As an urban fantasy lover, I don't know whether I wish this had leant further or less into the fantasy setting, but I do know that the balance it picked doesn't quite land. Where it does land doesn't give a lot of weight to either the romance or the witches-and-mermaids plot, so both feel out of place against the other. Mo's entire involvement, in the theater, with Tessa and Roxy's relationship, and with Lisa, feels haphazard - it just feels like there's too much going on. Why was the show ruined? How did Mo actually help with Tessa and Roxy's relationship? Why was Mo so convinced the bracelet was the source of the magic? Why would Roxy assume being an assistant coach would be really different from being a kayak instructor? A lot falls apart the second you look closer at anything.

That said, if you just let the whole thing wash over you, it's got a lot of charm. Tessa and Roxy work well as college freshmen roommates meeting again and relearning each other, and while I think more weight should have been given to Tessa having built Roxy up in her mind for 9 years, I did like that they communicated a lot when either of them misstepped instead of leading to a 3rd act breakup or similar.

I have been looking for good sapphic romantasy books that are not YA, and this one was almost there! The plot got so convoluted, it almost felt like two separate stories were being forced to share space in the same book at times.

This book is a wholesome urban fantasy filled with witches, mermaids, theatre, and lesbians. Tessa, a high school drama teacher and director, is in town to put up a Shakespeare play, and Roxy, who is in town for her best friend Hazel’s wedding, rekindles their friendship as they discover that they will both be spending the winter in Provincetown. Just as they are starting to get closer a mermaid shows up. Mo, a mermaid struggling with life on land, is found on the beach by Roxy, who tries her hardest to help her adjust. In turn Mo vows to help Roxy find her true love. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t really connect with any of the characters, but I know a lot of other people absolutely will.

If you love a cheesy rom-com with a big cast of characters and a dash of fantasy, this book is definitely worth a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for providing me with an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

Drama teacher Tessa reconnects with college crush Roxy to collaborate on a Shakespeare play, hoping to rekindle their attraction. Their courtship is complicated by a stranded mermaid escaping an evil force trying to steal her magic. Can Tessa and Roxy overcome their differences amidst the magical chaos threatening them?

This is a cute, mostly light-hearted sapphic romance. It includes some comedic moments and some intrigue surrounding the mystery plot. It’s a fun read overall.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Sapphic, witches, mermaids and romance!! Tessa and Roxy were once college roommates, they both end up in PTown for the winter when Tessa convinces Roxy to help her with her production of Shakespeare. The catch, Tessa has had a crush on Roxy for years and her ex Lisa is the star of the show. Roxy has never been in a serious relationship and makes a resolution to no longer have casual hookups and find something serious. Now stay with me, Mo the mermaid gets washed up on shore and Roxy finds her. Mo is my favorite side character. Trapped in a human body trying to navigate the “normal” world. Mo vows to Roxy to help her find her one love. I know this all sounds a bit wild. But the author combines all of these characters seamlessly and magically. I loved all elements of this book and I have already downloaded her other book. Can’t wait for more to come from this author!

Thank you Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review

DNF at about 60% unfortunately.

The mermaid plot and the romance felt like two entirely different stories. I think either of them could have been okay individually but the combination of them felt too random.

The characters were average in my opinion, they were likeable enough but I also didn't care enough about any of them to make myself finish the book (I also could not stand reading one more description of how Mo eats raw fish. We get it. It doesn't need to be brought up every chapter*)

I'm sure others will enjoy this book more than I did, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

*might be exaggerating how often this happened, but it definitely it felt like a lot.

I'm normally a fantasy/paranormal lover, however I think this book would have worked much better without the weird, seemingly random mermaid/siren story. I wanted to love this book so much, but it was just a miss for me.

Roxy, at her best friend Hazel's wedding, is surprised to meet her college roommate Tessa, who has matured into a beauty.

Talking after the wedding, they discover both will be in town over the winter, and Tessa thinks this might be her chance.

Then the mermaid turns up....

This is connected to her first novel, but it is stand alone. Sort of good but not great romance. I think in some ways the book might have worked better without the fantasy subplot.

The synopsis shares a lot. Roxy Bright is planning to winter in Provincetown for winter. She meets her freshman college roommate Tessa Flowers who is in town to direct a Shakespeare play. Tessa is a high school drama teacher in Boston and got a prestigious grant for the production. Roxy is willing to help out on sets and Tessa who has always had a crush on her hopes more will come of spending time together. Tessa’s ex is the star. And if that isn’t complicated enough Roxy saves the life of a mermaid named Mo and moves her into her apartment.

This is fun and entertaining. Roxy is trying to figure out who is using magic to trap Mo. Someone is trying to sabotage the play. Tessa wants her play to be a success. And Mo is trying to help Roxy find her true love. The magic elements are explained well. And Mo is fun as literally a fish (mermaid) out of water. I could easily read a future romance about her if the author has plans for it. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.

This book feels like a warm hug. It's a cosy fantasy with several sapphic romances. Despite being a sequel, you can read this without having read the first in the series. Its wintery vibes and setting descriptions were so immersive.
The book builds upon a magic system as the characters learn more about their powers. There was a great set up for future books with the lingering threat of villains and potential for the magic system to be expanded

Winter's Spell is a perfect magical winter Sapphic read!

Roxy and Tessa are former college roommates who meet again at a wedding. They discover both will be staying in town for the winter season - Roxy to work, and Tessa to direct a play. Then Roxy discovers a mermaid on the shore and finds herself entrenched in a magical mystery while seeing how things go with Tessa.

The magical elements were really well incorporated, natural but also fantastical. I really enjoyed the complexity of the characters and the way the story resolved. Almost all of the loose ends were wrapped up, but the author left room for a possible sequel. This is a first for me from this author, but I would read another.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review!

Just go with the flow was my mantra for this after reading the synopsis. I'm glad I did. The mystery or supernatural element of the plot blended well with the romance. I was kept interested but more by the secondary plot than the romance. I wasn't really swept along by "the passion". I am also significantly older than the mains and found some of their speech terms a bit rad for me. I think from the blurb I expected a bit more chaos from Mo's Cupid attempts but they didn't materialise, fortunately I think. There was also a section on malapropism's but that was the only instance they came up, the author seemed to have made a deal of the quirk, but then it never reappeared.
Side personal note, I'm not a fan of lovemaking, and self lovemaking being described as dirty.

Thank you NetGalley for a free e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"Winter's Spell" by Ursula Klein is a charming LGBTQIAP+ romance with a whimsical twist, set against the backdrop of theater and Shakespearean production. The novel follows Tessa Flowers, a theater director and high school drama teacher, who reunites with her old college roommate and long-time crush, Roxy Bright, in Provincetown. Their rekindled connection is complicated by the arrival of Mo, a mermaid caught in a spell and stranded on land, who vows to help Roxy find true love despite her lack of understanding of human courtship.

Klein's storytelling is engaging and lighthearted, blending romance with elements of fantasy and comedy. The setting of Provincetown during winter provides a cozy and intimate atmosphere, perfect for the unfolding romance and theatrical endeavors. The incorporation of a Shakespeare production adds a delightful artistic dimension to the narrative.

The character development is well done, particularly in the portrayal of Tessa and Roxy. Tessa's lingering feelings for Roxy and her desire to explore their connection are depicted with warmth and sincerity. Roxy's character is equally compelling, balancing her burgeoning feelings for Tessa with the unexpected responsibility of helping a mermaid.

Mo, the mermaid, is a standout character. Her misadventures in understanding human relationships and her efforts to assist Roxy add humor and charm to the story. The dynamics between the characters are well-crafted, creating a narrative that is both entertaining and heartwarming.

However, readers who prefer more realistic or traditional romance stories may find the fantasy elements of a mermaid in modern-day Provincetown a bit whimsical. Additionally, the novel’s comedic approach to the romance and fantastical elements may not appeal to those looking for a more serious or dramatic narrative.

Content warnings for themes of romance, fantasy, and mild comedic misunderstandings are appropriate. "Winter's Spell" will appeal most to readers who enjoy LGBTQIAP+ romance with a light-hearted, fantastical twist and a backdrop of theater and art.

In conclusion, "Winter's Spell" by Ursula Klein is a delightful and imaginative romance novel that creatively combines LGBTQIAP+ themes with fantasy and theater. Its engaging characters, whimsical plot, and charming setting make it a captivating read for fans of the genre looking for something a little different and enchanting.

𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗦: ꜱᴀᴘᴘʜɪᴄ. ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ. ᴘᴀʀᴀɴᴏʀᴍᴀʟ. ᴜʀʙᴀɴ ꜰᴀɴᴛᴀꜱʏ. ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ. ᴀᴄᴛᴏʀꜱ/ᴛʜᴇᴀᴛʀᴇ.

📚 ᴀʀᴄ 🏳️‍🌈⁠
Rating: 4/5 🌟 🌟 🌟🌟⁠
⁠
𝚂𝚄𝙼𝙼𝙰𝚁𝚈/𝙿𝙻𝙾𝚃:⁠
I am one of those readers that judge a book by its cover but if I am curious enough, I will definitely look inside. And Mo's description in the synopsis had me really curious and I am so glad I read this. The magic scenes were well-suited. The connection between Tessa and Roxy was also good, a bit rocky with all the insecurities and inadequate communication skills but still good. The secondary characters also complimented very well to the MCs and the story. Especially to the story, I feel like it was the story of the secondary characters that made the book more intriguing.


𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦:
𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗼𝘅𝘆 were good. And the others and villains. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗜 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝗮'𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁. In the synopsis, it states, "𝙈𝙤 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙡, 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘰 𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 (𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘥).....𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙣 𝙏𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙖’𝙨 𝙞𝙘𝙮 𝙚𝙭, (𝙇𝙞𝙨𝙖) 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦." 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗘𝗦 𝗔 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗢𝗙 𝗜𝗧𝗦 𝗢𝗪𝗡. That first moment when Lisa and Mo met, I just knew Tessa and Roxy's romance wasn't going to surpass my craving for the "could-be" romance happening/happened between Lisa and Mo. Because Ice Queen and Sunshine, add fantasy to it, sounds like a joyful ride to me. I would break a leg for scenes like when Mo came with raw fish as lunch for Lisa, when Lisa called her pretty and their reunion. I feel denied.


𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙖 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙤 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬.