Spells for Forgetting, Adrienne Young, Jonathan Ball Publishers, ISBN: 9781529425314

TOURISTS from the mainland have been drawn to Saiorse Island for generations, not only for the famed apple orchard but also for the rumours of magic and, in recent years, the mysterious death of one of the island’s teens, Lily Morgan, during a devastating fire that nearly destroyed the orchard.

When young August Salt, who was accused of murdering Lily, returns to the island to bury his mom’s ashes, both the island and the locals are disgruntled.

However, August’s return is most devastating to Emery Blackwood, the love of his life and Lily’s best friend – whom he had to leave behind. Emery had always been convinced of August’s innocence and had spent years after he and his mom fled the island looking for him.

With his return, however, secrets that have been kept for years are slowly starting to unravel, and the death of Lily is far more sinister that she could ever have imagined.

I was hoping the book would be similar to the 1998 film, Practical Magic. And while the book does have the small town mystical vibe, it tragically did not have enough magic or insight into the eccentricities or superstitions of the islands’ inhabitants.

The author kept hinting at the brooding and possible interference from the island itself, but nothing ever materialised.

Some of the secrets not only end up being predictable but also boring, considering the promise of magic. Unfortunately, I also found the book to be a bit of a drag. The first 60% of the book is tedious and uneventful. And, although the characters weren’t wholly unlikeable, I just didn’t really connect with them. – Mariclair Smit 3/5 stars