books

Sarah Wallace

Books: Fantasy | Romance | Queer

Fae & Human Relations: Breeze Spells and Bridegrooms (2024), Fire Spells Between Friends (2024)

Fae & Human Relations by Sarah Wallace and S.O. Callahan

Breeze Spells and Bridegrooms (2024)

Breeze Spells and BridegroomsRoger Barnes failed his Hastings Exam–the magical test that determines which child can inherit. He believes the is inherently problematic, and goes up before the Council to propose a different testing scheme.

Many humans, once they reached the age of thirty and came into their majority, had been kicked out of their homes, deemed burdens by their own families. The poverty rate was steadily increasing as more and more low-scoring humans were left with few choices for their futures.

Somewhat to his surprise, his scheme is tentatively accepted and he is asked to create a rubric for his scheme.

Wyndham Wrenwhistle is a dandy and a bit of a rake.

His mother wants him and his siblings to make good matches this season, but all Wyn wants is to go back to the country, where he feels most comfortable.

Wyn wanted to be back in the country where he could enjoy the fresh air and sunshine and nights under the stars without the constant bustling and noise of high society.

The world-building here is fascinating. Queer relationships are normalized, however, Fae-human relationships are seen as not quite the done thing.

Additionally, although fae and humans co-exist in society, their morals remain very different–fae see sexual experimentation as something quite normal, which humans hold the mores of the regency–humans should go to the wedding virgins, and single humans–of either gender–I expected to be chaperoned any time they are around another eligible young person.

So it’s something of a scandal when Wyn and Roger are found to have been working alone on their project in Roger’s rooms.

The weakest part of the story was the “forced” marriage. But once I got past that and just accepted it for what it was, it was fascinating to see the regency mores applied equally to males and females.

“Are you…er…going to stay here while I change?”

Wyndham rolled his eyes. “I have seen the naked form before. And if we can’t get them to retract, we’ll be getting married anyway. So it hardly matters.”

“You haven’t seen my naked form,” Roger muttered.

Additionally although the terms aren’t used, Roger is Ace and Wyn is Aro, so it was very interesting how that worked out as well.

I quite enjoyed the premise, although I wish parts of the story had been tightened up — or expanded– in service of the story-telling.

Cover art: Caras Alexandra

Fire Spells Between Friends (2024) #2

Fire Spells Between FriendsUnbeknownst to their friends and family, Emrys Wrenwhistle and Torquil Pimpernel-Smith have been lovers since they day the met. Emrys position is heir and Torqil’s position as disinherited half-fay and half-human gossip columnist meaning they don’t mix in the same circles.

But like Roger and Wyndham, Torquil is now a member of the Council, and things are changing.

Unfortunately, one of the other things changing is that Emrys mother has decided it is past time for him to marry, and is seeking out a proper marriage for him.

Proper being someone of good family and strong magic.

“Such is the price for being the most outstanding sibling in a prominent family,” Keelan said matter-of-factly.

“Why should I be the one to suffer? Would it not make more sense that I be rewarded for my magical aptitude by having the freedom to marry for love rather than duty?” His brothers had been allowed such privilege, as would Aveline when she finally settled down.

Keelan made a thin hum of uncertainty. “Your reward is inheritance. Knowing your future is secure. In turn, you find an equally powerful partner to ensure that your children and grandchildren are guaranteed the same.”

But the work with Wyndham and Roger, creating a ruberic for fey-human magicians and exploring Torquil’s magic–something they had squashed since they were a child.

As soon as they arrived in Wyndham and Roger’s study, Wyndham handed them a purse full of money, explaining that Iris had instructed him to dole out their wages appropriately.

I might actually have enjoyed this more than the first book, probably because I much prefer the trope of friends to lovers than enemies to lovers.

It’s self-published, however, it was well-written and edited. And I really like both the magic and the exploration of that magic in the story. There is boinking, but since Torquil is non-binary, much of it is slightly less explicit, since it isn’t made clear for quite a while what body parts Torquil has. Which is an element I really liked.

Characters: Emrys Wrenwhistle, Torquil Pimpernel-Smith, Roger Barnes Wrenwhistle, Wyndham Wrenwhistle, Miss Aveline Wrenwhistle, Iris Wrenwhistle, Odella Wrenwhistle, Mr. Wrenwhistle, Sal Bailey, Lex, Councilmember Cricket, Councilmember Barnes, Councilmember Williams, Councilmember Applewood, Councilmember Gibbs, Lady Cynthia Proust, Lydia Stanton, Keelan Cricket, Hortense Irving, Mr. Gerald Irving, Mr. Arlen Buckthorn, Mrs. Barnes, Frederica Barnes, Bernard Barnes, Leonora Pimpernel

Cover art: Caras Alexandra