Spellbound is the omnibus edition offered by the Science Fiction Book Club containing two books: The Changeling Prince and The Conjurer Princess. I found both to be quirky, imaginative fantasy, though darker and for an older audience than Vivian Vande Velde's other books.

The Changeling Prince is the story of Weiland, who is only human when the sorceress Daria chooses to change him from his natural wolf shape. At 16, he has already learned to survive at all costs against Daria's cruel whims and his brutal companions. Life in Daria's hall with her other creatures (bears, birds, mice all turned into humans) is harsh, but it takes a drastic turn for the worst when Daria decides to take her changelings to town with her. While masquerading as one of the bodyguards, Weiland discovers Daria's insidious plans and true identity. He also learns the value of human companionship and kindness. Weiland finds he must make a decision: keep quiet and watch Daria destroy an innocent family, or tell his new friends about Daria and risk her punishment.

Or, worse, at her death, be transformed back into a wolf for the rest of his life.

The Conjurer Princess takes place some 10 years after the events of The Changeling Prince. At her sister Beryl's wedding, Lylene watches in horror as an invading lord kills Beryl's husband and kidnaps Beryl. After half a year, when no one seems to be taking action against this crime, she decides to go by herself and rescue Beryl. She first goes to the wizard Harkta to learn magic from her, but the magic has unexpected side effects. However, armed with her newly acquired powers of conjuring a temporary fetch of anything, Lylene is ready to take on the world.

On the road, accompanied by two mercenaries named Weiland and Shile, she must separate friend from foe and find the truths in a world where nothing is as it seems.

Of the two, I liked Conjurer better; it's an often bittersweet, painfully realistic fairy tale. Lylene is not your typical sweet and beautiful princess, though she is basically honorable and consistently tries to do the right thing. Changeling is also excellent in a darker way, with fully developed, atypical characters and a quickly moving plot.

This anthology also includes a short story called "Just Another Dragon-Slaying," which tells a bit about What Happened After; it falls in chronological order after Conjurer. Anyway, YA fantasy fans looking for something a little more reality-driven should try this duet. It's entirely unlike any other I've read.