Rating: 4.5🌈

Andy Gallo’s Break The Spell is such a great introduction to this author’s writing if you’re not familiar with his work already. The first in a new fantasy series, Mages and Mates, it’s full of fully realized characters, an amazing world who’s foundation of magical powers and knowledge appears to be expanding with each new story, and a dark exciting mystery that’s an overall arc for the series.

Did I say sexy as well? Yes, it’s that too.

I really appreciated that it seems to start with a shocking scene that introduces us to Bartholomew Hollen, one of THE mage family Hollens, powerful, wealthy, and at the center of all things magical. At least in Philadelphia.

Gallo will expand on who Bart is, his role in the Hollen family, the famous Utrecht University, and as a mage worldwide. We get slowly lead into it as events allow. That lets the author reveal more of Bart’s character, personality, and history. It’s a fantastic way to develop the story and character together.

And it works not only for Bart but for the elf Caelinus Reinhold, who’s arrived in Philadelphia from Chicago to become the professor of creative magic at Utrecht University. His character becomes entwined with that of Bart’s almost immediately.

Gallo builds the suspense and mystery through various scenes and storylines. It’s in past histories and seen through current events. And while that arc’s mystery thread is being explored, Gallo is also building the relationship between a fearful Bart and Cael, whose feelings have him trying to figure out how to make Bart take a chance on them both.

The university, the Hollen family members, and magical powers are included in the fabric of this storyline that are fantastically creative elements.

Is there a resolution? Only to the couple’s scenario here. The overall arc mystery rolls forward. The ending came about a tad suddenly for me and was the only reason this didn’t earn the full five stars.

I’m heading to the next book and highly recommending you start here if you’re a lover of fantasy novels and magical romance. This has tons of both and won’t disappoint!

Mages and Mates:

✓ Break The Spell #1

◦ It Spells Trouble #2

◦ Under A Spell #3 – March 26,2024

Buy Link :

Break the Spell: An MM Paranormal Romance (Mages and Mates Book 1)

Blurb:

Bartholomew Hollen, professor of defensive magic at Utrecht University, just wanted a no strings, no feelings, no attachment hook up. Nothing messy like when his ex-boyfriend tried to feed him to a demon. Bart’s heart, however, has other ideas. But when he has a vision of the future and sees his hookup dying at his feet from yet another demon, Bart does the only sensible thing – he sneaks out like a thief in the night.

Not like he’ll see the guy again.

Caelinus Reinhold has done something no elf has done before – become the professor of creative magic at Utrecht University. His first day should be magical, except Cael can’t stop thinking about the hot mage he hooked up with the night before who then snuck out while he slept. Whatever. His loss.

He’ll never see the jerk again, anyway.

Things get awkward fast when the department assigns Bart to be Cael’s mentor. Despite their rocky start, neither can deny that Fate wants them together. But Bart’s premonitions all end in tragedy for the pair. No matter how he tries to change the future, Cael is always a casualty. How can Bart follow his heart when Cael’s death is sure to break it?