Dark Spell (Kelpies)

Dark Spell (Kelpies)

by Gill Arbuthnott (Author)

Synopsis

Shortlisted for the Scottish Children's Book Awards 2015 15-year-old Callie Hall has just found out she's a witch, and things keep going wrong. Sometimes her mind seems to make things happen, things she can't control. She can set fire to things without a match, and when she's angry people can get hurt. Her friend Josh understands she's a bit weird, but it's only on a dark and dangerous visit to the tunnels under the ruins of St Andrews' Castle that he realises just how strange she really is. Something comes back with Callie -- in Callie -- something she can't escape. Can Callie control her power long enough to send back the darkness, before it takes over her life? And will Josh ever understand her secret? A brilliant, engrossing teen fantasy from the author of Winterbringers and The Keeper's Daughter.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 224
Publisher: Kelpies
Published: 25 Apr 2013

ISBN 10: 0863159567
ISBN 13: 9780863159565
Children’s book age: 12+ Years

Media Reviews
'This is a modern-day Harry Potter set near a Scottish school in St Andrews... I cannot recommend this book highly enough.' -- Daily Record Book Club 'All told, a solid 4 stars.' -- 2 the Point Book Reviews blog 'A coming of age story with a paranormal/witchy twist.' -- Tome Tender Blog 'The characterisation is excellent, and I particularly like the way Callie is shown struggling to get to terms with her powers which read almost as hormonal energy...This is elegant writing... a pacey, thoughtful, scary, exhilarating read and highly recommended.' -- The School Librarian (SLA) 'The story is well engineered, and works not only on the superficial level, but on more than one level... I am not surprised that it has won awards. I found myself enchanted by Dark Spell. I enjoyed not only the characters, but also the sense of place the author delivers of the mix of old and new in contemporary Scotland. Gill Arbuthnott conjures a stunning mix of teen angst and magic mixed with just enough danger to scoot you to the edge of your seat. Big thumbs up on this one!' -- Novelspot
Author Bio
Gill Arbuthnott was born and brought up in Edinburgh, but escaped briefly to study in St Andrews and Southampton. She couldn't stay away, however, and now lives in Edinburgh with her family and Leonard the cat. A former biology teacher, she has written several novels for younger children: The Chaos Clock, The Chaos Quest and Winterbringers (all Floris Books), as well as books with Barrington Stoke and The Keeper's Daughter, published by Chicken House.