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esmayrosalyne 's review for:
Shade Spells with Strangers
by S.O. Callahan, Sarah Wallace
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This review was originally published on Before We Go Blog
Equal parts heart warming and heart wrenching, Shade Spells with Strangers is one hell of an emotional rollercoaster full of magic, mayhem and meddling. This third instalment in the Fae & Human Relations series is cuter, spicier, angstier, and more deliciously slow-burn than ever before, but most of all, it’s simply everything you never knew you needed from a cozy, queer-normative, Regency-inspired fantasy romance.
Now, Shade Spells with Strangers honestly could not have gone off to a better start for me, as we kick off with the much-anticipated wedding of Torquil and Emrys, our adorable couple from Fire Spells Between Friends. Yet for our two lovely MCs Keelan and Silas, things unfortunately could not have started off worse as their passionate one-night stand ends in a painful dismissal that makes both regret all their impulsive actions. Fast forward one month, when the two unexpectedly reunite during the Council’s Fae-Human magic testing rubric project, Keelan as a fae assistant and Silas as a fae-human testing volunteer; cue all the complicated feelings, mutual pining, intense yearning, and delicious emotional turmoil!
Silas and Keelan just immediately captured my heart with their loveable personalities and compelling backstories, and I absolutely loved going on this tumultuous journey of romance and self-growth with them. The reserved yet kind-hearted craftsman Silas gave me instant Mr. Darcy vibes (if Mr. Darcy was a gay Black man) with his deep dislike of city/society life, while my lovely bisexual himbo of a gentleman Keelan had me grinning like crazy with all his adorably sweet innocence. They have the best grumpy/sunshine dynamic, and I was honestly eating up all their delicious inner turmoil as they found themselves less and less able to resist the magnetic and magical pull towards each other.
At some points I almost felt like the slow-burn was burning a little too slow in Shade Spells with Strangers (which is not something I ever thought I would say), and I wouldn’t have minded a few more scenes of actually seeing them bond instead of all the forced courtship shenanigans that Keelan was forced into by the weight of his familial duties and expectations. However, the character work was so strong that I also totally understood what kept them apart, and ultimately I can’t deny that I was totally on-board for the soul-stirring development of their forbidden and seemingly doomed romance.
Wallace & Callahan are just exceptionally skilled at writing the most believable and authentically diverse characters with the most realistic interpersonal relationships, and that extends way beyond just the main romance. Shade Spells with Strangers provides some of the best (found) family vibes, and I really enjoyed that we got to see so many beloved familiar faces make an appearance, while also giving new characters their time to shine. Especially the dynamic between Silas and his big, tight-knit family with all their entertaining sibling banter, as well as all the heartfelt conversations between Keelan and his wonderful dad (hello lovely French accent) gave this story so much heart, and I loved how how the narrator of the audiobook, Maxwell Forrest, was able to bring this entire diverse cast of characters to life. Also, can’t forget all the delightful excerpts of Torquil’s Tribune and the meddling grandmammas, they are the highlights of this series if you ask me.
Now, while the previous two instalments mostly felt like Regency-inspired romances with an enchanting dash of magic, I personally felt like Shade Spells with Strangers really struck the perfect balance between the romance and the fantasy aspects. I really enjoyed the satisfying continuation of the overarching story arc surrounding the Fae-Human magic testing rubric that was set-up all the way in book 1, especially because the magical compatibility aspect played such a big role in Silas and Keelan’s tenuously developing relationship.
What can I say, Wallace & Callahan just did it again, and I don’t think I will ever tire of these cozy, queer-normative Regency fantasy romance romps. Even though each book in this series can technically be read as a satisfying standalone, I personally think they will have the biggest impact if you read them in order. Also, why would you deprive yourself of the wonderful queer romances that have come before? This series is pure cozy fantasy gold, and I can’t recommend it highly enough if you need to escape into a story that soothes your soul and rekindles some hope and faith in the goodness of humanity.
Thank you to the authors for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Shade Spells with Strangers is scheduled for release on May 22, 2025.
Equal parts heart warming and heart wrenching, Shade Spells with Strangers is one hell of an emotional rollercoaster full of magic, mayhem and meddling. This third instalment in the Fae & Human Relations series is cuter, spicier, angstier, and more deliciously slow-burn than ever before, but most of all, it’s simply everything you never knew you needed from a cozy, queer-normative, Regency-inspired fantasy romance.
Now, Shade Spells with Strangers honestly could not have gone off to a better start for me, as we kick off with the much-anticipated wedding of Torquil and Emrys, our adorable couple from Fire Spells Between Friends. Yet for our two lovely MCs Keelan and Silas, things unfortunately could not have started off worse as their passionate one-night stand ends in a painful dismissal that makes both regret all their impulsive actions. Fast forward one month, when the two unexpectedly reunite during the Council’s Fae-Human magic testing rubric project, Keelan as a fae assistant and Silas as a fae-human testing volunteer; cue all the complicated feelings, mutual pining, intense yearning, and delicious emotional turmoil!
Silas and Keelan just immediately captured my heart with their loveable personalities and compelling backstories, and I absolutely loved going on this tumultuous journey of romance and self-growth with them. The reserved yet kind-hearted craftsman Silas gave me instant Mr. Darcy vibes (if Mr. Darcy was a gay Black man) with his deep dislike of city/society life, while my lovely bisexual himbo of a gentleman Keelan had me grinning like crazy with all his adorably sweet innocence. They have the best grumpy/sunshine dynamic, and I was honestly eating up all their delicious inner turmoil as they found themselves less and less able to resist the magnetic and magical pull towards each other.
At some points I almost felt like the slow-burn was burning a little too slow in Shade Spells with Strangers (which is not something I ever thought I would say), and I wouldn’t have minded a few more scenes of actually seeing them bond instead of all the forced courtship shenanigans that Keelan was forced into by the weight of his familial duties and expectations. However, the character work was so strong that I also totally understood what kept them apart, and ultimately I can’t deny that I was totally on-board for the soul-stirring development of their forbidden and seemingly doomed romance.
Wallace & Callahan are just exceptionally skilled at writing the most believable and authentically diverse characters with the most realistic interpersonal relationships, and that extends way beyond just the main romance. Shade Spells with Strangers provides some of the best (found) family vibes, and I really enjoyed that we got to see so many beloved familiar faces make an appearance, while also giving new characters their time to shine. Especially the dynamic between Silas and his big, tight-knit family with all their entertaining sibling banter, as well as all the heartfelt conversations between Keelan and his wonderful dad (hello lovely French accent) gave this story so much heart, and I loved how how the narrator of the audiobook, Maxwell Forrest, was able to bring this entire diverse cast of characters to life. Also, can’t forget all the delightful excerpts of Torquil’s Tribune and the meddling grandmammas, they are the highlights of this series if you ask me.
Now, while the previous two instalments mostly felt like Regency-inspired romances with an enchanting dash of magic, I personally felt like Shade Spells with Strangers really struck the perfect balance between the romance and the fantasy aspects. I really enjoyed the satisfying continuation of the overarching story arc surrounding the Fae-Human magic testing rubric that was set-up all the way in book 1, especially because the magical compatibility aspect played such a big role in Silas and Keelan’s tenuously developing relationship.
What can I say, Wallace & Callahan just did it again, and I don’t think I will ever tire of these cozy, queer-normative Regency fantasy romance romps. Even though each book in this series can technically be read as a satisfying standalone, I personally think they will have the biggest impact if you read them in order. Also, why would you deprive yourself of the wonderful queer romances that have come before? This series is pure cozy fantasy gold, and I can’t recommend it highly enough if you need to escape into a story that soothes your soul and rekindles some hope and faith in the goodness of humanity.
Thank you to the authors for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Shade Spells with Strangers is scheduled for release on May 22, 2025.