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Spellfire
Luna graduated from Grimoire Academy and never looked back — until she gets a call about her beloved former Professor Herringbone, who left Luna her prized spellbook collection. Luna is forced to return to the place she thought she’d left behind for good.
Amelia is the last witch Luna wants to see. Once her high school crush, Amelia is now headmistress, and she’s in desperate need of Luna’s spellbook expertise. With the Academy’s future at stake, and despite her reservations, Luna reluctantly agrees to become a teacher.
But returning to Grimoire means facing Amelia, and the unresolved feelings that linger between them. As they work together, Luna discovers that the true magic might be in the undeniable connection they share…
🌶️ Spice!!!
💖Second chance romance
💃 💃Found family
🧙🏻♀️🔮Magical shenanigans
Amelia is the last witch Luna wants to see. Once her high school crush, Amelia is now headmistress, and she’s in desperate need of Luna’s spellbook expertise. With the Academy’s future at stake, and despite her reservations, Luna reluctantly agrees to become a teacher.
But returning to Grimoire means facing Amelia, and the unresolved feelings that linger between them. As they work together, Luna discovers that the true magic might be in the undeniable connection they share…
🌶️ Spice!!!
💖Second chance romance
💃 💃Found family
🧙🏻♀️🔮Magical shenanigans
295 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2025
53 people are currently reading
758 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
October 30, 2025
3.5 Stars.
This was fun. I had a good time with it. I enjoyed our characters, loved the queer representation as well as the ADHD rep (as an ADHDer myself) ad really liked the atmosphere.
I do think that I've come to the conclusion a personal preference of mine is that I don't like spice in cosy fantasy. Although this isn't advertised as cosy fantasy, it definitely feels like it is. And I just find that spice feels out of place in this setting. It's a personal preference though. But overall, I had a good time with this one.
This was fun. I had a good time with it. I enjoyed our characters, loved the queer representation as well as the ADHD rep (as an ADHDer myself) ad really liked the atmosphere.
I do think that I've come to the conclusion a personal preference of mine is that I don't like spice in cosy fantasy. Although this isn't advertised as cosy fantasy, it definitely feels like it is. And I just find that spice feels out of place in this setting. It's a personal preference though. But overall, I had a good time with this one.
December 31, 2025
I struggled to connect to this story and the characters. When I read the Blurb I was really intrigued but unfortunately it just wasn't for me.
I found Luna to be slightly annoying and her pining for Amelia was a bit too obsessive and overbearing. I think it took away from the storyline, which was saving the school where Luna once attended as a student.
I think this story definitely had potential to be really good. I love a witchy romantasy book and I definitely think other readers would enjoy Spellfire, it just wasn't my Book.
A big Thank you to Avon Books UK and Netgalley, for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
I found Luna to be slightly annoying and her pining for Amelia was a bit too obsessive and overbearing. I think it took away from the storyline, which was saving the school where Luna once attended as a student.
I think this story definitely had potential to be really good. I love a witchy romantasy book and I definitely think other readers would enjoy Spellfire, it just wasn't my Book.
A big Thank you to Avon Books UK and Netgalley, for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
November 4, 2025
This was the least magical witch book I read all year.
If I wanted to spend hours listening to teachers talk about how to better scores and keep teens from cheating by using their phones inside the classroom, I would just... still be a teacher.
The writing style also did it no favors.
Super cute cover tho.
If I wanted to spend hours listening to teachers talk about how to better scores and keep teens from cheating by using their phones inside the classroom, I would just... still be a teacher.
The writing style also did it no favors.
Super cute cover tho.
September 9, 2025
Cute cosy sapphic fantasy! Didn’t really care about the romance but I liked the main character and story
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc
December 8, 2025
This review is for the audiobook specifically!
I think this book would be better without the romance, but I’m not necessarily against the couple getting together either- it’s just not as interesting as the other things going on and therefore please make sure you’re reading this because the plot sounds interesting and not because you want the romance to sweep you off your feet (they’re very lovely to each other but it’s just not ‘sparks flying’ passion)
As someone who loves to write, wants to teach and has experienced a sense of not quite belonging (although in my case it’s due to being an immigrant which is not quite as cool as being a siren born witch haha) I could relate a lot to the MC and that obviously made her more interesting to me specifically. I did like all the characters in general and thought they felt very real and had very distinct personalities, so I don’t have many complaints. The character growth is a bit limited because the stakes are not super high and the book only spans a 6 month period but it works for the story.
The chemistry between the couple dwindles as the book continues just because they have way more things to do as colleagues and friends and therefore the romance really has to take a backseat- not great for a book marketed primarily as a romance… I think the book would’ve worked without the romance, the non romance plot in this book just doesn’t really work as like a sexy side plot or something that helps the romance grow stronger. Yes the issues at the school ensure that Bryn stays there but the two working together mostly deepens a friendship (that could turn into romance) and does not encourage some sort of steamy romance- which I think the author was trying to go for based on the books description. Disclaimer there are explicit scenes and they are fine scenes but I just felt like this book didn’t need them.
I have to give major credit to the narrator Serena Harley! I really enjoyed how she spoke and thought it suited the characters so well, it really added to the book for me. Because of her great work I will be rating the book 4 stars for now, as I think a great narration really should be considered when rating an audiobook :)
The book itself is more of a 3 star situation
I think this book would be better without the romance, but I’m not necessarily against the couple getting together either- it’s just not as interesting as the other things going on and therefore please make sure you’re reading this because the plot sounds interesting and not because you want the romance to sweep you off your feet (they’re very lovely to each other but it’s just not ‘sparks flying’ passion)
As someone who loves to write, wants to teach and has experienced a sense of not quite belonging (although in my case it’s due to being an immigrant which is not quite as cool as being a siren born witch haha) I could relate a lot to the MC and that obviously made her more interesting to me specifically. I did like all the characters in general and thought they felt very real and had very distinct personalities, so I don’t have many complaints. The character growth is a bit limited because the stakes are not super high and the book only spans a 6 month period but it works for the story.
The chemistry between the couple dwindles as the book continues just because they have way more things to do as colleagues and friends and therefore the romance really has to take a backseat- not great for a book marketed primarily as a romance… I think the book would’ve worked without the romance, the non romance plot in this book just doesn’t really work as like a sexy side plot or something that helps the romance grow stronger. Yes the issues at the school ensure that Bryn stays there but the two working together mostly deepens a friendship (that could turn into romance) and does not encourage some sort of steamy romance- which I think the author was trying to go for based on the books description. Disclaimer there are explicit scenes and they are fine scenes but I just felt like this book didn’t need them.
I have to give major credit to the narrator Serena Harley! I really enjoyed how she spoke and thought it suited the characters so well, it really added to the book for me. Because of her great work I will be rating the book 4 stars for now, as I think a great narration really should be considered when rating an audiobook :)
The book itself is more of a 3 star situation
December 24, 2025
rep: sapphic main relationship, non-binary side character, characters who use she/they pronouns, side character who is non-verbal.
this was very cutesy, it was a cosy romance involving insta love and found family with very low risks. I did enjoy the main relationship, I thought it was cute and fun- with some spicey scenes involved that were handled really well. I liked the side characters and thought they were diverse with good rep.
overall this was a cute read that was quick and easy, not life changing but something low stakes if you need something to go into that won’t be overwhelming or too large to handle
this was very cutesy, it was a cosy romance involving insta love and found family with very low risks. I did enjoy the main relationship, I thought it was cute and fun- with some spicey scenes involved that were handled really well. I liked the side characters and thought they were diverse with good rep.
overall this was a cute read that was quick and easy, not life changing but something low stakes if you need something to go into that won’t be overwhelming or too large to handle
July 7, 2025
I’m giving this 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars. This was a fun quick witchy read. This was a great palate cleanser for me between some heavier books. Because of this, I feel like I enjoyed it quite a bit more than I normally would have. I loved the premise, but ultimately it fell a bit flat toward the middle/end of the book. I also found Bryn’s inner thoughts to be a tad much. I didn’t find it to be a big problem until the end with the flattest third act breakup and I lowkey wanted more miscommunication surrounding it which is crazy I know 😅
Thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC.
July 20, 2025
Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for this arc!
The premise of this was sweet and definitely cosy but it ultimately fell flat for me. I found it quite dull, and I didn’t find the relationship between the FMCs very believable, nor did I particularly care about either of them.
The premise of this was sweet and definitely cosy but it ultimately fell flat for me. I found it quite dull, and I didn’t find the relationship between the FMCs very believable, nor did I particularly care about either of them.
January 9, 2026
Bryn is an author with one book under her belt. She is sitting around waiting for inspiration to strike for her second book of magic spells. Then she gets a message that her favourite professor at the witchy school she studied at has died, leaving Bryn her fantastic library of spell books and texts. The only downside is that Bryn has to pick them all up in person.
Amelia is headmistress of Grimoire Academy, a position she has held for a very short time. The sudden death of professor Herringbone has left a huge space in both the teaching staff, and in the hearts of the staff and students, as she was well loved.
When Bryn arrives to collect the books, she finds her former crush Amelia as headmistress. Because of the lack of a teacher in Professor Herringbone’s place, Bryn is reluctantly persuaded to temporarily help out.
This is a lovely story, which I really enjoyed. It took some time to get into it, but it was worth the read. I liked the way that Amelia and Bryn connect, but it’s sad that we only see things from Bryn’s viewpoint - I would have liked to see what Amelia was thinking at times. I have seen others describe this as cozy - I would agree. It’s almost in the style of a young person’s endearing magic story, but with the welcome addition of some VERY hot and spicy scenes.
There are a whole host of loose ends in the book, but nothing that detracts from this as a story, and they could additionally be lead-ins to further stories in the same universe.
I did notice that at some point Bryn’s name was changed, previously being Luna, which is now her younger sister’s name. This is obvious from the blurb in Goodreads and elsewhere.
Amelia is headmistress of Grimoire Academy, a position she has held for a very short time. The sudden death of professor Herringbone has left a huge space in both the teaching staff, and in the hearts of the staff and students, as she was well loved.
When Bryn arrives to collect the books, she finds her former crush Amelia as headmistress. Because of the lack of a teacher in Professor Herringbone’s place, Bryn is reluctantly persuaded to temporarily help out.
This is a lovely story, which I really enjoyed. It took some time to get into it, but it was worth the read. I liked the way that Amelia and Bryn connect, but it’s sad that we only see things from Bryn’s viewpoint - I would have liked to see what Amelia was thinking at times. I have seen others describe this as cozy - I would agree. It’s almost in the style of a young person’s endearing magic story, but with the welcome addition of some VERY hot and spicy scenes.
There are a whole host of loose ends in the book, but nothing that detracts from this as a story, and they could additionally be lead-ins to further stories in the same universe.
I did notice that at some point Bryn’s name was changed, previously being Luna, which is now her younger sister’s name. This is obvious from the blurb in Goodreads and elsewhere.
December 15, 2025
This book was just okay; I mean it's lowstakes and the world building was interesting but a bit lacking since this is mainly a romance. I thought the romance was okay. I think overall, I just wanted a bit more out of this story.
November 21, 2025
"She was trying to go into the experiment already having the outcome, which was folly, if nothing else, not to mention completely unscientific. She acknowledged that wanting a guarantee was natural, but refusing to take action without it... Well if she didn't act, she would fail no matter what.""
GENRE: Witchy Fantasy Romance
RATING: 3.5/5 (rounded to 4 in platforms with no quarter stars rating)
FORMAT: eBook Arc
Review:
This was a fun book but it took a while for me to get into it. I enjoyed a lot of elements in it, like the teaching and understanding the magic as it is explained to the students, the forming of the relationships between the MCs and learning how kids (& adults) that come from mixed types of families (sirens & witches...etc.) are impacted by the structure of the magic. I think the main issue is that we don't really dive into a lot of the different elements presented in here and this is more of a story of saving a magical school and changing it from it's old ways to it's new ways.
I think I would have loved to learn more about how being a siren defined MC's experience, what she gathered from her years there and while we do get to see some of what happened, we definitely need a lot more depth into Luna's background and how everything came to be as it is.
I did enjoy getting to see MC's struggling with something for the first time and how strange it is to her that she isn't automatically good at something. This was very relatable for a lot of us ND people who are labelled as gifted and suddenly struggle when life, reality and burnout hit. It was also nice to read about the exploration of finding a career that fits who you are rather than settling for something just because you started it. All in all, this was a good book but could have used a bit more refinement and sharpening to deliver the message and bring more depth into the MCs themselves rather than the magic, the school and the community
Thank you to the Author, Publisher and Netgalley for the eArc in exchange for my honest opinion
August 17, 2025
Received from NetGalley, thanks!
I feel bad giving this a lower star rating, but I just didn't really enjoy this very much. I may have actually gone with a lower rating, except that I know what this author is capable of writing, and it's so much better than this.
This book takes place at a magical school, where our two MCs once attended. One is now the headmistress and the other has come to pick up books that have been bequeathed to her by a beloved professor who has passed away. And as soon as she arrives she is asked to fill in teaching. And, okay, fine, unrealistic, but fine. What didn't work for me was the romance. I didn't buy it, it felt rushed and undeserved. There was also just so much self-doubt and negative thinking, and that got old really quickly.
To be honest, this felt like what a first draft would read like. Sort of disjointed and not very polished. Which is so disappointing when I know how well this author can write, as ze has written some of my absolutely favourite books.
I feel bad giving this a lower star rating, but I just didn't really enjoy this very much. I may have actually gone with a lower rating, except that I know what this author is capable of writing, and it's so much better than this.
This book takes place at a magical school, where our two MCs once attended. One is now the headmistress and the other has come to pick up books that have been bequeathed to her by a beloved professor who has passed away. And as soon as she arrives she is asked to fill in teaching. And, okay, fine, unrealistic, but fine. What didn't work for me was the romance. I didn't buy it, it felt rushed and undeserved. There was also just so much self-doubt and negative thinking, and that got old really quickly.
To be honest, this felt like what a first draft would read like. Sort of disjointed and not very polished. Which is so disappointing when I know how well this author can write, as ze has written some of my absolutely favourite books.
October 6, 2025
If you want a quick 📖, cozy 🧣 and fun 😄 read with a bit of spice 🌶️, Spellfire ✨ is a good option! While it’s not perfect 😅, it’s still a good time 🎉 — and you don’t have to think too much about it 🧘♀️💭.
October 25, 2025
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
a magical castle
witches
what more could you want....
luna came from a family that had no witches magic in them and she always felt different so when she was enrolled at Grimoire Academy for witches she knew she was in the best place for her
it was also there that she met amelia and she developed a very big crush on her... she was everything that anyone could want or desire ... what she shouldnt have done was write it in her diary where her present girlfriend could see it... so when this so called girlfriend revealed her inner most desires to the whole school luna was mortified and never really recovered from it all
so when she found out she had been summoned back to Grimoire Academy to collect some books she had been left from her favourite teacher she wasnt to happy...after all it had been over 5 years since she had graduated and was a successful writer of spells and witchcraft plus she also didnt want to see amelia who was now headmistress at the academy...
she hoped she could be in and out without seeing amelia at all when she arrived.... yeah that went well.... amelia met her at the door and proceeded to grab her arm and took her for a walk to plead for her help....
something was very wrong at Grimoire Academy and amelia wanted help and that was from luna....
not a bad storyline though i never really found the connection with luna and amelia and there must be more of a back story with amelia though i was cheering in the end for how the storyline panned out...
a magical castle
witches
what more could you want....
luna came from a family that had no witches magic in them and she always felt different so when she was enrolled at Grimoire Academy for witches she knew she was in the best place for her
it was also there that she met amelia and she developed a very big crush on her... she was everything that anyone could want or desire ... what she shouldnt have done was write it in her diary where her present girlfriend could see it... so when this so called girlfriend revealed her inner most desires to the whole school luna was mortified and never really recovered from it all
so when she found out she had been summoned back to Grimoire Academy to collect some books she had been left from her favourite teacher she wasnt to happy...after all it had been over 5 years since she had graduated and was a successful writer of spells and witchcraft plus she also didnt want to see amelia who was now headmistress at the academy...
she hoped she could be in and out without seeing amelia at all when she arrived.... yeah that went well.... amelia met her at the door and proceeded to grab her arm and took her for a walk to plead for her help....
something was very wrong at Grimoire Academy and amelia wanted help and that was from luna....
not a bad storyline though i never really found the connection with luna and amelia and there must be more of a back story with amelia though i was cheering in the end for how the storyline panned out...
November 19, 2025
This doesn't have great reviews overall, but I thought it was a fun, cozy, witchy romantasy with low stakes but with heart and emotion. I found the romance between Bryn and Amelia sweet. They were both overthinking everything but it didn't go too far into that to be annoying. Third act breakups aren't my favorite thing and it felt like there was an obvious solution to the dilemma Bryn was faced with, but that solution didn’t end up happening (Bryn could have remained at the school and written a book that consisted of the students' spells that they'd been working on during her classes. That book would have raised the money the school needed, as well as showing the students that their work and ideas are valuable etc. I was so sure it was heading that way because of the hints about the school funds being depleted and the throwaway line that the school should put out its own spellbooks with the spells that the kids were creating, but nope).
Anyway, that easily-resolved-and-probably-unneccessary third act break up reduced my score a bit. I really enjoyed Spellfire overall but felt like it petered out a little bit in that final quarter rather than picking up pace towards the conclusion.
Randomly, the blurb has the main character's name wrong - Luna is Bryn's sister, and Bryn is the main character. Perhaps Luna and Bryn had their names switched around during an edit, or whoever wrote the blurb just used the wrong name? It's odd that it's wrong on Goodreads, Fable and Storygraph but correct on the retailer listings like Amazon and Waterstones.
Anyway, that easily-resolved-and-probably-unneccessary third act break up reduced my score a bit. I really enjoyed Spellfire overall but felt like it petered out a little bit in that final quarter rather than picking up pace towards the conclusion.
Randomly, the blurb has the main character's name wrong - Luna is Bryn's sister, and Bryn is the main character. Perhaps Luna and Bryn had their names switched around during an edit, or whoever wrote the blurb just used the wrong name? It's odd that it's wrong on Goodreads, Fable and Storygraph but correct on the retailer listings like Amazon and Waterstones.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2025
I really wanted to love this because I love witchy tales, Sapphic magic stories are so fun, and the cover is just so gorgeous. Sadly, this was quite the chore to get through, and I would have DNF'd if this wasn't an arc.
The main character really grated on my nerves. I'm an anxious gal myself, but the circular, repetitive, stream of consciousness narrative from the main character was really tough to wadethrough as a reader. I don't feel like I know that much about her, despite parts I really wanted to hear more about. Why didn't we hear more about how being a siren impacted her magic? She's supposedly an accomplished spell inventor, but we don't get to see much about her process and creations. I also don't know much about her love interest, whom she immediately falls in intense love with startlingly quickly. Their romance was just not believable and of no substance.
The plot was so focused on the daily grind of running a school, and it wasn't even that specific to magical school issues. I was not invested at all in the conflict, and it also resolved very easily. I think the kernel of the book idea is good, but the execution was poorly done. If you're looking for a quick Sapphic romance with a magic setting, you might like this.
Thank you, Avon Books, for the arc!
The main character really grated on my nerves. I'm an anxious gal myself, but the circular, repetitive, stream of consciousness narrative from the main character was really tough to wadethrough as a reader. I don't feel like I know that much about her, despite parts I really wanted to hear more about. Why didn't we hear more about how being a siren impacted her magic? She's supposedly an accomplished spell inventor, but we don't get to see much about her process and creations. I also don't know much about her love interest, whom she immediately falls in intense love with startlingly quickly. Their romance was just not believable and of no substance.
The plot was so focused on the daily grind of running a school, and it wasn't even that specific to magical school issues. I was not invested at all in the conflict, and it also resolved very easily. I think the kernel of the book idea is good, but the execution was poorly done. If you're looking for a quick Sapphic romance with a magic setting, you might like this.
Thank you, Avon Books, for the arc!
January 11, 2026
I personally really enjoyed this book but you have to realise that it’s a SOULY first person perspective, and a very unreliable narrator at that, so why it feels so twisted; But the more you get used to it the more it makes sense why things are the way they are.
I also really enjoyed the teaching side of thing, this is more then likely my own interest in teaching possibly in future but it felt realistic and was a fun way to move the narrative along in an interesting way that wasn’t just students at school.
Those points being said their was a choice close to the end of the book that made me super annoyed and felt more like trying to make a challenge to over come where there wasn’t one need, or atleast not in that way, but I feel after getting past it, it did also make sense and felt right.
As a whole, read what you enjoy and I enjoyed this.
I also really enjoyed the teaching side of thing, this is more then likely my own interest in teaching possibly in future but it felt realistic and was a fun way to move the narrative along in an interesting way that wasn’t just students at school.
Those points being said their was a choice close to the end of the book that made me super annoyed and felt more like trying to make a challenge to over come where there wasn’t one need, or atleast not in that way, but I feel after getting past it, it did also make sense and felt right.
As a whole, read what you enjoy and I enjoyed this.
October 21, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advanced e-reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Spellfire is a sweet and cozy sapphic romance full of small-town charm and a touch of everyday magic. The atmosphere is warm and whimsical which was perfect for me who is a gentle fantasy mixed with slowburn love stories lover. I really enjoyed the cozy vibes and the sense of community throughout the book. That said, the pacing felt a little uneven at times, and I wished for a bit more depth in the relationship development between Bryn and Amelia and world-building. Still, it’s an easy sapphic witchy comforting read.
November 5, 2025
This was cute! SO MUCH of this was about actual methods of teaching, which I found to be fine but I could see annoying some people. I did really enjoy the romance, I liked the communication the two had and when miscommunication arose, it felt realistic both to real life and to this characters. I also really enjoyed the steamy scene--though I wanted more than what we got!! I also really enjoyed the found family vibes with the broader casts and all the sweet moments we got between Bryn and her students! Overall, not a favorite or memorable read, but definitely a fun witchy read that isn't specific to Fall.
Read
January 11, 2026Only good element is it actually is a pretty decent bit of fantasy world-building, with the setting of a witchcraft school, although it’s so similar to Harry Potter that I refuse to believe it didn’t borrow from it (obvious difference being that it’s queer-centred). Unfortunately the love story lost me - even if you can get over the fact that a 24-year-old is the headteacher, and some really irritating writing inconsistencies with the characters’ age gap, the last straw was the three-page long discussion about whether there was a problematic power imbalance between them before having sex, which was drier than the sahara and surely a turn-off. The actual sex scenes were so cringey I had to skip over them, and going from ‘I’m not looking for a relationship’ to ‘I love you’ in one conversation was abruptly fast even by lesbian standards. All in all it was quite sweet but next time I’m looking for a good story not a transcript from a meeting with HR.
January 12, 2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Diversity: Nuro Diversity, selective mutism/non verbal
Tropes: Found Family , 2nd chance romance, 3rd act break up ( kinda)
Queerness: Sapphic Mcs , non binary mc
Associated song: Autumn By reinaeiry
Content Warnings: Mild Spicy content
Found this at the works on a day that I was not meant to buy books and im glad I did as spellfire was a plesent little read , once again filled with the found family trope
I loved the casual.represenation of gender , nuro Diversity and queer romance!
But reading Bryn going back to her apartment only to find out she was home already at the academy had me teary eyed!
If the author beings out another book i this series, i will definitely be reading!
Diversity: Nuro Diversity, selective mutism/non verbal
Tropes: Found Family , 2nd chance romance, 3rd act break up ( kinda)
Queerness: Sapphic Mcs , non binary mc
Associated song: Autumn By reinaeiry
Content Warnings: Mild Spicy content
Found this at the works on a day that I was not meant to buy books and im glad I did as spellfire was a plesent little read , once again filled with the found family trope
I loved the casual.represenation of gender , nuro Diversity and queer romance!
But reading Bryn going back to her apartment only to find out she was home already at the academy had me teary eyed!
If the author beings out another book i this series, i will definitely be reading!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2025
This was a tough ARC to read- thank you very much Avon for the opportunity! I will say this was not my favorite. The writing felt awkward and stilted, and I couldn’t get into the story or the characters at all. Every scene dragged, the dialogue was weird and unnatural, and it all just came across as clumsy. Honestly, it was hard to get through and kind of painful at times. The most painful part being the “steamy” scenes- the dialogue was cringe, unrealistic, and embarrassing. It was a lot of flat lines like “how naughty,” without anything actually naughty happening at all.
October 28, 2025
This was lovely! I have no idea why it's current GR rating is so low. It was cozy and had good representation: Sapphic main couple, people introducing themselves with their pronouns, calling attention to ableism, and showing examples of neurodiversity in a school setting. (And to me, none of that felt forced, but instead flowed naturally)
I liked that both the main characters were adults (One of them the headmistress, the other one a new teacher at the school), and that it all took place in a school for magic users. I loved both the central romance, and seeing how the school staff dealt with inequalities and learning difficulties at school, showing how schools often don't take into account the different backgrounds and individual needs of their students.
The romance itself focused a lot on being cute, and there were only two detailed sex scenes in the book, which suited me well.
I feel like the story in general was very well rounded. It did what it set out to do, and it was a cozy ride. A bit like a sapphic Hallmark movie with some light HP influences thrown in. (Not to worry, this one handled queerness well)
I liked that both the main characters were adults (One of them the headmistress, the other one a new teacher at the school), and that it all took place in a school for magic users. I loved both the central romance, and seeing how the school staff dealt with inequalities and learning difficulties at school, showing how schools often don't take into account the different backgrounds and individual needs of their students.
The romance itself focused a lot on being cute, and there were only two detailed sex scenes in the book, which suited me well.
I feel like the story in general was very well rounded. It did what it set out to do, and it was a cozy ride. A bit like a sapphic Hallmark movie with some light HP influences thrown in. (Not to worry, this one handled queerness well)
October 3, 2025
2 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Spellfire promised a spicy, sapphic, witchy romance at Grimoire Academy, but unfortunately it didn’t quite land for me. The romance itself was sweet, and Bryn was a likable enough protagonist, but I never felt fully invested in her story.
My biggest struggle was with the plot or lack of one. Much of the book focused on the details of teaching and the day-to-day running of the academy, which didn’t really capture my attention.
While the premise had so much potential, the execution left me wanting more. Cute romance, but overall not the magical, intriguing read I was hoping for.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Spellfire promised a spicy, sapphic, witchy romance at Grimoire Academy, but unfortunately it didn’t quite land for me. The romance itself was sweet, and Bryn was a likable enough protagonist, but I never felt fully invested in her story.
My biggest struggle was with the plot or lack of one. Much of the book focused on the details of teaching and the day-to-day running of the academy, which didn’t really capture my attention.
While the premise had so much potential, the execution left me wanting more. Cute romance, but overall not the magical, intriguing read I was hoping for.
November 22, 2025
1/5
i’m sorry but was there some kinda plot hidden somewhere in there??????? i kept thinking and HOPING it would lead to some interesting love story or coming-of-age kind arc but nothing was developed at any point and eventually got so boring to me. the romance was mid, the writing was mid, the characters didn’t even have an arc or personality. everything was just……downright BORING!!!!!
i’m sorry but was there some kinda plot hidden somewhere in there??????? i kept thinking and HOPING it would lead to some interesting love story or coming-of-age kind arc but nothing was developed at any point and eventually got so boring to me. the romance was mid, the writing was mid, the characters didn’t even have an arc or personality. everything was just……downright BORING!!!!!
December 21, 2025
Okay romance. not much fantasy more just school vibes. got cringed the fuck out after they said i love you literally a day after they kissed or something. as grown adults. get a grip
January 13, 2026
The storyline was good ( a good cleanser between heavy fantasy books )
It felt rambly like the word count needed to be met and also the intimate scenes felt very childishly written which gave me the ick
3.75*
It felt rambly like the word count needed to be met and also the intimate scenes felt very childishly written which gave me the ick
3.75*
January 13, 2026
Im a basic soul, I love this book, just enough cheese
November 12, 2025
Cute fun witchy read
Bryn and Amelia were so cute and freaky together and magical
love them
Bryn and Amelia were so cute and freaky together and magical
love them
September 18, 2025
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
If you want a quick, cosy and fun read with a bit of spice, Spellfire is a good option. While it's not perfect, it's still a good time and you don't have to think too much about it.
The pacing is quick, covering 6 months in just over 300 pages. The character whose POV we follow isn't annoying and seems to figure things out fairly quickly so keeps things moving.
I did find the main romantic relationship and other characters a bit superficial though. I wanted to know more about the characters as they were interesting and I wanted the relationship to develop more. There were a lot of missed opportunities for more realistic connections that would have made the emotional moments hit harder. I also think the speed with which the main couple said "I love you" was far too unrealistic and could have had way more impact if it was delayed.
The spice was well done, proving once again that cosy vibes and spice so go together. The only thing I didn't really like was the use of the C bomb (this is one of my favourite words) during the sex scene. It was quite jarring and didn't fit with the overall vibes of the book.
All in all, I wanted something cute and easy and this delivered.
3.5 stars
If you want a quick, cosy and fun read with a bit of spice, Spellfire is a good option. While it's not perfect, it's still a good time and you don't have to think too much about it.
The pacing is quick, covering 6 months in just over 300 pages. The character whose POV we follow isn't annoying and seems to figure things out fairly quickly so keeps things moving.
I did find the main romantic relationship and other characters a bit superficial though. I wanted to know more about the characters as they were interesting and I wanted the relationship to develop more. There were a lot of missed opportunities for more realistic connections that would have made the emotional moments hit harder. I also think the speed with which the main couple said "I love you" was far too unrealistic and could have had way more impact if it was delayed.
The spice was well done, proving once again that cosy vibes and spice so go together. The only thing I didn't really like was the use of the C bomb (this is one of my favourite words) during the sex scene. It was quite jarring and didn't fit with the overall vibes of the book.
All in all, I wanted something cute and easy and this delivered.
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