The Book of Spells by Kate Brian

The Book of Spells by Kate Brian
The Book of Spells is (apparently) the prequel to the Private series also set in Connecticut at the elite Billings School for girls. Taking place in 1915 a group of girls find a map which leads to a trunk of spell books. With power comes tragedy as the girls attempt to cover up a fatal accident involving one of the coven members. Although the book is set during World War I there is absolutely no mention of world events and almost the entire book takes place on the Billings and adjoining Easton campuses. The over all story is standard YA fare; a love triangle, boy crazy girls, harmless magics that progress to destruction, and a curse upon the coven. Well written and entertaining (for fluff) the book ends with the only unanswered question of who ends up with whom.

Of course the author follows the Harry Potter method of magic in which the girls see instant results from the spells they cast, something practically unheard of in the real practice of witchcraft. Of all the witch novels I've read only those by Alice Hoffman consistently demonstrate how magic actually works in real life.