Sorcery and Small Magics

I finished this book five days ago. I loved it so much that I made myself wait to write this review just to make sure I was no longer deliriously high on it and could write something that was 1) intelligible and 2) not so overwhelmingly positive that I seemed a bit out of control. But now that I’ve healed from the book hangover (the likes of which I have only seen once before), it’s still a 10/10, I have no notes, and I think I’m about to cry right now because thinking about how much I love this book makes me really emotional. Sooo, I’ve failed.

Sorcery and Small Magics is a big magical book about forgiving yourself and finding your place in the world. I easily fell in love with the main characters, Grimm and Leo, and I can’t pick a favorite but I have to say that Leo seems like he’d be so much fun. Maybe a little exhausting sometimes, but very fun. The idea of two characters that are complete opposites with more in common than they think isn’t new, but it’s done so well here that it felt fresh to me.

And the magic system! Okay. We have sorcerers, right? But they’re split into two types: scrivers and casters. Scrivers come up with and write the spells on paper. Casters take the paper and cast the spells. They must work together to create the magic. It’s an excellent system, it’s interesting and well defined, and also: Grimm is a caster, Leo is a scriver, they hate each other, and THEY HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER. Yes, it’s a common trope, no, it doesn’t feel common. It feels amazing, because witnessing the slow evolution of Grimm and Leo’s relationship from rivals to reluctant allies through forced proximity is like watching a beautiful sunrise. It takes time, but it’s never stagnant as there are tiny changes happening constantly.

I don’t have the ability to visualize but the world of Sorcery and Small Magics is so believable and feels so real that I could almost see it. When Grimm and Leo had to journey together in search of a counterspell, the woods they traveled through were full of danger, and I could nearly see it all, which is an extremely rare experience for me and the mark of fantastic writing. I had a thought that I’d love to watch a movie adaptation, but those are always disappointing, so I changed my mind. Who am I kidding though? It couldn’t possibly be as good as the book, but I’d still watch it and probably love it because Sorcery and Small Magics might be my personality now.

I’m so glad this book is the first in a trilogy because I need more. It’s charming, whimsical, and funny (both haha and hehe). I cried (three times) while reading and when I finished, I yelled “AHHHHHHH!” and then cried again because I was upset it was over. The only reason I haven’t preordered a copy is because I’m waiting to find out if I can get a ride to the book launch/author talk so I can meet Maiga Doocy and get a signed copy in person (and if I can’t, I will probably cry for a fifth time, just saying).

I will be more than eagerly and less than patiently awaiting the next book!

Thank you so much to both Netgalley and Orbit Books, from whom I received an ARC of Sorcery and Small Magics. I’m almost sorry I love the book so much because I’ve seen people say they don’t trust overwhelmingly positive 5 star ARC reviews. But not sorry enough to lie 🤷🏻‍♀️