After struggling with some books recently, my next book was The Keeper of Magical Things (cozy fantasy, 350 pages) by Julie Leong.

“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 whomever 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. Never mind 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.”

I very much enjoyed everything about this book.

The two main characters had enough reason to want this assignment from the Guild to succeed without the entire kingdom or world being threatened.

This book had such delightful little world-building things. I adored all of the items Certainty chatted with and how those items really just wanted to do the jobs they were intended for. The quilt in the beginning with an ink stain in the shape of a flower wanted to be /a good quilt/ and it wanted to be useful. Even the battering ram for the well was excited to do its job! Forward into battle! Destroy the enemy! Charge!

The entire world was just accepted. Oh, look. Now we’ve got a catdragon. Let’s just roll with it (because, honestly Hope (the catdragon) is absolutely adorable and I would like to be adopted by one, too!) and the people of the town just go with it, too. Magic butter noodle garlic pasta? Sounds great! The whole town is painted random colors! Pretty!

But the genuine acceptance in this story isn’t just for random magical occurrences – it’s also for people. Everyone is given a chance based on their own behavior and characteristics. Even before Certainty starts getting to know Aurelia, she tries to be kind in whatever way she can. Certainty gives Aurelia a chance and makes no judgments. Even when they have a chat about how Certainty may not always agree with Aurelia but she promises to at least least to her. Other types of magic and the desire to do non-standard jobs were just accepted.

Certainty’s supportive parents were a prime example of just accepting and loving their children. Oh, you want to be an apothecary? Cool! We’ll figure something out! Oh, you might not ever be a mage? That’s okay, too. We’ll figure something out! And, of course, Aurelia’s parents were the juxtaposition of acceptance as they approached her with the purpose of controlling her and attempting to force her to fit into whatever mold they wanted. They wanted status, not a free and happy daughter.

I also honestly laughed (and am still amused) by the “feline paradox of magical super-positionality!” (page 125). And the handling of cats in general in this story is fantastic, as they can travel at desire through closed, empty boxes. And how the wards to the storage building had to decide if cats’ complete immorality counted as “ill-intent”.

The catdragon is fantastic.

I appreciated the kindness on every single page of this book.

Here was a book where random, unwanted strangers in a dying rural town aren’t exactly welcomed but they aren’t thrown out and no one is cruel to them. Even the first morning after they arrive, a welcome basket is sent. Though the townsfolk don’t like magic and all that it stands for, and though the townsfolk weren’t extremely generous towards Certainty and Aurelia when they first arrived, they still sent a welcome basket. All of the “small” kindnesses in this book add up and things get better for the town because everyone tries and everyone is willing to think the best of people.

That’s what community is all about.

That’s what real magic, friendship, and love are all about.

This book was exactly what I needed. Light-hearted, relatable characters, low-stakes fantasy, and a world full of hope, compassion, and magic. This book is an easy four on my rating scale and even though I borrowed it from the library, I intend to buy a copy for myself the next time I head out to a bookstore.

Leong, Julie. The Keeper of Magical Things. Penguin Random House, LLC, 2025.