I really enjoyed my time with The Bone Witches, so when this one was offered to me and I read the synopsis it sounded right up my alley!
Thanks to the author, as well as St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley for the review copy!
Judeth Cole has always had certain uncanny abilities. But when she arrived at Solidago, her grandfather’s estate by the sea, she was forced to keep them secret. There she lived a harsh life under his rule and the haunting legacy of her late grandmother, Aurelia. Until the fateful day she ignited a fire with her magic. It was the last time she saw her family alive.
Seventeen years later, she’s living in Seattle as Jude Clark, and failing at life, when she makes a last detour through her favorite bookstore, selecting a book to read as she waits to die. But when she pulls it from the shelf, an invitation to her for a clandestine midnight meeting slips out.
Jude is quickly swept up into a world of secrets and magic, discovering a circle of powerful new companions led by the mysterious, enigmatic Arla. The source of their magic, Arla tells her, is an entity, trapped and bound, that they call The Fathom. But Jude swiftly realizes Arla wants this power all to herself, and that she’s willing to kill for it.
Terrified, Jude turns to Levi, the handsome bookseller who’s seen her at her worst. With his help, she begins a research journey that leads her all the way back to Solidago, the house she swore to never return to. Now, the Fathom threatening to break free and Arla on the hunt, Jude must finally face her past to save her future.
Only Spell Deep is the story of Judeth Cole, a woman with a really dark and horrible past. Judeth’s family have always had magical abilities, and that wasn’t always a good thing at her grandfather’s estate. She was to keep them secret, and she did, right up until a truly traumatic event sent her magic ablaze, leaving none but her alive.
It is many years later and Jude Clark is a normal woman living in normal Seattle when she stumbles upon an invitation to a midnight meeting of witches. It throws her into a world of magic, secrets, and monsters.
This book has a lot of dark and disturbing subject matter, so it will be important for some people to look over content warnings.
I read this in two sittings, and it was quite a quick read. I found it hard to put down. I really found myself liking a few of the minor characters. The main character, Jude/Judeth was interesting and I wanted her to succeed. I really found myself not liking the main antagonist from the beginning, so the whole plot of Good Judeth vs Bad Arla was quite easy to get on board with.
All told, I thought that this was a good read. I didn’t like it as much as The Bone Witches, but I’m really digging this author’s work. 4/5 stars!~
superstardrifter 
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