This book was so lovely, cozy, mysterious, romantic, and interesting. The concept of having to sacrifice a memory to perform magic was intriguing and thought provoking. I loved the sisters and they complicated differences, and the way them, and they found family, all came together when needed. Their setting is perfectly cozy and a little spooky and I loved every minute. Lucien was absolutely a dreamy, complicated man who I ended up really loving.

If Practical Magic and Charmed got married, moved to Stars Hollow and had a baby… it would be this book.

Full of magical sisterhood, a compelling enemies to lovers plot, the newest shadow daddy in literature, and cozy small town vibes, Spells, Strings and Forgotten Things absolutely won me over! The concept of sacrificing memories in order to do magic was incredibly interesting and definitely had me going back and considering which memories of my own I would be willing to let go of for the opportunity to cast a spell.

A book about the bonds of sisters, familial love, heartbreak, traditions, & the importance of memories. Calliope (Opie) with her sisters Eurydice (Dissy) & Thalia have been on their own since their mother left when Opie was a young girl & never returned. They possess light weaver magic passed down through generations, but it can only be used by sacrificing a memory. Thalia refuses to use her magic, Dissy rarely uses hers, & Opie relies on her constantly because who cares if it’s just a small memory, right? They’re charged with protecting the Dark Oak, a source of great power, that combined with their differences on whether or not their magic should be used are the untwined threads of our story. There were a few characters around the sisters who I fell in love with, but Danny was definitely my favorite- sassy, honest, & just amazing!
We have our MMC, Lucien, who is sarcastic, purposefully abrasive & a huge pain in the ass, doing what he can to get under Opie’s skin, he’s also a user of dark magic, which the sisters have been taught to fear.
The tension between Opie & Lucien was palpable & their irritated, witty banger was fun. Lucien also gave Opie a nickname & I am a sucker for a nickname! 🥰
Lucien also came with a fun group of side characters, some I enjoyed & others… not so much 😡. The sisters have a complicated relationship & there was definitely friction, but as anyone with siblings knows, no one can push your buttons or piss you off quit like your siblings, but at the end of the day you still love them. Breanna announced that this will be a series, with each series also being able to be read as standalone & I look forward to the next book in the series! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

One town, three sisters, and a magical legacy that comes with a price—memory. Breanne Randall tells a story of magic, sisterhood, and the sacrifices made to keep a town safe from the evil that lurks there in Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things. Despite her positive relationships, Calliope has never been willing to divulge all of her secrets to anyone. She is bound to a handsome man using dark magic after a stroll through the woods. Their relationship? Raw, passionate, and brimming with all the subtleties of both dark and light magic. There was a strong tension between them. They accepted each other for who they were, flaws and all, and their love felt both dangerous and tender. This is a must-read if you enjoy a blend of magic, sisterhood, and a sensual, forbidden romance.

Breanne Randall does it again! Loved this book so much, and am really excited for this to be on my shelf as a trophy

*spoilers ahead* I received Spells, Strings and Forgotten Things as an ARC from NetGalley. I’ve been following the author for a while on Instagram and I was excited to get to read this early.

Overall, this was an enjoyable book and it had a lot of fun elements. The magic systems were fairly easy to follow and the characters were likable. There was an undertone of breaking our inherited prejudices that is timely to say the least.

The romance between the main characters developed at a good pace and had a couple spicy moments that delivered well. The ending tied everything up nicely, but did leave some room for additional books. I’m curious about how that will play out.

Some parts I have some critique for:
1. Some of the big “A-HA” moments were a bit convoluted and felt a little rushed.
2. I felt the author leaned a little too hard into the inspiration for the book. I loved “inspired by” books but I don’t want it to look too similar. I love Pride and Prejudice but it was really in my face.
3. I wanted some closure for Isra. Maybe a little apparition moment. Something.
4. I also wanted their memories to return. I feel like that would be part of breaking the curse. I was disappointed that it didn’t happen in the epilogue.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this and I am grateful for the opportunity to read it early!

2.5/5 ⭐️

This was a cute book, but it fell a bit flat for me. The storyline was cute, but some of it was a bit predictable, or even felt a little repetitive. I also had such a hard time connecting to this story. I will never give up on the author though because I do love her writing! The first book was super cute. I did enjoy the magic system in this one a lot. The memory magic aspect was very intriguing.

This does have LGBT rep.

If you like the storyline and liked her first book I would still give it a try, I see the some people have really loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. 💜

I didn't think this book was going to hit as hard as it did. I was obsessed and loved every minute of this. No notes!

Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things is a heartwarming tale of love and sacrifice. It details family bonds that are complex in their own right, but still full of love. This book is a love letter to sisters everywhere. I love how strong each Petredi sister is in their own individual way. They each bring their own unique strengths and weaknesses in the mix. They all humble and empower each other in their own way. Families are so difficult and I love that this book didn’t sugarcoat that. With a theme of magic and a small town destination, it’s easy to get lost in the cozy atmosphere, but this book really is one emotional ride. It doesn’t shy away from difficulties while keeping a level of entertainment. This book was also super inclusive, showcasing characters from many different backgrounds. The author managed to display diverse characters without it feeling forced. I feel like each moment and character in this book flowed so naturally within the plot line and made a genuine contribution. Don’t get me started on our tortured male main character. Lucien is the perfect angsty male love interest. I loved reading through Lucien and Calliope overcoming ancient prejudices together and finding out people aren’t just black and white. I can already feel this book becoming the book of the spring in 2025

I had high hopes for this read. It was deeply descriptive and slow paced for my taste. It might be wrong timing or just not for me but it was hard for me to engage with the characters.

A Spellbinding Tale of Magic, Love, and Sacrifice
As a practicing witch, this book resonated deeply with me, weaving an authentic and moving portrayal of the complexities of magic. The story of Calliope and her sisters, each bound by their own struggles and secrets, was captivating from start to finish. The concept of sacrificing memories for magic was beautifully unique, adding emotional depth to every spell and decision Calliope made. The tension between her and the charming yet dangerous rival coven leader kept me hooked, as did the dark secrets and ancient magic lurking in Gold Springs.

The book explores themes of love, trust, and self-discovery, all while navigating the intricacies of family bonds and the painful cost of holding onto (or letting go of) the past. It’s a thrilling and enchanting read that will appeal to anyone who loves stories about magic and the personal sacrifices it demands.

Like the unfortunate side effects of heartbreak and magic, this follows calliope in a town called Gold Springs about 2 hours from where Sadie and her grandmother resided.
Calliope and her 3 sisters lost their mother 15 years ago when she hopped in a cab and never came back. Their magic is a finicky one where they were cursed centuries ago and have to forfeight memories if they want to cast spells and use magic. Calliope is the only sister who kept up with magic, Dissy didn’t use it often and Thalia swore it off after their mother’s warnings about the danger and curses that were bestowed upon their family.

During calliopes search on what omens were waiting, she did a dangerous thing and tried to repair the dark oaks enchantments by herself and ended up almost being swallowed by an evil shadow demon, she reached for anything to help strengthen her to ward it off and ended up binding herself to a shadowcrafter, one of the very family line that made the curse present on her family line.

They go through so many trials and tribulations, love, loss, rebirth in a sense. But one thing stands true is that their string of fate connecting the three sisters, and her string coursing through her connecting her to Lucien Deniz will never be broken.

I loved the bond between Calliope and her sisters. I loved the banter between characters. A good read!

Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things is a beautiful story of love, hardship, and the resilience found within both. From the very beginning, with Joni Mitchell’s music setting the scene in a quirky small Stars Hollow-esque town outside of a cozy tea shop/bookstore, I was completely drawn in. The immersive descriptions evoked the warmth of chamomile tea in a mug, the comforting atmosphere of cascading plants, and the smell of freshly baked pastries—so much so that I had to light a candle and grab a mini Bundt cake while reading! The balance of cozy and ominous elements added a lot of depth to the story. One moment, you’re rifling through Calliope’s messy sock drawer, watching her choose yet another mismatched pair (I really need to go back and make note of all the different socks she wore—she’s got quite the collection); the next, you can practically hear her stumbling through the woods, her foot crunching through a deer skull, sending a shiver down your spine. This contrast between the comfy and the unsettling kept me captivated—not to mention the tall, dark, and handsome, enemies-to-lovers romance sprinkled in! A special note for readers who enjoy sensory experiences: every meal, pastry, and beverage mentioned throughout the book is so detailed and vivid that you can practically taste it—and to top it off, there’s a recipe section at the end, so you can bring those flavors to life in your own kitchen. I look forward to flipping through the recipes to decide what I’ll make for release day on March 4, 2025, and rereading this book!

This book is not just a story; it’s an experience. The immersive world-building, the complex emotions, and the anticipation of what’s to come make Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things a standout. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next! I am immediately adding Breanne Randall’s previous book to my TBR! Thank you to NetGalley and Breanne Randall (@houseofrandall) for my very first ARC!

*I was given an advance copy of this book to read*

I enjoyed this story. I loved the world building and the descriptive exploration of the characters and their surroundings. This was a sweet and fairly easy read and I do recommend for lighter weight fantasy lovers. My favorite part of Brianne Randall’s books remains the included recipes! Such a lovely added detail.

Maybe this was just a poorly timed read for me but I couldn’t get into the magic and it felt repetitive. I wish there was more distinction between conversations with grim and with memories, as I found it hard to follow. I agree that this could have been shortened by at least 100 pages.

I gotta dnf this one besties. I'm at 32% and have been trying to read this for nearly a week. If you love reading heavily descriptive books this may be up your alley but it is entirely too slow paced for my brain. I have continued to love the premise of Breanne Randall's books, she definitely knows how to market to my brain and heart, however, the stories just can't seem to resonate with me as I am hoping. I think this is my sign that perhaps Randall's writing is just not for me.

✨🌙Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things by Breanne Randall 🌙✨

Three sisters, one town, and a legacy of magic that comes at a cost… memory. In Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things, Breanne Randall weaves a tale of magic, sisterhood, and the sacrifices made to protect a town unaware of the darkness lurking.

Calliope, has had good relationships, but never one she was willing to share all her secrets. A walk through the woods leaves her bound to a handsome guy with dark magic. Their connection? Passionate, raw, and filled with all the complexities of light and dark magic. The tension between them was powerful. Their love felt dangerous, but also incredibly tender—accepting each other, flaws and all.

If you love a mix of magic, sisterhood, and a steamy, forbidden romance, this is a must-read. Breanne Randall delivers a beautifully crafted story where every spell comes at a price. 🌙✨

Was an ok premise. Writing was a little juvenile. Magic system was intriguing, but plot wise it was a bit uneven. Overall a decent book, just would like to little more finishing.

I loved this book SO MUCH! It was better than I could have ever expected and I’m so sad everyone has to wait until next spring to read it 😭

Born Enemies, Bonded Lovers. Together they must save Gold Springs from the Dark Oak. Though I did feel some of the writing was repetitive, it was so descriptive and beautiful I could see the settings and story play out so vividly. While magic is the main plot here, there is romance/spice and it is such a breadcrumb trail of tension and heat, I ate it up! A+ banter! Adored the sisterly love and inclusion 🏳️‍🌈Much appreciation to what I felt like were nods to Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic 🪄

Don’t even get me started on the recipes at the end! I will be buying a physical copy when this comes out next year.

Thank you NetGalley & Random House Publishing for this ARC. My favorite one yet!

“A gentle melody that sing of spells, strings, and forgotten things. Come, sisters, it called. Come see me where the shadows sing.”