Revenge of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I remember, once, someone complaining about a video game sequel that I’d enjoyed, saying “It’s just like the first one!.” But I liked the first one, so, to me, the sequel was more of that goodness. So too with Revenge of the Spellmans. I don’t feel like there’s much more here than in the previous two novels, The Spellman Files and Curse of the Spellmans—which I thoroughly enjoyed. And there’s certainly no less in this third novel.
(Here’s a thought—can I get away with writing the same review each time? Eh, probably not.)
Anyyway, for those who are wondering, rest assured: here are the same old Spellmans. Mom is still manipulative, dad is still stubborn, brother is still aloof, sister is still uncontrollable, and main character is still a little bit off-kilter. Maybe not as much as in the previous two, but enough to keep the reader liking her.
And, for what it’s worth, Lutz introduces a few more characters to keep this cavalcade fun and immersive. There’s the crush’s new girlfriend, there’s the bartender’s cousin, there’s an old foe come back to play havoc with… and more.
So, as much as I’m saying that Revenge is just like Curse and Files, the truth is you’ll enjoy Revenge all the more if you read the other two first—and despite extensive explanations, footnotes, and an appendix, you really do need to read the first two.
And once you do read the first two, reading this third one is inexorable.