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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
Huzzah! An cozy fantasy adventure awaits in A TALE OF MIRTH AND MAGIC!
This world is delightful! Each character is so vividly alive, the scenery lush, and the joy palpable. Elikki and Barra's adventure takes through bustling fantasy towns to cozy inns and intimate road side stops along the way. But it's their emotional journeys that kept me turning pages. And their chemistry?!? Hotter than a metalsmith's forge!
A TALE OF MIRTH AND MAGIC is an immersive, inclusive fantasy romp you're sure to love.
Thank you Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing | Forever for the advance copy to read and review.
This world is delightful! Each character is so vividly alive, the scenery lush, and the joy palpable. Elikki and Barra's adventure takes through bustling fantasy towns to cozy inns and intimate road side stops along the way. But it's their emotional journeys that kept me turning pages. And their chemistry?!? Hotter than a metalsmith's forge!
A TALE OF MIRTH AND MAGIC is an immersive, inclusive fantasy romp you're sure to love.
Thank you Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing | Forever for the advance copy to read and review.
DNF @ 47%
I'm struggling through this story, it's not really keeping my interest, and I was already a little annoyed with how the FMC treated the MMC when she found out he's not really into casual sex. Unfortunately it also has a small adoption storyline. I probably could've skimmed past it but tbh I was already sorta looking for a reason to DNF anyway.
I'm struggling through this story, it's not really keeping my interest, and I was already a little annoyed with how the FMC treated the MMC when she found out he's not really into casual sex. Unfortunately it also has a small adoption storyline. I probably could've skimmed past it but tbh I was already sorta looking for a reason to DNF anyway.
This book is really well written. The writing was easy to get lost in, the descriptions added to my view of the story, and the characters were interesting. But I just could not completely gel with these MCs. I liked them both, but the insta-lust made me like them less..? The author did a great job making them 3-dimensional with their backstories and personalities. I did truly think they cared for one another.. so idk how to explain why this didn’t click. I will be reading this author’s next book because I liked their writing.
Thank you to the publisher for the arc!
Thank you to the publisher for the arc!
This is a cozy, and spicy fantasy about an anxiously attached half-giant and an avoidantly attached elf. When Barra, our half giant, sees Elikki, our elf, he thinks “I am intrigued by this elven woman because she is so alive and fierce and vivaciously herself.” When Elikki sees Barra, she thinks “I’mma climb that half giant like a tree.” And honestly, get it girl. Forced on the run together after pissing off a noble, Elikki and Barra have to deal with their feelings for each other and their difference in wants and needs.
You will probably like this book if you like:
💜 Sweet and horny fantasy
🤎 Soft boy MMC x independent tough girl FMC
💜 He falls first and harder
🤎 Traveling adventure
💜 Queer rep (both MMCs are queer and queerness is excepted throughout the world)
🤎 Anxiety rep
💜 Fast burn, insta-lust, insta-love (the trifecta)
The magical world is light and low stakes (beyond avoiding the bad guys). Elikki is a jewelry maker while Barra is a book keeper. They talk about their toad phobias and eat lots of desserts. Elikki has to learn to control her magic which has cool metal making abilities as well as murdering abilities (she’s trying to do more of the former and less of the latter). And there’s spice, early and often. Even the insta-lust, a trope I don’t usually enjoy, worked here because of how light everything was.
Ultimately, I didn’t love their relationship. I feel like they just really set themselves up for failure. These two are different sides of the same coin: both abandoned by their biological families in some capacity and now they either bend over backwards for love (Barra) or run before love happens (Elikki). Because of that, Elikki isn’t looking for anything long term because she has a nomadic lifestyle. Barra feels like people use him for sex and he has a tendency to get attached. Do they sound like a good match? Absolutely not. Even when they did talk to each other about their relationship, they didn’t get to the full conclusion. I felt kind of bad for Barra. He would constantly try to progress the relationship and Elikki would freak out and not want to talk about it, and his heart would break. They get to a happy ending because this is a romance but it’s hard for me to believe that they won’t just keep repeating this cycle. Maybe we needed a scene of them seeing the magical version of Dr. Orna from “Couple’s Therapy.” 🤣
Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: August 5, 2025
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Forever for the advance reader copy and to Hachette Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.
This is a cute, cozy fantasy with lots of steam. Elikki and Barra annoy powerful people, and so their journeys become more difficult. He decides to follow her, both to spend more time together and to be able to provide protection.
I liked the fantasy world. It fit well with many fantasies I have read, so it was easy to follow the characters. I found Elikki's use of metal for magic quite cool. The plot was low stakes, and the audiobook was a very quick listen. Evan Elliot and Sarah McEwan did a great job narrating the audiobook. And I appreciated the considerable foreshadowing of a future book with a secondary character.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I received an ALC through NetGalley and there were so many times where I found myself wondering what the actual point of this book was.
The combination of MMC and the narrator that voiced him was giving half giant himbo and that’s just not my type.
The FMC has magic but she can’t really control it but I found it hard to really care about her not being able to control it.
The horse was also giant and named pebble which is so cute. The horse was probably my favorite.
I finished it 🤷🏻♀️ 3.5 stars ⭐️
The combination of MMC and the narrator that voiced him was giving half giant himbo and that’s just not my type.
The FMC has magic but she can’t really control it but I found it hard to really care about her not being able to control it.
The horse was also giant and named pebble which is so cute. The horse was probably my favorite.
I finished it 🤷🏻♀️ 3.5 stars ⭐️
There are so many things to love about this story! I adored the queernormative world and the body positivity. As an appreciator of curvy women I definitely related to Barra's admiration of Elikki. The cozy vibes were also really fun. Barra was an absolute sweetheart and it was so sweet watching him dream about a future with Elikki. I did wish that the relationship is more balanced. Elikki has some trust issues that I found very relatable but it was rough watching how her hesitation hurt Barra. That coupled with the instalove left me wanting more relationship development but overall I had a fun time. If you're looking for a high-heat, low stakes romance that isn't too serious this could be perfect for you!
I loved both narrators! They brought out the characters emotions and I had a good time listening to their performances.
Thanks to Forever and Hachette Audio for the advanced copies!
I loved both narrators! They brought out the characters emotions and I had a good time listening to their performances.
Thanks to Forever and Hachette Audio for the advanced copies!
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Advanced Reader/Listener Copy
A lovely cosy (low-trigger) fantasy world!
I love that both characters are bi/pan and it's so casually mentioned that they have had same sex relations in the past.
I love that there is very little violence and there is so often a focus on therapy and rehabilitation rather than more violence or jail.
I love that the main characters are large-bodied (Plus size elf woman and half-giant man) and that is handled so well. Their bodies are considered in regular things like making sure the hotel bed is big enough and the chairs are sturdy but there really isn't any fatphobia.
I definitely recommend this book if you like cosy fantasy with some spice!
A lovely cosy (low-trigger) fantasy world!
I love that both characters are bi/pan and it's so casually mentioned that they have had same sex relations in the past.
I love that there is very little violence and there is so often a focus on therapy and rehabilitation rather than more violence or jail.
I love that the main characters are large-bodied (Plus size elf woman and half-giant man) and that is handled so well. Their bodies are considered in regular things like making sure the hotel bed is big enough and the chairs are sturdy but there really isn't any fatphobia.
I definitely recommend this book if you like cosy fantasy with some spice!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Infidelity, Violence, Injury/Injury detail