Let's Talk Books

A hilarious not-quite-romantic-comedy, Sorcery and Small Magics would be most aptly described as an adventure. The first in what will, undoubtedly, be a standout series in the slow-burn category, this fun and funny novel is a perfect autumnal read, filled with magic and wit.

Leo Loveage does not play well with Sebastian Grimm, so much so that their friends, classmates, and even teachers have always conspired to keep them as far apart as possible. When one of their professors breaks rank, and allows fate to pair them together, neither thinks it will end well, although they could not possibly have predicted the perfect storm of accidents that results in Grimm accidentally cursing Leo. Now stuck together, under pain of very bossy curse, Leo and Grimm must find a counterspell, without revealing whats happened to the powers that be, murdering each other, or getting themselves eaten by a monster. Easier said than done.

Hilarious, and sometimes quite cosy, Sorcery and Small Magics reminds me both of Rainbow Rowell’s Carry On, and, on the total opposite end of the spectrum, R.J. Barker’s Gods of the Wyrdwood. Like Rowell’s much loved magical romcom, this also gives us a grump and a sunshine, it has kooky, unique, almost old-school-children’s-book magic system, with spells and charms, and wonderful monsters. Yet, at the same time, like Barker’s massive “serious” fantasy novel, this has a real eye for balance, personal development, and the slow-building of relationships. This sits somewhere between both of these books, but is entirely its own in so many ways.

SPOILER: Maiga Doocy has crafted something really wonderful here, a novel with all of the base elements of a romcom, that never quite goes that far, and honestly it’s brilliant. I have always thought some of these enemies-to-lovers plots move at a break-neck pace, and it is clear Doocy agrees, this is a love story (potentially) that will take a while to come to fruition, and I am excited to read all of the other adventures Leo and Grimm have on the way their. By the end of Sorcery and Small Magics we are still in the part of their story were Leo and Grimm are unsure of one another, as we should be! There are years of animosity, and a lot of personal development, both of these men need to contend with, and I think this is hugely effective.

I will say, I did miss Grimm’s perspective, I would really love to know what he feels as well, but Leo as a really exciting protagonist all the same!

4 stars.