Title: A Curious Kind of MagicAuthor: Mara Rutherford
Pages: 368
Publication Date: Oct. 21, 2025
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Fantasy / Romantasy
Synopsis:
Everyone in Ardmuir knows that Willow Stokes is a charlatan, including Willow herself. Her father’s shoppe hasn’t sold anything magical in decades, and it’s only hanging on by the skin of the fake dragon’s teeth Willow sells as charms, along with “enchanted” ostrich eggs, taxidermied chimeras, and talismans made of fools’ gold.
Until outlander Brianna Hargrave appears and turns Willow’s fakes into exactly what they’re purported to be. But try as Willow might to enlist Bri’s help, she wants nothing to do with Willow and her curiosities.
Because Brianna is harboring a secret of her own: everything she touches turns to magic, and the consequences have chased her all the way to Ardmuir. All she wants to do is find a particular missing grimoire, which contains a spell that can finally put an end to her curse.
Desperate to keep her father’s shoppe, Willow proposes a bargain that could save them both. Together with the frustratingly handsome printer’s assistant, the girls will uncover a plot that goes far deeper than either could have imagined. But when Willow is forced to participate in an ambitious collector’s quest for the rarest magical object in the world-a quest that risks almost-certain death-she learns that not all treasure is for sale, and that true magic is closer than she ever could have imagined.
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A Curious Kind of Magic is a cozy, whimsical fantasy filled with unusual magic, found family vibes, and an immersive setting. I love the rich, atmospheric vibes from the very beginning, and the magical elements were intriguing.
The side characters were another highlight of the story for me. Finlay is a total cinnamon roll. Gentle, grounded, and quietly loyal, he is Willow’s opposite in many ways. He’s so patient with her, and I like that he never pushes her for more than she is able to give. He’s definitely understanding and kind. Bri is great too, and easily one of my favorite parts of the book. Her emotional arc was subtle, and her backstory was really interesting. I was actually a bit more invested in her story than Willow’s at times. Together with Willow, the three characters made a great team… eventually.
Which brings me to the main character. Willow was the hardest part of this story for me. She’s smart, snarky, and determined, which are traits I usually like in a FMC. However, her stubbornness often frustrated me, especially when it came to her pushing away the people who care for her. I wanted to root for her more than I actually did. She makes a lot of poor choices, and while some of that is understandable given her upbringing and desperation to keep her father’s shop alive, I struggled to see much growth in her by the end. Her defensiveness often stood in the way of deeper emotional development, and though she begins to open up, it didn’t feel like enough. That said, her dynamic with Bri and Finlay helped soften her rough edges, and she did eventually learn and grow a bit.
In terms of pacing, the book is more of a slow burn than the synopsis suggests. The adventure and high-stakes quest element doesn’t really start until later in the story, which I didn’t expect. The plot is a slow build as well, as the story is much more character driven.
Overall, while Willow didn’t fully work for me, I still found plenty to enjoy in the writing, worldbuilding, magic, and friendships. Special thanks to NetGalley, Wednesday Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
“Love is a curious kind of magic. It can grow in the most unlikely of places, but it must be tended as carefully as a seedling. Neglect it, and it will wither and die. Push it too far, and it will suffer all the more.”
Mara Rutherford began her writing career as a journalist but quickly discovered she far preferred fantasy to reality. A triplet born on Leap Day, Mara has lived all over the world with her diplomat husband and two sons. She is the author of Crown of Coral and Pearl and its sequel, Kingdom of Sea and Stone; Luminous; The Poison Season; and A Multitude of Dreams.
