I selected this book because Ulrich is one of my favorite author's. But this story just did not resonate with me. The story took forever to get going and then I didn't find it very interesting. It wasn't clever, magical or scary. And I didn't care about any of the characters. At about the 80% mark I realized that I didn't care how it turned out....And stopped reading.
My apologies to the author....you still remain one of my favorite authors....This one was your first miss with me.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review

I really struggled with this one.

The cover caught my eye, and based on the synopsis, I thought I was signing up for a fun small-town romance with paranormal elements.

Parts of the book fulfill that promise, especially toward the beginning when Isla and Lu are just beginning their flirtation. But unfortunately there is quite a lot of additional plot that is not put together well. There a couple of Big Baddies who show up and dump exposition that the reader doesn’t have any reason to care about. The magical worldbuilding is a bit skimpy but then many major plot points are based on that same underdeveloped worldbuilding. There are a few twists that come off more abrupt and startling than intriguing and exciting. But the part I found roughest is that none of the characters have compelling chemistry with one another—not the lovers, not the friends, not the enemies. Great chemistry can carry a weak plot, but weak chemistry and a weak plot makes for a tough read.

There is clearly a lot of care and love put into this book, but as it is, The Laws of Magic left me cold.

—

Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Disclaimer: My rating is actually closer to 2.5 stars.

This was my first encounter with Ullrich and based off of the premise, I had really high hopes which just… weren’t entirely met. At a minimum, the plot was decent; it had twists and turns and I loved the witchy aspects of it. However, this book fell short in so many places.

I have to acknowledge the attempts at adding depth to the two MCs, but I think there could’ve been more exploration into Lu’s history to provide more clarity on her character as a whole. It all felt a bit two dimensional and didn’t fully reach its potential. Overall the book was pretty fast paced, but it felt a bit like a skipping CD and a lot of it was rushed through and could’ve been more slowly developed or approached differently which I think would’ve allowed the plot to unravel more successfully. At times the third person POV was slightly hard to follow and a clearer distinction between which character was doing certain things would’ve made it a lot easier to understand. It’s a shame that this book didn’t fulfil my expectations, it’s definitely a forgettable one for me.

Despite all this, I do think it’s great to note the non-binary rep with Christopher’s character which was lovely to see.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and M. Ullrich for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Isla is a witch who owns a successful magical Apothecary and Lu is at first glance a strip mall security officer. Lu and Isla definitely have some sort of tension going on but for a long while have nothing but small greetings and friendly smiles until things start going haywire.

This book was an okay read. A solid plot and original setting, but in my opinion, the writing just did not do it justice. I felt as though the writing did not reach the level of maturity the plot demanded. The use of Gen z abbreviation or slang such as "SMH" just felt very out of place with the levels of the plot. There was also a few grammatical errors and like two dialogue inconsistencies where characters already knew things when they had never been mentioned.

When it came to characters I definitely like how Isla was written, very human and considerate. Lu, on the other hand, we were given so much backstory and scenes yet were almost never in tune with her actual feelings except for a moment when she and Isla have a brief conflict at the beginning of the book. Lu lies to Isla about something big and I cannot remember any moment in which she shared remorse for that.

Side characters got no feelings from me except maybe Daria, but that doesn't matter because the guarded protective best friend flakes at the end of the book and instead of validating Isla's feelings about being lied to by Lu, she instead pushes Lu onto her- which I found quite the fast switch up since literally the chapter before she was threatening Lu about hurting Isla.

But yeah, this is kind of a miss for me probably the first miss from M Ullrich I've had. That being said check out "What the Heart Remembers Most" and "Life in Death" which are undoubtedly my favourite books by her that in my opinion are criminally underrated.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

This was my first book by Ullrich and it won't be my last. Like every book I've read from Bold Strokes Books, this did not disappoint. I'm regularly drawn to magical/fantastical fiction, so the story of Isla and Lu is right in my wheelhouse. Despite each of their faults, I grew to love each character and was very happy to see them make it through such a difficult situation. I especially loved the sass and spunk Isla's fellow witches, Dalia and Christopher, brought to the storyline.

I only wish I hadn't gone the first half of the book pronouncing it "Is-la" and not "Eye-la" like I discovered when she ordered coffee midway through the book.

The Laws of Magic was an easy read, but I can't say it was a satisfying one. Rather than blending together urban fantasy and romance, it more felt like you couldn't be sure what genre you were in from scene to scene (which flew past, both strength and weakness). And unfortunately I really didn't like the main couple's dynamic, either on an interpersonal level or with regard to the broader narrative. With some actively dubious elements thrown in (the exoticism of the dark skinned succubus, some strangeness in the circumstances of the sex scene, and some real mixed messaging regarding assimilation), I simply cannot recommend this, even if, for me, it was a bit of a palate cleanser from heavier fare.

Not entirely convincing story
I was in the mood for a supernatural story with witches so I looked forward to reading Ullrich’s The Laws of Magic.
The start was disappointing: There is Lu the security guard sitting for hours and days, sweating in her car and watching a strip mall and Isla running her shop at the mall - both are somehow attracted to each other, tongue-tied and then a lunch happens where both talk with their respective feet in their mouths. And it doesn‘t really get better: the love story didn‘t convince me and the dramatic story was underdeveloped and didn‘t add up.

Thanks for the ARC via netgalley and Bold Strokes Books. The review is left voluntarily.

I enjoyed reading previous books by Ullrich, so I was very curious and excited to see a new book being released with a paranormal touch to it. This is an urban paranormal book and the paranormal touches are quite light, so it’s rather accessible. While I was looking forward to reading this book I’m sorry to say I was slightly disappointed, I couldn’t connect with the characters or the storyline very well.

This book is set in a strip mall where Isla’s apothecary is located that caters to the ‘unknowing’ humans and to the ‘nonhumans’ that live in hiding. Lu, the security guard at the strip mall, is receiving almost daily tea breaks that are personally delivered by Isla who is crushing on the handsome butch security guard. But, both MCs are not looking for a relationship even if they can’t deny their attraction. At the same time there is a danger lurking and nothing or nobody is what it seems.

What I like about paranormal or fantasy books is the ability to build a world that doesn’t exist. With a book titled ‘The laws of magic’ I was expecting to learn quite a bit about magic and the magic system and was sad to see that there was little attention for this. Isla is a very powerful witch, but it is never explained what exactly she can do or how it works. Especially during events near the ending of the book, this lack of insights made the ending feel too
easy and rushed. I did feel the danger of the villain in this book, but again they could have gotten more depth and become more scarier if I had gotten more insights in the abilities and their power in the non-human world.

The premise of this book is good and was what attracted me to read it, but the pacing threw me off at times. This book starts with two MCs that have a mysterious background and you want to know more about this background. I like it when I’m kept in the dark for a while I slowly get the info I’m waiting for, but here it took a bit too long for me and the romance that is connected to the background story also took a long time to get rolling. The romance felt awkward for quite some time and it is built on a deception which was also dragged on too long for my liking. Once they were together though, the pacing went up a couple of notches and the romance (as well as the other storyline) moved very fast into full trust which was not the most believable after their distrust at the start of the book.
I liked Isla and her co-workers at the apothecary, they form a coven and their connections to each other feel like sibling connections with some banter and teasing. For some reason I didn’t really get to like Lu, I didn’t understand her and I was wondering how well Isla did.

Taken together, the idea of this book is interesting making it an ok read, but there were too many issues that kept me from truly enjoying it. Like with all books, others might enjoy it better, so just see for yourself.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Isla is a witch who helps humans and non humans she finally has everything going for her. Lu is a security guard at the strip mall where Isla shop is at. Isla and Lu are drawn towards each other just when mysterious stuff starts happening and they both team up to find out what going on. I won’t go into it much because I tend to reveal more then I should but there are some great twists. I like the other characters Daria and Christopher in particular were great as were Kayla and Lilly they put more to the story. This wasn’t a bad story I just wish it had more supernatural elements.







I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

The Laws of Magic by M.Ullrich

Thank you Netgallery and Bold Stroke books for an ARC for an unbiased review.

Oh how I wanted to love this book. It was, from the synopsis, something that usually I'd snap up.

This isn't a sophisticated or difficult read, and while that isn't necessarily something that hurts a book, in this instance I felt it did. The 1st irritant for me was how frequently the words 'strip mall' were used. But that turned into incredulity when it was mentioned that Isla lived in an apartment above her shop. I'm a Brit, & while here in the UK that might be more commonplace on a similar stretch of shops/stores we have (even if we don't call them strip malls,) as far as I'm aware this isn't something that happens in the United States.

Then we come to Lu. I really enjoyed the characterisation to begin with, but then the betrayal aspect seemed too great for Isla to forgive. Okay, Isla 'read' Lu after defeating the big bad, and it helps explain why Isla was then willing to forgive and make a go of their relationship, but ahead of that, it all just felt too easy. The conflict they had with each other just seemed too neatly wrapped up.

Now, this doesn't mean the story wasn't without its good points. Daria and Christopher in particular were great additions, as were Kayla and Lilly - although not as frequently - to the main characters. The dynamics with them all allowed me to enjoy the book more than I would have done if it was more focused on Isla and Lu.

The twists were okay. The 1st one I didn't expect, but the 2nd I was expecting a similar connection, so it didn't perhaps have the impact it would have done.

I was trying to figure out how best to rate this, and ultimately decided on 3/5, although in fairness it probably is closer to 2.5/5 but I felt there was enough to not drop it to 2/5 stars ⭐️

As always, others might find more to enjoy about the book. I'd say this isn't necessarily an overall bad story, but I just couldn't get into the vibe or story as much as I had wanted to.

Isla is the neighborhood witch in Bender, MA and helps all the locals with all their witchy needs. Lu is the security guard who patrols the strip mall where Isla owns an apothecary shop. As they find themselves drawn to each other some other mysterious things start to happen around the shop and Lu and Isla join forces to figure it all out.
Books like this need a very delicate balance of letting the reader in and also keeping a bit of the mystery to keep them moving forward. I felt like this one had a bit too much mystery both in terms of what was going on in the present as well as the past of both MCs. There were some cute scenes between them but the lack of backstory made me feel a bit disconnected from them. I love magical books like this but the supernatural was really only in a few scenes. I would love to have seen that aspect a bit more played out in the plot. I wanted to love this one but overall felt like it was just an ok read. I've liked other books by this author so hopefully the next one will be another hit.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books Inc for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I will admit, witchy vibes is right up my alley. The cover and description drew me in. I was excited to get the chance to review this but then I ended up pretty disappointed.

There was a lot of descriptive aspects that just seemed poorly planned out. An apartment above a strip mall for starters? Has the author ever been to a strip mall?

I appreciate being able to read this but it was not for me.

This was, unfortunately, a DNF for me at 55%.

The first problem was that it was mentioned eleventy-hundred times that Isla's apothecary is in a strip mall. And then, a few chapters in, you find out that Isla lives in an apartment above the strip mall. Where, pray tell, is this strip mall in America with apartments over it? A quick Google search would have shown anyone - the author, the editor, literally anyone just in case they didn't know - that the definition of a strip mall is that it is usually one story and on a busy road. Yet, Isla has a surprisingly spacious apartment, with a king-sized bed and a nice bay window that gives her views of the stars and moon. Not a parking lot or dumpsters, which would be your real view from a strip mall. This detail alone made me want to quit the book, but I persisted. It just felt sloppy. There are many cute Main Street settings that could have been chosen where there definitely would be an apartment over a store and where a locally owned apothecary would be a more comfortable fit.

Anyway... then we get to the romance. Every interaction between Lu and Isla is awkward, terrible, and kind of erratic. Like it's almost like they're not even having the same conversation. And then all of a sudden they want to jump each other's bones and start dating? I didn't really buy it. I also didn't buy that Isla, who had sworn off all romance, would be so fully trusting with a new partner so fast. Sure, she had to disclose some things because of the circumstances, but I don't think she would tell an almost stranger all of the business of her friends and customers and assume that all that would work out OK - especially when she had been so hurt in the past and didn't want to get involved with anyone anyway. I could also see exactly where this was going and what their conflict was going to be, and frankly, I didn't want to be here for it. So, I gave up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There are a lot of good things to say about this book. The main characters were well written very well and had a lot of depth to them- I liked that both perspectives were explored as you really did get a good sense of them. The side characters were slightly underdeveloped and when emotional things happened to them I wasn’t massively bothered by it. That being said the plot was really gripping, it was way more than just a romance with an interesting magic system and sense of community between ‘inhumans’. The actual romance was great and I loved the trope of a security guard/ someone being protected. I loved reading a sapphic book along with a non-binary character- it was really nice to read they/them pronouns in use, even if the character was fairly minor. My major criticism is the main sex scene. It was unfortunately poorly written and rushed- everything happened a bit too quickly. The cherry on top of this all was one of the characters actually fainting during sex and then when she wakes back up they just continued like nothing happened? It was really disappointing for me because it could’ve been a lot better and one of those books like the Love Hypothesis that is shared specifically for the good sex scene. That being said, it was an enjoyable, gripping read if you ignore that small portion of the book. Fainting is used as a dramatic device too much but regardless it was cheesy at times and angsty at others and it did just consume me for a day. So overall if you like romance that has a good plot outside of the couple then I would definitely recommend this book. Maybe just skip the sex scene though….

I was so excited to get into this story… So excited, that it pains me to say I disliked it.

Isla owns an apothecary, where she helps humans and nonhumans alike. Isla is a witch. Enter Lu. Lu is a “security officer”, whose job is to watch over the stores in the strip mall, specially Islas’. Isla brings Lu tea every morning, *which she throws away*, and has a super crush on her. However, Isla does not allow her herself to get close to Lu because of something that happened in her past. Mysterious things keep happening, bringing Lu and Isla together time and time again, until they can no longer refuse their feelings for each other. *scoffs* (what feelings). Together, they need to find a way to stop this threat, and save inhumans.

Now for the parts I did not like:
- Lu. As a whole. (Idk what Isla saw in her)
- The romance… it just wasn’t there. (And this is a HUGE amount of the book)
- Lu’s lie. Which in my opinion, Isla should’ve never forgave her. It was too much. Too big.
- The banter.
- Isla was extremely stubborn.
- The ending was rushed.

Things I liked:
- Daria
- Christopher
- The premise
- Isla, sometimes

Overall, this book fell short. I wanted to love it, but it wasn’t what it thought.

Thanks NetGalley, M. Ullrich, and Bold Strokes Books Inc. for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was a really interesting take on fantasy/magical romance. There was a small plot twist that I honestly wasn’t expecting. I’ve always been a fan of this author’s writing style and this book was no exception. The banter and dialogue were excellent and the side characters were well thought out as well. My only complaint would be that the ending felt rushed but I definitely would recommend reading this.

The Laws of Magic is a surprisingly captivating read. I was drawn in by the beautiful cover and the promise of magic; it delivered so much more.

Isla Hoffman, a witch hiding in plain sight, must protect the town and people she loves from enemies who threaten their existence while also battling the ups and downs of falling in love. Along for the battle is Lu Cadman, security guard for the strip mall where Hoffman's Apothecary resides.

This is such a delightful read! I was 100 percent invested in these characters and their well being from the start. The plot is well paced and delivers a few shockers I didn't see coming. Also the banter between the characters throughout the whole book is A+. I did feel that the conflicts were resolved a little too easily, but I didn't mind because I just enjoyed every minute of being in this world.

I'd actually love to read more stories set in this world, specifically books for Daria and Christopher.

Despite taking place in summer, this is perfect for getting into the fall/halloween spirit. The supernatural community that comes together in Bender, Massachusetts is a lovely place to spend a day of reading.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting urban fantasy read. In which we're in the modern world as we know it, only there's real magics, witches and creatures existing. They live in hiding, the humans not aware of their existence. For most - that's how they like it.

Our MC Isla is a powerful witch who takes her job as a healer in the magical community seriously. She's there for her magical customers when in need, and also a fair amount of regular humans too. She's loyal and protective, but closed off to love.

Enter hot butch security officer, Lu. Both are captivated by each other, but try to deny the chemistry. But more is going on for Lu, as she struggles with her job, and belonging, after leaving the military and divorcing.

Unfortunately I struggled with the romance here, because of the secret that was kept from one MC, and it being quite a doozy. The distrust and dishonesty that happened wasn't something I felt was entirely forgivable. I personally struggled a bit with the personality of Lu, overall - and especially her motivations. So overall, I wasn't as sucked in to the story, or characters as I should have been. Perhaps that's on me.

The ending wrapped up a bit too easily, despite a lot of major drama and obstacles, and so I found it a bit hard to swallow. It didn't leave me satisfied. But as always, I encourage everyone to check it out for themselves, because everyone is different.

Thank you to M. Ullrich, Bold Strokes Inc, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. The Laws of Magic comes out October 11, 2022.

The Laws of Magic is a small town, cozy romantic fantasy novel. Isle is a powerful witch who owns a small town apothecary shop that serves humans and inhumans. Lu is a security guard who monitors the strip mall that Isle’s shop is in. When suspicious things keep helping to the shop and it’s people, the two must get past reveled secrets and their respective past and bind together to beat the evil force. I though this book was fun, romantic and cozy. I loved the twists and turns their relation ship took and the twists that happened in the story. I also really liked all the side characters, and Lu’s furry friend Samuel. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick and easy fantasy book that will put you in the spooky season mood.