A SPELL FOR HEARTSICKNESS

Friendship, love, and a magical mystery come together in Reeves’ romantic fantasy.

Briar Wyngrave, a witch, has always wanted to go to the city of Pentawynn to become a magical fashion designer (“It’s Pentawynn or death for me,” he says). Because the same curse that killed his mother is now affecting him and draining his health and magic away, he wants to leave a mark on the world in the short amount of time he has left; Pentawaynn, “the glittering metropolis of modern witchcraft,” is the ideal place to do it. But in a surprising twist of fate, a prophecy sends him to Coill Darragh, a small town in the middle of the ocean where his destiny has foretold of a lover hiding behind a mask. It’s there, along with his magpie familiar named Vatii, that he meets Rowan O’Shea, a handsome alderman with a mysterious scar to whom Briar is immediately attracted. To further complicate things, Linden Fairchild—a charismatic celebrity Briar has long had a crush on—comes to town to open his own shop, determined to cure curses. Torn between Linden and Rowan, Briar struggles with his feelings about the prophecy while trying to make a name for himself while he still can. A cursed forest, a ghost roommate named Gretchen, and strange happenings in town add additional flavor to this charming and cozy romance. The worldbuilding, which plays on a combination of modern and magical, feels fun and fresh—there’s a social media app called “Alakagram,” and enchanted clothing that helps people feel less shy at parties. The story’s focus on gay relationships and the general acceptance depicted in the town make for a refreshing read.

A novel as comfy and satisfying as “the taste of hot stew on a rainy night.”