Thank you for this ARC! (3.5 rounded to 4 stars)
I enjoyed Randall’s last novel, The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic, so I immediately requested this one (especially when I saw it had Charmed vibes).
There were lots of things that worked for me and some things that didn’t.

What worked:
The nods to Charmed (one of my favorite TV shows). Give me some strong women with magical powers, and I am game. I loved having three sisters working together to break a generational curse. I loved the descriptive language of food. I could taste almost everything that was described, and I especially loved the bonus recipes at the end of the book. There were also many strong side characters that added to the overall story. It is described as a “witchy romantasy” and I agree, it is. I enjoyed the romance for the most part, but there are a few open door scenes that didn’t add much to the story (in my opinion).

What didn’t work quite as well:
I’m sad to say I didn’t always buy into the magic. I was way more invested after 70%, but it took me a while to get there. I was very annoyed with the main character for being so willy-nilly about sacrificing her memories, although it did come full circle at the end so I’ll give her that. It was also a tad bit slow, but never quite to the point where it fully irritated me.

Overall, I do think Randall is a beautiful writer, and I’m intrigued enough to continue on in the series if it does continue.

As soon as I started reading, Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things, I was instantly transported back to my 90's witchy era. This gave me Charmed, Practical Magic, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch vibes all wrapped into one. I could picture the house, the clothes, and the town vividly, which gave me a very cozy and nostalgic feeling. I really enjoyed Lucien's character, and would enjoy a side story about his life prior to this timeline. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, this book was a DNF for me at 38%. I went into it very excited about the premise and the story, but was almost immediately disappointed and frustrated by the execution. The writing itself was inconsistent in terms of style and skill, the story felt too heavily influenced by many other popular books and movies, the characters felt like caricatures, and every time Lucian says “little muse”, my skin crawls. I can tell from other reviews that this book has already found many fans, and that’s great. I’m just not one of them.

Calliope Petridi and her sisters, Thalia and Eurydice, run a tea and bookshop in the small town of Golden Springs, California. Their mother up and vanished when they were young, and they have been on their own ever since. The sisters also happen to be witches, and their specific brand of magic requires them to sacrifice a memory for every spell they cast. Ever since her mother left, Calliope took a more self-destructive path, all while learning to harness her magic, gladly sacrificing her memories one by one. The town's safety is suddenly in peril as an enemy witch clan discovers a secret that the sisters have been entrusted with hiding, and things only get worse as Calliope's recklessness puts her in an even more dangerous situation. Through a series of unfortunate (or perhaps fortunate?) events, the sisters unravel hidden truths and half-truths, ultimately realizing that sometimes, only by joining forces with the most unexpected allies can they truly see the bigger picture.

This was my first time reading a book by Breanne Randall but I know it certainly will NOT be my last. When I heard her latest book, Spell, Strings and Forgotten Things, described as a Pride and Prejudice meets Charmed mash up with a good dose of fantasy, I could not wait to jump in. And jump in I did as I devoured this book in a little over 24 hours!

In Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things, we meet Calliope Petridi, the youngest of three witch sisters, whose supernatural lineage has brought with it much tragedy, pain and responsibility. Along with her sisters Thalia and Eurydice, Calliope runs a tea and bookstore in a charming CA town. However, Calliope is haunted by the traumas of the past, particularly the disappearance of her mother, whose warnings about guarding the Dark Oak are etched into her mind, a sacrifice born by many generations of Petridi women before them.

That legacy weighs heavily on Calliope, as she recklessly dives into her magical powers. Unfortunately for the sisters, their magical abilities come with a heavy price, a curse that demands memories in exchange for each spell cast. Thalia and Eurydice have kept a distance from their magic, a painful reminder of what they have lost. However, Calliope holds tight to this connection to her mother and becomes increasingly willing to sacrifice more of herself as a darkness threatens to unleash the evil bound within the Oak.

Tensions rise when Lucien Deniz, leader of a rival coven and a wielder of the darker shadowcraft magic, comes to the Petridis hometown with his own secret agendas. The sisters have been warned about those who wield shadowcraft, yet Calliope finds herself inadvertently bound to Lucien. As time passes, Calliope finds that Lucien doesn't fit the longstanding prejudices she has clung to all of her life. More than that, she finds herself drawn to the enigmatic man, whose fire and power burn bright, and who challenges her in ways that no one ever has. As the magic containing the Dark Oak's evil weakens, threats from unexpected places seek to destroy the tenuous trust that Calliope and Lucien have built. Will harsh truths and revelations from a buried past, tear the bonds of family irrevocably and shatter the understanding forming between our main pair? You will need to dig in to find out but let's just say that as with much in life, that which is worth fighting for always comes with sacrifice.

The banter between Calliope and Lucien is expertly done. Randall puts on a master class of what it means to really build the tension between two enemies who are on a collision course for a passionate path they could never have planned for. Some of my favorite aspects of the book were the many banter filled verbal sparring sessions between Calliope and Lucien as they struggle to work together and break down generations of mistrust. I was giggling in delight at how these two never backed down from one another. Trust me when I say that you will be adding Lucien and his saucy mouth to your top book bf list. For any lover of Pride and Prejudice, there is so much of that Darcy-Elizabeth fire baked into what inspires Randall's story that you can't help but love these two characters.

Additionally, there is such an incredibly warm and cozy quality to Randall's writing that as a reader you can almost feel the scents and sounds of the Petridi sisters' kitchen, home and store, come to life right off the page. I wanted to tuck myself into a cozy corner of their store, Tea and Tome, and watch as the action unfolded before me. Randall leans into the Greek heritage of the family in such organic and perfectly subtle ways, that the sisters memories and inspiration almost feel like one's own. She beautifully captures the complex nature of the sisterly bond, as the trio fight to protect their connection while simultaneously struggling to claim their own independent dreams and paths. As the eldest of three sisters, I really appreciated how honestly Randall portrayed the many sides of sisterhood, which are beautiful but also very challenging.

This was a wonderfully crafted story with a unique magic system, characters whose strengths and flaws made them even more relatable, and a supernatural plot that kept you guessing until the end. I was completely sucked in from the beginning and didn't want to leave this addicting world. Randall has created a fangirl of me and I will definitely be looking out for her next story.

I loved this book- the characters, the romance, the multi-generation family history... the magic! So far Breanne has created amazing magial worlds for her readers and I can't wait for a sequel with the Petridi sisters and to learn more about the Deniz family.

I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.

2 stars
——————

This was a DNF at 20% for me.

Over the course of weeks, I picked up and put this book down so many times. I just could not get into it. The writing was overly descriptive to the point of being frustrating. I could not find myself engaging with it for that reason. In the bit I read, the plot was slow moving and pretty boring. The characters were boring and the names of locations and/or events felt ripped or heavily influenced from other pop culture areas. I just couldn’t convince myself to finish something I wasn’t vested in.

I won't be reviewing elsewhere.

Thank you to Dell for the e-review copy. My opinions are my own.

A cursed witch and her sisters sacrifice their memories to power their magic to protect their town. A rival coven leader shows up and inadvertently bonds Calliope, things start going wonky.

My thoughts:
I really enjoyed the vibes of the story and the characters. Calliope is the reckless light witch who sacrifices her memories willy nilly and Lucien is the shadow witch who is in town for reasons that he guards fiercely. The chemistry initially felt off, but more because Calliope is missing pieces of herself and Lucien is holding his pieces close to his chest. I loved the sisters relationship and if this is a first in a series (which I’m guessing is the case, I am intrigued into who the next story will be about).

Happy to recommend, similar vibes to The Crescent Moon Tea Room, a little Practical Magic, a touch of The Very Secret Society Of Irregular Witches, and some of the queerness of Payback Is A Witch.

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

Randall's debut book was one of my favorites of the year when it was published. I absolutely loved the story and her writing. So, I was so excited to receive an e-ARC of her second book! I had such high hopes for this book, but it didn't have the same magic, no pun intended, that her debut book did.

I had a hard time liking the characters and getting into the story. Her writing itself started out strong and lyrical and beautiful, which is one of the things I enjoyed about her first book. But, the plot and the characters just didn't pull me in. The two main characters, who start out as enemies, were both just so unlikable and her sisters were also just not lovable.

This book appears to be book one in a series and I wouldn't engage in the next book, but I will definitely still try any other stand alone books she comes out with. I wanted to like this one so much based on my experience with her first book. I'm hoping this is just the sophomore slump.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This story was absolutely adorable and cozy — I devoured every single page! The world-building was so warm and inviting that I felt like I was wrapped in a big, comforting hug the entire time I was reading. I especially loved the addition of recipes throughout the book; it added such a charming touch and made me want to recreate them all while sipping tea and diving deeper into the story.

The heart of this book is the bond between the three sisters, and I loved how their connection and sacrifices were explored. Watching them navigate their magic, especially with the cost of sacrificing memories, made the story feel even more heartfelt. The enemies-to-lovers romance was so much fun to read — although I’ll admit Calliope was a bit stubborn at times, I completely understood where she was coming from given everything she and her sisters had been through.

If you’re a fan of Charmed, Gilmore Girls, or Practical Magic, then you need to add this book to your TBR immediately! It’s packed with cozy vibes, sisterly love, a touch of romance, and plenty of magic. Honestly, I wish Tea and Tome was a real place because I’d be there in a heartbeat. Until then, I’ll just be counting down the days until the next book in this series releases!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 — Pure magic from start to finish!

Absolutely loved this story! There were so many twists and turns and little pit stops for beautiful moments of life. The magic and world building for the cursed was intricate and well thought out. I loved watching each of the sisters grow on the page, and the foreshadowing for different events and relationships was so good. Definitely recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballentine for an early copy!

So this book was a little hard for me to get into, it was a slow start but once I got further into it the book was a really nice cozy read. I loved the world and witchy vibes that it gave, I was also intrigued by the idea of trading memories in order to be able to practice magic, this was something I had not yet seen in a book.

This book was dnf about 30% in. The beginning was a little slow for me and I wasn’t enjoying. I do not have anything else to add.

First off, a huge thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC—I’m incredibly grateful!

I would just like to start by saying that I enjoyed this book. We have our grumpy but secretly lovable MC and the sunshine and fierce FMC. Their instant attraction, mixed with the fact that their worlds are not allowed to collide, made for a great push-and-pull romance. The cast was refreshingly diverse along with LGBTQ+ inclusion.

One of my favorite things about this book was the way the author built the magic system, the history, and her unique take on witches (and how their magic is drawn). It felt familiar in some ways but still had its own fresh spin, which kept me hooked.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The mystery kept me engaged, the romance had just the right amount of tension, and the world felt so rich and intriguing. If you love witchy fantasy with romance and a bit of mystery, this one is definitely worth giving a try!

3.25

When I saw a new book from Breanne Randall, I could not wait to get my hands on it. Sadly, this did not pack the same punch as The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic, at least for me. Once again, Randall created a very unique witchy world. However, this time around a lot of the magic system felt vague. The characters were “pulling from this source” or “tapping into this bond” which kind of feels like a cop out of an explanation to me. The storyline was decent, but a bit drawn out with superfluous details that made the overall plot confusing at times. The characters and relationships were fantastic, and Randall’s writing is absolutely gorgeous, utilizing vivid imagery and lyrical prose. However there were quite a few repetitive phrases (sounds that “rent the night” used WAY too many times). Sadly, this one missed the mark for me, but I do look forward to Randall’s future novels for her witchy world building and lovely storytelling.

I would classify Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things as cozy fantasy. It took me a little while to fully get into it and I found it to be a bit too much of a RomCom for my taste. However, I enjoyed the lbgtq+ representation, the strong family bond, and the house itself, which added a lot of charm to the story. As I was reading, I kept wishing I could try out the recipes and drinks mentioned, so I was pleasantly surprised to find a recipe section at the back of the book! I also loved the book of spells and certain aspects of the magic system and curse, though it was perhaps a bit predictable at times. Overall, it's an entertaining read—perfect for a palate cleanser or if you're in the mood for something light-hearted.

I found this to be a really delightfully cozy read, while I didn't see much "enemies to lovers" I did see a lot of found family, healing, and relationship building. I loved the side-characters and wished there was more detail for some of them. At times, the pacing was a bit quicker or slower than I originally thought it would be but that didn't take away from the overall story.

I also loved the magic system and how the curse and the payment for the magic used by the main characters reflected in their actions and their behaviors when they lost memories of events that they didn't actually think were that important when they were sacrificed.

I gasped SO LOUD at Roz's death I was so sad that she died!!

I fairly enjoyed this read! It gave Charmed vibes for sure and I looooved that!! It was very well paced and the magic in this was very fun to read about. I would recommend for sure! I will say the FMC was hard to love all the time but she was still alright! My reason for not rating higher is that the start of this was a bit slower but it picked up as time went on.

Trading memories to be able to practice magic? Throw in a love story? Epic sister relationships? This book has so much going on, in a good way. I really enjoyed this book.

I genuinely wanted to love this book. I was so excited about it- we even added it to our bookstagram’s 25 of 2025 list- but it just didn’t quite work for me.

The biggest issue for me was the lack of creativity. Not the entire time, but let me explain. I recently read books by TJ Klune with the same character names, and of course, every romantasy lover knows a Lucien. The Forgotten Forest is was straight out of Harry Potter. Leathe Manor immediately reminded me of Leathe House from Ninth House. “Bewitched me body and soul” is straight-up Jane Austen. Midnight Margaritas? That’s Practical Magic. And isn’t Tomes & Tea another series? There may have been more, but every time I came across something so blatantly unoriginal (and already popular) it pulled me out of the story. Instead of feeling like an original book, it read more like a parody of other ones. I get that we all find inspiration in things we love, but this felt too lazy to be written off as merely inspired by.

When Lucien first called Calliope “little muse,” I actually thought it was a typo for “little mouse” given the context. But then he kept using it, and near the end, we find out it’s just because that’s what her name means- except there’s no real reason for her to be his muse. The book never shows us why she is or even that she is his muse at all. Their relationship also lacked buildup; every intimate scene felt randomly inserted rather than naturally developed. The same goes for the sisters’ nicknames- it took me forever to figure out who the heck Dissy and Opie were.

That said, I did enjoy parts of the story when I wasn’t frustrated. The concept of how the sisters create magic was wild, and the descriptions of the locations and emotions were beautifully ethereal and magical. If the book had put more effort into crafting original names and building up the romance, it would have been much stronger.

One thing I absolutely loved (10/10 stars for this!!!!!!!!) was the inclusion of a nonbinary character and other characters that weren’t just basic white folk. We need more of that in fantasy, and I applaud the author for making that effort.

Overall, the book felt like a mashup of popular tropes and references, thrown together in an attempt to create a story. I just wish it had done more to stand on its own.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book.