Charming. Whimsy. Slow burn. Queer.

Leovander Loveage is cursed to obey his grumpy rival, Sebastian Grimm. Desperate to break the spell, they venture into the treacherous Unquiet Wood in search of a counterspell.
As they face deadly monsters and their own differences, they might just discover that magic isn’t the only force drawing them together. I loved this book and can't wait for book two!!

Thanks so much to netgalley and hachette audio for the early copy!!

The narrator of this book absolutely killed it and made me fall in love with the characters so much, especially Leo. He had distinct voices for all the characters that felt matched really well with them, making sure the humor and emotion is placed in the narration to make listening to the book enjoyable. It makes me wonder if I would have loved the book as much if I read read it vs listening to it, sometimes the narrator simply is perfect. There were still some tense moments that made it feel less of a cozy read and with some higher stakes, which I absolutely enjoyed. The cozy genre has definitely a new contender for favorite of mine. I felt the book has a nice wrap but still left many questions for future books. The magic system is definitely unique, more of which I want to learn about. It will certainly require a reread when the second book will be released. While the beginning was slower for me, I certainly felt it picked up and gave a broad setting of the world and didn’t feel so simplified to one place like the school. Thank you so much for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

A fantastic story of magic, casting and slow burn romance with great worldbuilding. Sorcery and Small Magics was a great book to read and listen to via audio which I recommend. This was a lovingly crafted machination of a story about the inner workings of magic alongside the slowest of slow burns, which I love.

Leo and Sebastian are such a believable (eventually) slow burn couple because it was done in a fresh way with a new light cast on similar takes of the stereotypical tropes of grumpy/sunshine couples. One of my favourite scenes was the first spell casting especially when inner feelings are explored through dialogue.

The tension of moments in the forest with monsters and outlaws were good for an otherwise "cosy" fantasy. However, saying this, the stakes were at medium level for the plot and the worldbuilding added to this. I thoroughly enjoyed this and can't wait for the sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for allowing me a copy of this audio book in return for an honest review.

Set in a world of magic where magicians are trained to protect the country from monsters that live in the Unquiet Wood. After a forbidden spell mix up leaves Leovander Loveage under the compulsion of fellow student and rival Sebastian Grimm, the two young men are forced to work together or risk more than expulsion. Their hunt for a cure to the curse leads them to the Unquiet Wood, where the monsters are only one of their problems.

Ciaran Saward performed masterfully, making each character come alive and had me laughing out loud at Leo’s internal monologue.

I utterly adored this book, the magic rules were brilliantly thought out, the world building was excellent and the characters were wonderful. I am so glad this is part of a trilogy as I’m really looking forward to more interactions between Leo and Sebastian!

Final Thoughts: The first book of what looks to be a magnificent slow burn romantasy.

Who would enjoy this: Fans of light fantasy, with a build up to romance. Those who appreciate enemy to lovers, mismatched pairings and forced proximity tropes.

Thank you to Hachette Audio for providing me with an advanced copy of this audiobook via NetGalley.

Magic students Leo and Sebastian are rivals, until one day a curse goes wrong and binds them together in unexpected ways. They must then work together to find a way to reverse this curse without their teachers or parents finding out what happened, and a series of adventures and mishaps ensues. This is being marketed as a romantasy but there is very little romance, and it reads very young despite being listed as adult rather than YA. The stakes are low and the vibe is whimsical, so to me it felt like a New Adult queer cozy fantasy. The magical system is interesting, it has good pacing, the story is interesting, and the characters are likeable. This is a great debut novel for Maiga Doocy! I felt there were some missed opportunities to add depth and character development in this book, but since it's the first of a planned trilogy it's entirely possible that these will come later in the series.

This book was enjoyable and I had a great time listening to it! Feels perfect for the fall season and I look forward to the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

Sorcery and Small Magics is the first installment in The Wildersongs Trilogy series. In this queer and whimsical cozy fantasy, Leo and Grimm are unexpectedly magically bound to one another by a curse and traipse through a magical forest in search of a cure. They of course happen experience magical monsters and mishaps along the way, while also fighting the tension between them.

The magic system was really interesting where spells there are those that write spells and those that cast them as well as Leo is able to do his magic through music. The book is very character driven, has low to no spice and low romance, but I think it is set up for more romance in the sequel.

Cozy fantasy for me can be very hit or miss, but I enjoyed this one, and I am interested to know what happens in the second book.

Ciaran Saward did an excellent job narrating the different characters.

What to Expect:
- MM - super, super slow burn
- Rivals to allies to ?
- Musical magic 🎻🪄
- Obedience curse
- Forced proximity
- Magical forest 🌳
- Grumpy / chaotic sunshine

Thank you to Maiga Doocy, Hachette Audio | Orbit, and to NetGalley for providing an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

We are getting a trilogy?! OMG I am so excited to see how this progresses.

This was such a fun, slow burn, opposites-attract, rivals to lovers story with a unique twist on magic - there are scrivers who write spells and casters who actually cast the spells. When Leo is paired with Grimm for a school project - two students who are forbidden to work together typically because of how opposite they are and how much they bicker - things become a bit more complicated when Leo accidentally has Grimm cast a curse that ties them together and is nearly impossible to break.

You can only imagine that clashing of personalities ensue along with hilarious bickering while they work together to try to fix the damage that they did, or risk explosion.

I had so much fun with this one and really enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review!

If you love the enemies-to-lovers trope with a side of snappy humor, Sorcery and Small Magics will sweep you off your feet! I was beyond impressed with this book! This book had me grinning throughout with its clever banter and slow-burn romance. Leo and Grim? Oh, they’re the definition of “we had never been anything but too much for each other”—and I lived for every second of their verbal sparring.

The book doesn’t just nail the slow-burn romance; it’s also full of adventure, light academia vibes (think magical quests, hidden libraries, and spell-casting exams), and some seriously cool magic systems. The world-building is fresh, with a twist: magic is divided into two roles—one group writes the spells, and the other casts them. Talk about teamwork! Except our leading men, who cannot stand one another! But our main character? Yeah, they break the mold entirely with magic powered by music. Music-based magic? Unique and oh-so-magical.

Now, let’s talk about forced proximity (because, of course, there is). Toss two bickering characters into a quest to break a curse, curse one of them with an obedience spell that forces them to obey their rival, and watch the tension explode. The spell adds a hilarious and tension-filled layer to their already strained dynamic, forcing them into situations where they have to rely on (and resist) each other. Whether they were driving each other crazy or pretending not to notice how much chemistry was flying around, it was pure gold.

If you're into magical adventures, snarky banter, and watching two characters fall reluctantly in love, Sorcery and Small Magics is a must-read. It’s as full of heart as it is humor, and by the end, you’ll be just as enchanted by the story as you are by its romance. I was dying of laughter! I cannot wait for book 2!!!!

this was an utter delight! I love books with sarcastic narrators but it’s difficult to strike the right balance and this was perfect, not overdone - this was very much helped by the narrator of the audiobook, well done! Great characters, both the main and supportive (I really really hope we will see more of Sibylla - I don’t know the spelling since I had the ALC - in the following parts). The story was nicely developed, the magic system is unusual (I’m not sold 100% but I’m keen to get to know more). Fair warning - there is not much romance in this instalment, expect more enemies to friends, but I have high hopes for interesting development coming.
PS I want the the seven-eyed monster as a pet. Or at least a plushie 🥹

I absolutely LOVE this story! Our MCs were a little obnoxious in the start, but once the story picked up steam, they were wonderful. The world is unique, truly different from anything I’ve read in the past. I especially like the playful, teleporting wolf! (I don’t want to butcher the spelling, since I listened to the audio). The narrator was perfect for this story! Their voice fit the age of the characters and the setting. I can’t wait for the next book in the trilogy!

This book is a fantastic blend of fantasy, slow-burn romance, & magic.
The main character Leo is a breath of fresh air, not only is he funny but kind, and a little bit reckless especially at school. His foil is Grimm who is a nonsense rule follower. After Leo gets cursed, they are thrown together to find a cure. Their adventure leads them to the forbidden forest full of monsters & unknown danger.

Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit Books & @HachetteAudio for letting me read this book in advance! I can't wait for the second book!

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.