Barrie Watson's life is upended when she moves to her aunt's South Carolina plantation following her mother's death, only to discover the estate is protected by an ancient spirit that has cursed one of the island's founding families and bestowed magical gifts, which have become compulsions, upon the others. Barrie must navigate this new, enchanted world where the very gifts that set families apart also bind them in a cycle of inherited compulsions. She finds herself at the center of a generations-old conflict, grappling with her own burgeoning abilities and the dark legacy of the plantation, all while trying to understand the spirit's true intentions and her place within its ancient curse. The narrative unfolds through Barrie's perspective, revealing the secrets of the plantation and the complex relationships between the families tied to its fate.

The premise of Compulsion sets up a rich Southern Gothic atmosphere, blending supernatural elements with family curses and inherited magical abilities. The narrative appears focused on Barrie's discovery of her own powers and her entanglement in the plantation's long-standing mysteries. The exploration of compulsions as a consequence of magical gifts suggests a thematic interest in the darker side of power and destiny. The setting of a South Carolina plantation further grounds the story in a specific, evocative landscape ripe for uncovering hidden histories and familial secrets.