What do you think?
Rate this book
Nine Lives Magic #7
Stray Spells
What’s a witch to do when her feline familiar creates a cursed sleep mask that unleashes an evil spirit bent on plaguing half the town with terrible nightmares?
Well, the first stop is Merlin’s Well for a whole pitcher of magic margaritas.
Selene’s really outdone herself this time, and I just hope I can reverse the curse before more serious damage is done.
Well, the first stop is Merlin’s Well for a whole pitcher of magic margaritas.
Selene’s really outdone herself this time, and I just hope I can reverse the curse before more serious damage is done.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 20, 2023
460 people are currently reading
443 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
April 8, 2024
The ending was so cringy only a die hard fan could finish it lol. But I'm fully invested in the story and here for the sarcastic cat! Love how she recognizes when the water bowl is "yesterday's water" and demands a refill, so does mine :)
Read
August 25, 2024Dnf 49%
September 14, 2025
More cat shenanigans and there's a new cat in the mix - Aunt Lavender's new familiar Checkers. Nearly the complete opposite of Selene he's a perfect addition to the family!
Now it's two talking cats ...
Now it's two talking cats ...
September 27, 2024
Selene creating havoc, Cora not standing up to Selene and blaming her boyfriend for some of their issues 🙄🙄 I really wish Selene can undergo a complete character change.
March 27, 2025
I will never get tired of the shenanigans that Cora and her cat familiar Selene find themselves in. I can’t wait for more books in this series.
July 22, 2023
Selene is at it again, while she's always snarky, this time she's taken over the back of Cora's shop, Wicked Wicks with her latest project. Small spells that make life easier and she has them delivered to your doorstep by pigeons.
Cora blames her husband, Clint for this one as he got a bit overzealous in a discussion of a business plan over the holidays. Cora thought it would be a passing thing, but it seems to be growing. She also takes Selene to task on the pigeons leaving feathers and droppings all over the place.
At a town meeting they find out about a strange chicken house and its owner who calls herself Baba Yaga.
Selene takes her advice and actually hires an assistant, Addie. She picks up the deliveries from Cora. A large moving box full, that Cora decided was easier to keep Selene's things in one place.
Cora's business has been booming with two locations, and she's teaching Lily to make candles. That doesn't really solve all her supply problems, but it is helping. With Clint off to deliver more stock to the Bellevue store, Cora wakes to a glowering Selene.
Seems Selene didn't expect Addy to come to the store on her own. But there's more going on here.
Selene's spelled sleep mask needs to be found and fast. There's no way to keep up with the demand here in Winterspell and the new store in Bellevue, plus find the mask.
Plenty of excitement and scares as they try to find the mask that is the cause of all the nightmarish creatures that come out to play at night.
I can't wait to see what Selene gets into next!
Cora blames her husband, Clint for this one as he got a bit overzealous in a discussion of a business plan over the holidays. Cora thought it would be a passing thing, but it seems to be growing. She also takes Selene to task on the pigeons leaving feathers and droppings all over the place.
At a town meeting they find out about a strange chicken house and its owner who calls herself Baba Yaga.
Selene takes her advice and actually hires an assistant, Addie. She picks up the deliveries from Cora. A large moving box full, that Cora decided was easier to keep Selene's things in one place.
Cora's business has been booming with two locations, and she's teaching Lily to make candles. That doesn't really solve all her supply problems, but it is helping. With Clint off to deliver more stock to the Bellevue store, Cora wakes to a glowering Selene.
Seems Selene didn't expect Addy to come to the store on her own. But there's more going on here.
Selene's spelled sleep mask needs to be found and fast. There's no way to keep up with the demand here in Winterspell and the new store in Bellevue, plus find the mask.
Plenty of excitement and scares as they try to find the mask that is the cause of all the nightmarish creatures that come out to play at night.
I can't wait to see what Selene gets into next!
April 23, 2023
AbracadabraWhoops!
Cora’s candle shop is doing wonderfully. Clinton and Cora decide that they can open another shop in Bellevue. When Clint splits time between both of them and Cora‘s left holding the candle! Selene’s a little disgruntled with everybody being so busy and she’s kind of left in the lurch. Well, you know what Selene does when she’s left in the lurch and not the center of attention! So she decides to start her own business with magical charms!
Her business blooms. The only problem is it encroaches on Cora’s space of the candle shop. The business has gone to the birds.! Well, the seagulls anyway that Selene has delivering the small package.
Can Celine get her feathers in line before Cora drops the ball on everything?
When one of her items goes missing Celine is quick to point the finger at Cora, of course, instead of herself! Problem is this item is causing nightmares with everybody in Winterspell. Selene and Cora need to bring the family together to help them find a sleep mask that started the whole thing. And hope they find it before the veil between the nightmares and the reality can mix too far? We’ll see!
Awesome book. Can’t wait for the next one.
Cora’s candle shop is doing wonderfully. Clinton and Cora decide that they can open another shop in Bellevue. When Clint splits time between both of them and Cora‘s left holding the candle! Selene’s a little disgruntled with everybody being so busy and she’s kind of left in the lurch. Well, you know what Selene does when she’s left in the lurch and not the center of attention! So she decides to start her own business with magical charms!
Her business blooms. The only problem is it encroaches on Cora’s space of the candle shop. The business has gone to the birds.! Well, the seagulls anyway that Selene has delivering the small package.
Can Celine get her feathers in line before Cora drops the ball on everything?
When one of her items goes missing Celine is quick to point the finger at Cora, of course, instead of herself! Problem is this item is causing nightmares with everybody in Winterspell. Selene and Cora need to bring the family together to help them find a sleep mask that started the whole thing. And hope they find it before the veil between the nightmares and the reality can mix too far? We’ll see!
Awesome book. Can’t wait for the next one.
November 17, 2023
Clint's brother did cross over.
Selene is acting really evil rather than just teasing Cora. Which is not good. Not the character I first read.
Cora is getting married to Clint and its a real drain on the story and the adventures. Hope Clint dies.
Can't stand the family.
And I hate the character of Aunt Lavender. She is a complete narcissist and has no thought or compassion for others. She won't even stop having mint tea in the house even though her familiar is allergic. She has no thought for others. I don't see what is so great about this person that her family would go through all that trouble to help her or want to have anything to do with her.
I liked the first few books but am not really into the whole family, rotten kids, and so on. Not interested. I liked it better when it was just Cora and Selene.
Also, how does the author expect us to believe that Cora is going to be able to make enough candles, one at a time, to stock more than one shop? The thing was that her candles were special because SHE made them.
Selene is acting really evil rather than just teasing Cora. Which is not good. Not the character I first read.
Cora is getting married to Clint and its a real drain on the story and the adventures. Hope Clint dies.
Can't stand the family.
And I hate the character of Aunt Lavender. She is a complete narcissist and has no thought or compassion for others. She won't even stop having mint tea in the house even though her familiar is allergic. She has no thought for others. I don't see what is so great about this person that her family would go through all that trouble to help her or want to have anything to do with her.
I liked the first few books but am not really into the whole family, rotten kids, and so on. Not interested. I liked it better when it was just Cora and Selene.
Also, how does the author expect us to believe that Cora is going to be able to make enough candles, one at a time, to stock more than one shop? The thing was that her candles were special because SHE made them.
February 21, 2024
Cora's familiar, Selene, has never been a favorite character of mine and in this book she gets worse then before. She starts up her own business using pigeons to deliver the charms she has made. It turns out to cause major trouble. Turns out she made a mistake in the spell she used making the charms.
The probe: something is being released that could devastate the people in the town.
There's also a woman claiming to be Baba Yaga who has arrived and lives in a moving house shaped like a chicken.
The source of the problem is found, fortunately. What I really don't like is Selene's attitude and refusal to accept the fact that she could have harmed almost everyone in the town.
She's a familiar and is supposed to work with Cora, not go off on her own and do things without proper supervision and without accepting fully the possible consequences of what she has done.
I wouldn't miss her at all if she was dropped from the series and a more responsible familiar was found for Cora.
The probe: something is being released that could devastate the people in the town.
There's also a woman claiming to be Baba Yaga who has arrived and lives in a moving house shaped like a chicken.
The source of the problem is found, fortunately. What I really don't like is Selene's attitude and refusal to accept the fact that she could have harmed almost everyone in the town.
She's a familiar and is supposed to work with Cora, not go off on her own and do things without proper supervision and without accepting fully the possible consequences of what she has done.
I wouldn't miss her at all if she was dropped from the series and a more responsible familiar was found for Cora.
April 20, 2023
Selene is in trouble, not that she cares. The unusually snarky cat familiar takes some of Clint’s advice and starts her own charmed trinket business. Cora‘s frantic with producing enough products for her new store in Bellhaven and Wicked Wicks. She doesn’t need Selene taking up precious space in her store. Everything screeches to a halt when people start having nightmares and only Cora’s dream candles keep them at bay. Selene’s experimental cursed sleeping mask has disappeared and is presumed to be the source of the spreading nightmares. Now Cora has to ramp up production on dream candles while trying to find the mask. Running on empty while dealing with the unrepentant Selene, will Cora find the mask? With Sheriff Templeton threatening her with jail, all of Cora’s family needs to step up to save Winterspell from becoming a permanent nightmare. Oh, do enjoy the pigeons!
December 12, 2024
It’s been 4ish months since the previous book. Cora, Clint, and Selene are becoming their own family in their newly bought house. Cora and Clint now own two shops in their franchise chain of Wicked Wicks.
In true Selene fashion she has also started a business selling spelled trinkets. She comes up with the idea to create a mask that creates nightmares for the wearer. This mask becomes lost and its quickly discovered Selene’s experiment went a little haywire. Now everyone is flocking to Cora’s shop for her candles because it’s gotten around town that her candles are the only thing stopping the nightmares.
It’s up to Cora and Selene to find the missing mask and put a stop to the nightmares now plaguing the town of Winterspell!
In true Selene fashion she has also started a business selling spelled trinkets. She comes up with the idea to create a mask that creates nightmares for the wearer. This mask becomes lost and its quickly discovered Selene’s experiment went a little haywire. Now everyone is flocking to Cora’s shop for her candles because it’s gotten around town that her candles are the only thing stopping the nightmares.
It’s up to Cora and Selene to find the missing mask and put a stop to the nightmares now plaguing the town of Winterspell!
September 26, 2025
✨⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
If you’re hunting for your next magical adventure, look no further—Stray Spells is calling your name! This book has everything I love in a cozy fantasy: quirky charm, clever twists, and just the right amount of chaos to keep the pages flying.
The characters are full of personality (some more mischievous than others 👀), the magic is both whimsical and a little unpredictable, and the story kept me laughing while also tugging me along to find out what happens next. It’s the kind of read that makes you want to curl up with a blanket, a snack, and just one more chapter—until suddenly you’re at the end.
If you love a mix of humor, heart, and spellbinding surprises, Stray Spells definitely deserves a spot on your TBR.
If you’re hunting for your next magical adventure, look no further—Stray Spells is calling your name! This book has everything I love in a cozy fantasy: quirky charm, clever twists, and just the right amount of chaos to keep the pages flying.
The characters are full of personality (some more mischievous than others 👀), the magic is both whimsical and a little unpredictable, and the story kept me laughing while also tugging me along to find out what happens next. It’s the kind of read that makes you want to curl up with a blanket, a snack, and just one more chapter—until suddenly you’re at the end.
If you love a mix of humor, heart, and spellbinding surprises, Stray Spells definitely deserves a spot on your TBR.
May 12, 2023
Nightmare
Some would argue Selene is a nightmare all of her own accord. No props needed. I am certain Cora would agree. Selene would adamantly protest such an attack on her good name. As Cora and Clint work to get a second location of Wicked Wicks up an running, Selene starts her own business venture. When one of her products still in the testing phase goes missing the nightmare begins. By the time everything gets settled, a shocking side of Selene is revealed. True emotions. I still don’t think Selene would approve of Checkers being on the cover. She is too much of a narcissist.
Some would argue Selene is a nightmare all of her own accord. No props needed. I am certain Cora would agree. Selene would adamantly protest such an attack on her good name. As Cora and Clint work to get a second location of Wicked Wicks up an running, Selene starts her own business venture. When one of her products still in the testing phase goes missing the nightmare begins. By the time everything gets settled, a shocking side of Selene is revealed. True emotions. I still don’t think Selene would approve of Checkers being on the cover. She is too much of a narcissist.
October 1, 2023
Loved it!
💖 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📚 Genre: Cozy mystery, magical
💻 KU: Yes
💕 Positives:
* Great mystery! Doesn't involve a death, but still interesting to solve
* Checkers is an adorable character. Selene is still my favorite, but Checkers comes in a close second.
* Lots of red herrings and hard to put down.
🚫 Negatives: None
⚡Content Warning: None
🌟 Overall, I really enjoyed this mystery! The set up was interesting and the mystery had plenty of twists and turns. Loved how it centered around Selene, but I also enjoyed Lavender's and Lilac's participation this time. Definitely going to start book #8 next.
💖 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📚 Genre: Cozy mystery, magical
💻 KU: Yes
💕 Positives:
* Great mystery! Doesn't involve a death, but still interesting to solve
* Checkers is an adorable character. Selene is still my favorite, but Checkers comes in a close second.
* Lots of red herrings and hard to put down.
🚫 Negatives: None
⚡Content Warning: None
🌟 Overall, I really enjoyed this mystery! The set up was interesting and the mystery had plenty of twists and turns. Loved how it centered around Selene, but I also enjoyed Lavender's and Lilac's participation this time. Definitely going to start book #8 next.
August 2, 2025
First standalone after a series
Set in the little town of Winterspell, this book continues the story of Cora the maker of enchanted candles, and her grumpy familiar, Selene Selene has started a side business of selling little charms, but one of her spells backfires, making Winters people have nightmares and thinning the veil between the shadow realm and the regular world. Monsters appear in corporeal form rather than just in nightmares, so Cora, Selene, and their team have a challenge getting things under control. This standalone is as entertaining as the series, so I’m on to the next book about Cora.
Set in the little town of Winterspell, this book continues the story of Cora the maker of enchanted candles, and her grumpy familiar, Selene Selene has started a side business of selling little charms, but one of her spells backfires, making Winters people have nightmares and thinning the veil between the shadow realm and the regular world. Monsters appear in corporeal form rather than just in nightmares, so Cora, Selene, and their team have a challenge getting things under control. This standalone is as entertaining as the series, so I’m on to the next book about Cora.
October 18, 2025
Cora has a magical mask mishap situation, though not of her own making! With Selene, her feline familiar involved, it endangers the town and all those Cora loves. Selene, her talking cat familiar, denies responsibility and is frustrated when Cora actually wants to hunt down whomever took the Mask.
The mask of Melinroe has the power to create nightmares and seems to be thinning the veil between reality and the shadow world, so Cora, friends and family have to retrieve and destroy it before more damage is done.
It is a wild ride and thrill seeking readers will enjoy all the action and surprises as well as the reveal of the villain and ending, and an absolutely worthwhile read
The mask of Melinroe has the power to create nightmares and seems to be thinning the veil between reality and the shadow world, so Cora, friends and family have to retrieve and destroy it before more damage is done.
It is a wild ride and thrill seeking readers will enjoy all the action and surprises as well as the reveal of the villain and ending, and an absolutely worthwhile read
April 20, 2023
Selene is back and she has her own business. She’s selling spelled trinkets and manages to be in Cora’s way as she takes over the backroom of the shop. Cora’s life is hectic enough with the new shop and trying to keep up with the stock. Now she’s got a line-up of customers and everyone wants a dream candle. It seems that Selene lost a mask that is dimming the line between the shadow world and the real world. Nightmares are everywhere. Will Cora and her family solve this problem? Welcome to Winterspell where the snarky Selene is calling the shots.
May 1, 2023
As usual. this was a very entertaining book. Selene outdoes herself and creates immense chaos while snarking her way through her witch's attempts to contain the mess.
Amazon synopsis:
What’s a witch to do when her feline familiar creates a cursed sleep mask that unleashes an evil spirit bent on plaguing half the town with terrible nightmares?
Well, the first stop is Merlin’s Well for a whole pitcher of magic margaritas.
Selene’s really outdone herself this time, and I just hope I can reverse the curse before more serious damage is done.
Amazon synopsis:
What’s a witch to do when her feline familiar creates a cursed sleep mask that unleashes an evil spirit bent on plaguing half the town with terrible nightmares?
Well, the first stop is Merlin’s Well for a whole pitcher of magic margaritas.
Selene’s really outdone herself this time, and I just hope I can reverse the curse before more serious damage is done.
September 11, 2023
Stray Spells is the seventh in the Nine Lives Magic series by Danielle Garrett. I listened to the audio version on Hoopla from my local library. In this standalone story, Selene has created a sleep mask which disappears before it has been properly beta tested. It creates chaos in Winterspell.
Selene is snarky as ever, never takes responsibility for her actions, and always causing a disturbance.
It does get resolved and you may not guess who the culprit is or why.
Looking forward to the next trip to Winterspell.
Selene is snarky as ever, never takes responsibility for her actions, and always causing a disturbance.
It does get resolved and you may not guess who the culprit is or why.
Looking forward to the next trip to Winterspell.
November 10, 2024
Cora and Clint have opened a second Wicked Wicks store and Selene has started her own business using pigeons as delivery birds, but unfortunately one of her experimental spells gets loose in Winterspell and people start having nightmares causing a run on dream candles at Cora's shop...
I think from the way this book went and how the next is described we are back to the "monster of the week" format, which I don't love as much but I still enjoy all the characters. I do find the cover art a little misleading because I thought Checkers would be a bigger part of the story.
I think from the way this book went and how the next is described we are back to the "monster of the week" format, which I don't love as much but I still enjoy all the characters. I do find the cover art a little misleading because I thought Checkers would be a bigger part of the story.
April 20, 2023
Well Seline really gets big ideas that affect not only Seline an the family, but the whole town. How can such a head strong familiar cause havoc that endangers the whole town? Leave it up to Seline, who after all is said and done, learns an humility lesson! Imagine that? Now back to wedding planning for Seline and Clint. What a whirlwind journey for all. Cannot wait for wedding planning and a wedding!
April 21, 2023
Cora finds herself in a sticky situation because of her familiar, Selene. Selene has her own candle business along with some spells but something has gone wrong. But if you think I am going to tell you what went wrong and how it gets fixed you all are quite mistaken. You will need to get the book. Ms. Garrett has outdone herself with this one. Her characters are consistent and the plot is easy to follow. HOpe you all get the book. Thank you.
April 21, 2023
Selene is one crazy cat...or should I say "a not always helpful familiar"! She's somehow come up with a moneymaking scheme that undoubtably goes a bit... or a lot haywire! Cora is beside herself. Selene is out of control and now the whole town is in danger. Cora's trying to run her candle shop, plan her wedding, and try to find a solution to the dangerous problems Selene has caused. I think you'll enjoy this book as much as I did!
July 14, 2023
I can’t get enough of Danielle Garrett’s writing!
I love how lavender and lilac are getting sassy and you saw Selene trying to work out seeing lavender with another familiar, showing some sadness and insecurity. I was shocked with this ending tho, I did not see that coming for sure lol This book was not a disappointment! Of course!
PS I hope we get a story of Sheriff Templeton finally getting into trouble and needing their help and finally showing some respect 😤
I love how lavender and lilac are getting sassy and you saw Selene trying to work out seeing lavender with another familiar, showing some sadness and insecurity. I was shocked with this ending tho, I did not see that coming for sure lol This book was not a disappointment! Of course!
PS I hope we get a story of Sheriff Templeton finally getting into trouble and needing their help and finally showing some respect 😤
February 19, 2024
My least favorite of the series so far 🤷🏻♀️I just found to story to be more boring than normal for some reason. Now that lavender is back, I’m realizing she’s kind of mean lol and Clint is just too perfect in this one. I’m still convinced it would be a great turn if he ended up being bad after all. I feel like they could have made the sleep mask more dramatic overall. Hoping the next one grabs my interest a little bit more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2024
I was excited to come back and see where the characters were at now. To see how Checkers has grown and the difference between him and Selene. The plot twist in this mystery of who the true cause of it was different than the others. I will forever love the banter between Selene and Cora along with Clint's support of Cora is everything. I will say this one was a bit creepier than the others but I am a baby.
August 18, 2024
She hit a home run with this one. It had lots of mystery, hi-jinx and much better romance in this one. Most of the other books I thought were lacking in the love dept. She’s got herself a real winner.
Selene was a snarky lil sour ball as usual but oh so funny. She had me laughing at her antics. Seriously. Wait till you read about the pigeons. Won’t say more. This was a thoroughly fun read.
Kathy.
Selene was a snarky lil sour ball as usual but oh so funny. She had me laughing at her antics. Seriously. Wait till you read about the pigeons. Won’t say more. This was a thoroughly fun read.
Kathy.
August 31, 2024
Nightmares can become real? Who knew?
Cora and Selene are having quite a time managing two businesses in one small area. They work together like oil and water. As usual, something goes just a bit awry with one of Selene’s products and the world of nightmares becomes quite an issue.
Enjoy a humorous yet stressful time as Cora and Selene figure out how to stop Winterspell from becoming a tourist’s destination for the Shadow realm.
Cora and Selene are having quite a time managing two businesses in one small area. They work together like oil and water. As usual, something goes just a bit awry with one of Selene’s products and the world of nightmares becomes quite an issue.
Enjoy a humorous yet stressful time as Cora and Selene figure out how to stop Winterspell from becoming a tourist’s destination for the Shadow realm.
October 8, 2024
I liked this book, partially because it was a refreshing change of pace from the first six books. It was a relief to be able to enjoy a plot where Cora isn't searching for Lavender and isn't sabotaging her relationship with Clint due to her psychological hangups that it won't work out so she should bail before it gets more serious. I like the new character, Checkers, and I liked having Cora's aunt Lavender be around sometimes (in Cora's life, I mean, she's not missing or anything).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2024
In comparison with the rest of the series, this one was just not so great. It felt forced after the ending of the book 6, which was great. I couldn't wait to finish, it was like a chore. Selene was too aggressive, and Cora too good and self-righteous, which made them both incredibly annoying. The main mystery had potential, it was nice to see for the first time something magical and scary, but the resolution was silly.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews