Member Reviews
‘The Laws of Magic’ is a great union of sapphic romance and the supernatural genres.
Isla Hoffman runs a quaint tea shop and has built a reputation as a herbal healer, but things aren’t so successful in her private life. Then Lu Cadman moves into town and is working as a security guard; she has a lot of regrets and a fresh start in a new place that suddenly looks a lot brighter when Isla brings her tea.
The great thing about Ullrich’s writing is that even if supernatural beings aren’t your usual go-to, she constructs brilliant characters who despite imminent threat to their community can’t help but be drawn towards one another.
For me this was a quirky read that I really enjoyed especially because the vivid supporting characters and magical realism made it stand out within the sapphic genre. I have read several of Ullrich’s previous novels but loved reading a fresh switch up of style and tone. I enjoyed the really original characters and a twisty tale; a perfect winter read to cozy up with.
First, thanks to Netgally for letting me read this in advance in Exchange of an honest opinion.
Well I have a lot of things to say and none of them are pleasant. First of all I picked this book because the sumary was really interesting, witches, girls love, a Little bit of mistery, it sounded like a good combination, however in practice it just wasn’t.
If I have to talk about the plot, I don’t even know what it was. At the beginning Lu is watching the mall, looking for something to happen and the point is nothing happens. She has this Kind of thing going on with Isla and with an excuse they ended up on a date, everything is awkard in the way you just don’t feel the chemic. And that’s it, almost in the middle of the book they tell you there is a danger coming and it got resolved in literally 2 pages. It was supposed to be the biggest threat to the town, Isla and the magic and it was resolved almost as if it was a joke. Isla said “don’t come back” and “ok, I leave” that was just it, but we were not even close to finish the book, aparently there was another threat wich didn’t even make sense, but yeah.
The team was captured in a super high CIA center and if you are asking, yes, they got out with the power of family and friendship, like, really? Finally, Lu and Isla end up together because of and old tale which was supposed to be romantic, but the book forgot completly that tale existed, it was mention at the beginning hoping for an amazing return, but it just felt forced, like the same story needed an excuse for this two woman to finish as a couple.
Literally no sense at all. This is my first book by this author and I don’t know if this is the style or it is just a thing of this book, anyway, this was disappointing, I don’t even know how I finish Reading it.
As I said before, good idea, bad in practice.
The overall premises/plot/blurb of "The Laws of Magic" seemed pretty interesting. However, I did not like the romance between the main characters, Isla x Lu. I was more drawn towards the supporting characters. It took me a while to finish this book, and it honestly pains me to admit it. The book cover art was pretty; the general story was decent; but the romance between the characters made the book drag slightly. 2.5/5
I so badly wanted to like this book. The premise was so interesting and with it being fall I wanted a magical read to cozy up with. I struggled very hard from the beginning to get into this book. The characters were a bit too all over the place for me. I had trouble connecting with anyone. The plot kind of falls apart toward the end as well. This a mainly a character-driven book which isn't necessarily bad, but I personally would have liked a stronger plot. I see the potential this book has. It had the right idea but the execution was off the mark for me.
If you enjoy your witches’ warlocks and werewolves this book is for you! The book is entertaining and I did enjoy it. It's an easy read, with loveable characters and a good storyline.
I'll confess here... Don't normally read books with witches, werewolves and warlocks... They just aren't my ‘thing’. But I promised myself at the beginning of the year I would read out of my comfort zone... And this book wasn't half bad! I'm not sure how it matches up to other witches, werewolves and warlocks, but I did really enjoy it.
I've given it a 3.5 out of 5.
🌙 a witch who owns an apothecary and secretly protects the supernatural community + a mall cop with mysterious motives ✨
This was a quick, cute magical romance! It was a bit slow to get into and the character’ hang ups about each other and relationships in general were annoying at times, but the plot picked up a lot towards the end and there were plenty of surprises!
And such a pretty cover, too!
thank you NetGalley and bold strokes books for this arc in exchange for an honest review
A free advanced reading copy of this title was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review:
When I requested this title I knew it was a little out of my comfort zone, since I don't often read romance novels, and The Laws of Magic, while being unlike the typical contemporary and lighthearted romance, did remind me why I'm not usually a fan. I found the two main characters, Isla and Lu, very bland and even by the end of the story I wasn't particularly invested in either of them. The plot of the book starts off slowly, with the first half centring on whether Lu will ask Isla out on a date or not after a series of tea orders and brief flirtations. It has very slow pacing, which I usually appreciate in a novel since it gives time and opportunity for the characters to develop, but with this book I wanted everything to hurry up and get on with it. But what the story hurries up toward wasn't something I would rush toward myself: the second half of the book brings in a much more action-filled plot, with secret magical governments and a plot to overthrow humanity, which feels both shoehorned into the wrong genre, boring and predictable, and also extremely shallow. The backstory of the characters start to unravel toward the end of the story, but snowballs so quickly with this newly-paced arc to save the world, that all the depth that the backstory has to offer is glossed over and unexplored.
All in all, I was disappointed with this book, and wouldn't recommend it.
I just finished this book and it was so fun! It took a long time before it got into the story, but once it did it got so good! I also loved the 2 main characters Isla and Lu, but also the side characters were really fun add-ons (one being non-binary for example and I loved them!). All had their own little ways and things which made them so loveable. I really loved the book and, I don't know if a 2nd book would come, but I really wouldn't mind reading more about Isla and Lu and their shop and bussiness! It was so cute and lovely and a really fun read!
Questo libro era carino e pacioffo, finalmente un racconto con streghe saffiche...e poi il nulla cosmico: al 75% circa del libro si arriva ad un primo scontro che era tanto hypato quanto deludente. Mi son detta "vabbè dai, tanto mi rimane un terzo di libro, ci sarà un mega scontro finale" E INVECE NO, o meglio, c'è una sorta di raid con tanto di vittime, peccato che sia super rushed e insipido. Doveva far piangere? Non c'è riuscito.
Oltre a questo, dico solo che forse un po' più di ricerca sulla cultural appropriation in stregoneria sarebbe stato carino, così come un utilizzo del vero latino e non qualcosa di improvvisato usando un computer. Quindi tre stelle solo per la rappresentazione LGBT+ e la prima parte della romance.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was exactly the fall feeling/hallmark movies and mysteries Sapphic love story I needed.
Interesting book. I liked the paranormal elements in this story very much. The relationship between Isla and Lu was interesting as well. This was a push and pull relationship that at times was hard to understand, because of how these two interacted with each other. I felt at times that Isla was to harsh and insensitive to how she made Lu feel and Lu at times was very confident and assertive and at other times very timid. It took until midpoint in this book to really understand and like these two characters. At the end I was rooting for them to get together. The supporting characters were well written especially the two villains in this story, they were equal parts very bad, creepy, and unlikable. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family, and I look forward to what's next from this author.
The Laws of Magic by M.Ullrich is somewhat of a disappointment. Whilst the premise of a ex military turned mall security guard and a shop owning witch getting together and fighting off sinister plots against their town sound perfect for this time of year, ultimately it felt like it didn't know whether it wanted to be a romance or a cozy supernatural mystery. There was lots of bouncing between the two without feeling seamless or part of the same story. On the positive side Isla's employees are charming and help to flesh out the world and create more of a cozy feeling but ultimately this feels like a little of wasted potential. I would still be willing to try others by this author however.
Isla Hoffman works at an apothecary for “non-humans” helping to provide them aid for their ills and hide their true spirit from the human world.
Her store resides in a strip mall which is being patrolled by Lu Cadman an ex-military New Yorker who holds a few secrets of her own.
The chemistry between these two was apparent but most of it was hindered by the supernatural evil dwellings of the surrounding town.
I enjoyed the elements of magic and the found family from Isla’s shop, but felt like the story was being pulled in two genre directions. I wish the mystery and romance was integrated a little bit better.
Overall it was a fun read, perfect for the Autumn and spooky season.
One thing about Laws of Magic is that it definitely gives that cozy feeling. The main characters feel like my own group of friends and I can almost smell the shop run by the main character. This is not an easy thing to accomplish, so hats off to the writer! The story begins slowly, almost making me forget that it contains supernatural elements. The story's slow tempo made me lose interest and then regain it at a different part. Overall, it feels refreshing to see a beautiful queer story about people over the age of 30, with connections to magic, and also them being absolutely awkward about it!
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve enjoyed some of Ullrich’s previous books, and I like paranormal stories, so was intrigued by the magic premise of this book. Unfortunately, it did not live up to expectations and the main premise was pretty muddled.
The MCs here are Isla, a witch with a tragic past who has sworn off love and Lu, ex-military and divorced and now working as security in the strip mall where Isla has her apothecary (and apparently also lives, though I don’t know how anyone lives above a strip mall). Both are already attracted to each other when the book begins, so we don’t see the first meeting. Isla’s store also houses Christopher and Daria, two of the more interesting characters in the book and the three of them treat ‘in humans’ and humans.
Both characters are also hiding something from the other, in Islas’s case, it’s that she’s a witch. I won’t spoil Lu’s secret, but the reveal takes way too long, coming at just past the 70% mark, which makes the resolutions and resulting resumption of their relationship far too rushed. Not that I cared by that point, because the main storyline in the book of something being awry and then what that actually is was so convoluted and crammed with supposedly worrisome/scary bad guys who were just tiresome instead had me wanting to put the book down multiple times. I only kept going to see Lu’s reveal, and by the time I got to it with 30% to go, decided to persevere.
Isla, Christopher and Daria are all interesting and lovely, Lu is likeable only with her sister and niece as the deception she’s playing out on Isla overshadows their relationship, and was unforgivable in my opinion. The other side characters are either boring bad guys or Isla’s patients, and none are particularly fleshed out. Isla’s family dramas manage to be both boring and ridiculous.
Given some actual world building, a proper explanation of Isla’s powers and why she was so powerful, less deception and more interesting intrigue this might have been a worthwhile read, but it misses on pretty much every level. If you haven’t tried Ullrich before, I suggest Pretending in Paradise instead. 2 stars.
I absolutely adored Isla and Lu and their relationship. I’m always here for a lesbian love story.
The plot was not my absolute favorite, it just felt a bit rushed and not developed.
But I would check out in other works by this author!
Thank you net-galley and bold strokes books for a copy of an e-book in exchange for my review. We love seeing a publishing house focusing on LGBTQ+ literature.
The laws of Magic
This book was such a cute read. Lu and Isla were the perfect heroines who happened to fall in love too.
Magic is always a sticky issue and when you are a witch who runs an apothecary you do your best to keep yourself under the radar while helping those who come to you for it.
Lu is ex military who has a security job (really a Secret CIA agent) she’s only been assigned to see what might show up. When nothing does her boss wants to move her to the next project but she’s not ready to leave yet.
Isla realizes her family issues are bigger than she thought and those family issues are jeopardizing everyone else.
The question is, can she do what needs to be done?
Check this one out!
This is a story about Isla Hoffman who is a witch. She owns a fairly successful apothecary. She treats both inhumans and humans with a mix of natural herbal cures and some magic. She is a very kind person who’s had a mysterious past with her family. And we have Lu Cadman who is a security cop on patrol in the strip mall where the apothecary shop is located.
Isla brings Lu herbal tea every morning out to her squad car. They both start to have feelings for each other but don’t acknowledge them until midway through the book. Once they do, they are both hooked.
Lu has a big secret and it almost ruins their new relationship. Lu tries to help Isla with her inhuman enemy but she is no match for the evil ones power and ends up getting hurt.
I liked this book and the premise was good but it was fairly simplistic. There was not much development on the art of magic, very little time spent describing the abilities of the paranormal characters. I wish that Ulrich would have added more details to this book and more background on both MCs.
ARC received from the publisher through NetGalley for a voluntary and honest review.
There's a lot of potential in this story, the blurb sounded exciting and I loved the world building.
Unfortunately I also found it very slow and it didn't keep my attention.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The premise of this book sounded right up my alley, but it just couldn't keep my attention. It felt a little slow and I didn't enjoy the characters. I really wanted to love this book. I am curious to read other books by this author.