Book Review: Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things by Breanne Randall
As a lover of magical tales, the premise of Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things by Breanne Randall instantly captured my imagination. With its promise of witchcraft, sisterly bonds, and a mystery wrapped in a cozy bookstore setting, I was eager to dive into this enchanting world. However, despite my excitement, this journey turned out to be a bit of a mixed bag.
At the heart of the story lies Calliope, a young Lightcraft witch grappling with deep-seated pain from her mother’s disappearance years ago. Alongside her two sisters, Thalia and Eurydice, she navigates life as the owner of a quaint tea and bookstore in their hometown. Their magical abilities come at a cost: the painful sacrifice of memories, a poignant theme that initially intrigued me. When a Shadowcrafter named Lucien enters the scene, Calliope finds herself entangled in a conflict that tests her loyalty to her family and her burgeoning feelings for him.
Unfortunately, while the setup was promising, the execution fell flat for me. The magic system, although fascinating in theory, often relied too heavily on clichés and was bogged down by over-explanation, which detracted from the story’s momentum. Randall’s attempt to meld formal, magical language with modern banter frequently felt disjointed. I found myself questioning character dialogues, wondering who would actually speak like that. Calliope’s stubbornness and martyr complex made her a frustrating protagonist, while Thalia, Eurydice, and Lucien shone through with their more compelling personalities.
Pacing was another issue; the narrative swung wildly between rapid sequences that skimmed crucial action and painfully slow moments that dragged on. This erratic rhythm diluted emotional stakes, making it difficult to root for the characters. The romantic tension, a cornerstone of the story, felt forced amid life-or-death situations, diminishing its authenticity. The repetitive use of phrases, like calling Calliope "Little Muse," soon became grating rather than endearing. And without diving into spoilers, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at some narrative choices, particularly regarding character developments that felt overly convenient.
That said, the book’s conclusion offered a glimmer of what could have been—a sense of chemistry and character development that made me yearn for a different story that might have thrived within those pages. Randall has laid the groundwork for a series, with two more books reportedly on the way, but sadly, I won’t be continuing this journey.
Ultimately, Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things might appeal to readers who enjoy cozy witchy tales mixed with romantic entanglements and who have a higher tolerance for pacing and plotting pitfalls. While I appreciated the chance to explore Randall’s world through an advanced reader copy from NetGalley, my hopes for a rich narrative experience sadly weren’t fulfilled. I hope others find joy in its pages, but for me, the charms of this story faded too quickly.
Thanks for reading, and happy reading adventures!
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