Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy

With Sorcery and Small Magics, debut author Maiga Doocy conjures a delightful and enchanting tale that serves as the captivating first chapter of her Wildersongs Trilogy. This is a story where the grandiose drama of magic takes a backseat to humor, heart, and the unexpected joys of self-discovery.

Leovander Loveage isn’t your typical sorcerer. His spells lean toward the charmingly mundane, the sort of minor enchantments that brighten days but fall far short of earning his father’s approval. He’s long accepted that powerful magic eludes him, and he’s content in his role as a scriver—a writer of spells—who keeps his ambitions modest. That is, until Sebastian Grimm enters the picture. Grimm, Leo’s rival at the Fount, exudes confidence and strength, both of which irritate Leo to no end.

When Grimm accidentally casts an illegal spell that binds Leo to obey his commands, the two find themselves in a precarious predicament. The imbalance of power is handled with refreshing sensitivity, as Grimm never exploits the situation. Instead, the mishap forces the pair to collaborate, setting them on a quest to find a counterspell before their secret gets out. Their journey takes them deep into the Unquiet Wood, a forbidding forest teeming with monsters and dark mysteries, where they must seek the aid of a reclusive, powerful sorcerer. Along the way, their grumpy-sunshine dynamic transforms into something warmer, revealing that the animosity between them might just have been a smokescreen for deeper feelings.

Doocy’s worldbuilding is immersive yet grounded, making the academic study of magic feel as ordinary as rifling through a desk drawer for quills and parchment. Leo’s narration sparkles with wit, and the stakes remain refreshingly personal. There are no apocalyptic consequences looming over the characters, just the very real possibility of being expelled from the Fount—a prospect that feels weighty enough for the young sorcerers.

Both Leo and Grimm are endearingly flawed, layered characters who learn to tap into reservoirs of strength they didn’t realize they possessed. Their relationship evolves naturally, with moments of tension giving way to tenderness. As Leo observes, the two of them have “never been anything but too much for each other,” a sentiment that, by the story’s end, takes on a wholly different meaning: Sometimes, “too much” is exactly what’s needed.

Playful, heartfelt, and brimming with charm, Sorcery and Small Magics is a thoroughly satisfying start to a trilogy that promises even more magic and mischief to come.