Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy

Book Review

T Nagarajan

Sorcery and Small Magics is a wonderfully fun book. It is the first in a trilogy set in the fictional world of Miendor, where wizardry exists, as do monsters. The world is governed by ‘The Coterie’, a group of specialised wizards, whose aim is to protect the realm from incursions by monsters from the Unquiet Wood. The magic system is a little different compared to usual: wizards either specialise in composing magic or casting it. So naturally, they work in teams to accomplish their aims.

Enter our two main characters, around whom this tale revolves. They do not get along with each other. So, of course, they are forced to work together during their adventures, and shenanigans ensue, much like a buddy cop movie.

This is an easy read: it does not contain any twists and turns; the story is very straight-forward. This simplicity is what made me love this book. In a world where every writer is trying to find a USP, it is refreshing to see someone who sticks to the basics but does it well. The setting wouldn’t be out of place in a Final Fantasy game. The character interactions are tried and tested. The main protagonist is an anti-hero: he has his vices, he is selfish, he has a mysterious secret but has a redemption arc. The supporting character is straight laced and plays by the book. Some may not like to see these common tropes, but I think these worked in Doocy’s favour. I did not have to think too hard about this book: I could just sit back and enjoy.

There are some things that could be improved – it is a slow burn getting past the first few pages and didn’t seem like anything special to begin with. The characters seemed needlessly antagonistic toward each other. However, as their relationship develops, it feels deeper and more organic. You really empathise with them as events unfold. Even the auxiliary characters seem to have deep motives. And I think that is the power in this book: the characters all have their own personalities and feel so alive. The story really grows on you, and I felt a little disappointed that I had finished, and then I have to wait a while for the next instalment.