oh i love this. literally couldn't put it down.the academia part reminded me of Babel but the journey reminded me of Emily Wilde series. which are two of my most books ever. but combined into something new and fresh entirely.

i think the concept was very interesting. a world full of magic, where sorcerers generally work in pairs, one for writing and composing the spell and one for casting it. ideally the pair should get along well so their partnership perform well too. but unfortunately, Leo paired with one person who despised him so much, Sebastian Grimm. one wrong spell later, Leo suddenly getting stuck with Grimm. there's little he could do about it bit each moment made the situation alarmingly grew so he's ready to do whatever it took to fix it.

a really fun read, with enough tension to make it felt anticipating. both Leo and Grimm were charming in their own way, despite their very contrast personality. i enjoyed their dynamics and every single interactions, actually, since Leo seemed to make it a mission to annoy Grimm as often as possible. they went through a dangerous adventure, facing outlaws and monsters on their way, and multiple live threatening events, but the overall vibes of this book still felt cozy somehow.

though at the end some matters left vague, i have my suspicions. but i can life with that since this is only the first book of the series. it's fun either way. can't wait for the sequel!!

Atmospheric in all the right ways, this slow build story is charming, grim, and leading to what might be a beautiful romance and friendship.

Leovander comes from a prestigious magical family and has all the privileges that come from power, but there is just one small problem... He won't use grandmagic, and can't seem to do anything right. Grimm, on the other hand, is from a family of farmers and seems to be absolutely perfect when it comes to casting, following the rules, and working towards his future. They couldn't be more different, and they fight like cats and dogs. So what happens when the two are forced to work together to remove an illegal curse?

I didn't realize Sorcery and Small Magics is part of a trilogy, but I am so excited to have two more books in store because one just isn't enough. I loved the back and forth between Leo and Grimm, and I really enjoyed how both revealed truths a little at a time as trust began to form. I hope the two continue to work together in the next book, and I can't wait to see the relationship grow.

The world in the story is also something I'm looking forward to revisiting, as there seems to be danger and darkness lurking beneath the surface. From blights on crops that aren't being suitably managed to the Fount refusing to let go of important spells that could help the populace - I feel like book two is going to dig deeper into how Miendor is faring. I also hope it explores the idea of multiple forms of magic too, as the scene in the Unquiet Wood makes it clear that there is something special and unique about the songspells Leo crafts!

I was impressed by this book overall, and while the pacing is slower than I expected I thought it actually worked brilliantly for the narrative being told. If you like cozy fantasy but want something with slightly higher stakes, Sorcery and Small Magics is a great choice.

Chaotic rich party boy going to sorcerer university to study spell writing (Leo) is assigned to work with studious farmer boy there to study spell casting (Grimm). They've never gotten along. Due to a little mix-up, Grimm ends up casting a control spell over Leo. Neither of them want to get kicked out of school (for very different reasons), so they'll have to figure out a way to undo it without being discovered - meanwhile, the spell gets increasingly intense.

More than anything else, this was really fun! The writing was excellent, the main characters were great (though not too sympathetic initially). I really enjoyed the world it was set in, especially the two-person magic system.

I'll definitely be reading the sequel once it's out! (and I'll probably reread this one around that time as well) :)

Overall, I really enjoyed this! Slow burn romances that are actually slow are hard to come by, so highly recommend for anyone who likes an actual slow slow burn. The characters are also another standout - I love a flawed protagonist in a cosy story and this definitely delivers.

I find cosy fantasy hit or miss, and this was definitely a hit and I will be picking up the sequel when it's out. I wish there was a bit more of a self-contained story, rather than a 'part 1', but this is a personal preference.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy!

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

A cute and cosy read with engaging plotline that keeps you reading! I loved the dynamic between characters and the book packed enough emotional punches that left me very happy about the ending!

I started reading this book in the middle of a reading slump, which didn't sound like a great idea at first, but I was quickly proven wrong in my reservations.

The story starts fairly light hearted, with a well rounded and likeable protagonist set against the backdrop of a magical school.
I loved the magic system! It's unusual and really interesting, always needing at least two sorcerers, one to write the spell and one to cast it.
Since the beginning of the story it's hinted at a more 'dark' secret the esasygoing protagonist, Leo, struggles with, which makes me find his counterpart (and love interest) Grimm slightly underdeveloped (in all fairness it could be a product of our pov and the fact that what drives this story is mainly an inernal struggle to our protagonist).

It was a thoroughly enjoyable read, but what convinced me on the rating was it's conclusion and the way Doocy managed to discreetly interweave magic with nature (and music) in a really satisfying way. Needless to say I'm exited to see how this series will evolve in the future!

An unexpected delight!
Great magic system, quick and efficient world building, funny, full of heart and adventure. Leovander Loveage I love you.

Grimm and Leo are not friends. They’re not precisely rivals either. Serious Sebastian Grimm is a powerful spellcaster headed for big things. Lazy, troublemaking Leo Loveage coasts on his aristocratic background, scriving silly little spells to change hair colour, rather than fulfilling his potential. But when the two are paired up in class and the spell Leo gives to annoy Grimm somewhat backfires, the two are thrown together to look for a counter-curse.

This book was so good. It reminded me of a slightly comedic version of The Name of the Wind and I loved it. Magic and comedy don’t go together that easily and when it succeeds it succeeds. I enjoyed it thoroughly and look forward to the rest of the series.

Leo is quite a character, flawed but so very likeable, he reminds me of Klaus from the Umbrella Academy. It’s not often I can actually cast someone in my mind when reading and I love that he starred in this version (in my head). Grimm is such a good foil to Leo, I love how we unpack him as the story grows. He’s a quiet character in the best way.

The world they inhabit is rich and interesting. The magic system and the kingdom are really well explained without going into unnecessary detail. It was really easy to picture and live and breathe whilst reading.

At its core, through all the magic and adventure this is a really interesting story about love. It was pure joy. Highly recommend, especially if you loved Assistant to the Villain!

Thank you #netgalley and @LittleBrownBookGroup_UK for my #arc

A great start to an upcoming trilogy, this book did not disappoint.

A brilliantly well written cosy fantasy, Sorcery and Small Magics pulls you in from the start and keeps you entertained throughout. I really enjoyed the world building and magic system, the grumpyxsunshine slow burn, and the two main characters were rich and well developed.

A warm thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book for an honest review.

What a brilliant novel! I fell into this story head first and was fully immersed each time I picked it up! This is a whimsical fantasy with a very unique magic system, and a very slow burn romance at its heart. It felt cozy largely due to the very small cast of characters, with our two leads, Lovage and Grimm, being the only characters we spend extended amounts of time with. While their dynamic was the key-set up of this first instalment of the The Wildersongs Trilogy, information about a wider world with a complex history was trickled in, and I can’t wait to find out more. Sorcery and Small Magics has a simple plot, but still had twists which left me (a serial twist predictor) reeling!

I SQUEALED when I realised I’d read the last few lines of this book and would have to wait for the next for more. I’ll be in hibernation till then, just give me a tap on the shoulder.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

i cant give feedback for this book. i like to say a pro and a con but i just cant. sorry. try again next time

I was incredibly excited to read this title and I was not disappointed. ‘Sorcery and Small Magics’ is a lighthearted, fun read that is at times poignant, taking the reader on a well paced adventure into an intriguing new magic world. In my opinion, Doocy’s strength is the dynamic she establishes and develops between her protagonists Grimm and Leo, treading comfortably within the tropes of academic rivals and forced proximity whilst still feeling fresh. I am glad that this is planned as a series, because as much as I enjoyed this book, I felt in want of more when the book ended! Doocy has set up a world, magic system and cast of characters that I am ready to return to. A great, enjoyable first book!

Oh I really enjoyed it! The perfect cozy-ish romance to read during October. Although don't expect too much romance - this is the first book in the trilogy, and its a SLOW burn.
It's bit tropey and predictable, but sometimes that's exactly what you want. Really looking forward to reading the sequel!!

An absolutely fantastic cosy fantasy!

I adored Sorcery and Small Magics - I was captivated from the very beginning and didn’t want to put it down.

The magic system was so clever, I loved the way scrivers and casters have to work together to cast spells and it created such an interesting dynamic amongst sorcerers. Combined with the worldbuilding across the various areas we visit, it really made for a world I could get lost in.

I’m a sucker for a grumpy x sunshine story and the interactions between the two main characters were perfect. If you’re not a fan of a slow burn this one probably isn’t for you, because it’s a very slow burn, but that’s something I enjoy and it was done wonderfully in this book.

Despite the fairly perilous plot and high stakes, the vibes remained thoroughly cosy, which I always find an impressive juxtaposition.

Overall, I absolutely loved Sorcery and Small Magics and can’t wait to read the next book in the trilogy!

This was not my most surprising, unique read of the year, but it delivered wonderfully on what it promised. I'm always going to be interested when a magical university is mentioned, so check. Slow burn rivals to lovers? Check (like, excruciatingly slow, but the slower the better for me). Adventures and hijinks? Check. The perfect amount of whimsy for witchy season? Check. Funny banter? Check. All in love, all the ingredients I want to find in a seasonal cosy fantasy/romance. I'll be reading the next one for sure!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

A fantastic story of magic, casting and slow burn romance with great worldbuilding. Sorcery and Small Magics was a great book to read and listen to via audio which I recommend. This was a lovingly crafted machination of a story about the inner workings of magic alongside the slowest of slow burns, which I love.

Leo and Sebastian are such a believable (eventually) slow burn couple because it was done in a fresh way with a new light cast on similar takes of the stereotypical tropes of grumpy/sunshine couples. One of my favourite scenes was the first spell casting especially when inner feelings are explored through dialogue.

The tension of moments in the firest with monsters and outlaws were good for an otherwise "cosy" fantasy. However, saying this the stakes were at medium level for the plot and the worldbuilding added to this. I thoroughly enjoyed this and can't wait for the sequel.

This is one of those books where I was pleasantly surprised, since normally I'd run a mile the moment words like 'whimsical' turn up in a blurb, not to mention the current love of the genre 'romantasy'. *shudder* All too often in my experience, that can be shorthand for instalove romance with predictable plots set against a wafer-thin fantasy backdrop. So it's fair to say I went into this book with all sorts of expectations and was pleasantly surprised.

Plenty of the usual fodder here - a magical university, rivals forced to work together by magic, but fortunately in the hands of a writer competent enough to make it work. Leovander (Leo) is an apparently shallow good-for-nothing who spends his time on the eponymous small magics of the book's title until a curse forces him into proximity with Sebastian Grimm. Grimm is, of course, the star pupil and Leo's antithesis, a bit too serious for his own good. To break the curse, which is worsening day by day, the two of them go on a quest together and hijinks ensue.

It's well done, an enjoyable read and I'm very much looking forward to the rest of the promised trilogy if it works out like this one.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, via Netgalley. This is my honest review of the book in question.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This was an enjoyable read - I liked that it challenged quite a lot of stereotypes around morality, strength and mental health. Grimm and Leo are fairly traditional 'opposites attract' characters, and I thought the conceit of a love spell worked quite well to explore a relationship without there actually being one, though if you don't know how the spell was broken at the end you were reading a different book! However, there was something about the prose writing that didn't quite chime with me, hence the 4 stars.

Wow, oh wow, this has to be one of my favourite romance *and* fantasy novels EVER.
I laughed out loud on the first page already, like, what kind of witchcraft is that?
I do not remember that I have ever been this addicted to a story before. The world building, the magic, the inventiveness, the banter, and again: the romance!! This is a book I experienced with my whole being.
This is forced proximity on a whole new level, the kind of level that makes you think magic is real because the author has bewitched you as a reader.
This is the perfect romantic fantasy novel and I will have to wait very impatiently for part two.

Wonderful debut in a promising fantasy series. I loved this so much and highly recommend it to readers who love quirky characters, fun adventures and super slow burn romance (very slow). I truly can't wait to get my hands on the next installment.

So the first two/three chapters had me interested however I was unable to remain interested after that


I unfortunately did not like the main character and found 0 chemistry between them and the lover interest therefore it was a DNF for me