Small Magics by Alex Dunne
Sometimes the most important magic isnât the world-shaking kindâitâs the magic that helps you find where you belong.
A magical antique shop, found family, and a girl discovering that magic exists quietly all around her? Thatâs classic cosy fantasy territory - though the promise of danger to magical creatures suggested the story might have a darker edge beneath the warmth.
As I thoughtâŚ
This is a wonderfully welcoming introduction to a magical world. Mollyâs journey - from feeling rootless to discovering a place where she belongs - gives the story its emotional heart. The found-family dynamic with Pat, Priya, Wren, and Lorcan is warm and lively, and the magical antique shop makes a perfect centre for the story.
The idea of âsmall magicsâ is especially charming. This isnât about spectacular spells or epic wizard battles - itâs about everyday enchantments: keeping a teacup warm, changing the colour of your hair, or quietly helping the world run a little more smoothly.
It surprised me byâŚ
How much larger the stakes are beneath that cosy surface. The villainâs plan isnât small at all - it threatens something much bigger - and that contrast adds tension without losing the bookâs warmth.
There are also lovely hints of Irish mythology woven through the story. Figures like leprechauns and banshees appear naturally within the magical world, and the mention of the thunder god Taranis adds a mythic echo without overwhelming the story. Instead of retelling folklore directly, the book reshapes those elements into something fresh and playful.
Most of all, it feels like the start of a magical world with plenty more stories still waiting to be told. Iâll happily return for the next adventure.
Featured Song: Home â Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
A joyful reminder that home is often the people who choose you.
Vibe Album: If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power â Halsey
A mix of vulnerability, strength, and finding identity in unexpected places.
Artist Recommendation:Â Florence + the Machine
Mythic energy paired with emotional storytelling.
Colour Palette:Â Warm amber, moss green, midnight blue, antique gold
Soundtrack:Â Floorboards creaking in an old shop, distant thunder, the clink of teacups
Season:Â Early autumn, when magic feels closest to the surface
Mood:Â Wonderfully welcoming
Scent:Â Old books, polished wood, and fresh tea
The Six of Cups is a card of warmth, kindness, and the gentle magic of belonging. It reflects Mollyâs journey perfectly: discovering friendship, family, and the small acts of care that make a place feel like home. In a world full of grand dangers, sometimes the most powerful magic is simply choosing to look after one another.
Book:Â Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow
Movie:Â The Spiderwick Chronicles
A warm, magical adventure about found family and everyday enchantment - cosy at heart, but with stakes big enough to keep the pages turning.