Book review: A Sorceress and Scones by Allie Leigh

The rumours should have been enough to send her running, but when the opportunity to study magic under the Lady Elliane presents itself, Korinne can't say no. Even if people do think the lady sorceress has terrifying fangs, fearsome claws, and a tendency to eat hearts.

She'd planned to focus upon her studies, but life at the sorceress's castle isn't what she'd expected. Though she hides herself away, Elliane doesn't live alone. There's Arycelle, a spirited girl from beyond the valley, and Wick, a demon who seems more interested in performances and pastries than any sort of eldritch pact. Along with living shadows, poetic statues, and an opinionated stove, Korinne isn't sure what to make of the strange world she's stumbled into.

But when Elliane, Arycelle, and Wick learn of her feelings for Ninette—a sweet baker and her dearest friend—they decide to take responsibility for ensuring she gets a happily ever after, and Korinne finds she has much more than magic on her mind.

I downloaded this book from B&N Nook for free late last year, and decided to read it for Black History Month as the girl (Korinne) on the cover is Black; however, the author is white and Canadian, which I didn't realize, so I don't think this counts. 

This book was less cozy than suggested by the summary, although it's cozy enough that I don't really feel I was tricked. The fantasy world this book is set in is race- and queer-normative, although social classes are a thing and Korinne's bastard birth status dictates her life and what she can wear. The pain Korinne feels at being shunned by her father (as if she chose to be born! screw that dude) is a big part of her character, even indirectly driving some of the plot. Elliane's outsider status is also painful to her, and Korinne, Elliane, Arycelle, and Wick (a demon child with no evil but plenty of rambunctiousness) form a found family. 

Korinne's struggles with her magical studies take up a large part of the book. The castle with its sentient statues and oven has Beauty and the Beast vibes, while the living shadows made me think of soot sprites. The part about the friends trying to get Korinne  together with Ninette is smaller than it sounds, but still sweet. What I wouldn't give to eat some of her pastries. There's some really cool magic towards the end that I really liked but won't talk about because it's a spoiler.

Overall, I really liked this book despite the sad/angry-making stuff and I do recommend it. I can't wait to read the (unpublished) sequel, which sounds like it deals with Arycelle's and Wick's story. The cover is beautiful, although for some reason isn't showing up right now.

Score: ★★★★ out of 5 stars
Spice score: 0
Read in: February 2
From: B&N Nook

Tropes: their friends ship them and try to get them to confess/date, being sent on an errand specifically so they'll run into their crush, etc., magical castle with sentient objects/appliances & invisible/non-human servants

Representation: sapphic pairing, Korinne appears to be Black, Arycelle? appears to be a woman/girl of color (the world is fairly colorblind/race neutral), background LGBTQ+ characters

Trigger warnings: manipulation, betrayal, implied psychological torture through dreams, terminal illness, emotional trauma and pain, othering, sick fantasy animal