Sadly, I was really disappointed by this cozy fantasy, despite all the hype surrounding it. The plot sounded like something I’d love, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a fantastic job with the character voices, but even her performance couldn’t redeem the story for me. That said, I did appreciate that the book included no language or spice. To note, there are gay side characters and a sentient cactus uses they/them pronouns—a quirky touch that didn’t resonate with me but may appeal to others.
The world itself was enchanting, filled with whimsical fantasy elements and magical creatures. It felt like stepping into a cozy video game, which I can see appealing to fans of that style. The author’s creativity and imagination really shone, and I enjoyed the found family dynamics between the characters.
However, while the premise was interesting, the execution felt flat. The story didn’t captivate me, and I found myself bored for much of it. It took longer than expected to finish because I wasn’t invested. The characters lacked depth, making it hard to connect with them or care about their journeys. The narrative felt disjointed, with scenes resembling disconnected video game quests rather than a cohesive story.
The pacing was another issue—it was slow, with overly detailed descriptions and long paragraphs that I ended up skimming. Without a strong overarching goal or engaging plot, the book felt too long and could have benefited from tighter editing. As for the romance, while it was present, it lacked chemistry and wasn’t central to the story. I’d classify this as more fantasy than romantasy.
Despite my disappointment, there were elements I enjoyed. It’s undeniably cozy, heartwarming, and charming, with moments of humor. My favorite character was Caz, the sentient spider plant who acts like a mix of a loyal pet and a quirky friend to Kiela. His antics made me laugh out loud and brought much-needed levity to the story.
If you’re a fan of slow-paced, whimsical cozy fantasies, you might enjoy this book. But if you’re looking for depth, action, or a gripping plot, you may want to skip this one. While this wasn’t a new favorite for me, I might give the author another try to see if her other works are a better fit.
