Synopsis
Desperate to undo the curse binding them to each other, an impulsive sorcerer and his curmudgeonly rival venture deep into a magical forest in search of a counterspell—only to discover that magic might not be the only thing pulling them together.
Leovander Loveage is a master of small magics.
He can summon butterflies with a song, or turn someone’s hair pink by snapping his fingers. Such minor charms don’t earn him much admiration from other sorcerers (or his father), but anything more elaborate always blows up in his face. Which is why Leo vowed years ago to never again write powerful magic.
That is, until a mix-up involving a forbidden spell binds Leo to obey the commands of his longtime nemesis, Sebastian Grimm. Grimm is Leo’s complete opposite—respected, exceptionally talented, and an absolutely insufferable curmudgeon. The only thing they agree on is that getting caught using forbidden magic would mean the end of their careers. They need a counterspell, and fast. But Grimm casts spells, he doesn’t undo them, and Leo doesn’t mess with powerful magic.
Chasing rumors of a powerful sorcerer with a knack for undoing curses, Leo and Grimm enter the Unquiet Wood, a forest infested with murderous monsters and dangerous outlaws alike. To dissolve the curse, they’ll have to uncover the true depths of Leo’s magic, set aside their long-standing rivalry, and—much to their horror—work together.
Even as an odd spark of attraction flares between them.
Review
Sorcery and Small Magics was a really fun read that I finished in two sittings (granted, one of those was a 9 hour flight but still). I liked the writing a lot and it felt like such a quick and easy read. It read so smoothly that I barely noticed the time going by.
I’m honestly a little surprised I liked the narrator of this story as much as I did. He’s a bit annoying sometimes, which doesn’t usually work for me, but here he felt like a well developed character that wasn’t defined by just that and I enjoyed following along. Stories like this are often told from two POVs so we can get both perspectives in a forced proximity/rivals setting, but I enjoyed having only one this time so we never knew for sure how the other person felt about everything. I also liked that we were in the head of the more privileged character and got to see how he changed over time as his world view expanded.
I found the world building incredibly interesting. It was slightly discomforting sometimes when the creatures of the Wilderlands were described but that added to the awe as well. It was interesting to read a story that felt somewhat cozy most of the time, yet still had such unsettling details. They grew more and more in importance as the story progressed, which I enjoyed a lot.
My only big gripe is that I wasn’t quite convinced by the emotions that supposedly happened. Finding out the nature of the accidental spell they used was interesting but I often felt like we were told more about what was being felt rather than shown in an organic way. I understand it was supposed to be subtle but I think in this case there was too much subtlety on the reader’s side of things. The envy, anger, nervousness, and other similar feelings felt more genuinely woven into the story.
I didn’t realize this was going to be a series until I finished the book, but I really liked how the arc of this specific one concluded. The fantasy aspect felt like a well-rounded story overall that can stand on its own, but I’m also eager to see where these characters are going in terms of careers and their own personal feelings.
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