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Paws and Portals
The trees were screaming. A cry of pain that echoed down the valley.
The city of Kirkhyrst has harnessed magic for everyone. The Grid works tirelessly to bring this modern marvel to all humans within its boundaries, to light the streets, power industry, and fuel communications. Daisy works as a support analyst for the Grid, a respectable job that means she doesn't have to talk to too many people. But lately she's been seeing an increase in magical anomalies passing by her desk.
The Ratatoskr shun technology, what nature provides is enough, and they are wary of human interference. When a young Tree Keeper discovers her forest ablaze with magic, the suspicion instantly falls on the Grid, and Daisy and her new intern are called out to the wilds of Ruhann to investigate.
The fire is only the start of their magic problems, and Daisy must face up to some hard truths as she gets to the bottom of what's really going on. Will nature prevail? Or are humans destined to ruin everything they touch?
The city of Kirkhyrst has harnessed magic for everyone. The Grid works tirelessly to bring this modern marvel to all humans within its boundaries, to light the streets, power industry, and fuel communications. Daisy works as a support analyst for the Grid, a respectable job that means she doesn't have to talk to too many people. But lately she's been seeing an increase in magical anomalies passing by her desk.
The Ratatoskr shun technology, what nature provides is enough, and they are wary of human interference. When a young Tree Keeper discovers her forest ablaze with magic, the suspicion instantly falls on the Grid, and Daisy and her new intern are called out to the wilds of Ruhann to investigate.
The fire is only the start of their magic problems, and Daisy must face up to some hard truths as she gets to the bottom of what's really going on. Will nature prevail? Or are humans destined to ruin everything they touch?
- GenresFantasy
309 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 23, 2024
4 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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June 1, 2024Disclaimer: This is my book!
It’s a secondary world fantasy with a modern society and contains Ratatoskr, support analysts, a grumpy shifter, friendly vampires, portal magic, and cinnamon rolls. It's also a story about the environment versus capitalism, but I've given it a warm and fuzzy exterior!
If you're doing the 2024 Popsugar Reading Challenge, it fits the NaNoWriMo prompt (and depending on your interpretation it might fit some others, but I’ll leave that for you to decide).
It’s a secondary world fantasy with a modern society and contains Ratatoskr, support analysts, a grumpy shifter, friendly vampires, portal magic, and cinnamon rolls. It's also a story about the environment versus capitalism, but I've given it a warm and fuzzy exterior!
If you're doing the 2024 Popsugar Reading Challenge, it fits the NaNoWriMo prompt (and depending on your interpretation it might fit some others, but I’ll leave that for you to decide).
June 30, 2024
✨BOOK REVIEW✨
Title: Paws and Portals
Author: Ellie Warren
Genre: Cosy Fantasy
Format: ebook
Publication: Available now!
✨ 5/5
A perfect fantasy which manages a cosy feel and weaves magic with several importance real world topics - including poverty/privilege and environmental issues.
The world building delivers us straight into the middle of Kirkhyrst a modern city with an added sprinkle of magic - inhabited by a quirky mix of humans, shifters and vampires. The city has harnessed the natural magic in the world and uses it to enhance their daily lives. Along the way we are introduced to the Ratatoskr who live in harmony with nature in rural Ruhann shunning the modern ways of the city.
The main characters - Lailu (Ratatoskr) and Daisy (human) - are instantly loveable and relatable despite their magical lives facing many challenges along the way supported by a unique bunch of supporting characters.
The whole book was stunning - flowing beautifully from start to finish it was difficult to put down.
Title: Paws and Portals
Author: Ellie Warren
Genre: Cosy Fantasy
Format: ebook
Publication: Available now!
✨ 5/5
A perfect fantasy which manages a cosy feel and weaves magic with several importance real world topics - including poverty/privilege and environmental issues.
The world building delivers us straight into the middle of Kirkhyrst a modern city with an added sprinkle of magic - inhabited by a quirky mix of humans, shifters and vampires. The city has harnessed the natural magic in the world and uses it to enhance their daily lives. Along the way we are introduced to the Ratatoskr who live in harmony with nature in rural Ruhann shunning the modern ways of the city.
The main characters - Lailu (Ratatoskr) and Daisy (human) - are instantly loveable and relatable despite their magical lives facing many challenges along the way supported by a unique bunch of supporting characters.
The whole book was stunning - flowing beautifully from start to finish it was difficult to put down.
August 7, 2024
A thoroughly engaging tale with a brilliant ensemble cast of characters and a timely story about the dangers we humans do to the environment in the name of progress. I very much look forward to more.
May 17, 2024
🐿️ Paws & Portals 🦊
By Ellie Warren
Genre: Fantasy | Cozy fantasy
Format: Book 📕
Publication date: 23rd May 2024
⬅️Swipe for Blurb
🌟: 5/5
❤️Available on amazon, the ebook is only £2.99, seriously preorder it! I’ve fallen in love with this book, the characters, the magic, the fantasy world, I can’t recommend it enough.❤️
✨While managing to be cozy and lovable, the story hits on so many different topics. There’s the backdrop of an environmental disaster, the perils of capitalism, monopolies, poverty and privilege.
🌍All of this happens in the most unique fantasy world I’ve read in a long while. The Ratatoskr are magical creatures, who live in harmony with nature in Ruhann, the humans live in the city of Kirkhyrst where they have harnessed the world’s magic to power their lives. I adore cozy fantasy but I felt this managed to fit into that subgenre but in such a unique way, it was high stakes while also being infused with a world I loved, wanted to protect and know more about.
🥰The characters are everything, Lailu (cover) is perfect, Daisy is so relatable and there’s a host of supporting characters to love including shifters, vampires and a whole host of magical creatures.
The writing is great, the book flows effortlessly and kept me reading even when I really needed to go to bed.
I hope the author @patchworkbunny continues to write stories set in this world. She sent me a signed copy (which is now one of my most treasured books) in return for an honest review. Thank you ❤️
✨THE AUTHOR✨
Ellie Warren has been blogging about other people’s books for over a decade at Curiosity Killed the Bookworm. When she’s not reading and writing, she pokes holes in software for a living. She grew up in the Scottish Borders and now lives near the New Forest, with her partner and a very hungry Labrador. Paws and Portals is her debut novel.
You can find her on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, and Twitter/X as @patchworkbunny
#bookstagramuk #bookstagram #bookreview #bookrecommendations #newbook #booklover #bookobsessed #booknerd #readersgonnaread #readersofinstagram #bookish #bookishfeatures #bookstagramcommunity #Ad #pr #fantasy #freereview
https://www.instagram.com/p/C7EHNbPND...
By Ellie Warren
Genre: Fantasy | Cozy fantasy
Format: Book 📕
Publication date: 23rd May 2024
⬅️Swipe for Blurb
🌟: 5/5
❤️Available on amazon, the ebook is only £2.99, seriously preorder it! I’ve fallen in love with this book, the characters, the magic, the fantasy world, I can’t recommend it enough.❤️
✨While managing to be cozy and lovable, the story hits on so many different topics. There’s the backdrop of an environmental disaster, the perils of capitalism, monopolies, poverty and privilege.
🌍All of this happens in the most unique fantasy world I’ve read in a long while. The Ratatoskr are magical creatures, who live in harmony with nature in Ruhann, the humans live in the city of Kirkhyrst where they have harnessed the world’s magic to power their lives. I adore cozy fantasy but I felt this managed to fit into that subgenre but in such a unique way, it was high stakes while also being infused with a world I loved, wanted to protect and know more about.
🥰The characters are everything, Lailu (cover) is perfect, Daisy is so relatable and there’s a host of supporting characters to love including shifters, vampires and a whole host of magical creatures.
The writing is great, the book flows effortlessly and kept me reading even when I really needed to go to bed.
I hope the author @patchworkbunny continues to write stories set in this world. She sent me a signed copy (which is now one of my most treasured books) in return for an honest review. Thank you ❤️
✨THE AUTHOR✨
Ellie Warren has been blogging about other people’s books for over a decade at Curiosity Killed the Bookworm. When she’s not reading and writing, she pokes holes in software for a living. She grew up in the Scottish Borders and now lives near the New Forest, with her partner and a very hungry Labrador. Paws and Portals is her debut novel.
You can find her on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, and Twitter/X as @patchworkbunny
#bookstagramuk #bookstagram #bookreview #bookrecommendations #newbook #booklover #bookobsessed #booknerd #readersgonnaread #readersofinstagram #bookish #bookishfeatures #bookstagramcommunity #Ad #pr #fantasy #freereview
https://www.instagram.com/p/C7EHNbPND...
January 31, 2025
Paws and Portals was a lovely read. I found it in my local library and read it over 3 reading sessions. Ellie Warren does an excellent job at bringing the reader into the world, and feeling at home in all the descriptions of life. I particularly enjoyed the illustration of just how dull & monotonous the corporate lifestyle can be - made even better in this eco-fantasy setting!
The characters are all well developed and easily distinguishable from one another, with interesting interpersonal relationships. The hints towards budding romance in between solid friendship was nice to see. I especially enjoyed how natural the dialogue and exchanges felt - there were no instances where I felt like a scene or piece of plot was being forced onto the reader. The pacing and general flow of the book was a delight.
Overall rating, 4/5 stars. I only wish there had been "more" to the ending. The finale of the book almost felt rushed in how quickly it came to and end - nonetheless I enjoyed the ending greatly and can imagine the endeavors the characters would likely go on to endure in post.
The characters are all well developed and easily distinguishable from one another, with interesting interpersonal relationships. The hints towards budding romance in between solid friendship was nice to see. I especially enjoyed how natural the dialogue and exchanges felt - there were no instances where I felt like a scene or piece of plot was being forced onto the reader. The pacing and general flow of the book was a delight.
Overall rating, 4/5 stars. I only wish there had been "more" to the ending. The finale of the book almost felt rushed in how quickly it came to and end - nonetheless I enjoyed the ending greatly and can imagine the endeavors the characters would likely go on to endure in post.
July 22, 2025
Very nice story. It takes a very short time for the story to get rolling and once it does...I struggled to put it down. It was very interesting and well put together. Characters are believable and have their motivations even if some of them are a bit naive. But that's believable too, as we all sometimes do things that are impulsive etc
If there are any bad points I'd say editing and proofreading. At times I'd come across a different name for a place, albeit minor places like the name of the river if Tarac, but few chapters later it's Taric then Tarac again. It could just be the library ebook version though so I'm not too bothered.
All in all, great read and would absolutely read from this author again.
If there are any bad points I'd say editing and proofreading. At times I'd come across a different name for a place, albeit minor places like the name of the river if Tarac, but few chapters later it's Taric then Tarac again. It could just be the library ebook version though so I'm not too bothered.
All in all, great read and would absolutely read from this author again.
June 27, 2024
I've got to admit, I didn't think I was going to like this as much as I did. This book was more focused on plot development and character building, it has a sprinkle of sweet romance mixed with the creation and deepening of friendship. These little ecowarriors were fun to read for me. They were a diverse group of characters set in a realm of modern magical realism. It felt like a passionate love letter to the modern activist fighting for what they believe in. Not sure if I'll read this again but I definitely will read a second book if thr author releases one.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews