I fell under the spell of this book! I enjoyed Kiss and Spell so much, and got really interested in the world and the spellcraft of this series.

I love a protagonist you can root for, and down-on-her-luck Ursula is certainly one of those. Jilted by her fiancé and with her life in pieces around her, she decides to rebuild and forget about true love and fairytales. Ursula is done with happy endings. Of course, that’s the moment a lost fairy prince stumbles across her path.

Xavier is a fae prince, the spare to the heir, recently cursed (or enchanted, pick your verbiage) by the Faerie Queen to be banished from the fae Realm until he finds a “perfect kiss”. I enjoy an arbitrary fae slight, and the awkward prince who doesn’t care for court life stole my heart right away.

Both main characters have believable and concrete reasons why love doesn’t work for them, but each reacts differently. Ursula has given up on the fairytale, but she’s still looking for forever, a commitment from someone who can love and cherish her. Xavier, meanwhile, fears love and the way he worries it could control him. He wants to return to his normal life, though he has no love for the fae court. Despite their differences, Ursula and Xavier feel an instant attraction and kinship, and Ursula pledges to help Xavier break his enchantment.

I loved how lived in but fresh the world of Freya’s Grove feels, and how it’s obviously a town and populace that has been crafted with real care and whimsy. I love a small town romance that still feels full of possibility and warmth, with all of the charms of a local festival! There is a depth to the setting that reflects in the characters too, as it is Ursula’s hometown and she has strong roots that are healing for her, but also hold difficult memories.

The setting absolutely cannot hold a candle to the characters, the real stars of the show. When we meet Ursula, she’s coming out of a really bad place, and struggling to find herself again after feeling lost. Xavier is dealing with a similar crisis of self, not just being cursed. They both have to make decisions about what they truly want for their lives, without taking into account the expectations others have. Xavier, in particular, has to let go of what he feels has been decided for him, and chose to live his own life. Ursula has to forgive herself for past mistakes, and allow herself to grow, become a more full version of herself. I also thoroughly appreciated the respect and the honor we see between them, the way Ursula and Xavier value and cherish one another. There is an understanding there that love must not just grow, but be nurtured. The supporting cast is equally interesting and full without distracting from the main event, though I will admit Ursula’s Caraway family are scene-stealers.

If you’re a fan of a witchy romance, I highly recommend this one. Kiss and Spell has all of the charm you would expect from a small-town witchy book and then some.