Cinnamon Rolls and Villainy

Cinnamon Rolls and Villainy #1

by Chanté A. Campbell

A kind-hearted baker with a dark secret.The vicious, beautiful villainess he’s forced to serve. And the ruthless game that will decide the fate of their world. Human, Ayc Waylonder should have died in a massacre that destroyed his people, but a swift lie spared him from a bloody fate. Taken prisoner by the cruel Sovereign of the Everadyn fae, he has survived her foreign court on cheap tricks and his extraordinary baking skills. Ten years later, the Sovereign announces she’s relinquishing her throne and triggers the start of the Sovereignty Trials, an ancient and ruthless game. The winner will be the next to rule over Everadyn… and Ayc, as well.

When Loraphne - a villain as vicious as her mother, the Sovereign - asks Ayc to join her team of Five in the Trials, he can’t say no. Not when unbreakable magic forces him to serve her. Ayc must embark on seven dangerous quests alongside the rest of Loraphne’s unlikely including Ayc’s two best friends, a powerful sorcerer, a gifted navigator with his faithful seeing-eye dog, and a temperamental gryphon. Dragons, wraiths, and six other teams—who have decided killing Loraphne is their top priority—stand in their way as they fight to be the first to finish a race where few participants survive.

The Sovereignty Trials are no place for a kind-hearted baker, and it’ll take far more than his legendary cinnamon rolls to save him now.

Cinnamon Rolls and Villainy is Book 1 in a high stakes, adult romantic fantasy series, with enemies to lovers, spicy romance, and a cinnamon roll hero who will lay claim to your heart and refuse to let go. Perfect for adult fans of The Cruel Prince.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Cozy Fantasy, Enemies To Lovers, LGBT, Fantasy Romance

602 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 27, 2024

About the author

Campbell (they/any) writes fantasy romance, with breathtaking adventure, diverse found families, and of course, toe-curling spice. They hail from the PNW where they can be found hiking with their husband and two children to find inspiration for their next novel within alpine forests and beneath waterfalls.

Reviews

[patty ✿⁷ · Rating 4 out of 5]

when you look up “found family” in the dictionary, it’s just a picture of this book

[Audrey Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

RAHHHH I LOVE THIS BOOK!

This is my second read through this book before it is punished. The first time I read it was back in December as like a rough ARC book to help the author file some things out, and this time was to help her catch any last minute spelling errors and such.

This is a genderbent enemies to lovers romantasy, where he is the cinnamon roll and she is the villainess. This book is FILLED with queer, disabled, and neurodivergent characters. The author does an incredible job at representing all of them. Bringing all of the characters to life, in fact. This book has amazing and clear worldbuilding- the clear part is super important to me, I get lost easily.

I freaking love all the characters. Like Lora and her five are my everything. Ayc and Xylie are my favorites, but they all have their moments in the spotlight tbh.

I laughed at all the funny moments, gasped at all the surprises, and cried at all the sad moments. This book is truly a masterpiece and I am genuinely so excited for the world to get to read it and fall in love with the story and the universe like I’ve been doing for months now.

Thank you Chanté for trusting me to be a part of your street team🫶🏻

[Nicole D Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much of this book read a lot like a DnD campaign. The quests, found family, creatures, magic, and artifacts very much reminded me of DnD in a good way. Also, the slow burn was STRONG with this one. So much UST I nearly threw the book a couple of times. But the characters were well developed and super diverse. There is gender queer, LGBT+, disability, and neuro-divergent representation. I loved the relationships, the banter, and the reversed gender roles (she is the morally grey "villain" who is super protective of HIM). The next book can't come soon enough!

[☾arina⭐︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most diverse casts of characters I've read in a long time, maybe ever? Their resilience in the face of bigotry and prejudice was admirable. They refuse to change who they are to make others comfortable, and I loved that about them.

I don't know if I would consider Lora a villain, more so a morally gray FMC. She protects those she loves, wants to fix injustices, oh yeah, and loves to knit. If she happens to kill someone, it's probably because they deserved it. Although they're supposed to be enemies, Lora seems to forget whenever Ayc is being threatened. 🤭 Don't mess with her cinnamon roll, or she'll cut you.🔪 Ayc is the sunshine to her grumpiness. He's a baker who loves to tell jokes, not only to make people laugh but also to mask his discomfort. He's sweet, kind, always smiling, and just wants someone to really see him and love him for who he is.

Lora and her group of five compete in the Sovereignty Trials, where the winner becomes the next Sovereign of the Everadyn fae. Each task they face comes with its own puzzle, and I thought the answers were really clever.

My only minor complaint is the overuse of the word "villainess". It was too repetitive and sometimes unnecessary. But like I said, it was minor and didn't deter me at all from enjoying the story.

Luckily, I won't have to wait for what comes next because book two just came out this week!

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝒲-𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹… 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓁-𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝒶 𝒸𝒾𝓃𝓃𝒶𝓂𝑜𝓃 𝓇𝑜𝓁𝓁?” 🥮(closest thing to a cinnamon roll emoji apparently which I am very upset there isn’t one😤)

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh boy Ayc, I do not truly know how Lora puts up with you without actually wanting to harm you. 🗡️ On the other hand though, Ayc is such a fun, goofy character- I loved him. Even though his jokes were awful at times, he is definitely the definition of a cinnamon roll. Side note: I am now actually craving cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate. ☕️

Chanté, if you are reading this though, as much as I loved this book and love you, I am very angry about that ending. (Jk) Ummm… how dare you leave us on a cliff hanger like that!? That is so ruuuuudeeee!!😔

If you love: cinnamon rolls(both the character trope and the food), the idea of the MMC being the cinnamon roll and the FMC being the villainess(*his* villainess👀), very quirky and sometimes awful dad jokes(Sorry, Ayc), LGBTQ, chronic illness, and neurodivergent representing characters, enemies to lovers romance(make it genderbent though as stated above), and of course romantasy✨, then why haven’t you read this book yet? (Oh there is also a little bit of spice✨🌶️)

That is literally the definition of this book. Soooo, are you going to go read it now? Cause you should. 🥧 You would also be supporting a self-published author which is pretty cool of you to do. (Also go check out her other books!!!)

Also as a note, thank you Chanté for choosing me to be a part of your review team and for sending me a e-book ARC of this wonderful book!! It was so cute and so much fun to read!

[Laura Barbour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book

The characters felt real and well rounded and fully flushed out. I had been in a horrible reading slump and even when I was having trouble picking up any book I wanted to find out what was happening next.

[Sarah-Jean Ledbetter · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 2 complaints are that I started this book not realizing it was a series. It dawned on me, in horror, when I noticed there were only 10 pages left and things were not resolved. The other one is the Kindle version has a lot of typos.

[Jaime Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beta Reader here and let me tell you, if she manages to improve this book before publication, we'll have to raise the rating system to something bigger than 5 stars.

Stay tuned, my pretties!

[Sabreena Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chante pulled off a wonderful fantasy quest story that is all-inclusive for all types of people! No matter who you are, there is a character in this book for you! This story is about a group that is competing in a quest, where the winner will be the sovereign leader over the realm. The winner of the quest will be the one who sets the tone for the entire realm - good or bad!! I enjoyed this so much! I didnt want it to end!!!

[Payton Box · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I found this book from Threads when the author posted about it in a random thread asking for recommendations and I loved the title, so I added it to my kindle immediately. I actually think I got rid of a book cause I was at my borrowing limit and I don’t regret it.

This book has been whispering to me since I downloaded it and so I read it as soon as I had time, and can I say I wish I waited just so I didn’t have to wait as long for the next book? I LOVED this book, every moment, every scene, but especially Lore and Ayc, easily might be one of my favorite fantasy couples I’ve read lately, and definitely top 10 of all time. They hate each other for what the other represents and yet both are harboring secret feelings, and well secrets in general. They have a twisted history that builds on ten years of bullying, hatred, murder, and more that’ll have you dying to continue their story.

This book uses common fantasy tropes, particularly the trials, but I loved how it played out. It was fresh, new, and exciting. While the trope was common, the storyline and how it all played out was unique and enjoyable from start to finish. Lore is a brilliant female lead, who is so strong, but also willing to be the villain and I love that about her. Ayc is a kind man, who is trapped in a terrible situation, but never fails to find the good in people.

I don’t really know what else to say besides I hope there is more to this series and I hope it’s coming soon because I’ll be anxiously awaiting the day for book two!

[Delilah Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. **

Wow… just wow. This book kept me on my toes the ENTIRE time. I couldn't put it down! The banter between the two main characters was *muah* chef's kiss. At first, I was afraid that the antagonistic nature between the two MCs was going to be a bit drawn out and get annoying after a while (as has been my experience with other stories), however, I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself actually enjoying it (+10 points to Chanté). I really enjoyed and appreciated how naturally the author and characters talked about disability and sexuality, and things of the like. I will say, I was able to predict most of the "twists and turns" several chapters before they happen. That being said, it did not ruin my experience of the story in the slightest. I loved this book and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series!!

[DaybeOneMay · Rating 4 out of 5]

CHANTÉ

CHANTÉ PLEASE

YOU CAN'T DO THIS 😭

I'm so deeply attached to these characters, the world is so accepting and open (diversity in everything from sexuality, to relationships, to invisible illness, to disabilities) and the collective that's brought together feels like home. I NEED more.

I'm giving 4 stars because I was promised enemies to lovers and we're all lying to ourselves if we think they were ever enemies 🫠 and WHY WAS THERE NOT ONE CONFESSION?? PLEASE 😭

[Anais (atrailofpages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humans lived peacefully in Aluina protected by the Everadyn fae, their allies, from the Drakr fae. Until, one day, they didn’t.

Ten years ago, the Everadyn fae made a deal with the Drakr fae to kill all in Aluina, Ayc’s homeland. Before killing everyone, they were told Ayc is divina, or divine, and any would be cursed if they killed him. So, they take him.

Ten years later, he bakes cinnamon rolls and entertains for the Sovereign of the Everadyn fae while keeping his secret.

Now, in three months time, the Sovereignty Trials are to begin which will name the next Sovereign. The current Sovereign’s daughter has to be a part of the trial and will also choose her Five that will join her. And that happens to include Ayc, and he doesn’t understand why.

This was a fantastic book! This had so much put into it. There’s representation, there’s romance, there’s a beautiful found family, there’s adventure, there’s a trial, there’s secrets and betrayal, and so much more!

This was such a well thought out book. It kind of reflects some idealistic ideas we see today and how some defy those and show by their actions and accept you for you, not what others tell you to be or should be.

There’s heartbreak in here, but there’s also a lot of hope, and it made the adventure and trial so much more not only with what’s in stake, but the family that has been built.

The found family trope is used strongly in here. And seriously one of the best found families ever! Peregrin is like the parent figure of them all, with Lora the princess and her friend Bronwen, then we have Xylie cousin to Lora, the blind boy with a unique power and his dog Saga who are literally his eyes, and then Ayc of course who just brought all the humor that we desperately needed during this trial!

And then the slow burn romance that drove me up the wall gahhhhh!!!! Ayc and Lora CLEARLY have feelings for each other, but they refuse to acknowledge it and it drove me nuts(in a good way). The slow burn was such an annoying slow burn and I loved every moment of it. Especially since Ayc has a few secrets, and seriously changes a lot of things as they come to light. Lora I would say is almost a bully, but you understand why she is the way she is as the story progresses and you can’t help but love her, especially when she tries. I love these two together and I do hope they become endgame!

Also, Ayc with his jokes, loved it. Whenever he said a joke randomly, it was like a light coming up at the end of the tunnel. He seemed to know exactly when to say one.

There’s so much to say about this book and I think everyone should just read it. The world building is exquisite, the trial is top notch and exciting, the banter is wonderful(we always love a good banter), it’s filled with dumb dad jokes(which we know we all love too 😉), a beautiful found family that you will fall in love with and want to be a part of, and a romance that will slowly melt you and destroy your heart.

I couldn’t recommend this book enough. Just read it. You will NOT be disappointed.

I received a gifted e-ARC(thank you to the author and BookSirens). All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Priyanka Taslim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily!

I knew I wanted to read Cinnamon Rolls and Villainy as soon as the author discussed the dynamic between the main leads, which is a fun subversion of some of my favorite tropes—for example, it’s the FMC who has a “touch him and die” moment. I love the diverse cast, especially the different kinds of disability representation. The premise sounds very cozy—about a villainess and a baker—but it touches on deeper themes, past trauma, and is honestly very heartfelt, with some moments that had me biting my nails, especially toward the end. I would absolutely read more in this series and by this author.

[Angel aka BooksnCats007 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful Debut

The cover got me! It took a bit to familiarize myself with the characters, world, and storyline, which for me was OK because I LOVE a good epic fantasy. Within the first 50 pages, you experience angst, awe, horror, and spice. Fell in love with the MMC Ayc instantly and absolutely loved the progression of his character. The story does hop back and forth so that you learn the history between the MMC and FMC, but it's written beautifully and in a way that is easy to understand.
Loved the trials, and unexpected surprises revealed! I was HOOKED and ordered book 2 because... well, just trust me!

[Sarah Hartmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT DO YOU MEAN I CAN'T GIVE MORE THAN FIVE STARS?!

Wow. Seriously, wow. This was such a wonderfully written book that took me on a journey through twists and turns that were as delightful as they were shocking. A masterclass in the slow burn. Impeccable character development. Phenomenal world building. And somehow withing all that, representation for so, so many marginalized groups who desperately deserve to see themselves in amazing stories like this.

I'd give it a million stars if I could. Read this book NOW.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did read an Arc. i absolutly adored this book. i loved the World and the characters. from the moment i started my journey with Ayc i was not able to put the book down. it made my heart race. i felt for this characters and i am so happy to have read this.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Castielificc · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

The kind of book you don't want to finish, because what the hell are you going to do with your life once it's over??

💚 Inclusive characters (chronic pain, poc, selective mutism, queer, polyamorous relationships).
💚 Grumpy FMC / Sunshine MMC
💚 Dark past between MCs
💚 Enemies to lovers
💚 Growing up together
💚 Captive MMC (to the FMC's family)
💚 Curvy FMC
💚 The MMC's jokes
💚 Very protective of each other
💚 Badass warrior FMC
💚 The MMC. Everything about him.
💚 Who did this to you?
💚 Found family
💚 Slow burn
💚 Anti-bigotry
💚 Endearring side characters
💚 Adventures & quests
💚 Comedy
💚 Secrets & twists

❤️‍🩹 Quality of the story kinda dropped at about 70% of the story. It was still enjoyable, but not as captivating.
❤️‍🩹 POV suddenly starting to switch between the MCs was disconcerting (and felt a little like cheating) when it had just been the MMC's pov for more than 50%.
❤️‍🩹 Lots of typos. This needs another round of proofreading and editing.
❤️‍🩹 World building can be a bit confusing because it mixes typical fantasy world's elements and modern things, like karaoke and candelabras as light source.
❤️‍🩹 I believed it was a stand alone story and was very frustrated by the cliffhanger. I wish it could have been made clearer that this was part of a serie...

There are so many things I loved about this book that I had to limit my 💚 list. This story reminded me of V&V by A.K. Caggiano. It's a good mix of humor, romance and plot. I loved every single characters. The MMC in particular is one of my favorite ever.
This story is far from perfect, but I grew so attached to everyone and immersed in their quest that it's still one of the best one I've read in a while.

[Via Luino · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars rounded down

Ayc is a baker, a cinnamon roll sweetie, a great big softie. Except for when he isn’t. Lora is a villainess, a cold-blooded queen in the making, a blade honed to unfeeling callousness by her ruthless mother. Except for when she isn’t.

Ayc should have died in the massacre that killed his people, the one Lora’s mother orchestrated. Lora should have been the one to kill him. But a lie that hides a much darker truth keeps Ayc alive, balanced on a razor’s edge between serving someone he hates, and becoming a monster. Because maybe Ayc is a little more vicious than he seems, and maybe Lora isn’t the killer the world wants her to be. And maybe, they don’t hate each other the way they should. Now they must work together with a team of their friends to survive the deadly game that will determine their world’s next ruler, and if they don't win, someone far worse a villain than either Lora or Ayc surely will.

I LOVED this book! The wold building is great, the characters are complex, the stakes are high, and just a bit of spice. There are dragons and dogs, and honestly, that’s a sure way to get me to fall in love with your story. I also really loved the diversity, and how well it was woven into the book. The only reason it didn’t get five stars was because there were several instances where if the characters just *talked* to each other, then everyone would be fine, and that drives me nuts. There were also several incredibly stupid decisions made, so I dinged for that, too (although it was in-character, it just irked me). But overall, this book is a fantastic read, and I’m looking forward to the sequel!

Here's a breakdown of the main characters, since there were a lot of them (someone correct me if I got something wrong!):

Ayc: bi/pan, has chronic pain, knows sign language, probably ADHD
Xylie: Austisic, mostly communicates in sign, Black, asexual (but not aromantic)
Lora: bi (I think?), knows sign, half Black (on her father's side?)
Bronwen: trans woman from religious cult, lesbian, has wicked awesome magic powers
Tavish: blind, has a seeing eye dog, is Divina
Peregrin: military veteran with chronic pain and a cane, is secretly a big softie, non-binary, poly, has a gryphon

[Mollie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Affaraid this one wasn’t for me. I liked the concept of the book, but after reading fantasy books done I was 8 this one didn’t hit the spot. I felt like DNFing so many times. I would recommend it for anyone starting in fantasy but as a full fledge fantasy reader it didn’t hit. One thing what I didn’t like was the author throwing in the pronouns for each new character in every chapter, it felt annoying and over used. I get and understand that everyone needs to be seen and include but having it thrown in felt overused.
Giving this one a 3 purely cause I didn’t get the vibes or get on with the book. I also didn’t connect to any of the characters either so felt like this one should’ve been DNF’d when I didn’t enjoy it at the beginning.

[Tia Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fine. I enjoyed the little bit of world building. The characters were fun. The story line and trials were good. I wasn't a fan of every single time characters meet each other that they shared their pronouns, but I'm maybe not the target audience for that. I felt using whatever pronouns when describing them and their actions throughout the book was enough. It also felt like it was trying to tick every possible diversity box instead of focusing more on developing the story. I appreciate it when it seems more organic, but this just missed for me.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

You want found family?
You want quests?
You want dad jokes?
You want representation and diversity of all kinds (sexuality, gender, neurodiversity, chronic illness, ethnicity)?
You want some spice?

This has all of this and more IN ABUNDANCE and I’m obsessed

[Estelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was advertised to me as a fantasy novel with a lead character who was almost an adult version of "Flynn Rider" from "Tangled". I was instantly intrigued. And boy, was I happy with the result.

Besides making me want to try a cinnamon roll, this book also brought out emotions in me that I didn't expect. I was laughing at jokes, gasping at scenes, getting frustrated at injustices that reflected real life, and smiling through all the "found-family adventure" styling that played out.

The main characters were beautifully written. Everyone seemed to have quirks and interesting relationships with one another. They effortlessly made their way into my heart. The characters were also incredibly diverse, and from my personal experience, diverse in such an honest and well thought out way. The nods to chronic illness and pain were so familiar to me which made it easy for me to relate and reach the intricacies and emotions of the cast. I immediately grew attached to certain characters and loved following them all on this rollercoaster of a ride; from beginning to end.

A hang-up that I did have when it came to some dialogue however was the use of the nickname "cinnamon roll". I understand that's kind of essential to the vision of the book, but at times, I found it coming across a little immaturely and awkwardly. This made some scenes end up feeling slightly flat. Which is a shame because I did enjoy the rest of the writing.

Also unfortunately, when it came to the "spicy" scenes, I personally wasn't really feeling them as much as I would've liked to. Especially those towards the beginning of the book. Some of it just felt a little rushed and out of place. I would've liked to see more balance in these intimate moments.

I do want to take a moment to note just how much I adored the ending, however. Without any spoilers, I will say that the end seemed almost perfect. It all felt very full circle.

Overall, I think this was a well-executed and exciting book; full of heartwarming undertones and expertly crafted mirrors to society as it is today. I would highly recommend!

[Tracy Booktalk · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ Perfect! I cannot recommend this book enough. There are no parts I would cut. There are moments I was laughing, there are moments I wished for the worst of the worst for Yris. I won’t give spoilers but Wren! You could not have done a better job with that character. I will just say every reader will want more in your next book.
🐉 All the characters have been well thought out. i was actually rooting for two of the other victors over that demented demon. I will say “he” is the best villain I have ever read. 👏 👏
🤴 Now for the Sovereign Yris … omg. Could I hate her more, nope! when I thought, “maybe” she might have one redeeming quality. She is the most heartless mother but absolutely, I know we will see her in your next book.
📚 This is a story of love, loss, honour, and villainy. Yris is the Queen, her daughter is Lora and Ayc is a young boy forced to serve these two. From the age of twelve Ayc has been kept prisoner at Wyneth when a friend of his saves his life by saying he’s divine. A curse will befall anyone who unalives him. The Queen decides keeping him prisoner will help her find out what magic and secrets he hides. The Queen’s daughter Lora is the same age as Ayc. When he meets her he is immediately infatuated with her. Lora on the other hand, has no feelings for Ayc. Lora’s nickname is “villainess” and she lives up to that name. Her mother has taught her “kindness is weakness” and she will do everything to earn her mother’s respect. As miserable as Aycs life is he is always smiling, always joking. The Sovereign continues to hurt him daily to find out his secret but it’s not until Lora almost gets hurt that he lets his mask slip and we r given a hint of what he is. The story continues with adventures, love, friendship and Trials that Five Groups have to pass so their victor will be the next Sovereign
💖 I have to go now and DM Chante all the possibilities I pray will be in Chocolate Pudding and Wicked Queens. You will love Cinnamon Rolls and Villainy. Go read it! I suggest you start on a Friday because you cannot put it down!

[The Library From Scratch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that Cinnamon Rolls and Villainy is the most diverse and inclusive books I’ve ever read. I’ve not read a fantasy book quite like it. The minimal spice was maybe not needed, but brief enough to not fully distract from the greater plot of the novel. The ending left me a bit unsatisfied, but I suppose works as a good cliff hanger. I had apparently preordered the sequel when I bought this on kindle. Excited for it later this year.

The two things that hold this back from a higher rating:

The whole cinnamon roll insult and continued references especially in the beginning don’t really contrast well with the initial ultra violence. No spoilers but it’s very odd. Almost put me off in the first 50 pages.

The romance doesn’t really go anywhere major. Again; won’t spoil too much, but they never really confess to each other. And I’m hoping that changes in the sequel.

The plot did keep me guessing, till roughly halfway through I guessed what the main plot twist for Ayc would be- and I think it was handled really well.

Very minor typos and occasional missed words weren’t that big of a deal. I struggled with 3 or 4 stars for a long time, but found myself engrossed in the plot enough for 4.25.

Again- looking forward to the sequel in Q4 2025!

————————————————————

Thank you for reading this short review (or perhaps explanation of rating) of Cinnamon Rolls and Villainy. A lovely little inclusive fantasy with a ton of darker themes.

If you enjoyed this review, feel free to follow us on platforms like this at TheLibraryFromScratch.

We own over 1,500 physical titles and over 60 digital, excluding preordered titles.

Have a great 2025!

Jillian

[Jessica Salina]

Cinnamon Rolls and Villainy has quickly found its way to the top of my favorite fantasy reads. The world building is extensive while being easy to follow, Ayc is a wonderful protagonist, and the disability representation here is so authentic and refreshing. As someone with chronic pain/disabilities, I felt so seen by multiple characters, especially Ayc and Peregrin.

The enemies-to-lovers between Ayc and Loraphne is spectacular. You really get the sense that they have this “I hate you but I love hating you” feeling towards one another at the beginning (their banter is so good), and seeing their relationship develop and shift as we peel back the layers of their characters was beautifully executed. This is a slow burn, but the payoff is so worth it.

Not only are the protagonists well developed, but the side characters are too. Each brings something unique to the story, whether it be a special skill set or information that helps with the world building and guiding our protagonists. They don’t feel hollow at all, each lovable characters in their own right that make up a diverse cast.

Even though this is a longer fantasy novel, it didn’t feel as long as it is. The pacing is great, as the tension and stakes are high enough that I often found myself reading large chunks at once without even realizing it. I can’t recommend this book enough.

Thank you to the author for the ARC copy! Leaving this review voluntarily after reading.

[Didi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to read Cinnamon Rolls and Villainy after I came across a post from the author on Threads. The title instantly caught my curiosity—I love all things cinnamon. Then I saw it was a fantasy novel, enemies to lovers, with a MMC who’s a total cutie pie (pun intended) and a FMC who is fierce, strong, and yes, knits (I repeat: knits!!). The diversity and representation were the cherry on top (ok, I’ll tone the food allusions down a bit).

I highly suggest checking out the author’s profile for the character art—it really brings them to life. And no, the pronouns are not confusing at all in my opinion (as I saw mentioned in other reviews). In fact, it’s refreshing to see a world where they’re used so naturally. I also loved the way the characters interacted and the “found family” dynamics.

The story is well thought-out, with a few twists and turns (even though I guessed one of Ayc’s big secrets by picking up crumbs from what others said). The book isn’t as sweet as the title might suggest, though. I especially appreciated how the author doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable topics, some of which hit close to home—like feeling not enough, being too different, and navigating family and religious trauma.

I agree with others that the Kindle version could benefit from another round of editing. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I’m definitely going to read the second one in the series!

[Rhiannon Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cinnamon Rolls and Villainy - Chanťe A. Campbell

I loved this book so much. I read it within one day because I could not put it down. I could read so many books in this universe. This is such a delicious slow burn with so much tension and it’s just perfection. The chemistry between Ayc and Lora was so fun and engaging. The side characters and the other members of the five, were so lovable and I can’t wait to see more of them.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Out of 5 Stars ⭐️

🌶️/ Spice Rating ☀️

# of Pages 🌙 590 pages

Release Date 🌟 8/27/24

Format 💫 Kindle Unlimited

Series 🌙 Cinnamon Rolls and Villainy, #1

Genre/Tropes ✨ fantasy, enemies to allies, he’s the cinnamon roll, she’s morally grey, morally grey FMC, dungeons & dragons vibes, quests, forced proximity, slow burn, found family, LGBTQ+ representation, neurodivergent representation, enemies to lovers

Favorite Character ☀️ Ayc & Lorephne

Favorite Line 🌟 ‘That day, Ayc learned that not all mothers are good mothers. His mother taught him to bake and to tell jokes and that heroes were kind first and brave second. Loraphne’s mother taught her to kill.’

“If you touch him, I will rip out your heart and shove it down your throat before it stops beating. He’s mine!”

“No, like you haven’t decided whether you’re going to kill her or kill for her.”

“No, that came out wrong. I only mean that could never happen. You don’t have it in you to be a monster. You’re a cinnamon roll. You’re far too kind and sweet and soft.”

[Foxx Writer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a story of an Epic Quest, one that could alter the fate of the entire world forever. it's about finding the truth about events that should never have happened. it's about following the heart, and finding your strength no matter what others believe of you.

This is a book that's going to be close to my heart for years to come. not only is it beautifully queer normative, but it's also got so much disability Rep. every single main character going on this journey has a unique skill to go with what they can't do. one is autistic, one is blind, two suffer from chronic pain. there's even Trans Rep! this book literally has EVERYHTING, and it's got a Fabulous plot to go with it! who doesn't want to hear about a group of rag tag strangers (enemies in one case) coming closer and closer together to be the found family they all deserve (and maybe something more) while racing to find the 'keys' needed to claim the throne, and fix what the previous Queen broke!?

the sardonic sarcastic nature of the main character is a brilliant offset to the otherwise serious and traumatic events that he has to go through. i laughed many times, and gasped in horror at others. heartbreak, betrayal, epic fights, and lessons to learn, this book has it all and i certainly recommend you read it ASAP!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in a kingdom where Fae and humans exist together, the tale follows Ayc (cinnamon roll, enslaved baker MMC), Lora (seemingly evil, warrior daughter of the Sovereign FMC) and a diverse cast of funny and heart-warming characters as they compete in a series of trials. The winner of which (supported by their 5 champions) will be the new Sovereign, after the current wicked ruler steps down.

I have to say I adore this book, which is surprising because I normally don't like books written with political or ethical agendas (no matter how much I agree with them) as they often come across heavy-handed. This was, however, was very well done and I didn't feel the point being made was separate or unimportant to the story.

My favourite thing about this story is the complexity of the characters. They are so compelling and that makes the twists in this story that much more shocking and, ultimately believable. The world-building is also beautiful, quickly sweeping you up in the crazy, funny and deadly world that Ayc lives within.

Overall, this book may be an enemies to lovers, trials competing, forbidden-love romantasy, but it's so much more than these conventional tropes. I laughed, I cried, and I cannot wait to see what happens next.

For transparency, I was delighted to receive an e-ARC copy of this book for review and look forward to supporting the rest of the series.