Inside the walls of a glass prison, sixteen year-old Rose is compelled to live out her days. With a brute of a father and an overly controlling mother, Rose’s only option is to risk the safety of her gilded cage. When Rose ventures out to taste freedom for the first time, she learns the hard truth: a curse has been placed upon her. Her life literally depends upon staying in the glass greenhouse. When a compassionate young man named Gabriel steps in to save the day, the two realize that darker forces are at work keeping Rose trapped in the greenhouse.
Spellbound is a fun fairy tale. There are well thought out nemeses and an intriguing plot that catches your attention right from the first page. However, the pacing is a bit uneven and the characters don’t always feel credible. For example, Rose seems to switch between her feelings for Gabriel at the turn of the page, but without any real internal revelation or external motivation. Fortunately, the villains are appropriately villainous and the story has a well-suited conclusion. Julia Goldhirsh demonstrates real potential as an emerging author of modern young adult fiction. Spellbound will enchant readers looking for a magical short story with a welcomed twist.
