sorcery & small magics
Fantasy, Romance (2024)
Orbit Paperback Edition (374 pages)
It's been a long time since I read a 400-pager in one day. But then again, the lengths I will go to for some gay shit are immeasurable.
Sorcery & Small Magics by Maiga Doocy was an accidental find at my favorite local bookstore (now added to the long list of reasons its my favorite). I've been desperately searching for a fantasy world to sink my teeth into, but I am hopelessly picky when it comes to the genre. The series can't be too long, too heterosexual, too female-lead-with-a-superiority-complex, too much action and not enough characterization. I've enjoyed plenty of fantasy books with those peeves, but I tend to have a checklist of dos and don'ts when I'm reading blurbs on the back of books. Sorcery & Small Magics seemed right up my alley. A queer enemies-to-lovers (mega slow burn style) with a spell gone wrong. I loved it. It reminded me of Carry On, which was a queer Harry Potter spoof I read maybe ten years ago and had been chasing the high of ever since. When I got home and cracked it open, my opinon changed slightly. Not only is this like Carry On, it is Carry On. I had become fully convinved within the first few pages that this was a published Carry On fanfiction. The names were eerily similar, the settings seemed near-identical, and I was SAT.
Like I said, I love Carry On.
Yet, with every page my conviction that this was indeed a published fanfiction subsided. The events and character dynamics were veering in an entirely different direction with a spell system that barely resembled the system used in Carry On. In fact, I'm damn-near positive Doocy read Carry On, had the same issues with it that I did, and wrote this book. For that, I have to say thank you.
For a debut novel, the pacing of this book was incredible. As someone who gets easily bored when fantasy books spend too long describing settings or rules or indulge in over-the-top action sequences, this book was the perfect mix of adventure and character-based moments. There were breaks in the action that I agreed with, though I will say there were a few moments where I was wondering how Leo and Grimm were having entire monologue-y conversations while battling monsters or running away. That aside, I really enjoyed flying through this book.
"I've often thought that kissing is a little like composing a spell. There are certain components that simply must be considered, and behind all of that, an unmistakable intent. But this was a different kind of magic altogether. The unthought-of, unlooked-for kind that swept over you in a rush, uncontrollable."
ʚ ═══･୨ spoilers ahead! ୧･═══ ɞ
As for the queer romance, I personally enjoyed the slow burn. I was hoping for a kiss by the end of the book, but honestly wouldn't have been disappointed without one given the circumstances. With a control spell, I was wondering how Doocy was planning on skirting around moral concerns like consent. I'm glad she did have Leo kiss Grimm of what felt like his own volition, even though still under the spell. It felt entirely in character and just the kind of thing he would do to stir up trouble. At the same time, I'm glad it didn't turn into anything more. Seeing as this is a trilogy with only one book out so far, I'm sure Leo and Grimm will get to that point eventually (without the spell controlling them), and I'm more than glad to wait. I don't read very many "spicy" books (I save the spice for fanfiction), so I was glad that Sorcery & Small Magics didn't delve into that territory just yet. Some things are more fun to imagine.
Leo and Grimm were characters I had a lot of fun dissecting as I read. Though I found a few similarities to Carry On's Simon and Baz when I started the book, I found they quickly diverted from those archetypes to create something new and exciting. I wasn't fond of Leo's drinking habits at first because they seemed entirely unmotivated, but once we learn the truth about his past, I found the character choices made earlier in the novel appropriate. As for Grimm, I'm glad we got to see a sizeable shift in his character in 374 pages, yet I still found myself hoping for more of his caring side at the end. I guess we'll save that for the next one.
The fantasy world Doocy constructed feels very grounded in reality, despite the monsters. Questions I may have had about how the upper class would utilize the magic system for their benefit, or how the Coterie would be stretched thin in a world where magic the traditional (and unnecessary) way is the only way to solve problems were answered tenfold. I enjoyed character discussions about individual magic and how magic systems are born from societies and are not absolute. It made the world feel that much more real, and I appreciated it.
Overall, I had a lovely time sinking my teeth into this fantasy world, and I can't wait for the next one! I hope Leo and Grimm kiss more!
Read my review on Fable.