Return to the Fount

Leovander Loveage, a scriver with a reputation for mischief and magical mishaps, returns to the Fount, Miendor's prestigious school of sorcery, under threat of expulsion. His first night back is marked by drunken revelry, a run-in with sore losers, and a tense, accidental reunion with Sebastian Grimm, his long-standing rival. Their midnight escapade over the Fount's walls—complete with a botched spell and a torn sash—sets the tone for a year already teetering on the edge of disaster. Leo's sense of not belonging, his family's pressure, and the shadow of his magical failures all converge, promising a year of high stakes and higher emotions.

Unlikely Partnerships

The new academic year brings a shake-up: scrivers and casters are randomly paired for Duality class, and Leo is, to his horror, assigned to work with Grimm. Their mutual disdain is legendary, and the room crackles with anticipation. Leo, determined to annoy Grimm, crafts elaborate, petty spells, while Grimm's cold competence only sharpens their friction. Yet, beneath the surface, both are haunted by expectations—Leo by his family's legacy and magical shortcomings, Grimm by his own perfectionism and outsider status. Their partnership, meant to foster cooperation, instead becomes a battleground of pride, pettiness, and unspoken vulnerabilities.

The Curse Unleashed

A careless mix-up—born of rivalry, distraction, and a library's worth of spells—leads Grimm to cast a spell from Leo's folder that neither recognizes. What should have been a harmless cosmetic charm is, in fact, a forbidden control spell. Suddenly, Leo finds himself compelled to obey Grimm's commands, the magic worming into his mind and body. The realization is chilling: this is illegal, dangerous magic, and both are at risk of expulsion, disgrace, or worse. Their mutual distrust deepens, but they are bound together by a secret that could destroy them both if revealed.

Rules, Rivalries, and Rebellion

As the curse's effects intensify, Leo and Grimm are forced into a fragile truce. They seek help from friends—Agnes, Cassius—but counterspells fail, and the curse only tightens its grip. Leo's restlessness grows into agony when separated from Grimm, and the threat of exposure looms. The Fount's rules, family expectations, and the ever-present specter of the Coterie's judgment press in. Yet, in the crucible of shared crisis, old enmities begin to shift. The two must decide: trust each other, or risk mutual ruin.

The Spell's Consequence

The curse is more than simple compulsion; it warps Leo's desires, making him crave Grimm's presence, twisting rivalry into something deeper and more dangerous. Attempts to break it only worsen the symptoms, and the pair realize the spell is not just control magic—it is a love spell, insidious and consuming. The revelation is both mortifying and clarifying, forcing Leo and Grimm to confront not only the magic but the tangled emotions beneath their antagonism. The only hope for a cure lies beyond the Fount, in the wilds where magic runs untamed.

Seeking a Cure

With the curse worsening and time running out, Leo and Grimm set aside pride and seek out Sybilla Laurent, a legendary sorcerer rumored to live in the Unquiet Wood. Their journey is fraught with danger—monsters, magical mishaps, and the ever-present threat of the curse's escalation. Along the way, they encounter outlaws, face the consequences of past choices, and are forced to rely on each other in ways neither expected. The wilds strip away pretense, revealing vulnerabilities and forging a reluctant camaraderie.

The Unquiet Wood Beckons

Guided by a forager named Jayne, Leo and Grimm brave the Unquiet Wood, a place where magic is alive and monsters roam. The forest is both beautiful and deadly, testing their resourcefulness and resolve. They witness the limits of their own magic, the unpredictability of the Wilderlands, and the thin line between civilization and chaos. The journey is transformative, as the boundaries between enemy and ally, duty and desire, begin to blur.

Monsters and Outlaws

The pair's quest for a cure leads them into the orbit of Jayne's outlaw troop—former Coterie members turned fugitives. Here, the lines between right and wrong are muddied by desperation and loyalty. Leo and Grimm must negotiate, bargain, and ultimately risk everything to obtain the magical artifact needed for the cure. Betrayals and bargains abound, and the forest's monsters are not the only dangers they face. The outlaws' own story of loss and survival mirrors the protagonists' struggle, deepening the novel's exploration of moral ambiguity.

The Tower of Sybilla

At last, Leo and Grimm reach Sybilla's tower—a place of impossible rooms, memory, and Grandmagic. Sybilla is brilliant, enigmatic, and unafraid to probe the wounds both men carry. Here, the true nature of the curse is dissected: it is a love spell, yes, but also a mirror for Leo's deepest fears and Grimm's hidden longings. Sybilla's counterspells fail, and she challenges Leo to confront the root of his magical failures—his guilt, his self-sabotage, his fear of power. The tower becomes a crucible for transformation, but the price of healing may be more than either is willing to pay.

Love's Unraveling

The only way to break the curse is for Leo to write a Grandmagic spellsong—something he has always feared. The process forces him to confront the trauma of his mother's death, his own self-loathing, and the possibility that his magic is not broken, but bound by guilt. Grimm, too, must face his own vulnerabilities, his need for control, and the truth of his feelings for Leo. Their partnership, once defined by rivalry, is remade in the fires of mutual trust and sacrifice.

Bargains and Betrayals

To obtain the magical vessel needed for the cure, Leo and Grimm must return to the outlaws and strike a dangerous bargain. Mathias, the outlaws' leader, betrays them, and the pair are left for dead in a monster's lair. In the valley of the Unquiet Wood, surrounded by death and magic, Leo is forced to risk everything—his life, his power, his heart—to save Grimm. The monsters of the forest, drawn by Leo's spellsong, become unexpected allies in a moment of desperate need.

The Monster's Song

In the story's climax, Leo's Grandmagic, sung into being with the help of the forest's monsters, heals Grimm and breaks the curse. The cost is nearly fatal, but the act is transformative: Leo's magic is no longer a source of shame, but of power and connection. The monsters, once feared, are revealed as part of the world's wild, necessary magic. The boundaries between self and other, love and rivalry, are redrawn in the music of survival.

Sacrifice and Survival

Leo's recovery is slow and painful, but the curse is gone. The trials at the Fount are missed, but the lessons learned in the wild are deeper than any classroom could offer. The outlaws' fate, the cost of bargains made, and the scars left by magic and love all linger. Leo and Grimm, once enemies, are now bound by something stronger than rivalry—a hard-won trust, and the possibility of something more.

Healing and Homecoming

Back in Miendor, Leo and Grimm must face the consequences of their absence, the suspicions of their peers, and the expectations of family and society. Yet, both are changed: Leo's magic is no longer broken, and Grimm's rigid sense of self has softened. Their partnership, once a source of misery, is now a source of hope. The future—whether in the Coterie, the Fount, or beyond—is uncertain, but for the first time, both are willing to choose it for themselves.

The Cost of Magic

The story's final movement is one of reckoning: with the past, with the cost of power, and with the possibility of forgiveness. Leo must accept that his magic, and his heart, are not things to be feared or hidden. Grimm must accept that vulnerability is not weakness. Together, they face the world not as rivals, but as partners—willing to risk, to love, and to change.

New Beginnings

The curse is gone, but its lessons remain. Leo and Grimm, once defined by their opposition, now look to the future as allies and perhaps more. The world is still full of monsters, magic, and uncertainty, but they are no longer running from themselves or each other. The story ends not with a tidy resolution, but with the promise of new beginnings—of magic, of music, and of love.

Characters

Leovander Loveage

Leo is the novel's narrator and emotional core—a talented but self-sabotaging scriver whose magic is warped by trauma and self-doubt. Born into a powerful family, he is pressured to succeed at the Fount but is notorious for magical mishaps and a rebellious streak. His rivalry with Grimm masks a deep longing for connection and acceptance. Psychologically, Leo is driven by guilt over his mother's death (caused by a childhood spell gone wrong), leading him to avoid Grandmagic and sabotage his own potential. Over the course of the story, Leo's journey is one of self-forgiveness, learning to trust his own power, and transforming rivalry into love. His wit, vulnerability, and capacity for both mischief and sacrifice make him a deeply human protagonist.

Sebastian Grimm

Grimm is Leo's opposite in many ways: stoic, precise, and seemingly unflappable. Raised outside the gentry, he is driven by a need to prove himself, both at the Fount and to the Coterie. His magical talent is prodigious, but his emotional life is tightly controlled, shaped by early hardship and a formative magical accident. Grimm's rivalry with Leo is both a shield and a challenge—he is drawn to Leo's chaos even as he resents it. Psychologically, Grimm is marked by a fear of failure and a longing for connection he cannot easily express. The curse forces him to confront his own vulnerabilities, and through crisis, he learns to trust, to yield, and to love.

Agnes Quest

Agnes is Leo's childhood friend and confidante, a talented sorcerer in her own right. She is practical, ambitious, and fiercely protective of Leo, often serving as his anchor and moral compass. Agnes's own struggles—with family expectations, with the pressures of the Coterie—mirror Leo's, but she faces them with a steadier hand. Her relationship with Leo is one of deep, platonic love, and her presence in the story highlights the importance of chosen family and support.

Cassius Bethe

Cassius is a model student: diligent, talented, and eager to please. He serves as a foil to Leo, representing what Leo might have been without trauma and self-doubt. Cassius's partnership with Agnes and his attempts to help with the curse are well-intentioned but ultimately limited by his inability to grasp the personal, emotional roots of magic. Psychologically, Cassius is driven by a need for approval and a fear of failure, but he lacks the self-destructive tendencies that haunt Leo.

Sybilla Laurent

Sybilla is a legendary figure living in the Unquiet Wood, a master of Grandmagic and counterspells. She is both mentor and mirror to Leo, challenging him to confront the roots of his magical failures and his fear of power. Sybilla's tower, a place of memory and impossible rooms, is a metaphor for the mind's complexity and the necessity of self-knowledge. Psychologically, Sybilla is both nurturing and ruthless, unafraid to push others toward painful growth. Her own isolation and mastery of magic serve as both warning and inspiration.

Jayne

Jayne is a former Coterie captain turned outlaw, leading a troop of fugitives in the Wilderlands. She is pragmatic, resourceful, and fiercely loyal to her people. Jayne's willingness to bargain with Leo and Grimm, and her own story of loss and survival, highlight the novel's themes of moral ambiguity and the costs of loyalty. Psychologically, Jayne is marked by guilt, responsibility, and a determination to protect her found family at any cost.

Mathias

Mathias is Jayne's brother and the most hard-edged of the outlaws. He is suspicious, ruthless, and willing to do whatever it takes to ensure his troop's survival—including betrayal and violence. Mathias's actions are driven by trauma and a belief that the world is unforgiving; his inability to trust or forgive ultimately leads to tragedy. Psychologically, he is a study in the corrosive effects of fear and the limits of loyalty.

Phade

Phade is the Fount's most senior instructor, a figure of both fear and respect. They are stern, wise, and deeply invested in the success (and discipline) of their students. Phade's own history with Grimm and the Coterie adds layers to their role as both mentor and enforcer. Psychologically, Phade represents the weight of tradition and the challenge of balancing compassion with duty.

Rainer Loveage

Rainer is Leo's older brother, a Coterie member and family favorite. He is competent, charming, and everything Leo is supposed to be. Rainer's presence in the story is both supportive and a source of pressure, embodying the expectations Leo struggles to meet. Psychologically, Rainer is well-meaning but somewhat oblivious to Leo's deeper wounds.

Beaugard

Beaugard is Sybilla's companion, a magical wolf who serves as both guide and protector. He is a symbol of the wild magic that permeates the Unquiet Wood, and his presence blurs the line between monster and ally. Psychologically, Beaugard represents the possibility of connection with the unknown and the necessity of embracing the wild within.

Plot Devices

Duality and Forced Partnership

The novel's central device is the forced partnership between Leo and Grimm, which transforms rivalry into intimacy. The Duality class, the curse, and the journey into the wild all serve to strip away pretense and force the characters to confront their true selves and each other. This device is mirrored in the structure of the magic itself—scrivers and casters must work together, and only through cooperation can true power (and healing) be achieved.

The Curse as Metaphor

The control/love spell is both a literal plot engine and a metaphor for trauma, guilt, and the difficulty of intimacy. Its escalation mirrors Leo's internal struggle: the more he resists, the tighter its grip. The curse's unraveling is not just a magical problem but a psychological one, requiring self-knowledge, vulnerability, and the willingness to risk pain for healing.

The Unquiet Wood

The Wilderlands are not just a backdrop but an active force in the story. The forest's monsters, the outlaw camp, and Sybilla's tower all serve as externalizations of the characters' internal battles. The wild is both threat and opportunity—a place where the rules of the Fount and the Coterie do not apply, and where true transformation is possible.

Spellsongs and the Power of Creation

Leo's unique ability to set spells to music is both a plot device and a symbol of the novel's central theme: the power of creation to heal, connect, and transform. The spellsongs are a new form of magic, one that requires vulnerability, collaboration, and the willingness to risk failure. They are also a metaphor for the creative process itself—messy, unpredictable, and ultimately redemptive.

Foreshadowing and Narrative Structure

The novel is structured around a series of escalating crises—each failed counterspell, each deepening of the curse, each journey farther from home—mirrored by revelations about the characters' pasts and desires. Foreshadowing is used to build tension (the consequences of magic, the dangers of the Wilderlands, the true nature of the curse), while the narrative arc moves from rivalry and avoidance to intimacy and acceptance.

Analysis

Sorcery and Small Magics is a queer fantasy that uses the conventions of magical academia, rivals-to-lovers romance, and the hero's journey to explore the deep psychological costs of power, guilt, and intimacy. At its heart, the novel is about the ways we sabotage ourselves—out of fear, out of shame, out of the belief that we are unworthy of love or power. Leo's journey is one of self-forgiveness: he must confront the trauma that has warped his magic and his heart, and learn that true strength lies not in control or perfection, but in vulnerability and connection. Grimm's arc is a mirror: he must yield, trust, and accept that love is not weakness. The curse that binds them is both literal and metaphorical—a force that compels, but also reveals. The novel's use of music as magic, the wild as crucible, and partnership as transformation all serve to reinforce its central message: that healing is possible, but only when we risk being seen, being hurt, and being changed. In a world obsessed with power and prestige, Sorcery and Small Magics offers a gentler, braver vision—one where small magics, small acts of care, and the willingness to love are the greatest sources of strength.

Last updated: September 6, 2025