Leovander Loveage is a master of small magics.
He can summon butterflies with a song, or turn someone’s hair pink by snapping his fingers. Such minor charms don’t earn him much admiration from other sorcerers (or his father), but anything more elaborate always blows up in his face. Which is why Leo vowed years ago to never again write powerful magic.
That is, until a mix-up involving a forbidden spell binds Leo to obey the commands of his longtime nemesis, Sebastian Grimm. Grimm is Leo’s complete opposite—respected, exceptionally talented, and an absolutely insufferable curmudgeon. The only thing they agree on is that getting caught using forbidden magic would mean the end of their careers. They need a counterspell, and fast. But Grimm casts spells, he doesn’t undo them, and Leo doesn’t mess with powerful magic.
Chasing rumors of a powerful sorcerer with a knack for undoing curses, Leo and Grimm enter the Unquiet Wood, a forest infested with murderous monsters and dangerous outlaws alike. To dissolve the curse, they’ll have to uncover the true depths of Leo’s magic, set aside their long-standing rivalry, and—much to their horror—work together.
Even as an odd spark of attraction flares between them."
Sorcery and Small Magics is a delightful read that immediately draws you in and keeps you entertained throughout. From the first pages, I felt at home in its world and with its protagonist, Leovander Loveage. The premise is a classic and one that I knew would be fun: enemies forced to work together, which of course results in plenty of banter and barbs thrown around at one another.
There was a certain familiarity to Leo and his class enemy, Sebastian Grimm, that made them feel like old friends I'd read and journeyed with before. I'm not entirely sure if that's a testament to how well-crafted they are or moreso just a reflection of the fact that they were somewhat archetypes of characters I've read, but either way I loved them. The dynamic between Leo and Grimm really drives the story and showcases their sharp wit and individual personalities in a way that felt authentic and intriguing.
I was really intrigued by the magic system crafted in this world. The system of having scrivers to write spells and casters to cast said spells is an interesting one, and I was especially intrigued by Leo's ability and penchant for crafting spells through song. I found the distinctions between cantrips and Grandmagic, as well as the risks involved for scribers who try to cast, added a lot of depth to the magic system and made it feel much more detailed. Some of the finer points of the magic system are a bit fuzzy for me still, but I'm hopeful that future books will expand on the magic.
The story does a great job of balancing light-hearted charm with some slightly heavier moments that bear more emotional weight. Both Leo and Grimm had interesting backstories to explore and better understand their motivations and reasons for their choice in education, and I appreciated that the author spent a very adequate amount of time on these without spending too much time on backstory. Leo's backstory in particular brings a bit more heaviness with it and we are able to learn a lot more about him and the guilt that constantly weighs on him due to things that have happened in the past.
While some parts of Sorcery and Small Magics felt predictable, I didn't really find that predictability to be too much of a drawback. The story played out like a cozy yet exciting adventure with plenty of risk involved, and the twists the author chose to take–and not take–made it feel fresh and highly entertaining. I was impressed also with how well the author mixed in so many of the elements I've mentioned in this review and managed to do so without interrupting the pace at any point and creating a great balance of action, humor, and heart.
The ending was a little bit of a mixed bag for me at times, but overall I really did like it. I appreciated that there was a cost to resolving some of the big climactic issues and monsters that arose as threats, as it made the threat and stakes feel real. However, I also felt some of the ways in which things were resolves felt like they were wrapped up a little too neatly and easily, and there were some things that seemed to be resolved on first try that surprised me. It didn't detract from the story, but it did feel just a touch too easy. Still, I admired how the conclusion avoided rushing into romantic clichés and instead focused on a more organic shift in the relationships between our two characters. It was more enemies to friends, in a way, which I think felt like a more natural progression that didn't make anything too rushed or unrealistic.
Overall, Sorcery and Small Magics is a charming, fun, and heartfelt read with great characters, an interesting magic system, and plenty of adventure and mishaps, and it's one that I would absolutely recommend. I've also discovered since reading this book that it will be a trilogy, which means we will have even more of Leo and Grimm, and I can't wait! I've given Sorcery and Small Magics 4.5 stars.
Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org
