Thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the audiobook.

4.5 stars
First thing I have to say, where is the sequel?! I need book two now!

Sorcery and Small Magics is a fantasy book that I ended up adoring. It's low stakes. It's very character focused, whimsical, and with a very simple magic system. Also, though there are hints of a romance, so far it is very, very slow burn.

The story follows Leovander Loveage, a twenty something student at the Fount, a school for sorcerers. In this world, there are two kinds of sorcerers. The ones who create, write and transcribe spells, scrivers; and the one who cast those spells by burning those magic words, the casters. Leo is a scriver. And though he's very talented and creative, he's a complete mess all around. Leo is excellent at small magic, charms and cantrips, yet for powerful spells, Leo is useless. So much so that he refuses to even try to write grand spell magic in fear of disastrous consequences, including hurting people. He has a complicated relationship with his father, and he manages his issues with alcohol, gambling and being a general nuisance. His rival at the school is Sebastian Grimm. Sebastian is a caster, the most talented one in their year. He is stuck-up, grumpy, and very focused on rules and his studies. And for some reason, Grimm's law-abiding nature irritates Leo to no extent, so he loves to mess around and ruin Grimm's day. That is until they are paired in one class and everything goes wrong. Unbeknownst to them, Grimm casts a binding spell and Leo's life is at his rivalrs mercy.

The story starts in a magic school setting, but around the hundred page mark it becomes an adventure through an enchanted wood with wild magical creatures and flora, where Leo and Grimm must traverse in search for a powerful sorcerer that can undo the spell that binds them and that is slowly taking control over Leo's will and health.

This book ticks so many of my boxes. Magical school setting (I wish there was more, here's hoping the sequel gives me more scenes at the Fount), rivals to lovers, slow burn, a messy main character with a sad past, forced proximity (I love binding spells and the struggles that arise with them, what can I say?). I just had so much fun with the story. I do have to say, I do wish we would have gotten a little more of Sebastian. Of his feelings or at least a bit of a softer side of him. Though I can't wait for the sequel so we can actually see the relationship progress and turn into something more romantic, I think this book needed a little more Grimm. He's a little too cold, a little too stuck-up, so I feel like the chemistry between him and Leo suffered a bit. However, I'm ready for him to be a little more emotionally open next book. Also, Leo is such a charismatic disaster of a man that he compensated for a lot of their scenes.

The worldbuilding is quite simple. Though I wouldn't considerate this book cozy, the 'magic system' fits the simplicity of the genre. Just like the world, magic creatures and the Unquiet Forest do.
I want to see more of the worldbuilding. I want to explore more of Leo's talent at casting music magic. Like I said, I want the sequel now.

As for the audiobook, what a wonderful narration. Ciaran Saward was funny, witty, sarcastic. He did a splendid job bringing Leo to life. He's also quite good at delivering Grimm's serious and grumpy lines. I loved the book, but the audibook gave it more life, an extra charm to the story and characterization. I know that for the sequel I'll listen to the audibook version too.

What a delightfully inventive and cozy book! The magic was interesting, the monsters were unnerving, the quips were amusing, and the burn is the SLOWEST but still worth it. Leovander Loveage and Sebastian Grimm are total opposites, not just because Leo is a rather poor scriver (spell-writer) and Grimm is a genius caster, but also because Leo is reckless and rich and full of good humor, while Grimm is, well, grim. Being forced to work together in class is bad enough, but things take a dire (though hilarious) turn when a rogue spell is cast by accident and its ensuing curse forces them together even further. They eventually journey into the Unquiet Wood, teeming with monsters and outlaws, in search of a mysterious, and possibly not even real, sorcerer strong enough to undo the damage. Many hijinks follow! Leo is an incredibly compelling narrator, and the book does have its fair share of dark moments among the humor. Ciaran Saward's narration brought Leo and his cheeky personality to life. I'm already eagerly awaiting the next installment in this planned trilogy.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an advanced copy of this book.

This book was so fun to read! Sorcery and Small Magics is a light-hearted, fun, cozy, gay and cute as hell! The narrator did a fantastic job with the audio and the vibes!

It starts off very lighthearted with Leo Loveage being the most unserious, silly, almost gratingly reckless against Sebastian Grimm who is very much by-the-rules and grumpy as hell. They’re both constantly at each others throats to the point where the school purposely separated them. When a professor randomizes team assignments they get forced together. During this, they accidentally end up cursed by a strong control spell that bonds them together they must work together to figure out a way to undo it.

I loved the characters so much! I love that they’re such a contrast to each other in the best way. The romance between them is the slowest burn and the entire time I was SCREAMING JUST KISS ALREADY (it was fantastic). This story is very much character driven as the entirety of the book is them trying to find a “cure” for the curse.

The magic system is really fun and I kind of love that they have to work as a team casters and scriver, where one individual isn’t great without another.

TROPES/themes:
💙 Grumpy/Sunshine
💙 Forced proximity
💙 MMC with a traumatic past
💙 cozy fantasy
💙 magic
💙 slowburn

Leo is one our main characters- he is a master at small magics (summons, pranks, changing to animals, etc.) He has shied away larger spells and magic after he had one too many bad experiences.

Grimm is introduced as a kind of mentor to Leo, someone who is well respected and powerful. They get entangled by a dark spell that binds them together. They go on an adventure through the Unquiet wood to get the spell reversed.

Is it their magic keeping them bound together or something more? Through their adventure, they learn deeper secrets and have a new found understanding for each other, moving from foe to kinda- friend. They’ll have to work together to decide who to trust, who to fear, and what battles are worth fighting. Grumpy/ sunshine MM romance tropes.

It kept my attention but I’m not dying for the next one to come out to read it, so for that I’m going 3.5 stars round up.

The narrator was expressive and did a nice job.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Out on 10/17/24

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this story.
SPOILERS AHEAD

LORD THIS BOOK HAS ME IN A CHOKEHOLD. I love Leo and Sebastian so much. Leo was so funny and sarcastic. I loved his voice in this story. (I also loved the voice of the narrator. They were awesome). I loved how him and Sebastian were together. He was so grim (lol) and Leo was so animated and they made a perfect pair. I truly enjoyed their adventures. Nothing happened the way I thought it would (which was great because I love surprises but also sad because of the events that happened). I loved how Leo can use his music to help with his magic and I truly did not anticipate the ending with the beasts of the wild wood and Sebastian. I really thought there would be some revelation by Sebastian that the curse was gone because he was in love with Leo but I think the author is saving that for another book. Either way, I can't wait to read what's next from this author!!!

Absolutely amazing and I never could have predicted how much I would enjoy this book. We have a not uncommon pairing of one person who is incredibly flippant and privileged paired with someone who is made of much sterner stuff who had to fight his way to where he is today who takes nothing for granted. If you love magical rivals then you're going to love this book. I wouldn't hold your breath for a big overarching romance plot. Book one was really about introducing them to us and getting their feelings actually going in that direction. We still have two books to actually get into a relationship. By that I mean almost zero romance happened in this book. It was more rivals, forced proximity, and grand ill-advised adventures. It was so incredibly fun though. Every single moment. Both Leo and Sebastian are so well characterized, every way they acted in present had some thing from their past you could point to for an explanation. I also love the hesitant genius trope. A genius in his field who is scared of his own abilities so he decides to be ordinary instead. Leo is such a cool character. I mean, ignoring everything else he can do he basically invented being a bard in this universe by introducing music into casting. He's incredible. The more I saw of him the more I realized how incredible he is. I hope he gets some recognition in the next two books. I loved how Leo and Sebastian paired together. It took quite a while for them to really warm up to each other but I found it well worth the wait for that ending alone. I simply can't wait to read the other two books. Maiga Doocy has a fan in me.

Thank you to the publisher for providing this audioARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this so much! I was entertained the whole time and listened to it quickly. Leo and Grimm were both well written. Leo was my favorite as he is a highly relatable hot mess express. I would have loved to see more romance, but hopefully book 2 will help me out! I hope we don't have to wait too long.

Thank you netgalley for the audiobook arc.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy of this book!

This is exactly the book I wanted to read right now. Tbh this is the kind of book I always desire to read. Every single time when I go to people and say “pls just give me something fun and voicy with romance” this is the kind of book I wish to have recommended to me :D

I knew from the first chapter that this would be one of my top reads this year and I was not disappointed. It was just so FUN and the pacing was so EXCELLENT and the magic system worked so well! I had a blast reading it and I can’t wait for the next one!

Can't wait to see what else this author writes in the future!

𝓷𝓪𝓻𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓸𝓻(𝓼): Ciaran Saward
𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓰𝓽𝓱: 11h 16m
𝓽𝓪𝓰𝓼: lgbtq+, fantasy, rivals to lovers
𝓻𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓮 𝓭𝓪𝓽𝓮: October 17, 2024
𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
𝓶𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼:

I was gifted both an arc and an alc for this book and y’all…I’m obsessed.

Leovander Loveage is a master of small magic and that’s about it.
He’s pretty much invisible…except everyone knows he’s a failure and he’s on his last chance.
Sebastian Grimm is his complete opposite.
He’s a powerfully gifted sorcerer who’s well loved by everyone.
But when Leo has a mishap with a forbidden spell, he’s bound to Grimm and they must go on a perilous journey to fix what’s been done.

Such a fun, magical, thrilling ride of an adventure!
We’ve got monsters and spells and betrayals abound.
The plot is SO good and vivid.
I never wanted it to end.

BUT I want/NEED more. This is “book 1” so I’m hoping Grimm and Leo get more page time because their story sounds like it’s just beginning.
The romance was SLOW BURN and it’s not quite a HFN but rather a 🤷🏻‍♀️ ending.
An absolutely delightful queer, ya fantasy.

Ciaran Saward’s narration was absolutely perfect.
His voice was articulate and crisp, his emotions were distinct and real.
The audio definitely added a layer of depth to an already entertaining story.

𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙤𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣.

Leo and Grimm get caught up when they unwittingly curse themselves so that Leo cannot be without Grimm. They go in search of a sorceress in the Unquiet Wood in order to have her undo the curse. In their travels they learn a great deal about each other, especially since they did not want to work together in the first place. This book was a cozy fantasy, and as Leo and Grimm get to know more about each other (definitely a grumpy/sunshine trope) the more they start to understand why the other is they was they are. They encounter many people and beings along the way and come to realize what they truly want in life, regardless of what their families may or may not want for them. They also overcome great personal fears and obstacles. As this story progressed, I cared about the characters, their problems being relatable, and loved their individual quirks.

An absolutely fantastic cosy fantasy!

I adored Sorcery and Small Magics - I was captivated from the very beginning and didn’t want to put it down.

The magic system was so clever, I loved the way scrivers and casters have to work together to cast spells and it created such an interesting dynamic amongst sorcerers. Combined with the worldbuilding across the various areas we visit, it really made for a world I could get lost in.

I’m a sucker for a grumpy x sunshine story and the interactions between the two main characters were perfect. If you’re not a fan of a slow burn this one probably isn’t for you, because it’s a very slow burn, but that’s something I enjoy and it was done wonderfully in this book.

Despite the fairly perilous plot and high stakes, the vibes remained thoroughly cosy, which I always find an impressive juxtaposition.

Overall, I absolutely loved Sorcery and Small Magics and can’t wait to read the next book in the trilogy!

I've read a fair amount of fantasy this year with both cozy and romantic elements, but this one turned out to be one of my favorites.

There are a few stories I could compare this to. There's journey through a mysterious magical forest with rather terrifying danger, much like Swordheart by T. Kingfisher. There's cozy opposites attract, grudging affection, and magical doorways of Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. There are also academic rivals -- one rather improvisational (Leo) and the other quite by-the-book (Grimm) -- who nurture a friendship as they embark on an adventure together, similar to Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Fairies by Heather Fawcett.

If you like any of the above books, I think you will greatly enjoy Sorcery and Small Magics. In my case, I grew to love this book even more than those three, which is saying a lot. I enjoyed this story's pacing, how the stakes were high for the characters, but not for the world at whole, how you could see through their conversations and actions how the duo were wrestling with their feelings in this unusual situation they find themselves in, and I REALLY loved how clear and structured the magic system worked in this world as well as how the two of them managed to forge an uncharted path with new spells through teamwork and determination.

One other element I enjoyed was how we saw the world through Leo's point of view. He's a reckless, privileged, and rather aggravating young man at times, but sympathetic and as Grimm grows to understand what makes him tick, so do the readers. I think I would've had a harder time grasping the story if it were through Grimm's POV instead, so I applaud the writer's choice here. There is one brief moment where Grimm relates a story to Leo who finds it dull and tries to make it sound more exciting, only for Grimm to interject. It was a small scene but such a perfect example of their dynamic that I loved it. The audiobook narrator, Ciaran Saward, performed this scene so well!

I do have one complaint and that the story ended before I was ready to go. It wasn't a cliffhanger -- I found it satisfying and a good place to end the story -- but I didn't want to leave yet. It was like being nudged out the door of the dinner party before the dessert arrived -- the appetizers and main course were delicious, so let me have a bite!

As much as I do not look forward to the long wait until the next book of The Wildersongs Trilogy, it's going to be at the top of my most anticipated reads. I can't wait to see what Grimm and Leo get up to next!

I liked this on-the-cozy-side romantasy quite a bit, but the ending frustrated me. Here are the deets:

Leo and Grimm are both students at a magical university. Leo is a scrivener, which means he can write spells; Grimm is a caster, who can take those words and make magic from them. They can't stand each other, but (unsurprisingly, since this is a romance) are paired together in class. When Grimm unwittingly casts a "control spell" on Leo, they have to go on a quest to get it removed. And when it turns out it's also a love spell, they're quite motivated!

Great! Forced proximity, "I can't tell if I'm attracted to him because of the spell or because he's just SO HOT," chaos + order, social class differences... this is a solid romance setup and the fantasy is fun, too! But it wasn't until I was at the very end of the book that I realized Doocy wasn't even giving the reader an HFN. No, they end as "friends"/"spellcasting partners" (though any reader will realize they're both totally in love with each other). It feels like sequel bait for the reader to go through a whole section of will they/won't they in the next book, when I know I, for one, would have been just as happy to read a sequel about the beginning of a tentative new relationship without a spell bringing them together.

I still recommend this book, but with the caveat that romance readers might feel a little cheated.

I listened to this one, and the narration was well-performed! I tend to like listening to first person, present tense books even more than third person, and it worked really well here.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

This is perfect for lovers of cozy fantasy. The main character is absolutely hilarious, and I felt happy and at ease throughout most of the book. This reminds me most of Legends and Latte meets Voyage of the Damned.

The only point of critique, is that the book lends itself towards cliques. Not often, but noticably so.

The narrator was perfect.

Leo and Grimm are both studying to be sorcerers, but there the similarity ends. Leo is good with small magics, but his larger efforts tend to go dangerously awry. Grimm is gifted, there is no way of getting around that, but he certainly lacks Leo's charm!

The unlikely duo find themselves in the uncomfortable position of having to collaborate when they enter the Unquiet Wood in search of a sorcerer powerful enough to help them out of a sticky situation. But will they survive the dangers in their path to find a way of disentangling themselves from each other? And do they even want to?

This is a well written and entertaining story with plenty of humour. It is likely to find its fair share of fans.

Impulsive sorcerer Leovander Loveage, a master of small magics, and his grumpy rival, Sebastian Grimm, set off into the Unquiet Wood to find a counterspell for a magic mishap that now forces Leo to obey Grimm’s every command. As they trek through the dangerous forest, they have to put aside their differences, tap into Leo’s hidden magical potential, and face a connection that just might be more than magic.

Grimm and Leo were so well-written that I felt like I knew them right away, and the narration by Saward took it to the next level. The writing hit just the right balance—never too fancy or too plain—and the pacing kept me hooked. The magic was whimsical and fun, and the slow burn between Leo and Grimm? Possibly the slowest burn ever, but absolutely worth the wait. I laughed, I was on edge, and it gave me all the feels.

Maiga Doocy has created a whimsical, heartwarming, and adventurous world, and I can’t wait to dive back in!

Narrated by the brilliant Ciaran Saward—who really brought these characters to life!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio 🎧❤️

i received an ARC in exchange for an honest review of my own free will

i’d already read an e-ARC but decided to also listen to the audiobook ARC and GOD was it good. the narrator was incredible and really brought Leo and Grimm to life. this was such a lovely listen and has certainly become a comfort for me to listen to during blood draws or when i’m sad.

5 Stars!!!

This is my favorite audiobook to date, this is saying a lot because I've listened to some great books recently.

I love Leo, I love his character development and I love his rebelliousness, he's stubborn but when it comes time to taking that leap he does it. His heart is always in the right place. Sebastian is good person, always knowing there was more to Leo and that he was wasting his potential. I love how their friendship blossoms throughout the book, naturally and unforced even with the love curse in place. I would love to see their relationship further and see the duo in action working together to change things for the better.

The narrator was amazing at capturing Leo's and Sebastians personality.

Thank you so much again, and when the next book comes out I would love to listen to it,

This was absolutely delightful. Listen, I too, can relate to being a huge disappointment to my parents! haha.

but seriously, I have not read many male - male romances and I will 1000000% be picking up the second installment of this series!

I thought the audiobook narrator had a great voice and told the story with proper emotions. I absolutely loved that this story was in first person! I really enjoy being in the mind of the characters. Orbit never fails to pick up books that are right up my alley. I cannot wait to read more from this author and of these characters.

I love every part of this book. It was cozy. It was serious. It was hilarious. It made me cry, and also felt like I was getting a warm hug. Everything about it was perfection. If you love the Honey Witch, I recommend this book!