Extraordinary Quests for Amateur Witches

by Kayla Cottingham

After accidentally cursing his ex-boyfriend, a reluctant hero must complete a dangerous quest to undo his spell . . . all while falling for a brooding new crewmate with dark secrets.

Kieran has never had much luck in love or magic. Other than being freed from a family curse that would have killed him and doomed his twin sister, life isn’t going his way.

So, after getting put on notice by his boyfriend and accidentally writing a poem so bad (and magically hazardous) that it makes him invisible to the guy, of course Kieran returns home to find the Witches Council sitting in his living room, demanding he complete his magical training. Panicked, he blurts out that his Calling—a kind of magical thesis—will be to find a magical cure-all that can break any curse . . . an enormous task that he absolutely doesn’t have the power to pull off.

Nevertheless, Kieran sets off on this dangerous journey, accompanied by his sister Briar, her girlfriend Delilah, and a swoony new crewmate, Sebastian. If he survives, he may just learn how to turn his luck around and figure out what kind of witch, person, and boyfriend he wants to be.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Queer, LGBT, Audiobook, Witches

406 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2025

About the author

Kayla Cottingham (she/they) is a YA author and librarian. Her first book, My Dearest Darkest, was a New York Times and Publisher's Weekly bestseller. Originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, Kayla lives in Boston where she loves to go hiking in the woods, play RPGs, and snuggle on the couch with her ridiculously large black cat, Squid.

Kayla is no longer active on Goodreads. As such, please use the contact form on her website if you have any inquiries.

Reviews

[Megan [At The Cottage]]

LGBTQ+ Fantasy
No Rating

PAUSED @ 25%

Thank you netgalley for the arc but I feel a little mislead because nowhere in the blurb on NG does this book say it is second in a series. It doesn’t even show up on GR that this is a multi-book series for that matter so I requested it thinking it was a standalone and I feel like I’m missing info that I need to fully understand this book. The first book is a sapphic fantasy and one part of that couple is this book MC’s twin sister and this sapphic couple plays a huge role in this book so not having the back info is just not working for me.

If I had time I’d go back and read book one but unfortunately this releases tomorrow and I don’t have time to read it before feedback is due on this one so I’m tabling this for now.

So anyone who wants to read this book, make sure to pick up Practical Rules For Cursed Witches first.

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰ 2.75 stars ✰

“But after everything, it was still him. And maybe that wasn’t so bad.”

​​It was ​cliché in every form, predictability on every account, but I can't bring myself to be too critical, seeing how the author did write a decent ​enough blend of coming-of-age contemporary cozy fantasy with magic and words , just one that I --- it's a me thing. ​🙆🏻‍♀️​ The lack of real angst makes it difficult for me to really care, so ​I feel that ​I'm just one of the few aboard the airship as it sets its course for Extraordinary Quests for Amateur Witches.

​And​ would I be too ​mean if I said ​the writing ​was​ amateurish and the story ​pretty much​ ordinary​? ​Yes. ​For it had its few moments of redemption. ​​🙂‍↕️

“Maybe,” Kieran scoffed, “but it’s not like anyone’s there to help me stand up again, metaphorically speaking.”

“I would,” Sebastian said, “if you asked.”



Seventeen-year-old self-proclaimed world’s worst witch and even worse boyfriend. Kieran's encounter with his younger self touched me, certain comments regarding his lingering attachment to ​Ash, compared to his kindling interest in ​Sebastian resonated​. Besides, he and Sebastian were cute together​.​ 🥰 ​In spite of all the check of the box tropes they fulfilled, their slow-burn romance had its sweet scenes, where their fondness and understanding of each other's pains eventually drew them closer together.

The writing was steady enough - ​ genuinely.​ ​Argh, there I go again. ​It had that modernish-magical lingo down to the t, so maybe the current young adult reader would totally vibe with it.​ I'm not fond of sure used in narratives, and ​this sadly had it in noticeable abundance.​​ 😕 I also felt it was a bit on the long-ish side, but hey, it is a quest, so... The supporting cast was a bit limited, though, but Briar and Delilah's supportive cheer made up for it.

“Don’t get so caught up trying to glue together the pieces of something broken that you forget to look around and see what’s right in front of you.

I'm glad I ​did not​ read the first book, because even if the message is that first loves are not final loves, I think it would have been difficult for me to be more forgiving; if in fact, it did cover this past relationship, that is.​ 🤔 ​However, without even knowing much into the lore of their realm, it was easy to grasp. ​Because, well, not much was delved into enchantments and curses, but the minimal that was, was fine enough​; which this read was: just fine.​ 🤷🏻‍♀️

​The star really is Kieran's own self-realization in his own self-worth, one where you sympathize with his own self-flagellation, and can't help but cheer when he realizes his own self-worth, if he simply allows himself to believe in himself. He's been beaten down and judged harshly for so long that it takes courage and love for him to embrace a part of himself he'd ignored, one where he sees that his true talents and potential lay in him all along.​ ❇️

[akacya ❦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

2025 reads: 269/300

i received a digital review copy from the publisher via netgalley. i am leaving this review voluntarily.

kieran has never had much luck in love or magic, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise when he accidentally writes a poem so bad it makes him invisible to his boyfriend. this leads to a visit from the witches council. with their demands that he finishes his magical training, kieran signs up for the enormous task of finding a magical cure-all that can break any curse. he sets off to accomplish the impossible with his sister briar, her girlfriend delilah, and the swoony new crewmate sebastian.

the premise of this book seemed pretty funny, and i’ve enjoyed another book by the author, so i was really excited to start this one! luckily, this book did end up being enjoyable to me. i loved kieran and the growth he went through. he and sebastian were so cute together! i also loved how magical this was. it was funny that kieran accidentally cursed himself from bad poetry, but there were some cooler magic moments in the book.

i went into this having no idea this was a spin-off to another book. it was pretty clear from the beginning that there was more to briar and delilah’s story, so i wasn’t surprised when i went to the author’s goodreads page and saw that they are the main characters in the book practical rules for cursed witches. i was still able to follow this book just fine, but hopefully, i didn’t ruin that book for myself by reading this one first! they were great as side characters, so i do plan on reading that book one day. i just want to provide this warning in case anyone else is unaware.

i’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a witchy, achillean YA read. i will be going back to read briar and delilah’s book!

[gracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't aware that there was a book before this and I was already a significant amount into the book before I realized that the magic system would've be getting an extension exposition because most of it was already done... in the first book lol. I will be going back to read that one but all things considered I still did enjoy this one.

The writing was a tad too juvenile that I had to check if this was middle grade rather than YA but it wasn't overtly show instead of telling. I found both characters to be interesting enough, and cheesy...lord they were so cheesy!! It was a quick, fun read!

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got an arc from ALA

DELIGHTFUL, absolutely delightful. I said with the last book I’d read a billion stories set in this world and yeah keep em coming. Kieran is a deeply relatable protagonist in how he struggles with his self loathing and ultimately trying to be better without tipping too hard into the WOE IS ME I SUCK, and since that can be a tough tightrope to walk I really appreciated it.

Also seaweed is best girl

[ChristineReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved how cozy this read felt, and one of my favorite parts is that ir was filled with the best sort of character growth. We meet Kieran a witch who has just accidently cursed his boyfriend after being told they needed a break. This results in an quest to break said curse. His sister, her girlfriend, and a mysterious boy join this quest as Kieran also has to prove he is worthy of keeping his magic. Not only did he chose to break a curse for his calling, but he chose the most difficult way to do that. Filled with determination and doubt they set off the accomplish the almost impossible.

This book was filled with adventure, epic fights, self-reflection, and beautiful moments of friendship and bravery. I really enjoyed the magic system, and the depth at which the characters opened up and grew. I also loved the funny moments like Sebastain's monologue about different types of wood. It was a nice balance of questing, which we get a fun amount of and learning how to show up for one another.

The characters is this one were great and loveable. I highly recommend if you love DnD, adventures, romance, and growing into yourself. It was a fun treat! Thank you to the publisher for providing an advanced readers copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Ben Howard]

so excited for this book!!!

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC ✨

[Ronan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bem divertido!

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Practical Rules for Cursed Witches and when I saw Kieran would get his own book I pre-order this one in audio. Kieran was an important side character in the first book and this book has him as the main character. After his boyfriend Ash tells him he wants a break Kieran is devastated and writes a poem to process his feelings which accidentally curses Ash. Kieran then makes creating a magical curse breaker his Calling, a magical test he has to complete to keep his magic, but Elias wants to use the same spring to create a curse breaker and will do anything he can to stop Kieran from completing his calling.

Extraordinary Quests for Amateur Witches has a similar vibe from the first book with it being full of adventure, romance and a bit of danger. This one has a magical quest with three parts a magical scepter they have to find, so Kieran can create the curse breaker. I liked the cozy vibes, although there are more serious and heavier moments as well.

Kieran has had a tough childhood, being cursed and doomed to die young and his parents didn't treat him well. He starts the book with low confidence, constantly comparing himself to others and feeling like he comes up short. Over the course of this book he slowly changes and finds his own sense of self and grows confident in who he is. I really liked seeing this change and it felt amazing seeing how he developed over the course of the book. I also liked seeing him grow closer to his twin and seeing his friendship with Delilah.

I also liked the romance in this one. While Kieran has to process his feelings about his past relationship with Ash, his bond with Sebastian slowly starts deepening the more time they spend together. I liked how encouraging and supportive Sebastian is of Kieran from the start. There also were some interesting bits about Sebastian and why he was helping Elias who was trying to make a curse breaker as well and who is trying to stop Kieran from completing his calling. And there is some information about Sebastian's past that slowly comes to light. I liked seeing Kieran and Sebastian together and thought they made for a great couple.

I did have some trouble getting into this book at first as the narrator is a different one from the first book, which was quite confusing. It does make sense with this being a m/m romance while book was a f/f romance, but I still thought switching narrators was confusing. All the characters sound different and it just felt odd, especially as Delilah and Briar are important side characters here and Kieran was an important side character in book 1, they aren't just minor side characters making an appearance. I slowly got used to the narrator and was able to enjoy the book more once I got used to all the new voices. I liked the narrator's voice for Kieran and thought he did some of the side character's voices well too, but a lot of the female voices I didn't like as much. And Delilah and Briar's voices just kept sounding off to me.

I liked how Delilah and Briar, the couple from the first book, join Kieran on his quest. And Ariel and Santiago are there as well. Which was fun, but I also struggled a bit with it. Delilah and Briar felt less capable than in the first book as they had to step aside and let Kieran be the lead now, which just felt a bit off. And there wasn't as much of Ariel and Santiago, they were just mostly there to pilot the ship and add some fun dialogue in some scenes. I did like the addition of Seaweed who becomes Kieran's familiar.

I also want to state I think this book is best read after Practical Rules for Cursed Witches, while you can probably read this one first I think there will be a lot of backstory you're missing. And despite this book not being listed as book 2 in the series anywhere, it really feels like one to me.

To summarize: I had a great time listening to this book. I had a bit of trouble getting into the book at first due to the different narrator than the first book, but once I got used to this narrator I was able to enjoy the book. I liked reading about Kieran and especially his character development arc throughout the book was very satisfying to watch. I liked seeing him grow into himself and become more confident in himself and who he wants to be. I liked his romance wish Sebastian and how supportive Sebastien is of Kieran. Sebastian has some interesting backstory and things going on as well. I liked how Delilah, Briar, Ariel and Santiago are part of this story as well, although I did feel Delilah and Briar felt a bit less capable in this one and Ariel and Santiago stayed very much in the background. I liked the narrator's voice for Kieran, but never fully liked the voices for Delilah and Briar as they kept sounding wrong to me due to the narrator being a different one than book 1. All in all this is a fun cozy fantasy adventure story with a great character development plot line.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars; I liked the story but had no idea there was a first book and feel like that maybe would have helped.

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This started off very strong, but as I continued to read, I never fully got invested in the story.

I thought I would like this even better than the first book because Kieran was my favorite, but it fell flat at times.

I love Kieran, but he didn’t really stand out to me too much. The relationship with Sebastian felt very forced and I didn’t feel any chemistry between them. Not that I disliked Sebastian, but I didn’t think he was that fleshed out of a character.

I thought Kieran had good development in being more confident in himself. He was a pathetic man at first, and I say that with all the love in my heart, but he really grew into his own. Not sure if we need a full book on it though.

Even though there was a lot of action, I found myself bored throughout most of it.

At first I was shocked this wouldn’t be about Ash and Kieran being together, but I ended up liking how the author did it. She mentioned why she did it the way she did in her author’s notes, but it’s true! Not everyone stays with the first love interest they meet, as it seems to happen in many books. It’s very realistic, which I appreciated.

I loved to hate Elias. There was just something about him. He wasn’t a crazy good villain, but he had some chilling and cool lines.

I don’t think it hurts to read this book, but if you don’t, you’re not really missing much. I would just stick with the first book and read about Delilah and Briar’s love story!

[Bethany J · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review*

I'm writing this review a pretty long while after I've finished this book (a huge mistake; don't be like me), so I'm kind of struggling a little with how best to articulate my review. For some of it, it's because this was just... a fine book that didn't really stand out in any way. Unfortunately, for me, I think Kieran shined more as a side character rather than a protagonist. That's not to say that he didn't have his good moments in this book, it's just I feel like he couldn't quite carry the entirety of the novel on his back alone.

I did struggle a bit with the pacing, if I'm honest, which had an effect on the relationship building, for me. Sebastian was an okay character, but I don't know if I ever really fully bought in to his relationship with Kieran. I do appreciate what the author's intentions were with the way they introduced the romance; it just didn't fully work for me.

I will say that this book was strongest when Kieran had his more introspective moments. There was one scene in particular that I think about a lot. It hit me particularly hard and I wish the pacing had been a little better so as to give that moment more weight.

Overall, this was fine, but I don't feel the need to go back and re-read it. I think it just missed some of the magic of the first book for me.

[Caitlyn Daviau · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was good but not great. It took me a minute to grasp my attention while reading. I think the plot could’ve been better. I do like the character growth and the representation of characters in this book. Is it a book I would pick up if it wasn’t an arc probably not. I think it has potential but it could’ve been better and not so whiny and potentially just more interesting.

[DreamingInPages · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5
This book was so cute! And also kind of refreshing.
The plot was well-paced; I liked the build up to their quest. Even the quest itself was fun to read; not too intense—there was laughter and entertainment (as it should be when a bunch of teenager are in charge).
The characters were all so good. Briar and Delilah being the cute, loving couple they are. Even Ariel and Santiago were kind of cute. And the main event: Kieran and Sebastian. I adored them so much! They’re so cute! I forgot how much I adore simple, innocent love between two characters. So refreshing! The slow-burn and the caution between the two of them made it even more satisfying when they ended up together.
One other thing that stood out to me was how well Kayla—the author—built up Kieran’s character. He wasn’t instantly confident or sure of himself just because something he did worked; it was a slow build up. It was a nice touch when he met his younger self in the woods. I felt like that event being the turning point for him was…..sentimental and slightly relatable.
My only problem with this book was that it wasn’t long enough. I want more of these characters

[Danielle | daniellereadslikealot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical Rules for Cursed Witches was one of my favorite books last year and I was so excited about Extraordinary Quests. I love the cozy little magical world Cottingham has built here and especially the characters. Kieran was my favorite character in the first book and I loved him as the main character this go around. He was so beautifully written and his journey going from being insecure in his relationship, magical ability and himself in general to fully believing that he is capable of great things and also deserves them was amazing. I loved seeing the old gang back together again and meeting new additions like Sebastian and Seaweed. The story here is full of magic, adventure and fun twists and turns that kept me flipping pages as quickly as I could to see what would happen next. The found family the characters created in book one was as stronger as before and I felt like I was smiling for the majority of the book. I really hope we get more books set in this world (maybe an Ariel and Santi story?!) Highly recommend for a cozy adventure full of great characters and whimsical magic!
CW: violence, mentions of child abuse, death

Thank you to Delacorte Press for the digital readers copy!

[Madyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A thrilling and engaging adventure. I'm officially a fan of the world building and the magic system with Kieran’s prose and poetry magic. I probably would’ve been more of a fan and some of the context would’ve been clearer if I read the first book—it is on my to read list now! I really loved the characters with their developments and the writing style, and the pacing flowed really well. Kieran is a compelling main character; I loved his voice and his coming of age story was written beautifully. The rest of the ensemble was fun and added so many delicious dynamics, especially Sebastian. Side note: my Critical Role brain did keep thinking of Delilah Briarwood every time I saw Delilah and Briar's names together. What a fun read and if there are more books coming in this series, I look forward to it :)

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kieran is the epitome of "dumb gay" and honestly, that's pretty rough for him. Poor buddy gets dumped, accidentally curses his ex, and now has to work to create an impossible cure in order to keep his magic. Obviously, this book was everything I could have hoped for. Messy and full of heart, I had so much fun reading this.

The band is back together (now with an extra tagalong a cute boy with suspect motives) and this sequel was everything I could have hoped for. Thank you to Delacorte Press for the free review copy.

[Teresa Vu · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars: This was a pretty fun fantasy read and kinda of typical but still enjoyable to read. Your typical fantasy quest with villains and magic but with cute romance between a witch and an assassin 🙂‍↕️

Honestly enjoyed this book more than I thought I was going to but still thought it was okay. Some parts were pretty well written though and others fell flat. Was rooting for Kieran and Sebastian though. They were pretty cute.

[Cristina Casas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one! Weirdly I liked it better than the first one. I love both Kieran & Sebastian. The plot was very similar to the first one but the author was able to change enough to not make it feel like she was rehashing the first one.

[Hadley Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75⭐️

[Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four and a half rounded up.

Please note: THIS IS A SEQUEL.
I’m not sure why that information isn’t anywhere?

Anyway, I simply adored this. 🤍

[El · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dnf 30%
Just mah

[Books With Bananas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a follow-up story to Practical Rules for Cursed Witches, which I have not read. The author does a good job of filling in the important details from the first book, so you don't feel like you've picked up mid-story.

That being said...

I'm a little confused on the story's setting. So clearly we have magic so it's not like the "real world," and there are modern things like cell phones and skyscrapers. But it's also got a steampunk vibe...they fly in an aeroship, which I'm totally picturing like a wooden sea ship/blimp hybrid.

Kieran is the protagonist, but he doesn't really give main character energy. His character arc is all about him feeling plain, useless, in magical, undeserving at the beginning of the story. He does seem to come into his own a bit, but with a lot of help from his twin sister and friends.

Sebastian is the new love interest. His character just seems like problems were thrown at him: he's been cursed with vampirism (but with a bunch of freaky red eyes and creepy fingers) and he's an ex-assassin. Dude has been unlucky in love at the beginning of our story.

It was still a cute story. No spice, a good YA story that I would recommend for a teen audience.

Thank you NetGalley for a free arc copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

[East of Reality · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is cute. It’s a pleasant story about two boys, two girls, a hunt for three artifacts and an evil villain chasing them around. There are multiple deaths, Kieran goes unconscious a few times, gets a familiar, and gets a calling all while finding someone to love. While the book ends cheerfully enough with the two of them — Kieran and Sebastian — they’re only 18 and, unlike Kieran’s sister and her girlfriend, unlikely to get engaged in the next few months.

The book felt a little like a D&D game, with constant pirate attacks of Kieran and his friends aboard their airship, bosses to take down, plots to foil, but in a fun way. Every character got a moment to shine, and Kieran comes across as a sensitive, impulsive, clever young man who only wants to do the right thing. Sebastian is the obligatory love interest, less developed, and does the most murder. But it’s okay because they’re all bad guys, right?

The writing is clean and easy to read, the pace is fast, and I think the characters are mildly engaging. The romance is sweet, the constant talks about consent, boundaries and expectations felt genuine rather than sermonizing by the author. I read the book in a single sitting.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this author writes Kieran, he is not the best witch and not the most confident person. He is sweet and kind, but there are a lot of expectations regarding his family name. It's his time to do the calling, and he has proposed to do something almost impossible, but it's ok because he would rather lose his magic that accidentally hurt others. The main reason for his quest is to grow and prove to his ex that he is worth repairing the broken relationship, but sometimes quests lead us to another destiny, new love. Sebastian is a fascinating character deserving of a second chance. Quest, action, and adventure in a cozy, sweet adventure with expressos, cupcakes, Ramem, magic, and curses.
Love the cover art

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Forgot this was YA, so that's on me.
It's not labeled as a sequel or Book 2, so that's on the publisher.

I DNF 42% and since I read almost half of it, I'll tell you why I DNF.

First, it's a sequel and nowhere is it mentioned, which I would be fine with if the main couple of book 1 didn't still play such a big role in this one. I feel that choosing to include the main couple of book 1 in a big way only served to detract from the importance of Kieran (our MC) and his journey. He didn't need the support or the handholding, and the sibling drama was a tad annoying. If Kieran had been thrown in the deep end and we'd seen him learn to swim on his own, it would've made for a much more focused and interesting plot. And before you come at me, yes, I do get that there's a whole crew/found family thing going that continues from the first book, but choosing to repeat the same mechanic here—airship, crew, travels— is certainly a choice. Luckily, I didn't read book 1 or it would've felt repetitive.

Second, Kieran is heartbroken because his ex (who has ghosted him for an entire month and makes it clear they are not working) dumps him in the opening chapter. Kieran is like, utterly destroyed, refusing to accept it, wanting to beg to be taken back, etc. Yet one look at Sebastian and his heart is racing, he's dreaming of Sebastian's "diamond-cutting cheekbones" and not only do I hate the insta-crush, but we get to continue reading about how Kieran goes from writing love-sick letters (that he doesn't intend to send) to his ex while simultaneously swooning hard over Sebastian.

Third, I hate being spoon-fed information or lessons. The entire sibling fight where Kieran sister shouts that he's a weakling witch, the following huff-and-puff exit of Kieran going to do something extremely dangerous to prove he is not a weakling, and the subsequent reunion where they talk about how it all stems from their mommy issues...It felt like I was sitting at a therapy session with them and being explained what issues they had, what coping mechanisms they'd developed, and how none of it is their fault. Great. Did not need that all info dumped in a single chapter, especially when Kieran had already hinted at his issues so we understood the whole thing back then!

The last straw was something random that made me roll my eyes. They're on the airship deck, Kieran has been working on a new way to work his magic and spells, something he hadn't thought about ever before...writing spells. Oh, and no one had suggested this method before to him even when his hobby is writing poems. Okay then. So, he's writing a spell and Sebastian comes by, reads the spell and it works. Kieran asks what he's doing on deck and Sebastian pulls a knife and throws it. Knife throwing is something he practices as self defense, and he asks Kieran if he would like to practice. When Kieran says yes, this is the reply: 'Sebastian huffed out a laugh. "Color me surprised. I didn't take you as the sort to try something line this."' But you just invited him!? You invited him to something you'd thought he'd say no to, why???

And the uselessness of that action just broke my brain.

Anyways, story is not cozy, no wholesome, and I can't decide if it's found family or messy family. But I wasn't waiting another 50% to find out.

[Shawna Borman · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s the last Wednesday of September, so it’s book review time! This month, I went for some fluffy, gay fantasy. I didn’t realize it was actually the second book in a loosely connected series when I requested it, but it stands fairly well on it’s own. I just hate reading things out of order because if I do go back to the first book, it’s spoiled. But I digress. Extraordinary Quests for Amateur Witches by Kayla Cottingham was released by Delacorte Press on the 23rd (yesterday). As usual, I must thank them and NetGalley for access to an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Let’s do the thing.

Extraordinary Quests for Amateur Witches follows Kieran, who is currently reeling from a series of unfortunate events, as he accidentally curses his (on a break) boyfriend and sets off on an impossible task to fix it. The task? Finding a panacea (cure all) which may or may not exist. To make matters worse, this quest is also his Calling, the test of his own choosing that the Witch’s Council will use to determine whether or not he keeps his magic. Why did he choose something so difficult? But at least he gets to go adventuring with old friends and even a new one. Why does the new one have to be so attractive, though? Kieran has no idea what he’s doing. Hopefully, he can figure it out before everything falls apart.

The plot. It’s cute and predictable. The romance is a little too slow burn for me, but it’s adorable. The main part of the story is broken down into three tasks, then the culmination and climax. I went right through the first two tasks, but by the third one, I had a little trouble continuing. It was just so clear what was going to happen that I lost a little interest. The climax was also super disappointing. This is supposed to be all about Kieran growing and becoming the hero, but when it comes to the final boss (if you’ll excuse the video game reference), someone else takes care of everything while he cries over his inability to save someone. It felt lazy.

The characters. I loved most of the characters. Especially Kieran and Sebastian. Seaweed was my favorite, of course. I thought Ash was an asshole and not worth all the angst, but maybe if I had read the first book, I’d feel different. If he was even in it. There was also a baddie who shows up for like five pages that was useless. They were supposed to be this formidable opponent, but the way they showed up and disappeared was weak. They were literally used to make Kieran freak out about the fact that Sebastian had dated before, then thrown back into the ether like they had never existed. They could’ve been a much larger part of the story. Adelaide also feels completely random, but I’m almost positive that’s because I didn’t read the first book where she seems to play a big role.

The writing was good. There was nothing mind blowing about it, but it flowed nicely and made for an easy read.

Ultimately, I enjoyed the first half or so of Extraordinary Quests for Amateur Witches, then got bored with it. I seriously thought about going back and reading the first book, but this book basically spoils the whole thing, so I probably won’t.

Overall, I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. It wasn’t bad per se, it just wasn’t for me. If you enjoy super light gay fluff fantasy, check it out. But there are a lot of better ones out there.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for an ARC of this book! All opinions are my own.
Extraordinary Quests for Amateur Witches follows Kieran, a coffee shop worker and witch who is struggling with his magic. And then his ex-boyfriend decides to dump him and he accidentally curses him. He decides for a witch trial he needs to get a magical object to help break the curse on his ex. He brings together a group of people to help him and he finds himself being drawn to one of them, Sebastian, and is struggling to deal with his feelings versus what he has done.
I will say that I believe this book is not a stand alone and is instead interconnected to another book written by this atuhor which is Practical Rules for Cursed Witches. I woudl recommend probably reading that book before this one.
The reason I say this is that I felt like I was just tossed into this fantasy world without much introduction. I did catch on pretty fast to what was going on and the rules of the world and magic but I think it would have been better if I had read the first one. There is also a lot of alluding to what happened in the book before this one as far as what happened with Kieran and with his sister. Now I do think that it is pretty easy to grasp but if you like all the background that might be your best bet.
I did like Kieran as a mian character but I also found him sometimes to be a bit of a pain. I do know that he's young and they're a real struggle for what actual teens go through so I wasn't too bothered by it. I did love seeing him grow in confidence and really come into his own. His relationships with his friends was so fun to watch grow and develop and I thought his relationship with Sebastian was so well done.
I think the plot of this book was really intriguing and I really enjoyed reading it. It really kept the plot going and it didn't fully feel like anything really lagged in the middle. I also really liked how this book was wrapped up and seeing characters get to be happy. I also love any fantasy world where there is the ability for LGBTQIA+ characters to be in love and not see any sort of snide, nasty comments about it from other characters.
I do think that if this premise intrigues you, please do pick it up. It was not the best for me but I still am glad that I got to read this book.

[Desirae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extraordinary Quests for Amateur Witches is one of those books that feels like slipping into a cozy sweater—soft, pleasant, and lightly magical, even if it doesn’t leave a lasting impression once you set it down. Kayla Cottingham delivers a story that is undeniably fun, witty, and charming, with an airy tone that makes it an effortless read from start to finish.

The novel leans heavily into its whimsical premise, and Cottingham clearly enjoys playing with the quirks, misadventures, and camaraderie that come with a cast of amateur witches learning to navigate their unusual world. The humor is buoyant throughout, giving the narrative a distinctly upbeat energy. It’s the kind of book where the dialogue sparkles, the scenes bounce, and you can feel the author grinning behind the words.

What surprised me most was the subtle holiday vibe woven into the story. Though it’s not positioned as a traditional holiday romance or seasonal tale, there’s a warm, festive undercurrent to the atmosphere—something about the blend of community, self-discovery, and just-slightly-enchanted coziness. It has the mood of curling up near twinkling lights, even if the plot itself isn’t tied to holiday tropes.

That said, the book’s charms are undeniably light. The stakes remain low throughout—pleasantly so, if you’re in the mood for something gentle and PG-rated—but that also means the story doesn’t linger. As soon as I closed the book, I found that the details had already begun to blur. The characters are enjoyable to spend time with, but they don’t carve out a deep emotional footprint. The plot moves quickly, maybe too quickly, never asking the reader to sit with tension or transformation for long.

Because of this, while Extraordinary Quests for Amateur Witches is delightful in the moment, it lacks staying power. It’s the literary equivalent of a sweet snack: satisfying, cheerful, and instantly consumable, but not something that sticks with you afterward or begs for a reread.

Still, there’s value in a story that simply makes you smile, and Cottingham succeeds on that front. If you’re looking for a light, whimsical escape—something with magic, humor, and good vibes without emotional weight—this book is a lovely choice. I enjoyed the experience, even if I doubt I’ll pick it up again.