This debut novel from Maiga Doocy exceeded my expectations. It is a magical, fantasy with an enemies to lovers twist.

The main characters are Leovander and Grimm— two students studying magic who happen to be each other’s nemesis.. While paired up in a classes, a spell goes awry leaving Leo being compelled by Grimm or under a sort of mind control to follow orders.

This unfortunate curse leads them on a quest to find help to break it. The two journey into a mysterious forest and chaos ensues.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thinks fans of Freya Marske’s A Marvellous Light or Everina Maxwell’s Ocean’s Echo will delight in this playful adventure.

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC.

Cozy, whimsical, sometimes funny, and a delightfully enjoyable read can be found in the pages of Sorcery and Small Magics. Its feels a bit like a classic screwball comedy romance where the main characters like each other but don't realize it, and then get trapped into something together and become close due to the circumstances, but still neither wants to be the first to admit the attraction. Leo and Grimm are complete opposites. Leo comes from privilege and coasts through much of life, he is lighthearted and jovial, and after an incident in his childhood scared him off powerful magics, he is content with the small magic he practices. Meanwhile, Grimm comes from a modest background and earns his place in their school through merit, he is serious to the extreme, and magically gifted, aspiring to a great career with powerful magic. The two of them get snagged into a forbidden spell and set off on an adventure to reverse it. The adventure shows off some striking world-building and impressive ideas around the magical system, introduces several intriguing supporting characters, and plants the seeds for a romance that we can expect to slowly bloom over the next couple of books. I absolutely relished this beginning to a promising trilogy and can't wait for the sequel. I suggest that anyone who likes cozy fantasies where opposites attract with a little bit of adventure thrown in, escape into Sorcery and Small Magics.
I received access to this ARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Orbit Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

I've been obsessed with this book ever since I first heard about it, and I'm thankful that I was able to get my hands on this ARC!

Sorcery and Small Magics is about two rival sorcerers at The Fount - a magical academy created to nurture the very best magicians. Leovander is impulsive and reckless spell maker, and he gets accidentally cursed by his rival - Sebastian Grimm. We follow their journey to find a cure within the Unquiet Wood, a forest infested with murderous monsters.

The magic system in this book is straightforward and fun to learn about! It's interesting how Doocy has divided magicians into two categories: casters who perform spells, and scrivers who create and write spells; it made the characters dependent on each other and forces them to stick together.

The plot is easy to follow. It's a character-driven story without much happening in terms of plot. It's a slow-burn with slow pacing, but I love stories that take their time, and it was fun to watch Grimm and Leo bicker with each other. The book is low stakes and has a whimsical vibe to it, so I'd consider it a cozy book.

I'm devastated that I need to wait for a sequel. I need it.