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fourthleafluckart 's review for:
The Spellmaster of Tutting-on-Cress
by Sarah Wallace
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Like its Meddle & Mend predecessors, The Spellmaster of Tutting-on-Cress is a cozy historical romance with a twist of magic and focus on interpersonal relationships. Building on the story of spellmaster Gerry Hartford (who long-time M&M readers will recognize) and newcomer to town Basil Thorne, TSoToC explores each MC's family dynamics and slowly blossoms into a sweet romance.
In Wallace's usual fashion, The Spellmaster of Tutting-on-Cress is cozy, whimsical, and profoundly heartfelt. Unafraid to deal with complications surrounding family bullying and the death of a parent, the narrative is beautifully balanced between a cozy atmosphere and navigating complex interpersonal/ emotional issues.
The pacing of the story is slow, but slow in the way of honey and molasses. It's that way for a reason, and remains thematically consistent with the whole of the novel. Gerry and Basil don't know each other at the beginning. Basil is overwhelmed by his new responsibilities. Gerry is navigating her lack of romantic attraction and desire for romance. The pace moves slowly because it allows the story to settle into itself, and when the romance does drop into the narrative, it is honey-sweet and feels deliciously well-earned.
One of my favorite parts of Wallace's writing is their ability to create a large cast of characters that are distinct individuals and that—aside from antagonists— genuinely care about each other. This book was no exception.
That being said, as someone who is only familiar with one of the other books in the M&M series, I found it difficult to keep track of who is who in this book and how they are in relationship with one another. I eventually started to figure it out about halfway through, but it was a little rough at the start. I imagine if one is a more dedicated fan of the series, it is a particular treat to encounter so many characters from previous books and to get some of their POVs.
As someone who lands about where Gerry does on the aromantic spectrum, it was also incredibly meaningful to see how the story navigated Gerry's feelings— or, as it were, her initial lack of romantic feelings. Her resistance to the pressure of relationship expectations from those around her and her simultaneous desire for romance felt familiar and thoughtfully rendered. I left this book feeling less alone and like the author had approached the topic with immense care.
TLDR: This book made me feel like a cat curled up in a sunbeam on a late spring afternoon. If you are looking for a cozy queer romantic read that's both sincere and whimsical, I cannot recommend TSoToC enough.
note: I was provided an ARC of this book by the author
In Wallace's usual fashion, The Spellmaster of Tutting-on-Cress is cozy, whimsical, and profoundly heartfelt. Unafraid to deal with complications surrounding family bullying and the death of a parent, the narrative is beautifully balanced between a cozy atmosphere and navigating complex interpersonal/ emotional issues.
The pacing of the story is slow, but slow in the way of honey and molasses. It's that way for a reason, and remains thematically consistent with the whole of the novel. Gerry and Basil don't know each other at the beginning. Basil is overwhelmed by his new responsibilities. Gerry is navigating her lack of romantic attraction and desire for romance. The pace moves slowly because it allows the story to settle into itself, and when the romance does drop into the narrative, it is honey-sweet and feels deliciously well-earned.
One of my favorite parts of Wallace's writing is their ability to create a large cast of characters that are distinct individuals and that—aside from antagonists— genuinely care about each other. This book was no exception.
That being said, as someone who is only familiar with one of the other books in the M&M series, I found it difficult to keep track of who is who in this book and how they are in relationship with one another. I eventually started to figure it out about halfway through, but it was a little rough at the start. I imagine if one is a more dedicated fan of the series, it is a particular treat to encounter so many characters from previous books and to get some of their POVs.
As someone who lands about where Gerry does on the aromantic spectrum, it was also incredibly meaningful to see how the story navigated Gerry's feelings— or, as it were, her initial lack of romantic feelings. Her resistance to the pressure of relationship expectations from those around her and her simultaneous desire for romance felt familiar and thoughtfully rendered. I left this book feeling less alone and like the author had approached the topic with immense care.
TLDR: This book made me feel like a cat curled up in a sunbeam on a late spring afternoon. If you are looking for a cozy queer romantic read that's both sincere and whimsical, I cannot recommend TSoToC enough.
note: I was provided an ARC of this book by the author
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Bullying