Corvinian Hark thought he’d be the next great villain. What he ended up as is a caretaker of magical tenants. This setback was supposed to have been temporary. It has been temporary going on eight years. But things are looking up, or at least he was told things are looking up. If you were to ask Corbin, things mostly keep looking sideways. Because his latest tenant might just be human. It means no more magic in the hallways and keeping skeletons from wandering out of the closet. But mostly it means that if he can’t figure her out, he’ll be out of a job. Which would be rather unfortunate, as it is where he keeps his bed, and all of his stuff, and all of his friends. He’ll just stick her between the vampire and the harpy and hope she doesn’t notice, shall he?

3.5 stars

This cute, cozy fantasy story was exactly what I needed at the time when I read it. It was magical, endearing, heartfelt, and cozy! It was like a big warm hug to my heart. I didn’t know what to expect when I went into this story, but I was pleasantly surprised by how attached I got to all the characters. 

One of my all-time favorite book tropes is found family. This is a huge ode to the found family trope, and this book executed it brilliantly. It’s easily one of the best examples of this book trope I’ve come across. Despite the numerous characters introduced, the author skillfully ensures each one remains distinct and memorable, making it easy to connect with them. I even found myself wishing for an audiobook featuring a full cast of narrators to fully bring these characters to life. Their interactions are both humorous and heartfelt, infusing the narrative with charm. Well done!

What truly shines is how they rally together, supporting each other and ultimately aiding Corbin, the main character. Their dynamics, complete with typical familial squabbles, make their bond feel incredibly genuine. I found myself craving more scenes of their collective camaraderie. It had me grinning from ear to ear for the majority of the book. 

While the story primarily revolves around supernatural beings with magical abilities or powers, I yearned for a deeper exploration of these fantastical elements. I desired a bit more imagination, especially considering the story’s focus on character development rather than plot progression. Despite this, the narrative retains a captivating sense of magic that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The writing style was easy to read. It took me less than a week to read it. I probably would’ve gotten through it faster if I hadn’t read other books at the same time. The narrative unfolded with excellent pacing, consistently holding my interest. I was continuously intrigued, eagerly anticipating the next development, and curious to learn more about each character. I found myself fully engrossed in both the main storyline and the intricacies of the characters’ lives. Additionally, the captivating cover art initially drew me in, sparking my curiosity about the book’s contents—an indication of the creativity behind its concept.

While the ending may have lacked the anticipated climax, I had to remind myself of the fact that this was a cozy fantasy, characterized by its low stakes and minimal action. Despite my desire for more conflict and excitement, the resolution was still deeply satisfying. Everything neatly fell into place, providing a sense of closure and satisfaction.

Despite my overall enjoyment of this story, there were a few aspects that didn’t resonate with my personal tastes. Firstly, there was a noticeable amount of profanity, which isn’t typically my preference in my literature. Additionally, I felt that the narrative lacked some excitement or intrigue. However, it’s worth noting the story’s strong dedication to progressive ideals, evident in its diverse cast of characters from various backgrounds and sexual orientations. While this emphasis on inclusivity may not be my usual preference, I appreciate the effort to represent a range of voices. There were quite a few queer characters, so this book could be categorized within the LGBT+ category. Furthermore, there was a non-binary character who used they/them pronouns, which proved frustrating to read because grammatically it didn’t read correctly. The story also touched on feminist themes, which, while not always aligning with my beliefs, provided an additional layer to the narrative. Overall, it’s clear that the story reflects contemporary social values, even if it may not entirely resonate with my personal preferences.

With all that being said, overall, I had a great time with this book. It’s full of whimsy, coziness, charm, quirkiness, and most importantly, the found family element. It made me laugh, smile, and feel cozy. If you don’t mind the queer and progressive elements, then I definitely recommend this book! If a sequel came out, I would be inclined to pick it up, intrigued to discover the latest endeavors of our beloved characters. This is the debut book by this author, and I thought she did a fantastic job for a first book! 

The author personally contacted me and invited me to read her book. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read your charming story in exchange for an honest review. These are my genuine thoughts and opinions.