Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for the e-arc!
Now that was a truly excellent audiobook! The story, the narrator, the pacing, everything fit together so well and created such an enjoyable experience. In this story, we follow Leovander Loveage after his rival, Sebastian Grimm, accidentally casts control magic on him and forces him to follow all of his commands. This starts them on their journey to the wicked woods in order to find a sorcerer to help get rid of the curse. Leo is flirty, flippant, and charming; constantly pulling out pranks and songs that hide his fear underneath. He is enjoyable and irritating in the best of ways, with a ton of emotion and depth hidden right below the surface. Sebastian is grumpy and adorable but with an honorable heart. The grumpy sunshine vibes are delicious and the rivals to tentative truce to lover but not really is so good. I cannot get over their dynamic and the bantering between them.
And the magic in the world was really interesting. If you're worried about some of the control aspects, they were actually a lot lighter in the story than I thought. The curse is not abused, and the relationship that grows between Leo and Sebastian is a very, very slow burn. By the end of the book, you have such a clear grasp of where these characters are, and I am craving the next book. We get a ton of character development, especially from Leo, with his magic and his disposition in general. We still see a ton about Sebastian, but it looks like book two will probably focus a bit more on his development. Overall the vibes were very cozy, whimsical, magical, and light creating a very entertaining story.
I am also super impressed by this narrator. I was eating up this audiobook because he just did such a good job about bringing these characters to life and making this banter so good. I literally the perfect choice for the story and I really hope they decide to go with the same narrator for book two!

What a lovely fantasy romance this was! I’m so impressed and charmed with this debut effort from Maiga Doocy, and greatly anticipate the rest of the series!

I think the balance of this was truly pitch perfect: foppish bard with secret pain and his nemesis golden boy from humble origins get locked together by a magical mistake. It’s funny, soulful, and warm, with two flawed characters that learn and grow from their proximity to one another. The worldbuilding wasn’t overwrought, but it still felt unique and compelling in a way that kept me asking questions and wanting to know more. The romance was pitch-perfect; a true slow burn that I know is going to pay off in the following instalments in a huge way.


I…don’t think I have anything bad to say. Is it a book that is redefining literature? No, but it’s also not trying to be. Thoroughly successful in exactly what it wants to achieve, and perfect for fans of The Last Binding series by Freya Marske that grew up obsessed with Ella Enchanted.


4.5 rounding to 5 for this one! Can’t wait to sell it to patrons I know will love it

4.5 ⭐ very rude to end it like that, without resolving the romantic tension!!

This was very good. Fun and feelgood even though there are some heavier parts. Cool magic system and world building, and I really liked the characters. Looking forward to continuing this series.

I also thought the narrator did a very good job and was a good fit for the characters and the vibe of the book.

3.25/5

This one started out strong, but fell flat for me towards the end. I loved the universe where there are two parts to casting magic and how one writes spells and the other casts them. I also enjoyed the world building and how lush the setting was. However, I didn't find myself invested in the rivals-to-lovers / slow-burn romance and there were still questions unanswered by the end... I know this is supposed to be a trilogy though so maybe I will feel more satisfied with the sequel. Overall, it was a pleasant time and the narrator did a fantastic job in the audiobook version.

Thank you NetGalley for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

It´s been a while since I didn´t find in Netgalley an ARC that I liked more. In fact, probably this is one of my favourites of this year: I finished the audiobook in record time for me (btw, loved the narrator).

This was a very cozy first book of a queer fantasy trilogy, in which we got the classic dynamic of enemies to lovers. Leo and Sebastian go to the same magic school (college?) but they got very opposite personalities. Leo is like the class clown, always misunderstood, likes to drink, partying and is your average eccentric students who doesn´t take life too seriously. Sebastian is the one who is more focused on his studies, on rules, and wants to generally keep the status quo.

Problem is when Leo gets cursed (by mistake?) and he and Sebastian have to work together to find a way to break such curse before Leo gets bodied.

A few things I loved from this story:
- There is a forced proximity troupe, with teachers putting these two together for a project.
- A lot of comedy in between but also some angst and it´s all well balanced (loved everytime Leo plays the violin;it always means chaos)
- All the quest in the forest was great (I especially enjoyed the presence of a certain person in a tower and her monster).
- There are still some unanswered questions that left me rooting for the next book.

In summary, 100% recommended.

OMG, Where to begin?? I loved this!! I honestly felt so much joy while reading this. It filled me with all the whimsical cozy feelings.

The slow burn between Grimm and Leovander was so delicious. Watching them go from rivals to reluctant partners to friends to maybe more was the sweetest thing with all the longing. The journey they go through is filled with hijinks, laughs, and scares, ultimately landing them safely. The magic system was also so fun and unique, I can't wait to see what happens next!

The audio made it so atmospheric and like a warm hug all at once. The narrator did an artful job of capturing Leovander's thoughts and brought the story such depth and richness. Can I have book 2 now??? It was soo good!

If you love cozy whimsical fantasy with LGBTQ+ characters this is a must read!!! Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Imagine Everina Maxwell’s Ocean’s Echo crossed with Rainbow Rowell’s Carry On and Freya Marske’s A Marvellous Light and you have this book.

We have our feckless MMC, Leo, who can do minor magic but whose major magic goes spectacularly wrong (Tennal x Simon Snow). He’s in his last year of magic school (postgraduate? They’re definitely adults) with broody, straitlaced Sebastian Grimm (Surit x Baz Grimm-Pitch… surely the similar names aren’t coincidental?). Leo airily plays off his limited magical ability but is secretly envious and resentful of the brilliant Grimm. Unfortunately, they have complementary forms of magic (Leo is a scriver and Grimm a caster) and are thus assigned to be each other’s partners in class (more Tennal x Surit vibes). A spell goes badly wrong, resulting in Leo and Grimm spending the majority of the book yoked reluctantly together on a quest to break the spell (see: A Marvellous Light).

This is pretty standard, pretty enjoyable cozy fantasy fare. There is a romance subplot, but it’s super slow burn and doesn’t really become noticeable till the last 15% or so. Based on how the book ends, I expect this subplot will take up much more space in the second book in the trilogy.

Finally, the audiobook narrator was excellent. He gave each main character a distinct voice, and did a particularly good job narrating Leo in a way that made his self-involvement less grating than he might have been had I read the book in print.

Thank you to Orbit publishing for the ARC. As the first in the Wildersongs Trilogy, Sorcery and Small Magics stands out as a promising start to a magical series.

The plot follows sorcerers Leovander Loveage and Sebastian Grimm, who are bound by a mysterious curse, forcing them to confront not just the complexities of magic but their developing bond.

The novel’s strength lies in its witty dialogue and character-driven focus. The slow-burn relationship between the protagonists is handled with care, allowing emotional depth to emerge alongside moments of dry humor and sarcasm.

A balance light-hearted charm with more serious themes. Fans of cozy, emotionally rich fantasy will find this book a refreshing and enjoyable read.

The audiobook narrator works so well with this story, giving it a real lighthearted carefree feeling at the start of the book and making you feel more attached and drawn to Leo which reflects the book escalation perfectly. Still a 5 star listen!

Desperate to undo the curse binding them to each other, 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.
Tropes:
•Rivals to Lovers
•Magic goes wrong
•Dangerous Forest
•LGBTQUIA Rep
Honestly y’all this has become has just joined my top 5 books of 2024. I loved the cozy vibes and the back and forth dialogue between Leo and Sebastian. It was so fun and interesting to see their love blossom from being academic rivals to more.
The storyline was interesting to cause I was so invested on seeing this world expand and learning more a new idea of magic. And to have such an engaging and perfect narrator in Ciaran Saward. Their voice added a new level of engaging storytelling that the author had already brought to the table. I am really excited to know that this series will continue in 2 more books.
For sure would recommend this to anyone looking for a cozy academic rivals to lovers romance with a nice dose of magic.
5 stars

Thanks to the folks at NetGalley for audio Arc of this. My review is a honest reflection of my feels towards this audio book.

Tremendous fun. With echoes of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell ( in the clashing of magic styles at least), this was a light hearted and enaging magical romp. Look forward to the next one.

This was phenomenal. The perfect slightly cozy magical adventure with a magical academy, forced proximity, an accidental magical bond, and my eternal favorite grumpy sunshine dynamic. I was swept away from the first sentence and loved every second of it. For fans of drarry fanfics, they even refer to one another by their last names. It's perfection.

The cast of characters was relatively small, but they all felt very real and unique. Leo and Grimm had a wonderful dynamic and I loved watching them reluctantly grow closer. The sorcerer in the tower was wonderful as well and the magical tower itself was a wonder and so imaginative! As was the wood and the many magical creatures within it.

I absolutely recommend this to fans of Freya Marske's Last Binding trilogy, as well as fans of KJ Charles' Magpie Lords books. It has a similarly perfect blend of realistic magical worldbuilding and m/m romance.

The audiobook narrator did a fantastic job bringing the characters and story to life. His narration was pleasant to listen to and easy to become lost in.

15/10 one of my favorite books of the year and exactly what I needed. I immediately preordered myself an audio copy after finishing it.

*Thanks to Hachette Audio for providing an early copy for review.

I adore characters that consistently make me laugh, and Leo certainly fit the bill! This book features a delightful adventure involving a curse, a frustrated partner, a hidden romance, and so much more. It was truly entertaining, and the narration brought the characters to life beautifully.

Sorcery and Small Magics is a total gem and a fantastic start to what I’m sure will be a must-read trilogy—I finished it in under two days and am now eagerly awaiting the next one.

The story follows Leovander Loveage and Sebastian Grimm, two sorcerers who have to team up despite totally hating each other. Thanks to a spell gone wrong, they end up bound together in ways they never saw coming. Their partnership is a hilarious mess! Plus, the book has a really unique magic system that needs both a Scriver (Leo) and a Caster (Grimm) to make magic work, leading to some great character dynamics.

Leo and Grimm totally won me over—they reminded me so much of Simon and Baz from Carry On. Leo is whimsical and charming, while Grimm is grumpy but has a soft side. Their slow-burn romance is so well done—it’s like watching a train wreck in slow motion, but in the best way. I’m guessing it’ll take the whole trilogy for these two to sort things out, and I’m here for every moment of it.

The magical creatures and monsters add a quirky charm, reminiscent of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries—cute with a touch of danger. The world-building is solid but feels like there’s a lot more to discover, so I’m excited to see where the next books take us.

I’m particularly intrigued by Grimm and hope the next book dives deeper into his backstory. Getting his point of view would be amazing!

In short, Sorcery and Small Magics is definitely one of my top reads of the year. It’s fun, witty, and offers a fresh take on magic with a slow-burn romance that keeps you hooked. I can’t wait for the next book to continue Leo and Grimm’s adventures. If you love imaginative fantasy, queer and cozy, and slow-burn romances (very slow!), this one’s a must-read!

A note on the narration: I read the book first and loved it so much that I wanted to try the audiobook as well. The narrator did a great job portraying Leo, exactly as I had imagined him, and really helped me feel immersed in the story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me this audiobook!

Reconozco que empecé Sorcery and Small Magics con las expectativas bajas, porque no conocía a la autora y porque quizá la sinopsis no era de esas de rompe y rasga. Pero mira, me alegro de haberme equivocado, me he encontrado un libro majo que tiene una lectura muy agradable, un romantasy de mecha larga y la tensión va subiendo poco a poco y que deja un agradable sabor de boca, aún descubriendo que es el primero de una trilogía (se ve que en fantasía está prohibido escribir libros auto conclusivos).


También merece mención especial la labor de Ciaran Saward como narrador del audiolibro. Un libro escrito en primera persona requiere un trabajo adicional para que la personalización de la voz fluya durante todo el recorrido, sin la ayuda de diversos puntos de vista que creen cambios de ritmo y de entonación que ayuden a mantener la atención del oyente.

Una de las ventajas del libro es que es antiépico, si me permitís la invención de la palabra. Se basa en un problema que afecta a dos personas, hay pocos personajes, no se decidirá el destino de imperios en estas páginas… pero no hace falta. La empatía que desprenden los personajes encandilará al lector con su propio minimalismo, con la intrahistoria de su pasado y con su relación para el futuro.

El sistema mágico es bastante curioso. Por un lado tenemos los escribas de los conjuros y por otro lado los magos propiamente dichos, que hacen uso de estos hechizos. Leovander Loveage, la voz del libro, es uno de los primeros, pero algo pasa con su magia que le obliga a centrarse en hechizos de poca valía y complejidad, ya que cada vez que intenta hacer algo de mayores proporciones, todo acaba fatal. La verdad es que Leo tiene la autoestima por el subsuelo y esto Maiga Doocy lo consigue representar de una forma tan natural como reconocible. El otro personaje importante es Sebastian Grimm, que comparte academia de magia con Leo y es de los que sí lanza hechizos. Los orígenes plebeyo de Sebastian también coartan su forma de ser y de expresarse, ya que ansía la tranquilidad que le supondría conseguir un puesto en el ejército gracias a sus capacidades. Dos personas con caracteres opuestos, a los que una maldición obligará a trabajar mano a mano.

Sin entrar en más detalles de la historia, aunque os podéis imaginar un poco por dónde irán los derroteros, Sorcery and Small Magics es un libro liviano y de lectura rápida, que te hará sonreír en ocasiones y que sin duda, te calentará el corazoncito. Estoy deseando leer el siguiente.

“…you have all the caution of an inebriated toddler!” What an absolute gem of a book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sorcery and Small Magics is such a cozy matched with consequence story, filled with nostalgic Ella Enchanted fairytale vibes, and peppered with haunting things that go bump in the night. It’s just pure magic.

Leovander Loveage and Sebastian Grimm are as incompatible as they come. Leo is impulsive and indulgent, while Sebastian is strict and reserved. But when an illegal curse forces them to work together to stay out of trouble, they may just find there is something more between them. 👀

Thank you to Orbit Books, Maiga Doocy, and NetGalley for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you as well to Hachette Audio for the advanced audiobook. The narrator, Ciaran Saward, has the voice of a dream. I hybrid listened and followed the epub of this story.

Sorcery and Small Magics comes out on October 15th.

I had an absolute enchanting time with this book! It was so well done and I loved all the turns it took. The magic feels so unique and also familiar at the same time. I liked the dynamic between the characters as well — this was a serious slow burn! The academia aspect was also really great. I do feel the end though wasn’t really “cozy” as the book is being marketed, but I was still satisfied at least.

I loved the audiobook narrator of the ALC I received. There were great voices and I felt part of the story. It really added to the experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this audiobook!

Leovander Loveage is a scrivener, or spell writer, who mainly dabbles in small charms designed to cause chaos. He’s determined not to write any powerful magic again after a terrible mishap when he was younger. However, a disastrous mistake results in powerful magic which binds Leo to his arch rival, Sebastian. Despite their differences and clear dislike for one another, they team up and head to the dangerous woods to find a sorcerer powerful enough to write a counterspell. As they work together, they discover hidden truths about one another, and even a spark of romance.

I loved every minute of this book. It’s incredibly cozy and whimsical, with a slow burn romance that was slow, but perfect for the story. The pacing and world building were really well done, and I felt engaged throughout the entire book. Leo and Sebastian’s characters were fantastic. I loved Sebastian’s grumpiness and all the ways Leo tried to annoy him. Leo’s character was frustrating at times, but had excellent character development throughout the book that helped explain his actions. The magic system was really enjoyable. I especially liked how there were people who wrote spells and those who cast them, and how this played out between Leo and Sebastian while in the Unquiet Wood. Overall, this was such an enjoyable read and I’m so excited for the next book in this series.

I listened to the audio and Ciaran Saward did a great job bringing the story and characters to life. Many thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the advance copy!

How charming! I love a messy, wounded, deeply human protagonist and Leo had my heart from the start. This is the perfect cozy fantasy book, excellent writing, great magic system, 10+ will-they/won't-they romantic tension. 10/10

4 stars!

Thank you to Maiga Doocy and Hachette/Orbit for an ARC in exchange for my full, honest review.

I was pleasantly surprised by this fun little magical romp! I think if you liked A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske, you'll love Sorcery and Small Magics because they definitely have similar vibes in terms of setting, magic system, and romance. Either way, it was truly a nice break and a great example of cozy fantasy–a genre that I often find lacking.

First, the good things. I liked Leo and Sebastian a lot as characters. They didn't feel super new or unique but in some ways that familiarity was actually a strength. A lot of the time, I felt like I was sticking around for the banter and to see how their relationship developed. The magic system is quite simple as to be expected in a cozy fantasy but I liked the divide between the spell writers and casters because I think it introduces some good moments of tension. I loved the narrator, Ciaran Saward did a great job. The plot was passably good, and I enjoyed the magical bonding aspect. That really was what drew my eye to the book in the first place which leads pretty cleanly into my major issue with the book.

Despite the rivalry and forced proximity, there is little to no romantic or sexual tension between Leo and Sebastian. I know this is the first in a series, but the plot here had so much potential for tension that I really wish they had gone full-throttle with it. If anything, it really does just feel like a developing friendship with some desire for kissing thrown in. My other issue is that I felt like there was this vein of self-doubt on Leo's part that I thought he was supposed to be overcoming and he kind of did but it felt a little lost over the course of the story.

The main couple not having much tension might sound like a massive flaw, but truly this book is very fun regardless. I've been grinding my way through college and it was a very welcome reprieve in between reading Hesiod and the presocratics. If you are a fan of Freya Marske or K. J. Charles, I highly recommend picking up this sweet little fantasy romance.

Happy reading!