A charming, timely, and emotionally resonant LGBTQIA+ cosy fantasy about the importance of community and mental health.

What happens to all the mind-controlled minions when the evil villain is finally vanquished?

They move to the country, become farmers, fall in love… And finally find a safe place to heal.

When Oaklin Nettlewood accidentally joined an evil world-ending cult, mind control magic forced them to do unspeakable things. Years later, the realm’s heroes have finally saved the day, defeated the villain, and shattered the last remnants of the spell…leaving destruction in their wake. And so, with a spell-damaged memory and a whole bushel of trauma, Oaklin escapes to a small farm on the edge of Mossley’s Rest. And swears an oath: After all the things they were forced to do with their magic, they will never use it again.

Ever. The no-nonsense ghost granny who lives in Oaklin’s house has other ideas. As she coaxes Oaklin out of their shell and back into the world, they find companionship (a grumpy horse and a very good dog) and friendship (a local bard and magical baker who should just kiss already). And tentative romance (a paladin-librarian who makes Oaklin’s heart come alive for the first time in ages).

Magic even seems possible again. Though, it’s strictly for foraging magical mushrooms and protecting the farm from bugs. Healing comes in gentle waves, and Oaklin doesn’t have to do it alone. So what does it mean when an inquisitor comes to town to hunt former cultists just as Oaklin begins to think that maybe, just maybe, they deserve a happy ending after all?

Welcome home, weary traveller.

Tropes: Cosy Fantasy. Queer Romantasy. Magical Countryside. LGBTQIA+. Perfect for fans of  T. Kingfisher and Travis Baldree.

Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous – Autumn England – 9781464280634

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Perfection is a spell. It’s time to break it.

Andromeda Wildwood is practically perfect in every witch way.

As the proud owner of a bustling London bakery, Annie’s life is a haze of pink, magic and impossibly high standards. She devotes her powers to pleasing others, no matter the magical toll it takes. But Annie’s charmed existence is about to get delightfully messy . . .

Annie is tasked by her coven with mentoring a troubled teenage witch, and she couldn’t be more different from fiery, stubborn Maeve.

Or from Hal, the gruff but handsome owner of the woodland cottage where they must temporarily reside. As the unlikely trio slowly bond, outside forces begin to take an interest in Maeve’s extraordinary powers. Will Annie risk everything to protect the true magic she’s finally found?

Uncharmed by Lucy Jane Wood is one of those book that’s perfect to curl up with.

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All strays are welcome here.

Agnes Aubert is very fond of making lists. These lists kept her afloat when she lost her husband two years ago. And now, as the founder of a cat rescue charity, her meticulous organization skills feel like the only thing standing between her beloved cats – His Majesty, Banshee and sweet elderly Thoreau, to name a few – and utter disaster.

But when Agnes is forced to move the charity, she soon discovers that her new shop is being used as a front; right under her feet is the lair of the decidedly disorganised – not to mention self-absorbed and infuriatingly handsome – Havelock Renard.

Havelock is everything Agnes doesn’t want in her life: chaos, mischief, and a little too much adventure.

But as she gets to know him, she discovers he’s more than the dark magician of legend, and that she may be ready for a little intrigue, perhaps even romance. After all, second chances aren’t just for rescue cats. .

Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter – Heather Fawcett  – 9781464252358 (Trade Paperback)

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Return to the cosy fantasy world of the Legends & Lattes series with Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree, a freshly baked adventure featuring fan-favorite, foul-mouthed bookseller Fern.

Fern has weathered the stillness and storms of a bookseller’s life for decades, but now, in the face of crippling ennui, transplants herself to the city of Thune to hang out her shingle beside a long-absent friend’s coffee shop.

What could be a better pairing? Surely a charming renovation montage will cure what ails her! If only things were so simple . . .

It turns out that fixing your life isn’t a one-time prospect, nor as easy as a change of scenery and a lick of paint. A drunken and desperate night sees the rattkin waking far from home in the company of a legendary warrior surviving on inertia, an imprisoned chaos-goblin with a fondness for silverware, and an absolutely thumping hangover. As together they fend off a rogue’s gallery of ne’er-do-wells trying to claim the bounty the goblin represents, Fern may finally reconnect with the person she actually is when nothing seems inevitable .

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Would you rewrite your destiny if it meant losing a part of your past?

On a backstreet in Tokyo lies a pawnshop, but not everyone can find it. Most will see only a cosy ramen restaurant. And just the chosen ones – those who are lost – will find a place to pawn their life choices and deepest regrets.

Hana Ishikawa wakes on her first morning as the pawnshop’s new owner to find it ransacked. The shop’s most precious acquisition has been stolen and her father is missing. And then into the shop stumbles a charming stranger, quite unlike other customers. For he offers help, instead of seeking it.

Together, they must journey through a mystical world to find Hana’s father and the stolen choice. Through rain puddles, hitching rides on paper cranes, across the bridge between midnight and morning and through a night market in the clouds. But as they get closer to the truth, Hana must reveal a secret of her own. And risk making a choice she will never be able to take back. Step into the captivating and romantic fantasy novel that will sweep you away on an unforgettable adventure.

Water Moon – Samantha Sotto Yambao – 9781804993323

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Will it be a recipe for romance? Or a friendship up in flames?

Lavinia has it all. A loving family (complete with adorable pet baby dragon). A place at university training to be a magical animal vet. And a part-time job at the enchanting Baby Dragon Cafe. The only thing she doesn’t have is her one true love: Theo. Theo is the local baker and her best friend.

On paper, they’re perfect: he’s funny, she’s witty. He’s sweet, and she’s a little salty. That’s why they’ve been friends for as long as they can remember.

They’ve never been without one another – and it’s clear to everyone that they’re meant to be. Everyone except Theo. Because when Lavinia finally makes her move, he pulls away. Lavinia is devastated. Has this friendship gone up in smoke? Or will Theo finally realise that he wants them to be more than friends?

The perfect dual POV, friends-to-lovers cozy fantasy, with HEA guaranteed!

Tropes: Friends-to-lovers 💝Bakery romance 💝Small town 🍂Low spice ?

The Baby Dragon Bakery – A.T. Qureshi – 9780008742935

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‘Thank you, Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka, for this glorious love letter to readers of romantasy’ – Jodi Picoult, bestselling author of Wish You Were Here.

Is enemies-to-lovers romance only for books, or can Jennifer and Scott bring that fantasy to life? Jennifer Worth works in Publishing. But, she lives to escape into the world of her favourite romantasy series, Elytheum Courts, where the romance is swoony and the men are brave, chivalrous . . . and winged.
Newly single and craving connection, she travels to an immersive fan experience. Only to see the last face she expected: Scott Daniels, her work nemesis. Except the Scott she encounters there, in his second hand cosplay outfit, is . . . different.

Swaggering, flirtatious, confident. Unlucky in romance himself, Scott is determined to remake himself into the perfect book boyfriend. Jennifer has no interest in helping the man who vexes her every workday and dismisses her fictional fantasies. But as the convention activities force the unlikely pair together, they’re surprised to discover magic like none Jennifer has ever read about.

Devoted fangirl meets hesitant fanboy in this swoony contemporary love letter to readers who love fantasy worlds. From Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegmund-Broka, the authors of Do I Know You? and The Breakup Tour.

Book Boyfriend – Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka – 14.90 € – 9781035020386

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A whimsical and heartwarming novel about a witch who has a second chance to get her magical powers and her life back on track. From the national bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

Sera Swan used to be one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Then she resurrected her great-aunt Jasmine from the (very recently) dead. She lost most of her magic, befriended a semi-villainous talking fox, and was exiled from her Guild. Now she (slightly reluctantly and just a bit grumpily) helps her great aunt run an enchanted inn in Lancashire. There, she deals with her quirky guests’ shenanigans, tries to keep said talking fox in check, and longs for the future that seems lost to her.

But then she finds out about an old spell that could hold the key to restoring her power…

Enter Luke Larsen, handsome and icy magical historian, who arrives on a dark winter evening and might just know how to unlock the spell’s secrets. Luke has absolutely no interest in getting involved in the madcap goings-on of the inn. And, is definitely not about to let a certain bewitching innkeeper past his walls. So no one is more surprised than he is when he agrees to help Sera with her spell. Worse, he might actually be thawing.

Running an inn, reclaiming lost magic, and staying one step ahead of the watchful Guild is a lot for anyone, but Sera Swan is about to discover that she doesn’t have to do it alone…and that the weird, wonderful family she’s made might be the best magic of all.

A WITCH’S GUIDE TO MAGICAL INNKEEPING – Sangu Mandanna – 19.50 € – 9780593439371

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When Saphira opens her cafe welcoming pet baby dragons, she isn’t expecting it to be quite so hard to keep the fires burning. But her young dragon patrons keep incinerating her furniture, which means selling coffee isn’t covering all her costs.

Local heart-throb Aiden is a gardener, though his disobedient baby dragon is a major distraction from his beloved plants. However, Saphira’s café gives him an idea – he’ll ask Saphira to train his dragon, and pay her enough to keep the cafe afloat.

They know they’re the answer to each other’s problems, but happy-go-lucky Saphira and gorgeous-but-grumpy Aiden couldn’t be more different. Can they find a way to work together – and maybe even ignite some fire of their own?

The Baby Dragon Cafe – 9780008727666 – A.T. Qureshi

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