Tag Archives: Cozy fantasy

Bromantasy by Maire Roche

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Bromantasy eBook : Roche, Máire: Amazon.com.au: Kindle Store

Title: Bromantasy
Author: Maire Roche
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Cozy fantasy, LGBTQI, Romance
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2026

Thoughts

Holy crap, this story was hilarious, adorable and with enough emotional angst to really hit home. Honestly, I had no idea what to expect, since it was a book I picked up as part of a reading challenge. But, it turns out that it was a completely unforgettable and irreplaceable part of my shelves now. Juniper and Mo are incredibly cute, find themselves on the most ridiculous of adventures, and were a whole lot of sweet and pleasant fun.

Juniper and Mo absolutely have issues, they are kind of both a calamity walking. And yet, I really loved how humorously they unravel their quest and selves throughout this story. They both have issues upon issues, and these frequently get in the way of their ultimate goals and happiness. It had me laughing out loud throughout the whole story. Yes, it was an emotional bit of growth, but it was also completely beautiful how they are able to overcome their issues and insecurities to find their happily ever after.

At it’s core, this is a cozy fantasy about two bros who are in love. They somehow adopt a dragon and find themselves in one after another set of hilarious calamities. I also love how they are able to piss off almost every person in this story. Mostly through accident, but sometimes on purpose. Each and every dumb moment had me laughing out loud, it hit me in all the positive feels.

I loved this book so much, it hit all of my happy buttons for a good cozy mystery. It was filled with laughter, light and just enough emotional angst to keep me absolutely hooked. I will most definitely be reading more Maire Roche in the future – I already have her other book lined up on my ereader.

<- More Cozy fantasyMore LGBTQI+ ->

Image source: Amazon

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
The House in the Cerulean Sea: 1 : Klune, TJ: Amazon.com.au: Books

Title: The House in the Cerulean Sea
Author: T.J. Klune
Series: Cerulean Chronicles #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Cozy fantasy, LGBTQI, Magic
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2020

Thoughts

I picked up The House in the Cerulean Sea for a reading challenge. And honestly, it just looked kind of cute. And that was it. I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I kind of like that I went into this with absolutely no expectations, because damn was it amazing! I loved every minute of it and most definitely did NOT want to put it down.

This might have a bit of a romance to the core of it, but for me, this was a story that was all about Found Family. Not just family, but also finding your place in the world. It kind of made the romance take a huge second stage to the idea of the whole crew falling for one another.

I found the very dry and plain way in which the author made everything in the world sound to be very humorous. I love that it starts off very drab, boring and grey (I never knew writing could actually be so GREY). And then, as Linus finds his place in the world and new family… the colours just begin to leap off of the pages. The contrast worked brilliantly and really drove home that feeling of belonging which is so easy to embrace.

There were so many secrets and plots throughout this story. Many, many moments occurred that I just didn’t expect. And yet, even though some of the more questionable aspects of humanity were highlighted, there was so much hope for the future. In every single moment and word. A truly optimistic and cute story. Now I can’t wait to dive into the next one.

<- More T.J. KluneSomewhere Beyond the Sea ->

Image source: Amazon

A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch by Sarah Hawley

Book Review, , , , , , , , ,
Overview
A Demon's Guide to Wooing a Witch: 'Whimsically sexy, charmingly romantic, and magically hilarious.' Ali Hazelwood (Glimmer Falls)

Title: A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch
Author: Sarah Hawley
Series: Glimmer Falls #2
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Cozy fantasy, Demons, Romance, Witches
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2023

Thoughts

I absolutely adored A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon, there was something about the story that had me from the first moment, and made me fall for the characters. And, although I liked A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch, I didn’t love it quite so much. I might have still really enjoyed this paranormal romance, but it definitely wasn’t quite as good as the first book in the Glimmer Falls series. Not that that has stopped me from buying A Werewolf’s Guide to Seducing a Vampire. An enjoyable story, and one that I may reread, but not one of my favourites either.

One of the parts of this story that I really loved was the redemption arc of Astaroth of the Nine. I mean, he was an absolutely fantastic villain in A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon, but somehow, he made an even better hero. Particularly as there wasn’t all that much “heroic” about him. I mean, even though he’s falling in love and starting to turn to the “good” side of this story, his first instinct is still absolutely to just destroy everyone and everything in his way. Really, he felt a little bit like the inside voice we all have that is a little bit less than kind, and a whole lot chaotic.

Calladia, like Astaroth, wasn’t your typical “hero” type character. I mean, I related to her a lot and found her absolutely adorable, but, again, her first instinct is violence and mayhem. I also love that she is tough, strong and has this constant need to fight. It’s a somewhat neurotic tendency to respond to abuse in a very aggressive manner. Which, again, felt a little bit like the Inside Voice that is constantly needling me to make horrible choices that end in chaos. Plus, I just wish I was as good of a fighter / brawler as Calladia. Yet, partnering these two grey heroes together works perfectly. And, more than anything, I love that it’s the not-so-pure influence of Astaroth which finally lets Calladia take control of her abusive relationships and finally walk away.

As much as I enjoyed the chaos and insanity that was Calladia and Astaroth on an adventure, I really liked how they tried to restructure the whole of demon culture. There is an extra layer of world building within this story that wasn’t in A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon, and I really liked getting to know more of these nuanced factors. Plus, there’s the way that in becoming more like the mortals, Astaroth is able to figure out how to become less stagnated. I also love how it is those of us who live the shortest lives that are the most passionate, a great reminder to live each day as full as possible.

<- A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a DemonA Werewolf’s Guide to Seducing a Vampire ->

Image source: Amazon

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

Book Review, , , , , ,
Overview
The Teller of Small Fortunes

Title: The Teller of Small Fortunes
Author: Julie Leong
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Cozy fantasy, Fantasy, Magic
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2024

Thoughts

I seriously enjoyed going on Tao’s journey through the country with her. Joining her on her journey to accepting herself and finding Found Family. This was such a sweet cozy fantasy that I really enjoyed reading. There was nothing intense and heart stopping about the story, and I didn’t necessarily feel like my emotions got too tangled up in the drama. But there was affection, there was love, and there was growth. Plus, there was an adventure that dealt with a whole set of challenging circumstances, and a feeling of life coming full circle at the end of the book.

I really loved this band of misfits – Mash, Silt and Kina worked so well together. They fit together so seamlessly, and beautifully. Mash is the strong, driven family man (with a bit of a past) who is completely driven by finding his daughter, and also the primary activity that drives the four on their journey. Silt is such a happy-go-lucky character and often brings almost comedic relief to the story. Kina then rounds out the group with emotion and joy. Her love of life and happiness were probably my favourite parts of the whole story and group. Tao might have been the main character, but it was the bonds between the four that truly drove the story.

One of my favourite things about this book is how Tao explains the difference between big and small fortunes. She’s a seer regardless (which becomes wonderfully apparent as the story unfolds), but the cost and the challenges of reading the different kinds of fortune is beautifully explained. I particularly love, that, as Tao’s back story comes out, the reasons for her choice of fortunes was even more powerful. There is such intricacy to this world building, right down to the rules and costs of magic, that I absolutely adored. Plus, I love the idea that even our small fortunes have the ability to give us some major changes in our lives. Ones that may or may not be needed.

There was something entirely innocent about this whole story. It was cute, sweet and worked out really well. When reading the blurb, I thought that the journey to find Mash’s daughter was going to be a little bit dark, and have some potential horrors in store. Instead, it was just as innocent as the rest of the tale. There was this almost naivety to the writing and the storyline that I really needed. And it’s a great reminder why the cozy fantasy genre works so well. There is action and intrigue that makes you want to keep reading, but it is so damn sweet and innocent, that the emotional stakes don’t totally destroy you.

<- The Keeper of Magical ThingsMore cozy fantasy ->

Image source: Amazon

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