A review by xxivo
The Spellmaster of Tutting-on-Cress by Sarah Wallace

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0


This book made me feel like the happiest songs I stim to. 

Don't ask me to explain that. This book made me feel longing for good times, while at the same time feeling absolutely great. It made me feel like a bright summer day when I'm sitting outside in the sun and reading my book (there was absolutely no sun to be seen when I was reading this though). And it also made me feel full of love and warmth as if my partner was giving me a hug. 

I don't know why I kept reading these books off for so long. This is my first in the series and like said it's quite okay to read as a standalone. But gosh do I want to know about all of the other people in the book ASAP and I can't wait until I can meet them properly. I am sold on this series.

As the main character Basil was such a lovely guy. He really tries his best and make things work even though everything is a huge chaos for him. I can't imagine becoming the head of a family like that and definitely was intense to him too. He tries so hard to do right by everything though. He genuinely cares for his siblings and wants to see them well which is so so adorable. Him being hesitant and wanting his life to settle down is so valid too though, but at the same time... this lovely lady is there.

Gerry is such a fun woman too. She is strong in her opinions and lets it be known to friends she doesn't want their meddling, although this doesn't stop them in the end. She is knowledgeable in her work as a spellmaster and it's a thing in her I really admire. But at the same time she also greatly enjoys her work which is such a joy to read as well. But she's so friendly too, always being polite towards the suitors her friends give her and kind to all her shop. I also really love the way her demiromanticism is handled was so lovely. It is my first book where I read about someone who is demiromantic and I really think it was handled with love.

The way these two interact is so so lovely. I just... ugh FEELS. This was such a slowburn, the biggest slowburn I might have read, 500 pages long is really long. But gosh do I love a slowburn like this. They kind of keep dancing around each other, saying to themselves and others all kinds of reasons why it wouldn't work. Until they realize it maybe does work. And that moment was a crying moment for me okay. It was such a sweet and climactic moment I just... had feels. However before they come together all of the interactions and love and care they had for each other was so lovely, so welcoming and sweet I ate it up. And I can't wait to read more when I go back into the other books of the series.

So if you want bright happy feelings this book is for you. 


I received an eARC and this was my honest review.