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A review by beckykphillips
Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things by Breanne Randall
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Do you need a hopeful story about three sisters trying to protect their town from dark forces while one (of course) falls for that man that would undo everything they've worked for? Maybe you'd be interested in a magic system where you're either sacrificing your memories or your soul with each spell you cast?
Meet the Petridi sisters, Calliope, Thalia, and Eurydice co-owners of the bookstore/cafe The Tea and Tome (dream workplace). Calliope is constantly worrying her sisters with her reckless use of magic, sacrificing memories for trifles like drying herself off after a shower. They have been entrusted by their mother to protect the Dark Oak, which holds a well of powerful, evil magic that the Petridi family has held at bay for generations. Enter Lucien Deniz, a powerful Shadowcraft practitioner, who has brought his coven to their town in order to secure the power from the Dark Oak for himself in order to save his sister Eléa. On what Calliope believes to be a chance encounter, she manages to magically bond herself to Lucien when they both find themselves at the Dark Oak. What follows is a story of familial healing and Calliope figuring out how to be her own person again.
I really enjoyed the book - this is Breanne Randall's second novel and she really wrote such a delight. I think the consistent messaging of hope throughout really spoke to me in ~these times~ and while it may seem trite, when Thalia tells Calliope "Hope doesn't have the be a blazing fire...sometimes, it's just a flicker in the darkness but it's enough to guide us through" I teared up because I also very much needed to hear those words right now. The characters are so much fun, the number of times I annotated "Bro..." in response to Lucien's shenanigans is too high, but also felt right. We see so much development over the course of the story and the journey I went on was absolutely worth it.
In additional delight - the final part of the book has excerpts from The Tea and Tome recipe book, and let me tell you the Basil Lemonade Martini is so freaking good. I definitely will be trying out the other recipes!
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for the advanced copy.
Meet the Petridi sisters, Calliope, Thalia, and Eurydice co-owners of the bookstore/cafe The Tea and Tome (dream workplace). Calliope is constantly worrying her sisters with her reckless use of magic, sacrificing memories for trifles like drying herself off after a shower. They have been entrusted by their mother to protect the Dark Oak, which holds a well of powerful, evil magic that the Petridi family has held at bay for generations. Enter Lucien Deniz, a powerful Shadowcraft practitioner, who has brought his coven to their town in order to secure the power from the Dark Oak for himself in order to save his sister Eléa. On what Calliope believes to be a chance encounter, she manages to magically bond herself to Lucien when they both find themselves at the Dark Oak. What follows is a story of familial healing and Calliope figuring out how to be her own person again.
I really enjoyed the book - this is Breanne Randall's second novel and she really wrote such a delight. I think the consistent messaging of hope throughout really spoke to me in ~these times~ and while it may seem trite, when Thalia tells Calliope "Hope doesn't have the be a blazing fire...sometimes, it's just a flicker in the darkness but it's enough to guide us through" I teared up because I also very much needed to hear those words right now. The characters are so much fun, the number of times I annotated "Bro..." in response to Lucien's shenanigans is too high, but also felt right. We see so much development over the course of the story and the journey I went on was absolutely worth it.
In additional delight - the final part of the book has excerpts from The Tea and Tome recipe book, and let me tell you the Basil Lemonade Martini is so freaking good. I definitely will be trying out the other recipes!
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for the advanced copy.