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Inspirational Wink and the Altogether Extraordinary Notebook
Sixty years old and considered perfectly ordinary, Inspirational Wink has never left the small town of Whisper. She’s been perfectly happy to work the farm with her parents and occasionally wonder what lies beyond the Three Creek Bridge.
All that changes when the death of her father reveals a secret and a task that must fall to her and her alone. She must retrieve the Notebook of Whim, a powerful, magical object hidden years before by her mother, so that it can be destroyed.
It’s either complete this quest or be nagged by her mother for the rest of time. So, off she goes.
But she’s not the only one in search of the notebook, and along the way she encounters both magical creatures and very human enemies, all determined to claim the notebook for themselves. Unsurprising, as the notebook grants whatever wish is written on its pages.
Luckily, she has a mouse, a pink horse, and a band of companions to help her along the way. With their help, she is determined to outfight — and outwit— anyone or anything that gets in the way of her search and, more importantly, of her return home.
Because if she fails and the notebook falls into the wrong hands, her mother's life— and her entire world— could be destroyed.
All that changes when the death of her father reveals a secret and a task that must fall to her and her alone. She must retrieve the Notebook of Whim, a powerful, magical object hidden years before by her mother, so that it can be destroyed.
It’s either complete this quest or be nagged by her mother for the rest of time. So, off she goes.
But she’s not the only one in search of the notebook, and along the way she encounters both magical creatures and very human enemies, all determined to claim the notebook for themselves. Unsurprising, as the notebook grants whatever wish is written on its pages.
Luckily, she has a mouse, a pink horse, and a band of companions to help her along the way. With their help, she is determined to outfight — and outwit— anyone or anything that gets in the way of her search and, more importantly, of her return home.
Because if she fails and the notebook falls into the wrong hands, her mother's life— and her entire world— could be destroyed.
- GenresFantasy
297 pages, ebook
Published November 28, 2023
2 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 11, 2025
In a Nutshell: A cozy fantasy adventure with a sixty-year-old protagonist and a whole horde of magical creatures. A fun read when you want something sweet and salty at the same time. Loved it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Story Synopsis:
Bookish Yays:
✨ I loved the eponymous character! Of course, considering she was fond of rational thinking and keen to stay within her comfort zone, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I found her my kindred spirit. 😄 Inspirational is truly inspirational, right from her attitude towards her family, to her approach towards dangerous situations, to her ability to keep her head even in times of panic. It is a treat to see her naiveté disappear as the story proceeds.
✨ It is amazing to see such a great representation of a senior character, especially considering the genre. At sixty, Inspirational is not a typical lead you see in a cozy fantasy. But the author makes her as realistic as possible, without making her sound like a senile geriatric with one foot in the grave. The portrayal is spot on, with Inspirational being as active and strong as her work on the farm would have made her, but feeling tired, sleepy or hungry after a day’s worth of adventure. I loved the age rep.
✨ The character names are so quirky! In what book would you find a cast with names such as Inspirational Wink, Bruise, Regret, Left Ear, Steadfast, Before and After?! The names steal the show with their wackiness.
✨ With such whimsical names, is it any surprise that the characters are also appealing? I loved Inspirational Wink’s group, right from Bruise the Orc to Fleet the mouse. They were an eclectic bunch, and their bond and their repartee was a joy to read. To put it in Bruise’s dorky style, “a bit of a charming gang, this one.”
✨ Despite the overall lightness of the writing, there are dark and dangerous scenes as well. These are mostly written at a casual level of intensity. The real danger is visible on page only during one important action sequence in the second half. This might be dissatisfying for adult fans of darker fantasies. But to cozy fantasy lovers and fantasy dabblers, this approach makes the content palatable as the gory stuff stays behind the scenes.
✨ The plot works well as an adventurous road trip to locate the titular ‘altogether extraordinary notebook’. The details of the journey are as real as a fictional tale can be, including mentions of tiredness, hygiene issues, and hunger pangs. I loved the ordinary realism of their journey. (Which is quite ironic as no character except Inspirational Wink is “ordinary”!)
✨ Most of the plot is straightforward, but the fun lies in the details. Though we know that the journey can have only a happy conclusion, the path leading to that satisfying destination isn’t always guessable. And even when it is, the characters make the ride worth it.
✨ Despite the older mc, the book works well as a coming-of-age story, with many life lessons for all. The journey to retrieve the missing book is a journey of self-awareness and growth for many of the characters.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
💫 There is a whole variety of fantastical characters in this little book. We have the usual familiars such as fairies, dragons, gnomes, orcs, trolls, dwarves, shapeshifters, witches, and so on. And we also have an equally lengthy list of characters that have sprung from the author’s imagination. While I loved most of the characters, a part of me feels like the number of distinct creatures was too high. Some of the creatures could have been repeated instead of having a new one in every new action scene.
💫 Inspirational Wink is known by her pet name, ‘Good Idea’. So for most of the book, she is called ‘Good Idea’ by her family and friends, and ‘Inspirational Wink’ in formal settings. I love her actual name, though her nickname also suited her well. I would have preferred her to be called ‘Inspirational’ throughout the book.
💫 The story is divided into four broad sections. Each section is announced in a grand way, with an image containing the section number and an indication of its content. You could say that these contain spoilers. But as I said, the story is quite predictable, so these just add to the cutesy factor.
All in all, this is a delightful adventure filled with endearing characters and loads of magic. As the story is cutesy and even cheesy at times, I wouldn’t recommend it to those looking for a dark fantasy or an intense reading experience. The vibe of the book is exactly as the cover suggests – tongue-in-cheek fun.
Definitely recommended to lovers of cozy fantasies. It would also be great to those wanting to try out the fantasy genre but are unsure of checking out more complicated fictional worlds – this might work great as an entry-level fantasy. Because of the clean approach towards danger and the age of the protagonist, this ought to click well for all age groups from teenagers to golden agers.
4 stars.
My thanks to 235 Alexander Street, the author and NetGalley for the DRC of “Inspirational Wink and the Altogether Extraordinary Notebook”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
Unlike what I first assumed, this isn’t a debut work. ‘Delaney Evers’ is the pseudonym used by indie author Dee Ernst for her fantasy debut. Under her own name, she writes women’s fiction and cozy mysteries. I am going to keep an eye out for future works by this indie author, regardless of which of the two names she uses. This line on her Goodreads bio won my heart:
“Dee loved chick-lit and romantic comedy, but hated the twenty-something heroines who couldn’t figure out how to go and get what they wanted. She began to write about women like herself — older, confident, and with a wealth of life experience to draw upon.”
Yay to that! More power to self-published authors who can follow their heart without succumbing to the pressures of trad publishing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Story Synopsis:
Sixty-year-old Inspirational Wink has always lived an ordinary life with her ordinary family in the ordinary town of Whisper. She has rarely wondered what lay beyond the Three Creek Bridge at the end of the town; her soul has always been happy in its routine.
This changes after the death of her father Steadfast. Her widowed mother Belladonna, though grieving the loss of her beloved husband, hands Inspirational an important task of retrieving the Notebook of Whim, which Belladona had stashed in a secret safe place somewhere in Mirror City many years ago. Inspirational knows that she doesn’t have the choice of refusing this mission, or else her mother will keep nagging her. So she sets off, accompanied by a pink horse, a shapeshifting otter, a “fixer” elf and a hired orc. Along the way, the motley crew meets more than its fair share of adventures and dangers, but they trudge along united and focussed, because the missing notebook, unlike Inspirational Wink, is ‘altogether extraordinary.’
The story comes to us mostly in the third person perspective of Inspirational Wink.
Bookish Yays:
✨ I loved the eponymous character! Of course, considering she was fond of rational thinking and keen to stay within her comfort zone, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I found her my kindred spirit. 😄 Inspirational is truly inspirational, right from her attitude towards her family, to her approach towards dangerous situations, to her ability to keep her head even in times of panic. It is a treat to see her naiveté disappear as the story proceeds.
✨ It is amazing to see such a great representation of a senior character, especially considering the genre. At sixty, Inspirational is not a typical lead you see in a cozy fantasy. But the author makes her as realistic as possible, without making her sound like a senile geriatric with one foot in the grave. The portrayal is spot on, with Inspirational being as active and strong as her work on the farm would have made her, but feeling tired, sleepy or hungry after a day’s worth of adventure. I loved the age rep.
✨ The character names are so quirky! In what book would you find a cast with names such as Inspirational Wink, Bruise, Regret, Left Ear, Steadfast, Before and After?! The names steal the show with their wackiness.
✨ With such whimsical names, is it any surprise that the characters are also appealing? I loved Inspirational Wink’s group, right from Bruise the Orc to Fleet the mouse. They were an eclectic bunch, and their bond and their repartee was a joy to read. To put it in Bruise’s dorky style, “a bit of a charming gang, this one.”
✨ Despite the overall lightness of the writing, there are dark and dangerous scenes as well. These are mostly written at a casual level of intensity. The real danger is visible on page only during one important action sequence in the second half. This might be dissatisfying for adult fans of darker fantasies. But to cozy fantasy lovers and fantasy dabblers, this approach makes the content palatable as the gory stuff stays behind the scenes.
✨ The plot works well as an adventurous road trip to locate the titular ‘altogether extraordinary notebook’. The details of the journey are as real as a fictional tale can be, including mentions of tiredness, hygiene issues, and hunger pangs. I loved the ordinary realism of their journey. (Which is quite ironic as no character except Inspirational Wink is “ordinary”!)
✨ Most of the plot is straightforward, but the fun lies in the details. Though we know that the journey can have only a happy conclusion, the path leading to that satisfying destination isn’t always guessable. And even when it is, the characters make the ride worth it.
✨ Despite the older mc, the book works well as a coming-of-age story, with many life lessons for all. The journey to retrieve the missing book is a journey of self-awareness and growth for many of the characters.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
💫 There is a whole variety of fantastical characters in this little book. We have the usual familiars such as fairies, dragons, gnomes, orcs, trolls, dwarves, shapeshifters, witches, and so on. And we also have an equally lengthy list of characters that have sprung from the author’s imagination. While I loved most of the characters, a part of me feels like the number of distinct creatures was too high. Some of the creatures could have been repeated instead of having a new one in every new action scene.
💫 Inspirational Wink is known by her pet name, ‘Good Idea’. So for most of the book, she is called ‘Good Idea’ by her family and friends, and ‘Inspirational Wink’ in formal settings. I love her actual name, though her nickname also suited her well. I would have preferred her to be called ‘Inspirational’ throughout the book.
💫 The story is divided into four broad sections. Each section is announced in a grand way, with an image containing the section number and an indication of its content. You could say that these contain spoilers. But as I said, the story is quite predictable, so these just add to the cutesy factor.
All in all, this is a delightful adventure filled with endearing characters and loads of magic. As the story is cutesy and even cheesy at times, I wouldn’t recommend it to those looking for a dark fantasy or an intense reading experience. The vibe of the book is exactly as the cover suggests – tongue-in-cheek fun.
Definitely recommended to lovers of cozy fantasies. It would also be great to those wanting to try out the fantasy genre but are unsure of checking out more complicated fictional worlds – this might work great as an entry-level fantasy. Because of the clean approach towards danger and the age of the protagonist, this ought to click well for all age groups from teenagers to golden agers.
4 stars.
My thanks to 235 Alexander Street, the author and NetGalley for the DRC of “Inspirational Wink and the Altogether Extraordinary Notebook”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
Unlike what I first assumed, this isn’t a debut work. ‘Delaney Evers’ is the pseudonym used by indie author Dee Ernst for her fantasy debut. Under her own name, she writes women’s fiction and cozy mysteries. I am going to keep an eye out for future works by this indie author, regardless of which of the two names she uses. This line on her Goodreads bio won my heart:
“Dee loved chick-lit and romantic comedy, but hated the twenty-something heroines who couldn’t figure out how to go and get what they wanted. She began to write about women like herself — older, confident, and with a wealth of life experience to draw upon.”
Yay to that! More power to self-published authors who can follow their heart without succumbing to the pressures of trad publishing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
December 23, 2023
As the long winter nights draw in, a heartwarming, cosy story is perfect for reading near the fairy lights with a hot drink. And this is exactly what Inspirational Wink and the Altogether Extraordinary Notebook was!
Inspirational Wink (better known as Good Idea) is sixty years old, quite ordinary and perfectly content having never left the farm she grew up in. When her father dies, though, her world is turned upside down by the revelation that her mother is a witch who used to possess a very powerful notebook which could destroy everything if it ever fell into the wrong hands. Good Idea's mother carefully hid the notebook many years before, but having grown old and weak is now unable to retrieve it, a task only her firstborn can undertake on her behalf. The only problem? It seems every prince, witch and demon in the country will be trying to snatch the notebook from Good Idea, making this quite possibly the worst trip ever... Good Idea will have to rely on a motley crew of hastily assembled allies and her own wit to carry out this task... and try not to be killed in the process.
I loved the characters! Good Idea especially was a fabulous main character. At sixty, she's not exactly your typical fantasy hero and she made for a perfectly reluctant hero, keen as she was to return to her quiet farm life, far away from all adventure. She's smart and caring, resourceful and extremely good at managing crises and thinking outside the box. I loved seeing an elderly main character rep in this novel, especially since it felt very realistic: Good Idea is strong and resilient (which would make sense after a lifetime of farmwork), but she also has frequent aches or gets tired and cranky when she has to skip a meal.
The side characters were also delightful! They were a really diverse bunch but I came to love each and every one of them, and I enjoyed every second spent with them. It felt as though a few of the characters received much more attention than others, making the latter come across as rather thin, but it really wasn't a big issue overall.
The plot itself is quite straightforward, with this being an almost classic Big Quest as the characters set out to search for the titular notebook. It's a cosy fantasy, so it is fairly predictable overall in its results but the journey to get there was still enjoyable, and the characters managed to surprise me a couple of times with the way in which they got out of a sticky situation. There is a lot of humour as well, which makes it even more pleasant to read and lends a whimsical quality to it.
Overall, this is a cute and endearing cosy fantasy, perfect for a heartwarming light read on a winter night. I hope we'll see more stories set in this universe and have a chance to discover more of the absolutely delightful characters who were introduced here.
I received an advanced review copy of this book via BookSirens for free. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.
For more reviews, visit Book for Thought.
Inspirational Wink (better known as Good Idea) is sixty years old, quite ordinary and perfectly content having never left the farm she grew up in. When her father dies, though, her world is turned upside down by the revelation that her mother is a witch who used to possess a very powerful notebook which could destroy everything if it ever fell into the wrong hands. Good Idea's mother carefully hid the notebook many years before, but having grown old and weak is now unable to retrieve it, a task only her firstborn can undertake on her behalf. The only problem? It seems every prince, witch and demon in the country will be trying to snatch the notebook from Good Idea, making this quite possibly the worst trip ever... Good Idea will have to rely on a motley crew of hastily assembled allies and her own wit to carry out this task... and try not to be killed in the process.
I loved the characters! Good Idea especially was a fabulous main character. At sixty, she's not exactly your typical fantasy hero and she made for a perfectly reluctant hero, keen as she was to return to her quiet farm life, far away from all adventure. She's smart and caring, resourceful and extremely good at managing crises and thinking outside the box. I loved seeing an elderly main character rep in this novel, especially since it felt very realistic: Good Idea is strong and resilient (which would make sense after a lifetime of farmwork), but she also has frequent aches or gets tired and cranky when she has to skip a meal.
The side characters were also delightful! They were a really diverse bunch but I came to love each and every one of them, and I enjoyed every second spent with them. It felt as though a few of the characters received much more attention than others, making the latter come across as rather thin, but it really wasn't a big issue overall.
The plot itself is quite straightforward, with this being an almost classic Big Quest as the characters set out to search for the titular notebook. It's a cosy fantasy, so it is fairly predictable overall in its results but the journey to get there was still enjoyable, and the characters managed to surprise me a couple of times with the way in which they got out of a sticky situation. There is a lot of humour as well, which makes it even more pleasant to read and lends a whimsical quality to it.
Overall, this is a cute and endearing cosy fantasy, perfect for a heartwarming light read on a winter night. I hope we'll see more stories set in this universe and have a chance to discover more of the absolutely delightful characters who were introduced here.
I received an advanced review copy of this book via BookSirens for free. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.
For more reviews, visit Book for Thought.
February 4, 2024
The Chosen is usually young, the quest is a coming of age story or the Chosen is a hobbit and that's another kind of story.
In this case the Chosen is 60 years old, a farmer and never left her parents farm. That's her life till her father death and a secret is revealed and she's taks with a Quest.
It's the start of a cozy and original fantasy I thoroughly enjoyed. There's companions, a pink unicorn and an entertaining story I loved.
I couldn't help imagining a Chosen with compression stocking and arthritis but that should have a bit too muche on the Pratchett side.
Loved it, would be happy to read more adventure featuring Wink.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
In this case the Chosen is 60 years old, a farmer and never left her parents farm. That's her life till her father death and a secret is revealed and she's taks with a Quest.
It's the start of a cozy and original fantasy I thoroughly enjoyed. There's companions, a pink unicorn and an entertaining story I loved.
I couldn't help imagining a Chosen with compression stocking and arthritis but that should have a bit too muche on the Pratchett side.
Loved it, would be happy to read more adventure featuring Wink.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
November 21, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up
This was a fun, cozy adventure! Definitely recommended to fans of T. Kingfisher, or to anyone who wants to read a fairy-tale-like fantasy with an older protagonist.
Set in a classic fantasy world, with elves, dwarves, gnomes, dragons and a myriad of other creatures and with a colorful cast of characters who all come together to complete a quest and do so in the least probable way possible, this felt reminiscent of a tabletop rpg campaign - and I mean this as a compliment!
However, while I had a lot of fun reading this, the story was extremely predictable, and the characters, while very likable, were never given any real depth. Still, it's a good effort, particularly for a debut author, and I'm looking forward to reading what else Evers comes up with in the future.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This was a fun, cozy adventure! Definitely recommended to fans of T. Kingfisher, or to anyone who wants to read a fairy-tale-like fantasy with an older protagonist.
Set in a classic fantasy world, with elves, dwarves, gnomes, dragons and a myriad of other creatures and with a colorful cast of characters who all come together to complete a quest and do so in the least probable way possible, this felt reminiscent of a tabletop rpg campaign - and I mean this as a compliment!
However, while I had a lot of fun reading this, the story was extremely predictable, and the characters, while very likable, were never given any real depth. Still, it's a good effort, particularly for a debut author, and I'm looking forward to reading what else Evers comes up with in the future.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
March 5, 2024
What a light and fun story! It's a fantasy story with less than 300 pages with an adventure full of unexpected turns. The names are so original! The main character is named Inspirational Wink, also known as Good Idea. She lives in Whisper and has two brothers, named Second and Third and Second's children are named Before and After. How funny, I had a lot of fun reading Good Idea's adventure and the allies she meets along the way, each one more peculiar than the last. I recommend!
Que história leve e divertida! É uma história de fantasia com menos de 300 páginas com uma aventura cheia de voltas inesperadas. Os nomes são tão originais! A personagem principal chama-se Inspirational Wink, também conhecida como Good Idea. Mora em Whisper e tem dois irmãos, chamados Second e Third e os filhos do Second chamam-se Before e After. Quão engraçado, diverti-me muito a ler a aventura da Good Idea e dos aliados que encontra pelo caminho, cada um mais peculiar que o anterior. Recomendo!
Que história leve e divertida! É uma história de fantasia com menos de 300 páginas com uma aventura cheia de voltas inesperadas. Os nomes são tão originais! A personagem principal chama-se Inspirational Wink, também conhecida como Good Idea. Mora em Whisper e tem dois irmãos, chamados Second e Third e os filhos do Second chamam-se Before e After. Quão engraçado, diverti-me muito a ler a aventura da Good Idea e dos aliados que encontra pelo caminho, cada um mais peculiar que o anterior. Recomendo!
January 6, 2024
Great book! Reads like a Dungeons and Dragons campaign and traditional fairytale adventure story and it's marvellous. The main character is 60 years old which is rare in this genre (unless they happen to be an elf/dwarf/vampire in which 60 is young, verging infancy).
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 3, 2023
Inspirational Wind and the Altogether Extraordinary Notebook reads like a classic fairytale, but with the gritty underlying realism of most first adventures. It's scary, wondrous, fantastical and utterly exhausting at times; and there is no clue as to how to proceed when things get tough, especially when the heroine has absolutely no life experience to compare it to. Luckily she has chosen well in her fellow adventurers, most whom have a few tricks of their own up their sleeves (and also out of them!).
Like all fairytales there are lessons to be learned, foes to be defeated and great discoveries about not only the world they are discovering, but what is truly in our heroine and fellow adventurer's hearts and minds when their backs are up against the wall.
Be prepared for twists and turns you never saw coming, laughs that unexpectedly burst out of you, surprise occurrences and solutions that come from solid practicality and 'good ideas'; and of course, a little magic. And in the end...well, that's the fun of a great fairytale...you don't know the end or the lesson until you've finished it!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily, because I love a good read and like to share the best with fellow readers when I find them.
Like all fairytales there are lessons to be learned, foes to be defeated and great discoveries about not only the world they are discovering, but what is truly in our heroine and fellow adventurer's hearts and minds when their backs are up against the wall.
Be prepared for twists and turns you never saw coming, laughs that unexpectedly burst out of you, surprise occurrences and solutions that come from solid practicality and 'good ideas'; and of course, a little magic. And in the end...well, that's the fun of a great fairytale...you don't know the end or the lesson until you've finished it!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily, because I love a good read and like to share the best with fellow readers when I find them.
November 22, 2023
☆ Crossover Fantasy
☆ Cosy Adventure
☆ Fairy Tale Crossover
☆ Epic Quest
☆ Found Family
☆ Unlikely but Endearing FMC
☆ Reluctant Heroine
☆ Self Discovery
☆ Magical
☆ World Building
☆ Debut Novel
☆ Laugh Out Loud
Inspirational Wink (aka 'Good Idea') is an unlikely protagonist who has no experience of the world outside her family home of 60 years
When her father dies, her mother charges her with a task to recover a mysterious item while her nephews move in and take over the farm
The names, language and humour are endearing and comical at the same time, whilst constructing an easy to follow fantasy realm
This book is full of surprises, not just in plot twists, but humour. There is something, or someone around every corner.
The story is endearing, it has a warmth to it. It is heartwarming and 'Good Idea' is an unexpectedly likable and personable character despite her initial naiivety. Her personal growth throughout the stort left me pondering and that is always a good sign
Good Idea has a delightful group of companions, all with good potential of further character development and the perfect fit to help her discover a whole new world and I hope we shall see more from this new author
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
☆ Cosy Adventure
☆ Fairy Tale Crossover
☆ Epic Quest
☆ Found Family
☆ Unlikely but Endearing FMC
☆ Reluctant Heroine
☆ Self Discovery
☆ Magical
☆ World Building
☆ Debut Novel
☆ Laugh Out Loud
Inspirational Wink (aka 'Good Idea') is an unlikely protagonist who has no experience of the world outside her family home of 60 years
When her father dies, her mother charges her with a task to recover a mysterious item while her nephews move in and take over the farm
The names, language and humour are endearing and comical at the same time, whilst constructing an easy to follow fantasy realm
This book is full of surprises, not just in plot twists, but humour. There is something, or someone around every corner.
The story is endearing, it has a warmth to it. It is heartwarming and 'Good Idea' is an unexpectedly likable and personable character despite her initial naiivety. Her personal growth throughout the stort left me pondering and that is always a good sign
Good Idea has a delightful group of companions, all with good potential of further character development and the perfect fit to help her discover a whole new world and I hope we shall see more from this new author
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 16, 2023
I received a free ARC of this book and am heaving a review voluntarily
I debated a bit on how to rank this one because there’s things in here I absolutely love and others that really intervene with my enjoyment.
First off, an older protagonist is such an awesome change of pace. I rarely see it so I was thrilled with seeing a fantasy adventure through the eyes of someone older, more experienced but also a bit cynical. It made for a lovely POV.
But oddly enough, it was the names of characters that kept taking me out of the story. That might seem an odd thing to focus on and surprised me too. Names usually aren’t a big deal to me but for whatever reason, they kept jerking me out of the immersion. Anytime I began to really dip into the story, these odd names popped up and just killed the mood.
I truly do not know why because, as I said, names are not usually a deal breaker for me. But here, they just felt… off, out of place.
A good fantasy adventure, with a likable and interesting protagonist but the odd names, even for fantasy, dulled my experience quite a bit.
I debated a bit on how to rank this one because there’s things in here I absolutely love and others that really intervene with my enjoyment.
First off, an older protagonist is such an awesome change of pace. I rarely see it so I was thrilled with seeing a fantasy adventure through the eyes of someone older, more experienced but also a bit cynical. It made for a lovely POV.
But oddly enough, it was the names of characters that kept taking me out of the story. That might seem an odd thing to focus on and surprised me too. Names usually aren’t a big deal to me but for whatever reason, they kept jerking me out of the immersion. Anytime I began to really dip into the story, these odd names popped up and just killed the mood.
I truly do not know why because, as I said, names are not usually a deal breaker for me. But here, they just felt… off, out of place.
A good fantasy adventure, with a likable and interesting protagonist but the odd names, even for fantasy, dulled my experience quite a bit.
November 20, 2023
A Magical Fantasy
Inspirational Wink and the Altogether Extraordinary Notebook follows Good Idea (Inspirational wink), a 60 year old woman on her journey to recover a magical notebook which belonged to her mother, a witch called Belladonna.
This cosy fantasy novel takes you on a weird and wonderful journey to the Mirror City following the adventures of Good Idea and her companions, an eclectic mix of amazing characters, including a pink horse, an Orc called Bruise, an Elf and a Witch.
Once I got used to the unusual characters names, I was transported to the writer's imaginative world of strange and colourful characters, their magical powers and performance alike.
Wonderful storytelling, clever and witty with extraordinary imagination.
I loved this book, such a brilliant read.
Highly recommended.
Thank you to Booksirens and the Publisher/Author for this advanced review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Inspirational Wink and the Altogether Extraordinary Notebook follows Good Idea (Inspirational wink), a 60 year old woman on her journey to recover a magical notebook which belonged to her mother, a witch called Belladonna.
This cosy fantasy novel takes you on a weird and wonderful journey to the Mirror City following the adventures of Good Idea and her companions, an eclectic mix of amazing characters, including a pink horse, an Orc called Bruise, an Elf and a Witch.
Once I got used to the unusual characters names, I was transported to the writer's imaginative world of strange and colourful characters, their magical powers and performance alike.
Wonderful storytelling, clever and witty with extraordinary imagination.
I loved this book, such a brilliant read.
Highly recommended.
Thank you to Booksirens and the Publisher/Author for this advanced review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 20, 2023
Inspirational Wink has had a bland, normal life so far. She is a grown woman at age 60, who has never left her family farm. When adventure is forced upon her, she reluctantly rises to the occasion. Along the way, she finds a group of mostly preternatural creatures who are to protect her and her quest which is no easy feat. The group grows throughout the journey and become needed friends. The adventure is dangerous and entertaining. It felt like all on the mission learned about themselves and grew from it. Readers will enjoy this journey alongside the characters and might just take away a little self knowledge, like they did. I read this book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 27, 2023
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book was….interesting. I almost gave up on it in the beginning, because it’s a very slow start. The first third of the book is frankly quite boring, and the strange naming convention the author set up is distracting. I also didn’t really appreciate the rather forced feeling romances. Still, once the story picked up it was enjoyable, and there were parts that I had a lot of fun with. If you like adventure fantasies and you don’t mind a bit of slogging to get to the good parts, then this book is worth a read.
This book was….interesting. I almost gave up on it in the beginning, because it’s a very slow start. The first third of the book is frankly quite boring, and the strange naming convention the author set up is distracting. I also didn’t really appreciate the rather forced feeling romances. Still, once the story picked up it was enjoyable, and there were parts that I had a lot of fun with. If you like adventure fantasies and you don’t mind a bit of slogging to get to the good parts, then this book is worth a read.
September 2, 2025
Thank you to the author for a copy of this novel; all opinions are my own.
Unfortunately, I just don't think at this point in time this one is for me. I'm in my romance era and while this is absolutely adorable, so fun, engaging, and witty, it's just not for me right now. I might pick up in the future though! The writing is excellent.
Unfortunately, I just don't think at this point in time this one is for me. I'm in my romance era and while this is absolutely adorable, so fun, engaging, and witty, it's just not for me right now. I might pick up in the future though! The writing is excellent.
December 28, 2023
Lovely tale, great read. Interesting characters & story ended the way I liked it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 14, 2024
This was a delightful cozy fantasy with lots of adventure! I loved all the characters and enjoyed the unique names.
February 2, 2025
This was such a cute book!! I really enjoyed the deviation from the norm in all ways - the names are so unique, and I LOVED Inspirational Wink. My god, she truly IS Inspirational, in every sense of the word.
I really loved the adventure, the character dynamics and the whimsical fantasy. This book helped fill a hole in my cozy-fantasy-craving heart that I wasn't even aware I had!
I'm now an instant fan of Delaney Evers and eagerly looking forward to what brilliant ideas come from them next!
Maryam | @tomesandtravels
📷 Instagram🔗 Threads🎥 TikTok
📚 Dawnkeep Library📬 Substack Blog
I really loved the adventure, the character dynamics and the whimsical fantasy. This book helped fill a hole in my cozy-fantasy-craving heart that I wasn't even aware I had!
I'm now an instant fan of Delaney Evers and eagerly looking forward to what brilliant ideas come from them next!
Maryam | @tomesandtravels
📷 Instagram🔗 Threads🎥 TikTok
📚 Dawnkeep Library📬 Substack Blog
December 28, 2024
This is a super cozy fantasy book. Lots of magical creatures and an epic adventure. The fmc is an older woman who is leaving her town for the first time (think bilbo baggins). This is not my usual read but the writing was good. The names took a lot to get used to, the characters have very strange names. If you are looking for a light fantasy read Definitely check this book out
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