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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was such a pleasure and just what I've been looking for in a magical series.
Imagine a world where women are in politics, magic is considered a Male profession and society expects the two to marry.
Cassandra is a smart, funny young woman who was once very powerful and the only woman admitted to a prestigious Magical College where she was in her element and met the love of her life Wrexham who became her fiance.
She graduated with honors but struggled to find her place in a Male-dominated magical profession and when she attempted a spell that shouldn't have been performed alone, the result left her unable to perform magic unless she wanted to risk her life.
Fast forward several months, she finds herself mostly housebound at a gathering with her family, friends of her late Mom's and her ex-fiance Wrexham who she is still in love with but thinks he's better off without her.
When a carriage with expected guests go missing during a snow storm, Cassandra offers to help the husband Magicians in their search. She runs into Wrexham while out searching who is still obviously madly in love with her and together they search for the missing people. She encounters a creature of the wild and accidentally finds herself making a bargain with an Elf to learn who's behind the unnatural snowstorm before the end of 6 days or facing consequences.
Cassandra returns to her temporary home with the missing people safely in tow and wondering how she's going to solve the mystery in such a short time. She finds herself reluctantly enlisting the help of Wrexham and family to help solve the mystery before it's too late. She will also need to figure out what she plans to do if she solves the mystery, how to contend with being unable to do magic which was once the very thing she dreamed of doing and whether she really wants to truly walk away from the only man she's ever loved.
Full of mystery, the power of family, magic, a dash of mythical beings, adventure, romance and surprises, it was such a wonderful tale packed into a novella.
Looking forward to continuing the series soon and it has become one of my favorite series!
Trigger warnings: some violence, brief mention of death of a parent, orphan
Imagine a world where women are in politics, magic is considered a Male profession and society expects the two to marry.
Cassandra is a smart, funny young woman who was once very powerful and the only woman admitted to a prestigious Magical College where she was in her element and met the love of her life Wrexham who became her fiance.
She graduated with honors but struggled to find her place in a Male-dominated magical profession and when she attempted a spell that shouldn't have been performed alone, the result left her unable to perform magic unless she wanted to risk her life.
Fast forward several months, she finds herself mostly housebound at a gathering with her family, friends of her late Mom's and her ex-fiance Wrexham who she is still in love with but thinks he's better off without her.
When a carriage with expected guests go missing during a snow storm, Cassandra offers to help the husband Magicians in their search. She runs into Wrexham while out searching who is still obviously madly in love with her and together they search for the missing people. She encounters a creature of the wild and accidentally finds herself making a bargain with an Elf to learn who's behind the unnatural snowstorm before the end of 6 days or facing consequences.
Cassandra returns to her temporary home with the missing people safely in tow and wondering how she's going to solve the mystery in such a short time. She finds herself reluctantly enlisting the help of Wrexham and family to help solve the mystery before it's too late. She will also need to figure out what she plans to do if she solves the mystery, how to contend with being unable to do magic which was once the very thing she dreamed of doing and whether she really wants to truly walk away from the only man she's ever loved.
Full of mystery, the power of family, magic, a dash of mythical beings, adventure, romance and surprises, it was such a wonderful tale packed into a novella.
Looking forward to continuing the series soon and it has become one of my favorite series!
Trigger warnings: some violence, brief mention of death of a parent, orphan
In the aftermath of a calamitous magical mistake, Cassandra Harwood is trying to put her life back together in the middle of an unnatural snowstorm as the treaties with the fair folk are fraying dangerously. I very much liked how the initial social conflict (“Argh, my family are trying to throw me together with a man I’m trying to avoid!”) isn’t at all what it seems and we’re led through several different understandings of what’s going on as the main conflict progresses. The world-building is intense without taking over the plot and the conflicts never feel manufactured. Charming and intriguing. See my review of the entire series so far on my blog.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A really fun and clever fantasy romance novella set in an alternate version of England that packs in an impressive amount of world-building and a swoony romance. I loved the second chance romance, the magical system, the lady politicians running everything, the elves, Cassandra's loving and loyal family...I had such a wonderful time reading this and am really looking forward to the rest of the series.
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Me: idk like. I don’t hate it but I’m not super into historical romance and political intrigue in general.
This book: yes but what if magic and elves and romance and political intrigue
Me: Yes
I’m a simple gal. Throw in some magic and I’ll like something more than I would have otherwise. I really enjoyed this with its little twist on gender dynamics (while still keeping the gendered restrictions of the genre in other ways that characters have to fight against/around), the addition of a world where magical creatures exists, and lovely dynamics and relationships with interesting secondary characters. It suffered from the novella tendency of a solidly paced beginning with a more rushed ending and it needed more elves/elf stuff but I had fun. I’ll definitely read the rest of the series.
This book: yes but what if magic and elves and romance and political intrigue
Me: Yes
I’m a simple gal. Throw in some magic and I’ll like something more than I would have otherwise. I really enjoyed this with its little twist on gender dynamics (while still keeping the gendered restrictions of the genre in other ways that characters have to fight against/around), the addition of a world where magical creatures exists, and lovely dynamics and relationships with interesting secondary characters. It suffered from the novella tendency of a solidly paced beginning with a more rushed ending and it needed more elves/elf stuff but I had fun. I’ll definitely read the rest of the series.
After reading and loving Scales and Sensibility, I immediately picked up Snowspelled by the same author–and I was not disappointed. Snowspelled features a loveable and determined heroine, a charming love interest, unique world building, and lots of magic.
As soon as the novel began, I loved its feisty heroine, Cassandra. Cassandra is outspoken, daring, and sharp. She is Elizabeth Bennet if Elizabeth weren’t at all concerned with propriety, had the use of magic, and a slightly less eccentric family. Cassandra was the first female magic practitioner ever, but lost the use of her magic in one big spell of an attempt to prove herself once and for all against the societal limitations of the regency.
To save her fiancé, the dashing Wrexham, from the shame of association with her, she calls off their engagement. To her horror, she soon finds herself trapped in the middle of a suspiciously unnatural snowstorm at a house party with him! And Wrexham is not content with cutting off all ties with his former love and seems determined to seek her out. But more is at stake than Cassandra’s love life, as she gets swept up in a binding pact with a devious elf, a pressing time limit, and huge potential ramifications, and all without her magical powers to assist her.
Snowspelled has it all, romance, political intrigue, magic, and a fresh take on the regency era! I was living for the fact that Snowspelled had women reigning over the politics, as they were deemed much more sensible than men, and magic usage confined solely to men, until Cassandra. Similarly delightful was that race didn’t seem to be at all of an issue in this world, and Snowspelled has a cast of diverse characters, including a lesbian couple.
My biggest complaint about Snowspelled was simply that it was too short! I really would have loved to read an entire novel based in this world, rather than a novella. I could have easily read an entire novel on the mere backstory of the book, with Cassandra fighting to learn magic and attending a Great Library for school and meeting Wrexham for the first time and battling him for the title of top student. It would have been wonderful to have more time spent getting to know all of the characters, the world, and to solve the mystery of who is behind the unnatural snow storm.
Though the novella is so short, the author does a great job of fleshing out her characters. Both Cassandra and Wrexham in particular, managed to be completely sympathetic and believable in their emotions, motivations, and actions. Cassandra’s devastation and shame at losing her magic is utterly understandable and so is Wrexham’s desire to keep loving Cassandra but also respecting her wishes. It was great to read a male lead who was not standoffish, proud, or worried about societal expectations. Wrexham himself is a feat, managing to be both entirely supportive and respectful of Cassandra, but also never bland or boring.
And I absolutely loved how Snowspelled dealt with the potential possibility of Cassandra reacquiring her powers. Instead of taking the easy route and weaving a magic wand or the like, and restoring her magic, the novella takes a different, more fitting and pleasing route. I won’t spoil it for you here!
Snowspelled is a delightful, short, and sweet romp that comes to an immensely satisfying conclusion. I’ve already purchased the sequel and cannot wait read it.
bloggingwithdragons.com
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As soon as the novel began, I loved its feisty heroine, Cassandra. Cassandra is outspoken, daring, and sharp. She is Elizabeth Bennet if Elizabeth weren’t at all concerned with propriety, had the use of magic, and a slightly less eccentric family. Cassandra was the first female magic practitioner ever, but lost the use of her magic in one big spell of an attempt to prove herself once and for all against the societal limitations of the regency.
“There was a time when every magician in the country had known my name after I’d first fought my way into their ranks, aided by the power of my own family name and by Jonathan and Amy’s staunch support. The newspapers, naturally, had found it all hilarious: The lady who thought she was a magician.”
To save her fiancé, the dashing Wrexham, from the shame of association with her, she calls off their engagement. To her horror, she soon finds herself trapped in the middle of a suspiciously unnatural snowstorm at a house party with him! And Wrexham is not content with cutting off all ties with his former love and seems determined to seek her out. But more is at stake than Cassandra’s love life, as she gets swept up in a binding pact with a devious elf, a pressing time limit, and huge potential ramifications, and all without her magical powers to assist her.
“The elf lord gestured sweepingly, and the snowflakes scurried to get out of his arm’s way. ‘This storm is no act of nature. Someone has been meddling with the land’s own magic, and we will all feel the damage soon enough.'”
Snowspelled has it all, romance, political intrigue, magic, and a fresh take on the regency era! I was living for the fact that Snowspelled had women reigning over the politics, as they were deemed much more sensible than men, and magic usage confined solely to men, until Cassandra. Similarly delightful was that race didn’t seem to be at all of an issue in this world, and Snowspelled has a cast of diverse characters, including a lesbian couple.
My biggest complaint about Snowspelled was simply that it was too short! I really would have loved to read an entire novel based in this world, rather than a novella. I could have easily read an entire novel on the mere backstory of the book, with Cassandra fighting to learn magic and attending a Great Library for school and meeting Wrexham for the first time and battling him for the title of top student. It would have been wonderful to have more time spent getting to know all of the characters, the world, and to solve the mystery of who is behind the unnatural snow storm.
Though the novella is so short, the author does a great job of fleshing out her characters. Both Cassandra and Wrexham in particular, managed to be completely sympathetic and believable in their emotions, motivations, and actions. Cassandra’s devastation and shame at losing her magic is utterly understandable and so is Wrexham’s desire to keep loving Cassandra but also respecting her wishes. It was great to read a male lead who was not standoffish, proud, or worried about societal expectations. Wrexham himself is a feat, managing to be both entirely supportive and respectful of Cassandra, but also never bland or boring.
“But I know something else, too: Wrexham, for one, never wanted you for your magic.”
And I absolutely loved how Snowspelled dealt with the potential possibility of Cassandra reacquiring her powers. Instead of taking the easy route and weaving a magic wand or the like, and restoring her magic, the novella takes a different, more fitting and pleasing route. I won’t spoil it for you here!
Snowspelled is a delightful, short, and sweet romp that comes to an immensely satisfying conclusion. I’ve already purchased the sequel and cannot wait read it.
bloggingwithdragons.com
My Book Review Policy
Connect with Me:
| instagram | tumblr | twitter |pinterest | facebook | email |
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Snowspelled is the kind of book that I enjoyed while reading it but the more time I spend thinking about it after I finished it, the more I find wrong with it. So, I’m just going to end the review here and just let it be a book I enjoyed.
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes