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amiablemath's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
ale9417's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tigerlilliereads's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I haven’t read legends and lattes yet so I have nothing compare in this new genre cosy fantasy. But I think I like it here.
It took me a while to get used, but I didn’t want to stop reading. I really loved the gentle pace, it felt so relaxing and I didn’t realise that it was just what I needed.
Initially I wasn’t sure how I would rate this book because it was so different to what I normally read, but the characters grew on me. At times I wish the personality of the character you see by the end of the story shines through a bit earlier.
I really liked the way you could follow these two characters living the dream of fleeing the busy tough life to a quieter, peaceful life in a cute little bookstore with a little bit of magic. Maybe this type of book being so popular says a lot about today’s society but that’s a discussion for another day.
The books gentle pacing, good description forces the reader to slow down and take a break from the everyday world.
I now want to go live my dream now of opening a bookstore with a cute cafe and mythical creatures and magical plants.
Is the book perfect? No. But it’s a book that I needed. I loved the relationship of the two characters, and the side characters they meet. Would I like more… yes… but is that me being used to read so much more fast action paced books … probably.
I still don’t know how to rate it but I enjoyed it
I haven’t read legends and lattes yet so I have nothing compare in this new genre cosy fantasy. But I think I like it here.
It took me a while to get used, but I didn’t want to stop reading. I really loved the gentle pace, it felt so relaxing and I didn’t realise that it was just what I needed.
Initially I wasn’t sure how I would rate this book because it was so different to what I normally read, but the characters grew on me. At times I wish the personality of the character you see by the end of the story shines through a bit earlier.
I really liked the way you could follow these two characters living the dream of fleeing the busy tough life to a quieter, peaceful life in a cute little bookstore with a little bit of magic. Maybe this type of book being so popular says a lot about today’s society but that’s a discussion for another day.
The books gentle pacing, good description forces the reader to slow down and take a break from the everyday world.
I now want to go live my dream now of opening a bookstore with a cute cafe and mythical creatures and magical plants.
Is the book perfect? No. But it’s a book that I needed. I loved the relationship of the two characters, and the side characters they meet. Would I like more… yes… but is that me being used to read so much more fast action paced books … probably.
I still don’t know how to rate it but I enjoyed it
lucy_is_reading's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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? It's complicated
4.5
edunbar87's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
4.0
ravenfable's review against another edition
3.0
3.5-ish. I really dislike leaving neutral/negative reviews, I know a lot of hard work goes into creating a story, but this was a bit of a "eh" read for me. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't really the cozy I was expecting.
-------
Good things:
The start was brilliant. Great set up of characters and situations. I also really like Reyna as a character.
A few "Eh" things:
I could not get behind Kianthe's neediness, or the frequent callout about whatever action one or the other character was doing being sexy. I felt like there was some weird timing for the suggestiveness between the two individuals, and reading the phrase "that was hot" in a 'ye olde times' fantasy was a bit eye roll inducing.
Additionally, I feel like the coziest theme of the book (building a tea and book shop) was kind rushed through. There were some time jumps during the building/setup stage that I thought were a missed opportunity.
----------
This may be the perfect cozy for some, but it missed the mark for me, personally.
I do like seeing more stories in this genre, so I hope to see the series continue on past the planned second book.
-------
Good things:
The start was brilliant. Great set up of characters and situations. I also really like Reyna as a character.
A few "Eh" things:
I could not get behind Kianthe's neediness, or the frequent callout about whatever action one or the other character was doing being sexy. I felt like there was some weird timing for the suggestiveness between the two individuals, and reading the phrase "that was hot" in a 'ye olde times' fantasy was a bit eye roll inducing.
Additionally, I feel like the coziest theme of the book (building a tea and book shop) was kind rushed through. There were some time jumps during the building/setup stage that I thought were a missed opportunity.
----------
This may be the perfect cozy for some, but it missed the mark for me, personally.
I do like seeing more stories in this genre, so I hope to see the series continue on past the planned second book.
pipsqueak_squid's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
brewdy_reader's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
✨ 𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 ✨
¢αη’т ѕρєℓℓ тяєαѕση ωιтнσυт тєα 𝚋𝚢 𝚁𝚎𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚌𝚊 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚗𝚎
𝘊𝘰𝘻𝘺 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺 • 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 •. 𝘚𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘤 • 𝘓𝘰𝘸 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴
🎧 𝘈𝘓𝘊 • 𝘗𝘶𝘣 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘦: 7 𝘔𝘢𝘺 2024
Marketed as a “cozy fantasy steeped with love,” this book clearly takes its inspiration from Travis Baldree’s Legends and Lattes and Bookshops and Bonedust series, so if you loved those, you’ll want to read this one. There will be baking of yummy pastries and steeping of aromatic teas, followed up with a little sword play and griffin riding, and maybe a dragon egg hunt. There will be hidden passage ways in the castle and an evil queen and a powerful mage and queens guard who just want to be free of their old lives. And there will be a bookshop.
This is a cozy book about books first, and a low stakes fantasy and love story second and third. Themes of friendship, belonging and found family leap from the pages. You’ll love this one if you value the cozy journey over the destination & suspense. If you’re here for faster-paced action and epic battle scenes, look elsewhere.
🎧 Jessica Threat narrated this one on audio, which I enjoyed as I love a British accent.
Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for granting me early access to this audiobook, which releases May 7!
¢αη’т ѕρєℓℓ тяєαѕση ωιтнσυт тєα 𝚋𝚢 𝚁𝚎𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚌𝚊 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚗𝚎
𝘊𝘰𝘻𝘺 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺 • 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 •. 𝘚𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘤 • 𝘓𝘰𝘸 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴
🎧 𝘈𝘓𝘊 • 𝘗𝘶𝘣 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘦: 7 𝘔𝘢𝘺 2024
Marketed as a “cozy fantasy steeped with love,” this book clearly takes its inspiration from Travis Baldree’s Legends and Lattes and Bookshops and Bonedust series, so if you loved those, you’ll want to read this one. There will be baking of yummy pastries and steeping of aromatic teas, followed up with a little sword play and griffin riding, and maybe a dragon egg hunt. There will be hidden passage ways in the castle and an evil queen and a powerful mage and queens guard who just want to be free of their old lives. And there will be a bookshop.
This is a cozy book about books first, and a low stakes fantasy and love story second and third. Themes of friendship, belonging and found family leap from the pages. You’ll love this one if you value the cozy journey over the destination & suspense. If you’re here for faster-paced action and epic battle scenes, look elsewhere.
🎧 Jessica Threat narrated this one on audio, which I enjoyed as I love a British accent.
Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for granting me early access to this audiobook, which releases May 7!
apparatinglibrarian's review against another edition
I dnf this book. I made it half-way, for what it's worth, but I couldn't get into it.
For the most part, this isn't a cozy mystery. It says it is, but it isn't. I also don't know if the book is wanting to be a cozy fantasy or high-fantasy. It's both--and I think that's okay--but the writing isn't clear enough that you know it's both. The only "cozy" thing in the story is the romance and the bookstore/tea store. So...take that for what it's worth.
I also felt a lot of influences from Legends & Lattes, but not as great.
For the most part, this isn't a cozy mystery. It says it is, but it isn't. I also don't know if the book is wanting to be a cozy fantasy or high-fantasy. It's both--and I think that's okay--but the writing isn't clear enough that you know it's both. The only "cozy" thing in the story is the romance and the bookstore/tea store. So...take that for what it's worth.
I also felt a lot of influences from Legends & Lattes, but not as great.