Love At First Lance: A Cozy Fantasy Rom-Com

by Gryffin Murphy

An innocent was about to be sentenced to death!

(Actually, marriage, but that mattered very little, as the two words were synonymous for the princess.)

Every year, the seasonal kingdoms in the realm of Lore gather together for a tournament of whimsical games. The winner’s reward? The marriage to a member of the hosting court. When Princess Brigid of the Spring Kingdom publicly rejects the tradition of being offered as a mere prize, it has unforeseen consequences. A year later, her younger sister Blossom has been thrust into the role of the bride-to-be.

When she learns the roguish Night Prince has stepped forward to compete for Blossom's affection, Brigid takes matters into her own hands to protect her sister. In her quest to outwit unworthy suitors, she assumes a clever disguise and enters the tournament herself, prepared to throw any villainous contender from the running.

As the tournament unfolds, however, Brigid finds unexpected allies among her adversaries and discovers that true love can bloom in the most unexpected places.

Readers who love the cozy fantasy genre will enjoy this delightful journey filled with humor, enchantment, and of course, romance.

Genres: Fantasy, Cozy Fantasy, Cozy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Romantasy, Historical

262 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 4, 2023

About the author

Gryffin Murphy lives in Virginia with her husband and their two pugs, Bagels and Buster. She spends her days in overalls, trying to befriend the neighborhood crows and writing stories that warm the heart like the perfect cup of tea on a rainy day.

Reviews

[highmaze · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sick in bed yesterday binge reading this and it was super cute and fun :))

[bananabreadlover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy romantic fantasy, indeed! lol

This is She's the Man meets Ella Enchanted meets Pride and Prejudice. Does it get any better than that?

Something about this being so cosy and so sweet made me sad though, which isn't surprising because things I like too much always make me start to feel sad - so that's on me. A normal person who reads this will probably feel wonderful after finishing it, whereas I feel overwhelmingly like a small hole has opened up inside my chest.

[Victoria Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars // This low stakes, cozy romcom fantasy on KU was such a great palate cleanser. Quick read for anyone looking for something really easy to pick up

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was INCREDIBLE I laughed, I was surprised I cried. It was such a fun read. I wish I could forget it all and read it again immediately.

It’s familiar but fresh and fun. I really did cry when it ended because I was sad it was over.

[Elyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

okay…. I was told that due to my love of A Knights Tale I would really like this and lo and behold, I DID. Pretty much exactly what you’d expect from an easy to read romantasy book, which I typically don’t like, but I persisted and ended up getting really into it. Sweet cliche lovely romance story for the WIN

[Kassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so addicting. I love reading simple, low stakes books from KU in between more intense books, but most of the time I am disappointed by the plot or the writing. But this??? I could not put it down. I just loved the writing style so much and the story line was easy to follow and CALM. It definitely hit all the cozy marks Murphy was trying to achieve. It gave me what I thought ‘Powerless’ was going to give.

[Brittany Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute! I loved that this was a low stakes little fantasy, after coming off of books like fourth wing & iron flame, it was much needed for my anxious little heart!

This truly was a cozy read and made me feel like I was supposed to be a character in this world along with the MC’s (hot bean water anyone?!)

Thanks for writing this story Gryffin! 💕

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hehehehe. This had me smiling, giggling, kicking my feet. It was cute but not cutesy and had the perfect balance of action and romance. Nothing felt like over done and I loved that it was a fantasy with no war of some kind. Just fun and entertainment.


Loved it

Also
Haden. Mmmm. Loved this man. Gimme one.

[Elle Steward · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! It felt like a safe haven & a pure delight. It was so much fun & was absolutely filled with cute & enjoyable interactions & activities. I loved it!
An absolutely wonderful tale!!

(This story is clean with only a few innuendos & infrequent, mild language.)

[ryleecanread · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute low stakes fantasy with hidden identities, found family, and enemies to lovers!

[Dani Stratman · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars.

A disgustingly cute, easy read. Best enjoyed with a warm beverage by a fireplace; alas, I had to make do curled up on the couch out of the Dallas heat, giggling and kicking my feet at the characters’ ridiculous antics and swoonworthy banter.

I saw another reviewer say this was “She’s the Man” meets “Ella Enchanted” meets “Pride and Prejudice,” and I emphatically second that. Truly the definition of cozy fantasy with low stakes. However, the plot and characters were still engaging and layered, with just the right amount of cheesiness, and plot twists/surprises within the low stakes, which kept it from feeling too simple or poorly written.

[Elizabeth Lawrence]

DNF. Couldn’t get through the first couple pages

[Nikki Gibbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say, another great Bianca rec

[what.rachel.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute!! Ella Enchanted meets Greta British Bake Off
She thinks it’s enemies to lovers but he’s always wanted her!
Low spice, low stakes, cozy fantasy read!

[rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how fun this was & all of the Easter eggs sprinkled throughout giving a nod to things like howls moving castle and the princess bride & pride and prejudice!!

[Savannah · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 7%: chapter 2

The Canva-made cover lured me in, but the first chapter had me tapping out faster than a toddler at naptime.

[Cheyanne Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was stupid cute and delightfully fluffy in all the right ways, I think I’ve found my new favorite cozy fantasy

[Kristina Fontes · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of our romance picks for book club!

[Gillian CS · Rating 5 out of 5]

this had me kicking my feet and giggling the whole time it was so cute and so funny

[Kelvin Buck · Rating 1 out of 5]

the garbage map at the front shouldve been a sign that this book would plague me. brigid might be the dumbest mc of all time every decision she made felt designed to sabotage her. hadens actually kinda a babe but he deserves so much better than brigid

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not my typical read, but this was literally just pure cuteness <3

[Krysten · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun and cute.

[Kate · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave it a fair chance, but there’s just so many things wrong with this book from the lack of worldbuilding to the use of trademarked terms (sorry friends, the Tolkien estate doesn’t want you making money off of hobbits). Just a big ole mess.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly cute and cozy, with lots of humorous references to other books and movies. A lot of things didn’t make a ton of sense, but I didn’t mind at all because it delivered on exactly what I wanted - a very enjoyable low-stakes romance.

[Jess · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was about as half baked as me after 2 hits

[ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. a cozy romantic fantasy that was exactly as advertised. the tasks give Great British Bake Off vibes. very cute.

[Stephanie M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a very specific type of humor to it, and it's definitely my type of humor! I had so much fun reading this cozy fantasy book that has allusions to several things that I love, including Legends & Lattes and Narnia. The story is so cute, and while it's predictable in some ways, that did not deter me from falling in love with the characters and world!

[Jennifer (ConsortingWithBooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.8/5
Spice Level: .5/5

Tropes: Cozy Fantasy Rom/Com, Low Stakes, Miscommunication, Rivals/Enemies to Lovers? Found Family

Ok, so this was a fun palate cleanser book! It's very low-stakes, (very) silly, cozy fantasy that will have you laughing out loud.

Our FMC, Brigid, is an outspoken princess, who foiled the previous year's games and didn't get married like she was supposed to due to it, and now it's her sister's turn to be the Hand of the games (aka the next marriage candidate). So Brigid does what any person would do to save their sister from marrying somebody unworthy, which is disguise herself and enter the games herself. Of course, just to foil the unworthy suitors.

Enter Haden, the night prince, the quick-witted, thoughtful "knight" who has also entered the games. The two characters have great chemistry and banter and just bounce off each other so well.

As for Brigid, for someone who seems smart, she's an idiot most of the time. Plenty of cringing at her antics happened throughout the book, but overall, despite the predictability and ridiculousness the book was a fun, quick read.

It's definitely not meant to be taken seriously at all, and if you're looking for a truly light-hearted, cute read, this is a good one to check out.

[Deztyni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love At First Lance is a delightful tale that had me thoroughly engaged and swooning!! Not only is it cozy and romantic, but also it’s touching and fast-paced with charming descriptions. The romance/banter between Haden and Brigid, along with the beautiful book cover is reason enough to read this book. Moreover, it’s refreshing to find a fantasy novel written without violence or swearing… I’m truly glad I stumbled upon Love At First Lance<3

[Hannah Fowles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brigid I love you