The island will always call you back...

Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young is a dark and spooky read that you will not want to put down! A bit slow to start since there is a lot of back story to cover, but once the action begins, you will be hooked. 

Saiorse Island is a mysterious and magical island off the coast of Seattle in the Pacific Northwest. It is home to a long line of families who have always lived there. These families live quietly, relying on the summer and fall tourist season to bring in visitors to the orchard and small witchy shops full of teas, herbs, and other handmade goods. No one that wasn't from Saiorse stayed and those from Saiorse didn't leave - except for August Salt and his mother. 

On the night of August's high school graduation fourteen years ago, a fire broke out in his family's orchard; the orchard that was the main provider for the island. At the same time, one of his close friends, Lily, was found dead. After being labeled the main suspect, the people of the island turned against him. The only one who thought he was innocent was his girlfriend, Emery Blackwood. They were inseparable and a couple everyone knew would last. So it was no surprise that she would come to his defense. After nothing could be proven, he was let go. But without letting anyone know, he and his mother left on the first ferry not to be heard from until now - fourteen years later.

The only reason August is back on the island is because it was his mother's dying wish. She had felt the pull of the island the whole time they were gone. His plan is to bury his mother, find the deed to their cottage, put it up for sale, and get off the island as quick as possible. And avoid Emery at all costs! But of course, everything doesn't go as planned. The minute he steps foot on land, the island changes. The temperature drops, leaves suddenly change color all at once, and everyone can feel the change in the air. Why is he back? And what really happened on that night? 

I absolutely loved Adrienne Young's books Fable & Namesake, so I had no doubt I would like this one, too - and I wasn't wrong. Her writing is so descriptive and sucks you in in the best way possible. You can almost feel the dark and eerie vibes of the island. You can picture the starlings and the trees. You can hear the whispers of the forest and the waves crashing along the rocks. All of the characters have flaws and could be lying. She has you questioning the motives of everyone on the island, even Emery's sweet old, blind grandmother! This is one I didn't have figured out right away. 

The only reason this wasn't a 5* read for me is again, because it was a little slow to get into it. But as I said at the beginning, all of that backstory is necessary, and you won't regret it one bit once the action sets in. 

If you're looking for another perfect October/Spooky season read, this is one you aren't going to want to miss!

Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young - **** FOUR STARS