast

[ace-artemis-fanartist]

My piece for @rainbowcrate’s October's book box.

Jason June's The Spells We Cast.

[immabitqueer]

I just finished this book 5 seconds ago and I will be expecting a full solangelo au within the next month

[haveyoureadthisfantasybook]

vote yes if you have finished the entire book.

vote no if you have not finished the entire book.

(faq · submit a book)

[queer-book-society]

Title: The Spells We Cast

Author(s): Jason June

Description: Nigel Barrett has spent his whole life preparing for the Culling, a spell-casting competition that determines which of the world's teenage magicians will be stripped of their powers to preserve magical balance. But nothing could have prepared him to face Ori Olson, a broody rival whose caustic wit cloaks a painful past. From the moment Nigel and Ori meet, sparks fly. Their powers are stronger, more thrilling, the closer they get—not that they can risk getting attached. Because as the field narrows and the Culling grows more dangerous, Nigel and Ori realize there's more at stake than just their powers. The greatest threat to magic, their future, and all of humanity might be the connection growing between them...

[stardustandrockets]

OCTOBER RAINBOW CRATE SPOILERS

I swear I fall more and more in love with these redesigned covers with each box. manicfemme is knocking the typography and junk out of the park along with the cover artists!

This month's @rainbowcrate included:

• The Spells We Cast by Jason June—dust jacket art by @samairu with dark silver foiling and glow effect, signed bookplate, and author letter on the jacket

• In the Roses of Pieria by Anna Burke—dust jacket art by @otuscops, maroon foiling, spot gloss, foiled in-world hardcover, end papers by manicfemme & @jamielynnlano, printed edges by @mrosedesigner, a letter series, author letter, and signed art bookplate

• monthly collectible magnet inspired by The Wicker King by K. Ancrum

• letter opener inspired by These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling; designed by @kitstercronk

• spoiler card art as always is by @ace-artemis-fanartist

[asha-mage]

tagged by: @anyboli

last song I listened to: I just was listening to Don't Tell the Boys by Petey. I have a special fondness for Petey's nostalgia nerd rock. If you grew up a weird socially awkward mess in the early 2000s, his album Lean Into Life might speak to you the way it does me.

currently reading: Dark Rise by CS Pacat and The Spells We Cast by Jason June. Struggling a bit with both to be honest, not because of the books themselves, it's just been a tough two months in my corner of the world.

currently watching: Last thing I watched was the Barbie Movie, which I enjoyed a great deal. I don't watch a whole lot of things most of the time.

currently obsessed with: DnD. Working on a custom re-build of The Wilds Beyond the Witchlight that I'm hoping to run for a new group of players. I'm keeping the general structure/idea, but I'm reworking the background lore, and trying to make the Hourglass Coven (the main villains) more complicated/nuanced characters. I've never loved the 'pure evil hag witch' villain trope to begin with, and I'm hoping to tap into the module's themes of nostalgia, growing up, innocence lost, etc to make the Hourglass Coven more interesting antagonists.

I'm also Deep Deep Deep into Fire Emblem hell since I picked up Three Hopes again and re-acquainted myself with just how good that game is.

Tagging: @ace-and-ranty @aceofthegreenajah @talysalankil @highladyluck @kevin-sedai @becquerelian

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 2/5

Book Blurb: From New York Times best-selling author Jason June, a story of spell-slinging, lasso-swinging, and star-crossed love perfect for fans of Cemetery Boys and Carry On.

“The most magical and swoony page-turner I've read in ages.” —Adam Silvera, #1 New York Times best-selling author of They Both Die at the End

Nigel Barrett has spent his whole life preparing for the Culling, a spell-casting competition that determines which of the world’s teenage magicians will be stripped of their powers to preserve magical balance. But nothing could have prepared him to face Ori Olson, a broody rival whose caustic wit cloaks a painful past. 

From the moment Nigel and Ori meet, sparks fly. Their powers are stronger, more thrilling, the closer they get—not that they can risk becoming attached. Because as the field narrows and the Culling grows more dangerous, Nigel and Ori realize there’s more at stake than just their powers. The greatest threat to magic, their future, and all of humanity might be the connection growing between them. . . .

Review:

A magical competition, deadly creatures, and a queer romance! Nigel Barrett has been training to enter into the Culling, a magical spell-casting competition that determines whether or not you will be stripped of your magic or be able to join the Guild. Nigel wants nothing more than to make his family proud, especially since his grandmother is a powerful member of the Guild and his own father failed and was stripped of his magic. Nigel wants to win and be accepted yet he never expects to be falling for a fellow competitor, Ori Olson, a broody rival. Ori and Nigel meet and they have sparks, yet their magical connection means something, but in a competition, can they truly trust one another? The competition itself is becoming deadlier as contestants try to sabotage and kill each other, it also doesn't help that they have to fight against deadly monsters known as The Depraved. Can Nigel figure out a way to win and to keep his heart from being broken by the mysterious rival? This is the first book in a series (definitely because of the way this one ends) but I found the book to be a bit eh, the story had a bit of a slow pacing and the only thing that really had going for it was that it had a fun queer romance. For a competition with such high stakes, I just didn't find myself that invested, which is so sad because it's suppose to be a deadly magical competition with a sweet cowboy and a broody magical rival romance too. Unfortunately I just don't think I'll be picking up the sequel and this one was a bit of a miss for me. If you like magical competitions with queer romances, give this a go though, maybe you'll have a better time with it than I did!

*Thanks Netgalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide, Melissa de la Cruz Studio for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[axziom13]

[indigonite]

my main criticism for Baldurs Gate 3 is that you can’t keep wreaking havoc if you accidentally polymorph into a cat

[bookcoversonly]

Title: The Spells We Cast | Author: Jason June | Publisher: Disney Book Group (2023)

[therealsanssherif]

[voltaical-art]

do you guys ever think about how Wyll is introduced as an archetypal fantasy hero, but then it turns out he’s a warlock, who made a pact with a devil. Do you ever think about how Ansur is described as this fantastical dragon of myth, but then when you find him, he’s turned into an undead monstrosity. Do you think about how when Wyll does the right thing, he is punished to become more monstrous. Do you think about how as Wyll’s warlock powers grow, his spells get more horrific. Do you think about how Ansur was killed by his closest friend. Do think about how Wyll was cast out by the most important person in his life. do you guys ever think about Ansur and Wyll.

[the-gnomish-bastard]

Some of you didn’t seem to understand how magic works in the sense of how you can access it. I’ll explain again.

If you gain magical power from making a deal with a more powerful being, you are a warlock. Sneaky lawyer.

If you gain magical power through teachings and studies, you are a wizard/artificer. (Artificers usually gain power through experimentation.)

If you gain magical power by pledging yourself to a cause, being, or idea, you are a paladin. Pretentious bitch.

If you gain magical power by praising a higher deity (and not making a deal), you are a cleric. Heal someone.

If you have magical power and you didn’t do anything to gain it, you are a sorcerer. Fuck you. Seriously, fuck you. The rest of us had to work for our shit.

If you gain magical power by protecting nature and caring for plants and animals, you are a Druid. Fucking hippie.

If you gain magical power from your desire to entertain and also fuck, you are a bard. Stop trying to seduce my dad.

[hyunpic]

HYUNJIN ✮ SKZ’S MAGIC SCHOOL FEAST

[stardustandrockets]

No question today, but look at how gorgeous this new cover forTHE SPELLS WE CAST by Jason June is!! I'm in love!! 😍

I'm not usually into cowboys, but the few cowboy stories I've read (The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy mainly 😂) have definitely won me over. I've got a good feeling about it.

• Cover art by @samairu, designed by @manicfemme

• print by @ace-artemis-fanartist

[ominous-horse-noises]

anyway i want to reiterate that i hope the rat grinders are tpk'd, revived and uncorrupted solely bc i want them to have to spend senior year together. 'redeemed' doesnt necessarily mean friendly with the bad kids and honestly? its so much funnier if they continue being bitchy to each other but without the trying to end the world stuff. they've built plenty of positive relationships w/ former villains now it's time for the next stage: uneasy alliance buzzing with the tension of both sides trying to hold back the urge to clown on each other

introducing, fantasy high senior year: the group project