Julie Leong: The Keeper of Magical Things

Hi everyone

The Keeper of Magical Things is Julie Leong’s second book. After reading and enjoying her first book, The Teller of Small Fortunes, I didn’t hesitate to pick this one up. 
I got my copy from Bol. 

"Certainty Bulrush wants to be useful—to the Guild of Mages that took her in as a novice, to the little brother who depends on her, and to anyone else she can help. Unfortunately, her tepid magic hasn’t proven much use to anyone. When Certainty has the chance to earn her magehood via a seemingly straightforward assignment, she takes it. Nevermind that she’ll have to work with Mage Aurelia, the brilliant, unfairly attractive overachiever who’s managed to alienate everyone around her.
The two must transport minorly magical artifacts somewhere safe: Shpelling, the dullest, least magical village around. There, they must fix up an old warehouse, separate the gossipy teapots from the kind-of-flaming swords, corral an unruly little catdragon who has tagged along, and above all: avoid complications. The Guild’s uneasy relationship with citizens is at a tipping point, and the last thing needed is a magical incident.
Still, as mage and novice come to know Shpelling’s residents—and each other—they realize the Guild’s hoarded magic might do more good being shared. Friendships blossom while Certainty and Aurelia work to make Shpelling the haven it could be. But magic is fickle—add attraction and it might spell trouble." 

This book was such a delight! 
I absolutely adored the characters, both the residents of Shpelling and our main duo, Certainty and Aurelia. Their dynamic is full of tension, humor, and slow-burning chemistry, and watching them grow from reluctant partners to something deeper was a joy. Certainty’s kindness and determination contrast perfectly with Aurelia’s brilliant but prickly personality, and their evolving relationship felt organic and satisfying. It sometimes flirted with being too romantic and too sweet but that's ok.

The setting of Shpelling is adorable; a village so dull and unmagical that it becomes the perfect backdrop for the chaos of minor magical artifacts. It’s the kind of setting that feels like a warm hug; comforting, heartwarming, and full of small, joyful moments.
What I loved most was the theme of community and sharing magic. As you all know, I’m a sucker for stories about people overcoming obstacles together, and this book definitely delivered. The interactions with the villagers and the sense of a small, tight-knit community growing around Certainty and Aurelia were so satisfying. This book left me smiling long after I finished.

If I had to nitpick, I’d say the plot itself was rather thin and predictable. With this genre, you kind of know where things are headed, and while I hoped for a few more surprises, the charm of the characters and setting made up for it. Sometimes, a cozy, feel-good story doesn’t need a twisty plot, it just needs heart, and this book has plenty of that.

Have you read The Keeper of Magical Things? Did you love it as much as I did? Or are you planning to pick it up? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena