What do you think?
Rate this book
The Standard Book of Anything Trilogy #1
The Standard Book of Anything
A gaslamp fantasy starring a resourceful heroine who sets out on a journey to save her hometown.
Emaline Strider fixes everything that breaks in her small village of Brookerby. When the Warding Tree of Protection crashes to the ground and cripples the town, Em is up for the challenge of finding a solution.
As she travels south to the glamorous capital city, she finds magic all around her. A shape-shifting book guides her. A never-empty flask sustains her. An improbable relationship blossoms. But can Em trust magic when her hammer and pliers are infinitely more reliable?
When the empress threatens her life and friends double-cross her, magic seems downright dangerous. Suddenly, a simple repair has become a race against the empire to save the only home she has ever known.
Light the fireplace, brew your favorite cup of tea, and settle in with this cozy epic fantasy.
Emaline Strider fixes everything that breaks in her small village of Brookerby. When the Warding Tree of Protection crashes to the ground and cripples the town, Em is up for the challenge of finding a solution.
As she travels south to the glamorous capital city, she finds magic all around her. A shape-shifting book guides her. A never-empty flask sustains her. An improbable relationship blossoms. But can Em trust magic when her hammer and pliers are infinitely more reliable?
When the empress threatens her life and friends double-cross her, magic seems downright dangerous. Suddenly, a simple repair has become a race against the empire to save the only home she has ever known.
Light the fireplace, brew your favorite cup of tea, and settle in with this cozy epic fantasy.
- GenresFantasy
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 24, 2024
16 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Read
May 9, 2024I liked it. But I’m biased.
January 26, 2024
A captivating adventure. I couldn’t put it down. The characters were well developed and easy to identify with and in some cases detest! There were so many turns and twists that kept me interested and on my toes. What a rich and rewarding experience!!
March 26, 2024
Delightful! A cozy read with an edge, the author successfully dabbled in magic and fantasy with a bit of mystery while not losing the storyline to far-flung notions too corny to believe. I adore Em. She's a vulnerable yet confident character who captures your heart and makes you into her biggest cheerleader. A female hero -- one of my favorite offerings in a book -- who doesn't get overly involved with a sappy romance. It is a tough balancing act, but Rome did a great job in this dichotomy. I would've liked to see a stronger storyline with her parents. I'll avoid a spoiler here, but the unfolding of this piece of the novel felt weaker in comparison. I was truly interested in her journey and invested the entire way through. Great debut! Can't wait to see what's next from this talented author.
November 16, 2025
This, for me, falls into a gap between two very disparate genres. One is cozy fantasy, and the other is dystopian. The scene in which the MC is rendered unconscious for sinister purposes by means of a spa treatment epitomises the clash between an element that should be cozy and an outcome that very much is not. I'm not sure how intentional the mixture is, but for me, it was always on the edge of not working.
Unfortunately, the writing is also in severe need of much more past perfect tense. The past perfect is used sometimes, but it needs to be used consistently. First of all, when referring to events that happened prior to the narrative moment, so that the reader doesn't suffer temporal whiplash trying to figure out the sequence, particularly in one case where the narration starts at one time, flashes back briefly to earlier events, and then returns. It's like a car changing lanes abruptly without signalling. As well as that, though, there are several cases where the author writes something like "she never knew X" when, in fact, she now does know X, having just learned it, and so the phrasing should be "she had never known X".
This isn't the only lack of clarity, either. At one point, a female character cups another female character's chin. This is described as "She cupped her chin," the obvious reading of which is that the character cupped her own chin, but two sentences later we discover that the "she" and the "her" were two different people, meaning I had to go back and re-parse the whole paragraph.
A dog who is a long way off, leading pursuers away, is, suddenly and with no transition, right there with his people.
Then there are the vocabulary issues. "Millennia" used as if it was singular (that would be "millennium"). "Marshall" with two Ls, which is a surname, used in place of the job title "marshal" with one L. "Betraying" for "belying" (most people get those confused in the other direction), "discrete" for "discreet" (a very common error), "bedclothes" for "nightclothes" (bedclothes are sheets and blankets), "peaked" for "peeked." There are misplaced commas now and again, and a couple of misplaced apostrophes. Nothing I haven't seen before, but it all adds up. One I hadn't seen before is "annuls" for "annals."
There's also a big clanging anachronism: "They weren't on the empress's radar." That's the kind of mistake you can only commit if you don't give a moment's thought to the literal meaning of the cliche you are using. This has got past half a dozen beta readers and an editor, according to the author's note at the end, so I can only imagine there were a lot of other issues distracting them from it.
Em, the protagonist, while she is one of those infuriating characters who gets in trouble by making the same stupid decision repeatedly, is well-intentioned, and in a difficult situation that's none of her making, but stepping up to try to solve it. That is what kept me reading, despite the mechanical problems. Her use of magic items at one point is moderately clever.
She's a person who fixes things, as in a handyperson - that's her occupation. This is the second book I've read recently where a young woman is portrayed as capable by making her someone who does home repairs (the other being Partridge Up a Pear Tree (and Dragons) ), but I felt this one did a better job of incorporating it into her character and making it part of how she approached the world, rather than just being a decal that said, against all other evidence, that she was competent and practical. I like a competent young woman protagonist, though I prefer ones who don't keep making the same stupid mistake.
The world is one where magic use is fading. The government (headed by an empress) is actively suppressing it, in fact, but it turns out there's a good reason - magic has caused a lot of problems. Still, the goon squad who come in search of one of the protagonist's friends to arrest him for magic use is needlessly brutal and bullying, and their captain, who later is portrayed as not so bad after all, does nothing to stop them, something that Em doesn't confront him about. Em's village has lost its guardian tree, which was suppressing negative emotions and producing a cozy-style village artificially - perhaps the whole book is a critique of the cozy genre? The loss of the tree causes a surge of negative emotions that tears the village apart, and Em leaves to find a solution, having a series of adventures. She's guided, or misguided, by the magical book of the title, which hints at directions for her to follow but never tells her everything she needs to know in order to get it right.
Em echoes, but never just follows, the fantasy cliche of the young orphan craftsperson who must leave the village when it's destroyed, encounters helpful and loyal companions and gains useful magic items; that side of the story is genre-savvy, and I think there may be some thought going on about artificial utopias, dystopias, negative consequences of attempting to make people happy and contented artificially, and the contentment of one group being purchased at the price of tragedy for another.
If the execution had been better, and the resolution had stuck the landing, these underlying ideas could have worked, but it's not enough just to have a good idea about a theme; you have to pay attention to the details that convey it to the reader on a sentence-by-sentence level, with clarity and accuracy that let the reader absorb the story undistracted by mechanical glitches, or by having to re-parse poorly phrased sentences. For me, that quality wasn't there, and this lands in the lowest tier of my annual recommendation list, along with other books that could so easily have been so much better. There's definitely potential here, but I don't feel it's been reached.
Note: As of next year, I will be scoring books at this level three stars. I'm keeping four stars until the end of the year for consistency in my annual Best of the Year list for 2025.
Unfortunately, the writing is also in severe need of much more past perfect tense. The past perfect is used sometimes, but it needs to be used consistently. First of all, when referring to events that happened prior to the narrative moment, so that the reader doesn't suffer temporal whiplash trying to figure out the sequence, particularly in one case where the narration starts at one time, flashes back briefly to earlier events, and then returns. It's like a car changing lanes abruptly without signalling. As well as that, though, there are several cases where the author writes something like "she never knew X" when, in fact, she now does know X, having just learned it, and so the phrasing should be "she had never known X".
This isn't the only lack of clarity, either. At one point, a female character cups another female character's chin. This is described as "She cupped her chin," the obvious reading of which is that the character cupped her own chin, but two sentences later we discover that the "she" and the "her" were two different people, meaning I had to go back and re-parse the whole paragraph.
A dog who is a long way off, leading pursuers away, is, suddenly and with no transition, right there with his people.
Then there are the vocabulary issues. "Millennia" used as if it was singular (that would be "millennium"). "Marshall" with two Ls, which is a surname, used in place of the job title "marshal" with one L. "Betraying" for "belying" (most people get those confused in the other direction), "discrete" for "discreet" (a very common error), "bedclothes" for "nightclothes" (bedclothes are sheets and blankets), "peaked" for "peeked." There are misplaced commas now and again, and a couple of misplaced apostrophes. Nothing I haven't seen before, but it all adds up. One I hadn't seen before is "annuls" for "annals."
There's also a big clanging anachronism: "They weren't on the empress's radar." That's the kind of mistake you can only commit if you don't give a moment's thought to the literal meaning of the cliche you are using. This has got past half a dozen beta readers and an editor, according to the author's note at the end, so I can only imagine there were a lot of other issues distracting them from it.
Em, the protagonist, while she is one of those infuriating characters who gets in trouble by making the same stupid decision repeatedly, is well-intentioned, and in a difficult situation that's none of her making, but stepping up to try to solve it. That is what kept me reading, despite the mechanical problems. Her use of magic items at one point is moderately clever.
She's a person who fixes things, as in a handyperson - that's her occupation. This is the second book I've read recently where a young woman is portrayed as capable by making her someone who does home repairs (the other being Partridge Up a Pear Tree (and Dragons) ), but I felt this one did a better job of incorporating it into her character and making it part of how she approached the world, rather than just being a decal that said, against all other evidence, that she was competent and practical. I like a competent young woman protagonist, though I prefer ones who don't keep making the same stupid mistake.
The world is one where magic use is fading. The government (headed by an empress) is actively suppressing it, in fact, but it turns out there's a good reason - magic has caused a lot of problems. Still, the goon squad who come in search of one of the protagonist's friends to arrest him for magic use is needlessly brutal and bullying, and their captain, who later is portrayed as not so bad after all, does nothing to stop them, something that Em doesn't confront him about. Em's village has lost its guardian tree, which was suppressing negative emotions and producing a cozy-style village artificially - perhaps the whole book is a critique of the cozy genre? The loss of the tree causes a surge of negative emotions that tears the village apart, and Em leaves to find a solution, having a series of adventures. She's guided, or misguided, by the magical book of the title, which hints at directions for her to follow but never tells her everything she needs to know in order to get it right.
Em echoes, but never just follows, the fantasy cliche of the young orphan craftsperson who must leave the village when it's destroyed, encounters helpful and loyal companions and gains useful magic items; that side of the story is genre-savvy, and I think there may be some thought going on about artificial utopias, dystopias, negative consequences of attempting to make people happy and contented artificially, and the contentment of one group being purchased at the price of tragedy for another.
If the execution had been better, and the resolution had stuck the landing, these underlying ideas could have worked, but it's not enough just to have a good idea about a theme; you have to pay attention to the details that convey it to the reader on a sentence-by-sentence level, with clarity and accuracy that let the reader absorb the story undistracted by mechanical glitches, or by having to re-parse poorly phrased sentences. For me, that quality wasn't there, and this lands in the lowest tier of my annual recommendation list, along with other books that could so easily have been so much better. There's definitely potential here, but I don't feel it's been reached.
Note: As of next year, I will be scoring books at this level three stars. I'm keeping four stars until the end of the year for consistency in my annual Best of the Year list for 2025.
April 27, 2024
What a treat to read! Really charming and engaging characters, and a story that makes it hard to put down…really enjoyed it!
July 25, 2025
I enjoyed this book and will definitely read the sequel.
I like the world, the writing style, and Bob the dog the most. The quest aspect and the slight magic made it very fun.
I will say, I personally wouldn't call this a cozy fantasy. The stakes were a little too high for that in my opinion. And I got a little frustrated with our main character, Em, going forward then backward with her character development. She would grow as a person then suddenly be very - I can't trust anyone, they lied because they left out this small detail- and that really brought me out of the story and made her hard to root for as a main character.
If you like magic, small quests, and men who will do anything for their leading ladies this is the book for you! I would highly recommend.
I like the world, the writing style, and Bob the dog the most. The quest aspect and the slight magic made it very fun.
I will say, I personally wouldn't call this a cozy fantasy. The stakes were a little too high for that in my opinion. And I got a little frustrated with our main character, Em, going forward then backward with her character development. She would grow as a person then suddenly be very - I can't trust anyone, they lied because they left out this small detail- and that really brought me out of the story and made her hard to root for as a main character.
If you like magic, small quests, and men who will do anything for their leading ladies this is the book for you! I would highly recommend.
August 9, 2024
Sweet and simple, in the best of ways. The author focuses on well-rounded characters and an exciting and magical plot. I could sit back and enjoy without having to remember every twist, turn, or convoluted story line. The story was truly original with a kick-ass heroine to love. Side note, I got to meet the author a short while ago and she was just as lovely as the book. I’m hoping for a series!!!
January 30, 2024
Harry Potter, scoot over: there’s a new
extraordinary life force in the village. Enchanting, creative and enterprising, Em has challenges and mysteries interwoven into a suspenseful, lively, and magical tale. Reader beware: you won’t want this adventure to end!
extraordinary life force in the village. Enchanting, creative and enterprising, Em has challenges and mysteries interwoven into a suspenseful, lively, and magical tale. Reader beware: you won’t want this adventure to end!
October 12, 2024
I loved this cozy fantasy centered around a no-nonsense handywoman who determined to save her community from destroying itself. Great characters, fun world building, and a premise that drew me in from the first page.
December 7, 2024
I wasn't sure going into this how I would feel as fantasy can be so hard to master but I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I truly hope there's a sequel and cannot wait to see what else Rome writes!
March 6, 2025
A very sweet read. Em is both charming and stubborn, often to her own detriment. I found the beginning a little slow during the world building part, but I really enjoyed the idea of a magical book that (kind of) has helpful answers. I’ll read the sequel when it comes out
January 28, 2024
Wonderful story!
This was a delightful novel. Fun and easy to read but hard to put down. The characters were great and the storyline enjoyable.
This was a delightful novel. Fun and easy to read but hard to put down. The characters were great and the storyline enjoyable.
February 1, 2024
A very enjoyable book that was hard to put down.
February 16, 2024
Warm and Witty
What a great read. Interesting character
s and story. I was rooting for Em! Looking forward to Em and Liam's nex
t adventure!
What a great read. Interesting character
s and story. I was rooting for Em! Looking forward to Em and Liam's nex
t adventure!
February 26, 2024
Enjoyed this creative, unique story. Characters were great and the story is a fun adventure.
July 21, 2024
An enjoyable read with interesting characters.
May 22, 2025
Cozy adventure novel with a cute town, clever FMC, a quest, a found family, a little romance and a dog named Bob. Would read again!
March 20, 2024
This book is filled with adventure, magic and heart. The characters were endearing. There were surprises, sweet moments and action-packed scenarios. The writing was well-done and the story kept me hooked. I couldn’t put it down and will be highly recommending this to anyone who loves fantasy, romance, adventure and more.
Not to mention, let’s support a local Kansas City author who did a momentous thing by putting her first book into the world.
Not to mention, let’s support a local Kansas City author who did a momentous thing by putting her first book into the world.
November 1, 2024
Really fun read!
What can I say?! I love the characters, the adventure and this world it takes place in! Really well written and completely fun!
What can I say?! I love the characters, the adventure and this world it takes place in! Really well written and completely fun!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews