Spellbound: Malachite Coven

Spellbound: Malachite Coven is a 150,000-word interactive romance novel by Erin Rowlands, told entirely through text, with no graphics or sound effects. You arrive at Jasper Falls College as strange magic awakens in you, and join the Malachite Coven, a secret group of mages with abilities like yours. Your mother belonged to the coven years ago, and you can investigate the past she has kept from you.

Magic and mystery

Choose to specialize in earth, air, fire, lightning or water. You perform midnight rituals and study ancient grimoires filled with powerful spells. When someone steals a coven member’s magic, you can try to restore your friend’s power and find the culprit before your own magic is taken. You also have to keep up with your classes, or you may not remain a mage for long.

Romance and choices

Hundreds of choices shape the story, including who captures your heart. You can play as male, female or nonbinary, and as gay, straight or bi. Potential romances include:

• Jamie Arnoult: the flirtatious, wealthy child of Jasper Falls’s mayor, known as a heartbreaker for their sharp fashion sense and emerald eyes.
• Blake Evander: a competitive, driven student and athlete, and the coven’s leader, with blonde hair, deep blue eyes and a baseball cap for every occasion.
• Kit Reynolds: a generous, friendly artist with broad shoulders, a warm brown complexion and a tender heart.
• Lennon Kobayashi: a tall, brooding metal fan who dresses in black, cares deeply about social issues and is gentle as a partner.
• River Ortiz: a sweet, studious librarian who loves soft flannels and books about crystals and ley lines, but does not know magic exists.

You can grow closer to your mother and seek help from older mages, or set out on your own. You can also attend a lavish college gala and balance your studies with your responsibilities to the coven.