Small Magics by Alex Dunne
Sometimes the most important magic isn’t the world-shaking kind—it’s the magic that helps you find where you belong.
Pre-Reading Thoughts
A magical antique shop, found family, and a girl discovering that magic exists quietly all around her? That’s classic cosy fantasy territory - though the promise of danger to magical creatures suggested the story might have a darker edge beneath the warmth.
Post-Reading
As I thought… This is a wonderfully welcoming introduction to a magical world. Molly’s journey - from feeling rootless to discovering a place where she belongs - gives the story its emotional heart. The found-family dynamic with Pat, Priya, Wren, and Lorcan is warm and lively, and the magical antique shop makes a perfect centre for the story.
The idea of “small magics” is especially charming. This isn’t about spectacular spells or epic wizard battles - it’s about everyday enchantments: keeping a teacup warm, changing the colour of your hair, or quietly helping the world run a little more smoothly.
It surprised me by… How much larger the stakes are beneath that cosy surface. The villain’s plan isn’t small at all - it threatens something much bigger - and that contrast adds tension without losing the book’s warmth.
There are also lovely hints of Irish mythology woven through the story. Figures like leprechauns and banshees appear naturally within the magical world, and the mention of the thunder god Taranis adds a mythic echo without overwhelming the story. Instead of retelling folklore directly, the book reshapes those elements into something fresh and playful.
Most of all, it feels like the start of a magical world with plenty more stories still waiting to be told. I’ll happily return for the next adventure.
🎵 Music Pairing
Featured Song: Home – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros A joyful reminder that home is often the people who choose you.
Vibe Album: If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power – Halsey A mix of vulnerability, strength, and finding identity in unexpected places.
Artist Recommendation: Florence + the Machine Mythic energy paired with emotional storytelling.
Vibe Check
Colour Palette: Warm amber, moss green, midnight blue, antique gold
Soundtrack: Floorboards creaking in an old shop, distant thunder, the clink of teacups
Season: Early autumn, when magic feels closest to the surface
Mood: Wonderfully welcoming
Scent: Old books, polished wood, and fresh tea
Tarot Pull: Six of Cups
The Six of Cups is a card of warmth, kindness, and the gentle magic of belonging. It reflects Molly’s journey perfectly: discovering friendship, family, and the small acts of care that make a place feel like home. In a world full of grand dangers, sometimes the most powerful magic is simply choosing to look after one another.
For Fans Of
Book: Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow
Movie: The Spiderwick Chronicles
One-Sentence Verdict
A warm, magical adventure about found family and everyday enchantment - cosy at heart, but with stakes big enough to keep the pages turning.
