Just read Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy. I am now frothing at the mouth for book 2 please please please
The cover is gorgeous, the characters are all charming and distinctive. Leo is so relatable I also now want to poke Sebastian relentlessly until he finally spills his emotions, I'm desperate to know his brain. The few times he lets go just a little caught me like a fish. The pacing is perfect, the pages went by so fast I didn't realize, and that's always the best. It's a straight forward simple story that's still captivating. Even when I saw a twist coming I was caught up in it when it happened in the story. The emotions are handled perfectly.
Both of the boys are traumatized in ways that put them at odds with each other AND makes it so they make up for each others weaknesses, and its wonderful to watch them hurt each other so intimately, gravity pulls them together. They're so obsessed its addicted. The banter is top notch.
Leo is such a cutie, he was made to love and it shows all the way down. Biggest, most spoiled mama's boy. He is such an unreliable narrator, the hottest mess with the lowest self esteem. Does not take criticism or praise well, but also desperately wants attention. Can only express himself properly through music or if he's sleep deprived or in pain. He knows he has pretty privilege and uses it often. He's such an asshole. I love him.
Sebastian is going through it the entire time. He is wound incredibly tight, he is so afraid of not being in control, and he's super self-aware of everything he does. He memorizes spells because of his reading disorder, and he projects his incredibly high standards so hard onto others, but he's such a good man that even when he knows his better nature is being manipulated he'll do the thing regardless. Will do anything to avoid hurting someone, and be grumpy about it. I fully believe he's a farm boy, he yearns to do acts of service. His head hurts from how hard Leo pulls his pigtails. He's full of so many thoughts and emotions. I want him to cry. I love him too.
I also found the monsters incredibly interesting. I want to know so much more about them. They kinda give Nausicaa or Princess Mononoke vibes, something dangerous we can't understand but still isn't quite malicious. I would also love to read a story about the sorcerer in the forest, what she did before she retired to the tower.
I love the magic system toooooo, that it takes two people to make a spell to work, a scriver to write it and a caster to make it happen. Magic is worshipped in an interesting way, but there's mention of cities that traded their magic away for safety, or people who commit sins against magic and are abandoned by it, I want to know mooooooore.
I love this book. I can't wait for book two.