Dark Spell
£6.99
Also available as: eBook
Uncontrollable power. Unbelievable darkness.
Callie Hall is a real-life witch with incredible powers she can't control. Witchcraft might seem hard, but lighting candles with her fingers and casting protective spells can't prepare her for what's coming.
In the tunnels beneath St Andrews, something is lurking: a dark and dangerous presence that threatens everything. Callie needs help, but can she trust best friend Josh with her secret? And, together, can they defeat the darkness?
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
Related posts

Author Interview — Gill Arbuthnott — Dark Spell
Posted on 26/11/15 in Author Interviews
In case you missed it, here’s the interview with Gill Arbuthnott, author of the engrossing Dark Spell. Q: What inspired you to write Dark Spell? Gill …
read more >
Are you Brave? Discover our Spooky Reads!
Posted on 17/11/15 in Alex Nye, Folk and Fairy Tales, Fun Stuff, Gill Arbuthnott, Lari Don
Do you like scary stories? We do! This Delve into our range of spooky reads, perfect for middle-grade readers. From magic and monsters to ghosts and g …
read more >
Meet the new Scottish Children’s Book Award shortlist!
Posted on 10/11/15 in Awards, Scottish Children's Book Awards
Not too long ago, we were super-excited to tell you all about Janis Mackay’s win at the Scottish Children’s Book Awards 2014. But hold the bus, reader …
read more >