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The Harwood Spellbook #1
Snowspelled
In nineteenth-century Angland, magic is reserved for gentlemen while ladies attend to the more practical business of politics. But Cassandra Harwood has never followed the rules...
Four months ago, Cassandra Harwood was the first woman magician in Angland, and she was betrothed to the brilliant, intense love of her life.
Now Cassandra is trapped in a snowbound house party deep in the elven dales, surrounded by bickering gentleman magicians, manipulative lady politicians, her own interfering family members, and, worst of all, her infuriatingly stubborn ex-fiancé, who refuses to understand that she’s given him up for his own good.
But the greatest danger of all lies outside the manor in the falling snow, where a powerful and malevolent elf-lord lurks...and Cassandra lost all of her own magic four months ago.
To save herself, Cassandra will have to discover exactly what inner powers she still possesses – and risk everything to win a new kind of happiness.
Four months ago, Cassandra Harwood was the first woman magician in Angland, and she was betrothed to the brilliant, intense love of her life.
Now Cassandra is trapped in a snowbound house party deep in the elven dales, surrounded by bickering gentleman magicians, manipulative lady politicians, her own interfering family members, and, worst of all, her infuriatingly stubborn ex-fiancé, who refuses to understand that she’s given him up for his own good.
But the greatest danger of all lies outside the manor in the falling snow, where a powerful and malevolent elf-lord lurks...and Cassandra lost all of her own magic four months ago.
To save herself, Cassandra will have to discover exactly what inner powers she still possesses – and risk everything to win a new kind of happiness.
160 pages, Paperback
First published September 4, 2017
212 people are currently reading
4354 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Burgis
81 books1,360 followersI grew up in America, but now I live in Wales with my husband, fellow writer Patrick Samphire, our two sons, and our sweet (and extremely vocal) tabby cat, Pebbles. I write fantasy rom-coms for adults (most recently Claws and Contrivances and Good Neighbors) and fun MG fantasy adventure novels, too (most recently The Raven Crown duology). My next series will be the adult romantasy trilogy The Queens of Villainy, published by Tor Bramble, starting in 2025 with Wooing the Witch Queen.
To get early sneak peeks at new stories and novels, sign up for my newsletter here: stephanieburgis.com/newsletter.
To join my Dragons' Book Club and get early copies of every ebook that I put out myself (so, all of my novellas, short story ebooks, etc!), check out my Patreon page, where I also published a series of fantasy rom-coms (Good Neighbors) across 2020-2021.
I only rate and review the books that I like, which is why all of my ratings are 4 or 5 stars.
To get early sneak peeks at new stories and novels, sign up for my newsletter here: stephanieburgis.com/newsletter.
To join my Dragons' Book Club and get early copies of every ebook that I put out myself (so, all of my novellas, short story ebooks, etc!), check out my Patreon page, where I also published a series of fantasy rom-coms (Good Neighbors) across 2020-2021.
I only rate and review the books that I like, which is why all of my ratings are 4 or 5 stars.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 597 reviews
September 4, 2017
3.5 stars. On sale today, Sept. 4, 2017! Final review, first posted on Fantasy Literature:
Snowspelled, the first book in the new HARWOOD SPELLBOOK fantasy series by Stephanie Burgis, is a fun, light read, right at the intersection of magical fantasy and Regency romance, with a twist of alternative history. We are in Angland, not England, and there’s a time-honored treaty between humans and elves, with the humans paying a toll to live on elven lands. Cassandra Harwood, her brother Jonathan, and sister-in-law Amy travel to a week-long house party at Cosgrove Manor, deep in elven lands, an area guarded by trolls who allow you to pass only if you have paid the necessary tax and have an official, glowing stamp on your carriage.
Cassandra is a brilliant, dedicated magician. Though still held back by the gentleman’s network of male magicians, she has become the first officially recognized woman magician in the country. Or at least she was, until a powerful magical spell she tried to cast four months ago went badly awry. Now casting even the simplest spell would kill her.
To avoid hampering her former fiancé Wrexham, another superb magician, in his career, she cut him loose two months ago … but he seems to be reluctant to disappear from her life. Which might in fact be a good thing, given that Cassandra has inadvertently run afoul of a malicious elf lord while at the Cosgrove house party, where an unnatural snowstorm has trapped the entire group and upset the local troll population. Now Cassandra has one week to figure out which magician at the party has meddled with the weather and caused the unnaturally strong snowstorm, or she’ll be in the elf lord’s power. Can she do it without her magic?
Snowspelled will appeal to readers who like light Regency-inspired fantasies like Sorcery & Cecelia: or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot. This one’s got a little more adult content (read: a non-explicit bedroom scene) and some amusing twists on traditional Regency society rules. Almost invariably, the magicians are gentleman, while the ladies control politics. After dinner, the women all go off to discuss politics while the men remain at the table until they are notified that the ladies are ready for the men to join them. These gender-based roles are traditional rather than innate, though, and Cassandra and others are trying to soften their rigidity:
The characters in Snowspelled aren’t particularly multifaceted, and the plot is light rather than deep or complex. For readers of historical romances, the relationship between Cassandra and Wrexham follows a timeworn path, and the hindrances to the romance are an overfamiliar mix of the self-sacrifice trope and the misunderstanding trope, resolved with eyebrow-raising speed once the couple finally gets around to really communicating. But their yearning looks across the room do allow for some amusing commentary by observers:
I received a free copy of this book from the author for review. Thanks!
Snowspelled, the first book in the new HARWOOD SPELLBOOK fantasy series by Stephanie Burgis, is a fun, light read, right at the intersection of magical fantasy and Regency romance, with a twist of alternative history. We are in Angland, not England, and there’s a time-honored treaty between humans and elves, with the humans paying a toll to live on elven lands. Cassandra Harwood, her brother Jonathan, and sister-in-law Amy travel to a week-long house party at Cosgrove Manor, deep in elven lands, an area guarded by trolls who allow you to pass only if you have paid the necessary tax and have an official, glowing stamp on your carriage.
Cassandra is a brilliant, dedicated magician. Though still held back by the gentleman’s network of male magicians, she has become the first officially recognized woman magician in the country. Or at least she was, until a powerful magical spell she tried to cast four months ago went badly awry. Now casting even the simplest spell would kill her.
To avoid hampering her former fiancé Wrexham, another superb magician, in his career, she cut him loose two months ago … but he seems to be reluctant to disappear from her life. Which might in fact be a good thing, given that Cassandra has inadvertently run afoul of a malicious elf lord while at the Cosgrove house party, where an unnatural snowstorm has trapped the entire group and upset the local troll population. Now Cassandra has one week to figure out which magician at the party has meddled with the weather and caused the unnaturally strong snowstorm, or she’ll be in the elf lord’s power. Can she do it without her magic?
Snowspelled will appeal to readers who like light Regency-inspired fantasies like Sorcery & Cecelia: or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot. This one’s got a little more adult content (read: a non-explicit bedroom scene) and some amusing twists on traditional Regency society rules. Almost invariably, the magicians are gentleman, while the ladies control politics. After dinner, the women all go off to discuss politics while the men remain at the table until they are notified that the ladies are ready for the men to join them. These gender-based roles are traditional rather than innate, though, and Cassandra and others are trying to soften their rigidity:
Not every man could do spellwork, of course, even in our elite cohort, just as I couldn’t possibly have been the first woman to be born with that natural ability. I was only the first to be bold enough, brash enough and ― most of all ―lucky enough, in our modern era, to finally break free of the roles we’d all been assigned centuries earlier, and win a public space for myself that others might follow.Another interesting twist in this alternative Regency England is that race and sexuality are non-issues: Rajaram Wrexham is part Maratha (this world’s India); Cassandra’s sister-in-law Amy has dark brown skin, but it’s the fact that she’s married to a non-magician, Cassandra’s brother Jonathan, that holds Amy back politically, not the color of her skin. Cassandra helps a lesbian couple with some magical questions without blinking an eye. There are other strict societal rules, however, that take the place of these, and some traditional ideas (like being compromised and obligated to marry if a couple is caught in the act of kissing) remain the same.
The characters in Snowspelled aren’t particularly multifaceted, and the plot is light rather than deep or complex. For readers of historical romances, the relationship between Cassandra and Wrexham follows a timeworn path, and the hindrances to the romance are an overfamiliar mix of the self-sacrifice trope and the misunderstanding trope, resolved with eyebrow-raising speed once the couple finally gets around to really communicating. But their yearning looks across the room do allow for some amusing commentary by observers:
“We should sell tickets,” my brother told me. “It’s like watching an opera, but far better because there’s so much less tuneless shrieking involved. No, it’s all wordless emoting and high drama with you two and ― ow!”Snowspelled is a pleasant and quick read, and Cassandra has some intriguing plans for the future at the end of this story. I’m interested to see where THE HARWOOD SPELLBOOK series goes next.
I received a free copy of this book from the author for review. Thanks!
December 6, 2020
This novella was just right for a quick read in the middle of my busy semester. I've also been reading a lot of horror, so this light, fun, romantic fantasy was the perfect break between them.
While I was expecting this novella to be a fun escape, I typically enjoy a lightening fast plot in these types of books. While I never got bored (it was too short for that) I felt like something was missing. Everything almost felt too easy. For a good plot in this kind of book, you need a fair bit of juicy drama. Maybe I've just read too much quality romantic fantasy, but I felt this one was fairly average. While I enjoyed it, it wasn't overwhelmingly fantastic.
The writing style also threw me off with its occasional ellipses and exclamation points. This is kind of a personal pet peeve of mine and it wasn't a deal breaker in this one, but it was definitely something I noticed. However, I will say that it fit in with the light and frilly nature of the book.
The premise was interesting. As a lover of both fantasy and Jane Austen novels, I felt like this book was a good fit for me. This book was not as subtle or eloquent as an Austen novel, but I never really expected it would be. Instead, it's an interesting change to Austen novels both when it comes to the magical elements and gender roles.
I would recommend this book if you are looking for a quick and easy read with little depth. I do know that the series continues, although I can't decide if I want to pick the rest of them up. I think I would if I didn't have such a long tbr pile, but, alas. There are too many books that need reading.
While I was expecting this novella to be a fun escape, I typically enjoy a lightening fast plot in these types of books. While I never got bored (it was too short for that) I felt like something was missing. Everything almost felt too easy. For a good plot in this kind of book, you need a fair bit of juicy drama. Maybe I've just read too much quality romantic fantasy, but I felt this one was fairly average. While I enjoyed it, it wasn't overwhelmingly fantastic.
The writing style also threw me off with its occasional ellipses and exclamation points. This is kind of a personal pet peeve of mine and it wasn't a deal breaker in this one, but it was definitely something I noticed. However, I will say that it fit in with the light and frilly nature of the book.
The premise was interesting. As a lover of both fantasy and Jane Austen novels, I felt like this book was a good fit for me. This book was not as subtle or eloquent as an Austen novel, but I never really expected it would be. Instead, it's an interesting change to Austen novels both when it comes to the magical elements and gender roles.
I would recommend this book if you are looking for a quick and easy read with little depth. I do know that the series continues, although I can't decide if I want to pick the rest of them up. I think I would if I didn't have such a long tbr pile, but, alas. There are too many books that need reading.
December 16, 2019
This thing keeps happening to me where I have a novella recommended to me (in this case, by my fellow blogger, Brigid), I one-click it, and then it’s just as awesome as it was hyped to be.
I’m not complaining, I’m just saying, one of these times, it’s not going to work out and I am going to be so sad that a good thing has come to an end.
But it hasn’t yet, so rejoice!
Earlier this year, I read Mating the Huntress by Talia Hibbert, and in my review for that I raved about how much stellar world building and character development and feminism she managed to cram into a novella.
Stephanie Burgis did the same damn thing with Snowspelled. In her version of Angland, women rule the nation and men are relegated to being spellcasters. Oh, and she flips the scripts even further, because men are the ones who have to watch out for their delicate reputations or else risk being ruined by a woman – YES QUEEN, OH, GOD, RUIN ALL OF THE STUFFY ENGLISHMEN.
Ahem.
I’ve read a lot of regency romance (I write it too), so to see many of the social pitfalls of the time period turned upside down was beyond satisfying for me.
One of the things about the genre that bugs the hell out of me is how so many authors who write in it ignore the fact that London was an incredibly diverse place at the time. By the close of the 19th century, there were over ONE MILLION people living there and it was the largest city in the world.
Stephanie Burgis knows this. Snowspelled was packed with diversity. At least half of her characters were people of color. Also, LESBIANS, YAS. With their own romantic subplot that I would pay good money to read an entire book about.
Sometimes in novellas authors miss the chance to fully flesh out certain aspects of the story and it can therefore feel rushed. Don’t worry, that doesn’t happen here. Burgis packed more romance and action into this than the full-fledged (highly hyped) novel I DNFed just before picking this up.
Wicked elves, slumbering trolls the size of houses, the risk of a treaty between realms collapsing, and, oh, is that a rakish ex-fiance come to help our heroine?
Yes, please.
As I write this, the year is winding to a close and many of my bookish friends are scrambling to complete their end of the year TBR challenges. Well, friends, look no further. You can read this novella in one-sitting, and you’ll enjoy the hell out of yourself while you do so.
I can’t wait to pick up the next!
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September 4, 2017***ETA: And it's out today as an ebook AND a paperback. Hooray!!!
This novella was my escape-/just-for-fun/comfort-writing project after the stress of last year's election, and I hope that it'll be a fun, comforting escape for readers as well. It's also the first in a brand new series! I'd describe these novellas as the equivalent of my Kat books but aimed squarely at adults, so: frothy, magical, fun and DEEPLY romantic. If you liked Courting Magic, you'll definitely like these!
ETA: And you can read Chapter One online already! https://www.stephanieburgis.com/books...
And another ETA: You can now read an excerpt from later in the book (a supper party that includes romantic tension, ruthless family teasing, and the worst weather wizard ever!) at USA Today's Happy Ever After blog: http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/20...
You can buy the ebook edition AND get the paperback from
Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073QWQF1X/...
Barnes & Noble (ebook only): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/snow...
Amazon.co.uk (ebook and paperback): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B073QWQF1...
Waterstones (paperback only): https://www.waterstones.com/book/snow... (I do NOT know why they're listing it for a higher price than I've set for the UK edition - I'm really sorry about that, guys, and I hope it will fix itself SOON! But I love and support Waterstones as a bookstore, so I couldn't possibly leave it off this list.)
Kobo (ebook only): https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/snow...
and Smashwords (ebook only): https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
I am so happy to finally be able to share this with you guys! I love this family and these characters.
This novella was my escape-/just-for-fun/comfort-writing project after the stress of last year's election, and I hope that it'll be a fun, comforting escape for readers as well. It's also the first in a brand new series! I'd describe these novellas as the equivalent of my Kat books but aimed squarely at adults, so: frothy, magical, fun and DEEPLY romantic. If you liked Courting Magic, you'll definitely like these!
ETA: And you can read Chapter One online already! https://www.stephanieburgis.com/books...
And another ETA: You can now read an excerpt from later in the book (a supper party that includes romantic tension, ruthless family teasing, and the worst weather wizard ever!) at USA Today's Happy Ever After blog: http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/20...
You can buy the ebook edition AND get the paperback from
Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073QWQF1X/...
Barnes & Noble (ebook only): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/snow...
Amazon.co.uk (ebook and paperback): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B073QWQF1...
Waterstones (paperback only): https://www.waterstones.com/book/snow... (I do NOT know why they're listing it for a higher price than I've set for the UK edition - I'm really sorry about that, guys, and I hope it will fix itself SOON! But I love and support Waterstones as a bookstore, so I couldn't possibly leave it off this list.)
Kobo (ebook only): https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/snow...
and Smashwords (ebook only): https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
I am so happy to finally be able to share this with you guys! I love this family and these characters.
September 8, 2017
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
My only complaint about SNOWSPELLED is that it is too short! Leaving me desperate for the next book in the The Harwood Spellbook series, SNOWSPELLED is an adorable romantic novella with a bit of a mystery. It's exactly what I would have expected from the author of KAT, INCORRIGIBLE.
SNOWSPELLED starts right in the middle of a conversation between two of the main characters and immediately sucks you in. Cassandra is intriguing and her sister-in-law Amy is stubborn and mischievous. Not only are those two delightful to read and learn about, but I love the relationships throughout the novella, shown in short scenes but managing to feel very natural, as if the reader knows the history of the characters.
The world building was excellently done, as aspects of the world were explained as they came up. Most of the major questions I had were deftly answered, though there are some aspects I am definitely curious about. I think that mostly comes from the length of the story, and the fact that it is a novella - not everything can be dealt with in this first installment. It's definitely a fascinating world, though, with a matriarchal society with magic and elves!
All in all, I wholeheartedly recommend SNOWSPELLED if you like historical fantasy, romance or are even just looking for something a little different to read. I can't wait for THORNBOUND, the next book in the series!
Sexual content: Kissing, implied sex.
My only complaint about SNOWSPELLED is that it is too short! Leaving me desperate for the next book in the The Harwood Spellbook series, SNOWSPELLED is an adorable romantic novella with a bit of a mystery. It's exactly what I would have expected from the author of KAT, INCORRIGIBLE.
SNOWSPELLED starts right in the middle of a conversation between two of the main characters and immediately sucks you in. Cassandra is intriguing and her sister-in-law Amy is stubborn and mischievous. Not only are those two delightful to read and learn about, but I love the relationships throughout the novella, shown in short scenes but managing to feel very natural, as if the reader knows the history of the characters.
The world building was excellently done, as aspects of the world were explained as they came up. Most of the major questions I had were deftly answered, though there are some aspects I am definitely curious about. I think that mostly comes from the length of the story, and the fact that it is a novella - not everything can be dealt with in this first installment. It's definitely a fascinating world, though, with a matriarchal society with magic and elves!
All in all, I wholeheartedly recommend SNOWSPELLED if you like historical fantasy, romance or are even just looking for something a little different to read. I can't wait for THORNBOUND, the next book in the series!
Sexual content: Kissing, implied sex.
February 8, 2020
Snowspelled is the first in The Harwood Spellbook Series. It was brought to my attention by Heather Jones (my go-to gall for most things historical as she has excellent taste!) when she posted her review on Goodreads. I love regency and the promise of a lesbian character, so I was on board.
Cassandra Harwood, first female magician in Angland (that is not a typo) has been in a serious funk ever since she lost her magic in a gargantuan mishap of her own doing. We will find out through the book what really happenend but for now we follow her and her brother and sister-in-law to a big Soltice shindig at Cosgrove Manor, deep in the elven territory.
We will meet up with all the gentlewomen of the Boudiccate and their dapper magician husbands, including her brilliant ex-fiancé Rajaram Wrexham (so much for banishing him from her mind).
I liked that in this recency-inpired novel race and sexuality are non-issues, it just is. Women are doing the ruling (only females control the politics) while the men are doing the magical heavy lifting. Cassandra wanted to break the glass ceiling and paid a high prize. But maybe she can turn it to something positive, like paving the way for future female magicians. If only she hadn’t made that promise to a trole.
A cozy and very charming historical light read. I’m looking forward to book 2.
m/f off screen heavy canoodling
Themes: gentleman magicians, lady diplomats, lost magic, still pining for her ex, ice-cold elf lords who cannot be trusted, giant trolls, eccentric weather magicians, sabotage, the snow storm of all ages.
4 Stars
Cassandra Harwood, first female magician in Angland (that is not a typo) has been in a serious funk ever since she lost her magic in a gargantuan mishap of her own doing. We will find out through the book what really happenend but for now we follow her and her brother and sister-in-law to a big Soltice shindig at Cosgrove Manor, deep in the elven territory.
We will meet up with all the gentlewomen of the Boudiccate and their dapper magician husbands, including her brilliant ex-fiancé Rajaram Wrexham (so much for banishing him from her mind).
I liked that in this recency-inpired novel race and sexuality are non-issues, it just is. Women are doing the ruling (only females control the politics) while the men are doing the magical heavy lifting. Cassandra wanted to break the glass ceiling and paid a high prize. But maybe she can turn it to something positive, like paving the way for future female magicians. If only she hadn’t made that promise to a trole.
A cozy and very charming historical light read. I’m looking forward to book 2.
m/f off screen heavy canoodling
Themes: gentleman magicians, lady diplomats, lost magic, still pining for her ex, ice-cold elf lords who cannot be trusted, giant trolls, eccentric weather magicians, sabotage, the snow storm of all ages.
4 Stars
November 7, 2017
4 stars--I really liked it.
This is a short and sweet fantasy romance. (More of a novella actually.) It barely scratches the surface of plot, character, or setting, but it's so cozy and fun that I found it quite satisfying. I've been reading a lot of things lately that I found dark or depressing, so this was a nice break.
Lady diplomats, dapper magicians, and ice-cold elf lords abound here, and I love all those things. (And look at that gorgeous cover!) Recommended for readers of Sharon Shinn, etc.
This is a short and sweet fantasy romance. (More of a novella actually.) It barely scratches the surface of plot, character, or setting, but it's so cozy and fun that I found it quite satisfying. I've been reading a lot of things lately that I found dark or depressing, so this was a nice break.
Lady diplomats, dapper magicians, and ice-cold elf lords abound here, and I love all those things. (And look at that gorgeous cover!) Recommended for readers of Sharon Shinn, etc.
September 6, 2017
A tensely romantic adventure in an English manor in the midst of a snowstorm. Manners, magic and an irresistible ex-fiancé--a fun and fluffy comfort read to be gulped down in one go. I really enjoyed reading this one.
July 10, 2017
a very engaging and exciting short story. Interesting world and how the magic and the politcs worked, looking forward to reading the other adventures. The people all were very nice and like able, though they were a lot like the kat stories, not very complex sides to the characters and the heroes and the villains being quite defined as heroes and villains.
November 29, 2019
Cassandra Harwood fought tooth and nail for the right to be the first woman magician in Angland before her own pride destroyed her ability to do magic ~forever. When she's invited to a local house party (along with her ex-fiancé Rajaram Wrexham), she goes because no own can know her painnnn SPITE SPITE SPITE.
Enter: a promise to a malovalent elf, weird snow, snooping, making out in hallways, and the attempts of a proud woman to find value in herself not tied to the one thing she has always excelled at!
1. I definitely enjoyed this although it was more like a gulp of water on a hot day versus the cool soak I was hoping for: it's fun but it's so slight and so fast that I barely got my bearings before the thing was done and the happy ever after achieved.
2. Tied to this, the world-building was pretty disappointing: I didn't understand what having women as the politicians was meant to achieve. Their world was still governed by societal dictates and the roles assigned to either sex were rigidly enforced. Apparently women have the ability to ruin men, which is...humorous, but falls apart when you consider just how much agency men still retain. They're magicians, protectors, scholars—they aren't exactly trapped. (Or, if they are, show me that world, damn it.)
3. Wrexham was interesting, but also simple: he is EXTRA TALENTED, TOO and also SUPER DEDICATED TO HIS TRUEST LOVE and it was just...not quite enough. (I was, however, intrigued by their argument where facets of their assumptions about relationships were put on display—I wanted so much more of that sprinkled into their other interactions!! GIVE ME THEIR STUMBLING BLOCKS!!)
3.5 FORGOT TO ADD HOW ANNOYING THE USE OF "my ex-fiancé" AS WREXHAM'S PRIMARY IDENTIFIER GOT BECAUSE IT WAS SO. ANNOYING.
4. As much as I liked Cassandra-the-broken as a narrator, I was also kind of annoyed with her by the end. She is so twisted up in her own angst that she reads as kind of a brat. Which makes her a good heroine, but also one that I just didn't root for. Excellence is kind of boring, ultimately.
5. I did enjoy this, and I complain so ardently because I can see all the things I like and would like more behind all my issues. So I'm going to give this 3.75 stars and seek out additional books by this author.
Enter: a promise to a malovalent elf, weird snow, snooping, making out in hallways, and the attempts of a proud woman to find value in herself not tied to the one thing she has always excelled at!
1. I definitely enjoyed this although it was more like a gulp of water on a hot day versus the cool soak I was hoping for: it's fun but it's so slight and so fast that I barely got my bearings before the thing was done and the happy ever after achieved.
2. Tied to this, the world-building was pretty disappointing: I didn't understand what having women as the politicians was meant to achieve. Their world was still governed by societal dictates and the roles assigned to either sex were rigidly enforced. Apparently women have the ability to ruin men, which is...humorous, but falls apart when you consider just how much agency men still retain. They're magicians, protectors, scholars—they aren't exactly trapped. (Or, if they are, show me that world, damn it.)
3. Wrexham was interesting, but also simple: he is EXTRA TALENTED, TOO and also SUPER DEDICATED TO HIS TRUEST LOVE and it was just...not quite enough. (I was, however, intrigued by their argument where facets of their assumptions about relationships were put on display—I wanted so much more of that sprinkled into their other interactions!! GIVE ME THEIR STUMBLING BLOCKS!!)
3.5 FORGOT TO ADD HOW ANNOYING THE USE OF "my ex-fiancé" AS WREXHAM'S PRIMARY IDENTIFIER GOT BECAUSE IT WAS SO. ANNOYING.
4. As much as I liked Cassandra-the-broken as a narrator, I was also kind of annoyed with her by the end. She is so twisted up in her own angst that she reads as kind of a brat. Which makes her a good heroine, but also one that I just didn't root for. Excellence is kind of boring, ultimately.
5. I did enjoy this, and I complain so ardently because I can see all the things I like and would like more behind all my issues. So I'm going to give this 3.75 stars and seek out additional books by this author.
March 1, 2020
The country of Angland parallels Regency England, but it's a place where magic is real, elves and trolls are an ever-present threat, and the country is ruled by the members of the Boudiccate, the long-standing council of gentlewomen who are charged with the protection of the realm. It's a Regency England where race, sexuality and gender are mostly non-issues, although there are some fairly strict gender roles.
Regarding strict gender roles, Cassandra Harwood is a magician, the first woman to be trained at the Great Library and one of the best two wizards of her generation. The other is her ex-fiancé, Rajaram Wrexham. They broke up at Cassandra's insistence as a result of a horrible accident four months ago that has left Cassandra permanently unable to cast spells and unwilling to saddle her fiancé with such a damaged spouse.
After spending the time since the accident avoiding him, political events within Angland and manipulation by her sister-in-law see both Cassandra and Wrexham at the same manor house for a week while the country prepares for an important ceremony marking a peace treaty with the elves. And then Cassandra finds herself a pawn in the politics between the two realms.
This was fun and works well both as a fantasy story and an alt-world regency romance. Cassandra and Wrexham's relationship is wonderful and so is Cassandra's struggle to define meaning in her life after losing what has been the primary driver of it so far. The supporting cast is also well portrayed with believable motivations and actions. Recommended.
Regarding strict gender roles, Cassandra Harwood is a magician, the first woman to be trained at the Great Library and one of the best two wizards of her generation. The other is her ex-fiancé, Rajaram Wrexham. They broke up at Cassandra's insistence as a result of a horrible accident four months ago that has left Cassandra permanently unable to cast spells and unwilling to saddle her fiancé with such a damaged spouse.
After spending the time since the accident avoiding him, political events within Angland and manipulation by her sister-in-law see both Cassandra and Wrexham at the same manor house for a week while the country prepares for an important ceremony marking a peace treaty with the elves. And then Cassandra finds herself a pawn in the politics between the two realms.
This was fun and works well both as a fantasy story and an alt-world regency romance. Cassandra and Wrexham's relationship is wonderful and so is Cassandra's struggle to define meaning in her life after losing what has been the primary driver of it so far. The supporting cast is also well portrayed with believable motivations and actions. Recommended.
October 15, 2018
I clearly don't read enough romance to tell how this book fits within the genre, but I can tell you that it's a beautiful, wholesome story about finding and giving acceptance, and I enjoyed it very much.
December 30, 2019
Snowspelled is a novella set in 19th Century Angland, a kind of alternate history of our own world but with added fae and magic. Also this is very much a matriarchal society so if you've been looking for a feminist historical romance this will hit the spot perfectly!
It was a truth universally acknowledged that women were the more pragmatic sex; that was why we were expected to run the government, while the men attended to the more mystical and imaginative realm of magic.
In this world the women are the politicians, they make the rules and govern society while the men engage in more frivolous pursuits like magic. Cassandra Harwood's mother was a respected politician and Cassandra was expected to follow in her footsteps but she was always more interested in magic. It took hard work but she finally achieved her lifetime dream of becoming the world's first female magician, she had everything she wanted in her career and was engaged to the love of her life, fellow magician Wrexham, but when a spell went horribly wrong her world came crashing down around her. Now unable to use magic Cassandra has lost her purpose in life and she broke off her engagement because she didn't want to bring Wrexham down with her.
Several months later Cassandra finds herself trapped at a house party and completely out of her comfort zone surrounded by lady politicians, who should be her peers but aren't, and male magicians, who used to be her colleagues. To make matters worse Wrexham is stubbornly following her around trying to convince her to change her mind about their relationship and she also seems to have caused a bit of bother with the local elves that could cause a political nightmare.
Snowspelled was an utterly charming story by Stephanie Burgis, the world building was fabulous, full of diverse characters and feminist themes, the characters were fun to spend time with, there was a good amount of action and the romance was incredibly sweet. I was amazed how much the author managed to pack into a relatively small number of pages and I'm already looking forward to continuing the series.
It was a truth universally acknowledged that women were the more pragmatic sex; that was why we were expected to run the government, while the men attended to the more mystical and imaginative realm of magic.
In this world the women are the politicians, they make the rules and govern society while the men engage in more frivolous pursuits like magic. Cassandra Harwood's mother was a respected politician and Cassandra was expected to follow in her footsteps but she was always more interested in magic. It took hard work but she finally achieved her lifetime dream of becoming the world's first female magician, she had everything she wanted in her career and was engaged to the love of her life, fellow magician Wrexham, but when a spell went horribly wrong her world came crashing down around her. Now unable to use magic Cassandra has lost her purpose in life and she broke off her engagement because she didn't want to bring Wrexham down with her.
Several months later Cassandra finds herself trapped at a house party and completely out of her comfort zone surrounded by lady politicians, who should be her peers but aren't, and male magicians, who used to be her colleagues. To make matters worse Wrexham is stubbornly following her around trying to convince her to change her mind about their relationship and she also seems to have caused a bit of bother with the local elves that could cause a political nightmare.
Snowspelled was an utterly charming story by Stephanie Burgis, the world building was fabulous, full of diverse characters and feminist themes, the characters were fun to spend time with, there was a good amount of action and the romance was incredibly sweet. I was amazed how much the author managed to pack into a relatively small number of pages and I'm already looking forward to continuing the series.
May 17, 2023
Snowspelled has all the right components to be just my cup of tea - yet somehow I found it difficult to connect to this book and its characters and it took me far too long to finish, given that it only has about 150 pages. In general, it is a lovely mixture of a Victorian-esque setting with a magic system as a natural part of life - I suppose they are also known as fantasy of manners or gaslamp fantasy if we're not restricting it to the Victorian period. I've really come to like this genre as it brings together my love for fantasy and books the likes of Jane Austen's works.
I wouldn't say that Snowspelled did anything wrong - apart from a few slip ups, the language was good and setting-appropriate. The plot was fine, the characters were largely likeable and the magic system was interesting enough. In fact, I can't even say why this didn't draw me in. All I know is that I have much preferred other stories of a similar style and would more likely recommend people to read Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries, Sorcery of Thorns or even Howl's Moving Castle which is probably being a bit generous on the manners side of this genre.
It's not a bad book by any means and people who like this genre may very well like it, especially as a quick read during the colder days. Nonetheless, one read was enough for me and I shall be passing my copy of.
February 2, 2020
Many friends have been recommending me this title, a mixture of fantasy and Regency romance, and they were of course right :O)
In this world, magic learning and wielding are restricted to males. However, this is not what you would expect, where women have no power whatsoever. Not at all, women rule the government while men are the ‘soldiers’, for a better analogy. Burgis re-invents a compelling world, one that still has prejudices but not the ones you would expect - diversity and race are accepted and don’t even blip on the social radar. No, the limitations are all in the roles that have been divided between the genders. Very interesting! In the middle of all this, our main character is not only a recognised woman magician (begrudgingly) but one that cannot use her magic anymore, for reasons we find out along the narrative.
Burgis doesn’t make it easy. I expected one kind of solution to the events and the author goes a completely different way, one that actually I came to admire ! Cannot wait to get to the next title :O) which I shall do soon.
In this world, magic learning and wielding are restricted to males. However, this is not what you would expect, where women have no power whatsoever. Not at all, women rule the government while men are the ‘soldiers’, for a better analogy. Burgis re-invents a compelling world, one that still has prejudices but not the ones you would expect - diversity and race are accepted and don’t even blip on the social radar. No, the limitations are all in the roles that have been divided between the genders. Very interesting! In the middle of all this, our main character is not only a recognised woman magician (begrudgingly) but one that cannot use her magic anymore, for reasons we find out along the narrative.
Burgis doesn’t make it easy. I expected one kind of solution to the events and the author goes a completely different way, one that actually I came to admire ! Cannot wait to get to the next title :O) which I shall do soon.
February 19, 2019
This was so very, very charming! It reminded me a lot of Sorcery & Cecilia, but honestly I might have liked this better. The heroine's very real pain at not being able to do the thing that she feels is central to her identity was so well done and she and the hero are so stupid for each other in the best ways. I also really dug the gender dynamics in the book and I LOVE that the sequel is a school book! Very happy I picked this up.
November 6, 2017
Originally reviewed at SmexyBooks-http://smexybooks.com/2017/09/review-...
Favorite Quote: “…there is more to you than your magic. There always was.”
Reviewed by Tori
Snowspelled is a historical fantasy novella set in the alternative world of Angland. Its history dates back to Queen Boudicca (Boadicea) and her war against the Romans. Only in here, she succeeded in defeating the Romans and driving them out of what is modern-day Britain. In this world, women dominate the political arena and the men control the magic. Both humans and various paranormal entities coexist in this world and survive through delicate treaties. This story revolves around the rewriting of one such treaty and one woman’s journey to rediscover herself after a huge loss.
It was a truth universally acknowledged that women were the more pragmatic sex; that was why we were expected to run the government, while the men attended to the more mystical and imaginative realm of magic.
The novella opens with our heroine Cassandra Harwood, conversing with her sister in law, Amy Harwood. Cassandra is displeased to have been coerced into attending an important politically motivated house party and upon learning her former fiance will also be there.
When Cassandra and her party arrive at their destination, they learn that the hostess’s niece and her party have suffered a mishap and are now lost in the surrounding woods. The hostess is putting together a search party and Cassandra volunteers to help search, needing to get away from all the looks of pity being tossed her way and to avoid her ex-fiance. Unfortunately, he follows her, determined to discover why she broke their engagement.
A nasty winter storm and a chance meeting with a vindictive elven prince leaves Cassandra in a bind. A bind that could lead to a fate worse than death if she doesn’t figure out exactly what is going on and who is responsible.
I picked this novella on a whim, intrigued by the concept of a historical fantasy that portrays an alternative world separating men and women through magic and politics but not in the way one might expect. The first in a series, Snowspelled opens the doorway to a clever little world, introducing us to a cast of well-defined characters and setting the stage for the overarching storyline. Strong descriptive narrative, a charming second chance romance, and an engaging storyline grab your attention from the very beginning as Burgis uses familiar parameters to explain to us her world and it’s residents.
The atmosphere is a curious mixture of hope, intrigue, and humor as we begin to learn more about Cassandra and the reasons behind her broken engagement; which goes far in explaining more about this world and its flaws. Cassandra is a relatable heroine. Bold, intelligent, witty, and forthright, her actions are perfectly understandable for someone who has lost something they worked very hard for. She pushed against the status quo, attempting to seize her destiny, and lost. Her feelings of failure are understandable though those close to her do what they can to show her she has more to offer than she believes.
Not every man could do spellwork, of course, even in our elite cohort, just as I couldn’t possibly have been the first woman to be born with that natural ability. I was only the first to be bold enough, brash enough and ― most of all ―lucky enough, in our modern era, to finally break free of the roles we’d all been assigned centuries earlier, and win a public space for myself that others might follow.
A diverse cast of characters helps to define and develop this world with their different personalities and agendas. The relationships in here are quite affectionate and well crafted. Even though the scenes are short, Burgus does an excellent job of conveying the feelings experienced by all those interacting. Multiple pathways are opened and I can’t wait to see where they all eventually lead to. I enjoyed seeing the strong bonds Cassandra has with her brother and sister in law. No matter what has happened, they all have each other’s backs. I also found myself smiling at Cassandra’s attempts to protect her ex-fiance’s honor which highlights the gender switching in here in terms of historical etiquette/ properties. Cassandra worries about being seen alone with her ex-fiance and compromising him so she avoids him as best she can. Her brother’s attempts to force them to be caught are amusing.
“It’s like watching an opera, but far better because there’s so much less tuneless shrieking involved. No, it’s all wordless emoting and high drama with you two and ― ow!”
I did have a couple issues with the story concerning the mystery and conflict. Everything we see and hear relies on Cassandra so it has a disconnected feel to it at times. I would have liked to have experienced first hand what happened to Cassandra in the past and how she solves the mystery but this being a novella, I can understand the time restraints. Hopefully, Burgis will divulge deeper into the elven/human history and Cassandra’s struggle to become a magician and her downfall as the series progresses.
Regardless of my issues, Snowspelled was an enjoyable bit of escapism, perfect for fans of lighter regency romantic fantasies. I am looking forward to the second book in the series, Thordbond, which is set to release in 2018.
Grade: B-
Favorite Quote: “…there is more to you than your magic. There always was.”
Reviewed by Tori
Snowspelled is a historical fantasy novella set in the alternative world of Angland. Its history dates back to Queen Boudicca (Boadicea) and her war against the Romans. Only in here, she succeeded in defeating the Romans and driving them out of what is modern-day Britain. In this world, women dominate the political arena and the men control the magic. Both humans and various paranormal entities coexist in this world and survive through delicate treaties. This story revolves around the rewriting of one such treaty and one woman’s journey to rediscover herself after a huge loss.
It was a truth universally acknowledged that women were the more pragmatic sex; that was why we were expected to run the government, while the men attended to the more mystical and imaginative realm of magic.
The novella opens with our heroine Cassandra Harwood, conversing with her sister in law, Amy Harwood. Cassandra is displeased to have been coerced into attending an important politically motivated house party and upon learning her former fiance will also be there.
When Cassandra and her party arrive at their destination, they learn that the hostess’s niece and her party have suffered a mishap and are now lost in the surrounding woods. The hostess is putting together a search party and Cassandra volunteers to help search, needing to get away from all the looks of pity being tossed her way and to avoid her ex-fiance. Unfortunately, he follows her, determined to discover why she broke their engagement.
A nasty winter storm and a chance meeting with a vindictive elven prince leaves Cassandra in a bind. A bind that could lead to a fate worse than death if she doesn’t figure out exactly what is going on and who is responsible.
I picked this novella on a whim, intrigued by the concept of a historical fantasy that portrays an alternative world separating men and women through magic and politics but not in the way one might expect. The first in a series, Snowspelled opens the doorway to a clever little world, introducing us to a cast of well-defined characters and setting the stage for the overarching storyline. Strong descriptive narrative, a charming second chance romance, and an engaging storyline grab your attention from the very beginning as Burgis uses familiar parameters to explain to us her world and it’s residents.
The atmosphere is a curious mixture of hope, intrigue, and humor as we begin to learn more about Cassandra and the reasons behind her broken engagement; which goes far in explaining more about this world and its flaws. Cassandra is a relatable heroine. Bold, intelligent, witty, and forthright, her actions are perfectly understandable for someone who has lost something they worked very hard for. She pushed against the status quo, attempting to seize her destiny, and lost. Her feelings of failure are understandable though those close to her do what they can to show her she has more to offer than she believes.
Not every man could do spellwork, of course, even in our elite cohort, just as I couldn’t possibly have been the first woman to be born with that natural ability. I was only the first to be bold enough, brash enough and ― most of all ―lucky enough, in our modern era, to finally break free of the roles we’d all been assigned centuries earlier, and win a public space for myself that others might follow.
A diverse cast of characters helps to define and develop this world with their different personalities and agendas. The relationships in here are quite affectionate and well crafted. Even though the scenes are short, Burgus does an excellent job of conveying the feelings experienced by all those interacting. Multiple pathways are opened and I can’t wait to see where they all eventually lead to. I enjoyed seeing the strong bonds Cassandra has with her brother and sister in law. No matter what has happened, they all have each other’s backs. I also found myself smiling at Cassandra’s attempts to protect her ex-fiance’s honor which highlights the gender switching in here in terms of historical etiquette/ properties. Cassandra worries about being seen alone with her ex-fiance and compromising him so she avoids him as best she can. Her brother’s attempts to force them to be caught are amusing.
“It’s like watching an opera, but far better because there’s so much less tuneless shrieking involved. No, it’s all wordless emoting and high drama with you two and ― ow!”
I did have a couple issues with the story concerning the mystery and conflict. Everything we see and hear relies on Cassandra so it has a disconnected feel to it at times. I would have liked to have experienced first hand what happened to Cassandra in the past and how she solves the mystery but this being a novella, I can understand the time restraints. Hopefully, Burgis will divulge deeper into the elven/human history and Cassandra’s struggle to become a magician and her downfall as the series progresses.
Regardless of my issues, Snowspelled was an enjoyable bit of escapism, perfect for fans of lighter regency romantic fantasies. I am looking forward to the second book in the series, Thordbond, which is set to release in 2018.
Grade: B-
Read
November 26, 2025I go to Stephanie Burgis' books when I'm looking for a short, sweet romance with a light touch of magic, and this has the added bonus of setting the mood for the coming winter season. It's low angst and low stress in a pretty gaslamp fantasy setting with lots of women, family relations, and fey antagonists, a love interest where the whirlwind romance and most of the interpersonal conflict already happened prior to the book's beginning, queer relationships between supporting characters (a sapphic couple who get their own book later, I'm told), and the sequel, which I'm probably reading next, promises to take place in a magical academy. I'm charmed.
November 27, 2019
So this is finally through its review for SPFBO on the fantasy hive, I can now shout from the rooftops just how much I loved this!
Personally I liked it even more than the one that will be announced as the winner later on. ;)
This felt like a mix of Jane Austen with Fae and trolls and magic!
I very much enjoyed the characters and liked to spend the with them. The plot was interesting and had me hooked all the way through! And the setting, tone and style just worked in perfect balance for me.
It's a short one, so it's also perfect for a nice little break between all the big epic tomes!
Personally I liked it even more than the one that will be announced as the winner later on. ;)
This felt like a mix of Jane Austen with Fae and trolls and magic!
I very much enjoyed the characters and liked to spend the with them. The plot was interesting and had me hooked all the way through! And the setting, tone and style just worked in perfect balance for me.
It's a short one, so it's also perfect for a nice little break between all the big epic tomes!
December 3, 2017
3.5 stars
Witty, fun, and an enormously entertaining cast of characters made this a fun read!
I absolutely love the characters. Cassandra, her small but close-knit family, and her troublesome ex-fiance Wrexham. (I really loved how he called Cassandra by her last name from when they were classmates rather than some cutesy nickname - it reinforced for me how he sees her as his counterpart.)
The setting! An alternate version of Regency-era England where magic is real and adds yet another layer of complexity to society. The women run the government and deal with all the politics, while the men are the magicians and scholars. However, even with the different roles there remains prejudice and resistance to change and it makes for a very interesting world to explore.
***I would note that this is definitely an adult series. A similar universe to her KAT, INCORRIGIBLE books, but for older readers.***
Oh, there were a few drawbacks though.
First and foremost was one of my most detested and loathed plot devices.
Engaged Couple/two kids with a crush/deep attraction/sexual tension or a main character + random person are faced with peril / imminent death/ end of the world and what is the most important thing that they must do or they'll never have really lived?
That is right. They must have sex or else what has been the purpose of their existence?
If they do not engage in this act then their entire lives will have been worthless. Completely without meaning.
Or their love will have been incomplete, etc. As if the totality of love is encompassed in one physical act.
I still really liked Cassandra and her amazing family, but dang, I am sick of reading this scenario played out. I never want to have to read it again.
Witty, fun, and an enormously entertaining cast of characters made this a fun read!
I absolutely love the characters. Cassandra, her small but close-knit family, and her troublesome ex-fiance Wrexham. (I really loved how he called Cassandra by her last name from when they were classmates rather than some cutesy nickname - it reinforced for me how he sees her as his counterpart.)
The setting! An alternate version of Regency-era England where magic is real and adds yet another layer of complexity to society. The women run the government and deal with all the politics, while the men are the magicians and scholars. However, even with the different roles there remains prejudice and resistance to change and it makes for a very interesting world to explore.
***I would note that this is definitely an adult series. A similar universe to her KAT, INCORRIGIBLE books, but for older readers.***
Oh, there were a few drawbacks though.
First and foremost was one of my most detested and loathed plot devices.
Engaged Couple/two kids with a crush/deep attraction/sexual tension or a main character + random person are faced with peril / imminent death/ end of the world and what is the most important thing that they must do or they'll never have really lived?
That is right. They must have sex or else what has been the purpose of their existence?
If they do not engage in this act then their entire lives will have been worthless. Completely without meaning.
Or their love will have been incomplete, etc. As if the totality of love is encompassed in one physical act.
I still really liked Cassandra and her amazing family, but dang, I am sick of reading this scenario played out. I never want to have to read it again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2021
What a delightful book. It wasn’t long but it was such a lovely look into a complicated life and person. A magical world similar to Regency England but different enough. A smart heroine who isn’t perfect. And a hero who is just a lovey human being. And side characters. I feel like I stepped into a lovely world I want to keep visiting. Not a complicated story but so perfect!
September 30, 2018
Ahhh so perfect!!! Wish it was longer!
- Perfect power couple romance
- Perfect sibling + sibling-in-law relationship
- Fun world and magic
- Super heartwarming
- TOO CUTE
- Perfect power couple romance
- Perfect sibling + sibling-in-law relationship
- Fun world and magic
- Super heartwarming
- TOO CUTE
July 9, 2017
"Snowspelled" is an adult historical fiction/fantasy novella by Stephanie Burgis, featuring corsets, protection spells, and lumbering trolls, set in 19th century Angland. In Burgis' world, women are politicians & men, magicians. Cassandra Harwood is a rebel-magician who's recently lost her magic & her fiancé; after an impetuous bargain is mistakenly made, it's up to her to save her society from Elven destruction.
The gender flips are fun (e.g. men can be "hopelessly compromised"). Because it's historical fiction, the imbalance is acceptable, understandable, & kind-of silly (instead of grating, as it can be in modern times; this isn't a case of substituting one form of gender inequality for another. It's very tongue-in-cheek). Burgis deftly captures big emotions in a small amount of pages. CHOICE is a big deal, along with openness, honesty, ambition, love, and family. I'm always thrilled with her inclination to put "non-traditional" relationships in a very traditional setting & time period. It's so much fun & it warms my progressive heart.
"Snowspelled" is a quick story (too quick!) with lots of heart. I only wish it had been longer!
Note: I received an e-ARC (upon request) from the author.
The gender flips are fun (e.g. men can be "hopelessly compromised"). Because it's historical fiction, the imbalance is acceptable, understandable, & kind-of silly (instead of grating, as it can be in modern times; this isn't a case of substituting one form of gender inequality for another. It's very tongue-in-cheek). Burgis deftly captures big emotions in a small amount of pages. CHOICE is a big deal, along with openness, honesty, ambition, love, and family. I'm always thrilled with her inclination to put "non-traditional" relationships in a very traditional setting & time period. It's so much fun & it warms my progressive heart.
"Snowspelled" is a quick story (too quick!) with lots of heart. I only wish it had been longer!
Note: I received an e-ARC (upon request) from the author.
December 28, 2017
When this book first came out, I was in the moving process and overwhelmed. Then I decided to wait for cold and the Christmas season came, and I found myself more overwhelmed. As soon as Christmas gatherings were behind me, it became my number one priority. And I loved it so much.
Snowspelled takes place in an alternate historical England (Angland). For such a short work, Burgis did an incredible job of building the world and making the differences from our own believable in the context of actual history but where magic exists and all manner of fantastical beings are real. There are malevolent elves, angry trolls, magicians, and a group of women politicians who rule the country. What is done with the gender roles and politics is clever and subversive without being heavy handed or absurd.
But really I just loved it because it was fun and exactly the sort of romantic story I like: prickly girl who is stubborn, boy down for the count when it comes to her in all ways. Cassandra carries her story well and is a character I will gladly read as many books about as Stephanie wants to write. I love her with Wrexham and everything their partnership is. I also adore Amy and Jonathan (Jonathan is definitely my second favorite character) and want more of them too! This was perfectly what I needed to read this week. I'm so happy it exists.
Snowspelled takes place in an alternate historical England (Angland). For such a short work, Burgis did an incredible job of building the world and making the differences from our own believable in the context of actual history but where magic exists and all manner of fantastical beings are real. There are malevolent elves, angry trolls, magicians, and a group of women politicians who rule the country. What is done with the gender roles and politics is clever and subversive without being heavy handed or absurd.
But really I just loved it because it was fun and exactly the sort of romantic story I like: prickly girl who is stubborn, boy down for the count when it comes to her in all ways. Cassandra carries her story well and is a character I will gladly read as many books about as Stephanie wants to write. I love her with Wrexham and everything their partnership is. I also adore Amy and Jonathan (Jonathan is definitely my second favorite character) and want more of them too! This was perfectly what I needed to read this week. I'm so happy it exists.
December 25, 2018
I read this courtesy of the gracious author. Thank you! :)
A Solstice read for Yuletide.
I enjoyed this short romantic fantasy novel quite a lot. It was light, fluffy and fun, with nice - and kind! - characters and thoughtfully developed themes. There's nothing particularly groundbreaking about its treatment of gender, perhaps, with the partial role reversal, but the way the author weaved her ideas with the world and distributed information without info-dumping (but while giving all the useful knowledge at the right time) was particularly enjoyable.
I felt like it could have used some fleshing out, plot-wise, but the disability theme was, for me at least, nicely done. And the protagonist's family (brother and sister-in-law) were delightful to read about.
I look forward to the next volume!
A Solstice read for Yuletide.
I enjoyed this short romantic fantasy novel quite a lot. It was light, fluffy and fun, with nice - and kind! - characters and thoughtfully developed themes. There's nothing particularly groundbreaking about its treatment of gender, perhaps, with the partial role reversal, but the way the author weaved her ideas with the world and distributed information without info-dumping (but while giving all the useful knowledge at the right time) was particularly enjoyable.
I felt like it could have used some fleshing out, plot-wise, but the disability theme was, for me at least, nicely done. And the protagonist's family (brother and sister-in-law) were delightful to read about.
I look forward to the next volume!
September 13, 2017
Shall I tell you all the stuff I loved about Snowspelled?
– a heroine who tries to distance herself from those she cares about in order to protect them;
– loved ones who refuse to be pushed away;
– a main couple that loves snarking at each other, but also each person respects the hell out of the other;
– magical England (sorry, Angland);
– faerie;
– moving on from trauma/ dealing with lasting damage/ building your life anew;
– a model of society (magic is the domain of men, politics – of women) where women have power, but there are still strict gender norms for the main character to overcome;
– women being friends and helping one another;
– humour and warmth.
I cannot wait for further installments.
– a heroine who tries to distance herself from those she cares about in order to protect them;
– loved ones who refuse to be pushed away;
– a main couple that loves snarking at each other, but also each person respects the hell out of the other;
– magical England (sorry, Angland);
– faerie;
– moving on from trauma/ dealing with lasting damage/ building your life anew;
– a model of society (magic is the domain of men, politics – of women) where women have power, but there are still strict gender norms for the main character to overcome;
– women being friends and helping one another;
– humour and warmth.
I cannot wait for further installments.
November 14, 2017
This is a sweet, succinct, perfectly pitched romance set in an alternative Regency "Angland" with magic and gender politics. Cassandra Harwood is a feisty, headstrong heroine (not unlike Burgis's middle-grade heroines, Aventurine in The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart and Kat in Kat, Incorrigible/A Most Improper Magick) and there's so much pleasure in watching her develop emotionally. The family relationships are classic Burgis (Cassandra's strong friendship with her sister-in-law, Amy, is especially delightful) and I really want to know more about the family and its circle. Utterly delightful.
January 29, 2021
This was a unique and fun take on a historical romance/fantasy.
The heroine wants to be a magician in Angland where only men are magicians, women are left to live a world of politics. She ends up using magic anyway, then a scandal rips her magic from her and breaks her engagement to her fiance. They all end up snowed in a cabin in the Elven woods where she is tasked to find a rogue weather magician by the dark elf lord.
This was a delight. Beautifully written, interesting characters, and very atmospheric. I enjoyed it a lot!
The heroine wants to be a magician in Angland where only men are magicians, women are left to live a world of politics. She ends up using magic anyway, then a scandal rips her magic from her and breaks her engagement to her fiance. They all end up snowed in a cabin in the Elven woods where she is tasked to find a rogue weather magician by the dark elf lord.
This was a delight. Beautifully written, interesting characters, and very atmospheric. I enjoyed it a lot!
February 6, 2024
The gentlemen, of course, were expected to remain at the table until a maid was sent to notify them that it was safe for them to join us in the parlor, meaning that the political conversations were officially finished for the night.
I picked this book up for the worldbuilding and that is what I'm going to talk about it this review. The characters are fine, the story is okay (even if with nonsensically organised snowstorm search), the writing is maybe a bit plain but very readable. What is interesting about this story/series is that it's set in nineteenth century Angland where women are considered the pragmatic and level headed ones and therefore take care of the politics while the emotional gentlemen focus on magic. Sounds pretty cool, right? The problem is that it doesn't work as a whole...
The first issue is that this whole series is built as Alt History, presuming that one changed historical event + magic would fundamentally change the historical development. I think that was unnecessary complication. Since we don't really know how patriarchy became the major societal type we don't really have the historical event that needs to disappear. We could just do the flip with some changes that would make it more true and interesting. Having the Alt History aspect isn't really a problem, but I felt that the story focused on that a bit too much, instead of working out the mechanics and realities.
This isn't really a gender switch. I have been trying to understand this society for three stories now and there is a strong disonance at play here. So going with the version that creates less problems - this isn't really a matriarchy in a sense patriarchy is patriarchy. The society in this series is a society where two spheres (kind of private and public, but not really...) are strictly gendered and shouldn't be mixed, but it doesn't seem that one is valued more highly than the other? What does this mean? Women are politicians, they run the country and they are considered more pragmatic, better with stress etc. Men are considered more emotional, which isn't a bad thing, it makes them better at their magic. (Obviously, we are talking about high society here, even though some characters throughout the series are from working-class background the book doesn't really offer much insight into how the rest of the society is structured.)
Okay, so... does this mean that we have a divided sort of equality here? You know, opposites completing each other as such? Not exactly... because... gentlemen are the ones that can get ruined/compromised if unchaperoned. Being unmarried gentleman over the age of thirty is somewhat shameful and frowned upon etc. This doesn't make much sense since magicians are pretty independent, clearly can own some property and have a salary. The details just don't add up together! I really loved those details that changed the relationship dynamics though, really loved them, which is why I would love if the society mirrored that a little better. *sigh*Kameron Hurley apparently ruined me for gender swaps, but hers are more horrorish than anything else and I wanted a romance one! (Definitely looking for recommendations if someone has some...). But it was quite inspirational read, because I feel like I could re-write such a better version of this setting. What a shame that I never finish anything...
I thought that there were some clever things happening - like elves clearly being used as a way to comment of real-world-historical-England, but I thought that it wasn't used to its full potential. And I was quite uncomfortable with the troll-slaves being called "pets" without addressing that further. Idk, I might read too much into everything, but I think it is important.
It was the *they are both idiots* kind of romance, but it was kind of sweet overall, so I didn't mind that much. I was in a dire need of comfort read and this did work as that, so I enjoyed the experience and went on binge of the series (not fully done yet, but... it's coming...), but I feel like those books have some major flaws, which is why I am a bit hesitant to recommend them. Go for it, if this sounds good to you, I don't regret reading those at all, but... don't expect too much.
March 5, 2020
This was a very short book, I didn’t realize it was a novella until I had read for a half an hour and realized I was a quarter of the way through already.
Right away you know you’re in a high fantasy book, there’s talk of elves, trolls, fairies, and other fantastical elements. Magic is a boys club in this world, with most men born with the ability to use magic and most women who can not. The MC is one of the very few women who once had the power to wield magic. She’s since lost the ability and the specific reason is left a mystery for a while so I won’t go into it because of spoilers. She’s left feeling bitter and broken without her powers, it was something that defined her, gave her pride and a sense of purpose. She often finds herself in a spot where she would have been able to use magic to fix something and becomes bitter that she can’t cast spells anymore. She also has an old romance come into the picture which takes up a lot of the page time/story.
Lol, this turned out to be a fantasy of manners romance novella! None of those things would have made me pick this up, those are all the opposite of my typical reads. It was cute, but not really riveting for me. I have a hard time with stories that are focused around the relationship of two people, I need something more to the story than that. I’ve learned that I very much so like romance as a side plot, however. Thankfully, the romance itself was likable. The guy was nice and not a douche, there was nothing creepy going on with huge age gaps or power gaps between the characters. There was already a history between them so it wasn’t a hot and smoldering whirlwind romance but something that had a foundation to stand on.
The writing was clean and precise without meandering or becoming purple, but still being descriptive and immersive. I didn’t find any spelling or grammar issues, but there were a few words that were used too many times for something so short. Within a few chapters of meeting Wrexham, I started to get irritated every time I saw the word “ex-fiance” used instead of saying “him” or his name.
The plot was lacking for me, though. There just wasn’t much to it, it was very simplistic and to the point. That’s not to say it was bad, there just wasn’t much to go on. I don’t know if I had higher expectations than is reasonable for a novella, however. I hardly read any novellas or short stories so my ability to compare and manage expectations is a little off.
I looked at the reviews for this and so many people on my friends list gave this one glowing reviews. I saw lots of 5-stars and exclamation points from my romance fantasy friends. So, if you’re one of those people and you haven’t read this, I’d say give it a go.
TLDR: Cute romance novella that would appeal to people who like shorter stories, fantasy of manners, regency period, high fantasy, Austen-esque, and getting back together stories.
Ratings:
Plot: 9/15
Characters: 12/15
World-Building: 11/15
Writing: 13/15
Pacing: 13/15
Originality: 11/15
Personal Enjoyment: 5/10
Final Score: 74/100 or 4 stars
Right away you know you’re in a high fantasy book, there’s talk of elves, trolls, fairies, and other fantastical elements. Magic is a boys club in this world, with most men born with the ability to use magic and most women who can not. The MC is one of the very few women who once had the power to wield magic. She’s since lost the ability and the specific reason is left a mystery for a while so I won’t go into it because of spoilers. She’s left feeling bitter and broken without her powers, it was something that defined her, gave her pride and a sense of purpose. She often finds herself in a spot where she would have been able to use magic to fix something and becomes bitter that she can’t cast spells anymore. She also has an old romance come into the picture which takes up a lot of the page time/story.
Lol, this turned out to be a fantasy of manners romance novella! None of those things would have made me pick this up, those are all the opposite of my typical reads. It was cute, but not really riveting for me. I have a hard time with stories that are focused around the relationship of two people, I need something more to the story than that. I’ve learned that I very much so like romance as a side plot, however. Thankfully, the romance itself was likable. The guy was nice and not a douche, there was nothing creepy going on with huge age gaps or power gaps between the characters. There was already a history between them so it wasn’t a hot and smoldering whirlwind romance but something that had a foundation to stand on.
The writing was clean and precise without meandering or becoming purple, but still being descriptive and immersive. I didn’t find any spelling or grammar issues, but there were a few words that were used too many times for something so short. Within a few chapters of meeting Wrexham, I started to get irritated every time I saw the word “ex-fiance” used instead of saying “him” or his name.
The plot was lacking for me, though. There just wasn’t much to it, it was very simplistic and to the point. That’s not to say it was bad, there just wasn’t much to go on. I don’t know if I had higher expectations than is reasonable for a novella, however. I hardly read any novellas or short stories so my ability to compare and manage expectations is a little off.
I looked at the reviews for this and so many people on my friends list gave this one glowing reviews. I saw lots of 5-stars and exclamation points from my romance fantasy friends. So, if you’re one of those people and you haven’t read this, I’d say give it a go.
TLDR: Cute romance novella that would appeal to people who like shorter stories, fantasy of manners, regency period, high fantasy, Austen-esque, and getting back together stories.
Ratings:
Plot: 9/15
Characters: 12/15
World-Building: 11/15
Writing: 13/15
Pacing: 13/15
Originality: 11/15
Personal Enjoyment: 5/10
Final Score: 74/100 or 4 stars
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