Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things is a wonderful witchy novel filled with romance, danger, and family. The novel follows three sisters who are cursed to forget memories when they practice their magic. Only Calliope routinely practices magic, sacrificing large and small memories.

I found the book delightful overall. I love the magical book pet, Grim. I loved the bond between the sisters. I loved the broody, dark, and forbidden romantic interest. The small town relationships and descriptions felt so wholesome.

My own quibble is the number of times Calliope says Lucien smells like apples. He’s delicious, you want to eat him up, I get it!!

Overall I found this book delightful and rate it 5 stars for pure enjoyment.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book!

I really found myself enjoying this whimsical but thoughtful witchy book! The title is perfect. I also love a strong female character, and Calliope is all of that and more. She’s brash, brave, and strong. She apologized when she was wrong and was honest. I liked that about her. She never backed down and had so much growth during the story. All of the sisters did. I loved how they healed together. And the romance was hot hot. I adored Lucien. His storyline was lovely as well. And his growth as a character.

I definitely recommend this book. I couldn’t put it down.

This was a fun read. I enjoyed the emphasis on the bond between sisters even if it was a bit cheesy at times.

One thing I thought could have been improved was the foreshadowing. There were certain moments and bits of information that came out as the story progressed that I feel could have been hinted at a bit better (without giving too much away, many of the things revolving around their mother and her past fall under this umbrella for me). A fair number of the plot twists in this book feel like they truly come out of nowhere in a "Deus ex machina" kind of way, rather than a "reappearance of Chekov's gun" kind of way.

On a more positive note, I enjoyed the romances that cropped up throughout the story and think the main romance was well done within the story. I wish it had a bit more depth before they were head-over-heels in love, but did enjoy the majority of their banter and interactions.

Overall, this was a solid, cheesy, read that did what it set out to do, but I think I would have enjoyed more worldbuilding and expansion of ideas and relationships from.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for reviewing it!

Calliope, Thalia and Eurydice - sisters who mourn their mother and the mystery of her absence, and they thorough out the story, work out this trauma through magic, drama and emotional scenes. Calliope sacrifices her own memory to cast spells she hopes bring answers for her family, but she finds it comes at a terrible cost.
A memorable family drama colored with magic!

Reading this book was like stepping into a world where every spell comes with a bittersweet cost. The way Calliope's memories are intertwined with her magic adds such a poignant depth to her journey. I was completely absorbed by the way the author balances lush, evocative writing with a tense, electric romance. Calliope’s struggles with her family and her own heartache are portrayed with such raw emotion that I couldn’t help but be deeply moved and the unraveling of ancient secrets kept me hooked until the last page.

“Where magic gathers, there will be those who seek to claim it.”

The three Petridi sisters- or, shall I say, witches- are cursed. In order to use any of their magic, they must sacrifice a memory. The more important of a sacrifice, the stronger the magic. Calliope Petridi has spent her whole life sacrificing her memories in order to protect the Dark Oak, an enchanted tree housed in the Forgotten Forest that is somehow tied to their very magic. When bad things start happening around town, she can only come to one conclusion. The enchantments are failing, and when they do, something dark and dangerous will be unleashed.

“She had been sacrificing pieces of herself for so long that holes had begun to form in the very fabric of her being.”

In an effort to protect the Dark Oak, she ends up bonded to a Shadowcrafter - (aka, Shadow Daddy) whose darker magic has been at the center of every warning she’s ever been told. Except, he gets under her skin and gives her butterflies, and seems to do anything to protect her. Oh, and he says things to her like, “Your stubbornness and loyalty are the very things that dare the universe to be daring in return.” Yeah, he’s a keeper.

To save their magic, and also each other, the Petridi sisters will have to discover the story of their lineage, the history behind their curse, and what memories they will have to sacrifice in order to break it.



This book was easily 5 stars. The writing was absolutely incredible, and the storyline was captivating from the very start. This was the ultimate fall, witchy, romantic type of book that I needed. Breanne Randall has quickly turned herself into an “automatic buy” author for me. Each book just leaves me speechless. I cannot wait for this to come out next year so I can read it all over again.

This book was so whimsical and yet profound at the same time. The whimsy of the magic pulls you right in, but the true star of the show (at least for me!) was the power of sisterhood. Even the love interest and spice took a backseat to it. I just loved how the sisterhood was woven into every single page.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for their next witchy read!!

I’m really tired of content not being warned. If I wanted a book with lgbtq characters, I’d search for it but I don’t and I don’t appreciate that there’s no labels or filters where I can’t eliminate those books any longer. This book sells itself in the synopsis as if the main character has chemistry with a man only but we find out after two pages that she’s bi. If a reader is interested in that it’s their choice but I would like to know it’s in there to begin with so I don’t request the book and mess with my feedback status.

*Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things* by Breanne Randall is a captivating blend of magic, mystery, and romance set in the charming town of Gold Springs. Calliope Petridi and her sisters guard their magical secrets fiercely, knowing that every spell comes at the cost of a precious memory. With her own heartache and the burden of her magic weighing heavily on her, Calliope longs to forget the pain of her past.

The story takes an exciting turn when an ancient evil resurfaces in Gold Springs, threatening to unravel the fragile bond between Calliope and her sisters. In the midst of this chaos, Calliope accidentally binds herself to a rival coven’s charismatic and enigmatic leader, adding a tantalizing layer of romance and tension to the plot.

Breanne Randall excels in creating a richly atmospheric world where magic and memories intertwine. The chemistry between Calliope and her new, infuriatingly handsome partner is electric, and their interactions are a highlight of the book. The emotional depth of Calliope’s struggle with her past and her relationships adds a powerful layer to the story, making her journey both compelling and relatable.

The novel’s mix of family drama, ancient secrets, and magical intrigue keeps you hooked from start to finish. It’s a story full of twists and turns, where the stakes are high and the characters are richly developed. *Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things* is a must-read for fans of magical realism and emotional storytelling, and I’m looking forward to seeing what Breanne Randall has in store next!

#SpellsStringsandForgottenThings #NetGalley