#wildersongs trilogy

[mjmr493]

Please tell me I’m not the only one skeptical of Cassius Bethe in Sorcery and Small Magics?! Like he just happens to bump into Leo in the library. In the confusion, he just so Happens to swap in the most dangerous spell imaginable. And proceeds to give Leo advice that just so HAPPENS to ensure that the spell will definitely be cast? No no no. I’m calling it. Don’t let his overly helpful veneer fool you. That boy is scheming.

[luxetobscuritas-blog]

books that magically found their way into my home this month.

The Latern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiragi

Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

Medusa by Jessie Burton, wonderfully illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill

The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki

Sämtliche Erzählungen / The complete stories by Adalbert Stifter

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

What you are looking for is in the library by Michiko Aoyama

Selected Works of the Brontë Sisters

Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy

Back in summer, I stumbled upon Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa and I fell in love with its atmospheric simplicity while simultaneously addressing important issues like loneliness, illness and the societal discrimination that comes with it. I was intrigued to read more Japanese fiction, and it seemed like I wasn't the only one. Bookstores in my town jumped on this interest as well and in a section specifically decorated for Japanese fiction, I found The Latern of Lost Memories and What you are looking for is in the library.

Carmilla is a book that I absolutely adore and I've been eager to replace my worn-out edition, filled with post-its and notes, with a beautiful hardback version, and I've stumbled across this gem last week. I am just waiting for a rainy evening to cuddle myself into a warm blanket with some freshly brewed tea before I let myself get lost in this wonderfully haunting gothic classic.

Medusa has a special place in my heart as it quite beautifully rewrites the myth of the Gorgon monstrosity, highlighting the vulnerability of being human amidst unjust power dynamics. Medusa explores the difficulties and challenges of being a woman in a world made by men and also the struggles men eventually face in the world they've created against men and women. The narrative is both heart-breaking and heart-warming, capturing the complexities of gender in a profound way.

I couldn't resist taking The Full Moon Coffee Shop with me. There are cats on the cover, and the story revolves around a magically appearing café entirely run by cats. :3 I've got pretty high expectations of this little tale.

I also recently purchased Adalbert Stifter's "Sämtliche Erzählungen" to delve a bit deeper into the nuanced craftsmanship of this often-overlooked literary figure. Amongst lovers of his stories, he is celebrated for his profound exploration of nature, human emotion, and moral philosophy.

Howl's Moving Castle was a pre-order from Fairyloot, but I received it this month. Ugh, this book and the movie just feels like home to me, and I know that I am not the only one. I got a little teary-eyed because whenever I revisit stories, movies, or games from my childhood that have carved themselves into my heart, I realize how much time has passed and how fleeting life is, but it's a great reminder to appreciate the magic that not only surrounded us as children, but that is still there in adulthood. We just have to be willing to see it.

The Selected Works of the Brontë sisters consists of classics that are an absolute necessity to my little library. I've always loved classics where female characters and the portrayal of femininity challenge societal norms, a passion that began during my university days when I wrote term papers on gender and femininity in Victorian literature. The Brontës’ powerful narratives continue to inspire with their bold depictions of women navigating a heteronormative, restrictive society.

Sorcery and Small Magics was part of Fairyloot's October adult-subscription box that I receive monthly. It's the first book of "The Wildersongs Trilogy" and the story revolves around Leovander Loveage who specializes in small magics, like summoning butterflies or turning hair into different colours. Powerful spells always backfire on him, so he swears not cast them ever again. But after a forbidden spell binds him to his nemesis, Sebastian Grimm, they must find a counterspell, and their search leads them on a journey filled with monsters and outlaws, and Leovander needs to confront his true magical potential. Of course this wouldn't be a typical contemporary fantasy tale without some romance, so I expect a typical enemies-to-lovers story with this one.

[chocsbookblog]

Book Review: Sorcery and Small Magics

Title: Sorcery and Small Magics (The Wildersongs Trilogy, #1)

Author: Maiga Doocy

Narrator: Ciaran Saward

Rating: 5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for allowing me a copy of this audio book in return for an honest review.

Set in a world of magic where magicians are trained to protect the country from monsters that live in the Unquiet Wood. After a forbidden spell mix up leaves Leovander Loveage under the compulsion of fellow student and rival Sebastian Grimm, the two young men are forced to work together or risk more than expulsion.  Their hunt for a cure to the curse leads them to the Unquiet Wood, where the monsters are only one of their problems.

Ciaran Saward performed masterfully, making each character come alive and had me laughing out loud at Leo’s internal monologue. 

I utterly adored this book, the magic rules were brilliantly thought out, the world building was excellent and the characters were wonderful.  I am so glad this is part of a trilogy as I’m really looking forward to more interactions between Leo and Sebastian!

Final Thoughts: The first book of what looks to be a magnificent slow burn romantasy.

Who would enjoy this: Fans of light fantasy, with a build up to romance. Those who appreciate enemy to lovers, mismatched pairings and forced proximity tropes.

[mjmr493]

I am beyond excited to learn more about Sebastian Grimm in book 2 of the Wildersongs trilogy. But here is a incomplete list of what we DO know about him:

He hates lying to his mom <3

His hair lost its pigment after overusing his magic while casting for the first time

People think he overly scrutinizes spells, but he’s really memorizing them to account for his reading disorder

He planned to take over his mom’s flower trade before discovering he was a caster

His ears turn red when he’s embarrassed

Grimm understood there was a serious issue of Leo’s consent while under the curse (avoided commands, never took Leo’s affection as truth)

He acts similar to his mentor, Phade, who nominated him to the Fount when he was 11

He gets motion sick, poor guy

Phade is the only instructor in the Fount that’ll allow Grimm and Leo to work together

He’s trying to join the Coterie and get a seat in the Citadel so he can change the system from within (we love a man who can organize for systemic change)

People from his village, Dwull, have ostracized him since he was a kid. They blame him for losing control of the rain spell and the subsequent flooding (that distance from others has followed him to the Fount)

He seems only mildly affronted that Leo's Grandmagic threw him out a window in second tier

That man has so much restraint and I just need to know what he’s holding back. Biting his tongue to keep from saying what? Holding himself in check so much that his body trembles from effort. What was he going to do?!

We need his POV in the next book!! Grimm may have be outwardly put together, but Ik inside must be raging.

[mjmr493]

“I needed the curse gone. The desperation was all-consuming, like being drunk, or on stage, or in love.” Leo’s oddly self aware while simultaneously knowing absolutely fucking nothing. Someone help this man.

[mjmr493]

Okay, but we can all agree that the curse was lifted in one of two ways:

Grimm recklessly casting the counterspell while Leo was unconscious → He probably felt super guilty that Leo almost died. Especially because the curse definitely influenced Leo’s decision to save him. Grimm wouldn’t want to wait another second before getting ride of it after all the pain it’s caused.

Grimm started reciprocating feelings!!! They are legit soulmates so there’s no issue. Except the secrecy!

Either way, guys, please get it together.

[mjmr493]

Leo saying he is predisposed to like anyone who tries to take care of him. And Grimm spending the entire rest of the novel trying to convince Leo to not shoulder his burdens alone. I swear the moments of unspoken care between these two make me weak.