I wasn't able to get into this book. I read about 50% in and just couldn't finish. I think if I read it more in the fall then I would of devoured this book. I was so excited for it :(

This was such a fun read! The enemies to lovers banter was excellent, and the small-town and familial characters were well-formed (you know I love a quirky small town). The curse presented a really interesting moral conundrum, and I liked how we got to see how each of the sisters dealt with it, as well as how they handled grief and trauma.

I wasn’t expecting spicy scenes, so when they happened, it felt kind of sudden, and I wanted even more yearning, especially knowing that this is going to be a series. This book was a bit trope-y at times, but they were all tropes that I personally enjoy, so I had a grand old time!

Thank you NetGalley and Dell for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

eh, it was cute but i don't think this romantasy is for me. too much happened too shortly and i wish there was more of focus on the actual magic. I feel like it ended in a bit of a weird place too as there's still too much we don't know.

Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things is the second book I’ve read by Breanne Randall, and I enjoy her cozy romantic fantasy. This book is full of food, family, and magic, much like The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic. Calliope is a bisexual witch with a nonbinary best friend and a queer sister, so right off the bat this book is full of queer rep and I loved that! It also felt to me like Calliope and her other sister Eurydice are neurodivergent; to me Calliope felt maybe ADHD, which is representative of my own neurodivergence, so she felt very relatable to me!

Other than all the rep in this book, there is a dark and brooding shadow daddy, a mystery family curse, and some found family. I did find the magic system to be a little confusing, but for a cozy romantic fantasy, it didn’t really affect the story. Lucien is a French Turkish bad boy who heads a motley coven of other misfit magicians, along with his sister, who becomes a central figure to the coming together of all parties in this magical mystery.

Romance isn’t really my favorite genre, and I felt like this one was fine, but my favorite bits of this book were the family vibes and small town coziness along with the unravelling of a few curses. In the end, this book was 4 stars based on CAWPILE.

This review has been posted on instagram, amazon, goodreads, storygraph, and bookbub as of 3/25/25, links have been added.

I love this book. It was across between a fantasy and a supernatural story about witches. It has a small town feel and it same time. The magic involved makes the book entertaining from start to finish. The characters are intriguing and I love all of the side characters who add to the story throughout the book.

3 sisters have to work with a shadowcrafter (Lucien) after he bonds with one of them. Lucien has an alternative motive for working with them, saving his sister. Their task is to break the curses that are attached to both of their families.

This was a fun, witchy read. I enjoyed the romance and tension between Lucie and Calliope.

Thanks Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell and NetGalley for the ARC!

I liked this witchy vibe story of 3 sisters who when magic is used, they forget memories. The youngest Calliope accidently binds herself to leader of a rival coven a shadowcaster. As they fight their attraction to each other, they learn about their families dark secrets. The story could've been tighten up just a tad bit but overall the story was not too bad.

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

DNF @35%

I don't care for the writing. The main character is annoying and selfish and I don't care about her potential romance. Her and her sisters have to sacrifice a memory every time they use magic. And it's honestly surprising she has any left judging by the amount she sacrifices in only a third of this book.

Thank you to Breanne Randall, Random House Publishing - Ballantine/Dell, and NetGalley for an eARC of Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things.

This book was a bit slow to get into for me and I didn't really get into it until the second half of the book. It was a very interesting concept, but I felt like the family love story between the sisters and the love story between Calliope and Lucien were each fighting for air time and neither blew me away. Once the world-building was finished and the action started, I was definitely more engaged, but still didn't absolutely love the plot. I felt like there was a lot going on, and certain parts of the story were not fully fleshed out. Many elements seemed random, like their only purpose was filler space instead of character development and the overarching story could have done without.

I am interested to see where Breanne Randall takes book 2 of the series, so I will continue reading, but I hope book 2 has a bit of a clearer purpose and goal for the characters.

3 out of 5 stars.

**Read If You Like:**

- Witchcraft and magical realism
- Romantic entanglements with a supernatural twist
- Stories of self-discovery and confronting personal demons
- Tales of family secrets and generational curses
- Atmospheric settings with a touch of whimsy

In *Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things*, Calliope Petridi, along with her two sisters, harbors the secret of their magical heritage in the quaint town of Gold Springs. Their magic comes at a cost: each spell cast requires the sacrifice of a cherished memory. Yearning to forget her mother's abrupt departure, her growing distance from her sisters, and the heartbreak from a past love, Calliope's life takes an unexpected turn when an ancient evil resurfaces. This threat fractures the delicate bond among the sisters, causing their magic to wane. In a desperate bid to save their town and restore their powers, Calliope inadvertently binds herself to the enigmatic leader of a rival coven known for their relentless quest for dominance. Navigating this uneasy alliance forces Calliope to confront buried memories, unravel family secrets, and face formidable magic, all while grappling with her own identity and desires.

Breanne Randall masterfully intertwines elements of magic, romance, and self-discovery in this tale. The evolving relationship between Calliope and the rival coven leader adds layers of tension and intrigue, blending trust, betrayal, and undeniable attraction. The narrative delves deep into themes of memory, identity, and the complexities of familial bonds, all set against a backdrop of enchanting spells and small-town charm.

*Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things* offers readers an immersive experience, combining the allure of witchcraft with heartfelt storytelling. It's a journey of magic, love, and self-realization that will resonate with fans of supernatural romances and tales of personal transformation.

Thanks for my ARC!!!

An enchanting start to a new series by Breanne Randall.

One in three, three in one.

The women of the Petridi family have always had magic, but their magic comes with a price. To access their power, memories must be sacrificed. It's this sacrifice that keeps two of the three Petridi sisters of Gold Springs from even touching their power. This has left Calliope, the youngest, as the only one guarding the town and her family from an evil they know little about. All she does know, is that for generations Petridi women have guarded the Dark Oak and kept whatever evil it contains under lock and key.

But as something causes the enchantments to weaken and their protections over the Dark Oak wane, Calliope will stop at nothing to find a way to strengthen them and save the town. What she doesn't count on is a tall, dark, handsome stranger swooping in and making everything more complicated than it already is. Will they be able to stop whatever is happening before it is too late?

This was such a great read! This is the second book by Ms. Randall that I have read and its by far my favorite (so far.) I loved the way that sisterhood and family was at the center of this story. And the way old prejudices were overcome and new bonds formed despite years of hatred.

The shop the sisters own, Tea and Tome, sounds absolutely heavenly and I'm quite sad that nothing quite like that exists near me. I could live forever in the Petridi family shop and be quite content. I'll admit, I didn't quite see the ending coming. I don't know what I as expecting to happen, but the revelations made were not it! That being said, I'm not disappointed in the least. I think if you should decide to pick this one up you would enjoy it as much as I!

DNFing at 24%

I really am disappointed with this book - I absolutely loved the blurb and the premise, and was so excited to dive in. The concept of the sisters and family magic, a darker and lighter side, a bond between the two…all of that intrigued me. But the writing style honestly drove my eyelids to droop anytime I tried to read more than a chapter at a time. The prose felt dense - in a way that bogged the story down for me. I tried the audio and the narrator just wasn’t doing it for me either.

I’m giving this a three because I truly feel like this is a me problem and not necessarily a book problem - I’d even consider revisiting in the future.

What a lovely witchy book with cozy small town vibes! I absolutely loved the story, the characters, the setting, I enjoyed everything about it so much! It did take me a while to get immersed in the story, but I still had a great time with it.

This book was so good! While the magic world was complex, it didn’t feel overwhelming. Author slowly divulged more and more information about the magic system in the world, and it had a very easy flow. The characters were incredibly lovable. The one liners were fantastic. It was a great journey of self, grief, family, and love all wrapped into one. I really enjoyed that both the fmc and mmc each had sister(s) in which they were working to save. To save them required wading through generations of hatred and prejudice and doing their best to erase it. The way the author wrote colored the novel with the most beautiful, bright colors. Her vivid imagination really brought the story to life. The ending was perfect, and left a great opening for book 2!

I was hoping for more of a whimsical and small-town charm vibe to this story than what it turned out to be. Spell, Strings, and Forgotten Things is the story of Calliope, Thalia, and Eurydice, sisters who happens to be witches. There is a battle of good vs evil with a little bit of romance thrown into the story. It was an enjoyable book. Thanks to the author Breanne Randall, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Breanne Randall’s Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things is a beautifully atmospheric novel that weaves together magic, family secrets, and self-discovery in a way that kept me hooked from the very first page. As someone who loves fantasy with a touch of romance, this book delivered on both fronts while also offering an emotional depth that made it stand out.

The story follows Saoirse, a young woman who returns to the coastal town of her childhood, only to find herself unraveling long-buried family mysteries and rediscovering the magic that has always been a part of her lineage. The setting is so vividly described that I felt like I was right there—surrounded by the salty ocean breeze, the whispers of forgotten spells, and the lingering shadows of the past.

One of my favorite aspects of the book was the way Randall crafted her characters. Saoirse is strong but deeply flawed, making her journey feel incredibly real. Her relationships—especially the tension-filled romance—felt natural and well-developed, adding layers to the already rich narrative. I also loved the themes of identity, belonging, and the power of embracing one’s heritage, which resonated with me throughout the story.

The pacing was well-balanced, blending moments of quiet introspection with thrilling revelations. While some twists were predictable, the emotional weight behind them made them impactful. And the magic system? Absolutely enchanting. It felt organic to the story, rooted in folklore and tradition rather than flashy spells for the sake of spectacle.

Overall, Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things was an immersive and beautifully written novel that left me thinking about its characters and themes long after I turned the last page. If you love lyrical writing, coastal witchy vibes, and a story about finding your place in the world, I highly recommend giving this one a read!

Calliope Petridi’s magic comes at a cost—her memories. The more powerful the spell, the more of herself she loses. But forgetting is easier than facing the cracks in her life: a mother who vanished, sisters she’s drifting from, and a love that left her shattered. When an ancient evil threatens Gold Springs, Calliope finds herself bound to Lucien, the infuriatingly handsome leader of a rival coven. With their town in danger, family secrets unraveling, and a battle between good and evil looming, Calliope must decide just how much she’s willing to sacrifice to protect those she loves.

This book was pure cozy, magical comfort. It’s a heartwarming tale of family, sacrifice, and love—woven with Greek and French heritage, a touch of mystery, and just enough romantic tension to keep things interesting. If you love *Practical Magic*, this one leans even closer to that vibe than Randall’s last book. There’s a sprinkle of spice between Calliope and Lucien, but it stays mostly clean, focusing more on their push-and-pull dynamic as they stand on opposite sides of an age-old battle.

The plot is a little predictable, but honestly? That’s part of what makes it such a comforting read. For someone like me, who struggles with anxiety, I love a book that follows a path of magic, family, and healing while still offering just enough mystery and danger to keep things engaging. It’s the kind of book you curl up with when you need something enchanting, emotional, and ultimately, full of closure.

SPELLS, STRINGS & FORGOTTEN THINGS by Breanne Randall

Sisters Calliope (Opie), Thalia and Eurydice (Dissy - can we please get a better nickname?) are cursed with losing memories if/when they do magic. Props for the unique magic system, incorporation of music and the diversity of the characters. The cozy small town setting gave me ‘Stars Hollow’ and ‘Charmed’ vibes; I appreciate that.

However, I didn’t care for the over-explaining of everything, the multiple cliches, plot conveniences, and the (rushed, forced) “enemies to lovers” romance. There were also many references to other books/movies that took me out of the story and didn’t mesh well with the world.

In short, I liked this for the witchy-sisterhood vibes, but I wasn’t wowed by it. If you’re into all things cozy and magical, you’ll probably enjoy this series.


Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️
Pub Date: 03.04.25
**ARC courtesy of Netgalley & AtRandomBooks

This book had a cozy yet mysterious feel to it. We meet three sisters who, because of an ancient family curse, must give up memories to use their magic. One of the sisters gets herself "bonded" to a very handsome member of a rival coven. From there, long-buried secrets start resurfacing, and the sisters discover that things they believed to be true may not be exactly as they believe. This book made me question what I would do in the same situation as the sisters. Would I sacrifice memories to access my magic?

Thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc!!

If you are looking for a cozy witchy book coupled with fantasy this is the book for you! Spells, Strings and Forgotten Things was a very well written story with romance, family and some spell casting.

I felt this book was a bit slower paced for me and didn't really pick up the steam I thought it would. That said, I remain a big fan of Breanne Randall and look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for the ARC.