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The Cloak and Its Wizard: A modern fantasy full of monsters, magic, and snarky accessories
I don’t choose my wizards lightly. It’s a lifetime commitment. Their lifetime, that is. I’ll outlast them all. Unless the world ends. Which is looking increasingly likely…
After a century of boredom in the library of the secret Order of the Open Eye, the Cloak of Sunset and Starlight finally chooses a wizard. Unfortunately for the cloak, Veronica Noble isn’t thrilled. A brilliant doctor, Veronica has been dragged into the Order against her will, and doesn’t want to be saddled with a glittering, starlight-covered cloak that sneaks through vents, sets off car alarms, and refuses to leave her shoulders.
When Veronica accidentally reveals her powers to all of Minneapolis, superheroes take notice. The Order threatens to reclaim the cloak. And sea serpents from other dimensions keep crashing into reality.
Now the cloak must do everything in its power to keep its wizard safe—even if that wizard isn’t sure she wants it.
The Cloak and Its Wizard is a whimsical fantasy adventure about a mischievous, sentient cloak and the reluctant wizard it refuses to let go. Perfect for fans of I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, this novel blends lighthearted humor with high stakes and emotional depth.
After a century of boredom in the library of the secret Order of the Open Eye, the Cloak of Sunset and Starlight finally chooses a wizard. Unfortunately for the cloak, Veronica Noble isn’t thrilled. A brilliant doctor, Veronica has been dragged into the Order against her will, and doesn’t want to be saddled with a glittering, starlight-covered cloak that sneaks through vents, sets off car alarms, and refuses to leave her shoulders.
When Veronica accidentally reveals her powers to all of Minneapolis, superheroes take notice. The Order threatens to reclaim the cloak. And sea serpents from other dimensions keep crashing into reality.
Now the cloak must do everything in its power to keep its wizard safe—even if that wizard isn’t sure she wants it.
The Cloak and Its Wizard is a whimsical fantasy adventure about a mischievous, sentient cloak and the reluctant wizard it refuses to let go. Perfect for fans of I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, this novel blends lighthearted humor with high stakes and emotional depth.
- GenresFantasy
424 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 23, 2026
7 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
R.Z. Nicolet
1 book1 followerR. Z. Nicolet is a pseudonym for Rachel Reddick. She writes across fantasy and science fiction, with a love of nonhuman characters and happy endings. Her debut novel, "The Cloak and Its Wizard," comes out on February 23, 2026.
She's a huge Star Trek fan, despite holding degrees in physics. She currently lives in Minnesota with her husband, daughter, many books, and many model starships.
She also has an old-school blog
She's a huge Star Trek fan, despite holding degrees in physics. She currently lives in Minnesota with her husband, daughter, many books, and many model starships.
She also has an old-school blog
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January 31, 2026The Cloak and Its Wizard is a fantasy novel best summarized as Doctor Strange through the POV of the magic cloak. This inspiration is even mentioned in the author's note, although there’s a lot of originality that sets it apart. The cloak’s chosen wizard is a trauma surgeon who cares deeply for her patients and resents the Order of the Open Eye for caring more about keeping the existence of magic a secret than using it to save lives. She clashes with the local superheroes for similar reasons: civilian casualties due to the thoughtless pursuit of villains and the careless nature of their resulting battles. In fact, I found much of this novel to be quite refreshing, as Doctor Veronica Noble shows plain good sense from beginning to end.
I also appreciated the fact that the Order of the Open Eye is an international organization that truly shows international diversity. It’s perfectly logical that a bunch of wizards who can make portals to anywhere they want would be made up of members who live all over the world. Their leadership structure reflects that. The locations of their regional headquarters reflect that. The languages spoken by members and written in their library books reflect that. And their interactions with other nations and cultures reflect current political tensions and the lingering effects of historical wrongs.
Of course, the order itself is far from perfect, but I appreciated that the author had all of this in mind while doing her worldbuilding. She even considered how mental differences like aphantasia might affect the magical abilities of certain wizards, and she did so in a way that’s neurodiversity-affirming.
The cloak also has far more thought put into it than what I noticed while watching the Doctor Strange movies. It has a fully-fledged personality, with independent thoughts and feelings and goals. When it gets locked in a coat closet, it doesn’t act like an inanimate coat until Veronica picks it up again. It breaks out, sneaks around, and causes minor mischief. When Veronica is having a boring conversation, it floats off her shoulders to explore its surroundings or eavesdrop on another conversation or play with a cat. It makes lighthearted commentary and banters back and forth with humans through any method of communication it has available. All of this not only cements the cloak as a well-rounded character, worthy of being the protagonist, it often provides a perfect way to move the action forward and keep things interesting while Veronica handles all the tedious practicalities of whatever needs to be accomplished.
The tone of the book also strikes a perfect balance. While the nature of the danger introduces the very real possibility of serious injury or death for all characters involved, and we see from Veronica’s first few encounters with an interdimensional interloper that the author has no qualms about going there, both Veronica and the cloak have the appropriate mindset to be able to handle it. Veronica, from her experience as a trauma surgeon, and the cloak from its extensive experience with this very thing. Although both care about the people around them, do their best to save lives and minimize risks, and never make a callous joke, they are able to process their emotions, including grief, in healthy ways. They’re able to enjoy life in their downtime, and the pacing gives them enough opportunities to do so that the reader is able to smile along with them.
The only real negative point I have to make is that the plot progressed to what I thought would be the climax long before the point at which I was expecting it. I didn’t end up minding much because I really wanted to find out what would happen next, but I was surprised. This novel reads almost like a book and its sequel rather than one book in two parts, and the conclusion of the second part, in my opinion, didn’t have as much tension as the first. I kind of liked it, since it allowed the mood to stay reasonably lighthearted, but readers who crave a plot structure of continuously rising tension might want to be aware.
Overall, I found this book to be very enjoyable, so much so that I would love to read a sequel if one is ever published. Or perhaps a companion book set in the same universe, in which a different magical artifact chooses a different wizard? I feel as though the book left a perfect opportunity for that, and I would love to see it. You might enjoy reading this book as well if you like fantasy adventure that has real stakes but never gets too dark.
I received an ARC (advanced review copy) of this book for the purpose of writing an honest review. It's set to be published on February 23rd.
I also appreciated the fact that the Order of the Open Eye is an international organization that truly shows international diversity. It’s perfectly logical that a bunch of wizards who can make portals to anywhere they want would be made up of members who live all over the world. Their leadership structure reflects that. The locations of their regional headquarters reflect that. The languages spoken by members and written in their library books reflect that. And their interactions with other nations and cultures reflect current political tensions and the lingering effects of historical wrongs.
Of course, the order itself is far from perfect, but I appreciated that the author had all of this in mind while doing her worldbuilding. She even considered how mental differences like aphantasia might affect the magical abilities of certain wizards, and she did so in a way that’s neurodiversity-affirming.
The cloak also has far more thought put into it than what I noticed while watching the Doctor Strange movies. It has a fully-fledged personality, with independent thoughts and feelings and goals. When it gets locked in a coat closet, it doesn’t act like an inanimate coat until Veronica picks it up again. It breaks out, sneaks around, and causes minor mischief. When Veronica is having a boring conversation, it floats off her shoulders to explore its surroundings or eavesdrop on another conversation or play with a cat. It makes lighthearted commentary and banters back and forth with humans through any method of communication it has available. All of this not only cements the cloak as a well-rounded character, worthy of being the protagonist, it often provides a perfect way to move the action forward and keep things interesting while Veronica handles all the tedious practicalities of whatever needs to be accomplished.
The tone of the book also strikes a perfect balance. While the nature of the danger introduces the very real possibility of serious injury or death for all characters involved, and we see from Veronica’s first few encounters with an interdimensional interloper that the author has no qualms about going there, both Veronica and the cloak have the appropriate mindset to be able to handle it. Veronica, from her experience as a trauma surgeon, and the cloak from its extensive experience with this very thing. Although both care about the people around them, do their best to save lives and minimize risks, and never make a callous joke, they are able to process their emotions, including grief, in healthy ways. They’re able to enjoy life in their downtime, and the pacing gives them enough opportunities to do so that the reader is able to smile along with them.
The only real negative point I have to make is that the plot progressed to what I thought would be the climax long before the point at which I was expecting it. I didn’t end up minding much because I really wanted to find out what would happen next, but I was surprised. This novel reads almost like a book and its sequel rather than one book in two parts, and the conclusion of the second part, in my opinion, didn’t have as much tension as the first. I kind of liked it, since it allowed the mood to stay reasonably lighthearted, but readers who crave a plot structure of continuously rising tension might want to be aware.
Overall, I found this book to be very enjoyable, so much so that I would love to read a sequel if one is ever published. Or perhaps a companion book set in the same universe, in which a different magical artifact chooses a different wizard? I feel as though the book left a perfect opportunity for that, and I would love to see it. You might enjoy reading this book as well if you like fantasy adventure that has real stakes but never gets too dark.
I received an ARC (advanced review copy) of this book for the purpose of writing an honest review. It's set to be published on February 23rd.
January 20, 2026
3.5⭐️
This is a fun, charming read that didn’t have as much depth as I would have liked but was still enjoyable thanks to the unique concept. As soon as I read the summary and found out that the entire book was written from the point of view of a sentient magic artifact, I knew I had to read it.
The cloak definitely didn’t disappoint. It was absolutely the best character and my favorite part of the book. Its wizard (FMC) was also a strong character. I enjoyed getting to know her through the cloak’s eyes. The side characters were fine, but they all fell a bit flat for me. I don’t know if it was an intentional choice to show that the cloak only really cared about the FMC or if it was accidental, but I unfortunately just couldn’t get attached to any of the other characters like I wanted to.
The plot was fine, if a bit dragging in some places. The pacing felt a little too slow in some places and then way too fast in others.
The worldbuilding was unique, if a little confusing. I liked the magic system a lot, and that part felt well fleshed out. The superhero part less so. There was no real explanation as to where superheroes come from or how they get their powers. I’m assuming it’s standard comic book rules based on what few context clues I could pick up, but I would’ve liked a more detailed explanation. It just felt like a lot to juggle with both the wizard society and the generic superhero stuff. I almost wish the superheroes had been cut out in favor of the independent wizard groups mentioned offhand throughout the story.
TL;DR: A fun read with a couple of charming characters, but it had a tendency to fall flat in unfortunate ways. I personally still think it’s worth a read just for the unique concept, even if I wish I’d gotten more out of the plot.
Disclaimer: I received a free eARC of this book. No review was required in order to receive the eARC, and all opinions expressed above are my own.
This is a fun, charming read that didn’t have as much depth as I would have liked but was still enjoyable thanks to the unique concept. As soon as I read the summary and found out that the entire book was written from the point of view of a sentient magic artifact, I knew I had to read it.
The cloak definitely didn’t disappoint. It was absolutely the best character and my favorite part of the book. Its wizard (FMC) was also a strong character. I enjoyed getting to know her through the cloak’s eyes. The side characters were fine, but they all fell a bit flat for me. I don’t know if it was an intentional choice to show that the cloak only really cared about the FMC or if it was accidental, but I unfortunately just couldn’t get attached to any of the other characters like I wanted to.
The plot was fine, if a bit dragging in some places. The pacing felt a little too slow in some places and then way too fast in others.
The worldbuilding was unique, if a little confusing. I liked the magic system a lot, and that part felt well fleshed out. The superhero part less so. There was no real explanation as to where superheroes come from or how they get their powers. I’m assuming it’s standard comic book rules based on what few context clues I could pick up, but I would’ve liked a more detailed explanation. It just felt like a lot to juggle with both the wizard society and the generic superhero stuff. I almost wish the superheroes had been cut out in favor of the independent wizard groups mentioned offhand throughout the story.
TL;DR: A fun read with a couple of charming characters, but it had a tendency to fall flat in unfortunate ways. I personally still think it’s worth a read just for the unique concept, even if I wish I’d gotten more out of the plot.
Disclaimer: I received a free eARC of this book. No review was required in order to receive the eARC, and all opinions expressed above are my own.
Review of advance copy
4.5*
I’ve got to say, I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was so engaged while reading; I really had so much fun. The cloak & its wizard is a mix of fantasy and a bit of sci-fi, not straying very far from its inspiration, Doctor Strange, as the author clearly states. The biggest difference, and what I believe makes this book so interesting and enjoyable, is that the whole book is told from the perspective of the cloak. A sentient cloak that chooses its wizard, although an inanimate object, it is full of personality and charm. This type of narration style was so fun; combined with the wit and funny quips, the author really captured the idea of the cloak and made it work. She went in with the idea that the Doctor Strange cloak would tell the story, and she accomplished this and much more, in my opinion. The main character was nice and had her moments. I enjoyed the back and forth she had with the cloak, though she does feel a tad bit duller, but only because we have the cloak in comparison, and thus we have only one side of the character without hearing from her, which is completely fine
The only “problem” I had with the book is that I honestly felt there was much more potential for two stories separated; the book has two parts, and they feel like full-fledged stories with clear points of continuation. This is not to complain about the execution; I feel the book, as is, is incredible, but ultimately, I felt we could have definitely explored more elements and characters in the first part. The second part could have been a full book on its own. I only say this because I enjoyed the book so much that I saw the potential there.
With that being said, I feel this book is a genuinely fun experience and one I can wholeheartedly recommend. I really hope the author makes more books in this universe, as I was intrigued and will definitely follow for more future books!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I’ve got to say, I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was so engaged while reading; I really had so much fun. The cloak & its wizard is a mix of fantasy and a bit of sci-fi, not straying very far from its inspiration, Doctor Strange, as the author clearly states. The biggest difference, and what I believe makes this book so interesting and enjoyable, is that the whole book is told from the perspective of the cloak. A sentient cloak that chooses its wizard, although an inanimate object, it is full of personality and charm. This type of narration style was so fun; combined with the wit and funny quips, the author really captured the idea of the cloak and made it work. She went in with the idea that the Doctor Strange cloak would tell the story, and she accomplished this and much more, in my opinion. The main character was nice and had her moments. I enjoyed the back and forth she had with the cloak, though she does feel a tad bit duller, but only because we have the cloak in comparison, and thus we have only one side of the character without hearing from her, which is completely fine
The only “problem” I had with the book is that I honestly felt there was much more potential for two stories separated; the book has two parts, and they feel like full-fledged stories with clear points of continuation. This is not to complain about the execution; I feel the book, as is, is incredible, but ultimately, I felt we could have definitely explored more elements and characters in the first part. The second part could have been a full book on its own. I only say this because I enjoyed the book so much that I saw the potential there.
With that being said, I feel this book is a genuinely fun experience and one I can wholeheartedly recommend. I really hope the author makes more books in this universe, as I was intrigued and will definitely follow for more future books!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
3.25 rounded down for Goodreads
Overall, it's an entertaining read with a charming and mischievous pov. The premise of seeing a world through an object's "eyes" hooked me. The beginning of the novel works really well! I was engaged enough to want to grow attached to all the characters. As the novel went on though, I found that nothing the characters did or even what happened to them impacted me very much. It felt akin to a grocery list of things: this happened and it's supposed to suck, and then this happened and it's fine, and then this happened...etc.
The inclusion of superheroes was odd; I wanted to love it. But I really don't think it worked well here. It was a means for extra hands in a crisis. That aspect easily could have been replaced by anything (more wizards, aliens, wizards-in-training, random good Samaritans) I think making heroes and wizards rivals or even tentative partners would have made more sense as a base to work with. One group hiding from another really didn't add stakes or help the plot in any way.
The magic is neat although I walk away not understanding the vertices completely. There was also a point made about using magic from a source that's deemed deadly that was just dropped. Since attention was called to it I expected a bigger plot point but it acted as filler knowledge. There were a handful of moments like that, expecting something to be addressed or fleshed out later only for it to be mentioned without given substance.
I've heard a writing tip of knowing what your character's greatest fear is and what your character wants most in the world, in the case of the cloak, both ends revolve around the wizard. While that sustained the first half of the book, I think it also caused the overall affect of not caring what happened to anyone else. The cloak didn't seem to care, so as a reader, we don't either.
I appreciate getting my ARC from Nicolet and Book Sirens. I do have my critiques, but it was a fast and entertaining read that I think will do well with the right audience!
Overall, it's an entertaining read with a charming and mischievous pov. The premise of seeing a world through an object's "eyes" hooked me. The beginning of the novel works really well! I was engaged enough to want to grow attached to all the characters. As the novel went on though, I found that nothing the characters did or even what happened to them impacted me very much. It felt akin to a grocery list of things: this happened and it's supposed to suck, and then this happened and it's fine, and then this happened...etc.
The inclusion of superheroes was odd; I wanted to love it. But I really don't think it worked well here. It was a means for extra hands in a crisis. That aspect easily could have been replaced by anything (more wizards, aliens, wizards-in-training, random good Samaritans) I think making heroes and wizards rivals or even tentative partners would have made more sense as a base to work with. One group hiding from another really didn't add stakes or help the plot in any way.
The magic is neat although I walk away not understanding the vertices completely. There was also a point made about using magic from a source that's deemed deadly that was just dropped. Since attention was called to it I expected a bigger plot point but it acted as filler knowledge. There were a handful of moments like that, expecting something to be addressed or fleshed out later only for it to be mentioned without given substance.
I've heard a writing tip of knowing what your character's greatest fear is and what your character wants most in the world, in the case of the cloak, both ends revolve around the wizard. While that sustained the first half of the book, I think it also caused the overall affect of not caring what happened to anyone else. The cloak didn't seem to care, so as a reader, we don't either.
I appreciate getting my ARC from Nicolet and Book Sirens. I do have my critiques, but it was a fast and entertaining read that I think will do well with the right audience!
Review of advance copy
I went into this novel with no expectations and came away genuinely impressed. Blending contemporary fantasy with superhero elements, it delivers a fun, imaginative story without relying on romance or explicit content.
Readers who enjoy anime or big-budget superhero films will likely find much to appreciate here. The tone and pacing remind me of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (especially Dr. Strange), while the premise—particularly the perspective of an unusual, non-human protagonist—calls to mind the anime Reincarnated as a Sword. Yet the novel ultimately establishes a distinct identity of its own.
The entire narrative unfolds from the point of view of a sentient magical cloak—a risky choice that proves surprisingly effective. While this unusual perspective initially sparked my curiosity, it was the strength of the story that kept me engaged. The plot wasn’t predictable, and it delivered several genuinely unexpected turns that kept me invested throughout.
At the heart of the novel is the dynamic between the mischievous, well-intentioned cloak and its chosen wizard—a brilliant, science-minded surgeon committed to helping others. Her rational, questioning nature drives much of the central conflict, particularly as she begins to probe the institutional secrecy and motives of the clandestine magical organization tasked with defending the world from supernatural threats.
The wizard is a thoughtful, capable adult whose decisions shape the story in credible ways. Its a nice change from most fantasy stories where the main characters are barely an adult and haven’t really worked for what powers they have.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Readers who enjoy anime or big-budget superhero films will likely find much to appreciate here. The tone and pacing remind me of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (especially Dr. Strange), while the premise—particularly the perspective of an unusual, non-human protagonist—calls to mind the anime Reincarnated as a Sword. Yet the novel ultimately establishes a distinct identity of its own.
The entire narrative unfolds from the point of view of a sentient magical cloak—a risky choice that proves surprisingly effective. While this unusual perspective initially sparked my curiosity, it was the strength of the story that kept me engaged. The plot wasn’t predictable, and it delivered several genuinely unexpected turns that kept me invested throughout.
At the heart of the novel is the dynamic between the mischievous, well-intentioned cloak and its chosen wizard—a brilliant, science-minded surgeon committed to helping others. Her rational, questioning nature drives much of the central conflict, particularly as she begins to probe the institutional secrecy and motives of the clandestine magical organization tasked with defending the world from supernatural threats.
The wizard is a thoughtful, capable adult whose decisions shape the story in credible ways. Its a nice change from most fantasy stories where the main characters are barely an adult and haven’t really worked for what powers they have.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
* I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
I do love a snarky sentient being that really cares about those they attach to.
R.Z.Nicolet writes a fun story from the point of view of a magical cloak that chooses a new wizard from themselves after many years. The chosen one, Veronica, has been more or less forced to wizardry and would prefer to keep on being a good surgeon and watching Star Trek. However, when the faith of the world is at stake, she takes a stand with the Cloak.
The Cloak’s point of view is a lot of fun to read, because they are funny, mischievous and caring but also a cloak. If you like Doctor Strange’s cloak (which Nicolet cites as inspiration), you’d probably like this magical one too. To me, the Cloak was some kind of mix of Strange’s cloak and Aladdin’s Magic Carpet.
My inspiration drooped a little during the last third, but that also tends to happen to me during the ”final battle” scenes. The amount of characters had also grown a lot and I found myself a bit confused about who was who, since we don’t get to know them too well during the story. I do applaud Nicolet for not dragging the fight on, though.
Although the cloak pov was a nice choice I do wonder if it left the other characters a bit vague due to the Cloak not communicating with them directly. That may have also contributed to the fact that I had some difficulties telling the minor characters apart.
All in all, The Cloak and its Wizard was a fun and heart-felt read. I loved the Cloak and Veronica’s relationship, was interested in the magic system and liked the dynamics between wizards and superheroes. Had a good time
I do love a snarky sentient being that really cares about those they attach to.
R.Z.Nicolet writes a fun story from the point of view of a magical cloak that chooses a new wizard from themselves after many years. The chosen one, Veronica, has been more or less forced to wizardry and would prefer to keep on being a good surgeon and watching Star Trek. However, when the faith of the world is at stake, she takes a stand with the Cloak.
The Cloak’s point of view is a lot of fun to read, because they are funny, mischievous and caring but also a cloak. If you like Doctor Strange’s cloak (which Nicolet cites as inspiration), you’d probably like this magical one too. To me, the Cloak was some kind of mix of Strange’s cloak and Aladdin’s Magic Carpet.
My inspiration drooped a little during the last third, but that also tends to happen to me during the ”final battle” scenes. The amount of characters had also grown a lot and I found myself a bit confused about who was who, since we don’t get to know them too well during the story. I do applaud Nicolet for not dragging the fight on, though.
Although the cloak pov was a nice choice I do wonder if it left the other characters a bit vague due to the Cloak not communicating with them directly. That may have also contributed to the fact that I had some difficulties telling the minor characters apart.
All in all, The Cloak and its Wizard was a fun and heart-felt read. I loved the Cloak and Veronica’s relationship, was interested in the magic system and liked the dynamics between wizards and superheroes. Had a good time
Review of advance copy
Oh, this one was a GEM!
I'd been a reading slump lately and this book reeled me right in.
I wasn't sure what to expect going in, given that the premise is rather close to a bunch of Marvel comic-book/movie characters, but the narrative perspective being that of the cloak's?! A rather snarky, mischievous one at that?! Chef's kiss. All the stars for that choice alone.
Absolutely adored the fact the MC has not just supernatural backup, but a lawyer and a fellow medical professional backing her and occassionally ribbing her for her choices.
Loved loved LOVED the choice of profession for the MC and was delighted by how the author has seamlessly weaved that into the story without making it too detail-heavy or melodramatic. Beautiful, judicious use of varied nationalities amongst characters, especially.
The fact that curiosity and mischief motivate the cloak while principles(and the Hippocratic Oath) guide the MC? Stellar contrast and peak comedy.
Overall, a WONDERFUL read. I'd definitely recommend it to sci-fi and Marvel-loving friends. And reread again in a few months.
---
Reviewed after reading a free, advanced copy of the book from Booksirens.
I'd been a reading slump lately and this book reeled me right in.
I wasn't sure what to expect going in, given that the premise is rather close to a bunch of Marvel comic-book/movie characters, but the narrative perspective being that of the cloak's?! A rather snarky, mischievous one at that?! Chef's kiss. All the stars for that choice alone.
Absolutely adored the fact the MC has not just supernatural backup, but a lawyer and a fellow medical professional backing her and occassionally ribbing her for her choices.
Loved loved LOVED the choice of profession for the MC and was delighted by how the author has seamlessly weaved that into the story without making it too detail-heavy or melodramatic. Beautiful, judicious use of varied nationalities amongst characters, especially.
The fact that curiosity and mischief motivate the cloak while principles(and the Hippocratic Oath) guide the MC? Stellar contrast and peak comedy.
Overall, a WONDERFUL read. I'd definitely recommend it to sci-fi and Marvel-loving friends. And reread again in a few months.
---
Reviewed after reading a free, advanced copy of the book from Booksirens.
Review of advance copy
I enjoyed this story so much I stayed up late to read it and fell asleep with a smile. I had to think about why. It's an interesting world with Wizard and Superheroes but they aren't in conflict because the wizards remain hidden.
There's a lot of nod to pop media including X-men, Avengers, Potter and Men in Black and they're mixed into a fun package. I think we're used to superheroes being a mixed bag now. These ones seem to be mostly harmless other than being oblivious to the effect of their destruction. The wizards have a lot of secrets other than trying to keep the world from knowing about incursions by beings from other planes. The Cloak is a great narrator as it's been locked away so our world is new and it can't bond with it's chosen wizard so we can only see what it can infer. The wizard herself is compelled to help people to her detriment. The scenes with her friends and family round out her character making her relatable.
The story moves quickly provides a satifying ending.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There's a lot of nod to pop media including X-men, Avengers, Potter and Men in Black and they're mixed into a fun package. I think we're used to superheroes being a mixed bag now. These ones seem to be mostly harmless other than being oblivious to the effect of their destruction. The wizards have a lot of secrets other than trying to keep the world from knowing about incursions by beings from other planes. The Cloak is a great narrator as it's been locked away so our world is new and it can't bond with it's chosen wizard so we can only see what it can infer. The wizard herself is compelled to help people to her detriment. The scenes with her friends and family round out her character making her relatable.
The story moves quickly provides a satifying ending.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
An original build to the story, which is told from the POV of a playful, intelligent and picky but devoted sentient artifact in the shape of a cloak. There's a lot more thinking and imagination involved in the plot than the blurb suggests, the story has zero romance in it but abounds in magic, mystery, information, description, emotion, heroism and potential AI uses in a world very similar to ours. Add in a few characters born from the superhero concept of technological advances and an alien superhero from a self-destructed world and it really sets you on a path of wondering about the Earth's future. Each character is interesting and has a history, and the insight into the life of a principled medical professional is eye-opening.
The author is as sneaky as the cloak. Under the guise of telling a comic-book story (and the writing is very good), it sets a lot of questions regarding motivation, moral choices and soul searching. well done!
I received an advance review copy for free via BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The author is as sneaky as the cloak. Under the guise of telling a comic-book story (and the writing is very good), it sets a lot of questions regarding motivation, moral choices and soul searching. well done!
I received an advance review copy for free via BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 10, 2026
Finished this book last night and loved it. It was a perfect light urban fantasy book, with high stakes that never felt insurmountable. I loved the POV character, which was totally unique and interesting compared with a human POV.
One aspect of this I really liked is that magic wasn't confined to "special" people. Anyone could learn it and the protagonist wasn't some sort of super magician, she worked really hard to be competent at it and admitted to having to try lots of different things and read a lot of books before she got the basic techniques down because she wasn't very sensitive to magic. At the same time someone who was super sensitive wasn't as good as her because he was discouraged from learning (possibly due to that sensitivity) and I loved the contrast between the two and how they worked together to solve problems based on whether her perfect technique or his sensitivity to magic would be better suited to the solution.
One aspect of this I really liked is that magic wasn't confined to "special" people. Anyone could learn it and the protagonist wasn't some sort of super magician, she worked really hard to be competent at it and admitted to having to try lots of different things and read a lot of books before she got the basic techniques down because she wasn't very sensitive to magic. At the same time someone who was super sensitive wasn't as good as her because he was discouraged from learning (possibly due to that sensitivity) and I loved the contrast between the two and how they worked together to solve problems based on whether her perfect technique or his sensitivity to magic would be better suited to the solution.
Review of advance copy
Sarcastic magical artifacts and a non-magical surgeon turned wizard.
A world where superheroes are known and tolerated (but no longer allowed to have a headquarters in New York City due to property damage) but magic is secret.
With threats from another world becoming increasingly weird, deadly and common, this is a story will have you cheering Veronica on as she demands answers, challenges stereotypes and breaks down barriers. All with the help of a sarcastic, often patronising non-verbal cloak, and her remarkably down to Earth best friends Shadya and Becky.
This book is a delight to read from beginning to end.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A world where superheroes are known and tolerated (but no longer allowed to have a headquarters in New York City due to property damage) but magic is secret.
With threats from another world becoming increasingly weird, deadly and common, this is a story will have you cheering Veronica on as she demands answers, challenges stereotypes and breaks down barriers. All with the help of a sarcastic, often patronising non-verbal cloak, and her remarkably down to Earth best friends Shadya and Becky.
This book is a delight to read from beginning to end.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was easily one of my favorite reads of the month. Told from the perspective of a sentient magical cloak, the story delivers a truly unique narrative voice that’s equal parts hilarious, chaotic, and heartfelt. The worldbuilding is rich and immersive, taking its time to set the stage before seamlessly shifting into higher-stakes action.
What really sets this book apart is its balance of humor, emotion, and character growth. Beneath the magical chaos is a story about choice, identity, and stepping into power—even when it’s complicated or risky. The writing is engaging from start to finish, and the payoff is deeply satisfying.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was easily one of my favorite reads of the month. Told from the perspective of a sentient magical cloak, the story delivers a truly unique narrative voice that’s equal parts hilarious, chaotic, and heartfelt. The worldbuilding is rich and immersive, taking its time to set the stage before seamlessly shifting into higher-stakes action.
What really sets this book apart is its balance of humor, emotion, and character growth. Beneath the magical chaos is a story about choice, identity, and stepping into power—even when it’s complicated or risky. The writing is engaging from start to finish, and the payoff is deeply satisfying.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
This was a spectacular read. It's original and fun. The cloak is the main character. After waiting a century for the right wizard, it finally chooses a new one. She happens to be a surgeon who has recently discovered she has magic abilities. As the cloak works to deepen their bond and communicate with her, it learns about modern life. The wizard learns more about magic and some disturbing trends occurring in the magical world. When those problems explode, the cloak and the wizard need to work together to help save the world. The stakes are high, the snark is higher. It's amazing how easy it is to love a sentient non-human object with attitude. I couldn't have loved this more. I am so thankful I had a chance to read it early with my advance copy. All thoughts above are my own.
Read
March 10, 2026If I could be totally accurate, I'd give 4.5 stars. This was such a fun book! But it really felt like two books, which seemed to be the common thread amongst other reviewers. I also felt like the superheroes were a little much, but that wasn't a dealbreaker for me- I'm a fan of superhero comics, so it was a fun element, just felt like a Little much. But really, I loved Veronica coming into her own as a wizard and the cloak's shenanigans- it has shenaned before and by god, it will shenan again! I would love more from this universe!!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
OMG ~ This book was AMAZING!! A sentient cloak and wizards and magics and superheroes and even Alien Interlopers, all written and described colorfully! Veronica is a surgeon, and she discovers on a trip through a magical library, shes also a wizard! Can she and the cloak save Minnesota and the Earth?? This delightful book had my WHOLE attention at the mention of a magical library, LOL! A delicious surprise combo of fantasy and Sci-Fi. For those wondering, there is zero spice. Definitely 5 stars!!
Review of advance copy
As a fan of the MCU, I loved this Dr. Strange inspired book! The entirety of the novel being told from the Cloak’s perspective was absolutely wonderful! As the description says it really is mischievous in that hilarious way that makes you just want more. The pacing and the asides are perfectly timed. The pithy nature of the cloak is fun too. Absolutely recommend this book if you are looking for an upbeat, action filled fantasy!
I am so happy I received an advanced copy for free and can leave this review!
I am so happy I received an advanced copy for free and can leave this review!
February 23, 2026
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book was so whimsical and enjoyable to read. The book is written from the pov of a magical and sentient cloak and is inspired by Dr.Strange’s cloak.
Something about the way the cloak saw the world, how picky it is about its wearer and the humour really spoke to me, and in ways I can’t quite explain it reminded me of He Who Fights With Monsters, so if you enjoy that series I think you’ll enjoy this book too. It was exactly the break from reality that I needed.
This book was so whimsical and enjoyable to read. The book is written from the pov of a magical and sentient cloak and is inspired by Dr.Strange’s cloak.
Something about the way the cloak saw the world, how picky it is about its wearer and the humour really spoke to me, and in ways I can’t quite explain it reminded me of He Who Fights With Monsters, so if you enjoy that series I think you’ll enjoy this book too. It was exactly the break from reality that I needed.
February 27, 2026
The idea of a sentient (and somewhat sassy) cloak caught my immediate attention. The story is as raucous as it sounds, and it should be. Veronica is pulled into a world of magic at no fault of her own. The cloak chooses her, and watching their relationship grow is a lot of fun. Though there are inter dimensional creatures, fantastical beings, and other magical artifacts to contend with, ultimately, this is a story about building relationships, finding yourself, and learning to trust who you are.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
I've always been fascinated with Dr Strange's seemingly sentient cloak so was very intrigued when I saw this new book about a similar type of wizards cloak. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the story! It held my attention from start to finish and I was sorry to see it end and hope the author will be writing more adventures of the Cloak of Sunset and Starlight! Highly recommended for any who enjoy UF.
January 13, 2026
This is a really different type of fantasy novel. I think fans of the Assistant to the Villain series or Dr Strange would enjoy this story. It is mostly told from the POV of the cloak which was cool. There are a lot of action scenes and the Fae make an appearance. The MFC is a Dr, something I also like about this book.
Review of advance copy
A sentient cloak with a sense of mischief made this book a fun read. The first half was the best, with the 2nd half dragging a little. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I'm hoping this is the start of a series.
I received an advance review copy for free from Booksirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free from Booksirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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