2.5 rounded up to 3.

I truly wanted to love Spells, Strings, and Forgotten things, but unfortunately I had to force myself to finish it. The story itself was fine, but the writing style was just not for me. I hated how the author over-explained everything, especially the magic system. Parts of the plot development felt lazy and convenient, and I think the entire thing was drawn out far too much. A hundred pages could have easily been shaven off this book without leaving out anything important.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A unique story with whimsical vibes. I loved the sister aspect to this story and how their bond developed over time. I do wish we got their POVs!

I wanted to like Breanne Randall's Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things so much more than I did. I enjoyed Randall's first novel The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic and was looking forward to her new one, but I just couldn't get into it. It felt as though the author was trying hard to create a magical universe, but that world felt inconsistent and unclear and the main character was pretty unsympathetic. I did finish the book in the hopes that it would all come together, but it felt like a chore. I hope Randall comes out with a third book, because this second one just didn't do it for me.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

(Please note: I read an advanced reader copy of this book, courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. #SpellsStringsandForgottenThings #NetGalley)

2.5 Stars - ⭐⭐✨

Young Lightcraft witch, Calliope, continues to reel from her mother's sudden disappearence and abandonment, even fifteen years later. She and her two sisters, Thalia and Eurydice, manage a cozy life in their hometown as owners of a local tea and bookstore, but their inability to do magic without sacrificing memories puts a painful twist in the reality of their situation.

When a Shadowcrafter named Lucien and disquieting signs point to the upheaval of the sisters' guardianship over an old and dark magic, Calliope takes it upon herself to protect her family's magic, the town and her sisters. But, she finds herself accidentally bound to Lucien, who has an agenda of his own. Together, they need to face their prejudices toward one another to use magic to save the ones they love.

Author Breanne Randall enlists the curious premise of magic at a cost in this enemies-to-lovers, "Pride and Prejudice" meets "Charmed" inspired novel. "Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things"is her second novel.

Cutting right to it, unfortunately this book was not for me. My thanks still go to NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and Breanne Randall for the opportunity to read this, but the list of reasons for me to like it did not beat out the growing gripes as to why I didn't. This book was hard for me to enjoy. Craft of writing wise, there was simply too much for me to excuse and as a reader, there were disorienting decisions made that for the sake of honesty and professionalism, I think need to be addressed.

The magic system in this, while intriguing in theory, relied too heavily on cliches and missed the mark one too many times due to over explanation and plot convenience. The mix of formal, magic-forward language with the modern banter and bickering, between Calliope and Lucien most of all, was often jarring and made it difficult to get into the story. The dialogue and character voices were two dimensional or completely unrealistic, lacking the entertaining element I think it was meant to have, to a point I noted several times "Who talks like this?". Calliope in particular, characterized for her ceaseless talk, stubbornness, and self-made martyr from suffering of her own creation, was hard to like. The most compelling characters, in my opinion, are Thalia, Eurydice, and Lucien, so I was frustrated with how this story overall was executed.

The plot itself was frustratingly predictable and drawn out unnecessarily. The pacing varied from too rapid —skimming over key action by barely describing what was happening to get to the next thing without fully processing what was going on— to so slow it was dragging on with no end in sight. The highs barely stuck around, so it didn't allow enough time to escalate again to root for the main characters during the lows. It was a whiplash of "Someone's died" to "Here's some more banter", that it made it hard to care about the characters, their wants, needs, and goals.

Specifically relating to the latter in terms of poor timing, the spicier scenes need to be addressed. The smut is forced. "The world is ending, let's f***" got real old real fast. It felt out of nowhere and it was clear that bickering is just their foreplay, when the real foreplay should have been character development. The romance is fickle given that you can't tell if it's because of their bond or because they are truly falling in love. The two hot and heavier scenes were well-written sure, but what purpose did they serve in the larger picture of the plot? Calliope's whiplash attitude from charming to infuriated constantly was incessant, and reading "Little Muse" over and over made it lose its meaning that I wanted to throw my phone any time it came up again. I didn't feel that draw or wave of blush with the two of them. (Also SPOILER: him making flowers literally bloom when he makes her climax was positively ridiculous.)

The "________" meets "_______" formula got old for me very quick. It was too reliant on nostalgia and popular media that it missed opportunities for originality that could have truly driven the literary craft side of things that I think this was going for. It was like this book can't make up its mind as to whether it wants to be a cozy genre fiction or dark academia fantasy epic. It felt like a weak market grab, especially since I could see the ACOTAR influences here. I think this ended up being a way to stay up to date with the current market and that was disappointing as a reader. I understand that three sisters and Shadow Daddy's aren't exclusive to ACOTAR, but simply calling Lucien a shadow daddy doesn't make him one.

Lastly, without spoiling anything, the bit with the aunts was infuriatingly convenient and felt careless. It seemed like a matter of plot convenience, and all in all, the whole book felt like a Plot Stew: just throw in whatever you want and assume it will taste good without any thought for what might /actually/ taste good.

The redeeming factor of reading this for me was the end. It was the only time I felt a proper sense of characterization and chemistry, and made me wonder if there was a different, better story that could have been started there instead. I understand that two more books are in the works for this series now, and I fortunately, I will not be reading them.

Like I said, this wasn't for me but I hope others can enjoy.

In *Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things*, Calliope Petridi, a young witch, must sacrifice memories to cast spells. As an ancient evil awakens, the bond with her sisters begins to break. Facing dark family secrets, forgotten memories, and a dangerous rival, Calliope must decide how much she’s willing to lose to save her town and the ones she loves.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This was a cute book especially for spooky season. In my opinion, the vibes are like Charmed x Gilmore Girls with a little bit of Halloweentown at the end and maybe a little bit of Sabrina the teenage witch (the main character is in her 20s but she acted like a teenager half the time). The author says this is inspired by pride and prejudice, which is what actually prompted me to apply for the ARC in the first place as Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite books and movie. With the exception of a few sentences here and there that sound like they could’ve been a direct quote for the novel, I didn’t get a lot of the Pride and Prejudice vibes. Lucien was a great MMC, but he’s no Mr. Darcy and Calliope is most certainly not Elizabeth Bennett. All in all if you’re interested in a good witchy book come 2025, this is a decent choice. But be aware that the ending isn’t as satisfying as it could be and there are a lot of unanswered questions.

Now, let’s go over the themes/troupes of the novel:
🌒LGBTQA+ representation
🌓magical bonds
🌔Forced Proximity (in the form of a magical bond)
🌕Shadow daddyyyy
🌖Spiceyyy
🌗Magic/Witchss
🌘Ghosts/Wraiths
🌑Rivals

I had a problem getting into to it, which is mostly a me problem. In going to step back for a bit and come back to it in a few weeks and update from there.

I was immersed in this story immediately. I would find myself finishing a chapter and physically needing to keep going. There were parts that felt a little slow or overly verbose but then I realized the picture in my head of what was happening was so well thought out and detailed, it was like I was watching it happen on screen as I was reading it. Breanne Randall didn’t just give us a book to read, she gave us a family, friendships, true love, and a town to love and grow with. Thank you!

Lucien is dark and mysterious but also so sweet and gentle. He is long lasting book boyfriend material.

Calliope is strong willed and would do anything for her loved ones. She is quirky and feisty, and completely herself. I absolutely love her.

The Calliope and Danny bff banter is so relatable. Everyone has that friend that you get to vent to and sometimes pretend not to hear when they have good advice. My only criticism is that I wanted more of it (hopeful to get that in future books)

The self sacrifice for family story line is full on, as a 2, I relate on all fronts. Reuniting with family, coming together to reaffirm bonds, sisterhood, ugh, it’s just so good. And throw in a sentient grimoire, come on?! Can’t go wrong.

I love witchy books; I read a ton of them, the magic in this book feels special and all its own. I can’t wait to read more when the series continues. Woo-hoo! Sign me up

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC, this one will become a physical book trophy for sure.

I sadly could not get into this book, I don’t know if it’s my mindset or what. I will be trying to get into this book again at a later date and come back here to update.

I loved Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things! Sisterly bonds, witchy vibes, comfort food & tea, dance parties and a shadow daddy! This book was the perfect recipe for enemies to lovers, magic, banter, curses and my favorite, a sassy grimoire!

We follow three sisters each with a different personality and bond to their magic as they must sacrifice a memory to use their light magic as part of a generational curse. Their family line is the secret magic that protects the town from ancient evil but when weird things start happening and the enhancements start failing, healing and understanding their bond is more important than ever.

Calliope is the main fmc who is a little wild, reckless and most in-tuned with her magic and wanting to save the town from darkness. With a strange twist of fate, Calliope finds her self entwined with a broody shadow magic wielder named Lucien who is also known as an enemy. They now must work together against the evil, both with their own agendas, as they uncover secrets, prejudice and learning what it means to live.

Breanne created a fun and whimsical story until the very end! I can't wait for the next book to check back in with the sisters (especially with the little twist) and hopefully get more answers to some of the lingering questions from book one!

The start was a little slow and felt a little out of order, but the more I read, the more the plot and details started coming together.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Breanne Randall, and Random House Publishing Group for the advanced reader copy! My thoughts are my own.

Sister bonds, witchy vibes, a dash of spice equals the perfect autumn read. This was charming and fun. I highly recommend.

Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things was such a fun witchy read! I loved the relationship between Calliope and her sisters. I also loved the enemies to lovers romance, I ate it up!

I do think that some things weren’t as fleshed out as I would have liked, but I saw on the author’s instagram that this is book one in a series so hopefully some things get expanded on in the next book!

This is a delightful story of sisterly bonds, whimsical magic, and a perfect pinch of spicy romance.


Calliope, FMC, is one of three sisters with a bond that allows them to do light magic. The “cost” of their magic is that they have to sacrifice a memory. A memory for a spell. Calliope is a bit reckless, giving away memories for even the smallest bit of magic. I really enjoyed her story and seeing how she evolves & grows through the book.


The sisters protect the town from their rival family/coven who are casters of shadow magic. One of whom is Lucien, our MMC. I adored him. Immaculate “shadow daddy” vibes. Banter with Calliope is perfect.

The plot gets a little weird for me. I end the book feeling like there’s some information missing. A good part of the book is revolving around the generational histories and the sisters’ mother Penelope. I didn’t feel like it was explained or fleshed out really well. Buuuut, maybe there’s a sequel??

It’s a VERY sweet ending that I absolutely loved. It was a stay up too late because I couldn’t put it down kind of ending. Those are the best!

Breanne Randall has become a favorite. I LOVE the whimsical, magical writing style she brings. Lovable characters in cozy settings with recipes!

My fav quote from MMC- “I would say ‘I’d die for you,’” he said in a low voice, tracing her cheek, the line of her jaw, outlining her lips. “But what’s the point in that? I would live for you.” 🥹 okay Lucien! He gets top book boyfriend spot. I melted for him.

This book is great! Definitely read it!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the eARC.

A magical read!! A witchy book that has love, family, friendship, and self discovery.

I enjoyed the read and definitely recommend. It’s a perfect fall read!

Thank you NetGalley!

Spooky season is upon us. My latest spooky read was Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things. This was a great fall read.

received an ARC of this through NetGalley and HOT DAMN am I ready to own it IRL come 2025.

Having read Brianne’s first work, the unfortunate side effects of heartbreak and magic, I already knew that she could spin some magic into her words. This book was a deeper step into the realm of weaving real life practices and a touch of fantasy, and also “aging” her writing up? Not just in a tall dark handsome way, but in a method that involved deeper emotional conflict, a touch of violence, and a bit more at stake than a regular “love story”.

Really happy I had the opportunity to read this one, excited to have a physical copy as a “trophy” on my shelf, and looking forward to more of Breanne’s stories.

First off thank you NetGalley and Breanne Randall for allowing me to read this early. I thoroughly enjoyed it and think it was the perfect cozy ready to kick off the fall season! I was promised Charmed meets Pride & Prejudice vibes, and I would definitely say that it delivers!

I gave this book a 4-star review. The story was very cute and fun, however the pacing was a bit slow, some of the characters felt a little underdeveloped to me, and I had a few unanswered questions. With that being said, I don’t want to post spoilers before the books is out, but I love how inclusive Randall is with her characters and there is a binary character and a LGBTQIA romance.

Calliope and her sisters run a tea/book shop and I found myself wanting to be in that shop with them. I enjoyed the romance in the story and loved the magic system as it was a new way of doing things. Her unique way of showing the cost of magic was refreshing and something I haven’t seen done before.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will be recommending it :)

A great story of love, sisterly bond, magic, strength in self, and letting go. Reminder to always cherish the small memories as well as the big moments.

Thank you Netgalley, Breanne Randall, and Random House for this ARC!

Honestly, I didn't enjoy this book and DNF-ed it. I found the flowery language trite, the characters poorly developed and boring, and the constant plot holes or inconsistencies were distracting.

The concept is great and I was really excited to give Randall a second try after her first book (which I also DNF-ed). I really, really wanted to like this one. It just fell flat for me, even though it is an improvement on her previous book.

I do think she needs to include content warnings in front of her books, as Randall does cover some intense issues. Although, different from other reviewers, A person's identity, especially that of a marginalized community, should NOT be a content warning. I'm talking parental abandonment and topics such as that.

Book Review: Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things by Breanne Randall

Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things by Breanne Randall is a delightful novel with a fresh and imaginative premise. Set in a charming small town, the book expertly captures that close-knit community feel, where relationships—both familial and romantic—are heart-warming and central to the story. Randall does a wonderful job weaving LGBTQ+ representation into the narrative, making it feel both authentic and inclusive, which is always a joy to see in modern fantasy.

One of the highlights of the book is the idea behind its magic system. It's creative and promises a lot of potential. However, while the concept is intriguing, the execution left me wanting more. There are moments where the magic lacks the depth and complexity I was hoping for, and some plot holes make certain parts of the story confusing. A deeper dive into the world-building and more fleshed-out explanations of the magic system would have enhanced the narrative significantly.

At times, the storytelling relies too much on telling rather than showing. This makes certain scenes feel forced or rushed, particularly when it comes to emotional beats or moments of character growth. There are also parts of the dialogue and interactions that come across as a bit cheesy, which detracts from the overall immersion. A more natural flow in the writing could have made these moments feel more organic.

That said, the romance aspect of the story was a pleasant surprise. It plays a more prominent role than I initially expected, but that worked in the book's favor. The main romantic relationship is well-developed, and I found myself genuinely rooting for the characters. It added an enjoyable layer to the book, balancing out some of the weaker elements.

Overall, while Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things has its flaws, it's still an enjoyable read, especially for those who appreciate cozy romances with a sprinkle of magic. The small-town atmosphere, the charming relationships, and the representation are definite strong points. With a little more polish in terms of world-building and narrative execution, this could have been a truly standout fantasy novel.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for providing an Advanced Reader Copy.

When an ancient evil threatens their town, the Petridi sisters must work together to save their magic.
Calliope, the only one of the three willing to sacrifice her memories for their magic, unintentionally bonds herself to a rival coven's leader.
But Lucien is distracting--distractingly annoying, and distractingly handsome, in a shadow daddy kind of way. Calliope doesn't trust him, but they are forced to work together.
The fragile bond between the sisters broken, they must find a way to fix it to save their town and their magic. Can they do it without losing any pieces of themselves?

If you are a fan of family curses, ancient magic, shadow daddies, morally grey bad guys, sentient grimoires, and adorable tea shops, READ THIS BOOK!!! I laughed, I cried, I wished I had two sisters to share a magical bond with. I've already preordered this book and literally cannot wait for it to arrive on my doorstep!