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Sorcery of Words
Words are the strongest magic of all…
All I want is to get through high school, but apparently the universe has other plans. Now creatures straight from the Scandinavian folklore are appearing in my hometown, and a masked man shows up, offering to teach me to use my unusual gifts.
As it turns out, my sister and I were picked by the gods – yes, the actual freaking Norse gods – to save the world from someone hell-bent on destroying it. If we fail, the world as we know it will end in snow and fire. But where do two teenage girls like us even start when they have to stop the apocalypse?
Sorcery of Words is a tale of friendship, family and finding yourself, inspired by the Phantom of the Opera, Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore.
All I want is to get through high school, but apparently the universe has other plans. Now creatures straight from the Scandinavian folklore are appearing in my hometown, and a masked man shows up, offering to teach me to use my unusual gifts.
As it turns out, my sister and I were picked by the gods – yes, the actual freaking Norse gods – to save the world from someone hell-bent on destroying it. If we fail, the world as we know it will end in snow and fire. But where do two teenage girls like us even start when they have to stop the apocalypse?
Sorcery of Words is a tale of friendship, family and finding yourself, inspired by the Phantom of the Opera, Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2023
66 people want to read
About the author
Moa Eriksson
1 book48 followersMoa is a reader and writer from a tiny island in Northern Europe, where she lives with her dog. She writes fantasy with lots of mythology and folklore. When she’s not teaching or writing, you can find her with her nose stuck in a book.
She has dreamed of being an author since early childhood, when her writing journey started with a series of stories about the dolphin Delfi, which soon turned into longer stories full of romance and fantasy.
Moa’s stories are inspired by mythology and folklore, as well as the beautiful nature of her island, which is why nature plays a large role in her stories. Her stories also include a lot of magic and queer characters. Common themes in her works are friendship and found family, with a bit of romance playing a part as well.
She has dreamed of being an author since early childhood, when her writing journey started with a series of stories about the dolphin Delfi, which soon turned into longer stories full of romance and fantasy.
Moa’s stories are inspired by mythology and folklore, as well as the beautiful nature of her island, which is why nature plays a large role in her stories. Her stories also include a lot of magic and queer characters. Common themes in her works are friendship and found family, with a bit of romance playing a part as well.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 25, 2024
.·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·. 3 ☆
⚘ | a very cute contemporary fantasy, with elemental magic as well as creation magic, and references to the norse gods
⚘ | i loved the discussions about sexuality, with a focus on asexuality and coming to understand that you don't need the most detailed label ever to belong to a community <33 i'm not asexual neither do i have anxiety but i found the portrayal and the representation very good
⚘ | tight knit group of friends who are absolutely ride or die for each other
⚘ | interesting mythical creatures
⚘ | i found the big bad pretty predictable and not too compelling, and i didn't particularly care for erik either
⚘ the norse elements were interesting, and hopefully they get elaborated on in the next book
⚘ | a very cute contemporary fantasy, with elemental magic as well as creation magic, and references to the norse gods
⚘ | i loved the discussions about sexuality, with a focus on asexuality and coming to understand that you don't need the most detailed label ever to belong to a community <33 i'm not asexual neither do i have anxiety but i found the portrayal and the representation very good
⚘ | tight knit group of friends who are absolutely ride or die for each other
⚘ | interesting mythical creatures
⚘ | i found the big bad pretty predictable and not too compelling, and i didn't particularly care for erik either
⚘ the norse elements were interesting, and hopefully they get elaborated on in the next book
July 6, 2023
LGBTQ+ story by an LGBTQ+ author?! I love this. I got serious Phantom of the Opera vibes in such a great way! Also, there is a murder horse (do with that what you will) but LOVED THIS. Freaking thank you for the ARC opportunity!
July 9, 2023
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I liked that it was set in Sweden. It's a lot more common to see books set in America, so this was a nice change. The book is pretty modern, even though it doesn't take place in a big city. There were some unfamiliar words, (some creatures) but it wasn't too confusing. The creepy parts weren't too bad; I think they made the story fun. Overall this was a fun read and I would recommend it.
I liked that it was set in Sweden. It's a lot more common to see books set in America, so this was a nice change. The book is pretty modern, even though it doesn't take place in a big city. There were some unfamiliar words, (some creatures) but it wasn't too confusing. The creepy parts weren't too bad; I think they made the story fun. Overall this was a fun read and I would recommend it.
July 7, 2023
The character building in this was so good you really loved the main character while others less so. The magic element was very good as well as the folk lore as well. All in all i really enjoyed this book.
August 12, 2024
Actual rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️
This was a quick and nice read. It really felt like a whimsical tale. It features a simple but enjoyable plot centered around friendship and family, while also exploring themes of anxiety and sexuality, with the main character discovering and trying to understand her asexuality.
It can be classified as contemporary low fantasy. The story is set in Sweden and features elements from Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore. The magic system, though not highly structured, really delivers witchy vibes. However, I can't consider this book just a fantasy story because it’s not only that.
This is the story of Lia, an 18-year-old girl who struggles with anxiety and is discovering her own sexuality. These two aspects are central points of the story and it's what I enjoyed the most. I loved that adults are also present and support the young characters. The cast is very diverse, with almost every character being part of the LGBTQ+ community.
The fantasy part is interesting because, while Norse mythology is more common, Scandinavian folklore isn’t often found in books. I really liked the creatures that Lia encounters, especially the myling and the bäckahäst. They were creepy, but it felt like a compilation of Scandinavian folklore creatures, and that’s what didn’t convince me entirely.
As an avid fantasy reader, I would have preferred that the story explored the creatures and the villain’s motives and actions in more depth. Sometimes I found myself a bit confused about why certain things were happening. Some issues were left unsolved, and I hope they will be further explored in the next book.
Nonetheless, this is a recommended book, especially for those who want to address topics of anxiety and asexuality while still reading fantasy. And it can also serve as a fun introduction to Scandinavian folklore!
I received an advanced reader copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a quick and nice read. It really felt like a whimsical tale. It features a simple but enjoyable plot centered around friendship and family, while also exploring themes of anxiety and sexuality, with the main character discovering and trying to understand her asexuality.
It can be classified as contemporary low fantasy. The story is set in Sweden and features elements from Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore. The magic system, though not highly structured, really delivers witchy vibes. However, I can't consider this book just a fantasy story because it’s not only that.
This is the story of Lia, an 18-year-old girl who struggles with anxiety and is discovering her own sexuality. These two aspects are central points of the story and it's what I enjoyed the most. I loved that adults are also present and support the young characters. The cast is very diverse, with almost every character being part of the LGBTQ+ community.
The fantasy part is interesting because, while Norse mythology is more common, Scandinavian folklore isn’t often found in books. I really liked the creatures that Lia encounters, especially the myling and the bäckahäst. They were creepy, but it felt like a compilation of Scandinavian folklore creatures, and that’s what didn’t convince me entirely.
As an avid fantasy reader, I would have preferred that the story explored the creatures and the villain’s motives and actions in more depth. Sometimes I found myself a bit confused about why certain things were happening. Some issues were left unsolved, and I hope they will be further explored in the next book.
Nonetheless, this is a recommended book, especially for those who want to address topics of anxiety and asexuality while still reading fantasy. And it can also serve as a fun introduction to Scandinavian folklore!
I received an advanced reader copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 1, 2023
There were a lot of things I really enjoyed about this book!
(1) I loved the magic system. There are a couple different types of magic including word magic (written or spoken) which I really liked. The blending of Norse mythology into the magic was creative and refreshing.
(2) My favorite thing about the book was the asexual representation. I resonated with the experience of discovering that you aren't like other people and the difficulty in navigating those feelings and experiences. You don't often find Ace characters as main characters, if you can find them at all, and Moa did a great job incorporating that into her story.
(3) The characters were unique and engaging, even enigmatic at times. I was happy to see that the teenagers actually involved their parents at certain points in the story (not every time there's danger, but enough that it stood out). Too many YA books ignore the roles adults would realistically play in these sorts of situations, so it was nice to see at least some involvement.
Possible cons: the magical side of the story takes a little bit of time to build, but it's worth it, and the personal relationships are established and showcased early on. Some of the writing is a little less polished in places, but it's very readable.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading it, and recommend it to anyone looking for an interesting take on magic/mythology. I am looking forward to the next book!
(1) I loved the magic system. There are a couple different types of magic including word magic (written or spoken) which I really liked. The blending of Norse mythology into the magic was creative and refreshing.
(2) My favorite thing about the book was the asexual representation. I resonated with the experience of discovering that you aren't like other people and the difficulty in navigating those feelings and experiences. You don't often find Ace characters as main characters, if you can find them at all, and Moa did a great job incorporating that into her story.
(3) The characters were unique and engaging, even enigmatic at times. I was happy to see that the teenagers actually involved their parents at certain points in the story (not every time there's danger, but enough that it stood out). Too many YA books ignore the roles adults would realistically play in these sorts of situations, so it was nice to see at least some involvement.
Possible cons: the magical side of the story takes a little bit of time to build, but it's worth it, and the personal relationships are established and showcased early on. Some of the writing is a little less polished in places, but it's very readable.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading it, and recommend it to anyone looking for an interesting take on magic/mythology. I am looking forward to the next book!
October 9, 2024
I read this book while on vacation to the Swedish island Gotland, because not only is the author from Gotland, the book also takes place there, and it was so nice to read the book while being in the same area as the main character. Sure, I've been to Gotland before, so I would've still recognised the city, but actually being there made it even more special.
There is a lot of Scandinavian folklore in Sorcery of Words, which I loved. Having grown up in Sweden I recognised these creatures, but mostly by name, and reading this book made me realise how much I don't actually know about them, so I'm definitely going to have to do some more research now!
Something else I loved about the book was the focus on friendship and family. We have sisters chosen by the gods to save the world, and friends ready to do anything for each other. What more could you ask for in a book? The main character also has anxiety, and realises she is probably ace throughout the book. Oh and there are horses. Both the good kind, and the kind that may possibly want to drown you...
I definitely recommend this book!!
There is a lot of Scandinavian folklore in Sorcery of Words, which I loved. Having grown up in Sweden I recognised these creatures, but mostly by name, and reading this book made me realise how much I don't actually know about them, so I'm definitely going to have to do some more research now!
Something else I loved about the book was the focus on friendship and family. We have sisters chosen by the gods to save the world, and friends ready to do anything for each other. What more could you ask for in a book? The main character also has anxiety, and realises she is probably ace throughout the book. Oh and there are horses. Both the good kind, and the kind that may possibly want to drown you...
I definitely recommend this book!!
August 4, 2023
I loved this book.
I don't normally read YA, but the world-building, characters, and murder horse had me absolutely hooked.
Lia and her friends try to uncover the mysteries surrounding their small island home. On the way, we discover creepy creatures (the myling...), new and mysterious people, and a discovery of sexual orientation.
If you or anyone your know has ever questioned why they don't like boys/girls the way other kids their age do, or why they feel differently than their friends, this book is for you/them. Eriksson is a master at addressing social issues in a creative way that is complimented by compassion and magic.
The mystery surrounding Lia and her sister is increased throughout the book and the ending leaves you satisfied and eager for the next book.
If you love unique magic, relatable characters, world-building, and a murder horse, this book is for you.
I don't normally read YA, but the world-building, characters, and murder horse had me absolutely hooked.
Lia and her friends try to uncover the mysteries surrounding their small island home. On the way, we discover creepy creatures (the myling...), new and mysterious people, and a discovery of sexual orientation.
If you or anyone your know has ever questioned why they don't like boys/girls the way other kids their age do, or why they feel differently than their friends, this book is for you/them. Eriksson is a master at addressing social issues in a creative way that is complimented by compassion and magic.
The mystery surrounding Lia and her sister is increased throughout the book and the ending leaves you satisfied and eager for the next book.
If you love unique magic, relatable characters, world-building, and a murder horse, this book is for you.
September 8, 2023
I picked this up because the cover and the blurb called out to me, and I was so glad to dive into it and find myself lost in the world Eriksson had created. Lia and her friends were perfectly written, the magic unique in the way it cam to be, and the story neatly dotted with bits of backstory and lore so that you never felt overwhelmed or that you were missing something. I adored the mental health rep, the way it was so nicely entwined with the characters, and the twists and turns of the story kept you guessing and hooked until the last page. This is an author to watch and a series I will be following. Very much recommended!
August 4, 2023
Stress baking? The MC does stress baking? And it’s set in Sweden with mythology and folklore influences? Sign me up! Author Eriksson’s writing pulled me in from the first few pages with how solid the characters and their situations were.
The magic system is interesting, the characters are solid creations with representation of many different types, and the storyline is solid. I really like the idea of being able to create through writing. (I know authors do that all the time even if not as ‘real’ as with the MC’s magic but... creating a dog through a written assignment?)
The magic system is interesting, the characters are solid creations with representation of many different types, and the storyline is solid. I really like the idea of being able to create through writing. (I know authors do that all the time even if not as ‘real’ as with the MC’s magic but... creating a dog through a written assignment?)
July 16, 2023
I’m probably the only one who didn’t enjoy this book as much. I felt like the author had to cram in as many mythological creatures in Scandinavian folklore she could come up with. I liked it that the story takes place in Sweden for a change. Most other books are placed in the US or some similar place. I also liked the fact that there were some lgbtq in the book as well. But it just did not speak to me.
Read
July 31, 2023If you want an all-queer cast, a questioning ace MC and a Norse mythology-inspired setting (and written by a Swedish not US author, which is definitely worth noting) this one is for you. It's a wonderful YA urban fantasy filled with queer characters, fantastical creatures and a wonderful anxiety rep.
***I received an eARC in return for an honest review***
***I received an eARC in return for an honest review***
August 2, 2023
“ Words are the strongest magic of all..”
This was a great mixture of magic and mythology as we journey to Sweden for the adventure of a lifetime. With an exciting and captivating storyline brimming with mythical creatures, adventure and fantastic world building. The characters are well developed and the author does a great job of drawing you in and holding on tight.
This was a great mixture of magic and mythology as we journey to Sweden for the adventure of a lifetime. With an exciting and captivating storyline brimming with mythical creatures, adventure and fantastic world building. The characters are well developed and the author does a great job of drawing you in and holding on tight.
Read
August 31, 2023DNF'd for some reason I couldn't get past page 30. It seemed like a good plot but I think for me it was just super slow. I tried several times to get further but as it's the end of the month I think it's time to call it. I will definitely try again when I'm not reading a bunch of super fast paced books because that could have been the problem.
June 21, 2024
A fun and exciting read! I loved the magic system and worldbuilding and that there were so many LGBTQ+ characters. I don't typically choose to read a lot of YA novels but I was very excited about the murder horse!
Overall a lovely read!
Overall a lovely read!
November 24, 2024
I love this book. It is specifically fun to read a book from my own hometown.
August 3, 2023
I have read this book and giving my honest review.
Exciting, lots going on, twist.
I am not spoiling you will have to read for yourself.
I hope you enjoy as much as I did
Exciting, lots going on, twist.
I am not spoiling you will have to read for yourself.
I hope you enjoy as much as I did
August 7, 2023
I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review :)
I love that this is an LGBTQ+ story! The magical elements and the character building were very good, as well as the mythical creatures. I appreciate that the story was set in Sweden and I found the Scandinavian folklore to be very fun! I really enjoyed this book.
I love that this is an LGBTQ+ story! The magical elements and the character building were very good, as well as the mythical creatures. I appreciate that the story was set in Sweden and I found the Scandinavian folklore to be very fun! I really enjoyed this book.
November 24, 2023
I didn't quite finish the book. I do plan to finish it at a later time, and perhaps edit my review later. So this is a half way through book review.
I think this book does provide a good amount of representation. I found it did provide a deeper understanding into asexuality and struggling with anxiety. I often found myself relating to the main character. I think the descriptions of creatures and scenery was well done, especially since alot of these creatures were unknown to me.
I did find some moments seemed unnecessary to the story. One example is when she was having magic problems why couldn't she tell her mother about them? They said in the book that her mother wouldn't believe her but I somewhat found that hard to believe.
Overall I do find that I feel pretty neutral about this book so far. I do believe I'm a bit older than the intended reader. So I do believe I may have enjoyed it more if I was younger. I look forward to seeing how it ends and I will update my review once finished.
I think this book does provide a good amount of representation. I found it did provide a deeper understanding into asexuality and struggling with anxiety. I often found myself relating to the main character. I think the descriptions of creatures and scenery was well done, especially since alot of these creatures were unknown to me.
I did find some moments seemed unnecessary to the story. One example is when she was having magic problems why couldn't she tell her mother about them? They said in the book that her mother wouldn't believe her but I somewhat found that hard to believe.
Overall I do find that I feel pretty neutral about this book so far. I do believe I'm a bit older than the intended reader. So I do believe I may have enjoyed it more if I was younger. I look forward to seeing how it ends and I will update my review once finished.
July 5, 2025
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The beginning of the book was a little bit slow to read but I kept on reading and fell in love with it. It’s a captivating story with new twists around almost every corner. This story is set in Gotland, an island of Sweden, where I’ve been a few times so it was interesting to read a book and actually know the environment.
A few words I believe sums up this story is:
LGBTQI+, excitement, norse mythology, magic, friendship, mental illness, love.
The beginning of the book was a little bit slow to read but I kept on reading and fell in love with it. It’s a captivating story with new twists around almost every corner. This story is set in Gotland, an island of Sweden, where I’ve been a few times so it was interesting to read a book and actually know the environment.
A few words I believe sums up this story is:
LGBTQI+, excitement, norse mythology, magic, friendship, mental illness, love.
August 29, 2025
Loved it! The character development was great! Plot was great! Overall the book was great! I really enjoyed it!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews