3.25⭐️s rounded down for Goodreads
Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things was cozy-adjacent, cute, and a bit spicey. I love a witchy read. We've got a Rivals to Lovers trope, a sister dynamic (is this where the trilogy comes in, following each sister?) that throws down fun nods to greek mythology. The memory magic felt original and was a favorite plot point for me, along with Lucien.
However, there were approximately 3 too many "Shadow Daddy" remarks for my taste (I have a delicate constitution when it comes to cringe nicknames, regardless of sarcasm😬). I also felt like there could have been more 'Show' versus 'Tell' when it came to the actiony bits.
Overall, I definitely had a good time and will continue with the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for the eARC!

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC of this book! I loved Breanne Randall’s first book and was so excited to get to this one. While I loved certain aspects of the book, it fell short. I think the potential is there and I will definitely keep reading since it feels like this could be a trilogy. This story was overly descriptive, absolutely did not give pride and prejudice vibes, had an overly used nickname (little muse), and had some pretty annoying and unlikable characters. I also felt like it dragged a bit at times. Like I said, I’ll definitely continue reading if there are more books because I see so much potential. This book just fell short.

I went into Spells, Strings, & Forgotten Things feeling hesitant - my first cozy fantasy read was somewhat of a miss, but this book completely redeemed the sub-genre for me! From the very first page, I was hooked by the magic, mystery, and most of all - the heart. Set in the charming small town of Gold Springs, this story follows the three Petridi sisters. Calliope - the reckless, emotionally guarded young witch who casts spells using the most personal of her currencies - her own memories. Thalia - the fiercely protective eldest & head of family. And finally, Eurydice (Dissy) - the sweet, peacekeeper. Calliope must navigate a resurgence of ancient dark magic, the reawakening of old wounds, and a very inconvenient bond to a frustratingly attractive rival witch from a power-hungry coven.

What makes this book shine is the balance between cozy and compelling. Yes, it's filled with all the warm, magical vibes you'd expect from the genre, but there are real stakes here too - secrets unravel, relationships crack, and the plot moves with both tension and momentum. I found myself thinking about this story every time I had to put it down, eager to return to it. Someone said this was Practical Magic meets Charmed, and I totally got that vibe—down to them swapping midnight margaritas for lemon basil martinis. It’s got all the witchy warmth and charm you’d expect, but what really sets it apart is how deeply it explores sisterhood, loss, and the resilience it takes to rebuild what's been broken. It's about the ways trauma can fracture relationships, and the fierce love it takes to put those pieces back together. The romance was definitely a swoony subplot I adored, but it was the connection between the sisters—each scarred and flawed in their own way—that gave this story its real magic.

Every element—plot, characters, setting—just worked. The small-town atmosphere felt alive with quirky, lovable side characters and rich magical lore. The witchy vibes were strong, but never surface-level. The stakes felt real, and the emotional moments hit hard. This book is equal parts heartwarming and haunting, with just the right amount of spice, sass, and spellwork. It reminded me why I love magical stories—because at their best, they don’t just enchant you, they move you.

I enjoyed the unique magic system in "Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things," particularly how it tied into memories and Greek culture. The charming small-town setting and emphasis on family bonds added to the story's appeal. While the plot could have been tighter, I found the central romance intriguing, and the ending, though bittersweet, was thought-provoking. Despite some uneven pacing and occasionally unnatural dialogue, the book's imaginative premise and heartwarming moments made it an enjoyable read.

Overall, this was a decent cozy paranormal romcom. I will say this is outside of my typical genre but it sounded so good! The magic system was my favorite part of the entire book, second only to the focus on family and the bonds they have with one another.

I really did not enjoy the plot. It felt choppy and not fluid. The part that bothered me the most though was the dialogue. It did not feel authentic.

The book has good bones but it could have used some more work.

I listened to this on the PRH app. The narration was good, and I enjoyed the experience for the most part. However, the story drags in several places and I found myself frustrated by Calliope. She expects Lucien to have told her everything despite them being from opposing sides of a divide, but is inconsistent with her own information. I yelled at her a lot. It's also super-uncomfortable to have Lucien - an otherwise generally respectful fellow - taking notes from Edward Cullen and popping into Calliope's bedroom after she told him not to.

Overall, I feel like the pacing could have been a lot tighter; shaving 2 hours off the audiobook would result in less back-and-forth among the characters. Usually this genre is my jam, but there are bound to be some that don't do it for me.

A big thank you to Random House for the opportunity to have read this ARC! I am always so grateful!

As always this review will not contain spoilers and will be all my honest thoughts:

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Spice: 2/5

***Please note that the only reason that this review is late because I originally soft DNF'd due just not being in the headspace to originally read it when I received it, and not because of the book itself***

Review:
––––––––––––––
This is the first time I've been introduced to Breanne's writing and I absolutely adored her style of writing and how immersive you're able to be in this world! You could smell, hear, feel EVERYTHING. I also loved the how the magic worked by using memories, that is something I've never seen and I thought it was such a fun (albeit dark) twist!

Calliope our FMC is one of three Petridi sisters, of which are Lightcraft witches is a little chaotic and headstrong while simultaneously being unsure of herself and her abilities as a witch. And while trying to convince her sisters of the looming doom of their world, she accidentally binds herself to her enemy – Lucien who is a Shadowcrafter!

The MMC Lucien, he was my favorite kind of brooding/mean/sarcastic MMC and I loved the rivals/enemies portion of this story. They way they bantered had me giggling!! I somehow just need MORE of them together!

The only things I will say that the only "issues" I had with this story was that it just took me a little longer to get into the story than usual (for me). I did love the prose, but in the beginning it did give me pause but after the 30/35% mark it picked up and kept me engaged and the ending was both devastating and beautiful at the same time.

I got to 40% and decided to DNF this book.
The writing, the plot, the magic, and the characters feel disconnected. No idea what’s happening or why I should care. I received an advance review copy for free from the publisher via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

While I loved the character development, the unique magic system, and the small-town charm, what will truly stay with me are the deeper reflections this book inspired.

The concept of sacrificing memories for magic made me think about how, in real life, we often trade time with loved ones for work or set aside the things that bring us joy in favor of daily obligations. If memories shape who we are, then every moment we experience is important for growth. Being present and truly cherishing time with those we love matters more than chasing the illusion of something greater.

The love story between Calliope and Lucien was both complicated and beautiful. Lucien begins the story driven by duty and a relentless pursuit of his goal, but as the story unfolds, we see his edges soften. Through Calliope, he rediscovers not just love, but the possibility of a future unchained from old wounds. His journey is a reminder that even when we are weighed down by regret or loss, there is always a path forward if we allow ourselves to take it.

I really wanted to love "Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things." Normally there's a lot that I can look past in this sort of witchy paranormal rom-com. Unfortunately, this one just didn't land with me.

Let's start with the things I liked about the book. I loved the cozy vibes of the town of Gold Springs and learning about the community and its inhabitants. I really liked the focus on the importance of familial, and specifically sibling, bonds. I really loved how in the magic system magic is stronger when connecting to the culture of your ancestors. Leading from that, I loved all of the references to Greek culture in the book.

Onto what didn't work for me. First and foremost, the plot just kind of felt all over the place. I never really knew what was happening and plot elements just kind of seemed thrown at the wall without explanation. While I wouldn't necessarily call the book confusing, I was never really sold by what was happening. Moments that were meant to be a large emotional beat (like the death of a loved one) were passed by so quickly by something else that they didn't have their intended effect.

A lot of the dialogue in the book, especially from Lucien, didn't feel like something a person would actually say, leading me to cringe a lot. I was never super sold on the romance. I mean, did these two even really know each other? While I'll give points to the ending for being interesting (and risky), I would have liked a little more resolution from it. <spoiler> Like, she gave up all of her memories of him and then Lucien just waits around until she finds him again? What was he even up to? What gives?! </spoiler>

So much potential in this one, I think it just needed a little more time in the oven.

2.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Dell for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

This was a dark, sweet, and thought-provoking story of love, familial ties, generational trauma, and healing from pain. I really loved the relationship between the sisters playing out and how the decisions of their ancestors still negatively impacted them today. I will definitely buy a physical copy.

I wasn't able to get into this book. I read about 50% in and just couldn't finish. I think if I read it more in the fall then I would of devoured this book. I was so excited for it :(

This was such a fun read! The enemies to lovers banter was excellent, and the small-town and familial characters were well-formed (you know I love a quirky small town). The curse presented a really interesting moral conundrum, and I liked how we got to see how each of the sisters dealt with it, as well as how they handled grief and trauma.

I wasn’t expecting spicy scenes, so when they happened, it felt kind of sudden, and I wanted even more yearning, especially knowing that this is going to be a series. This book was a bit trope-y at times, but they were all tropes that I personally enjoy, so I had a grand old time!

Thank you NetGalley and Dell for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

eh, it was cute but i don't think this romantasy is for me. too much happened too shortly and i wish there was more of focus on the actual magic. I feel like it ended in a bit of a weird place too as there's still too much we don't know.

Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things is the second book I’ve read by Breanne Randall, and I enjoy her cozy romantic fantasy. This book is full of food, family, and magic, much like The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic. Calliope is a bisexual witch with a nonbinary best friend and a queer sister, so right off the bat this book is full of queer rep and I loved that! It also felt to me like Calliope and her other sister Eurydice are neurodivergent; to me Calliope felt maybe ADHD, which is representative of my own neurodivergence, so she felt very relatable to me!

Other than all the rep in this book, there is a dark and brooding shadow daddy, a mystery family curse, and some found family. I did find the magic system to be a little confusing, but for a cozy romantic fantasy, it didn’t really affect the story. Lucien is a French Turkish bad boy who heads a motley coven of other misfit magicians, along with his sister, who becomes a central figure to the coming together of all parties in this magical mystery.

Romance isn’t really my favorite genre, and I felt like this one was fine, but my favorite bits of this book were the family vibes and small town coziness along with the unravelling of a few curses. In the end, this book was 4 stars based on CAWPILE.

This review has been posted on instagram, amazon, goodreads, storygraph, and bookbub as of 3/25/25, links have been added.

I love this book. It was across between a fantasy and a supernatural story about witches. It has a small town feel and it same time. The magic involved makes the book entertaining from start to finish. The characters are intriguing and I love all of the side characters who add to the story throughout the book.

3 sisters have to work with a shadowcrafter (Lucien) after he bonds with one of them. Lucien has an alternative motive for working with them, saving his sister. Their task is to break the curses that are attached to both of their families.

This was a fun, witchy read. I enjoyed the romance and tension between Lucie and Calliope.

Thanks Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell and NetGalley for the ARC!

I liked this witchy vibe story of 3 sisters who when magic is used, they forget memories. The youngest Calliope accidently binds herself to leader of a rival coven a shadowcaster. As they fight their attraction to each other, they learn about their families dark secrets. The story could've been tighten up just a tad bit but overall the story was not too bad.

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

DNF @35%

I don't care for the writing. The main character is annoying and selfish and I don't care about her potential romance. Her and her sisters have to sacrifice a memory every time they use magic. And it's honestly surprising she has any left judging by the amount she sacrifices in only a third of this book.

Thank you to Breanne Randall, Random House Publishing - Ballantine/Dell, and NetGalley for an eARC of Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things.

This book was a bit slow to get into for me and I didn't really get into it until the second half of the book. It was a very interesting concept, but I felt like the family love story between the sisters and the love story between Calliope and Lucien were each fighting for air time and neither blew me away. Once the world-building was finished and the action started, I was definitely more engaged, but still didn't absolutely love the plot. I felt like there was a lot going on, and certain parts of the story were not fully fleshed out. Many elements seemed random, like their only purpose was filler space instead of character development and the overarching story could have done without.

I am interested to see where Breanne Randall takes book 2 of the series, so I will continue reading, but I hope book 2 has a bit of a clearer purpose and goal for the characters.

3 out of 5 stars.