Tag Archives: Cozy fantasy

A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon
Author: Sarah Hawley
Series: Glimmer Falls #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Cozy fantasy, Demons, Romance, Witches
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2023

Thoughts

To begin with, Mariel and Ozrath are honestly a bit of a calamity as a couple. But, I love how they develop their relationship and grow to love one another. Also, this is one of those greatest Meet Cutes I’ve read in a while – accidentally summoning a demon instead of a bag of flour? And that demon being one with a soul who is completely thrown by all of the nonsense around him? Yeah, they manage to enact calamity after calamity until they finally find their routine together. And I absolutely adored the entire journey, one that made me laugh multiple times throughout.

At it’s core, A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon is all about being true to yourself, and figuring out how to respect yourself. Ultimately, Mariel’s ties with nature show a power that is unrivalled by anyone else in her family. And when she decides to actually embrace that, she shows a whole lot of power and beauty that I just wasn’t expecting. I love that, in falling in love with Oz, she finds a way to maintain her own sense of self and power. And honestly, the way that she ultimately stands up for herself just takes a whole lot of strength, confidence and penache.

Oz has already started his journey into mortality before the beginning of this story. But I love how A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon lets him explore his new found mortality. And what that actually means – the conflicting feelings and drives the he has. The conscience. And the idea that the soul is such an integral part of Mariel and who she is. Why loving her is more important to him than anything else. I love how he slowly but surely learns to deal with all of the conflicting emotions that are thrown at him, and, finally, decides to embrace his new reality.

I love that, in the end, Oz and Mariel are able to win the day, using smarts, technicalities and all sorts of cleverness. I knew that they would ultimately win, but I didn’t expect the way that they managed to do so. It just made the finish of this cozy fantasy / paranormal romance all that much cuter. I loved taking a trip through this world, and I can’t wait to dive into A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch and find out what the next strong willed woman in this series is going to do as she falls in love.

<- More Sarah HawleyA Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch ->

Image source: Hachette

Summertide by Charlotte E. English

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Summertide
Author: Charlotte E. English
Series: The Wonder Tales #4
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Cozy fantasy, Fae, Fantasy
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2020

Thoughts

It took me a little while to get the hang of what was going on in this story. Partly because it is actually fourth in the series, but also because there is quite a cast of characters. Once I started to distinguish between the characters, I actually really enjoyed this story. It had that fae / fairy tale feel to it, but with a more positive bend to it than what I’ve been necessarily been reading lately. Something about the Summertide felt like disappearing into a sunlit wood and coming out with a happily ever after. It just had that calm and fun vibe that is sometimes missing from the books I read.

Summertide was separated into five parts to give each part of the action its own attention. I don’t always like when stories are split into “parts”, but in the case of this novel, it worked really well for the flow. Plus, by separating each of the mini-adventures out, it made it so much easier for my overwhelmed brain to actually follow who was on what adventure. It meant that once one journey was finished, I couldn’t wait to dive into the next one.

English is wonderful at writing characters that I want to get to know even more. Plus, this story involved a walking tree, displaced summer monarchs and an enchanted forest. Everything about this short novel was fun and light hearted. Honestly, reading this, I just felt content and happy when I turned that final page. And, as a read before bedtime – it led to pleasant and nature filled dreams.

<- Sands and StarlightRavensby Old ->

Image source: Booklife

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Bookshops & Bonedust
Author: Travis Baldree
Series: Legends & Lattes #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Cozy fantasy, High fantasy, Magic
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2023

Thoughts

I’ve had Bookshops and Bonedust on my TBR for a little while, and I’ve honestly been putting it off because sometimes books just don’t live up to all the hype. This totally does though. I absolutely loved every minute of reading this book and just didn’t want to put it down. Bookshops and Bonedust was a fantastic story that completely, totally and utterly deserves all of the positive attention that it gets. It was fun and enjoyable. And left me with such a happy and content feeling. Plus, there was a gorgeous slip of humour throughout that left me smiling and giggling throughout.

All of the action in this story almost takes place as a vacation. I love that Viv is taking an unplanned (and unwanted) break from her life, and in doing so finds joy in other pursuits. It’s a reminder that our aimed for career can’t be everything, plus, it gives Viv a chance to find new friendships. Her friendship with the bookshop owner and baker are so naturally formed that they’re ridiculously close before you even realise it. Plus, there is the quaintness of small town life to contend with and enjoy.

Having a paranormal fantasy story that features a bookshop was the absolute bomb. I love anything that features a bookshop and, well, books because I’m a Book Dragon. But, I also loved that you got to go along with Viv as she falls in love with reading and the written word. The fact that every recommendation helps her to discover another aspect of herself. Which is something that I tend to find in my own reading journey. Each book helps you to reveal a facet of your life that you might be thinking about at the time. And to figure out what your own personal morals and goals are.

I didn’t realise that Bookshops and Bonedust was actually written after Legends and Lattes, but I do like that I read it first. The epilogue gives more hints about what is going to happen in the first book in the story. Plus, there is the fact that Bookshops and Bonedust very obviously is what plants the seeds for a quieter life filled with love and joy in Viv’s mind. One that is going to pay dividends in the next book.

<- More Travis BaldreeLegends & Lattes ->

Image source: Amazon

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
Author: Sangu Mandanna
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Cozy fantasy, Paranormal fantasy, Romance, Witches
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2022

Thoughts

This is such a beautiful and sweet cozy fantasy, with just enough emotional angst to make it absolutely impossible to put down. I absolutely loved this story, and I’m glad that reading a Mandanna short story in Hungry Hearts led me to this wonderful story. Mika and her willingness to go against the grain were inspiring and I absolutely adored her. Plus, she is part of a cast of absolutely adorable found family. Everyone at Nowhere House worked their way incredibly quickly into my heart, making this one of my favourite reads so far for the year.

I found the background story of all witches being cursed to become orphans to be really tragic. Imagine being a witch, and knowing that if you gave birth to a child, you were going to die. And knowing that if you are a witch, it was your very birth that caused the death of your parents. It’s a pretty tragic and harsh way to start life. But, I did love how differently this tragedy ended up for Mika and the Nowhere House girls. For Mika, this resulted in an incredibly lonely and potentially bitter life. For the girls, it was a life filled with love and sisterhood that they otherwise wouldn’t have had. It was great how they all rally for the next generation, trying to create a better world filled with the love that Mika didn’t get in her own childhood.

I love a good story with a surprise twist at the end. I knew there was some kind of secret and twist coming… but I love that this took a left when I was expecting a right. It was so much fun and created a whole new set of obstacles for this amazing cast to overcome. Plus, it really made Mika dig deep and figure out what she actually wants from life. But, more importantly, the final twist / obstacle was what helped Mika to finally move on from her past and choose a new and promising future for herself. The fact that this is all rounded out with a little romance and sweetness to balance the intensity of the other emotions.

Reading The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches made me sit and really ask the question – how do you find your happiness. And when you find it? What will you do to keep it? I love that this was, ultimately, the journey that Mika was on. In amongst everything else, she spends the entirety of this story battling to figure out where her happiness lies and how to let go of the past. Something that I think we all need to sit back and do at different points throughout our lives. Then, there’s the argument between who is nice and kind, and that it’s more important to be kind than nice. Something that I need to carry forth with me sometimes when I can’t quite put my finger on why people rub me up the wrong way…

<- The Lost GirlMore Sangu Mandanna ->

Image source: Amazon