This is unlike anything I've read before because it follows a new fairy godmother (Celeste) in 1920's Hollywood looking for someone to help in their road to success.

It's relatively short and easy to get into, although I still struggle a bit with getting attached to books written in 3rd person POV. I didn't read it fast but I really wanted to know what's next. There's magic, mystery, sabotage, and a murder. It's a generally good time!

If you like the writing of Once Upon A Broken Heart, I think you'll like this too.

Thank you for approving my ARC request.

It took me some time to read this, as I picked it up and put it down several times. Overall, this was not a hugely enjoyable experience, but I hate to not finish books, especially ARCs. The writer had such a good and unique premise, but I felt the execution needed work. There were a lot of cliches, and they weren't necessary. Luanne Smith has vision, but I wish this was more thought through and developed.

Cute and cozy read.

Set in the 1920s, The Golden Age of Magic is a cute historical fantasy following fairy godmother Celeste and her furry friend. I loved the mystical creatures and 1920s Hollywood setting, but the story felt predictable and the writing style just wasn't for me.

Thank you Netgalley and 47North for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm always up for a fairytale trope getting a fresh rework, and this book certainly provided it! I also enjoyed reading about the glitz and glamor of 1920's Hollywood. A fun beach read.

A modern fairytale, a middle grade for adults? I'm unsure what space this book takes in the literary world, but I think it for sure has a right to take that space. This wasn't anything life-changing, but it was a cozy, comfortable read.

What if the Fairy godmothers that attended Sleeping Beauty's birth, were real and living still in the 1920's, long past the era of royals but still able to bestow 'gifts' in the way of help in succeeding at a person's dream - a prince to love happily ever after, a brilliant career, etc.

We begin with Celest who is sort of a junior Fee Gardienne who while not yet receiving her full powers, is exiled to America to find her first protege to put on the path of success, thus ensuring her own successful transition to full-fledged member of the sisterhood of the Fee Gardienne.

She heads to Hollywood which makes sense as this has always been a place of magic and dreamers. There she finds Rose, a young seamstress with dreams of designing her own costumes and fashions, toiling away at West Coast Studios. Everyone swears the studio is cursed and yet a being whose whole raison d'etre is magic, dismisses the curse talk out of hand, even when she feels an eerie chill (which is the Fee kryptonite). She is casual with her powers despite not being full-fledged and is far to careless about her magical self-care. But of course she is, otherwise how could she find herself completely depleted and magic free at exactly the very moment everyone needs her to step up.

Everything is overly telegraphed, the bad guy red herring is too obvious, and the others are too overtly dismissed. For powerful magical beings, they behave too often as 'silly women' who are easily taken advantage of. Anais getting drunk and spilling all her secrets to the unworthy Edward is both stupid and told to us after the fact. So much of this story is just told to us as an afterthought, we aren't really invited in.

And then the dropping of the protegee storyline and the murder of the star of the movie was disappointing. Why spend all that time in the wardrobe department with Celest aging costumes and Rose working on beautiful gowns if her story was just completely dropped only to be tied up with an offhand comment that she wins an Oscar. The story of the murder and the state of the studio and Nick's career is just forgotten.

Goodreads has the title with a parenthetical indicating that this is #1 which helps explain why this book felt so thin and dashed off. This was about setting up a world in which fairy godmothers exist; they rely on sunlight and gems for power; they have evil counterparts that like to inflict misery and use cold to trap and harm the Fee. This was not about telling a good complex and well-developed story. Really disappointing.

An entertaining, magical story that gives old Hollywood mystery vibes. This story revolves around a hopeful, naive fairy godmother on a mission to find her first lucky protégé. She travels to America with only her small magical companion, wits and determination but realizes that finding her protege was only the beginning. Celeste attempts to navigate the treacherous waters and enchanting glamour of old Hollywood all while struggling to help her new protege Rose. Mysterious things begin to happen all around Rose threatening Celeste’s good intentions. The danger grows each day leaving Celeste only a short time to find out what is causing all the disruptions. She must figure out a way to protect Rose before its too late all while protecting herself from the unseen dangers.

The old Hollywood setting added a sense of enchantment and wonder that really added to the story. Start struck fans, ever changing studios and big dreams all find their way to the reader’s imagination. The idea that there is a group of fairy godmothers behind the scenes helping make dreams come true is a perfect narrative for this story. The supporting characters and lore add richness to the world created by the author. Companion stories about other proteges or previous fairy god mothers could easily become additional works and expand on this story in the future. The story unfolds neatly and is well-paced overall. The curiosity of finding out what was disturbing Celeste’s good intentions keep the reader invested.

This is a fun and cozy read you’ll remember in the future. Although you’ll likely be left with questions about what happens after the events of the book Celeste’s first journey is wrapped up neatly in the end. This story is for those that love imagining there is more at play behind the scenes influencing humanity’s actions. The secrecy of the Fées Gardiennes reminded me of the secrecy behind keeping the magical community from the muggles in the Harry Potter universe. Overall, it was an entertaining story that I didn’t want to say good bye to.

Final notes: This book is for readers who enjoy reading about magical beings influencing humanity for better or worse. For fans of old hollywood who enjoy the glamour of that time and like a bit of mystery.

oouuuuu.. this was goooooooooooood!

Like really REALLY good

Old Hollywood meets a fairy godmother finally being the FMC??!! SIGN ME THE FU$K UP!!!!!!!! Oh , OH, ANDD she gets the cutest fuzzy side kick?! Yes PLEASEEEE

This was such a a fun and creative read all around

A well written story that kept me hooked from the very beginning.
The characters draw you in and keeps you flipping the pages.
I really enjoyed the writing style. I found myself hooked, turning the pages.

I absolutely loved this book!! It was SO fun! I love the old Hollywood mixed with fantasy vibe! I wish there was a little more of the 1920’s essence in the book. But that’s just me having a HUGE love for old Hollywood and nitpicking. I can thank of a few people right off the bat that will absolutely eat this up! Well done !

I absolutely loved Luanne G. Smith’s The Witch's Lens series, so I couldn’t wait to dive into The Golden Age of Magic. While I enjoyed the magical creatures and thought the animal companions were a standout, this one fell a bit flat for me.

The plot was quite predictable, and several threads were left frustratingly unresolved. It wasn’t a bad read, just not as strong as I’d hoped. Still, I’m holding out hope that book two will tighten things up and bring back more of the magic I know Smith is capable of.

Overall I enjoyed the writing style of this book, and the overall concept was entertaining. In reading it, I figured out that the overall idea was just not for me, it is however a good read for those that want what seems to be a whimsical, historic fantasy with some cozy elements to it.

The Golden Age of Magic by Luanne G. Smith is a magical story about fairy godmothers, 1920s Hollywood, and the complicated realm of fate and fortune.

The Fees Gardiennes are a group of 13 fairy godmothers who must guide their proteges onto their journey of destiny. Using their magic, they can help their proteges to be in the right place at the right time, be introduced to the right person, or experience the right success.
Celeste is a fairy godmother in training, sent to 1920s Hollywood from Paris to find her protégé. The glamour of the film industry rivals Celeste's own glamour magic, complicating matters for her, as everything seems to go wrong for her protégé Rose, a costume maker for a Hollywood studio. Rose's destiny turns bad when Celeste suspects something dark is sabotaging her efforts.

I am a big fan of Luanne G, Smith's historical fantasy novels, and this one did not disappoint. I loved the entire concept, reimagining fairy godmothers which I have never come across before in fiction. The glamour, magic, spellbinding setting and plot captivated me from the first page. As usual, the author created a world within a world with the right amount of explanation and magic so that I completely understood the fantasy and backstory. I was charmed by the characters, whose goodness and care were a nice reprieve from darker fantasy characters that I am used to reading about. I loved getting a peek behind the curtain of costume design in Hollywood and it was the perfect backdrop for a story about fairy godmothers and fortune.

The whimsical magic system and Fee Gardiennes were very well executed and original ideas that made this story a page turner for me.

I look forward to reading the next book in the duology and once again, Luanne G. Smith delivered an enchanting story full of adventure, lovable characters, and charming magic.

This mystical tale was a breath of fresh air. It was a light read with a fun 1920's Hollywood setting. If you read this you are in for a good time!

This felt whimsical and lush, and the right amount of magical. It's was a fun light read, I liked the mix of historical and fantasy fiction. The magic system could have been a but more fleshed out for my taste but that wasn't the point really so its understandable.

I went into The Golden Age of Magic expecting an enchanting historical fantasy with a touch of whimsy and in many ways, it delivered. The premise is undeniably appealing: a secretive magical order, an uncertain heroine, and the glittering backdrop of 1920s Hollywood. There’s a lot of potential here, and I found myself invested in the characters and their challenges.

Celeste is a likable protagonist. She’s earnest, a little overwhelmed, and determined to make things right even when everything starts going spectacularly wrong. Her growth arc was satisfying, and I appreciated the underlying message: magic isn’t just about fixing problems for others, it’s also about finding the courage to face your own.

That said, the book is a bit of a mixed bag. The concept is strong, but the setup didn’t always feel convincing. While starting in Paris gives the book a dreamy, romantic flair, the sudden pivot to Hollywood, of all places, felt jarring. At a time when the world was on the brink of dramatic political change, the narrative zooms in on the nascent film industry instead of engaging with the broader historical moment. Given how few Fèe Gardiennes there are, it seemed odd that so many of them would be deployed to California over far weightier global matters.

From a writing perspective, the dialogue occasionally veers into exposition-heavy territory. Characters often explain major plot points to one another in ways that don’t feel natural, which pulled me out of the story at times. It’s a personal pet peeve of mine when conversations feel like narration in disguise.

And yet, I still enjoyed this book. The plot twist, though predictable, didn’t diminish the charm. If you’re a fantasy reader who’s wary of historical fiction, this might be your ideal crossover. It delivers just enough vintage glamour to intrigue without getting bogged down in historical detail, and it leans heavily on magic and mayhem to keep the pages turning.

Who Should Read It?
- Fans of light historical fantasy
- Readers who love magical realism with fairy-tale roots
- Anyone craving a whimsical twist on the 1920s
- YA-to-adult crossover readers looking for magical coming-of-age arcs

Final Verdict
The Golden Age of Magic is a story with heart and sparkle. An entertaining blend of magic, mentorship, and mischief. While the world-building and writing style didn’t always land for me, the core story is sweet and hopeful. It may not be flawless, but it’s a lovely escape. If you’re in the mood for a fairy godmother tale with a side of vintage glam, give it a try.

Grateful to NetGalley, 47North, and Luanne G. Smith for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this short story in exchange for an honest review.

I want to start this review off by noting that I didn’t even read the synopsis before starting the book. It is by Luanne G. Smith and that was good enough for me!

So, that being said, I was expecting there to be more romance in this story. I was disappointed to find there was very little. I believe a sequel is in the works already so perhaps more romance will be in that book but if you’re looking for romance, this is not really the book for you.

My other main issue with the story is the world building. It read like a sequel or spin off where I had not read the first book. The magic was confusing at times and not fully explained.

I would read the sequel to this book. I liked the characters and I want to know what will happen to them. I also will continue to read Luanne G. Smith’s books because I love her writing.

Lastly, I loved the setting and time period of this book. It was really well done and super interesting. This was the first historical fantasy I’ve ever read set in 1920s Hollywood.

⭐️⭐️⭐️