A review by srivalli
Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy

adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

 4 Stars

One Liner: A good debut!

Leovander Loveage aka Leo is a scriver, the latest generation of the long-standing Loveage family (gentry). However, he is more comfortable with minor charms, any type of alcohol, and frolicking around; anything to stay away from powerful magic. 

Sebastian Grimm is Leo’s opposite in every way. Belonging to a farming background, he had to and is fighting for his position among the powerful. He doesn’t have time for fun. 

However, when they end up using forbidden magic (unknowingly), Leo and Grimm have to find the counter spell fast. They need someone to do it. This takes them into the dangerous Unique Wood. Leo and Grimm have to work together to dissolve the curse. Can they do it? 

The story comes in Leo’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts:

Fun Fact: When I first read the blurb, I saw ‘curmudgeonly rival’ and assumed this was a slow-burn love story of 50-something magicians. Surprise, surprise! This is NA. The MCs are 21+. 

It is the first book in the trilogy, so there’s more to come. The book ends more like an episode, so there isn’t a huge cliffhanger or suspense but there’s enough to make us want to know more. 

This a cozy romantasy with a super slow burn, so we see the MCs bickering almost throughout. There really isn’t much romance, which is more than fine for me. Given their ‘relationship’, I’m glad it is taking time to shift gears. Romance can happen in the next book. 

The world-building is just right – not extensive but not so pale that we cannot imagine the setting. Think of something like old England with the rich vs. poor, Oxford or Cambridge with a handful of guys from underprivileged backgrounds, etc., but where magic is an integral part of the system. However… why do we not a have map for this? 

The magic system is explained well. Whether or not we like it, depends on us. I like the concept which seems to be a sort of distribution of power. 

Leo as a narrator can be entertaining and annoying. He is meant to be flawed, so if you keep that in mind, the story will be enjoyable. Lemme tell you that he can get on your nerves more than a few times. Also, I have grave concerns about his liver. The amount of alcohol he drinks can fill an ocean (or three). 

Grimm is your typical grump – handsome, brooding, talented, etc. He is very particular in following rules but is of course not perfect. I alternated between being annoyed at Grimm and Leo, so methinks the balance is good overall. 

A few side characters are interesting but don’t have much space due to the change in plot development. I hope to meet them (especially Agnes and Sybilla) in the next book. 

The pacing is a bit uneven. The plot does progress even if we tend to go in circles about a certain important aspect. I can see why it had to be kept a secret until the end. 

There’s some humor, and as with many books, it is not always funny. But then, humor is subjective. I found some antics childish and had to remind myself I’m not exactly the target audience (NA fantasy rarely works for me). 

The last quarter is quite interesting. I like the music concept and its appeal on… shhh! No spoilers! 

To summarize, Sorcery and Small Magics is a good debut and reads fairly well. Thanks to the low stakes, most of the book is easy to read. I would be happy to read the next book to see what’s in store for Leo and Grimm. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group (Orbit), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #SorceryAndSmallMagics 

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