2.5 stars

I’ve read and enjoyed a few of the other books from Sarah and I’m wondering if maybe I would have liked this one more if I would have read the previous book in the series (which I didn’t realize this was part of a series.)

I think I liked Zelda and Morgan. They’re both chaotic and messy and their relationship started out cute then Morgan showed his ass a bunch and then maybe it was cute again? I did like Zelda’s sisters and how supportive they were, but the real star of the book was Zelda’s niece Aisling.

Plot wise, it’s all over the place. I spent a good part of the book wondering if magic is actually real in this world or if everyone was just delusional (again, something that might have been established for me if I read the first book.) I skimmed portions of the pages and pages of inner monologue to find what was likely supposed to be sassy banter disguised as flirting, but by then, I just wanted answers.

Overall, something kept me reading this story, yet I can’t tell you what it was.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sarah Hogle for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Folklore of Forever coming out April 8, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I really love paranormal and cozy stories. I thought it was an interesting setting. I really enjoy stories about magic. I really wanted to love it. I just think the characters didn’t do it for me. Zelda wasn’t my favorite. It was a long story and it seemed to go in different directions. I would check out other books by this author.

This book is all over the place, like my brain, and I can definitely see that being hard to follow. It is, or at least it seems, intentional seeing as the characters are all a chaotic mess too. Well except for Dylan or Bob or whatever his name is. Which reminds me, why was he even there? (just kidding, kind of)

Zelda has returned home to Moonville only to be pestered by Morgan, a ghost hunting podcaster and all around weirdo, who wants to have magical powers. The book is pretty much an on-again off-again of them being magical investigative partners look for the Black Bear Witch.

Like the first book, The Folklore of Forever is for the weird girls that liked being outside by themselves a little too much. Zelda was entirely relatable as a child to me, wanting to be in the woods making up stories and reading books constantly. I really liked Zelda being able to reflect on her childhood and be proud of where she is in life.

Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing an eARC of The Folklore of Forever in exchange for this review.

I really wanted to enjoy this book. I’ve loved every other work published by this author, but this was a huge miss for me. It didn’t start off great, in fact, for some reason; it almost seemed like a book within a book. I kept waiting for it to flash back to reality -which says a lot in a magical world. The characters didn’t have any chemistry whatsoever, and didn’t even seem to be more than one dimensional characters.

truly hate leaving bad reviews, but I just couldn’t get through this without cringing constantly. The MMC is insufferable, rude, and downright offensive to the FMC yet she swoons for him over and over and over. It’s 2025, we don’t need disrespectful MMCs in romance. It’s. A bad look.

I received an eARC and an ALC of this book. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to explore this book early.

Unfortunately, it is not for me.

A splendidly magical story of witches, wonder, and woven tales of myth and truth. Morganis a cute but a tad different guy who spends too much time staring at Zelda. Zelda had returned to her sisters’ Luna and Rumina as an author with no stories left in her. She has always been full of stories for as long as she can remember. She is also not a witch as her sisters are. She and Morgan find themselves working together to find paranimals and other magic tales of folklore.
A simply delightful novel.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I read my first Sarah Hogle book last year and quickly became a devoted fan. I love her small-town settings, quirky characters, and unique blend of comedy and romance. Happily, all of those elements are present in The Folklore of Forever.

Readers first met the Tempest sisters--Luna, Romina, and Zelda--in Old Flames and New Fortunes. (Don't worry; you don't have to read that one first, but I recommend the book!) While Romina and Luna fully embrace their magical gifts, Zelda is skeptical. After recently returning home to Mooville, Ohio, she is struggling to get her creativity flowing. Zelda is a successful paranormal author, but she can't even seem to write a grocery list these days.

As much as Zelda denies her magic, her eccentric but handsome neighbor, Morgan, is determined that not only is Zelda a witch, but she's a witch he can woo into giving some of her magic to him. Initially flattered by his attention, Zelda quickly sours on Morgan's whispered sweet nothings as soon as she learns the truth about why his interest in her turned so intense so fast. But avoiding someone in an enchanted small town that seems determined to force their paths to cross is nearly impossible.

While the overall setting is the same, The Folklore of Forever is a very different story than Old Flames and New Fortunes. This book feels darker--scarier in ways--and much more mysterious. Author Sarah Hogle turns up the flames of fantasy and adventure while readers journey deep into the forest surrounding the town. The romance between Zelda and Morgan is more a mix of silly and saucy than spicy and smoldering, but I thoroughly enjoyed everything about it!

My thanks to NetGalley and G. P. Putnam's Sons for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

I'm certainly no editor but this pacing felt way off. thanks netgalley & the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review

I would not consider this a romance. I have been duped. Enemies to lovers is a hard trope for me because if the guy is unlikable, which this guy is, then I do not want them to get together. Also, they do not get together until 85%, that is also a problem for me if the book is considered a romance. So ignoring the romance this could be a cute story with Zelda not believing in magic even though her sisters are witches. She does not believe in any of it. Morgan wants to get with her and he comes on way too strong. Another reviewer said he made her think of PePe Le Pew and I agree with that. He tells her he only wants to be with her so he can get some of her magic. That is just gross. I then thought that he must not be the romantic lead at that point but I was wrong. She does not believe she has any magic. They both go on a quest in the woods because she starts thinking maybe there is something to this magic that everyone else in town seems to believe in. The quest in the woods was all over the place. I just couldn't follow it. The book had funny moments and some redemptive qualities but there was also a lot of chaos.

-...I would've had to hear her complaints that I don't get out of my shell enough (which is preposterous. Would she say this to a turtle? Shells have a valuable function).

-Is there anything quite like a library? No, there is not. You're allowed to walk right in, open a book, any book. You can read whatever you like until closing time, and nobody will bother you. Interrupting the immersed reader with small talk is distasteful here. I thrive like a cockroach in this social system.

-Some stories you forget about as soon as you finish the last page, and some you carry in your soul forever.

I really loved the idea of this book but it felt rushed and like it never fully developed. I kept waiting for the plot to be resolved or wrap up but found myself with more questions at the end of the book than I had at the beginning which was a bit disappointing. I really loved Zelda and found myself relating to her but found Morgan annoying. I was hoping he'd grow on me but he never did and I felt that their relationship was rushed and didn't really develop.

I really wanted to like this book since I loved the first one in the series, but it just didn't click for me. I found Morgan to be super annoying and really didn't like that he was using Zelda at the start. I didn't understand why Zelda resisted that magic for so long, other than to be contrary. I'll admit to skimming quite a bit of the book so I might have missed a better explanation for this. The plot in the last third of the book was really hard for me to understand. The writing was beautiful and I loved the way Zelda connected to books.

Unfortunately, I did not like this at all. The magic of everything did not make sense and was not fleshed out. It also should have been dual pov because it was hard to know whether Morgan actually liked her or was just using her to get magic.

I received an arc through netgalley.

man no one is more upset that I didn't enjoy this book more than me. I've loved Sarah Hogle for years, but I just could not find myself enjoying this book. it felt like she couldn't decide if this was a romance or a magic focused book. the romance wasn't believable and the magic system didn't make sense really at all which is weird because the first book in the series is one of my favorite books of last year. :(

[Thank you to GP Putnam and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.]

I went into this book expecting to love it. Not only was the synopsis interesting, but I enjoy Hogle’s other books and I particularly love reading paranormal/witchy romances. Unfortunately, it was a struggle for me to read this book and I had to DNF around the 50% mark.

One of my biggest issues was that I struggled to connect with the characters. Rather than learning about Zelda, most of the time we hear her beliefs about how magic and witches aren’t real, which gives off ‘I’m not like other girls’ vibes. For reasons I can’t understand, she’s obsessed with Morgan. He is literally one of the most unlikable love interested I’ve ever come across in a book.

I am so disappointed that I wasn’t able to complete this story but I still look forward to reading Hogle’s other books.

Take Zelda, (a writer with a bad case of writers’ block), Zelda’s two sisters (who are witches), Morgan, Zelda’s next door neighbor, (a journalist obsessed by the paranormal), and last of all, Moonville, Ohio, Zelda’s Magical hometown, and you have a cocktail of epic proportions!

Morgan’s persistent spying on Zelda drives her crazy. She is waiting for her True Love and Morgan is a constant impediment. She finally gives in to his demands that they go ghost hunting together, only to discover paranormal activity of a very different kind than they expected. Clues lead them ever deeper into Moonville’s traditions with surprising results.

Humorous, spooky, and with some steamy romantic chemistry, Hogel conjures an enjoyable romp through Moonville. Characters are well defined: Morgan simply oozes charm, and Zelda is ever skeptical of her town’s magical reputation. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

3.5 ★ rounded up

This felt very chaotic. I don't normally reach for magic-related romance but I adored Sarah Hogle's writing and I was obsessed with Romina&Alex in book one. I still enjoyed the magic aspect of this. At times it felt like a lot with little explanation besides it is what it is which is valid but I just wanted more.

In terms of romance, I struggled with that aspect of the book. The burn was slow and I truly didn;'t mind that part because I felt like Morgan needed to give more. I found myself having trouble adoring Morgan and their romance needed more in my opinion. In the third act I did end up enjoying them together and I thought they were cute but it took a while to get there.

Out of the two book one was my favorite and I adored getting to see Romina&Alex as an established couple (especially the reveal towards the end HELLP) and also getting to see all the side characters but this was not as captivating for me.

This is the second book in this very cute series. I did think, however, that the first book was more enjoyable. The characters in this installment are quite chaotic in a way that goes past being cute. There are also additional magic and fantasy elements to this that somehow detract from the story. I appreciate that the author was trying to do something different with this, but it didn't really resonate with me. I will still read the third book when it appears. Probably. I do enjoy the character building that has been happening across the series and I assume that the third sister will also get her own book and the requisite love story.

📣 Hogle brings her unique word styling & quirkiness to this original romance!

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

I would love to be in Sarah Hogle’s brain for a few minutes bc the things she comes up with in her writing are so whimsical, interesting, and weird that I think I would be endlessly fascinated.

If you like her writing (and I don’t think everybody does) The Folklore of Forever is likely to be another winner for you. I’ve liked all of her books, and this one is a real standout to me.

The zip between Zelda & Morgan is phenomenal, their quirks lining up in a way that makes sense. They’re both characters in the capital C sense of the word & it’s so fun (& funny!) watching them interact, entice each other, & discover magic in multiple senses of the word.

5 ⭐️, out 04/08.

Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.

[ID: Jess holds the book in front of purple meadow flowers.]

This was so magical but the pacing felt off at some parts and ultimately I struggled to get myself through this book. I have not read the first book so perhaps I may be missing something but this felt a little messy and I just couldn't get into the story.

Magical, immersive, and utterly wild—The Folklore of Forever is an adventure unlike any other.

This book is for anyone who has ever felt out of place, misunderstood, or more at home in their imagination than in reality. But before diving in, I have one request: bring patience. Zelda and Morgan have layers to unravel, and Hogle’s storytelling rewards those willing to trust the journey. If Twilight had Alice in Wonderland’s whimsy and Peter Pan’s sense of wonder, you’d get the world of Moonville. While the first book had a quiet, everyday magic, this one fully embraces the fantastical, making it clear—magic isn’t just hinted at, it’s real.

Zelda has always felt like the odd one out in the Tempest family. She’s not the responsible eldest or the adored youngest; she’s the quiet, overlooked middle child. To make things worse, she’s the only one without a trace of magic. But after years away, she returns home and discovers that while she may not believe in Moonville’s magic, the town and the mysterious woods surrounding it certainly believe in her.

Then there’s Morgan—her perfect opposite. He’s deeply tied to magic but remains a skeptic, while Zelda dismisses it but longs for something more. Their dynamic is electric. Morgan dreams up magical possibilities, and Zelda immediately grounds them in logic. If she’s all gothic drama and eerie melodies, he’s 80s synth pop and chaotic energy. He’s not your typical love interest—neither brooding antihero nor golden-retriever sweetheart. Instead, he’s a neurodivergent peacock, unapologetically himself, and I adored him for it.

Now, I won’t lie—there’s a moment early on where Morgan says something that had me snapping my head around like, excuse me?! But again, patience. Characters need room to grow, and trust me, it’s worth it. Zelda and Morgan’s journey is full of heart, humor, and absolutely unhinged adventures. Hogle has a way of crafting characters who feel so incredibly real, even in the most surreal settings. By the end, I was laughing through tears, completely in awe of how much this story made me feel.

I can’t wait for readers to experience this one—especially Morgan. He’s a character you won’t forget. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House / Putnam Books for the ARC!