4.5 stars rounded up!

This was such a pleasant surprise! It was the perfect cozy, light read for autumn. It felt very Carry On-like, and I mean that in the best way possible. Leo and Sebastian have a delightful rivals to... something... relationship that I adore. Leo is frustrating as a narrator, making choices that are baffling and self-sabotaging, and yet so entirely understandable by the end of the story. And Sebastian is stoic and dedicated and frustratingly by-the-book. This makes them a delightful pairing, especially once they are quite literally forced to be together.
The other major plus side to this story is the unique magic system, one of casters and scribers that depend on each other to succeed. I just genuinely love the idea of a magic that, while not finite in the world, is limited by the imagination and talents of those using it to the point that a spell might never be replicated.

Genuinely, the only downside, if it can be called one, is that I absolutely went in obliviously thinking that this was a one-off story, or at least the first in a series of interconnected stories focusing on different characters. It's not that: it is absolutely the first in a series, and it ends without much payoff on the romance side of things. When I say I like a slow-burn, I don't know that I mean quite this slow!

The narrator for the audiobook was so talented! Ciaran Saward did such an amazing job bringing the story to life.

I super liked the fantasy and fall vibes of this book! I really liked the characters and this is one of the few books that I actually think works better as a single POV narration.

The romance is....real light. I am imagining (hoping) that the next book will be about the same couple since we didn't actually get a resolution of their relationship. This is not my favorite kind of series (I'm a big fan of interconnected standalones with each book being about a different couple) so I'm somewhat biased against it as my preference is to have the main characters together romantically at the end of a book. I believe the author calls this a slow burn...but really it's a slow burn across series which makes it feel even slower.

I liked the narration by Ciaran Saward!

Read this for:
- a really cool magic system!
- fall vibes
- academic setting but also an adventure through the forest
- academic rivals
- banter

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A wonderful start to a new series! Sorcery and Small Magics is the first book in a new fantasy trilogy from debut author Maiga Doocy. Leovander Loveage and his rival Sebastian Grimm must venture into the magical Unquiet Wood to uncover a counterspell that can break the curse between them.

Lighthearted and whimsical, this story has the makings of a great comfort read. I was completely charmed by our impulsive sorcerer and his curmudgeonly rival who share an undeniable chemistry.

This book is very light on the romance, which I didn’t mind. I sense their slow burn romance will kindle further in future books. The quest and adventure were more than enough to fill the pages with a unique magic system and fun mythical beasts.

The narration is fantastic, and I felt the voices of the characters really come through. I absolutely recommend this format for an immersive experience.

Read if you like:
🎼 chaotic bards
✨ academic rivals
🌲 quests into a magical forest
💘 slow burn queer romance
😆 cheeky writing and banter

Sorcery and Small Magics blended a unique, interesting magic system with a world plagued by monsters and a dangerous forest, yet somehow delivered a fun, cozy fantasy story. Leo is a delinquent sciver (spell-writer) in a longstanding feud with Sebastian Grimm, a spell caster. When an errant spell ties them together they set out on a quest through a dangerous forest looking for help. Of course, the forced proximity of their quest and the nature of the curse bring them closer together and make Leo question his carefully curated aesthetic of a careless sorcerer.

Leo and Grimm had the perfect grumpy/sunshine balance and I was so rooting for both of them despite each of their quirks. This is definitely a slow burn that I expect will heat up over the course of this planned trilogy - I'm excited to see how this world will expand in the future and if the stakes will increase past this one lighthearted quest.

The audiobook narrator was very pleasant to listen to and I think captured the tone of Leo's point of view. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for dual POV and two narrators in book 2!

Leovander Loveage begins the novel as an insufferable prat, mocking everyone around him and the opportunity he has at the Fount, a magic school, getting drunk frequently and barely performing in class. He’s known for his pranks, and constant supposed love of the spotlight, though this is actually a cover for complex feelings. Leo, as he prefers to be called, is also better at cantrips and other small charms, as anything more complicated tends to backfire, or blow up in his face, so he has no interest in learning more detailed, powerful magic.

His constant mockery, and his use of charms against classmates, particularly Sebastien Grimm, a gifted and determined student, has earned Leo a poor reputation at school, and with his father. The only person who likes him is Agnes Quest, a fellow student.

When Leo is paired with Sebastien for an exercise in one of his classes, a seemingly innocuous spell has unintended and unwelcome consequences: Leo is forced into constant proximity with Sebastien. Thwarting the spell leads to Leo experiencing discomfort, and prolonged separation causes pain. When two young men discover that the spell is actually forbidden Grandmagic, Leo is desperate to find a way to sever the forced connection between them.

Leo is distraught enough to follow Sebastien to his home, a farm, hire a guide, and convince Grimm to follow him into the Unquiet Wood after a mythical, powerful sorcerer. The Wood is inhabited by monsters and outlaws, a strong deterrent for the inhabitants of this world to keep them from wandering out of safe areas. (In fact, much of this world seems to be populated by dangerous creatures, held back by magical barriers.)

Leo and Sebastien must get past their mutual ire and frustration to find the sorcerer who may be able to counteract the Grandmagic spell. But Leo also begins to realize that their closeness also highlights his growing feelings for Sebastien, much to Leo's initial disgust, then growing fascination and lust.

Leo also discovers something very interesting about the spells he creates and puts to music (he's always got his violin handy) and when the two men pair Sebastien's voice to Leo's playing, they not only entrance a surprising audience, but also are able to work powerful magic together.

I loved author Maiga Doocy's beautiful prose in this novel. There are so many wonderful details, whether of the two main characters or of the world, and I revelled in the descriptions and adventure of this book.

Leo is self-destructive and self-centred, and admittedly hard to like, but Doocy made me care about this man who kept so much fear and sadness concealed under jokes and poor choices. His irreverence often saved me from giving up on him, particularly in the early part of the novel, and his occasional insight about magic was also welcome, and showed a mind under the persona he regularly affected.

For a debut, this is captivating; the major plot points of this novel were dealt with by the end; the author has left enough plot threads for the next book. On a sidenote, I do wish the author had given me more Agnes, as I wanted to get to know her better, and what made her tolerate and even like Leo so much. I hope she figures more in the next instalment of this series, which I'm looking forward to.

I will admit I was drawn to this book initially by its lovely cover, but the audiobook was a pleasure to listen to. Voice actor Ciaran Saward ably personifies Leo's insouciance, arrogance, and humour, all the while conveying the impression of deeper layers to the man. Saward also conveys Grimm's carefully held emotions nicely, and the many charged interactions between Leo and Grimm. Saward also distinguishes the other minor characters' personalities well, never leaving me confused as to who was speaking.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Hachette Audio for this ARC in exchange for my review.

4.5 Stars. This might be the slowest slow burn to ever burn slowly, but I need book two… right now. Whimsical and snarky and sweet and cozy. I loved it.

The magic system is interesting and different, the characters are a lot of fun. A few cliches mixed in with some surprises makes for a really enjoyable read.

The narrator was great, really brought the characters to life, giving them individuality.

I can’t wait to see what else Leo and Grimm get up to!

Magic! Mayhem! Monsters! I was originally drawn to this book because of the gorgeous cover - the details are just so lovely. I was completely charmed by the premise of this story and can’t resist a cozy fantasy, especially when a there’s a curse involved and a chance for former rivals to become something more. Doocy’s writing is infused with warmth and charm and I loved how the magical system encompassed a whimsical quality. I enjoyed how the stakes weren’t too high and the monsters were more of something from a fairytale than a gruesome nightmare.

The audio was superb and the narration was so immersive and engaging. I loved the bit of cheekiness Saward layered into the banter and exchanges between Leo and Grimm. It is always such fun when long-standing rivals must put aside their squabbles and through their time working together discover that they might actually be harboring feelings for each other… *GASP*

I am looking forward to where the series takes us next and to hopefully see magical sparks fly between Leo and Grimm. I think it’s important to mention that if you pick up this book expecting a romantasy, there’s a solid chance you’ll be disappointed. This is a slooooow burn, as in the smallest flickers (I don’t think you can even say sparks fly) of feels are mentioned near the end of the story. I’m assuming Leo and Grimm will share their feelings in the sequel? Fortunately, I read a review prior to starting the book that mentioned how the romance is VERY light so I was prepared but I do wish the kindling between Leo and Grimm started to spark a bit.

Lack of romance aside, I love a cozy quest with magical monsters and academic rivals, who once could not stand being in the presence of each other, must fight side by side and then happen develop feelings along the way. Highly recommend the audiobook for a delightful adventure!

It's books like this that make me think a majority of the originality in stories today are in fantasy novels. The magic system, the academic world, the socioeconomics, the incorporation of music (I've never read a book that so begged to be made into a musical), the quirky characters, and the forest creatures were all compelling, beguiling, amusing, and clever. Our protagonists are sympathetic and leave us wanting more of them both. The side quests were fun, and each one binding our heroes more. I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next installment.

Thank you Net Galley and Hachette Audio for giving me an ALC in exchange for a honest review.

This story has a flair of dark academia that I would have loved to explore more of it. It was slow to start and the love even slower. It was slow for me to like the MMC. The banter started to get better. I was invested enough to finish but the story just wasn't for me. I would have loved to explore more of the magic system and the college. The audio production was good and produced well, just nothing special or that stood out.

My first ever NetGalley audiobook and it was SO GOOD. Allow me to hit you with some enticing tropes-

🔥 cozy fantasy
📚 Magical school
♥️ M/M rivals to ??
😈 walking disaster MC

I loved every second of this book and the audio narration was on point 👌

This was such a good read!
I was expecting just a cozy fantasy story but what I got was actually deeper and more emotional!
I enjoyed the banter between Leo and his nemesis Grimm and their burgeoning friendship throughout the adventure. The side characters were also really well done, although I'd really love to see more of them in book 2 and beyond!
Definitely character driven, we follow Leo and Grimm as they try to figure out how to rid themselves of a curse mistakenly put on them. Very grumpy/sunshine, both leads discover a lot about themselves and the other. A very slow burn romance ensues and while I love that, I also loved that their mutual respect became so evident, leading to a friendship first.
The audiobook was exceptionally done. The narrator Ciarian Saward does a phenomenal job with the voices, the emotion and the hilarity! All the characters had their own voice which really brings an audiobook to life. The whole production was flawless. It's going to be a re-listen for me!
I loved this book!
My rating is 4.5 rounded up

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of the audiobook from #Netgalley, #Orbit and Maiga Doocy, so thank you so much!

Sorcery and small magic was the perfect cosy read. The pacing was slow and allowed me to stay in the world and be grounded. The writing is beautiful and descriptive which allow me to easily see the world and understand the characters better. The setting was just amazing and gave me that cosy vibe that I have been looking for.  Watching Leo and Grimm's relationship grow was beautiful and was nicely intertwined with the plot. The narrator Ciaran Saward complements the book so well and their narration added to the reading  experience. 


Thank you @HachetteAudio and NetGalley for this incredible audiobook.

Socery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy was such a fantastic read and I'm so grateful to Orbit and Netgalley with providing me a copy of the audiobook. The humor was great, the characters were lovely and I had a fun time listening to this audiobook. The narration was perfect! I truly did look forward to picking up this audiobook and listening to it. I hope we get another book in this series because I want more!

I received an ARC of the audiobook from NetGalley

This was fantastic. I really enjoyed all of the characters and the humour. The magical system was really interesting, and the forest scenes and creatures living within the forest were so cool and inventive.

I think the only thing I didn't love was that the romance plot of the story feels incomplete - I assume because that will continue into the next book in the trilogy, but it was just odd because every other aspect of the plot felt complete, EXCEPT for the romance plot. So it did kind of leave me feeling a little lost at sea once the book ended. But you know, it IS part of a trilogy, and I'm definitely excited for the next one.

Fans of Simon Snow will love this.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!

another fantastic 2024 debut, this time following two academic rivals from a magical academy. i really appreciated the magic system in this first book: individuals either have the ability to write the spells that are casted, or they are the caster of said spells.

i loved the way the relationship between leo and grimm, our two lovely mmcs, slowly but surely changes as they try to break the curse accidentally placed on leo.

the audio narrator was fantastic as well!!

book two asap pleaseeee 🙏🏼💗

what a cute and cozy fantasy.
i really enjoyed reading this book from begining to end

it was perfect for starting this spooky season !

📜 𝓢𝓸𝓻𝓬𝓮𝓻𝔂 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓢𝓶𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓜𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓬𝓼 📜

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.✨

Thank you @HachetteAudio and NetGalley for this incredible audiobook! Firstly, I loved the narration! Ciaran Saward did an excellent job at keeping me engaged throughout the story 👏🏻👏🏻.

Leo and Grimm are long-time rivals. Leovander Lovage, who doesn’t seem to be taking his magical education seriously by not trying very hard. And Sebastian Grimm, who is highly talented and respected find themselves in a sticky situation where forbidden magic was involved and now have to (god forbid) work together to break the curse before time runs out.

Sorcery and Small Magics is a super cute cosy fantasy with also high stakes! I adored the animosity between Leo and Grimm and the details of the curse!? I honestly did not see that coming and was honestly shocked. It made me so happy that I found myself just enjoying the magic that is Maiga’s writing. I was giggling and kicking my feet, and just having a lot of fun.

Luckily you don’t have to wait long as this is out on the 17th October!! This is the first in the trilogy and I’m really excited to see where the story goes because honestly anything could happen 😭

4.5 stars

Thank you to the Hachette Audio and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am ~trying~ to be patient and wait for book two. I can’t already tell this series will be one I’ll never forget! I truly thought this book was so well thought out. The world building and magic system were so interesting and intriguing, and I loved when they were creating spells and magic together.

Loveage’s voice carries this book in a way where I immediately fell in love with his personality and character as a whole. He is witty, sharp, observant, a bit ridiculous, and so deeply lovable. It was a joy to read his story through his POV. I laughed and felt my heart squeeze one too many times with each struggle and barrier that he had to work through, sometimes alone and sometimes with help.

Loveage and Grimm are quite a pair. The tension between the two of them was so written so well, and I loved how their forced proximity made them face one another and each other’s flaws and vulnerabilities. I love them, your honor!! Towards the end of the book, I was clutching my chest and hoping for one of them to say something to the other… but the ending truly made me so excited to read more in the future!

Honestly the last half of the book I was zoned in and soaking up every detail Doocy was willing to give me. The narrator, Ciaran Saward, did a phenomenal job with bringing this story to life.

What lacked for me were some of the side characters and their character development. However, this may have been an intentional area on the author’s part due to Leo’s need to keep people at a distance because he believes it’s a way to protect them from him. I am interested to see how this all plays out in the rest of the series and am truly excited for book 2!!!

CW: blood, injury/injury detail, violence, death, alcohol, death of parent (off page, prior to story beginning)

oh i love this. literally couldn't put it down.the academia part reminded me of Babel but the journey reminded me of Emily Wilde series. which are two of my most books ever. but combined into something new and fresh entirely.

a really fun read, with enough tension to make it felt anticipating. both Leo and Grimm were charming in their own way, despite their very contrast personality. i enjoyed their dynamics and every single interactions, actually, since Leo seemed to make it a mission to annoy Grimm as often as possible. they went through a dangerous adventure, facing outlaws and monsters on their way, and multiple live threatening events, but the overall vibes of this book still felt cozy somehow.

though at the end some matters left vague, i have my suspicions. but i can life with that since this is only the first book of the series. it's fun either way. can't wait for the sequel!!

for the narrator, i rarely enjoy male narrator but I enjoyed Ciaran Saward's narration so much. he gave life to the story, adding more magic to it. very well done.

I enjoyed Sorcery and Small Magics. It was fun and interesting. It’s a well-paced, slow-burn romance between two male main characters who can’t stand each other but are forced to work together. The dynamic between Leo and Grimm is very well done. Leo’s chaotic energy paired with Grimm’s more serious nature keeps things interesting as these two work together to break a curse. Their journey to break the curse was full of witty banter, growing tension, and just the right amount of charm.

I did listen to the audiobook version. The audiobook was a standout for me. The narrator, Ciaran Saward, did a fantastic job bringing these characters to life. His voice is so pleasant and soothing, and he really nailed distinguishing the voices between the characters. His voice is also clear enough that if you like to listen at a higher speed he can still be understood precisely. It made for an enjoyable listening experience that kept me engaged. Definitely a great start to what I hope becomes a fantastic series.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio | Orbit for sending this ALC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.