Sorcery and Small Magics

• Author: Maiga Doocy
• Genre: Fantasy
• Publication Date: October 17, 2024
• Publisher: Orbit
• Series: The Wildersongs Trilogy #1

Thank you to Orbit and Angela Man for sending me a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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.

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.

I’m all about cozy fantasy lately, and there have been so many wonderful books published in this subgenre. This one looked kind of like a cozy dark academia story, and I was too intrigued not to get my hands on this book. I couldn’t wait to read it, especially seeing all the great reviews from people who give me amazing recs. This book blew past any expectations I had when I started reading.

Typically, fantasy involving schools falls under the YA heading. While there are some elements that feel more like YA, I never really got the feeling that the characters were YA, despite being in school for sorcery, so the story itself felt more adult. My personal outlook was as if the characters were in a sorcery college, and this was intended to read as a NA book.

To start with, the characters are great. Leo is fun-loving, and has a reputation for making trouble. It doesn’t help that he isn’t able to write any spells that is more complex than basic cantrips or charms. In this world, magic is spell-based, and the use requires two people: a scriver who writes the spell and a caster who casts the spell. This means that magic users require being paired up to effectively pull off a spell. Unfortunately, Leo is limited to charms that keep his feet cushioned, change hair color, or do other small magics.

Agnes is Leo’s best friend. She’s a type A go-getter, but has been friends with Leo for years due to their positions in society. But their friendship has grown so they can rely on each other, and Agnes always tells Leo when he’s in the wrong, even if he doesn’t always listen to her advice. The world of Miendor is divided between nobles and non-nobles, and it’s almost as if they live in two different worlds, just like it is in our world between rich and working class people. The other major character in the story is Sebastian Grimm, and there hasn’t been a character whose name fits them more appropriately than here. He’s focused and hard-working, with great talent, but very straight-laced, making it natural for him to bump heads with Leo.

Leo is on the verge of being kicked out of the school for his antics, and there’s a lot riding on him completing his fifth tier, so he’s really determined to avoid trouble. I think it’s obvious to anyone that this means he’s absolutely going to cause trouble. Grimm and Leo are forced to pair up, and this is where Leo’s petty side comes out to play. Nothing seems to make him more petty than having to interact with Grimm. It’s like when you have someone that you can’t avoid but rubs you the wrong way, and I know I’ve had people like that before.

Although Leo getting cursed was an accident, it’s not one that can be easily remedied. Leo’s inability to write grandmagic spells makes it impossible for him to write a counter spell for this, and they can’t find anything useful in the library or leaning on their two friends for assistance. Bringing this to the attention of anyone else who might help, such as the professors at school, since the curse is forbidden magic that would land both of them in hot water that would impact the rest of their lives. Ultimately, the curse’s effects worsen significantly, leading Leo to the conclusion that they’ll have to seek out a legendary sorcerer who lives in the Unquiet Wood. Naturally, Grimm is against heading into the dangerous woods that are full of monsters, especially not for a sorcerer that might just be an urban legend. 

You already know that they’re going to head into the woods, but by that time, Leo has already shown a lot of growth as a person, and it made his exceptionally petty nature not seem as irritating (to me, at least). But as the forced proximity and the growing effects of the curse take their toll, we get to understand a lot about Leo and Grimm and what makes them who they are today. I really loved seeing both of the characters grow and learn how to get along better. Leo learns a bit more control, while Grimm learns how to cut loose a tiny bit, and character growth is always one of my favorite things to see in books.

Obviously, the majority of the character arcs occur in the woods, because nothing brings two nemeses together like a dangerous journey where they can only rely on each other. This book kind of had everything that I could have asked for: magic, a forbidden curse, character growth, action, hilarious banter, and an enemies to lovers romance that never overshadowed the story, even though we all knew it was simmering between these two.

 I honestly can’t share enough great things about this story. Overall, it was fun and a wonderful read. It’s paced steadily so nothing drags at any point, and I loved how the author ended this story. While there isn’t a cliffhanger at the end of the story, there is a sense of being unfinished, and I’ll be looking forward to the next book in this trilogy. Instead of falling under dark academia, it really felt more like fun academia in a cozy setting. This would be a great book for you if you like cozy fantasy, queer romance, dark academia, enemies to lovers, and a book that will make you laugh.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase through my links.