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Sisters of Light and Shadow #1
Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things
A young witch cursed with sacrificing memories to cast spells must decide how much she’s willing to lose to save her town in this thrilling tale of magic, love, and self-discovery—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic.
In the small town of Gold Springs, Calliope Petridi and her two sisters carefully guard the secret of their magic and the price they must pay to practice it: memories. The more powerful the magic, the greater the memory required.
Luckily, all Calliope wants to do is forget. Forget the mother who left them without a trace. Forget the cracks in her relationships with her judgmental oldest sister, Thalia, and her distant middle sister, Eurydice. Forget about the very cost of her magic. And most of all, forget the way the love of her life shattered her heart two years ago.
But when an ancient evil awakens in their town, the fragile thread that holds the sisters together breaks. As their magic slowly begins to fade, Calliope accidentally binds herself to an annoyingly handsome leader of a rival coven infamous for their ruthless pursuit of power.
Battling a sizzling chemistry to a man she can't trust, Calliope needs to confront her sisters and the painful memories of her past, dark family secrets, and ancient magic in order to keep the town and all she loves safe. But will she have anything left of herself?
In the small town of Gold Springs, Calliope Petridi and her two sisters carefully guard the secret of their magic and the price they must pay to practice it: memories. The more powerful the magic, the greater the memory required.
Luckily, all Calliope wants to do is forget. Forget the mother who left them without a trace. Forget the cracks in her relationships with her judgmental oldest sister, Thalia, and her distant middle sister, Eurydice. Forget about the very cost of her magic. And most of all, forget the way the love of her life shattered her heart two years ago.
But when an ancient evil awakens in their town, the fragile thread that holds the sisters together breaks. As their magic slowly begins to fade, Calliope accidentally binds herself to an annoyingly handsome leader of a rival coven infamous for their ruthless pursuit of power.
Battling a sizzling chemistry to a man she can't trust, Calliope needs to confront her sisters and the painful memories of her past, dark family secrets, and ancient magic in order to keep the town and all she loves safe. But will she have anything left of herself?
400 pages, Paperback
First published March 4, 2025
312 people are currently reading
73k people want to read
About the author
Breanne Randall
2books1,359followersBreanne lives in the sleepy foothills of Northern California with her husband, two daughters, and a slew of farm animals. When she’s not writing, you can find her wandering the property searching for fairy portals or serving elaborate stuffed animal tea parties.
As a journalist, her work has been featured in Good Housekeeping, Fit Pregnancy, Disney Family, Bustle, Brides, et. al. A seasoned traveler, she imbues her stories with the magic and culture collected from the over forty countries she’s visited.
As a journalist, her work has been featured in Good Housekeeping, Fit Pregnancy, Disney Family, Bustle, Brides, et. al. A seasoned traveler, she imbues her stories with the magic and culture collected from the over forty countries she’s visited.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 483 reviews
August 24, 2024
I haven’t read this book but saw that it got a one star review on Netgalley for having an LGBTQ character.
Here’s my five star review for having an LGBTQ character.
Here’s my five star review for having an LGBTQ character.
December 1, 2024
(Please note: I read an advanced reader copy of this book, courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. #SpellsStringsandForgottenThings #NetGalley)
2 Stars - ⭐⭐
Young Lightcraft witch, Calliope, continues to reel from her mother's sudden disappearence and abandonment, even fifteen years later. She and her two sisters, Thalia and Eurydice, manage a cozy life in their hometown as owners of a local tea and bookstore, but their inability to do magic without sacrificing memories puts a painful twist in the reality of their situation.
When a Shadowcrafter named Lucien and disquieting signs point to the upheaval of the sisters' guardianship over an old and dark magic, Calliope takes it upon herself to protect her family's magic, the town and her sisters. But, she finds herself accidentally bound to Lucien, who has an agenda of his own. Together, they need to face their prejudices toward one another to use magic to save the ones they love.
Author Breanne Randall enlists the curious premise of magic at a cost in this enemies-to-lovers, "Pride and Prejudice" meets "Charmed" inspired novel. "Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things"is her second novel.
Cutting right to it, unfortunately this book was not for me. My thanks still go to NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and Breanne Randall for the opportunity to read this, but the list of reasons for me to like it did not beat out the growing gripes as to why I didn't. This book was hard for me to enjoy. Craft of writing wise, there was simply too much for me to excuse and as a reader, there were disorienting decisions made that for the sake of honesty and professionalism, I think need to be addressed.
The magic system in this, while intriguing in theory, relied too heavily on cliches and missed the mark one too many times due to over explanation and plot convenience. The mix of formal, magic-forward language with the modern banter and bickering, between Calliope and Lucien most of all, was often jarring and made it difficult to get into the story. The dialogue and character voices were two dimensional or completely unrealistic, lacking the entertaining element I think it was meant to have, to a point I noted several times "Who talks like this?". Calliope in particular, characterized for her ceaseless talk, stubbornness, and self-made martyr from suffering of her own creation, was hard to like. The most compelling characters, in my opinion, are Thalia, Eurydice, and Lucien, so I was frustrated with how this story overall was executed.
The plot itself was frustratingly predictable and drawn out unnecessarily. The pacing varied from too rapid —skimming over key action by barely describing what was happening to get to the next thing without fully processing what was going on� to so slow it was dragging on with no end in sight. The highs barely stuck around, so it didn't allow enough time to escalate again to root for the main characters during the lows. It was a whiplash of "Someone's died" to "Here's some more banter", that it made it hard to care about the characters, their wants, needs, and goals.
Specifically relating to the latter in terms of poor timing, the spicier scenes need to be addressed. The smut is forced. "The world is ending, let's f***" got real old real fast. It felt out of nowhere and it was clear that bickering is just their foreplay, when the real foreplay should have been character development. The romance is fickle given that you can't tell if it's because of their bond or because they are truly falling in love. The two hot and heavier scenes were well-written sure, but what purpose did they serve in the larger picture of the plot? Calliope's whiplash attitude from charming to infuriated constantly was incessant, and reading "Little Muse" over and over made it lose its meaning that I wanted to throw my phone any time it came up again. I didn't feel that draw or wave of blush with the two of them. (Also SPOILER: him making flowers literally bloom when he makes her climax was positively ridiculous.)
The "________" meets "_______" formula got old for me very quick. It was too reliant on nostalgia and popular media that it missed opportunities for originality that could have truly driven the literary craft side of things that I think this was going for. It was like this book can't make up its mind as to whether it wants to be a cozy genre fiction or dark academia fantasy epic. It felt like a weak market grab, especially since I could see the ACOTAR influences here. I think this ended up being a way to stay up to date with the current market and that was disappointing as a reader. I understand that three sisters and Shadow Daddy's aren't exclusive to ACOTAR, but simply calling Lucien a shadow daddy doesn't make him one.
Lastly, without spoiling anything, the bit with the aunts was infuriatingly convenient and felt careless. It seemed like a matter of plot convenience, and all in all, the whole book felt like a Plot Stew: just throw in whatever you want and assume it will taste good without any thought for what might /actually/ taste good.
The redeeming factor of reading this for me was the end. It was the only time I felt a proper sense of characterization and chemistry, and made me wonder if there was a different, better story that could have been started there instead. I understand that two more books are in the works for this series now, and unfortunately, I will not be reading them. Like I said, this wasn't for me but I hope others can enjoy.
2 Stars - ⭐⭐
Young Lightcraft witch, Calliope, continues to reel from her mother's sudden disappearence and abandonment, even fifteen years later. She and her two sisters, Thalia and Eurydice, manage a cozy life in their hometown as owners of a local tea and bookstore, but their inability to do magic without sacrificing memories puts a painful twist in the reality of their situation.
When a Shadowcrafter named Lucien and disquieting signs point to the upheaval of the sisters' guardianship over an old and dark magic, Calliope takes it upon herself to protect her family's magic, the town and her sisters. But, she finds herself accidentally bound to Lucien, who has an agenda of his own. Together, they need to face their prejudices toward one another to use magic to save the ones they love.
Author Breanne Randall enlists the curious premise of magic at a cost in this enemies-to-lovers, "Pride and Prejudice" meets "Charmed" inspired novel. "Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things"is her second novel.
Cutting right to it, unfortunately this book was not for me. My thanks still go to NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and Breanne Randall for the opportunity to read this, but the list of reasons for me to like it did not beat out the growing gripes as to why I didn't. This book was hard for me to enjoy. Craft of writing wise, there was simply too much for me to excuse and as a reader, there were disorienting decisions made that for the sake of honesty and professionalism, I think need to be addressed.
The magic system in this, while intriguing in theory, relied too heavily on cliches and missed the mark one too many times due to over explanation and plot convenience. The mix of formal, magic-forward language with the modern banter and bickering, between Calliope and Lucien most of all, was often jarring and made it difficult to get into the story. The dialogue and character voices were two dimensional or completely unrealistic, lacking the entertaining element I think it was meant to have, to a point I noted several times "Who talks like this?". Calliope in particular, characterized for her ceaseless talk, stubbornness, and self-made martyr from suffering of her own creation, was hard to like. The most compelling characters, in my opinion, are Thalia, Eurydice, and Lucien, so I was frustrated with how this story overall was executed.
The plot itself was frustratingly predictable and drawn out unnecessarily. The pacing varied from too rapid —skimming over key action by barely describing what was happening to get to the next thing without fully processing what was going on� to so slow it was dragging on with no end in sight. The highs barely stuck around, so it didn't allow enough time to escalate again to root for the main characters during the lows. It was a whiplash of "Someone's died" to "Here's some more banter", that it made it hard to care about the characters, their wants, needs, and goals.
Specifically relating to the latter in terms of poor timing, the spicier scenes need to be addressed. The smut is forced. "The world is ending, let's f***" got real old real fast. It felt out of nowhere and it was clear that bickering is just their foreplay, when the real foreplay should have been character development. The romance is fickle given that you can't tell if it's because of their bond or because they are truly falling in love. The two hot and heavier scenes were well-written sure, but what purpose did they serve in the larger picture of the plot? Calliope's whiplash attitude from charming to infuriated constantly was incessant, and reading "Little Muse" over and over made it lose its meaning that I wanted to throw my phone any time it came up again. I didn't feel that draw or wave of blush with the two of them. (Also SPOILER: him making flowers literally bloom when he makes her climax was positively ridiculous.)
The "________" meets "_______" formula got old for me very quick. It was too reliant on nostalgia and popular media that it missed opportunities for originality that could have truly driven the literary craft side of things that I think this was going for. It was like this book can't make up its mind as to whether it wants to be a cozy genre fiction or dark academia fantasy epic. It felt like a weak market grab, especially since I could see the ACOTAR influences here. I think this ended up being a way to stay up to date with the current market and that was disappointing as a reader. I understand that three sisters and Shadow Daddy's aren't exclusive to ACOTAR, but simply calling Lucien a shadow daddy doesn't make him one.
Lastly, without spoiling anything, the bit with the aunts was infuriatingly convenient and felt careless. It seemed like a matter of plot convenience, and all in all, the whole book felt like a Plot Stew: just throw in whatever you want and assume it will taste good without any thought for what might /actually/ taste good.
The redeeming factor of reading this for me was the end. It was the only time I felt a proper sense of characterization and chemistry, and made me wonder if there was a different, better story that could have been started there instead. I understand that two more books are in the works for this series now, and unfortunately, I will not be reading them. Like I said, this wasn't for me but I hope others can enjoy.
Want to read
July 20, 2024Pride and prejudice meets charmed, where the protagonist has to sacrifice memories to power her magic and there’s a shadow daddy rival coven leader love interest WAS THIS BOOK WRITTEN JUST FOR ME ?!!?!
March 10, 2025
"A young witch cursed with sacrificing memories to cast spells must decide how much she’s willing to lose to save her town in this thrilling tale of magic, love, and self-discovery"
THANK YOU, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell, for providing me with this ARC! �
what to expect:
🪄small town
🪄enemies to lovers
ٳDz
🪄cozy & magical
🪄witches x shadow crafters
This book had a lot of potential but ultimately fell short for me; it felt more average compared to others in the genre. I really enjoyed the overarching setup of the storyline, which combines elements of "Charmed" and "Pride and Prejudice." The prologue immediately hooked me, and I appreciated the logic of the magic system - using memories to craft magic is alluring and clever. The dynamic between the sisters was also enjoyable, along with the concept of 'shadow crafters.' There’s plenty of action throughout, making it engaging and fun. However, I’m not sure how this story will span a trilogy. Some stories are meant to be stretched out, but others, like this one, would work better as a standalone or at most a duology.
3.5 stars, but rounding down for consistency on GoodReads.
THANK YOU, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell, for providing me with this ARC! �
what to expect:
🪄small town
🪄enemies to lovers
ٳDz
🪄cozy & magical
🪄witches x shadow crafters
This book had a lot of potential but ultimately fell short for me; it felt more average compared to others in the genre. I really enjoyed the overarching setup of the storyline, which combines elements of "Charmed" and "Pride and Prejudice." The prologue immediately hooked me, and I appreciated the logic of the magic system - using memories to craft magic is alluring and clever. The dynamic between the sisters was also enjoyable, along with the concept of 'shadow crafters.' There’s plenty of action throughout, making it engaging and fun. However, I’m not sure how this story will span a trilogy. Some stories are meant to be stretched out, but others, like this one, would work better as a standalone or at most a duology.
3.5 stars, but rounding down for consistency on GoodReads.
December 29, 2024
3.5 🌟
Finished this one! Overall, I had a great time with it!! It was super charmed vibes. V cozy romantasy!!! The way Lucien would speak to her was very pride & prejudice coded!!! While, I did enjoy it I wasnt super invested in the characters or the storyline. At the beginning I was but it kinda dragged for me a little at the halfway mark. The last 100 pages got a little crazy so overall good time! If you love witchy books a good read! 💗
It was also super slow burn!!!!!
Finished this one! Overall, I had a great time with it!! It was super charmed vibes. V cozy romantasy!!! The way Lucien would speak to her was very pride & prejudice coded!!! While, I did enjoy it I wasnt super invested in the characters or the storyline. At the beginning I was but it kinda dragged for me a little at the halfway mark. The last 100 pages got a little crazy so overall good time! If you love witchy books a good read! 💗
It was also super slow burn!!!!!
November 3, 2024
I wanted to love this book so bad. I even pre-ordered it before I was approved for the ARC because I loved The unfortunate side effects of heartbreak & magic so much. But this book did nothing for me 😫 it was overly descriptive and I found the FMC juvenile and annoying. This book is described as “Charmed meets Gilmore girls� which is 100% accurate, but too accurate. It followed the Charmed series way too closely and felt like a repeat episode.
This book could have easily been 100 pages less and I would have enjoyed it more. The over description of every mundane moment dragged this story out longer than needed. To the point I just didn’t care any more and had to skim to the good parts. And if had to read how Lucian smelled of apples, cinnamon and amber ONE MORE TIME I was going to throw my kindle 😑
The story itself has a lot of potential. I know that this will be a trilogy so I think there is time for the series to be redeemed. However, I will not be continuing it. If this wasn’t an ARC waiting for my review, I would have DNF’d at 25%.
Thank you Random House Publishing Group for this Advance Readers Copy ebook in exchange for my honest review.
This book could have easily been 100 pages less and I would have enjoyed it more. The over description of every mundane moment dragged this story out longer than needed. To the point I just didn’t care any more and had to skim to the good parts. And if had to read how Lucian smelled of apples, cinnamon and amber ONE MORE TIME I was going to throw my kindle 😑
The story itself has a lot of potential. I know that this will be a trilogy so I think there is time for the series to be redeemed. However, I will not be continuing it. If this wasn’t an ARC waiting for my review, I would have DNF’d at 25%.
Thank you Random House Publishing Group for this Advance Readers Copy ebook in exchange for my honest review.
March 5, 2025
Breanne Randall is a new author for me. I pick this book up because the title grabbed my attention and it has a beautiful cover.
Description:
For as long as history can remember, there have been three Petridi sisters. Three sisters whose legacy is to protect the town from dark magic and other covens of ill-intent. For where magic gathers, there will be those who seek to claim it.
It's a thankless task for a town that knows nothing of magic, and the price of the sisters' magic is memories. The more powerful the magic, the greater the memory required.
Luckily, all Calliope Petridi wants to do is forget. Forget her judgmental oldest sister, Thalia, who refuses to do magic because of the cost. Forget how her other sister Eurydice only uses small magic for small memories, yet her spells are still more powerful. Forget about growing up with a grimoire that was more of a parent than their mother or father. Forget about the very cost of her magic. And most of all, forget the way the love of her life shattered her heart two years ago.
But something is coming. Something that is slowly fraying the strings of protections that generations of Petridi sisters have put in place...
My Thoughts:
This was a fun adventure, although somewhat dark. There's a curse and a feud between the Lightcraft and Shadowcraft witches that lies at the heart of the story. Things get difficult when Calliope, a Lightcraft witch accidentally binds herself to a Shadowcraft witch. I was fascinated by how the strings worked. The romance in the story was enjoyable with all the hurdles. The story was paced well and the characters were well drawn. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend to anyone who enjoys stories of magic and witchcraft.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
For as long as history can remember, there have been three Petridi sisters. Three sisters whose legacy is to protect the town from dark magic and other covens of ill-intent. For where magic gathers, there will be those who seek to claim it.
It's a thankless task for a town that knows nothing of magic, and the price of the sisters' magic is memories. The more powerful the magic, the greater the memory required.
Luckily, all Calliope Petridi wants to do is forget. Forget her judgmental oldest sister, Thalia, who refuses to do magic because of the cost. Forget how her other sister Eurydice only uses small magic for small memories, yet her spells are still more powerful. Forget about growing up with a grimoire that was more of a parent than their mother or father. Forget about the very cost of her magic. And most of all, forget the way the love of her life shattered her heart two years ago.
But something is coming. Something that is slowly fraying the strings of protections that generations of Petridi sisters have put in place...
My Thoughts:
This was a fun adventure, although somewhat dark. There's a curse and a feud between the Lightcraft and Shadowcraft witches that lies at the heart of the story. Things get difficult when Calliope, a Lightcraft witch accidentally binds herself to a Shadowcraft witch. I was fascinated by how the strings worked. The romance in the story was enjoyable with all the hurdles. The story was paced well and the characters were well drawn. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend to anyone who enjoys stories of magic and witchcraft.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell through Netgalley for an advance copy.
August 31, 2024
You know a book is good when you immediately message the author and ask if a sequel is in the works because 🥹🥹🥹 I really loved this. The author promised Charmed & Pride and Prejudice vibes, and she absolutely delivered. This was so atmospheric and had twists that actually gave me goosebumps. There were so many reveals that genuinely made me gasp!
This was so unique, yet it vividly felt like an episode of Charmed. The central romance was swoony, and I fell in love with these characters. This is an open-door romance, but I don’t think the spice was overdone whatsoever. To be honest, I would have enjoyed a few more scenes because these two were hot 🥵 felt a tiny bit like Phoebe and Cole (because this is a forbidden romance) and I was SO here for it.
I loved the magic system, world-building, and character development. This was such an intoxicating witchy romance with the sweetest small-town vibes combined with action-packed magic scenes. This was everything I was looking for, and I cannot wait to read the next book this author releases! My only complaint is that I wanted more!
If you’re a Charmed fan and you loved the early seasons because of the bond the sisters shared, and if you love the episodes where they explore the past/meet their ancestors, then you will love this.
Thank you Dell Romance and NetGalley for this amazing ARC! Also to the girl who gave this a 1 ⭐️ review for having a LGBTQ character and not putting a “trigger warning�, you can go kick rocks. What were you even doing picking up a witchy romance in the first place? Girl, get out of here ✋�
This was so unique, yet it vividly felt like an episode of Charmed. The central romance was swoony, and I fell in love with these characters. This is an open-door romance, but I don’t think the spice was overdone whatsoever. To be honest, I would have enjoyed a few more scenes because these two were hot 🥵 felt a tiny bit like Phoebe and Cole (because this is a forbidden romance) and I was SO here for it.
I loved the magic system, world-building, and character development. This was such an intoxicating witchy romance with the sweetest small-town vibes combined with action-packed magic scenes. This was everything I was looking for, and I cannot wait to read the next book this author releases! My only complaint is that I wanted more!
If you’re a Charmed fan and you loved the early seasons because of the bond the sisters shared, and if you love the episodes where they explore the past/meet their ancestors, then you will love this.
Thank you Dell Romance and NetGalley for this amazing ARC! Also to the girl who gave this a 1 ⭐️ review for having a LGBTQ character and not putting a “trigger warning�, you can go kick rocks. What were you even doing picking up a witchy romance in the first place? Girl, get out of here ✋�
Want to read
August 18, 2024Mystery memory magic? A sexy but untrustworthy wizard? Could this book be anymore earnest in it's promise to toss my emotions all about like a toddler with a broken yoyo??
March 31, 2025
I love basically anything with magic, and by swept me away to a small town where 3 sisters are witches and barely anyone knows about it. I’m so happy this is the start to a new series, and I could tell by the ending that the next book is going to get really interesting! This has a blend of more serious topics as well as some humorous moments (thank you Danny for the comedic relief and insightful comments!) and we top all of that off with an enemies-to-lovers romance. I loved the tension between Calliope and Lucien that lasted the entire way through, and their chemistry jumped off the page for me.
The audiobook is the best way to experience this book in my opinion and Saskia Maarleveld was the perfect narrator to voice it. She brought Calliope alive for me and made her feel like a real person as opposed to ‘just� a character in a book. The premise with the loss of memories was incredibly unique and I loved that there was LGBTQ representation on top of it. This would make an excellent miniseries or movie, and I would love to see it come to life onscreen. I do think we get thrown into the storyline a bit and would have liked to see a tiny bit more world building, but I caught on quickly and loved how immersive Randall’s writing was. Also, not included in the audiobook: don’t miss the recipes at the back of the book!
Read this if you are looking for forbidden romance, family secrets, and whimsical elements!
Book Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐�
I received a complimentary listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The audiobook is the best way to experience this book in my opinion and Saskia Maarleveld was the perfect narrator to voice it. She brought Calliope alive for me and made her feel like a real person as opposed to ‘just� a character in a book. The premise with the loss of memories was incredibly unique and I loved that there was LGBTQ representation on top of it. This would make an excellent miniseries or movie, and I would love to see it come to life onscreen. I do think we get thrown into the storyline a bit and would have liked to see a tiny bit more world building, but I caught on quickly and loved how immersive Randall’s writing was. Also, not included in the audiobook: don’t miss the recipes at the back of the book!
Read this if you are looking for forbidden romance, family secrets, and whimsical elements!
Book Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐�
I received a complimentary listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
October 25, 2024
I’ll start by saying that I genuinely dislike giving negative reviews. I understand that a book is like someone’s baby, and it makes me uncomfortable to express unfavorable opinions.
However, this particular book was simply not for me. I found it challenging to engage with the story and had to push myself to get through it.
I have several reasons for my feelings, and although I want to avoid being overly critical, I’ll say that I REALLY disliked nearly every single character. The main character was just� annoying, self centered and almost impossible to empathize with. Her relationships were all toxic, and although we were told her and her sister had this deep, complex bond, it really just seemed unhealthy. The love story made ZERO sense, and honestly I just didn’t get it. I literally had to draggg myself to finish this one.
I truly wanted to love this book, but unfortunately, it really didn’t resonate with me. It's always disappointing when a much-anticipated read falls flat, and I really hope others may find something in it that I missed.
But for me it’s simply a hard no.
However, this particular book was simply not for me. I found it challenging to engage with the story and had to push myself to get through it.
I have several reasons for my feelings, and although I want to avoid being overly critical, I’ll say that I REALLY disliked nearly every single character. The main character was just� annoying, self centered and almost impossible to empathize with. Her relationships were all toxic, and although we were told her and her sister had this deep, complex bond, it really just seemed unhealthy. The love story made ZERO sense, and honestly I just didn’t get it. I literally had to draggg myself to finish this one.
I truly wanted to love this book, but unfortunately, it really didn’t resonate with me. It's always disappointing when a much-anticipated read falls flat, and I really hope others may find something in it that I missed.
But for me it’s simply a hard no.
September 27, 2024
2.5 rounded up to 3.
I truly wanted to love Spells, Strings, and Forgotten things, but unfortunately I had to force myself to finish it. The story itself was fine, but the writing style was just not for me. I hated how the author over-explained everything, especially the magic system. Parts of the plot development felt lazy and convenient, and I think the entire thing was drawn out far too much. A hundred pages could have easily been shaven off this book without leaving out anything important.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I truly wanted to love Spells, Strings, and Forgotten things, but unfortunately I had to force myself to finish it. The story itself was fine, but the writing style was just not for me. I hated how the author over-explained everything, especially the magic system. Parts of the plot development felt lazy and convenient, and I think the entire thing was drawn out far too much. A hundred pages could have easily been shaven off this book without leaving out anything important.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2025
This book had everything I was looking for- enemies-to-lovers, magic, cursed witches, cozy vibes, and so much more. The world building and character development were absolutely amazing. The portrayal of family dynamics and chosen family were some of the highlights for me.
There were so many twists and turns that it kept me on the edge of my seat most of the time. The way the main characters fought fiercely to protect their loved ones and the nostalgia they experienced made me feel like I was right there with them, sharing their emotions. It made me laugh and cry, and I’m really hoping we get another book, especially with that ending leaving so much potential.
So if you’re searching for something similar, I highly recommend this book!
4.25⭐️
There were so many twists and turns that it kept me on the edge of my seat most of the time. The way the main characters fought fiercely to protect their loved ones and the nostalgia they experienced made me feel like I was right there with them, sharing their emotions. It made me laugh and cry, and I’m really hoping we get another book, especially with that ending leaving so much potential.
So if you’re searching for something similar, I highly recommend this book!
4.25⭐️
March 4, 2025
This is for everyone that loved the witchy vibes of the early 90’s.
Three sisters with magical powers in charge of protecting the great oak that protects their town. The only catch? In order to use their magic they have to sacrifice their memories. Because of this, only Calliope practices. Her other sisters don’t feel like it’s worth the cost.
Their mother disappears under mysterious circumstances, in fact everything is mysterious when you can’t remember.
Insert Lucien, a handsome and mysterious shadow caster. The arch nemesis to Calliope and her light magic. In a turn of events no one could predict ever, Calliope has a spell go awry and ends up bound to Lucien. Catch me by an oak tree trying to get myself a shadow daddy.
If you like:
Charmed
Pride and Prejudice
Gilmore girls
Shadow daddy’s
Magical realism
Then you will love spells strings and forgotten things!
Oh also the spice is as delicious as Lucien is.
Thank you PRH audio for the ALC of the book. The narrator did an excellent job of bringing the story to life.
Three sisters with magical powers in charge of protecting the great oak that protects their town. The only catch? In order to use their magic they have to sacrifice their memories. Because of this, only Calliope practices. Her other sisters don’t feel like it’s worth the cost.
Their mother disappears under mysterious circumstances, in fact everything is mysterious when you can’t remember.
Insert Lucien, a handsome and mysterious shadow caster. The arch nemesis to Calliope and her light magic. In a turn of events no one could predict ever, Calliope has a spell go awry and ends up bound to Lucien. Catch me by an oak tree trying to get myself a shadow daddy.
If you like:
Charmed
Pride and Prejudice
Gilmore girls
Shadow daddy’s
Magical realism
Then you will love spells strings and forgotten things!
Oh also the spice is as delicious as Lucien is.
Thank you PRH audio for the ALC of the book. The narrator did an excellent job of bringing the story to life.
November 29, 2024
Thank you, NetGalley and Ballentine Books for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book was a cozy fantasy novel with some romance elements. I definitely enjoyed the author's creative vision with regard to the unique magical elements. Sometimes it read a bit slow for some reason and that made it difficult to stay engaged. I would recommend this book if you are looking for a cozy fantasy book with relatable characters and a lot of cool magic.
This book was a cozy fantasy novel with some romance elements. I definitely enjoyed the author's creative vision with regard to the unique magical elements. Sometimes it read a bit slow for some reason and that made it difficult to stay engaged. I would recommend this book if you are looking for a cozy fantasy book with relatable characters and a lot of cool magic.
October 10, 2024
Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things is a beautiful story of love, hardship, and the resilience found within both. From the very beginning, with Joni Mitchell’s music setting the scene in a quirky small Stars Hollow-esque town outside of a cozy tea shop/bookstore, I was completely drawn in. The immersive descriptions evoked the warmth of chamomile tea in a mug, the comforting atmosphere of cascading plants, and the smell of freshly baked pastries—so much so that I had to light a candle and grab a mini Bundt cake while reading! The balance of cozy and ominous elements added a lot of depth to the story. One moment, you’re rifling through Calliope’s messy sock drawer, watching her choose yet another mismatched pair (I really need to go back and make note of all the different socks she wore—she’s got quite the collection); the next, you can practically hear her stumbling through the woods, her foot crunching through a deer skull, sending a shiver down your spine. This contrast between the comfy and the unsettling kept me captivated—not to mention the tall, dark, and handsome, enemies-to-lovers romance sprinkled in! A special note for readers who enjoy sensory experiences: every meal, pastry, and beverage mentioned throughout the book is so detailed and vivid that you can practically taste it—and to top it off, there’s a recipe section at the end, so you can bring those flavors to life in your own kitchen. I look forward to flipping through the recipes to decide what I’ll make for release day on March 4, 2025, and rereading this book!
This book is not just a story; it’s an experience. The immersive world-building, the complex emotions, and the anticipation of what’s to come make Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things a standout. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next! I am immediately adding Breanne Randall’s previous book to my TBR! Thank you to NetGalley and Breanne Randall (@houseofrandall) for my very first ARC!
This book is not just a story; it’s an experience. The immersive world-building, the complex emotions, and the anticipation of what’s to come make Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things a standout. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next! I am immediately adding Breanne Randall’s previous book to my TBR! Thank you to NetGalley and Breanne Randall (@houseofrandall) for my very first ARC!
October 10, 2024
*I was given an advance copy of this book to read*
I enjoyed this story. I loved the world building and the descriptive exploration of the characters and their surroundings. This was a sweet and fairly easy read and I do recommend for lighter weight fantasy lovers. My favorite part of Breanne Randall’s books remains the included recipes! Such a lovely added detail.
I enjoyed this story. I loved the world building and the descriptive exploration of the characters and their surroundings. This was a sweet and fairly easy read and I do recommend for lighter weight fantasy lovers. My favorite part of Breanne Randall’s books remains the included recipes! Such a lovely added detail.
March 24, 2025
Some things seem very obvious, some things should be better explained, the attraction kinda happens out of nowhere, and most of all, it never, ever feels as though it’s a sacrifice for her to give up a memory.
Also, I can’t take any more metaphors or similes.
DNF about 4 hours into the audiobook.
Also, I can’t take any more metaphors or similes.
DNF about 4 hours into the audiobook.
February 8, 2025
2.75 ⭐️ I really, REALLY wanted to absolutely fall in love with every aspect of this book - the premise, the characters, the setting - but I felt very confused, a little letdown, and a lot was left wanting more development across the board.
This book felt like it was trying to be 5 things at the same time and all at the same intensity. Smalltown ✔️ Unique magic system ✔️ Enemies-to-lovers ✔️ Food/Drink-themed ✔️ Shadow-daddy ✔️And while in theory this is all fine and possible... in execution here, it felt muddled.
We had a rich history and cultural love for Greek food and Greek heritage, but we're stuck in a small-town that's supposed to feel like family to the FMC and her sisters. It was whiplash as a reader, trying to feel such a strong connection to both places at the same time.
We had a unique magic system, but when we're constantly told "we don't know why or how it works like that, it just does" it feels less intriguing & with constant discoveries that (unfortunately) ask more questions and leave us with no answers, it doesn't feel immersive- it's frustrating. It feels like a band-aid slapped on and labeled, "it works like that because I said so."
The relationship in this story was rough for me. Insta-love? Insta-hate? Rivals-to-lovers? Enemies-to-lovers? "You're so annoying and frustrating and I hate everything you represent" for 80% of the book to quickly "F*ck me" and "I'll worship you"... I feel like the intricacies of this relationship should have been more fleshed out over the 400 pages we were given. I wanted to feel the push-and-pull right along with the characters and see them develop, but I just didn't see that happen.
If this book had spent more time in the tea shop or focused more on the shared memories and meals of the sisters, I would have felt more satisfied with how these elements were hapzardly thrown into the story as plot points. Everything sounded delicious, but it often felt out of place given the mood or surroundings.
The overuse of the term "shadow-daddy" is one thing, but the way it's played up for the MMC is almost cringe-y. He's meant to be multi-layered, incredibly powerful, and we discover deeper meanings to his motives throughout the story, yet he's constantly (and flat out called this by a character in the book) troped-up to just a dark-wielding heartthrob.
My final qualm about this book, is how it's being described/advertised. I feel labeling this as a magical, modern day Bridgerton is misleading and a more accurate description would include more contemporary terms (ex. witch-y smalltown romance, magical sisters and their whimsical tea shop adventures, generational magic & curses amidst a dark forest, etc).
I enjoyed parts of this book, truly I did, but I don't feel like what I stepped into was what I was promised before starting it. And after finishing it, the ending had me feeling very ambiguous and confused as to how so much and so little took place. Not only that, but the reader just had to accept unanswered questions that were integral to the entire plot.
I know this novel will find its place in the hearts of countless readers, I'm just sad I'm not one of them. But I wish the author all the success in the world when this book finally publishes and is reportedly being created into a TV series.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for giving me the opportunity to read this book early and share my honest review. All reviews will be posted to my socials (Netgalley, ŷ, Fable, IG).
This book felt like it was trying to be 5 things at the same time and all at the same intensity. Smalltown ✔️ Unique magic system ✔️ Enemies-to-lovers ✔️ Food/Drink-themed ✔️ Shadow-daddy ✔️And while in theory this is all fine and possible... in execution here, it felt muddled.
We had a rich history and cultural love for Greek food and Greek heritage, but we're stuck in a small-town that's supposed to feel like family to the FMC and her sisters. It was whiplash as a reader, trying to feel such a strong connection to both places at the same time.
We had a unique magic system, but when we're constantly told "we don't know why or how it works like that, it just does" it feels less intriguing & with constant discoveries that (unfortunately) ask more questions and leave us with no answers, it doesn't feel immersive- it's frustrating. It feels like a band-aid slapped on and labeled, "it works like that because I said so."
The relationship in this story was rough for me. Insta-love? Insta-hate? Rivals-to-lovers? Enemies-to-lovers? "You're so annoying and frustrating and I hate everything you represent" for 80% of the book to quickly "F*ck me" and "I'll worship you"... I feel like the intricacies of this relationship should have been more fleshed out over the 400 pages we were given. I wanted to feel the push-and-pull right along with the characters and see them develop, but I just didn't see that happen.
If this book had spent more time in the tea shop or focused more on the shared memories and meals of the sisters, I would have felt more satisfied with how these elements were hapzardly thrown into the story as plot points. Everything sounded delicious, but it often felt out of place given the mood or surroundings.
The overuse of the term "shadow-daddy" is one thing, but the way it's played up for the MMC is almost cringe-y. He's meant to be multi-layered, incredibly powerful, and we discover deeper meanings to his motives throughout the story, yet he's constantly (and flat out called this by a character in the book) troped-up to just a dark-wielding heartthrob.
My final qualm about this book, is how it's being described/advertised. I feel labeling this as a magical, modern day Bridgerton is misleading and a more accurate description would include more contemporary terms (ex. witch-y smalltown romance, magical sisters and their whimsical tea shop adventures, generational magic & curses amidst a dark forest, etc).
I enjoyed parts of this book, truly I did, but I don't feel like what I stepped into was what I was promised before starting it. And after finishing it, the ending had me feeling very ambiguous and confused as to how so much and so little took place. Not only that, but the reader just had to accept unanswered questions that were integral to the entire plot.
I know this novel will find its place in the hearts of countless readers, I'm just sad I'm not one of them. But I wish the author all the success in the world when this book finally publishes and is reportedly being created into a TV series.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for giving me the opportunity to read this book early and share my honest review. All reviews will be posted to my socials (Netgalley, ŷ, Fable, IG).
August 30, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley, Breanne Randall, and Random House publishing for the advanced copy of Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things.
Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things was an enjoyable and cute read. I found the pacing of the story to be a bit slow. This was my second book I have read of Randall's. Where Randall flourishes is with her unique story concepts and the world she creates for her characters. I love books with small town settings and a community that takes care of each other. I really enjoyed the idea of the sisters' tea and bookshop. It would be a place I would wish to frequent had it been a real place.
I gave Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things a three star rating the main reason being, I was not invested in the characters of the story. I would have liked having the perspectives of the two sisters, Thalia and Eurydice shown more presently throughout the story instead of them appearing to be written as background characters. Given their connection to Calliope and their roles in the story, they should have had a bigger presence. The character that I felt was best developed overall was Lucien. I found I liked him and his role to play in the story. I wanted to like Calliope, but I couldn't relate to her character.
My second reason for my rating is the story ended with quite a few questions unanswered. I feel this is a stand alone book and the likihood of there being a second book to answer these questions is unlikely. I would change my rating to 4 stars if the questions surrounding Calliope's mother and her aunts were answered. We understand what happened to the two aunts, but where is Penelope? Is she still alive? Will she return? Penelope's departure from her daughters' life is a huge part of the back story. These questions should be answered in the conclusion. As is, Randall has written a decent, but predicatable ending.
Overall, Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things is a well rounded story. What can be praised the most is how inclusive Randall is with Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things. There is a binary character and a LGBTQIA romance. While this particular romance isn't my preferred cup of tea, I know many will enjoy and appreciate the inclusion. I will be recommending this book to others as it is worth the read. It will be published in March, but I highly recommend reading this book in the fall season as it is a cozy read with witches and magic.
Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things was an enjoyable and cute read. I found the pacing of the story to be a bit slow. This was my second book I have read of Randall's. Where Randall flourishes is with her unique story concepts and the world she creates for her characters. I love books with small town settings and a community that takes care of each other. I really enjoyed the idea of the sisters' tea and bookshop. It would be a place I would wish to frequent had it been a real place.
I gave Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things a three star rating the main reason being, I was not invested in the characters of the story. I would have liked having the perspectives of the two sisters, Thalia and Eurydice shown more presently throughout the story instead of them appearing to be written as background characters. Given their connection to Calliope and their roles in the story, they should have had a bigger presence. The character that I felt was best developed overall was Lucien. I found I liked him and his role to play in the story. I wanted to like Calliope, but I couldn't relate to her character.
My second reason for my rating is the story ended with quite a few questions unanswered. I feel this is a stand alone book and the likihood of there being a second book to answer these questions is unlikely. I would change my rating to 4 stars if the questions surrounding Calliope's mother and her aunts were answered. We understand what happened to the two aunts, but where is Penelope? Is she still alive? Will she return? Penelope's departure from her daughters' life is a huge part of the back story. These questions should be answered in the conclusion. As is, Randall has written a decent, but predicatable ending.
Overall, Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things is a well rounded story. What can be praised the most is how inclusive Randall is with Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things. There is a binary character and a LGBTQIA romance. While this particular romance isn't my preferred cup of tea, I know many will enjoy and appreciate the inclusion. I will be recommending this book to others as it is worth the read. It will be published in March, but I highly recommend reading this book in the fall season as it is a cozy read with witches and magic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2025
I absolutely loved everything about this book and really hope there is a sequel! When I want to keep track of a series, I always mark it on my calendar to make sure I don't forget about it, as there are so many other books out there. I will be putting this on my calendar to look for a sequel, or even just to see what else this author is writing.
Lucien is part Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice) and part Rhysand (A Court of Thorn and Roses series). You know he is up to something, not sure exactly how evil it is, but you love him anyway. It's so easy to ignore all those red flags in books that you would be yelling at your friend about in real life. But, really, besides all the evil planning and everything (lol), he had less red flags than so many other characters I read about this year. I ranted in quite a few reviews about that. Lucien was pretty great that way.
I definitely could tell that the author was a fan of Pride and Prejudice, with a few casual quotes from the book (nothing you will notice unless you know the book). They never refer to the book, just use popular quotes in conversation. I would not say this is anything like Pride and Prejudice, other than Lucien reminding me a bit of Mr. Darcy. I am sure tons of readers will disagree with me on that point. Not even sure what it was, just a feeling.
Calliope is attracted to men and women, so if you have any issue with any same sex attraction, here is your warning. Really is sad that I need to include that, but I hate for the author to get lower ratings because people get upset because there are gay characters in the book.
Loved the book so much! Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free kindle book. My review is voluntarily given and my opinions are my own.
Lucien is part Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice) and part Rhysand (A Court of Thorn and Roses series). You know he is up to something, not sure exactly how evil it is, but you love him anyway. It's so easy to ignore all those red flags in books that you would be yelling at your friend about in real life. But, really, besides all the evil planning and everything (lol), he had less red flags than so many other characters I read about this year. I ranted in quite a few reviews about that. Lucien was pretty great that way.
I definitely could tell that the author was a fan of Pride and Prejudice, with a few casual quotes from the book (nothing you will notice unless you know the book). They never refer to the book, just use popular quotes in conversation. I would not say this is anything like Pride and Prejudice, other than Lucien reminding me a bit of Mr. Darcy. I am sure tons of readers will disagree with me on that point. Not even sure what it was, just a feeling.
Calliope is attracted to men and women, so if you have any issue with any same sex attraction, here is your warning. Really is sad that I need to include that, but I hate for the author to get lower ratings because people get upset because there are gay characters in the book.
Loved the book so much! Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free kindle book. My review is voluntarily given and my opinions are my own.
November 5, 2024
This book gave me major practical magic x stars hollow vibes. The town is filled with SO many cute shops - and the business names were next level. I’d actually like to move there indefinitely (please and thank you). The story takes place around the spring equinox, so it works well as both a springtime or an autumn read!
I was really enjoying this one until ~80% and then everything got way too chaotic. There were so many strings & so many forgotten things � it made my head spin a little. The prose also became super wordy and I was having to reread entire paragraphs multiple times to try and decipher what was being said. But aside from these pacing issues, I had a fun time with it!
I absolutely loved Lucien (the shadow daddy, grumpy MMC). He called the FMC, Calliope, “little muse”�. like, why is that the cutest nickname?! I honestly felt I didn’t get enough of the two of them, so I’m very much hoping there will be a second book!
Side note: there’s a little recipe section in the back of the book� this would be a GREAT book club read & then everyone could make & bring one of the Petridi sister’s recipes to the meeting! (If you do this, please let me know! I want to see!!)
Fav quote: “I would say I’d die for you, but what’s the point in that? . . . I would live for you.� OK, LUCIEN 🫠
Thank you to NetGalley & Random House for this ARC!
Read if you like:
✨dual POV
✨enemies to lovers
✨light vs dark magic
✨sǷɻ岹徱
I was really enjoying this one until ~80% and then everything got way too chaotic. There were so many strings & so many forgotten things � it made my head spin a little. The prose also became super wordy and I was having to reread entire paragraphs multiple times to try and decipher what was being said. But aside from these pacing issues, I had a fun time with it!
I absolutely loved Lucien (the shadow daddy, grumpy MMC). He called the FMC, Calliope, “little muse”�. like, why is that the cutest nickname?! I honestly felt I didn’t get enough of the two of them, so I’m very much hoping there will be a second book!
Side note: there’s a little recipe section in the back of the book� this would be a GREAT book club read & then everyone could make & bring one of the Petridi sister’s recipes to the meeting! (If you do this, please let me know! I want to see!!)
Fav quote: “I would say I’d die for you, but what’s the point in that? . . . I would live for you.� OK, LUCIEN 🫠
Thank you to NetGalley & Random House for this ARC!
Read if you like:
✨dual POV
✨enemies to lovers
✨light vs dark magic
✨sǷɻ岹徱
December 27, 2024
|| Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for providing me this arc in exchange for an honest review ! ||
It sadly didn't do it for me. It was very slow and long, with lot of repetition and descriptions, and honestly I was getting tired to know what Calliope's socks looked like and all her process to chose them, or getting to know for the Nth time what Lucien smells like. We could get this book with a better paceing with less pages, and also the (lengthy) spicy scenes removed.
I would have loved more fantasy than romance, which happened to be the other way around. There weren't much happening magic-wide, their research was pretty slow and magicless. There were very few important moments outside of the everyday magic (like lighting candles), except towards the end with the final battle, and one trial. It's sad. Because I really loved the idea of sacrifying memories to do magic, and I also really liked the Grimoire. I enjoyed the plot twists about the aunts, it was a good call even if perhaps a bit too much (let's just say everything's possible with magic!)
I would also have loved a true double POV Calliope / Lucien, instead of having like 4-5 chapters with Lucien's POV, only when it was useful to the plot.
It sadly didn't do it for me. It was very slow and long, with lot of repetition and descriptions, and honestly I was getting tired to know what Calliope's socks looked like and all her process to chose them, or getting to know for the Nth time what Lucien smells like. We could get this book with a better paceing with less pages, and also the (lengthy) spicy scenes removed.
I would have loved more fantasy than romance, which happened to be the other way around. There weren't much happening magic-wide, their research was pretty slow and magicless. There were very few important moments outside of the everyday magic (like lighting candles), except towards the end with the final battle, and one trial. It's sad. Because I really loved the idea of sacrifying memories to do magic, and I also really liked the Grimoire. I enjoyed the plot twists about the aunts, it was a good call even if perhaps a bit too much (let's just say everything's possible with magic!)
I would also have loved a true double POV Calliope / Lucien, instead of having like 4-5 chapters with Lucien's POV, only when it was useful to the plot.
March 5, 2025
The moment I started reading this book I was sucked in!! It hit me with that nostalgic feeling that wraps its arms around you like a warm, magical hug! The vibes were giving ifPractical MagicandCharmedhad a sparkly, honey, lemon and citrus-scented love child!
The magic system is INSANE! Spells don’t just require some Latin incantations, the wave of a wand or eye of the newt, no, they demand memories. Need a protection spell? Willingly say goodbye to the memory of your first kiss. It really makes one question what you’d be willing to sacrifice for the ones we love!!
The sibling dynamics is chaotic, hilarious and heartfelt—full of inside jokes, bickering, and a love that cannot be forgotten and I was living for it!
And did I mention the LGBTQIA+ rep? Because it ischef’s kissperfection.
My only problems were probably my own fault! I kept getting lost with the world building and magic system! Certain things felt contradictory and some things didn’t make sense and I just felt like it was not as clear and fleshed out as I needed!
I also could’ve done without the romance honestly! As much as I enjoyed how it lead to the ending I actually liked them both more when they weren’t with each other!
I did thoroughly enjoy this though!
Can I just say I would 100% fail in this world because I can barely remember what I had for breakfast, let alone afford to forget anything else. Oh and telling me to conjure a memory to forget for a spell? Girly please, I will not have a single thought or memory!
The magic system is INSANE! Spells don’t just require some Latin incantations, the wave of a wand or eye of the newt, no, they demand memories. Need a protection spell? Willingly say goodbye to the memory of your first kiss. It really makes one question what you’d be willing to sacrifice for the ones we love!!
The sibling dynamics is chaotic, hilarious and heartfelt—full of inside jokes, bickering, and a love that cannot be forgotten and I was living for it!
And did I mention the LGBTQIA+ rep? Because it ischef’s kissperfection.
My only problems were probably my own fault! I kept getting lost with the world building and magic system! Certain things felt contradictory and some things didn’t make sense and I just felt like it was not as clear and fleshed out as I needed!
I also could’ve done without the romance honestly! As much as I enjoyed how it lead to the ending I actually liked them both more when they weren’t with each other!
I did thoroughly enjoy this though!
Can I just say I would 100% fail in this world because I can barely remember what I had for breakfast, let alone afford to forget anything else. Oh and telling me to conjure a memory to forget for a spell? Girly please, I will not have a single thought or memory!
February 6, 2025
4.5 stars. I’m in love with this story!
I really enjoyed the story of the sisters - it’s a tough lesson to learn, to grow together as siblings while also feeling comfortable to be yourself. Calliope was a great heroine to follow and I enjoyed her arc as she grew into the powerful witch she knew she could be.
And can we talk about Lucien and how he’s dreamy??? Okay, glad we got to that. He’ll live rent-free in my mind for a while.
Thank you to NetGalley, Breanne Randall, and Ballantine/Dell for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the story of the sisters - it’s a tough lesson to learn, to grow together as siblings while also feeling comfortable to be yourself. Calliope was a great heroine to follow and I enjoyed her arc as she grew into the powerful witch she knew she could be.
And can we talk about Lucien and how he’s dreamy??? Okay, glad we got to that. He’ll live rent-free in my mind for a while.
Thank you to NetGalley, Breanne Randall, and Ballantine/Dell for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 1, 2025
This was a cute story, a lot of magic, witchcraft and family lore. I found the romantic scenes to be a little shoehorned in, but I enjoyed the way the relationship developed by the end. It has a lot of small town vibes with earthy witch themes. This felt cozy but with high stakes, and I found myself unable to put down the book for the last 70 pages.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Available March 4, 2024
Thank you to Del and MTMC Tours for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Available March 4, 2024
Thank you to Del and MTMC Tours for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 24, 2025
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!
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!
November 5, 2024
It took me a minute to get into this one, but I ended up loving it. I love the way that Breanne weaves in magic, family, and the best kind of relationships into her writing. This was no exception. I especially love the cooking, adding ingredients for different ailments, herbs, crystals, and just the general witchy vibes of this book.
February 27, 2025
Oh how I loved this book!!
The writing was so beautiful, I loved all the imagery and descriptions of the food - it made it all feel so real!!
I loved the characters - I found them all very easy to love (apart from the obvious!!), and was definitely invested in the plot and their development as characters.
The whole thing felt like a warm hug and mug of hot tea wrapped up in a novel. Can't wait for the next one!!
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!!
The writing was so beautiful, I loved all the imagery and descriptions of the food - it made it all feel so real!!
I loved the characters - I found them all very easy to love (apart from the obvious!!), and was definitely invested in the plot and their development as characters.
The whole thing felt like a warm hug and mug of hot tea wrapped up in a novel. Can't wait for the next one!!
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!!
March 15, 2025
This one just didn’t hit for me. I enjoyed the sisterhood and magic, but it wasn’t told in a way that was endearing or gripping. I also felt like Danny was an extremely useless character that was only brought in so that it would be relevant to the left. Have gay characters, that’s fine, but it was much too forced and the character didn’t add to the story.
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