The ABCs of Spellcraft Collection: Volume 1

The ABCs of Spellcraft #1-4

by Jordan Castillo Price, Nick Hudson (Narrator)

Dixon Penn's family wasn't terribly shocked when he announced he was gay, but they were devastated to learn he's the only one without the gift of Spellcraft. Fortunately, that doesn't stop Spellcraft from reaching out to him.

Dixon's prospects have gone from bad to worse, but a contest at the biggest greeting card company in the tri-state area would be just the thing to turn his luck around. So what if he's not technically a Spellcrafter--he's been scribing pretty words and phrases all his life. How could anyone possibly write a better verse than him?

Yuri Volnikov, the taciturn Russian security guard at Precious Greetings, is determined to keep the charming contestant out. But Dixon has always been a sucker for big guys with exotic accents, and he won't take no for an answer.

Whether or not Dixon wins the prize he hopes for, when he and Yuri work their magic together, it's clear that luck is on their side.

The ABCs of Spellcraft is a series filled with bad jokes and good magic, where M/M Romance meets Paranormal Cozy. A perky hero, a brooding love interest, and delightfully twisty-turny stories that never end up quite where you'd expect.

This collection contains the first five stories in The ABCs of Spellcraft series: Quill Me Now, All that Glitters, Trouble in Taco Town, Something Stinks at the Spa, and Dead Man's Quill.

Genres: M M Romance, Audiobook, Fantasy, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Romance, LGBT

14 pages, Audible Audio

First published November 15, 2019

About the author

Author and artist Jordan Castillo Price writes paranormal sci-fi thrillers colored by her time in the Midwest, from inner city Chicago, to various cities across southern Wisconsin. She’s settled in a 1910 Cape Cod near Lake Michigan with tons of character and a plethora of bizarre spiders. Any disembodied noises, she’s decided, will be blamed on the ice maker.

Jordan is best known as the author of the PsyCop series, an unfolding tale of paranormal mystery and suspense starring Victor Bayne, a gay medium who's plagued by ghostly visitations.

Reviews

[Melissa]

Book 1 audio
This wad so cool!!!!!! I thoroughly, THOROUGHLY, enjoyed it. Such a unique take on magic, at least for me. I am eager to start book 2. Narration was totally perfect and amazing. Unless the plots get stupid crazy i am sooo going to enjoy this series. Woohoo!! 5 stars all around for book 1.

Book 1.5 audio
Cute, very cute. I hope we get more of Dixon's parents. I think that would be very entertaining. 😁

Book 2
Wow, Taco Town. How much destruction can one uncle make? The answer? A lot. Like, a lot a lot. Those poor people! Thankfully Yuri and Dixon save the day. I love this, such an intricately thought out plot. And it keeps going! I have to say, I am in love with the narrators voice. He is awesome!! I don't believe I've listened to him before and I am going to look to see what else he has done. 5 stars all around.

Book 3
Okay, this should be called The Spa, The Janitors Closet, and The Rolling Pin. 😆😆😆 I died laughing at the antics in this one. Seriously, between Twinkles and the guests, and what Yuri and Dixon put them through, and go through to fix things, I was so very much entertained. The narration was beyond words. The kissy noises for the dog, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Highly recommend for this installment alone! Of course, you need to read them in order. 😏

Book 4
Yeesh, just goes to show nothing good comes from magic and dead people. This was a serious problem for Uncle Fonzo. I don't recall how Dixon figured out where his uncle is, but find him they do in a great and hilarious way. I will need to listen to this again because there was a lot going on. More new characters to keep track of and the story behind uncle Fonzo's latest predicament is very detailed.

I finished volume 1 and am dying to finish the series. I hope the same narrator does the rest.

The highest of recommendations and the audio is so very good. This is one of my new favorite series.

5 yes I want more stars!

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is so much fun on audio! A few mispronounced words here and there, but overall a pretty good performance with lots of lively character voices.

[Diane Dannenfeldt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dixon made my head hurt :). Yurt was a Saint! I have to sit down and compose a review.

[Kit (Metaphors and Moonlight) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Review:
I listened to the audiobook of The ABCs of Spellcraft Volume 1, which collects the first four novellas and a short story, but I'm going to do a separate mini review for each.

Quill Me Now (Book 1) - This was light and fluffy and cute! This first novella was about Dixon and Yuri's backstory and how they meet and get into a relationship when Dixon enters a greeting card contest. Nothing too deep, just an enjoyable story with some fun ridiculousness and a quick romance. Something that isn't meant to be taken too seriously. (I've come to realize, having read a few more books in the series already, that these are kind of like a sitcom with their exaggerated, humorous situations. Also, while I'm using this paranthetical to talk about the series in general, there are mentions of sex, but nothing I'd really call explicit scenes. Now back to the review for Book 1.) This was just the start of things and leads into a bigger story arc, so there's still time to get to know these two and their relationship better. Even so, they already had their own unique personalities in this one. There was also a cool magic system involving painting and writing. I enjoyed this!

All That Glitters (Book 1.5) - This was a cute little short story extra in the series. Not a lot happens, but I would say it's good to read if you're reading the series because it shows Yuri meeting Dixon's parents. And you get to know Dixon's family a tiny bit better. The ending cracked me up. A fun little addition.

Trouble in Taco Town (Book 2) - This was another cute, light, slightly ridiculous in a fun way novella. This one was about Dixon and Yuri heading to a tourist destination called Taco Town because they're pretty sure Dixon's uncle has been there, and they're looking for him, but a bunch of weird things keep going wrong in the town. Dixon is the most hopeful, optimistic, glass half full kinda person, and Yuri is not, and it makes for a fun dynamic sometimes. I also liked learning a little more about the magic system and how it works. The plot and characters had their usual silliness and made me chuckle. You can't take these books too seriously, but they're fun.

Something Stinks at the Spa (Book 3) - This one ratcheted up the ridiculousness to new heights and was maybe a bit much at times, but I tried to just roll with it and enjoy it for the fun, light novella that it was. In this one, Dixon and Yuri end up at a hot springs resort, pretending to be staff in order to help the owner get a good review from a critic and trying to figure out what spell went wrong this time. These books are kinda like a sitcom with their humor and silly shenanigans. I did chuckle some, and I enjoyed the cuteness of the relationship deepening. I liked seeing how the two men see each other from their POVs.

Dead Man's Quill (Book 4) - This one had a little more urgency and seriousness to it than the previous books, but it still had the same overall light, fluffy feel. This time, Dixon and Yuri finally find Fonzo, but he's gotten himself into a mess, and they attempt to help him get out of it. There was still a bit of the signature ridiculousness of the series, and Dixon's signature optimism and obliviousness, and overall it was another fun addition to the series that wrapped up the story arc about Dixon's Uncle Fonzo. It was nice to finally get some answers about that, I once again enjoyed seeing this unique magic system in action, and it was sweet seeing just how much Yuri cares about Dixon, even if a part of him still seems to be struggling with believing Dixon will stick around. These are silly books, for sure, but enjoyable.

I listened to the audiobook for this, and the narration by Nick Hudson was great. He really brought the characters, especially Dixon, to life with his natural and enthusiastic narration. It suited the writing, story, and style of humor perfectly. I'm not sure how good his Russian accent was, it didn't sound exactly like other Russian accents I've heard, but I'm no expert. It was still a great audiobook though.

Overall this was a fun, sitcom-esque collection of novellas with a cute relationship and interesting magic, and I'm enjoying the series!

*Rating: 3.5 Stars // Read Date: 2020 // Format: Audiobook*

Recommended For:
Anyone who likes sweet m/m romance, unique magic systems, and silly, sitcom-esque stories that aren't meant to be taken too seriously.

Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight

[Annika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook review

I didn’t quite know what I was getting into when I picked up this book. I’d seen the series a while ago and found it interesting and figured if it was ever produced in audio that would be the time to finally get to it.

This book is a collection of the entire The ABCs of Spellcraft series. We follow Dixon as he enters a greeting card contest in the hopes of using the pretty words he’d been constructing his entire life – but weren’t able to use as he failed his Spellcraft initiation. But things at Precious Greetings are more sinister than he could imagine and being who he is, he obviously couldn’t walk away from it. So he ended up with a huge Russian Seer and a Quill. The two set out to set the wrongs to right and it’s an adventure that takes them to Taco town, a spa and to old friends. All in the hopes of finding and stopping Dixon’s uncle from scribing any more bad Spellcrafts.

This book is quirky, a bit insane and fun. It’s a book that I shouldn’t have liked, one that normally would have grated on my nerves for being too much. But it didn’t! I had such a great time beginning to end. A lot of that was due to the fabulous narration by Nick Hudson. This story was over the top in every way possible, and in the best way possible. It balanced on that fine edge of being over the top but still fun and engaging without going into the ridiculous territory. A fine balance that Jordan Castillo Price crafted very well.

There were many fun adventures in this collection. I think my favourite part was the novella where Yuri met Dixon’s parents. I think it was the more emotional story and we really connected to Yuri, his wariness of family and the longing to belong. And when you add in the glitter beard it made it all that much better – and funnier – and oh so very awkward.

From the beginning you could tell Nick Hudson was a very enthusiastic narrator. He felt what he was narrating, lived with the characters and everything that happened in the book/s. It was easy to be swept along while listening and you couldn’t help but to be captivated by all the events that happened. I honestly believe Hudson was the perfect choice of narrator, the book and characters were such a perfect fit, I rarely come across that kind of fit. He was these characters with every word he spoke.

I really enjoyed the Russian accent he had for Yuri. It really added to his character and the feel of the book. Hudson could make the listener see Yuri while listening, his standoffish and quiet ways, the brute force, the frustration of having to go along with every insane idea Dixon came up with – and there were plenty of them. It wasn’t only Yuri tat Hudson perfected to a T. Dixon was too – he made the listener feel his exuberant personality, the restlessness and the need and want to help everyone he met – and rarely in the easiest or most obvious way. He crafted his own path and made due with what he found – expected or not.

I’d definitely recommend this book for anyone looking to have an (insane) fun time. The world building is interesting and puts a new twist to the paranormal. And when you add in colourful characters and an awesome narration you can’t really go wrong.

A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this series. Can't wait to read book 5. Dixon reminds of a puppy sometimes. It's so funny. And Yuri, the strong silent type. They are so opposite in every way but the love they have for each other just grows stronger every day. They go through some stuff in this series, thanks to Dixon's uncle. And yeah, I wanted to smack him. But they came through even stronger and more in love. And Dixon finally got what he has been wanting all along. A feeling of finally belonging and being home. He found his calling and the one person who fits him to a tee. It's a great set of stories.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quill Me Now
This first came out as a Valentine's story, although is not your usual Valentine's story, far from it. But it has it all: humour, magic, romance, and adventure, and I loved it.
Dixon is such a wonderful character, even when everything in his world is going wrong he keeps trying. And yet, when he sees someone who needs help, he won't hesitate, he would go head first straight into danger. The fact that who needs help is a handsome Russian, tattooed and muscled and a Seer on top of all that just... happens :P
And it sets the rules of this new, wonderful Universe in which we can believe that goodness and love will win, always :)

All That Glitters
Meeting the family can be... challenging. Particularly when your take on strangers is please, no! :P And Dixon's overprotective and tight-knit family doesn't help. But, let's be honest, who could resist Dixon enthusiasm and joy?
And let's not forget the mystery of the red spatula!

Trouble in Taco Town
After the events in the first book, Dixon and Yuri are decided to find Dixon's uncle, Fonso. With that in mind, they go to Taco Town... and from then on you won't be able to stop laughing. The characters they find there are eccentric and simply delightful, the plot great, and Dixon and Yuri are quickly becoming a favourite pairing. Watching how Dixon is managing to melt Yuri's rocky surface is pure joy. And the thoughts of Yuri at the end? Awwww! So, so sweet!

Something Stinks at the Spa
Uncle Fonzo must be stopped!
Well, okay, maybe they just need to find him, but c'mon! The man leaves a trail of disasters wherever he goes! And, of course, Yuri and Dixon are the ones who have to deal with the consequences.
I love this series. I love the way in which Yuri and Dixon's relationship is evolving, the way in which Yuri is opening his heart to Dixon's light. He's so worried about the whole Fonzo debacle and so protective of Dixon's feelings...
In this book we get to see how the magic works from Yuri's side, and it's such a different way to create a spell!
I love the fun! No, really, there is so much fun in this book (Yuri's treatments, anybody?) that you'll spend most of the time laughing, or, at the very least giggling.
The story ends on a sort of abrupt mini-cliffhanger, which provides the perfect set-up for the fourth book. :P

Dead Man's Quill
Filled with weird characters, crazy adventures and the cutest couple ever, this book is a joy to read.
We get to (FINALLY!) meet uncle Fonzo, and oh, he was absolutely worth the wait :P Although I must say it: I wasn't really fond of him at first, and sided with Yuri on my distrust of the man.
Dixon and Yuri's relationship keeps growing and deepening, and Yuri is getting used to being part of a big family which sometimes is not as great as he was made to believe :P
And, as if that was not enough, we also get a twisty, darkly funny plot. And curses. And twins, one of which Dixon dated as a teen *laughs*

This is a fabulous Universe, the way the magic works there and the societal views about the practitioners and their work, the whole Scrivener and Seer thing; I love its.originality and the logic in its madness, and I have enjoyed it every single bit of it. I really, really hope that having closure in this arc won't mean that we won't get more of it.
And I Iove Jordan Castillo Price's writing, she can submerge you into a story from the first paragraph, compelling you to keep reading with her characters and the worlds she imagines.
And Nick Hudson's narrative? OMG! He is simply fabulous! His range of voices, the way he manages to give individuality and personality to each of the voices is something marvellous. Yuri's accent! That's a thing of beauty =D
A new favourite narrator, no doubt about it ♥

[Silvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I already read the ebooks and rated the series 5* but was gifted the audio by the author. I’ve listened to audio non-fiction but this is the first time I’ve listened to fiction and I’m so glad I started with this series. But now the bar is set really high because the narrator, Nick Hudson did a superb job. He was able to convince me that this was the way the characters really sounded in my mind and I was amazed how he was able to transform his voice from one character to the next without skipping a beat.

Dixon was kind of naive and happy go lucky with a trusting outlook on life (even though he’s the first in his family to fail the Quilling Ceremony) and he projected that trust on those in his life. Yuri is a stoic and cynical Seer from Russia with a soft spot for only one person, Dixon. Their madcap trek to find Uncle Fonzo was filled with all sorts of trials which had me laughing my head off. The narration by Nick Hudson added a new dimension to the story as all these unique characters took on a life of their own. Great characters and plot by one of my fave authors, and a great narration all adds up to a 5* series.

[Margo - Putting the Mmmmmm back in Menage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: The start is a little rocky and it takes awhile to get a handle on the universe, but it's definitely worth the price. It's good light fun with a comic, cozy mystery feel. Each book is very short, but by reading them in a volume each book feels more like a chapter.

Pros:
- The audio performer is outstanding! His tone and different voices energize the whole story.
- This is the perfect bit of fluff to make you feel better after a tough day.

Cons:
- No sizzle.
- Occasionally veers into the ridiculous.

[Heather York · Rating 5 out of 5]

The brilliance of Dixon and Yuri, who shouldn't work on the surface but are a perfect fit once you see them together, is brought to life in this audiobook collection of the series. There really is nothing new I can add to my original reviews for this delightfully fun series other than it is quite possibly even more zany and romantic the second time around.

Since there isn't anything new for me to add let me just comment on the narration. Often when it comes to audiobooks, I rarely find the narrator's renditions match the voices I heard in my head when I originally read them(I should mention to those new to my reviews that I very rarely listen to audios that I haven't previously read as I tend to zone out here and there as I find myself concentrating on what I'm doing and by having read the story first then I'm not "lost" when I zone back in) but Nick Hudson's version of Dixon was spot-on. The nuances of Dixon's zany-ness & peppy-ness was pretty darn perfect to how I "heard" him originally, now Yuri was slightly different but I found his take on the character even better than my own. Could someone else have done as good a job? Sure, but now that I've heard his Dixon and Yuri I can't imagine anyone else bringing the guys to life.

One last note, I mentioned in my review for Something Stinks at the Spa how these stories made me nostalgic for the movie serials of the 30s & 40s my parents collect. That still rings true but having listened to them on audio now they also make me nostalgic for the old radio shows of the same era that I collect. I kept expecting to hear Harlow Wilcox, Bill Goodwin, or Harry Von Zell break in with a sponsor's commercial and that is all down to the incredibly amazing meshing of Jordan Castillo Price's storytelling and Nick Hudson's narration.

Quill Me Now #1
Original Review February 2019:
We all know what happens when it comes to wishes, it is all in the wording well in Quill Me Now, magic and spells is all about the wording too. Who knew the extent of the headache it would be when no one ever wants to leave a restaurant because of the slogan? Dixon knows but unfortunately for him, spellcrafting that runs in his family doesn't seem to run in his veins but he can spot a poorly thought out one a mile away. Having been summoned after sending in an entry to a greeting card contest, Dixon meets Yuri when he warns him to stay away but needing the money a winning entry would bring him Dixon is not easily kept away. That's it about the plot you'll get but let me tell you, Quill Me Now is a lovely holiday gem that I would love to see more of but if this is all we get then it is absolutely delightful. Magic, love, humor, good guys, bad guys all brought together by the writing style of Jordan Castillo Price, what more can a person ask for?

All that Glitters #1.5
Original Review June 2019:
This free short story is an absolute delight! Yuri's fears about meeting the 'rents and Dixon's hope of everyone liking each other is rom-com 101 with Jordan Castillo Price's flair that makes All that Glitters anything but cliche. A real treat for this series and an awesome look into the growing connection between Dixon and Yuri.

Trouble in Taco Town #2
Original Review June 2019:
I was hoping that the author would continue Dixon and Yuri's story when I finished Quill Me Now back in February so when Trouble in Taco Town popped up in the "recommended for you" section on Amazon I one-clicked and read it immediately. Well, I was not disappointed or wrong in my hoping. The ABCs of Spellcraft is already a fun and delightful series that I can't wait to read further. Between Dixon's eager and unending "up-ness" and Yuri's quiet "don't-jump-in-ness", they really don't seem like they could be any more opposite if they tried but as the saying goes: opposites attract. They may not appear as they match on paper but the minute you see them together you just know that their opposite-ness not only balances each other but it helps bring out their strengths. Don't get me wrong, how Yuri doesn't throttle Dixon a dozen times a day is beyond me, I think I'm a pretty positive person but HOLY HANNAH BATMAN! Dixon's peppiness would really make me pull my hair out😉😉. So Yuri may not seem like he's a patient person but Dixon is living proof that he is and you can't help but love them for their balance.

You'll notice I haven't mentioned the plot or their quest to find Uncle Fonzo. I don't do spoilers as those of you who follow my reviews will already know but I don't think I've ever read a book(short, novella, or full length) that truly embodies the theory "you have to read to believe". What the boys find in Taco Town really needs to be experienced to appreciate the full magnitude of how important wording is to spellcrafting.

Trouble in Taco Town, the whole ABCs of Spellcraft series, is a delightful gem that may be short in quantity but it's overflowing in quality. This is a series that is best read in order and trust me you want to read this series. Humor doesn't often play a part in the paranormal genres but it is a perfect fit for Dixon and Yuri's journey.

Something Stinks at the Spa #3
Original Review July 2019:
Honestly I didn't think the author could make the adventures, or should I say misadventures, of Dixon and Yuri any more fun and zany than they were in Trouble in Taco Town. Boy was I wrong!

We see Dixon and Yuri continue their quest to find Dixon's Uncle Fonzo and this time they find themselves in a not-so-sweet spa in this entry so aptly titled, Something Stinks at the Spa. I won't go into details because it really is an adventure you need to experience to grasp the full effect of what these boys face. What started out as a find-the-lost-relative quest has become multiple stops on the find-him-and-clean-up-his-mess map. Trust me what the boys find themselves in may be one zany spell after another but it will grab you and not let go till they discover the next clue to Uncle Fonzo's trail.

As for the romance part of this series, well Dixon and Yuri really shouldn't mesh but they do and perhaps their relationship isn't growing by leaps and bounds from one entry to the next, it is deepening. I don't think anyone who has been reading this series doubts the connection between the two and even when their love story takes a backseat to fixing Fonzo's spells, it is still there and getting stronger with each page.

They say comedy is the hardest thing to write and I can certainly see how that can be true well, Jordan Castillo Price has not only written a novella series that is ripe with adventure and romance but is chock full of humor. I for one can't wait to see where Uncle Fonzo's spells lead Dixon and Yuri next.

So much goodness packed into so few pages that make The ABCs of Spellcraft a must read but it is most definitely a series that needs to be read in order. I realize that a short story series that has an ongoing plot isn't for everyone or that some might think the author should put them into one book instead of "spread out in small increments", perhaps some authors should. HOWEVER, for me these kinds of short story connected series bring to the table a bit of nostalgia for the old movie serials of the 30s and 40s that got the population through the Great Depression and World War 2. For that feeling of nostalgia(to be honest they were way before my time but my parents collect them on DVD/Blu-Ray so I've watched & enjoyed the simplicity of the genre) alone I salute Jordan Castillo Price for telling Dixon and Yuri's journey in this manner.

Dead Man's Quill #4
Original Review September 2019:
Here I thought all the entries in The ABCs of Spellcraft were brilliant(okay they all really are topnotch) but Dead Man's Quill is beyond brilliant, its . . . super-super-uber-brilliant😉😉. Everything we've learned so far makes sense, not that it didn't fit each story before but now everything is brought together and we see what got Uncle Fonzo's journey going.

Dixon and Yuri are as vibrant as ever and their relationship just keeps getting stronger. There have been moments in the series that I wasn't sure if I wanted them to find Uncle Fonzo but now that they did, I'm glad because he adds his own variety of wit to the mix. We see just why Dixon has been so focused on bringing his Uncle back to the fold and Yuri's glad to see his man happy but I think there might be a few times where he's not quite so sure finding Fonzo was the best decision😉, however you'll have to read for yourself if he sticks to that chain of thought by the end of Dead Man's Quill.

You all know I'm not going to divulge any spoilers and in a story like Dead Man's Quill every little tidbit has a purpose so no leaks from me, sorry-not-sorry😉. Just know that Dixon and Yuri's tale is not over, this isn't the end of the road for them, just the end of this story arc. So many possibilities, I can't wait to see where the boys' journey takes them next. If you wondering about reading order, yes each entry has its own plot, it's own series of mishaps but they are also part of bigger quest so it really does need to be experienced in the order that its released. Trust me, if you like quirky romantic mysteries bound together with magic and humor than The ABCs of Spellcraft is definitely for you.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly entertaining! Reread and it made me happy. Low angst with hilarious hijinks. Very low heat but it’s sweet.

[Amyiw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and quick stories on the way to find Dixon's uncle.
Quill Me Now, Where Dixon thinks he has won a contest for a greeting card company, whereas the CEO thinks that he found a Spellcrafter from one of the most prominent families, only Dixon failed Spellcrafting and only wants to write cards. When he is thrown out after failing the CEOs test, the muscle, a burly Russian mobster like guy, Yuri, tells him to leave and don't come back as his life depends on it, only Dixon is persistent, and oblivious to the warning, and irritating to the CEO. There was way too much squeezed into 85 pages but I loved Yuri gruffness and even Dixon's obliviousness. Dixon final figures something bad is happening and give Yuri an out and does Yuri take it.

All That Glitters; A even shorter story on Dixon bringing Yuri to met the family/parents, Yuri being worried and the parents being super accepting. A fun quick meeting of the crazy family.

Trouble in Taco Town, Yuri and Dixon are off to "Taco Town, USA", where a postcard from Dixon's lost uncle has come from. Why are all the spells that his uncle made going bad. Is the uncle as bad and Yuri is thinking or is he as good as Dixon feels, or somewhere in between. As they try to fix all the wrongs that are happening all over town, including a taco factory shooting out tacos figurines, keepsakes, that don't quite look like the edible food tacos they are supposed to. This was fun and gets us on the way to wanting to see what exactly is happening with the uncle.

Something Stinks at the Spa, this was by far the most fun of all the stories though it didn't have as much of a plot to get to the uncle. It was more, figure out how to stop the bad while keeping the Spa running. Yuri as a masseuse/ masseur was lol fun

Dead Man's QuillI both liked the last story the best and the least as it wasn't as fun but was much better in plot.

[Shelley Chastagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

QUILL ME NOW Super cute Valentine's story. Dixon made me giggle with his ramblings when he got nervous. I liked Yuri and his attempts at protecting Dixon. Together these two undo a lot of wrongs and fit together just perfectly. I'm excited that the author intends to add more adventures for these two.

ALL THAT GLITTERS Poor Yuri! Being introduced to Dixon's parents is a bit unsettling. Dixon is his usual effervescent self the perfect counterpoint to Yuri's stoicism. The dinner with the parents is something interesting. It tickled me that Yuri's 'seeing' was scrutinized by Dixon's mom.

TROUBLE IN TACO TOWN This second book in the ABSs of Spellcraft follows Quill Me Now. We get to see Yuri and Dixon further along in their relationship. Dixon is his usual bubbly self, seeing the joy in everything. Yuri is the definition of stoic, but Dixon is managing to melt that. Chasing after Dixon's wayward Uncle Fonzo they happen to encounter all kinds of people and problems in Taco Town. The domino effect of situations bordered on the absurd. It was all great fun. I loved the sweet sentiment that Yuri added to the guest book.

SOMETHING STINKS AT THE SPA I'm so loving this series! Tons of laughs and cute moments. Dixon is his usual effervescent self; bright, sunny and always looking for the best in everything. Yuri gets a chance to open up a little as he softens from his usual stoic self. The stories are best read in order and so much fun.

DEAD MAN'S QUILL The trek to find Uncle Fanzo comes to fruition only to be fraught with more peril. Dixon remains his true chipper self, seeing only the good in everyone and every situation. Yuri is still stoic and still deeply in love with Dixon. He indulges all of Dixon's hairbrained ideas and tries his best to be gracious to Uncle Fanzo. The storyline is great with a bit of cloak and dagger, a creepy carnival owner, a bitter rival and a nasty curse. Loved every minute.

Highly recommended author and series

Audiobook: I really enjoyed the narrator. He occasionally loses Yuri's 'Russian' accent but it almost makes it more enjoyable.

[Stepphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed Jordan Castillo Price’s other collections (Mnevermind and Psycop) so I knew that this would be a series that is right up my alley, which is why I asked my fiancé to buy it for me for Christmas last year (My TBR is long, leave me alone!)
I really enjoyed the magic system that Jordan Castillo Price has created for this world I particularly enjoyed the fact that there are two parts to the crafting of magic, and each utilises the use of different hands. I would be so keen to know more about how this all came about. Was there one all-powerful crafter who got too big for their britches and so they had to separate the powers to stop it from being too OP? However these powers came to be, it’s evident that Dixon and Yuri had polar opposite upbringings and it was always a treat to get to hear more about how they have developed, and use, their powers. It would have been nice to learn more about Yuri and his upbringing, but the flash backs we are privy too added to the mystery of his powers.
Yuri and Dixon work so well together solving problems and improvising. And I love how Dixon brings out a more … playful (?) side to Yuri, and how Yuri helps to ground Dixon in reality a bit more. They fall in love too quick for my liking, but then again, each instalment is a short story so there probably was not much wriggle room to write about dates or getting to know each other over an extended period of time.
The cast of side characters was fun to get to know, from Dixon’s cousin and parents to random encounters in each of the story’s settings, I felt like each new person was well thought out and added to the narrative.
Each instalment in this volume is well set out, and they flow nicely into each other. It’s not a series that you can start reading at any point, to get a good understanding of what’s happening, you have to start at the beginning.
I’m looking forward to reading Volume 2 of the collection.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Fun and sweet adventure

This series is flufflier and lighter than Psy-cop series. The couple travels to weird places and solve weird problems along the way. The troubles are both serious and ridiculous at the same time, but never life threatening like in Psy-cop. There is no relationship drama, just some low self-esteem and self-doubt.

Dixon is all sweet and sunshine, but he is getting on my nerve. Although he is very good at spellcrafting, he is too gullible and innocent for my taste. The audio book narrator makes him sound so energetic and perky. I love Yuri much more. He is smart, practical and realistic. Besides, he is way funnier than Dixon although he would not like to be called funny. I love his grim humor. The narrator's voice for him is perfect.

My favorite story in this book is the Spa one. Yuri and Dixon have to take on unexpected ruses. Yuri is so precious. He is so creative in adapting into his assigned role. I laughed so hard through the whole shenanigan.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quill Me Now, book 1 (r Jul 21/20)
The world and characters are a little too twee for my tastes. The story is goofy and sweet.

All that Glitters, book 1.5 (r Jul 21/20)
Yuri and Dixon after book 1.

Trouble in Taco Town, book 2 (r Jul 22/20)
Re-homing Flint’s former pets. And the plot thickens around Uncle Fenzo’s (sp?) exploits. Is he trying to cheat people or is he trying to do no harm, but being forced to the spellcraft?

Something Stinks at the Spa, book 3
Another adventure with Dixon and Yuri, this time at a ‘famous’ spa known for it’s special mineral waters. Lots of goofy fun.

Dead Man's Quill, book 4
We finally meet Uncle Fonzo. And boy, is he in trouble. Ransom, magic, etc. It’s an interesting ride.

[Antonella · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

Another wonderful universe created by the quill of Jordan Castillo Price. The first story Quill Me Now is absolutely great and my favourite. Some of Yuri and Dixon adventures are a bit over the top, but I think that was the idea, and in fact I loved all of them. As usual I waited for the paperback, because I collect all JCP's books on paper ;-). I'm looking forward to the next collection.

[Chancey "Does not give out 5's like candy" Knowles · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars ultimately rounded down because good but not great.
I'm glad that my 1st experience with this new world had the 1st few stories bundled together. I think it really helped. I struggled through these stories at first. The world building was slow in coming. I spent a lot of time not quite understanding the world or what was going on (as in why things were the way they were). It effected my enjoyment. Part of it also could have been that it was such a departure from what I expected from this author, but it is a style I typically enjoy.

There were plenty of good things. I loved the m/c's and the unique twists of this new world she created - especially as more of "how it worked" became clear. The stories were different though with a similar theme.

It was worth reading, but not engaging enough that I plan on continuing it at this time.

[Toofan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audio-book: Audio quality: Good; Narration: Good
All stories are in third person though the view point alternates between the two main Characters.
Quill Me Now 3 stars
An Entertaining fantasy story despite not so believable instant love, massive plot holes and faulty logic.
All That Glitters 1 star
Boring nonsense with no real story.
Trouble in Taco Town 1 star
This one was really boring not to mention all the plot holes and faulty logic.
Something Stinks at the Spa 2 stars
This story had a weak plot with too many plot holes but it was also funny.
Dead Man's Quill 3 stars
Entertaining, but like all other titles in this series it suffered from flawed logic and massive plot holes.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jordan Castillo Price never fails to create a great story. I liked the main characters. Yuri is so serious in comparison to Dixon. The two are very different but perfect together. It is said that a scrivener and a seer can do magical things together but Yuri and Dixon seem to be even stronger than most. They travel around fixing poorly crafted spells and curses. Nick Hudson is a new to me narrator, and I think he did a fantastic job bringing this story to life. I would definitely listen to him again.

[Tj · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of the first 4.5 stories of the series The ABC's of Spellcraft. It is a funny, sweet romance mystery. I really enjoyed Yuri's character. Dixon, for me, wasn't as enjoyable. Dixon is a VERY flighty character, naïve and sweet, but WAY to positive for me. The writing is good. I do wish there was a little more world development. This seems to be a really off the cuff type of book. I know nothing of how these came to be. I wouldn't be surprised if it was some fun writing exercise. However they came about the author created a humorous, outrageous story.

[Aethena Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun urban fantasy with great characters. I enjoyed listening to Dixon work through the puzzles he encounters, and I liked getting to know Yuri as he helps Dixon find solutions.

The narrator did a great job of creating distinct character voices, and I can't wait to listen to the next one.

[Haldis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the stories and the narrator was fabulous

[Darkm · Rating 4 out of 5]

The audio really captures the different personalities of the characters. I loved it.

[Idamus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like Yuri, and I really dislike Fonzo.

[Karine Déziel · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars

[Josy · Rating 3 out of 5]

~ 3.5 stars ~

[Carrie]

I decided not to continue with this series right now. I tried to listen to the second book, but just couldn't get into it. Maybe some other time.


I finished the first book of the series and the following short story. It's cute. I'd give it a B-. The narration is excellent.

[Kochka94 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mignonne petite nouvelle (moins d'une centaine de pages) qui a le mérite de se dérouler dans un milieu original.

Dixon Pointt aurait dû, à 26 ans, après des études universitaires et quelques années sabbatiques à courir le monde, recevoir sa plume d'encreur et reprendre l'entreprise familiale, A la Pointt, en tant qu'encreur avec sa cousine Sabina, enlumineur. Sauf que ça a foiré, il n'a pas reçu sa plume et il gagne sa croute en faisant des livraisons pour Cas'K'Route.

Un mystérieux concours de la Saint Valentin organisé par Précieux Moments, entreprise spécialisée dans les cartes de vœux, va mettre sur sa route Yuri, un garde du corps russe qui dissimule bien des secrets.

C'est mignon, c'est frais, c'est rapide, j'ai trouvé cette idée de binôme encreur/enlumineur pour faire de la magie à la fois originale et terrifiante... je vais réfléchir à deux fois en lisant maintenant un slogan publicitaire .-)

Bref, deuxième série que j'entame de cet auteur et je la trouve vraiment intéressante et originale.

[Wide Eyes, Big Ears! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jordan Castillo Price has created yet another fantastic urban fantasy world. In the Spellcraft world, seers paint pictures which scriveners annotate to perform spellcrafting magic. Dixon, chatty, naive and unfailingly optimistic, has failed his scrivening ceremony, but meeting Yuri, strong, silent and broody, might just save them both. These are light, fun and angst-free stories and Dixon and Yuri entertain us with their individual quirks and as the perfect odd couple! 🎧 Nick Hudson hilariously narrates from both characters’ POV.