The Dues & Don'ts of Magic

The Magic Dues #1

by Delemhach

The Spellshop meets Legends & Lattes in this new cozy romantic fantasy trilogy about magic gone wrong, by the bestselling author of The House Witch series! Spidena Kettle runs a quiet magic shop at the edge of town, selling just enough spells and potions to keep herself afloat—and out of trouble—when Benthrop Hozel enters her shop one day. On the run from the nefarious sort, he simply wishes to be forgotten by his pursuers. In exchange, he promises a favor. Such a deal could have dire consequences if Ben is unable to fulfill his end of the bargain. Not that the witch is overly concerned—after all, there’s no risk to her making such an arrangement with a normal human. Only…Ben may be more than he seems. With their fates forcibly intertwined for a full journey, Spidena and Ben must not only evade their enemies and use precious magical resources to get by, but confront the secrets they’ve long kept…that is, if they can manage to stop getting on each other’s last nerve for long enough to do so.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Cozy Fantasy, Cozy, Romantasy, Magic, Adult

384 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2026

About the author

Delemhach is the Canadian author of the popular online series, The House Witch, and is already hard at work on the sequel series, The Burning Witch. When they aren’t following the whims of their unfortunately intelligent cats, Kraken and Pina Colada, they are teaching music privately to their students. In their spare time outside of writing and work, they enjoy cooking, reading, hiking, spending time with family, and trying not to remember their socially awkward moments.

Reviews

[Maeghan 🦋 semi-hiatus · Rating 4 out of 5]

So excited for this one! HUGE thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for a chance to review this arc 🥹💗

« don’t borrow tomorrow’s troubles ; today has its own trials and treasures to manage. »

The dues & don’ts of magic was such a pleasant surprise! The story starts with Ben ; who has peculiar requests for Spidena, a small village witch who owns a spell/potion shop. Seizing opportunity, Spidena asks a favor in return and this starts off the big adventure.
The thing is that those two had very troubling pasts (and many, many secrets) and unfortunately, those pasts are going to catch up with them as they journey along.

The best thing about this novel was definitely the characters. They were unique, flawed & complex. It made me reminiscent of T. Kingfisher’s characters and that is high praise from me. Nothing was simple for them but with their traumatic childhoods… it was congruent. They felt authentic and relatable.
I also really loved the side characters and thought they were absolutely necessary to the storyline. I just loved this cast of characters so much and couldn’t get enough of them.

There were multiple plot points and it had a great pacing. I liked the little moments between the characters and Paulav… he was my favourite, by far. This novel made me want to go through the author’s repertoire & read of all of her books!

I sincerely couldn’t put this cozy fantasy down and didn’t want it to end, either. I can’t wait for the sequel & I highly recommend it! It was recommended for fans of The Spellshop and I really agree with that. I would also recommend this for fans of T.Kingfisher.
I’ll come back with my quotes on release day 🥰

« you know it’s special when a moment doesn’t feel complete without a specific someone. It means that, while no one on this beautiful Earth is perfect, they can make even the worst moments perfect because they’re there. »

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨🪄 The Dues & Don'ts of Magic 🪄✨

STOP! This was so stinking cute and cozy! And also a little heartbreaking. I definitely wasn't expecting to get emotional as many times as I did. And do not even get me started on that freaking cliffhanger ending!!! I NEED BOOK TWO ASAP! 😭✨

Spidena, my queen 😍😍 I loved her grumpy little soul so freaking much! The snark was absolute perfection. And my sweet, sweet Ben! I wanted to cry every time his anxiety flared and his hands started shaking. I just wanted to protect him, and feed him to his hearts content. Side note, I really freaking hate his parents🥺💔

The romance was adorable, the found family vibes were immaculate, and the cozy fantasy atmosphere was exactly what I needed.

I am going to need the audiobook for this book immediately. 🎧✨
6 star read!

🧙 What to Expect
• Cozy Fantasy
• Magic Shop
• Forced Proximity
• Grumpy x Grumpy
• Magical Journey
• Hidden Identities
• Slow Burn
_ _ _ _

⭐ Final Score: 6 Stars
📅 Pub Date: October 6, 2026
Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Marissa C · Rating 5 out of 5]

You mean I have to wait for Book Two!? I could NOT put this one down. This cozy fantasy (think The Spellshop vibes!) was such a pleasure to read. Between the laugh out loud blunt humor and the spunk and hilarity of the adventures, this was everything I needed out of a fantasy/adventure book.
The characters are well rounded and provide a multitude of emotions. Let’s start with Spidena. Talk about sass! This witch had a comeback for everything and I so enjoyed the banter between Spidena and Ben. (I especially loved the argument about potato wedges. Yes, potato wedges)!
Ben was probably the character of which we got the most background and insight on. I really felt for him during the novel, and loved how his relationships blossomed with all of his fellow companions.
There were also some very sweet moments. The friendship and kindness of Paulav was also a nice touch. Oh, Paulav. He just wants to help ever. single. being.
The magic in the book was imaginative, but easy enough to grasp, and the creatures were so interesting! Filif was probably my favorite (I pictured a mushroom-like Groot).
And Conquesterov. Conquesterov was simply a marvel. I mean, what the duck! (Hah!) What a unique character that I secretly really loved.
I have so much more to say about this book (could go on for hours), but you will just have to read to share in my enthusiasm. All I will say is that the ending had my very surprised and sooooo ready for book 2.
I highly highly recommend this for anyone looking for a funny, imaginative read.
Note: there is cursing and sexual references

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally adored how this was basically an instruction manual / adorable romance all wrapped up in the cutest read. Im such a fan of the cozy romance and fantasy and this totally hit the spot for me. I loved following along on the adventure with Spidena and Ben as they discovered so much about themselves and their world. It really was a fun time. Totally recommend for a great chill cozy fun read !!!

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very cute and whimsical story that introduces us to some very unique characters who meet each other as the main characters find themselves on somewhat of a “quest”.

FMC Spidena Kettle and MMC Benthrop (Ben) Hozel make a very unlikely couple as they become magically intertwined in this cute and humorous tale.

The strange thing was that this book actually ends on a cliffhanger and it really surprised me as the cliffhanger was quite the doozy :)

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐.75 | 3.75 rounded up

As a huge fan of the entire House Witch universe, I was really excited for a new series from the same author.

Like all Delemhach books, The Dues & Don'ts of Magic is full of whimsical creatures, cozy vibes, and charming settings, which was a delight. I especially loved the side characters in this story (Paulav, Daffy, and Filif most of all.)

While I still enjoyed this book, I found the pacing was a bit inconsistent, and I really struggled to connect with both Ben and Spidena at first. The magic system is very interesting, but felt a bit clunky—although that may be cleared up in future books in the series.

I did a mix of the physical book and audiobook for this one, and the physical book was much better for me.

I will definitely be continuing this series, and I’m excited to see how the worldbuilding and characters develop.

Thank you to Saga Press | S&S/Saga Press for the ARC and to Simon Maverick for the ALC!

[Dotti · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 stars

The Dues and Don’t of Magic is Delemhach’s traditional publishing debut. The story is a cozy fantasy novel about two people who are traveling together after being connected through magical fate. Spidena is a witch who specializes in various magical practices but needs a traveling companion. When Ben requests that he use her magic on a major spell, Spidena requires he travel with her to protect her. The two engage in a series of adventures and misadventures along the way, making friends and encountering foes.

The story is a lot of fun, following two characters who are trying their hardest not to fall in love. Spidena and Ben are both grumpy and secretive, keeping things from each other that often become relevant. The side characters in the story are quirky and nuanced, creating a lot of extra chaos in our characters’ already chaotic situation. There are dryads and mushroom-headed sprites and faeries and talking ducks and lots of fun, quirky characters that feel entertaining and engaging.

This book has a decent amount of violence for a cozy fantasy; we have lots of fights involving our characters, including injuries and bloodshed. There is also discussion of genocide that can feel heavy in the story. The romance plotline is a notable subplot but there is no explicit content beyond a few jokes between characters.

The pacing in the third act of the story didn’t feel quite right; I felt underwhelmed by the climax, and was surprised when the book ended so abruptly. I understand that cozy books tend to have lower stakes, but the moment didn’t feel like it had enough gravity, especially given all of the scrapes that our characters had already encountered. Upon reflection, I can see which moment was the story’s climax, but at the time it felt like yet another magical fight in a long string of magical fights.

Altogether, this was a really fun cozy fantasy with engaging characters, silly hijinks and fun adventures. The stakes feel a little higher than most cozy fantasy stories, but it’s an enjoyable time and worth a read if you love the genre.

Thank you to the publisher for this advanced reader copy!

[Sami · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Dues & Don’ts of Magic was such a fun, cozy little magical adventure. I really loved the different forms of magic throughout the story and the magical characters were easily one of my favorite parts. There’s also a great cast of friends you meet along the way, and I really enjoyed that found-family, “let’s go on an adventure together” feeling, which of course only added to my love of this world.

If y’all know me, you know I love banter and this book was definitely the height of it. I loved the quick wit and quips throughout.

My biggest issue was the pacing. The stakes sometimes felt like they shifted pretty abruptly and there were moments where the pacing felt a little jolting. It made it harder for me to stay completely immersed in the story, especially when the plot would suddenly ramp up or change direction.

Still, I had a good time with this one. If you’re looking for a cozy fantasy with lots of magic, quirky characters, friendship and a fun adventure, this definitely has that vibe.

Thank you to Saga Press for sending me an advance copy of The Dues & Don’ts of Magic in exchange for my honest review.

[Stacey Markle · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

RTC
I wish I liked this more!

[anovelaccount (Kayla) · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

This book was such a whimsical and fun little cozy fantasy treat! This is a genre I have to be in *just* the right mood for—I don’t read it often—and I really ended up enjoying my time in this book.

I liked both of the main characters, Spidena and Ben, quite a bit. They both had a well-built background and the enemies part of enemies to lovers sure lasted almost the entire book. The slow burn here is extremely slow, but I could tell it will be built more in the next book(s), which is completely sensical in this type of story! I also liked how blunt these two were with each other—it had me laughing out loud at times.

The cast of colorful characters really brought this story to life, and Delemhach does a great job diversifying this world with a wide array of creatures. I loved the way the magic system was described and used—like a bargain with this almost sentient force. It was a fun spin on traditional magic in a fantasy story. I also very much found the plot to be enticing and had me guessing and trying to piece characters and motivations together the whole way through.

There was nothing wrong with this book, per se, I just think cozy fantasy for me is very light and fluffy and I don’t tend to get emotionally attached. It took me a bit to get into the story, and I found I had to rewind quite a bit as my mind was wandering. Was it a good book? Yes, undoubtedly, and I think people should read it, especially if you are a cozy fantasy connoisseur! Did I still have trouble emotionally connecting for whatever reason? Yes, but it’s a me thing. I’d still recommend and look forward to the next book!

🎧These narrators were all new to me and they were EXCELLENT! Truly impeccable depictions of each and every character and really showed intentionality with how they voiced them. Highly recommend the audio!

[RosieRitesReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this cozy fantasy! The Dues and Don’ts of Magic is perfect for readers who love whimsical worldbuilding, hilarious banter, adventure, and heartfelt moments.

The banter between Spidena and Ben was the heart of this book. They both are incredibly stubborn, very secretive, and can barely stand each other which made watching their relationship slowly develop so much fun. Of course, the side characters add so much quirky personality to the story! I loved Paulav so much; he must be protected at all costs. My only complaint is having to wait for book 2!

🎧Naturally, I did an immersion read, and the audiobook gave this book the personality it deserved! Mirai, Nicholas Boulton, and Christopher Hampton nail the narration, bringing the full cast of characters to life. I highly recommend pairing the audiobook with your physical or digital copy for a fully immersive, magical-chaos experience!

Thank you so much to Saga Press for providing me with an e-ARC via NetGalley and Simon Maverick for providing me with an ALC via Libro.fm! All opinions are voluntary and entirely my own.

[Via Between The Lines · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

Thank you to Saga Press for the ARC!

Wait a minute what was that ending? That's it? I HAVE TO WAIT FOR BOOK 2?

All that aside, I really enjoyed this story overall. Enemies to lust (not love, not yet) done right is just so good. I appreciated how the side characters were given their own wants and motivations, and really grew up on me. I also appreciate how the fae are treated like actual tricksters. It was a bit slow to start, but about halfway in, I was hooked and now need book 2 ASAP!

[Star · Rating 2 out of 5]

Edit I went ahead and finished. Thoughts are the same, and it persists through the majority of the book. Plot doesn't pick up until the end

DnF at chapter 19. Omg, all they are doing is arguing, or the witch is constantly explaining how something with magic works. Show me how the magic works instead of her overexplaining EVERYTHING. And then, I keep waiting for the story to move on, but it's just the same repetitive loop. I get it's supposed to be cozy, but cozy books still need some type of tension (that isn't constant, immature bickering) to be interesting. I'm bored.

[Lavender Sage · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Delemhach. This book was just kind of meh for me. Same fun writing style. Same great vibes. The story just didn't do it for me.

[Tyler Hancsak · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this was a fun and cozy world, I just needed more of everything. More world, more emotion, more depth.

[Rallie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Saga Press and to NetGalley for giving me access to the eARC, this review and opinions are my own.

This is Delemhach at her Delemhach-iest and I couldn't be more delighted. I mean where else are you going to get a red-eyed, black duck familiar named Conquestorov, a magical traveling fae inn, a gay Minnesota-coded merchant, jokes about duck dicks and romantasy-obsessed dryads, and a barely likeable (affectionate) lady witch - whose secrets are definitely stored in her hair - TOTALLY NOT FALLING FOR a silly goose she's accidentally bound to through a magical mishap.

If it isn't clear, I love her writing. It's whimsical, funny, and has a very carefree feeling to it. The House Witch and its sequel series are favorite comfort reads of mine, and although The Dues and Don'ts of Magic doesn't have a mischievous cat familiar (Kraken will forever have my heart), it's just as good! Delemhach has a way of creating the most deeply unserious vibe and then locking in. She controls the world, we're just here for the ride.

“Gods, that’s frustrating.”
“What is?”
“Hearing that there’s no concrete reality.”

The way she treats magic in both of her settings can't be described as anything but fun (for us) and a powderkeg waiting to explode for her characters. I mean, here we have a system that treats magic as a vaguely sentient (but not quite) force that upholds a strict law of balance with a logic that only a witch or warlock is really positioned to comprehend - and even then, just barely. I loved that part of the creativity of spellcraft/magic working is "how am I going to get this done with the lowest possible cost for me and lowest possibility of any backlash." Granny Weatherwax would fucking love/hate this headology SO much, which is really a testament to how perfect it is (“You can understand the bird?” “I imagine I do, and it’s worked out for us thus far.”)

Spidena and Ben are both consummate Delemhach protagonists, a little wild and wacky (affectionate) but also full of pathos as their backstory gradually emerges. And while everyone around Spidena and Ben are watching them and going 😏😏😏, they are so caught up in their snark war to realize exactly what's going on - Spidena's "oh it's just lust we can agree on that right" is a big YEAH SURE BABE moment, and oh my god Ben's sneaking guilt about Spidena's hair was just so perfect. And the kiss. AND THE ALLEGED REASON FOR THE KISS.

But my god turning the page to see the word Acknowledgements has me gnashing my teeth like a hyena or something. She always does this, in like the WORST (best!!!!) way possible.

A fiend.

[Jessica Johnson (jess_l_lovessmut) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Saga Press for the physical copy and also Netgalley for the eARC. These honest opinions are all my own.

I thought this was so cute. Maybe I was in the perfect mood or in desperate need of something easy and uplifting. With how the real world is going this was so nice to escape into for a bit. Spidena was a spunky little wise thing that was so quick witted, I just adored her. Don't' get me wrong, a couple of times she frustrated me with an almost holier than thou persona, but it seemed more a defense mechanism than anything else.

When Benthrop enters her shop needing immediate help, I do not think they knew the extent they were getting themselves into, but it became so entertaining. When I first received this I mentioned I thought there would be good banter, and these two showed up. The magical and human people they meet along the way really elevated the spirit of this book. I enjoyed so many of them so much. The inn that kept magically moving and appearing was such a highlight of the book.

The end I was not expecting and I was very disappointed in one of my favorite characters. Quite frankly, there were a few twist I never predicted and did not see coming. I also did not know this was a cliffhanger and the ending, I mean it really left me stunned, it was a giant doozy. So it looks like I will be needing the next book sooner rather than later because I have become attached to these characters.

꧁𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼꧂

🌔“𝙄’𝙙 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙪𝙢𝙗 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙥𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙣! 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨.”

💗 “𝙇𝙤𝙤𝙠, 𝙬𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙖 𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙨: ‘𝘿𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬’𝙨 𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙨; 𝙩𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚.’”

[☾arina⭐︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben is in need of a witch to cast a spell that will hide him from those chasing him. Enter Spidena. She agrees to perform the spell for him in exchange for a debt, which he immediately agrees to. What they don’t expect is being entangled in a magical bond. If the deal isn’t fulfilled, there will be consequences.

This was such a cozy fantasy story. Spidena and Ben butt heads the whole time they’re traveling, which makes it such fun entertainment. Along the way, they meet some interesting characters whom I loved, especially Paulav. He’s a big golden retriever who loves helping others and always has a smile on his face, which some might find irritating, but deep down, no one can help but like him. His interactions with Obbie have me wanting to bonk Obbie’s head for being mean to him, but then I change my mind when he helps him out when facing Paulav’s ex.

When it comes to Spidena and Ben, they start as reluctant traveling companions, and toward the very end, some sparks fly. Just a heads-up, there isn’t much of a romance. This is a true slow-burn, dislike-to-eventual-lovers story, but the lovers part isn’t in this book, which I don’t mind at all because I like when the hate/dislike drags into the next book. Spidena is a true grump. She is bothered by Ben’s lack of knowledge when it comes to magic and is just irritated by him. Ben knows this, so he’s always finding ways to get under her skin.

With all the revelations toward the end, I can’t wait for the next book.

Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press for the ARC.

[Chelsea · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

This was less cozy and more slapstick funny adventure. I did enjoy the found family aspect and really enjoyed the background characters. The author does a great job of building this unique and magical world full of different supernatural and fantastical beings. However, the main characters really lost me.

This book reminded me of those comedy movies where two bickering enemies go on a road trip and end up arguing the whole time, getting into crazy situations, then realizing the joy of love and friendship by the end. I would have enjoyed a story like this if Spidena wasn’t a big bully and Ben wasn’t so dry. It’s giving bully romance with the biggest hypocrite FMC.

Seriously, Ben had more chemistry with the background character Obbie. I was more interested in Obbie’s flirting than anything else. Ben and Spidena had absolutely NO CHEMISTRY. Them two made absolutely no sense.

I really dislike how MEAN and JUDGEMENTAL Spidena is. She is extremely hypocritical and constantly jumps down Ben’s throat. He is somehow gets off when a person degrades him I guess.

There is also a LOT of explaining in this book. Massive paragraphs of over explaining how magic works here, making me feel like I was reading a textbook on “How to Use Magic 101”.

All in all, this book would be great for someone, but not me who likes my characters nicer, humble, and who actually have chemistry that makes sense.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for an arc for me to read and review! This is my honest opinion.

[Bbecca_marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dues & Don'ts of Magic ✨review✨ thank you so much @sagapressbooks @simonmaverickbooks for the free copy + audiobook! #maverickmavens

The Dues & Don'ts of Magic
by Delemhach
Narrated by Mirai, Nicholas Boulton, Christopher Hampton
out 10/06/26!

Spidena Kettle runs a quiet magic shop until Benthrop Hozel, a mysterious man on the run, enters seeking help to disappear from his pursuers. In exchange, he promises her a favor—but when their fates become magically intertwined, they’re forced to journey together, evade their enemies, and survive on limited magical resources. As they uncover long-held secrets, Spidena and Ben must figure out what’s really going on between them…while trying not to drive each other completely insane.

✨ My thoughts:

I started listening to this one for Witch Week, and then a couple of days later, it showed up as surprise mail! So naturally, I had to switch between the audiobook and the physical book so I could experience both. And let me tel youuuuu! You can’t go wrong either way. I absolutely loved the narrators, they were the perfect choices to bring this cozy magical story to life! One thing about cozy stories is that they always manage to emotionally catch me off guard, and DAMN did these narrators deliver. This is a slow burn with a magical journey filled with secrets, adventure, tension, and a found family you won’t soon forget. I loved watching everything unfold, and by the end, I was invested in these characters and their story. I already can’t wait to see where book two takes us!

What to expect 👇🏽
✨ Cozy + magical
❤️‍🔥 Slow burn
🌲 Magical journey
🫂 Found family
⚔️ Adventure
🎧 Wonderful audiobook
🛋️ Forced proximity

Happy reading 📖✨🎧❤️‍🔥

[BoetBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, a huge thanks to Saga Press for the physical advance copy!

I have heard phenomenal things about The House Witch, so I was incredibly excited to dive in. This is a quick, cozy, easy read with plenty of magical creatures - sprites and pixies and nymphs, oh my!

I did find myself checking to see if this was identified as YA or adult. The writing and characters felt YA, with their age swapped out to their mid-twenties. Now, I am a fan of YA, but I mentally have different expectations for Adult. The characters were fun but acted childish at times, and there is an excessive use of exclamation points. It gave me Assistant to the Villain vibes 🤔

When it comes to romance, I would say that is a subplot with zero spice. Again, I think of much more when it comes to Adult and while I don't think adult = spice, I know some people grab a romantasy to scratch a particular itch.

If you are in the mood for low-stakes, cozy witchy vibes without spice, this may be the read for you.

[Kristina Potter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dues and Don’ts of Magic was a cozy romantic fantasy that is the first in a planned trilogy. It felt like stepping into an adventure happening a fascinating magical world.

The world building was so fun and I was immediately invested. I I loved the twists and turns that came as I read and learned more about the intricacies of the different species and how the magic works. The banter between the MMC & FMC made me chuckle and I really enjoyed several of the side characters. The pacing of the story kept me interested and constantly turning pages to see what would happen next - we get bits and pieces of the main characters back stories as we go, which left me wanting to know more. I will say that the stakes felt a little high for a cozy fantasy and there was also some violence but that didn’t deter me at all! I actually like when there is something at risk so I enjoyed it! It’s pretty light in my opinion but just a heads up.

I was not expecting the cliffhanger ending at all and will definitely be reading book two when it comes out.

[Marie Girulat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to @delemhach and @sagapressbooks #SagaSaysCrew for the #gifted book and @simon.audio and @librofm for the #gifted audiobook.

The moment I saw this cover, I was drawn in and I’m so glad I picked the book. It’s the first in a planned trilogy filled with witches, spells, potions, and magical creatures.

I loved watching the relationship between Spindena and Ben unfold. Thrown together and forced to work as a team, they each have secrets they’re not yet ready to share. Their banter was especially fun and well done.

The whimsical side characters bring the story to life, from a mushroom sprite to a magical duck and many others. The writing is beautifully descriptive, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The cliffhanger ending has me eager to read the next book.

The narrators did a superb job bringing the characters to life with their distinct voices. I truly enjoyed their performance.

If you enjoy magical worlds full of secrets, a touch of romance, and quirky characters, this book is a perfect pick. It’s available now.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this is the first time I've read something by Delemhach that I haven't been able to immediately pick up the next in the series and I am ALL OF THE FEELINGS ABOUT THIS. I would've thrown my Kindle if I didn't keep myself in check and remember I don't have "throwing Kindles at the wall" money.

This is the PERFECT enemies to... something. I absolutely loved the magic system. I cannot think of another fantasy book that uses this type of bartering system. All of the oddball characters are perfect - Delemhach really excels at creating casts of characters that are interesting, capable, and memorable even though there's a dozen of them. I WANT Daffy and Oddie's inn to succeed. I WANT Paulov to stick it to his ex and remain the kind man he is. I want Filaf to just... continue whatever the hell it is it does.

I am desperate for more in this world. Absolutely incurably desperate.

Thank you to NetGalley, Delemach, and Saga Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristin Silverman · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

This is a cute and generally entertaining cozy fantasy — but I found that it fell short of the House Witch series by the same author.

I never really connected with the two main characters, Spidena and Ben. I think that’s because their objectives were never clearly established.

They make a bargain that has them traveling to a far town together. The travel, of course, gives us the expected quest misadventures that are common to this type of book. But the goal is only really “Go to Kintel.” There’s no ring to destroy, no urgent message to deliver, no kidnapped child to rescue. We don’t know why Spidena needs/wants to go there, and we only vaguely understand why Ben does.

The magic system and the way it works also seems less developed than in The House Witch. That might be because it’s broader, with fairies, nymphs, sprites, pixies and werewolves.

This book sets up for a next book with a cliffhanger, and I liked it enough to want to know what happens next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for a digital advance copy. All opinions are my own and are shared voluntarily.

[kneecolereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝘏𝘶𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘯 & 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘢 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

I knew I was doomed as soon as I saw the pet raven named Wolf. I’m truly a broken record at this point but I love animal sidekicks.

I loved the travelling aspect of this story, especially with Spidena and Ben being fate-tied and forced to put up with each other. Their banter was so much fun, and slowly learning about their pasts was surprisingly heartbreaking.

The Fey Way was easily my favourite part. I loved the magic there and Obbie and Daffy meddling was hilarious. I also adored all the quirky little magical side characters like Con and Filif. Legit had me in stitches.

I'm not entirely thrilled with where things ended up, but it was so fun that I’m excited to continue.

[MG · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Delemhach (who we learn at the end of this new novel, now published by S&S, is a pseudonym for Emilie Nikota), having absolutely loved all her earlier House Witch-related books (10 volumes so far). And so I was excited to discover her first completely new series. I read it immediately, and I have to say I was a little disappointed. Yes, the main characters, the witch Spindena and a young man Ben, who hires her and they end up traveling together, are likeable but with some sizeable rough edges. Both have deep secrets, which do not fully get revealed by the end of the book; and both start out disliking the other, only for attraction to slowly grow over time. While there is much to enjoy, I found that the main characters were so damaged and rough that I did not get sufficiently motivated to see how everything gets resolved. In fact, very little is resolved by the end of this first volume. I have faith Nikota can turn this around and get me back to giving five stars once more. So I look forward to the next volume, just not as much as I did for this volume.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ For the fans of the Spellshop & Legends and lattes! 🍄📖🧚‍♂️ Ready for your next cozy fantasy adventure? ☕️🥰 The Dues & Don’ts of Magic is a low stakes cozy fantasy with found family, animal companions, bargains, witches, and tons of magical creatures! 🧚‍♂️ Plus the cutest blooming romance between our grumpy MMC and our sunshine filled witchy FMC. 🥹This is the start of a new cozy trilogy that I know the cozy fantasy lovers are going to really enjoy!

[Lindsey Domokur · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

This book was honestly not like anything I have ever read before and I loved these characters. The magic system was so fun, but it was hard to keep up with understanding all of the dues and how things work with magic spend. I hope the next book I am able to understand a bit more. It was so cute though so I was just along for the vibes and overall grumpiness of the characters. The ending tho.. sweet Ben! I need the next book.

[Benjamin Edwards · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

There were some things I really liked about this book and some other things I didn’t love. I think I will have a better idea how I feel about it after the second book because this one ended abruptly.