Representations: https://trello.com/c/iHAZphNh/149-the-binding-spell-by-marisa-linton

More Celtic goodness, with some archaeology thrown in!

This book isn't advertised as such, but it is specifically about Celtic (and the Welsh variant) folklore, especially pwcas (or púca) (Spelt "Pouka" for some reason in the book? A kinda sorta phonetic spelling of the Welsh variant of the word) specifically. It's genuinely the first fiction book I've read that showcases pwca lore and takes care with it too (Aside from like, Midsummer Night's Dream ofc lol).

My main issue with the Welsh rep in this book is that while it's very obvious so much care went into the folklore side of things (even if the pwca rep isn't accurate, it's still done with care), it sorely lacks with on-page representation. Pwca being spelt pouka, which doesn't match any known variant of the word across the Celtic regions and seems to be an anglicisation of the Welsh varient, despite there being English versions of the word already. There's also very popular American tradpub books out like Legendborn and Deadly Education that use Welsh culture and language, but butcher it and make it a punchline - but actually still manage to include actual welsh words in it - but this book, to my memory, doesn't contain even a word of Welsh despite being so rich in it's folklore. No greetings, no casual words, nothing. Middle grade books like Vivi Conway are able to trust English speaking children with understanding basic welsh, I'm sure this book would have been fine by honouring more of what it's based in. Especially as the advertising also erases such a key part of what the book is by not mentioning it's even Celtic 😅 We desperately need more Celtic folklore books, and especially need more Welsh rep books that care about the source to help counteract the American books that make us a joke. And while this book does do an incredible job with the folklore, it could have made a few better choices with the language used.

Aside from all of that though, honestly I loved most of the rest of the book. I was obsessed with the world that was built with the druids and the witches, with the pwca hill and all of that history. The characters were pretty well written and stood out from each other, I would have liked to have seen more of the town but the cast was kept pretty small. There was a fair amount of telling, not showing, when it came to the backstory of the characters but it just managed to stay on the side of being OK.

I really liked Morgan, she was a pretty strong main character with a decent voice. The romance with Caelen was decently subtle enough where it wasn't the sole focus, something I much prefer, but I think there's enough there for if you want that then that's good. Caelen himself was pretty awesome, though could have done with being a little less.... dodgy lmao. I wish I could say more about the characters but that really would be going into spoilers 😔 I'll say though, Wulf is the best character in the book and that boy needs a university, stat. The animals were also a massive highlight 👌 Do note though that if you don't enjoy reading animal death, or pet death, this will be a hard read.

My only gripe with the characters was the mental health representation. At the end of the book it was in a weird limbo. Without going into major major spoilers, but it was validated and her history wasn't really solidified as "this was a bad thing for her to do". It could have done with an extra sentence or 2 to reinforce that the before events was still not ok even after everything that happened during the book and her family was still valid for their reaction. Imo it was just left in the air a bit too much, especially for something like this.

Oh, and despite moths being on the cover and at the start of the book, sadly they kinda have not much to do with the actual story 😅 Or really, anything to do with it tbh.