“To look at someone and to truly see them were entirely different.”
The Fae & Human Relations series has been a comfort fave from the very start for me, and I truly could not have asked for a better and more satisfying ending to this heartwarming adventure than Cleaning Spells Before Courtship. This is a delightful finale full of resolution, redemption, reflection, self-growth, and love in all its most complicated beauty.
Now, I am not going to lie, I was a bit nervous when I learned that Cleaning Spells Before Courtship would focus on the infamous Sage Ravenwing’s romance, because the this snarky, petty asshat of a fae truly tested my patience in Breeze Spells and Bridegrooms. However, Wallace & Callahan have more than proved that they deserve my blind trust and faith in their storytelling abilities, so of course I still eagerly dove into this book the first chance I got.
And what do you know, they have done it again. I had an absolutely marvellous time with Cleaning Spells Before Courtship, and it ended up surprising me in all the best ways. Yes, it definitely took me a bit to warm up to Sage in the first half of the book and I almost feared that he wouldn’t be ready for a new romance considering just how much he was still pining after Wyndham, but then… enter Conrad.
Oh dear, what an absolute gem. I mean, I have truly loved all the characters in this series and I would honestly sell my soul to be a part of their found family (adored seeing everyone back here during this fun countryside escape), but Conrad might just be my favourite of them all. Maybe it’s because I just really connected to him because of the authentic asexuality rep, or maybe he really is just that charming and lovable, but this man stole my heart just as much as he did Sage’s.
Their grumpy/sunshine dynamic that develops as they are forced to share a bedroom (and oh my, there is only one bed!) is so fun, cheeky, and wholesome, and I really appreciated how they respected each other’s boundaries while also helping each other reflect, grow, and heal on their own emotional journeys. Also, the beautifully vulnerable way that class difference and magical compatibility between two people (be they human, Fae or a mix) always plays into the romances in this series is just one of my favourite aspects of these books, and Cleaning Spells Before Courtship once again delivers on that in spades.
While it feels bittersweet that this series has come to an end, I think Wallace & Callahan did a remarkable job of tying up all the threads that weave these semi-standalone romances together to deliver a finale that just resonates on a deep emotional level. The Fae & Human Relations series isn’t just a cozy, queer Regency fantasy romance romp, it’s a reminder that everyone deserves to live, love, and be loved unconditionally in their own authentic ways, and I love and appreciate it so much for that.
Thank you to the authors for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Cleaning Spells Before Courtship is scheduled for release on October 4th, 2025.
