Book Review: “Binding Shadows” (Tooth & Spell #1) by Jasmine Silvera

“Binding Shadows” (Tooth & Spell #1) by Jasmine Silvera (2020)

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy

Page Length: 434 pages (electronic review edition)

Synopsis:

There are two rules: find a way to use your magic and never reveal it to anyone.

Hunting down lost books is more than a job, it’s a way for Barbara to conceal her powers in the mundane world of the university library. One misstep and she risks exposure to ruthless necromancers willing to destroy anything supernatural they cannot control. But when the prickly new professor in charge of her latest assignment proves more than he seems, rules and reason are no match for her growing fascination.

After years of battling to cage the beast within him, Tobias returns to Prague and the safety of his pack of brothers. Unfortunately, his new job handling a collection of rare editions comes with a research assistant irresistible to both beast and man. Revealing his secret could endanger his entire family and he refuses to risk passing on the curse in his blood.
When the discovery of an enchanted book of spells triggers unpredictable surges in Barbara’s magic, unleashing the beast within himself may be the only way to free her. Trapped between a witch and a necromancer, they must survive a perilous reckoning with the past, or neither will have a future. (description from Goodreads)

Review:

Binding Shadows takes place in the Grace Blood series universe except this time it’s from the perspective of Isela’s family (a prequel). The three brothers are werewolves except for the mom, Beryl who is a witch. Tobias works in academia as a professor as well as our other main character Barbara. She is a research assistant (and secretly a witch) who has steadily been trying to apply for fellowships and to prove herself in her department. Tobias is a werewolf but hates his own nature and tries to deny the beast inside. Though their jobs seem ordinary their world is ruled by necromancers that wield powerful magic.

As Tobias and Barbara work together they can’t deny the attraction between them. They are both are going through their own personal journeys. Barbara is discovering her powers as a witch and Tobias is letting himself become one with the wolf instead of trying to fight his nature. Both are struggling to find their place where they belong in the world and fight against the university that is working so hard to get rid of them and end their careers.

Like Silvera’s other series, I found it easy to get hooked into this story. It’s fast paced, and the constant suspense factors had me guessing who or what was behind certain incidents. The characters were easy to connect to and I appreciated how in -depth they were. They struggle with issues such as acceptance, grief, and self-discovery making them feel very realistic! I enjoyed the character development of Barbara and Tobias. Watching them grow on their personal journeys and honing in on their powers was rewarding. Through it all, they still are able to develop a deep romance despite all odds.

All in all, I thought this was a fantastic start to the series! I liked that it can be read as a standalone series from the grace bloods books, but reading the main series just enhances the experience. The addition of magic, languages, old spells, and unseen villains heightened the reader experience so much! There was a good balance of quiet, tender moments and highly action-packed battle scenes full of magic. The lore of the world about the concept of a old, but not forgotten gods war is so intriguing.

I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series and finishing the Grace Bloods books as well. Silvera is a great fantasy writer and she knows how to keep her readers hooked into her stories.

Final Verdict: