A fantasy romance set in small-town Vermont, Spellcast by Barbara Ashford is a delight from start to finish. Maggie Graham is out of a job and looking to escape her Brooklyn apartment for the weekend when she stumbles into play auditions at the Crossroads Theater. The colorful cast of amateur actors were all compelled to audition the same as Maggie, and there’s something uncanny about the theater staff, but the mysterious director Rowan is the biggest enigma of all. |
She starts the story without any friends outside of work, dodging her nosy mother, and wounded by her father’s abandonment. We get to see her develop friends during the course of the summer and find balance with her parents. And she does open herself to love. Hooray!
I’ve heard that true love is wanting what’s best for your beloved, and we get to see that theme played out in a number of different ways during the course of the story. We meet a man grieving for his deceased wife, and a young man who selfishly abandoned his family to avoid paying child-support. And there’s the secretive director Rowan, who claims to be incapable of love. Rowan’s backstory and true identity is revealed slowly. It's rewarding when his whole story came together, confirming my suspicions. |
Both Rowan and Maggie are sympathetic and complex characters. I loved how they contrasted and complemented each other. Although romance runs throughout the novel, it is ultimately about Maggie learning to follow her heart and live a fulfilling life. For me, the story ended when Maggie decided to claim the life she wanted. The final coda giving us a glimpse into her new life wasn't really necessary.
Small quibbles aside, Spellcast was a highly enjoyable reading experience. I found the love scenes emotionally powerful, and I literally wept during the end. Warning: have a box of tissues handy!