"A young witch cursed with sacrificing memories to cast spells must decide how much she's willing to lose to save her town in this thrilling tale of magic, love, and self-discovery - from the New York Times bestselling author of The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic.

In the small town of Gold Springs, Calliope Petridi and her two sisters carefully guard the secret of their magic and the price they must pay to practice it: memories. Luckily, all Calliope wants to do is forget: the mother who left without a trace, the sisters from whom she feels increasingly distant, and most of all, the way the love of her life shattered her heart two years ago.

But when an ancient evil awakens, the fragile thread that holds the sisters together breaks. As their magic slowly begins to fade, Calliope accidentally binds herself to the handsome leader of a rival coven infamous for their ruthless pursuit of power. Battling the sizzling chemistry with a man she can't trust, Calliope must confront painful memories of her past, dark family secrets, and ancient magic in order to protect the town and all she loves. But will she have anything left of herself?"

Just looking at the cover of this book makes me want to read it. For some reason it really reminds be of Bilbo's birthday bash.

In a modern town, three sisters are cursed with magic that can only be wielded through the sacrifice of their memories. Each sister copes with her magic and tragic past in her own way, yet their devotion to one another is imperative in the face of dangerous obstacles. This book follows the youngest sister, Calliope.

Breanne Randall’s second novel delivers everything you want in an urban paranormal romance; an enchanting small-town setting, strong family bonds, a fascinating magic system, and a sexy, shadow-wielding MMC. Randall’s writing is both captivating and poetic, filled with poignant and memorable quotes. She even included recipes for some of the food and drinks the characters enjoy.

The story is full of intriguing characters, including a personified grimoire named Grim. With an open-ended conclusion, Randall leaves room for what could be the start of an exciting series.

Spice 4/5
Plot 4.5/5
Writing 4.5/5
My Enjoyment 4.5/5

***I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review posted on Goodreads, romance.io, Tome & Instagram. Will post on Amazon when available.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for the opportunity to read this eARC!

Alright, I get it.....he smells like apples and she likes mismatched socks. I GET IT!

Overall, this was a fun enough book. Definitely gave Charmed, small town vibes. I loved the description of the town and environment. It really painted the picture of ultimate cozy witch town. It was a quick and easy read. Good banter is of utmost important to me and this book had a handful of decent banter exchanges. I didn't really care for what I'll call a discrepancy in dialogue between the FMC and MMC. The FMC was definitely modern and casual while our MMC had a sophisticated and formal approach which caused their interactions to feel disjointed. Some of the events in the story felt overly convenient for the plot. The pacing of the development of their relationship felt awkward. It went from hate to instant "I would die for you" in the span of what felt like a few pages, which seems forced.

I am a bit surprised that there will be more books in this saga. While I enjoyed this book enough and there were questions left unanswered by the end, I am not really inclined to continue the series based on this one. I'll give it a 2.5, rounded to a 3.

I love the idea of exchanging a memory for magical capabilities! This was a fun read, and I really enjoyed the sisters. I didn’t feel much connection between to Calliope and Lucien but other than this and some pacing inconsistency, I think this was a good cozy story. I would definitely recommend it for fans of cozy witch stories!

rating: 2/5 ⭐️ | spice: 1.5/5 🌶️

a cozy little fantasy that focuses on sisters bonding together to save the town's magic tree from falling into the hands of the enemy, with a little unexpected help from the shaddow daddy.

i wanted to like this book so badly since the premise of the book seemed interesting to me. while i think the plot and focus on sisterhood and sacrificing memories was interesting, the execution just didn't work for me.

let's first start with some of the things that i did like about this book. first of all, i did like that it was a cozier type of fantasy read. it had some whimsical elements like tea, baked goods, a bookstore, tarot card shop, and a sentient book. i didn't really go in expecting this to be a more urban fantasy setting with real life places mentioned so i did like the diversity that the author wrote into it. there was a nonbinary character, a bisexual character, black characters, asian characters, and other identities mentioned. i also really liked the mention of all the greek foods and sweets sprinkled throughout the story. bonus points to all the recipes included at the end, can't wait to try some of them!

but overall, i found all the character development to be very lacking. breanne randall does a really good job at describing the setting and environment, so i enjoyed that! but it didn't translate well into describing a character's personality or their relationships and fell really flat. because of that, all the characters seemed to lack any chemistry and their relationships just felt so forced. from the sisterhood of the three sisters to the relationship between the fmc and mmc, i didn't really feel anything for any of it.

the pacing was also very awkward to me. there were some timeline plot holes, that threw me off. and the pacing of the fmc and mmc's relationship development made no sense to me. they were supposed to be enemies but in the blink of an eye, they already trust each other without getting to know each other better? rather then descriptions of some random details that didn't really help progress the story at all, like about the fmc's socks, i wish more details were written into the relationships development.

but even if we weren't focusing on the relationship or character developments, i feel like the plot also felt a little flat and was a little boring. the magic system is simple, sacrifice a memory to use magic. but then the explanation of the curse was a little too complicated for what it was.

i think overall, this book would have been better if it went through another round of edits. i liked the idea of the plot and storyline, but the execution wasn't for me. i can see someone who enjoys something simple and whimsical fantasy liking this. it even seems there were some plot points that weren't completely wrapped up and would be a good set-up for a sequel.

i would recommend this to anyone looking for a cozier fantasy read that still has that enemies-to-lover with a shadow daddy, while also focusing on family relationships.

4.5 stars. I’m in love with this story!

I really enjoyed the story of the sisters - it’s a tough lesson to learn, to grow together as siblings while also feeling comfortable to be yourself. Calliope was a great heroine to follow and I enjoyed her arc as she grew into the powerful witch she knew she could be.

And can we talk about Lucien and how he’s dreamy??? Okay, glad we got to that. He’ll live rent-free in my mind for a while.

Thank you to NetGalley, Breanne Randall, and Ballantine/Dell for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

It was cute..and a little bit silly and a lot of cliche, but really , you know what you're getting. Not everything is a great literary masterpiece. This was fun though, and scratched the surface, like a good scalp massage:)

The premise of this book was promising. Witches, unique magical curses, small town. Getting into it, the book continued to bring me things I love in books. Bisexual representation, whimsy.

But the book was definitely missing something as well. It felt disjointed at parts, and I’m not sure if everything was reasonably explained. I was also confused by different names being used for the same person, forgetting who they were. There were a lot of names minor characters, who I couldn’t remember who they were.

And honestly? Calliope kept using her memories so frivolously. And I know that she was doing it because she needed therapy, but like…Go light your candle yourself.

I think there are plenty of people who would enjoy this book. I’m not sure if witchy romance is for me? But if you love witches, sisterhood, the power of three, and you’ve already watched Charmed too many times, maybe pick this out when it comes out next month!

Publishing March 4, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and RHPG-Ballantine for this ARC.

Do you need a hopeful story about three sisters trying to protect their town from dark forces while one (of course) falls for that man that would undo everything they've worked for? Maybe you'd be interested in a magic system where you're either sacrificing your memories or your soul with each spell you cast?

Meet the Petridi sisters, Calliope, Thalia, and Eurydice co-owners of the bookstore/cafe The Tea and Tome (dream workplace). Calliope is constantly worrying her sisters with her reckless use of magic, sacrificing memories for trifles like drying herself off after a shower. They have been entrusted by their mother to protect the Dark Oak, which holds a well of powerful, evil magic that the Petridi family has held at bay for generations. Enter Lucien Deniz, a powerful Shadowcraft practitioner, who has brought his coven to their town in order to secure the power from the Dark Oak for himself in order to save his sister Eléa. On what Calliope believes to be a chance encounter, she manages to magically bond herself to Lucien when they both find themselves at the Dark Oak. What follows is a story of familial healing and Calliope figuring out how to be her own person again.

I really enjoyed the book - this is Breanne Randall's second novel and she really wrote such a delight. I think the consistent messaging of hope throughout really spoke to me in ~these times~ and while it may seem trite, when Thalia tells Calliope "Hope doesn't have the be a blazing fire...sometimes, it's just a flicker in the darkness but it's enough to guide us through" I teared up because I also very much needed to hear those words right now. The characters are so much fun, the number of times I annotated "Bro..." in response to Lucien's shenanigans is too high, but also felt right. We see so much development over the course of the story and the journey I went on was absolutely worth it.

In additional delight - the final part of the book has excerpts from The Tea and Tome recipe book, and let me tell you the Basil Lemonade Martini is so freaking good. I definitely will be trying out the other recipes!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for the advanced copy.

One thing I was NOT expecting with this based on the blurb is just how focused this was going to be on Calliope and her sisters. If I had known that the entire premise of the book was going to be based on their relationship and the importance of getting along/working with them, I would have passed. Especially after reading this and it not being representative of my experience with 2 sisters AT ALL.

Secondly, the premise is super interesting, but parts of it just really didn't click for me. In order to use magic, Calliope and her sisters have to sacrifice memories--the bigger the spell, the larger the memory that must be given up. Super cool magic system, I'm on board so far. But....memories useful for magic are still sort of finite--especially when your life is super routine. Calliope uses magic for EVERYTHING--every other page she's doing a spell, or talking about how often she uses spells for cleaning, etc. How does she have any memories left?? How has her mind not fractured like we're constantly warned about? It makes no sense to me and kept driving me insane.

I also really didn't connect with any characters (except maybe "attack first and ask questions later" Grim). It's a combination of really shallow character development and I guess just not having anything about the development we do have that was relatable to me? There wasn't a single point in this that I felt connected to anyone or was rooting them on, which is kind of a bummer. I think I was really let down by the blurb about what this story really was and it never recovered for me.

The premise is interesting and the story flows/is well written, it just wasn't fully for me for a lot of reasons.

This book is advertised to give Charmed and Pride & Prejudice vibes, and I have to agree! The book begins with three sisters (hello, Charmed!) and we learn early on that their mom is missing. The sisters are cautious about using their magic because the cost of using it is their memories. I thought this was a very unique magic system and I was interested to see how it would affect the choices they make throughout the book. The love story was definitely a little spicier than what we saw in The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic, but I was here for it! I enjoyed the ride we took with this story, and I won’t soon forget it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book.

Spell, Strings, and Forgotten Things follows three Petridi sisters, always three, who are witches with a terrible secret. They are very powerful and their magic must be used to protect their beloved town. Unfortunately for the current Petridi sisters, as well as all those who came before them, they must sacrifice memories to fuel their magic.

There are many things I really enjoyed about this book! I thought the magic system was incredibly interesting and enjoyed watching the secrets involving the Petridi curse unfold as the book goes on. I loved the 3 sisters and the dynamic between them all throughout the book. I really enjoyed the cozy descriptions of Gold Springs. I liked so many things about this book, but ultimately there was just one too many moments that took me out of the story.

One of my biggest pain points with this book was the language. Calliope and Lucien, the MMC, often fell into this very formal, old-school type of back and forth that did not fit into the time period or the rest of the story. The pacing also felt off. I meandered through the first half of the story, feeling slightly bored, but the second half was fantastic and action-packed. I also did not quite believe the romance between the female and male main character, although the spicy scenes were fun.

Overall, I would recommend this book to those who enjoy magical realism and a good witchy story.

Breanne did it again! She built a wonderful story line depicting the complicated relationships that form in families. That nothing is worth sacrificing the memories made and the importance of believing in yourself. How confidence isn’t based on one’s actual ability to succeed but on one’s belief in their ability to succeed.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for allowing me to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things is my first foray into the written world of Breanne Randall, and I was intrigued by the premise of romance, sci-fi/fantasy, and magic. And I found this book so delightful and enchanting!

The story follows Calliope, a member of the Lightcrafters coven who, along with her sisters, is tasked with guarding the secret of their magic. The price for said magic is the cost of sacrificing memories in order to cast spells. Which Calliope seems to be fine with because she wants to forget a lot of the bad stuff in her life. Then an ancient evil awakens, and Calliope and her sisters struggle with their bond and weakening magic.

Enter the Shadowcrafters, a rival coven. Calliope (accidentally?) binds herself to one of these ruthless men, Lucien. Steamy chemistry and chaos ensues as they race to fight the ancient evil. Calliope must face down her fears and painful memories without losing herself. I loved this dynamic duo and was definitely here for some "shadow daddy" drama. Yes please.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were very likeable (especially Grim!) and I would have loved more messy drama and conflict details between the characters, but I feel the story was well-crafted and compelling. The plot twists were a bit too on-the-nose, but chemistry between the characters, the sisterly bonds, and the emotion of the book was all spot on and enjoyable.

I will definitely be recommending this book for my March book club! If you like Romantasy and magic, you should add this one to your TBR!

Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things perfectly delivers on its promise of Charmed and Pride and Prejudice vibes, blending atmospheric magic, swoony romance, and an enchanting small-town setting. The story is filled with twists that genuinely gave me goosebumps, and the magical world-building was both immersive and unique. The romance—equal parts forbidden and electric—brought major Phoebe and Cole energy, making it all the more compelling.

While the pacing felt slow at times, the novel’s cozy fantasy feel and strong sense of community made up for it. The sisters’ tea and bookshop was a delightful touch, and I only wish their perspectives had been explored more deeply. The book leaves some lingering questions unanswered, but it’s an intoxicating, witchy read that’s perfect for fall. Fans of Charmed, especially its early seasons, will love this one!

The amount of love that has been obviously poured into this book is insane. It's truly magical to see the love between both family and found family. Even when I had to set this book down I was constantly thinking about it. It is interesting to see how much Calliope is willing to sacrifice just for the convenience of magic. Watching her grow as a character was beautiful, especially when she realizing not everything is worth sacrificing. The magic of cooking/making something with love is also so special. I love how this seems to be a theme throughout Randall's works. It was great to see diverse representation throughout the book. I am definitely hoping to read more in this series. Thank you to NetGalley and Breanne Randall for the Arc.

Is it fair to say that one of my favorite reads of 2024 is a book that isn’t being published til 2025? Breanne Randall, the absolute magic you’ve made with this one. 💫 Since this was an ARC (thank you, NetGalley!) I won’t spoil anything, I promise! All I’ll say is that there are so many small, beautiful details to this novel — the vibrant sweetness of a cozy town full of friendly neighbors, the dull but ever present pain that comes with a curse of forgetting, recognizing that you’ve fallen in love with someone who would do anything for their family because you would do anything for yours too .. where some books tend to get lost in themselves as the story gets more and more complex, this one only became harder and harder to put down. I’m truly in awe that I could feel so much in so few pages and I can’t wait until this is on shelves everywhere!

really great book! loved the story overall. if you like magic and kinda calm sweet things, this is perf for you! i love all of this authors books and this one fits right in!! if you liked unfortunate side effects of heartbreak and magic, you’ll like this!!

Thank you NetGalley and Dell for the eARC! The Petridi sisters have been protecting their land and magic for generations, sacrificing memory to cast spells. Calliope is the latest in line willingly giving up parts of herself to gain knowledge of spellcraft and the secrets and threats that are drawing closer, while her two sisters refuse the use of magic. When an ancient power threatens their magic and all they've known, Calliope attempts to fix things on her own and winds up bound to a member of a rival coven. As the danger looms ever nearer, can the sisters come together and find the power to overcome or will they lose everything, including each other?

Breanne Randall does it, AGAIN! I was so excited for this one because I read one of her books last year and I loved it so much! I think this was just as good, if not a smidge better than the book I read last year. I enjoyed the storyline and the pacing! I did find it a bit hard to connect myself to the story but it wasn’t anything huge. The characters were also very well rounded and I liked that about the story as well!