If you think The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst and Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree are two of the best cozy fantasy novels ever written, then… get ready to be utterly enchanted by The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong!
I’d already read (and loved) her heartwarming The Teller of Small Fortune — a wonderful little gem that, sadly, never got even half the attention it deserved. Probably because, unlike The Keeper of Magical Things, that earlier book had no romantic subplot at all.
This new novel, however, has all the ingredients to win over every cozy fantasy lover’s heart: a charming setting reminiscent of Terry Pratchett’s Unseen University, a beautiful love story, and an irreverent cat-dragon companion with bat wings to top it all off!
The story
Certainty Bulrush only wants to be helpful — to the Mage Guild that took her in as an apprentice, to the younger brother who depends on her to start his own costly training, and to anyone else in need. Unfortunately, her weak magic has never seemed to be of much use to anyone.
She’s always felt unworthy and inadequate. So when she’s given a seemingly simple task that could finally earn her the rank of full mage, she doesn’t hesitate to take it. Even if it means working alongside the formidable Mage Aurelia — brilliant, ambitious, and utterly skilled at keeping people at a distance.
Their mission? To transport a collection of minor magical artifacts to a safe location: the quiet, magic-free village of Shpelling. There, they’ll have to tidy up an old warehouse, sort gossiping teapots from flame-spewing swords, care for a mischievous little cat-dragon that’s joined their team, and above all, avoid any magical mishaps. The Guild’s relationship with the villagers is hanging by a thread, and the last thing anyone needs is another magical disaster.
Yet as Cert and Aurelia grow closer, they begin to realize that the only way for magic to truly serve their community… is to learn how to share it.
The Keeper of Magical Things: a review
Against Capitalism (and the Harsh Logic of Marketing)
Earlier, I mentioned Baldree and Sarah Beth Durst, but The Keeper of Magical Things also shares plenty of DNA with two other cozy fantasy novels I absolutely adore: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett and The Phoenix Keeper by S.A. Maclean.
Rather than the classic “grumpy x sunshine” dynamic, this book offers a refreshing twist: a delightful “sunshine x ice queen.” And trust me: the banter between cheerful apprentice Certainty and the brilliant, aloof Aurelia easily rivals (if not surpasses!) that between Emily and Wendell. Their slow burn romance is a graceful dance of wit and tension, and I savored every teasing remark and lingering glance.
But what truly makes this book shine is its warmth… and the quiet, powerful message it carries. Through her deceptively gentle stories, Julie Leong challenges the capitalist ideals of productivity, profit, and ambition that often dominate both our world and our fiction.
Even the book’s dedication — “Kind is great enough” — feels like a soft revolution, reminding readers that gentleness and community are not weaknesses, but strengths. Aurelia’s character arc, in particular, beautifully illustrates this: as she learns to value life’s small joys over prestige and wealth, we too are reminded how often society pushes us toward the very things that make us miserable.
Reconnecting… with Our Communities and with Our Inner Magic
If a publisher ever has the courage to bring this little gem to Italy (where i live), I solemnly swear I’ll buy three copies!
But, honestly, I doubt it’ll happen: The Keeper of Magical Things keeps its sex scenes behind closed doors, features realistically flawed heroines rather than shallow ones ripped from a Wattpad fanfic, and showcases an authorial voice that is — quite simply — enchanting and hilarious.
There are no shadow daddies or mommies here, no overpowered heroines waiting to be “awakened” through violent, barely-consensual sex scenes.
Instead, you’ll find one of the finest cozy fantasy novels out there: a book that proves Julie Leong knows exactly how to honor and elevate the tropes of this beloved subgenre.
And don’t get me wrong: I often read the same spicy bestsellers everyone else enjoys, and I have nothing against them. But sometimes, it’s worth indulging in something a little… different, don’t you think?
Something that makes us feel, rather than just be an escape.
A story that helps us find ourselves, not lose ourselves, in a world that already thrives on overstimulation and noise and agry people yelling all day long on the Internet.
So yes. To hell with the latest trends on BookTok! Like everyone else, I want the magic, the desperate pining, and the kind of happy endings that make you smile until your cheeks hurt.
But I also want an enchanting plot, interesting social themes, and a story that actually means something.
I said what I said! 😄
If You Loved The Keeper of Magical Things, You Might Also Enjoy:
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields
Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher
Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
