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!

This book was an absolute delight from start to finish, full stop. I feel like Leo and Grimm are two halves of a perfect whole: one side goofy and distractible, always screwing up, the other taciturn and constantly worried and trying their best to be prepared at all times. This plus forced proximity is my favorite kind of romance dynamic. Tie this exquisitely messy/neat grumpy sunshine romance with a rich, gorgeous, and almost dreamlike fantasy world that even I, a fantasy-lite-only reader, was swept away in? Oh what a book! The magic system was so unique and beautiful, the fantasy world simple enough for me to understand with the PERFECT number of side characters so I didn't get lost once. And the prose! It was so gorgeous I found myself repeating sentences as I went along just for the chance to hear them again. This was really just a completely satisfying read. I ate it UP. Can't wait for book two.
A note on the narration: I listen to a LOT of audiobooks. Sometimes I don't love the narration. Sometimes even the best narrators don't feel like the best fit for the narrative voice of the story. Neither of these were the case here. The narrator was a PERFECT Leo--in tone, inflection, voice, everything. I loved him to pieces.
Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for this incredible opportunity to listen early. I'm a happy clam.

I mostly really enjoyed this. The audio book narrator was excellent and I think this story is very well suited to the audio format. I was eager to get back to listening every time I had to stop. There were so many tropes (enemies to crushes, forced proximity enforced by magic) and plot elements (one MC being cursed and the other being surly about it, a QUEST) I adore. I was engaged pretty much right from the start and definitely invested in the outcome for these characters. I also liked the side characters and the world building. The main thing that let me down somewhat was the ending. I knew this was the first in a series, but I thought it was going to be the type of series where every book focuses on a different couple. I even had a guess as to who the next couple would be. But this book isn't really a stand alone. Some plot elements are wrapped up but the relationship has barely been cemented as a friendship, and the MCs are still wary of one another and still have a hard time communicating when it leaves off. I'm excited for the rest of the series but I hoped for a little more communication and affection between them. I liked that it wasn't blatantly obvious that the MC whose POV we don't get is pining for the MC whose head we are in, but at the same time I wished for more warm fuzzies between them. Hopefully that comes in future books. I'll absolutely be reading whatever comes next!

Devoured this in one day it was just brilliant Leo is a great character and has some sad parts

But if you love ft lukens you are going to love this!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Sorcery and Small Magics is an addictive, witty, and utterly magical fantasy novel that I could not get enough of.

This BOOK. I loved it. It’s one of my favorite reads of the year. It was romantic and magical, dark and sweet. It was tender and healing, with hilarious characters, fantastic character development, and a romance that lives in my mind rent-free. The pacing was wonderful, and I loved every single moment. The writing was beautiful and fit Leovander perfectly. I loved how Maiga incorporated magic, music, strange creatures, love, and more. Please read this book. Also, I had no idea it’s a trilogy and EAGERLY await the next two books.

Let’s take a moment to applaud the fantastic narrator, Ciaran Saward. He captured the voices of Leo, Grimm, and the other characters beautifully. I loved the energy and emotion he brought to the story and how he immersed me in the world. I highly recommend listening to this one!

Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC!

Sorcery and Small Magics follows Leovander Loveage and Sebastian Grimm after an unfortunate magical mixup links them together in an unexpected way. The magic system was so interesting, and I love that there is potential to build upon what we know in future books. The monster-filled forest setting was so fun, and I loved the side characters we meet throughout the book. I look forward to the rest of the trilogy!

Narration by Ciaran Saward was outstanding and truly brought this book to life.

I received an ARC and ALC from Orbit Books | Orbit and Hachette Audio | Orbit via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sorcery and Small Magics is the first book in a cozy, slow burn fantasy romance series. This book is built around a strong character driven plot, which results in exquisite characters with strong development. Truly, Leo and Grimm are the best part of the book. The character growth is well done for both of them. I’m a sucker for banter and loved it between these two. I also really appreciated the world building and magic system development. Both were well done in general but even more so for a debut. I especially loved the Unquiet Wood forest. I felt the pacing was appropriate for the book and had no issues with it keeping my attention. The one thing I was hoping for was better developed surrounding characters. I’m hoping this is further explored/developed in the next book since I love having a rich and varied cast. I combo read this via ebook and audiobook, but I was particularly drawn to the audiobook. Ciaran Saward’s narration was whimsical and fitting for Leo making the experience all the more enjoyable. I don’t think you could go wrong with either choice, but the audiobook was such a great experience that I would strongly recommend checking it out.

Wow! It's going to be hard to convey how much I love this book! It is the best of this genre and coming from a debut author?? This book has everything: a magic school, two snarky and morose main characters who can't stand each other, deep dark secrets from their pasts, a magical dangerous wood with crazily inventive monsters, a wise and wonderful sorcerer, and the sweetest love story embedded in the adventure. I loved these characters and all of the supporting cast. If you like Freya Marske, F.T. Lukens, the Simon Snow series, you will love this book. I cannot wait for the next in the series! The audiobook narrator was brilliant - absolutely perfect for this book. It was a delight to listen to from start to finish!

Thank you to NetGalley and to Hachette Audio for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I pretty much listened to this in one sitting and loved every second of it! I loved the atmosphere and the storytelling so much. Leo’s humour is top notch and it made me chuckle more than once.

Watching these two grow closer was so fun and they’re absolutely adorable. I need book two immediately!