A review by babsreads18
Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

 Leovander Loveage is a scrivener, or spell writer, who mainly dabbles in small charms designed to cause chaos. He’s determined not to write any powerful magic again after a terrible mishap when he was younger. However, a disastrous mistake results in powerful magic which binds Leo to his arch rival, Sebastian. Despite their differences and clear dislike for one another, they team up and head to the dangerous woods to find a sorcerer powerful enough to write a counterspell. As they work together, they discover hidden truths about one another, and even a spark of romance. 

I loved every minute of this book. It’s incredibly cozy and whimsical, with a slow burn romance that was slow, but perfect for the story. The pacing  and world building were really well done, and I felt engaged throughout the entire book. Leo and Sebastian’s characters were fantastic. I loved Sebastian’s grumpiness and all the ways Leo tried to annoy him. Leo’s character was frustrating at times, but had excellent character development throughout the book that helped explain his actions. The magic system was really enjoyable. I especially liked how there were people who wrote spells and those who cast them, and how this played out between Leo and Sebastian while in the Unquiet Wood. Overall, this was such an enjoyable read and I’m so excited for the next book in this series.

I listened to the audio and Ciaran Saward did a great job bringing the story and characters to life. Many thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the advance copy!