A Curious Kind of Magic

by Mara Rutherford

"If anyone's looking for me, I live in this book now." - Laini Taylor, New York Times bestselling author of Strange the Dreamer and Daughter of Smoke & Bone

Howl's Moving Castle meets Little Thieves in this cozy fantasy about the teenage owner of a (mostly fake) magical curiosity shop and a girl cursed to turn everything she touches into magic.

Everyone in Ardmuir knows that Willow Stokes is a charlatan, including Willow herself. Her father’s shoppe hasn’t sold anything magical in decades, and it’s only hanging on by the skin of the fake dragon’s teeth Willow sells as charms, along with “enchanted” ostrich eggs, taxidermied chimeras, and talismans made of fools’ gold.

Until outlander Brianna Hargrave appears and turns Willow’s fakes into exactly what they’re purported to be. But try as Willow might to enlist Bri’s help, she wants nothing to do with Willow and her curiosities.

Because Brianna is harboring a secret of her everything she touches turns to magic, and the consequences have chased her all the way to Ardmuir. All she wants to do is find a particular missing grimoire, which contains a spell that can finally put an end to her curse.

Desperate to keep her father's shoppe, Willow proposes a bargain that could save them both. Together with the frustratingly handsome printer's assistant, the girls will uncover a plot that goes far deeper than either could have imagined. But when Willow is forced to participate in an ambitious collector's quest for the rarest magical object in the world—a quest that risks almost-certain death—she learns that not all treasure is for sale, and that true magic is closer than she ever could have imagined.

A Macmillan Audio production from Wednesday Books

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Cozy, Fiction, Cozy Fantasy, Magic

368 pages, Hardcover

First published October 21, 2025

About the author

Mara Rutherford began her writing career as a journalist but quickly discovered she far preferred fantasy to reality. A triplet born on Leap Day, Mara has lived all over the world with her diplomat husband and two sons. She is the author of YA books including Crown of Coral and Pearl, The Poison Season, A Multitude of Dreams, and A Curious Kind of Magic.

Reviews

[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cozy fantasy novel, filled with magic! This book is in the young adult genre. It comes with a fun storyline, lovable characters and mystery! It made me feel lighthearted, adventurous, hopeful and relaxed. It’s one of those books that you can just sit by the fire, enjoy a nice cup or tea, and take your time reading. Oh, let’s not forget a warm fuzzy blanket to snuggle up with. This fantasy book centers around a teenage girl named Willow Stokes, who runs her dad’s fake magic shop. All items in this shop aren’t magical at all. She has her reasoning behind this, that we learn later on in the story.

Willow is still running her non magical shop, until a special someone that has special abilities walks in! A girl named Brianna walks into the shop and turns the items in the shop into real magic. Brianna is cursed with a gift that turns original objects into magical objects! With Brianna’s touch, the shop changes all of the non magical items to real, genuine magical items! They end up going on a quest with a good looking printer’s assistant! On this quest, they discover hidden magic and deception. A deep connection forms during this quest, as they explain their unique abilities! This book was such a fun, magical ride that I did not want to get off of! I give this book a solid 4 out of 5 stars rating!

I think fans of YA magical fantasy books will enjoy reading this one! Cussing is the only content warning.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Mara Rutherford and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for this electronic arc of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on October 21, 2025!

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★★ A SPELLBINDING TALE OF FAKE MAGIC & REAL HEART

Move over, ordinary fantasies—A Curious Kind of Magic isn’t just a story; it’s a glittering, whimsical experience. Mara Rutherford crafts a world where deception dances with enchantment, and the most extraordinary magic often hides in the unlikeliest places. If you’ve ever wished to stumble into a shop brimming with peculiar wonders (even if they’re fakes), this book is your golden ticket.

A SHOP OF LIES—AND ONE LIFE-CHANGING TRUTH
Willow Stokes is Ardmuir’s most notorious fraud, peddling bogus charms and fabricated relics to keep her father’s failing curiosity shop afloat. Her “enchanted” wares are as real as a unicorn in a petting zoo—until Brianna Hargrave walks in. With a single touch, Brianna transforms Willow’s shams into genuine marvels. But she’s no savior; she’s a fugitive from her own curse, one that turns everything she touches into magic—whether she wants it to or not.

Their reluctant alliance is pure alchemy: Willow’s desperate cunning clashes with Brianna’s wary resilience, sparking a partnership that’s equal parts friction and fire. Add Finlay, the achingly kind printer’s assistant with a heart of solid gold, and you’ve got a trio so dynamic, they’ll steal your affection faster than a pickpocket in a marketplace.

WHY THIS BOOK IS PURE MAGIC

A Heroine You’ll Cheer For (And Occasionally Want to Shake)
Willow is a glorious mess—sharp-tongued, stubborn, and fiercely loyal, even when she’s making terrible decisions. Her growth from a girl clinging to lies to someone brave enough to face hard truths is nothing short of spellbinding.

A Curse That’s Both Gift and Prison
Brianna’s magic isn’t just a plot device; it’s a poignant metaphor for the burdens we carry. Her journey from isolation to belonging is woven with such tenderness, you’ll feel every flicker of her hope and fear.

Cozy Vibes with a Dash of Danger
Picture cobblestone streets, cluttered shelves of oddities, and the warm hum of a found family coming together—then toss in a high-stakes quest that’ll leave you breathless. The balance between quiet, heartfelt moments and pulse-pounding twists is flawless.

A LOVE LETTER TO SECOND CHANCES
At its core, this is a story about rewriting your destiny. Willow, Brianna, and Finlay each grapple with legacy, loss, and the courage to choose their own paths. The emotional payoff is so satisfying, I hugged my Kindle when I finished. (And yes, I cried. No shame.)

FINAL VERDICT:
A Curious Kind of Magic is a masterpiece of charm and depth, blending wit, warmth, and a touch of whimsy into a narrative that feels like coming home. Whether you’re a fan of The House in the Cerulean Sea’s coziness or Sorcery of Thorns’ adventurous spirit, Rutherford’s latest will leave you utterly bewitched.

HUGE THANKS to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | Wednesday Books for granting me this dazzling digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book is a treasure—and I’ll be shouting about it from the rooftops!

★★★★★ (Infinity stars, if I could!)

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[hater ★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was such a comfort read!! willow seemed hard to like at first, but her flaws really grew on me. i also loved seeing how her friendship with bri mattered just as much as the romance, if not even more lol.

i would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy ya fantasy book :))

[Rosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: A YA Cozy Fantasy centring on the spunky young owner of a (fake) magic shop. This book took me by surprise! Whatever complaints I usually have about YA novels were mostly missing. I liked the characters, the storyline, the magic (though relatively minimal), the writing and the ending. Except for a few developments in the final quarter, I enjoyed this book. Definitely recommended, as long as you keep in mind that it is YA and has YA characters.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Plot Preview:

Seventeen-year-old orphan Willow Stokes has been running her father’s magical curiosity shop ever since his sudden death. So what if she too is a charlatan like her father and knows there’s nothing magical about their stock? A girl has to survive!
When an outlander named Brianna Hargrave enters the shop, something about her makes Willow realise that there might be some magic in the Stokes stock after all. However, Brianna is clear that she wants nothing to do with Willow and her curiosities. She has come only for one purpose: she needs a grimoire that can get rid of her curse. Determined to finally make some decent earnings that can get her out of debt, Willow proposes a bargain that can help both the girls. But are things ever that easy?
The story comes to us in Willow’s first-person perspective.

PSA: The Goodreads blurb reveals too much.


Rare is the day when I tell you that I enjoyed a YA Fantasy. Today is one such day! 🥳 This isn't a perfect book, but it is quite charming and does what it promises.


Bookish Yays:
🔮 Willow. She behaves seventeen throughout, in her thoughts as well as her actions. I loved her spunk, but more than that, I enjoyed her self-deprecating humour. Moreover, she is not exceptionally talented in anything nor is she supposed to be stunning or perfect in any way nor does she try hard to be loved by all – how refreshing! Her first-person narration is apt for her age, with the right balance of snark and vulnerability.

🔮 This thought by Willow deserves a separate Yay: "I wanted to wear something that would highlight the new gloss in my hair and the colour in my cheeks. Not for Finley, mind you. But for myself." Love that attitude!

🔮 The portrayal of the closeness Willow had with her father, though we know him only indirectly through her thoughts. I love how the story explored the complex feelings of grieving for an imperfect yet loving parent.

🔮 Brianna. A good contrast to Willow and a strong character in her own way. Her desperation is used well in the story. I liked her gradually-developing friendship with Willow – much more convincing than an instant bestie bond.

🔮 Finlay, the eighteen-year-old printer’s assistant who is Willow’s bestie. Probably a bit too goody-goody, but the kind of male lead I would like to see in YA fiction – one whose masculinity isn't defined only by pursuing macho stuff. I also appreciate how Finlay doesn’t get to do the heroics just because he’s the guy. The story is mainly Willow’s.

🔮 The budding romance. A slowburn friends-to-lovers story that is really sweet. Nothing beyond kissing. For a while, I was worried it would turn into a romantic triangle, but the author uses the three main characters interestingly without succumbing to that trope.

🔮 The magical curiosity shop and its magical collection and all the other magic in the book. Charming.

🔮 The cozy vibes, whether in the shop or through the friendship or the magical creatures or the small coastal location. The world-building isn't overly elaborate but just enough for us to picture the scene properly. Everything is just right for cozy feels.

🔮 The adult characters are also mostly good – a rarity in the YA genre. We do have a couple of nefarious people, but there are many more helpful and sensible adults.

🔮 The stunning cover art!


Bookish Okays:
🥚 The tagline on the cover says: “An Unlikely Friendship. An Undeniable Love. An Unforgettable Adventure.” Just know that the adventure doesn’t come until well into the second-half. If you read this mainly for the adventure, you will be disappointed.

🥚 The villain is suitably creepy. I just wish there was a more action-packed fate in store for them. Then again, this is a cozy story meant for YAs, so I guess it had to be kept relatively low in intensity.

🥚 After a certain decision, Willow suddenly starts keeping many secrets. A part of this miscommunication is understandable as she has her reasons, but it is also frustrating. Thankfully, she does redeem herself when the time is right.


Bookish Nays:
🧹 The final quarter – the only part of the book where I rolled my eyes. (I usually need to do this a lot more in YA fiction.) It was overly convenient. A couple of the developments bordered on a deus ex machina. One major plot point is left dangling. (Not a cliffhanger; just a development that couldn’t practically have stopped at the point it did.) The finale is too neat with many sudden reveals. This entire section brought down my overall rating.


🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 10 hrs 40 min, is narrated by Anna Burnett. I loved her narration. She uses a beautiful accent to voice Willow’s first-person POV and a separate one for Brianna to establish her foreign roots. Her performance is a perfect match for Willow’s age and personality. As the story is fairly straightforward and linear, I’d definitely recommend the audio version. It would be a comfortable listen even for audio newbies.


Overall, I'm genuinely surprised at how well this went for me, partly because I am not exactly fond of the YA genre and partly because a few of my GR friends disliked this. I still don’t know if it will click with YA readers because they usually love what I hate in YA: the exaggerated emotions and the idiotic adults and the sole-saviour trope and the overdose of physical attraction. 🤭 But to me, this book felt YA in a good way. The audiobook narrator and my low expectations also might have helped a bit. The lead character did test my patience at times. But she was young and with no good adult role models, so her behaviour felt believable to me.

Definitely recommended to readers who enjoy YA Fantasy. Not for those who want likeable characters because Willow is not likeable at least on the surface level. She grows over the course of the story, if that helps.

4 stars.


My thanks to St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books for providing the DRC, and to Macmillan Audio and Macmillan Young Listeners for providing the ALC of “A Curious Kind of Magic” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||

[Ricarda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Working in a magical curiosity shop is actually my dream job, thank you for asking. Well ok, it might not be half as magical as expected. At least it's not for protagonist and curiosity shoppe owner Willow Stokes. Everyone knows that she only sells fake magic and useless trinkets, like the talismans that are really just normal jewelry or the mythical creatures that are nothing more than creative taxidermy jobs. Her business is not flourishing to say the least, but she is determined to keep her late father's shop alive. Luck might be on her side when Willow crosses paths with Brianna, a girl who is cursed to turn everything she touches into magic. The two of them don't have the best start, but they eventually strike a deal that will safe Willow's shop and break Brianna's curse.

This book was really everything I want from a cozy fantasy novel. It's pitched as Howl's Moving Castle meets Little Thieves, and these are two of my favorite things so no wonder I was smitten by A Curious Kind of Magic too. I don't really see the Howl comparison, safe for the curse-breaking in general and that one movie scene that shows Howl's cluttered bedroom full of talismans and magical objects. The Little Thieves comp makes a lot of sense to me though, because Willow is very similar to Vanya. She's direct and sarcastic, a bit shady, a bit terrible. Her personality may be a deal breaker for other readers, but I found her to be pretty relatable. I think that this book did a great job with showing how inner problems can shape the outward personality of a person. I liked not only Willow, but also Brianna who lives an isolated life due to her curse, and Finlay, the softest and most caring boy who deals with his mother's sickness. The romance was cute too, even if Willow was in denial for a big part of the book, but I understand that she had the mindset of not deserving any love. This book just checked a lot of my boxes and worked perfectly for me. I only have very little criticism and it doesn't lessen my overall enjoyment of this book at all. It was a little strange that the characters were teenagers, because everyone seemed so self-sufficient and parents were mostly out of the picture. It's a YA novel, but it would have worked fine as an adult cozy fantasy with only a few adjustments. What's really weird to me is that the synopsis mentions a plot line that doesn't start until the 60% mark of the book. I didn't mind too much, because I was already in love and because I honestly only read like one sentence of the summary, but I can imagine that this will bring up the wrong expectations for this book. Just know that a lot of time is spent on re-inventing the magic shop and on the chaotic search for a grimoire, and that this book is mostly not the adventurous quest that is kinda implied in the synopsis. Anyway, that was not a problem for me and I was very much enchanted by this little (magic) shop. I'm off to check out Mara Rutherford's backlist now. Let me know if you have any recommendations in this regard.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Srivalli (Semi-Hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars

One Liner: Depends on how much you like the FMC

Everyone in Ardmuir knows that Willow Stokes is fake, including herself. Her father’s shoppe hasn’t sold a genuine magical product in decades. Brianna Hargrave, an outlander, appears and turns Willow’s fakes into real magic. Too bad Bri wants nothing to do with Willow and her curiosities. That’s because Bri is troubled by secrets of her own and needs to find a spell to end the curse on her.

The girls make a bargain to help each other, only for it to become a dangerous quest that could demand more than they can give.

The story comes in Willow’s first-person POV.

My Thoughts:

Sometimes, I wonder if I should copyright the one-liner, given how much I use it for YA fantasy reads. Also, my weakness for great covers is what lands me in this situation. This is one pattern I can’t seem to break!

There’s no denying the premise—it is intriguing, promises adventure, and a good dose of drama. The characters, kind of okay, except for the FMC, who is also our narrator. The book would be 100 pages shorter if she hadn’t acted the way she did.

This is supposed to be a cozy fantasy, which is a genre I like. The cozy part is okay, I suppose, though the world-building really isn’t tangible. It’s some historical setting with some sort of access to magic for certain people. Nothing really complex or alluring about it.

The FMC is supposed to be grumpy, selfish, prickly, etc., so you can imagine how it goes for most of the book. Yeah, annoying. Bri was pretty cool based on what we know, which is not much despite all that information. Finlay was… he was this sweet, patient, kind, and loving guy, which should have made him a darling, but it managed to turn him into a bland personality.

The writing wasn’t great either, since the pacing is slow and uneven, while still not creating any atmosphere or vibe. After the first half, I started to speed-read. That helped a lot.

Sadly, the villain wasn’t great either. They had plenty of potential, which went underutilized since their direct entry itself comes rather late and doesn’t leave much space to show the villainous side.

What I did like were a few side characters with limited roles. They saved a book a little. Moreover, a few scenes between the FMC and Bri were quite good.

To summarize, A Curious Kind of Magic made me curious but ended up being an unsatisfactory read. I’m a bit of an outliner, so please check other reviews before you decide.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press (Wednesday Books), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

#NetGalley #ACuriousKindOfMagic

[joni ౨ৎ - hiatus]

i won my first goodreads giveaway?!!!

[Billie's Not So Secret Diary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Curious Kind of Magic
by Mara Rutherford
YA Fantasy
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Oct 21, 2025
St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books
Ages: 12+

The shop Willow's father left her claims to have magical items, but everyone in town knows the things her father collected are fake. When a young woman ventures into the shop looking for a grimoire, a few of the items 'wake up'.

Seeing away to save her father's shop, Willow makes Brianna a deal, and together they begin to find not only success, but friendship.

But when a not-so-honest collector of magical items blackmails Willow into a risky quest, Willow discovers pieces to her past.


This is a cute, cozy YA fantasy that would capture the attention of younger readers. Sure, there is 'drama' and a 'bad guy', there are also 'life lessons' that adults could use while reading the story aloud to their kids/students. Willow's attitude towards life, her sorrow, and her self-discovery could give troubled kids an example of growth; that it can happen.

It kept at a pretty good pace, but I feel that there could've been more to the history of the world, especially since there were other 'kingdoms' that weren't really explained. Brianna came from one of these, so making sure the differences between the two places were explained would help readers understand why Brianna's own quest was so important.

I must admit that while I liked this story, I didn't care much for Willow's attitude. I get why she was the way she was, but more of her life with her father would've given the reader a deeper understanding of Willow before and after her father's death. Older readers would understand this without the extra detail, but younger readers might not, thus they wouldn't get a real understanding of Willow.

The cover is cute and it and the title fits the story pretty good. There is some violence/talk of violence, but it's not overly dramatic, so this is suitable for readers twelve and older.

Just made...

3 Stars

[Jena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally !! A book that was able to get me out of my 3-month reading slump!

I've been wanting to pick up a book by Mara Rutherford for ages, and I'm so glad I started her collection with A Curious Kind of Magic. This book has everything I love in a fantasy novel - a cozy setting, a fast-paced story with twists, complex characters, a strong female friendship, an endearing romance, and a cat companion. I've been stuck in a reading slump for months on end, and this book just ripped me out of it. From the first chapter I was engaged, and the story never let up. I was thoroughly engaged from start to finish, and now that I'm done with the novel, I'm hoping for a spin-off novel. I'm hoping this novel becomes more popular as time passes, but if not, not to worry, I'll be thoroughly hyping it up.

Thank you to the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this ARC***

A prickly orphan inherits her father’s shop of magic curiosities, which is fun and whimsical but for the fact that all the items are fake and everybody knows it. Willow wants to be an honest businesswoman, but it’s difficult when she can’t sell anything and her rent is 3-months past due. Her only friend is a twinkly-eyed printer’s assistant with a wonky tooth who adores her and bakes her pies. When an outlander stumbles into the shop, Willow is convinced she’s found the answer to her problems, and they set out to break a magic curse and save Willow’s reputation as the town charlatan. There are shoulder cats, dragon teeth, hair puns, and unicorn horns that cure impotence (for a night). Willow gets blackmailed into stealing a dragon egg for a shifty collector and learns that some powerful artifacts are best left undiscovered by humans. The vibe is Emily Wilde meets The Otherwhere Post starring a teenager making selfishly teenage decisions, but whom you can't help but like. At one point, Willow is so stressed she eats an entire apple pie for breakfast. I wish my coping mechanisms were that wholesome.

[Val~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whimsical 🤩 I also love this copy from OwlCrate 😊
Cozy fantasy as well! 🥰

[°❀⋆.monica ೃ࿔*:･ · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh this was just a delightful read!

everything about this book worked for me - the cozy small town vibe, the magical shop, and the dash of romance between long time friends.

willow was such an easy character to root for and you couldn’t help but want the best for her. all of her hardships shaped her into a stubborn and scared teenager, but with the power of friendship and love, you watched her blossom into this confident and brave girl.

and finley?? oh he was just the sweetest boy to exist!! he had a pure heart of gold and how he stood besides willow despite all her attempts to push him away made my heart melt. if I raised a boy like him I know I’ve won in life.

overall, this book felt like a cozy hug and made me constantly smile over how adorable these characters were. I’d definitely read more from this author!

thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and the author for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[jo ୨୧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

🍄 𝟒.𝟓 ✩

⁀➷ : thanks to netgalley + the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review

→ if no can find me, im working at edward stoke's cabinet of magical curiosities and im probably not coming back. bonus points if i can find myself a finlay because dang that man was yearning like crap for willow.

🍄 ⋇⊶⊰❣⊱⊷⋇

→ i went into this book not knowing anything at all, and you know what--im glad i did. because i think if i knew something about it, i probably wouldn't have read it. because at a whole a curious kind of magic is a very slow paced book with a very light magic setting.

and that's okay !! i enjoyed it very much. i love willow, i love brianna (she's a girlboss can i be friends with her ??)

and finlay, this guy jokingly said "you know my heart belongs to you, willow." on page 12. PAGE TWELVE. i repeat that man has been obsessed with her since they were children. but enough of that. let's move onto the next section

🍄 ⋇⊶⊰❣⊱⊷⋇

→ as i said before, this book is slow paced, we dont get into the "action" if you can call it that, until about fifty or sixty percent into the book. it's moreso a quest that they go on. its hard to explain without spoiling the book. and the resolve with the bad guy is very hea which i loved, i stan a happy endng. it's a low stakes vibes where nothing feels like it's going to crumble. you aren't going to cry or anything.

i felt so much for willow and how she's just surviving without her parents, and for finlay with his mom being sick, and for brianna basically being the "black sheep" of her family ! i have some questions about the town being lowk not there ??? but that's for another day.


🍄 ⋇⊶⊰❣⊱⊷⋇

→ all in all, if you are okay with light witch magic, a slowburn friends to lovers (where's hes been in love with her forever), two girls becoming best friends and girlbossing their way through it, a magical shop, and if you are a fan of emily wilde's encyopledia of faeries (same vibes), then this book is for you! i will be deffo buying a copy !

→ →

[Val ୨୧ (SORRY FOR BEING SO INACTIVE I'M BACK) · Rating 2 out of 5]

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ Pre read ~ Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC ! This book has such a gorgeous cover and gives me very cozy fantasy vibes which will be perfect with my chai latte tonight <3

Unfortunately, I DNF'ed this book, which is something I rarely do. It was just too slow for my liking.

So, i was so sure I was going to like this book, but it was just SO SLOW. Or maybe that's the point of cozy fantasies. I've learnt my lesson, i'm sticking to action filled romatasy from now on 😔.

However, if you like cozy fantasy stories, this one is definitley for you. The characters were very well written, and so was the world building and backstories, but when i don't see a potential love interest in the first 50%, you've lost me. This was a good book, but it just wasn't for me. <3

[Cups and Thoughts · Rating 5 out of 5]

stop it rn this was SO GOOD?!?!? the sheer amount of cozy magical trinkety goodness was off the charts! ✨✨✨i loved it SO MUCH!!! the sweet friendship and the sweet blossoming awkward friends to lovers romance??? 🤍🤍 honestly sooo cute! the audiobook was so good — i could listen to it all day (and i did for the first half of the book lol no joke. then i had to stretch the rest of it out cos i had a wedding to plan haha 🫡). then plotline was fun and wholesome and filled with so much goodness and magic!!! definitely more fitting for a younger audience but wow i just had so much fun listening to this! the character development was so good too, esp the FMC (she thinks she doesn’t deserve to be loved and pushes everyone away but ofc the ppl who truly love her will keep coming back 🥹🥹).

muah muah muahhh sweet and charming to a tea! 🥰🥰

[My.bookish.diaries · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC of A Curious Kind of Magic!

This book was such a comforting, magical little escape. I fell in love with the small town vibes, the soft touch of romance, and the characters who were so easy to root for.
Willow’s journey especially stood out to me — her quiet strength, her stubborn independence, and the way she slowly let love in. I really connected with her.

It’s one of those books that just makes you feel cozy while reading. I had a great time with it and can’t wait to see more people fall in love with it too!

[LaceyBanana Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy fantasy, magic, and secrets? SIGN ME UP! This young lady runs a magical curiosity shop and when she meets someone who can turn the fakes into real, they devise a plan that helps both of them.

This was just what I needed! I loved the magic, the story telling, and the characters. I looked forward to reading this every day!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, St Martin’s Press, and Mara Rutherford for providing this free E-ARC, this published on October 21st. This is my honest review!

[quillnqueer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the plot is a little messy in places, this had such great found family vibes that I didn't even care. This was magical and wonderful and like eating a really satisfying slice of cake, I was sad to leave the trio after their adventures, but happy with how much they'd grown over the course of the story.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Curious Kind of Magic is a whimsical story of three teenagers, their friendship, and the magic that envelops them along the way. Initially, I was worried the story would be too YA or simple, but I found myself charmed by the characters and adventure of it all.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. 3.5 stars rounded up :)

[littlefox · Rating 3 out of 5]

⋆˚࿔ 3.5 stars ⋆˚࿔

A big thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a very cute Studio Ghibli-style fantasy and was a cozy read for the fall (or my illusion of fall - it's still hot outside 😭). The characters were endearing and the atmosphere of the book was comforting. Although I enjoyed it, the plot didn't seem incredibly well thought out. This might've been a conscious choice to keep the book light-hearted and cozy rather than tense, but the conflict was barely there and it made the book feel... pointless? Especially with the long stretches of filler chapters, the chapters that DID further the plot felt minor. It made the ending anticlimactic. Maybe it's just not my kind of fantasy because I usually need some sort of epic magical conflict to keep me invested in the unraveling of the plot, but it made it harder for me to connect with the book.

Regardless, it was a sweet read! Just don't go into it looking for anything more than coziness.



~~
chat how am i supposed to keep up with ARCs when i have exams every week 😭😭

[✨⚡ Kelcey (felinebooktrovert) ✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

DNF 19%

I think this might be a timing issue. I have a lot of books, both new releases and arcs I want to read, and so I think that is taking my attention. But this is also just not grabbing me.

We're mainly following two female characters that are going to eventually build a friendship, but both characters are just...meh. The main FMC I was really not enjoying. I think she was supposed to be someone who had a bit of an attitude, that's a loner except for a friend of hers, but she was really just coming across as more of a brat.

And I think everything just felt a little dry. I think this is supposed to more of a cozy fantasy type deal, but the writing wasn't really supporting that for me. No humor, no beautiful or lyrical writing, just meh.

I may come back to this one later but I have to move on for now ☹️

[ava ⋆˙⟡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝟜.𝟚𝟝 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤, 𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕕 𝕕𝕠𝕨𝕟 𝕥𝕠 𝟜

I wasn't sure what to expect, but this book did NOT disappoint! It was so cozy and cute and fun to read, and I really enjoyed it. It did feel a bit slow and had a few boring moments, but oterhwise it was really enjoyable. While reading, I felt like I was transported into this fantasy world that it takes place in, and the detail, characters and worldbuilding were all amazing. I gave it 4 stars because it wasn't quite as good as some books I've read, and some chapters were harder to get through, but I still liked it. I can definitely see it becoming a comfort book for me to reread over and over again at some point, and I'm considering buying a physical copy when it actually comes out because that cover is so pretty!

» [Willow- Taylor Swift] «
0:00 ─〇───── 4:12
⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕
౨ৎ A fun, cozy fantasy
౨ৎ An enjoyable writing style
౨ৎ Great worldbuilding
౨ৎ A slower paced book, but not in a bad way

━•❃°•°❀°•°❃•━━•❃°•°❀°•°❃•━━•❃°•°❀°•°❃•━

𝘗𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 (𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭) 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘯 ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

Ages 12+

𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔
౨ৎ Language- Minor swears used every so often, usually every couple chapters to a few times a chapter (sh*t, h*ll and maybe others)
౨ৎ Romance- Crushes, characters kiss, the main character imagines kissing someone
౨ৎ Violence- Murder (past, off page), a pony and carriage almost fall off a cliff, brief mentions of torture (no details)
౨ৎ Other- Death of a parent, some mentions of depression, maybe (?) more that I forgot

Emetophobia warning: On the part with the boat the character v* multiple times, some referances to it as well

━•❃°•°❀°•°❃•━━•❃°•°❀°•°❃•━━•❃°•°❀°•°❃•━

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼

⤷ Willow- She;s a really good main character, I loved reading from her perspective and thought she was a really good character!

⤷ Bri- also a great character!

⤷ Finlay- Another really great character!

━•❃°•°❀°•°❃•━━•❃°•°❀°•°❃•━━•❃°•°❀°•°❃•━

𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓭

⤷ The writing style- Easy and fun to read, very enjoyable

⤷ The plot/concept-It was interesting and just really great

⤷ The romance- Even though it was a small subplot I really liked it and I think it was really well done!

⤷ The world building- I completely felt like I was in the world of this book, it was just so great and easy to get into, some fantasy books are kind of confusing but this one was not


𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷'𝓽 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮

⤷ It got a bit boring at times- Since it is a slower paced book, at some moments I felt like I had to push through it a bit

━•❃°•°❀°•°❃•━━•❃°•°❀°•°❃•━━•❃°•°❀°•°❃•━

[Patty (IheartYA311) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rutherford is an auto-read author for me. It's as if she's able to reach in her pocket and throw a handful of magic onto paper, either that or she is magic herself. Every aspect is superb - writing, world building, character development. I would have liked the pace to be a bit quicker, though. The story was unique, and this is just the type of book that makes me love reading.

If you love active book communities, check out LiterALLy BOOKiSh Book Club (on Facebook)! Games, giveaways, discussions, reviews, bingo, swaps, traveling books, and a lot more!

[A Dreaming Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ALC.

This was a fun cozy fantasy. I really liked how their friendship developed. The characters were all likeable as such and I didn't find any of them annoying. The ending was quite wholesome as well. I loved the explanation for Brianna's curse as well. I think that really made sense for this story and tied up everything together. I found the descriptions of the magical objects also super fun and cute. This really brought me out of a sort of reading slump and was a nice change from all the dark, bleak books that I was reading. My only issue was that the heist part barely had any descriptions -- I would have enjoyed some of the planning and execution for that as well. I would recommend this to all the cozy fantasy readers out there.

The narrator did a brilliant job with the audiobook. I didn't find myself distracted at any point and it was very calming to listen to it. I definitely recommend the audiobook version!

[Becky Q. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a fun little time with this book! Especially in the beginning! The cozy, magical shop setting was my favorite! I loved the quieter, more character focused moments! And I loooved watching these relationships develop! Give me found family all the time, please! And the whole magical antiques concept felt fun and different from a lot of the fantasy I've been reading lately. This book was super easy to read, and it felt comforting!

I felt like as the story went on it shifted more into a traditional type of fantasy direction rather than cozy which might work well for readers who enjoy that kind of progression! But for me, I just found myself missing the cozy, antique shop atmosphere from the beginning of the book but I still appreciated the unique storyline overall!

[Beatrice Moulin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the perfect cute and cozy read I was hoping it would be. It was fun, entertaining, and adventurous. The writing wasn't anything groundbreaking but it was so full of heart, friendship, and found family so 10/10 on that front 😊❤️

[Stephanie Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

This cozy fantasy has charm, depth and whimsy. Willow runs a failing, mostly fake magical curiosity shop left to her by her father. Outlander Brianna appears and touches one of the objects and imparts her magic on it. Willow immediately wants her to stay to help her earn money to pay the rent and being the failing shop back to life. But Brianna is cursed and she doesn’t want her magic. She is in
Search of a grimiore that will end her curse.
I loved willow even though she is prickly and can’t stop lying. I loved Briana and Finley.
This book is for all of the cozy fantasy fans out there. I’m excited to check out Mara rutherford’s other works.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[A.M. (ᴍʏ.sᴘᴏᴏᴋʏ.ᴡᴀʏs) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay YES, this one was such a vibe. The friendship dynamic in this book is just magical. I became emotionally invested in every interaction. 𝐀 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 completely pulled me in with its cozy, whimsical charm, and wow, Mara Rutherford does it again. And yes, this is my first book by her, but I get it now. I fully understand why people say she has a knack for writing these beautifully cozy, character-driven stories that just wrap around you and refuse to let go.

This book is packed with everything I love: coziness, relatable characters, a rich magical world that feels both soft and alive, and themes that actually mean something. Willow, Brianna, and Finlay? I adored them. Their dynamic felt so genuine and layered, especially the way trust builds between them over time. It wasn’t instant, it wasn’t easy, and it felt real. And that made every emotional moment hit so much harder.

Also can we talk about the 𝘷𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘴! This is peak cozy fantasy energy. A slightly chaotic magic shop, secrets, curses, found family, and that quiet underlying sense that something bigger is unfolding. It’s soft but not shallow, there’s depth here. It explores things like identity, loneliness, second chances, and what it really means to let people in. Who wouldn’t eat that up?! I know I did.

And the emotional payoff? I felt that. This is one of those books where you finish it and just sit there for a second like, okay wow. My heart.

My final verdict is that 𝐀 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 felt like a warm hug with a little bit of chaos and magic mixed in. If you’re into cozy fantasy with a ton of magic and a ton of heart, you need to pick this up immediately.

(𝙃𝙪𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙒𝙚𝙙𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮. 𝙎𝙤 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨!)

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

Although the book was a bit slow at the beginning, taking me a bit to get into the story, I am glad that I decided to stick it out and continue past the first chapter or two. Might have just been that my mind was wandering the day I started or something, rather than the book itself. That does happen sometimes, as we all know. I ended up loving the story and characters so much. I mean, a real wolpertinger that grants wishes? Seriously? That is absolutely ridiculous, but I love it so much. Her shop is filled with fraudulent magical items, but the wolpertinger is real. If you don't know what that is, please look it up. This paragraph will make so much more sense.

For those looking for a clean fantasy romance, this will be a great choice for you. There is zero smut, unless you consider a kiss smut. Which, I know some people do.

Loved the book and would definitely recommend it.

[Ande Pliego · Rating 5 out of 5]

The swindler-with-a-heart-of-gold from LITTLE THIEVES meets the urban fantasy whimsy of AN ENCHANTMENT OF RAVENS in A CURIOUS KIND OF MAGIC, and I couldn’t love it more.

As with every one of Mara’s books, I adored it—this is a book for magpies, people who are fascinated by all manner of artifacts and the stories behind them, and it made my little soul sing. Mara’s created a world of magical curiosities and cut-throat collectors, but below the surface, the themes of found family and internal growth are just 🤌

Can’t recommend more highly, and can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy!