The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel has been on my TBR for a while, and since I am going to be doing an event with Alyssa Palombo (and other Sleepy Hollow focused authors) on October 10th IN Sleepy Hollow, I figured I needed to do my homework and finally read this book!
When I tell you I devoured this book, I mean it! I am a sucker for forbidden romances with secret trysts, so the relationship that forms between Katrina and Ichabod was up my alley. While I usually prefer a slower burn, I was on board with how fast their relationship moves given that the second half of the book moves away from the romance and more into the mystery originally posed by Washington Irving’s story – what happened to Ichabod Crane the night of All Hallows’ Eve? Irving’s story is left open-ended, inducing readers over the years to speculate if the Headless Horseman chased and took Crane, or if Crane was chased by his romantic rival, Brom Bones, posing as the Headless Horseman. As an aside, Spellbook is a very different take on the original story than Raven Rock and my sequel short story, All Hallows’ Eve Frolic, in which Brom and Ichabod are very different from my versions, so I did not feel like I had my versions stuck in my head in reading this. I was able to read and enjoy Spellbook on its own standing.
While Katrina experiences dreams and visions, and asks her herbalist friend, Charlotte, to perform tarot readings, there isn’t exactly “a spellbook” per se–so the title might be misleading to readers expecting all things witchy. The magic and mystery exists at the fringes of Palombo’s story, keeping both the reader and Katrina guessing. This choice is very much in line with Irving’s original story.
Overall, I felt Spellbook moved at a swift and engaging pace. The narrative is split up into bite sized chapters that keep the reading wanting to know what comes next, but some readers may find the pacing of the romance half followed by the misery and mystery half disconcerting. I feel this choice made sense to the specific story crafted here. I was heartbroken and devastated for Katrina, and like her, kept holding out hope that things would work out to her heart’s desire. Palombo really gets us to feel alongside Katrina in all her frustration, anger, and sadness.
The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel is a fast-paced, romance forward re-imagining of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and a perfect mood read for spooky season! Spellbook deftly weaves the details and legends of the original story while crafting a new narrative from Katrina’s point of view.
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