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A review by avid_reader_sf_and_f
Snowspelled by Stephanie Burgis
4.0
Snowspelled, the book one of the new HARWOOD SPELLBOOK fantasy series. Picking up several years after the prequel, it's an equally fun, light read, right at the intersection of magical fantasy and Regency romance, alternate history and Fae story telling. I really enjoyed the way the magic and the politics work in this world, and I am very much looking forward to reading rest of the series. Our MC in this book is Cassandra Harwood, the standout sister from the prequel.
Cassandra is the first female magician in Angland and has been in a major depression since she lost her magic in a horrible mishap of her own design. We find out in snippets throughout the book what and how it happened, but for now we follow her and her brother and sister-in-law to a big Solstice holiday fête at Cosgrove Manor, deep in the elven territory.
This regency-inspired novel make race and sexuality non-issues, they just are, and it's delightful. Women are the ruling class (only females go into politics) while the men, poor emotional dears, are doing the magical heavy lifting. Cassandra wanted to break the glass ceiling and paid the price, but mostly for letting her ego get away from her. Hopefully, she can her circumstances into something positive, and paving the way for future female magicians. If only she hadn’t made that promise to a fae.
This short story contains a another forbidden romance, dangerous Fae shenanigans, and more political intrigue. It's utterly charming, if still too short. I’m looking forward to book 2.
Cassandra is the first female magician in Angland and has been in a major depression since she lost her magic in a horrible mishap of her own design. We find out in snippets throughout the book what and how it happened, but for now we follow her and her brother and sister-in-law to a big Solstice holiday fête at Cosgrove Manor, deep in the elven territory.
This regency-inspired novel make race and sexuality non-issues, they just are, and it's delightful. Women are the ruling class (only females go into politics) while the men, poor emotional dears, are doing the magical heavy lifting. Cassandra wanted to break the glass ceiling and paid the price, but mostly for letting her ego get away from her. Hopefully, she can her circumstances into something positive, and paving the way for future female magicians. If only she hadn’t made that promise to a fae.
This short story contains a another forbidden romance, dangerous Fae shenanigans, and more political intrigue. It's utterly charming, if still too short. I’m looking forward to book 2.