5/5 stars - perfectly cozy story about rivals, magic, family, trauma, with a dose of adventure.

I found the magic system unique and interesting - basically magic requires two things: one person to write a spell and another to cast it. There is a hierarchy to the type of magic that can be cast, which I think is well described without being overly analyzed. The characters are distinct and well-rounded, and avoid being too trope-y: Leo, while brash and sometimes overconfident is really just hiding some hidden pain, Grim, is reserved, grumpy and rigid but in realistic ways (any type A, or rule follower will definitely relate). The pacing is on the slower side, but there is a lot of action happening and Doocy manages to make even the slower/character building moments have the right amount of tension to keep you engaged. Even when it seemed like you could predict where things might be going, small elements of the plot continued to surprise me, all the way up until the end.

I listened to this on audio and found the narrator to be a perfect fit - just the right amount of accent and pacing that wasn't too fast or too slow (and easy to hear and follow).

Highly recommend if you like grumpy x sunshine dynamics, magic academia vibes, rivalry to friends/lovers, unique magic with just a hint of chaos.

Listen, I’m yelling. I’m so impressed at this book being the author’s first novel because there are several aspects of the story that I think require a well balanced approach to work well. There’s a couple points in this story where the author avoids a cliche choice that I really appreciated and it kept the story’s scope manageable. Also, there’s aspects of the story where it was very obvious the author was calling a shot and I was happily anticipating how great it would be if that shot went off well and!! It did. I am so excited for the second book and will be following this author for sure.

I got to listen to this book thanks to Hachette Audio granting me a preview of the audiobook through Netgalley, which added another lovely layer to the story. I thought both the narrator (Ciaran Saward) and the product were carried off delightfully. Ciaran gave a great voice to our main character and balanced acting out his lines and emotions while keeping the text clear and crisp. I also liked how the secondary character voices were in good contrast to our main character so it was always clear who was talking and I could hear more layers in what they were saying. I think this was particularly relevant with respect to Grim, who Leo spent the most time with. He’s a much more reserved character and so I imagine balancing his personality so he doesn’t always sound one note is more challenging, but it was definitely accomplished here. I’m thinking in particular of the ending which has a section where the two characters are outlining a series of events from their different perspectives and it was so funny and enjoyable.

For fans of:
- Evocation
- Masters of Death

Leo and Sebastian are university students at the most prestigious sorcery school where magic writers and magic casters are taught mastery of their skills. The two men have nothing in common and can hardly stand to be in the same room; Leo is a wealthy son of a lord who is unable to take anything seriously, whereas Sebastian is a country farmer who works tirelessly to develop his skills. The rivals are happy to avoid each other at all costs at school until they are made class partners and a simple assignment ends up with Sebastian inadvertently cursing Leo. With both of their futures on the line, they decide to keep their blunder a secret and work covertly to undo the curse.

This book includes:
- a grumpy-sunshine rivalry
- a university of sorcery where young magicians can become either scribes or casters
- monsters and other magical critters
- enchantments and curses (both real and imagined)
- a quirky and reclusive, yet wise old sorcerer who lives alone in the forest
- magical mishaps
- postgrad anxieties
- grief and regret
- LGBT characters
- TW: brief mention of alcohol abuse

This is a cheeky, yet heartfelt story of rivalry, grief, belief in oneself, and magic. I wasn't sure what to expect but "Sorcery and Small Magics" became an instant favorite. It expertly explores more serious themes such as confidence, regret, and social isolation, without ever feeling too heavy or serious. I loved Leo's character. He was silly, yet skillful. He was careless and mischievous, yet still so intentional in his care for others. Many readers who navigate their misgivings through humor, will surely relate to him and his approach to the world. I also loved Sebastian, who is so solemn and controlled, yet clearly in need of a little levity in his life. Together they are a compelling pair of rival protagonists.

This book is both heartfelt and entertaining, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a good old rivalry with a touch of whimsy. The narrator is fabulous and expressive, and I will be looking forward to listening to more of their work in the near future. My only complaint with this book is that it ended at a bit of a cliffhanger and it was just so good that I wish it were a standalone just so that I wouldn't have to wait a year for the conclusion to the book.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Maiga Doocy, and Orbit Books for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted to GoodReads check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863 and it will be posted to my bookstagram account https://www.instagram.com/tinynightingales/

I absolutely loved this! This book has so much of what I love reading.

The magic system is so interesting, with scrivers who write the spells, charms, and cantrips that are performed by the casters. I love how they work together to perform magic and that the spells are one-time use and the paper burns up after casting.

Enter Leo and Grimm, students at The Fount and our academic rivals who are forced to work together to overcome a curse that they accidentally cast because they were too busy being silly rivals. Leo is the a river and Grimm is the caster. Grimm is all business and a very talented caster, while Leo appears to be whimsical, irresponsible, and not very powerful. He is extremely creative with what he CAN do though.

Their differences in personality and preconceived notions about each other are what lead to them being at odds during the four years they have attended the academy together. Luckily they are put together long enough to actually develop this plot point so well, I cannot wait to see what's in store for them in the next book.

I had so much fun with this book! I was laughing out loud and enjoyed every minute. Fans of A Marvellous Light, Voyage of the Damned, Emily Wilde, and Howls Moving Castle would love this!

Audiobook review: Excellent! Both the narration by Ciaran Saward and production quality were top tier. The way the narrator gave subtly different accents for Leo and Grimm was such a nice touch, and matched with their characters well. They landed all the funny parts perfectly as well!

Thank you Hachette Audio for the ALC!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for a copy to review!

A cute and cosy read with engaging plotline that keeps you reading! I loved the dynamic between characters and the book packed enough emotional punches that left me very happy about the ending!

I applied for an ARC of this book from NetGalley - I listened via audiobook.

I did enjoy this one but honestly, I did find it a bit of a slog to get through. I just don’t think it’s my kind of book.

The slow burn was kinda sweet - I suspected that it would be a forced proximity romance so it was definitely nice to see that aspect of it.

The plot was a very unique take on romance and magic, and even has a little bit of action and adventure as the MC’s try and break the spell that was cast.

The narrator was great! I did quite enjoy him and would happily listen again.

Thank you so much for the review copy of this book!

This was such a fun listen. Story wise, I really enjoyed that the stakes were less world ending, and more personal between Leo and Grimm. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I will say that the true nature of the spell was creative. Narration wise, the narrator did an amazing job portraying Leo’s sass and Grimm’s brooding attitude. He gave Leo the *exact* attitude and personality that I would’ve imagined for him.

ughhh this was so good! How am I supposed to wait for the next one?!

Sorcery and Small Magics is a debut that's small-scale and focuses on two characters and the curse that's keeping them together. It's in first person POV from Leo, who is a spell writer, as he has to work with his nemesis Grimm, a spell caster. Despite never getting along, they're forced to work together for a class and there's a miscommunication that results in a powerful spell being cast that... well, it could've gone better.

The Characters:
This is a very character-driven story and Leo + Grimm will be the make it or break it point for if you end up liking it. Particularly Leo, since it's told from his POV. Leo is privileged and powerful and ridiculously gifted... but refuses to use high magics. Instead he limits himself to creating cantrips and small, controllable spells while also building a reputation as a frivolous partyer-- all to mask the deep well of power he has access to but is too frightened to use.

Grimm comes from the opposite, as he grew up in an impoverished area where your occupation is a choice made out of necessity rather than desire. He's incredibly disciplined and no-nonsense, and despite being very good at what he does, his own magic also comes with weaknesses.

When forced to work together, they discover that they have more in common than they ever thought, and that their magics complement each other quite well.

The Romance:
It's a slow-burn, grumpy x sunshine, nuisances-to-lovers and I thought it was executed very well. I enjoyed seeing how their affection grew over time, even while they refused to admit it. I'm not sure what the special ingredient is that makes me buy into a romance, but I can say that this one had me grinning to myself and feeling all melty/gooey inside. It doesn't overrun or overshadow the story, so I wouldn't be overly concerned if you're not very into romance.

The World-building:
The glimpses we get into this world are charming at every turn. There's some super lovable monsters that behave like giant, deadly, playful puppies; there are magical griffin feathers; there are towers built of enchantment with rooms that are always serving your favourite meal or doors with untold mysteries behind them.

A (threatening) aside:
If the sequels don't include more interactions with one particular side character and their bizarre monstrous pet, I'll be very cross!!

The Magic System:
In this world, magic essentially requires two people: a writer and a caster. Most casters cannot write their own spells, and most writers cannot cast magic. There are low level spells that are fairly simple, and there are high level spells that can also have an associated cost (usually energy/stamina).

And I won't spoil more than that, because I think it's fun to learn with the characters, but it also includes new magic. The kind that isn't taught in schools. Something that is powerful but not understood, that can carry both great opportunity and significant consequences. I absolutely love when magic systems are expanded throughout the story, so I honestly can't wait to see how it's further built upon in future installments.

Overall:
This was utterly delightful and charming from beginning to end. I found it well-written and fleshed out. It doesn't have an overabundance of explanation and details, but nor does it have a litany of plotholes. Currently it has a 4.43 rating on Goodreads; and while I know it will go down once it's out of the ARC phase, I think it will ultimately be enjoyable for a large audience of people and remain at the very least ~4.

Audiobook Notes:
The narrator is British and he does a really good job translating the text. I always found his narration to be engaging and properly emotive, without taking center stage over the text. He doesn't do a lot to differentiate the characters, but I would still highly rank him among all male narrators I've listened to.

Leo and Grimm have been banned from spending time near each other, since they notoriously cannot get along. But when they're partnered together in a class and accidentally place a curse on Leo, they're forced to journey together into the source of magic, the Unquiet Wood, to try to find a cure.

I loved this book so much. The magic system and the characters are wonderful, and I really look forward to future books revealing more of the mysteries of the world, and to see how the relationship between Leo and Grimm evolves.

I loved how distinctive Leo and Grimm's voices were from one another.

*Audiobook Review*

BRAVO!

A perfect example of how when everything goes wrong, sometimes it's actually right... Which is just the sort of luck that Leo of all people would possess.

Comprised of a lovely blend of magic and adventure with the slowest slow burn and a healthy dose of grumpy and sunshine this was a joy to read. While it can easily be a standalone, I am immensely excited that it is a trilogy. I look forward to the next book.

The narrator, Ciaran Saward, was a perfect choice for this read. I could listen to him all day long and not tire of it. The tone and inflection helped the read be fun and lighthearted and the characters were all easily distinguished. I will definitely be recommending the audiobook for this one.

Thank you so very much to Hachette Audio and Netgalley for the ARC. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5⭐️

This book was a delight to read! Two school rivals, forced together by a spell go wrong head off into a magical forest full of mystery and danger, what is not to love? This book is full of magical cozy vibes as well as tension, angst and great world building! I felt engaged the entire time on this great magical journey.

Our two main characters Leo and Grimm have such a fun dynamic, the banter was so hilarious, watching them argue while on this journey was great, but watching them learn more about each other and begin to understand and empathise with each others plights was such a joy. And the slow burn was so good! I cannot wait to see how their dynamic progresses in the rest of the series. I also look forward to seeing more from their friends, and hope they have bigger roles in future books.

Ciaran Saward did a brilliant narration for the novel, he drew me right into the story and was a perfect voice for Leo and Grimm, really suiting the overall tone of the book.

Sorcery and Small Magics was a really delightful book, and I look forward to reading more in this series as well as more from Maiga Doocy in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for providing me with an Audiobook ARC in return for an honest review.

3.75 stars

Rivals and verbal sparring partners Leovander Loveage and Sebastian Grimm get bound together by a particularly obstinate curse. They set out on a journey to undo this unexpected spell, but as time goes on more than just the curse makes them gravitate toward each other

Sorcery and Small Magics is a slow paced, character-focused, cozy fantasy novel. We spend a lot of our time with the inner monologue of our main character Leo(vander) Loveage, who likes to describe himself aptly as "... a dramatic creature." Due to the aforementioned curse we also get to know Sebastian Grimm pretty well. The chemistry between these two characters is one of the best parts of this book, and I adored seeing them grow together over the course of the story.

Besides the characters we have a magical school and magical woods setting, which perfectly serve the story. The magic system is intriguing and fairly unique, albeit somewhat intangible. I would have liked some (more) examples of especially the creation side of spells.

"Magic has no concept of debt. There's no payment it does not either take or refuse immediately."

Sorcery and Small Magics is very much the first book in a series with a lot of set-up for subsequent novels. Some questions get answered and some issues get resolved, but we are left with a lot of questions and story threads as well. With this novel being over 400 pages I would have enjoyed a bit more depth and breadth, but I am hopeful we will get that in the upcoming sequels.

The slow pace Doocy sets lends itself to the audiobook format. There's mysteries to be solved, which makes me usually prefer e-book vs audiobook so I can take notes. However the cozy vibes and pacing make this book perfectly suited to the audio format.

Now onto the narration. I listened to the audiobook for this novel on 1.5x speed, which is pretty much my standard setting. At first I thought the narrator sounded a bit stiff/formal, but as time went on that improved and I realized it really fits the setting and characters of Sorcery and Small Magics. With more masculine leaning narration female characters can sometimes come off as caricatures, but Ciaran Saward is able to avoid this and give them realistic and even pleasant voices.

Overall Sorcery and Small Magics was a delightful adventure that left me wanting more. I am excited to see how this story and its characters will develop in the future. You will enjoy this book if you love cozy fantasy, slow-burn romance, unique soft magic systems and a slower pace.

Thank you Hachette Audio and Maiga Doocy for providing the audiobook version of this novel for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC

A interesting fantasy novel with magical bonds, queer rep and sorcerors. I liked the concept and found the story intriguing. I liked the relationship but wasn't too engaged in the plot. Still a good book and I'd recommend it, but I don't think it was excactly what I hoped for.

Very different! And the good news is…it’s book #1!

Magicks. A little romance. School. Family problems. Trying to live up to expectations…and not really having that work out… and a little sprinkle of homosexuality… these are all a part of this ‘charming’ book! And so much more!

BUT…there are also some triggers…
Death of a parent. Alcohol use. The use of spells. Mind games/control… The unquiet wood (where things are destroyed…). Strange, very large animals (unknown to us here on Earth…)

🛑 Stop here if you don’t want to know anymore… Loose outline below. 🛑

Leo and Agnes have been friends for a long time…and, they are in Magicks school together. Sebastian Grimm (the name is SO appropriate here!!) is also in school with them. But…Leo and Grimm are not allowed near each other, as they always seem to wreak havoc when they’re together… And, that’s ok.

Until one day they have a new assignment. With partners. And guess who the partners are?? Yup! Leo and Grimm.

It’s funny. It’s sad. It’s a bit scary. It’s a bit heartbreaking. But…it is wonderful! And when the little guy somehow gets a break, well, that’s ALWAYS a plus in my book!

Of note, this is a debut novel for this author, and for me, the character and world building were terrific! Looking forward to see what else she has up her sleeves…

#SorceryAndSmallMagics by #MaigaDoocy and narrated nicely by #CiaranSaward.

4 big, sparkly magical ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!!

Thanks so much to #NetGalley, #HachetteAudio and #OrbitProductions for an ARC of the audiobook which is due out in just a few days!! *** On 10/15/24!! ***

Feel free to like, follow and friend me on: Goodreads,
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Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

I. LOVED. THIS.

Story: 5/5
What a fun, slooooow burn of a cozy fantasy! This is right on the cusp of "cozy" because it was fun and lighthearted a lot of the time, but had enough stakes to keep me glued to the pages! The banter and slow build between Leo and Grimm was straight up chef's kiss level of a slow burn.
P.S. I am BEGGING for a bonus chapter with Grimm's POV pretty please! I would eat that up!!

Audio/Narration: 4/5
The narrator has such a smooth, beautiful voice! I really enjoyed hearing the different voices the narrator gave to each of the characters. The pacing was a little choppy at times, and I found myself having to speed up/slow down the speed of the audiobook often. Other than that, the audiobook was gorgeously narrated!

Thank you to Hachette Audio and Netgalley for an advance copy of this audiobook.

I received an arc for this book and am utterly blown away by how much I adored it. I’m not a cozy fantasy reader and this definitely toed the line but had enough action and tension to keep things exciting. I could see this being such a fun movie franchise.
And the characters?? Ugh my heart, I love them😭. This was such a unique story and the ending left things open with enough anticipation to want more. The authors writing style was so genuine and easy but super well done, it felt like very high quality writing and I think that’s why I loved this book so much. I also really liked the narrators voice for this story. I wish he distinguished character voices a little more but overall very happy with the audio. I’m very excited to receive this as my Fairyloot October book.

I really enjoyed this debut M/M opposites attract, rivals to lovers, forced proximity historical fiction paranormal romance!! Filled with adventure, romance, curses and magic, this was great on audio and perfect for spooky season reading or fans of books like A marvellous light by Freya Marske. Looking forward to reading more by this author in the future. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Actual rating: 4.5☆

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an ALC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

'You have a rebel heart Leovander Loveable, you will never be anyone but yourself.'

This book was absolutely delightful. Kind of academic rivals that are forced to work together and end up on a journey to a magical and dangerous forest. Sign me up.

I see many reviews saying that they thought Leo was a super annoying main character, but I just found him incredibly charming in a walking disaster kind of way. He was also just so flamboyant that I thought it was hilarious. I really enjoyed his dynamic with Grimm and their constant bickering that development throughout the story into them just actually seeing the person in front of them and not just their ideas of each other.

The magic system is so fascinating and refreshing, having magic that can only be written by scribers and actually used by casters creates different dynamics throughout the story. The atmosphere was also well written, especially during the forest setting of the plot.

This is a very good first instalment that leaves me very hopeful for the rest of the trilogy.
The narrator did an incredible job especially bringing Leo to life.

A book with a Magical school setting, an annoying main character, and a grumpy love interest that makes a mistake of binding them together with a spell, made this book fun. It was a little bit slow for my liking but it ended up being ok.

Sorcery & Small Magics by Maiga Doocy 🪄💙

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Genre: Adult Cosy Fantasy

𝑨𝒏 𝒊𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑨 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑬𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒆'𝒔 𝑬𝒏𝒄𝒚𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒂𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒂 𝒐𝒇 𝑭𝒂𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔. 𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝒃𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒖𝒍𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒎𝒖𝒅𝒈𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒍𝒍 - 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓.

This book was SO MUCH FUN!! I find cosy fantasies can be a bit hit or miss for me, but from the second I started the audiobook for this I was having a great time ✨.

Our main character was so witty and sarcastic and a little bit chaotic, which made for such an enjoyable perspective to hear the story from 💖. I think the audiobook narrator did an amazing job which also enhanced the experience so much!

The banter with the love interest was so good 😩. It was a classic case of extremely opposite personalities who think they absolutely hate each other (but maybe they don’t?).

The world was so whimsical and magical and the quest that they’re going on was just so enjoyable to follow along with 🔮✨. All the side characters they met along the way added so much to the story as well.

Overall, if I had to describe this book in one word, it would be FUN 🤩. I just had such a good time listening to it, and I would definitely recommend!