Perils and Potions

The Weary Dragon Inn #9

by S. Usher Evans

The annual Pigsend Harvest Festival is coming up quick, and Bev's been assigned to the planning committee against her will. But Ida Witzel, the festival chair, wants no mishaps this year, and she knows if Bev's involved, the hijinks will be at a minimum. That is, until farmer Trent Scrawl isn't seen for a few days, and on a wellness visit, Bev finds him dead.

Well, not dead, but in a deep sleep that's impossible to wake from. The obvious culprit is Trent's nemesis Herman Monday, but when another prominent Harvest Festival entrant goes down, it becomes clear the mystery is bigger than petty pumpkin squabbles. Can Bev figure out who's trying to take out the citizens of Pigsend before the Harvest Festival?

Perils and Potions is the ninth book in the Weary Dragon Inn series.

Genres: Fantasy, Cozy, Mystery, Audiobook, Cozy Fantasy, Magic, Fiction

225 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 24, 2024

About the author

S. Usher Evans is an author, blogger, and witty banter aficionado. Born in Pensacola, Florida, she left the sleepy town behind for the fast-paced world of Washington, D.C.. There, she somehow landed jobs with BBC, Discovery Channel, and National Geographic Television before finally settling into a "real job" as an IT consultant. After a quarter life crisis at age 27, she decided consulting was for the birds and rekindled a childhood passion for writing novels. She sold everything she owned and moved back to Pensacola, where she currently resides with her two dogs, Zoe and Mr. Biscuit.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had trouble getting through this one. I wonder if its reading the series back to back but it had a lull overall. Still love the characters so worth the read to get to the final book in the series!

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐

Another day, another mystery to solve by the girl WHO ISN'T THE SHERIFF IN TOWN!! 
Poor Bev, always getting sucked into the hyjinx of Pigsend. It would be wild to have this much happen in the course of 1 year!! It's a fitting penultimate book, it builds to a awesome ending... As far as second to last books in a series (I feel the goal is to create interest in the finale) this book definitely did that. Very much looking forward to book 10

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 9 of the Weary Dragon mysteries opens on Bev being conscripted into the Harvest Fest Planning Committee. She is sent to collect some paperwork only to discover local farmer Trent Scrawl dead! Oh, no, he's just in a magically induced coma. Shortly after others around town fall victim to the same curse! Can Bev figure out the cause before the Queen's Soldiers catch wind of the magical incident?

Another decent showing by the author. We get a bit more world building, and finally get to visit the neighboring city of Middleburg! Bev is still a charming character and I was happy to see her just doing her thing.

I have no particular dislikes in this book.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things are slowly coming to a head in Pigsend, and as always Bev is in the middle of it. While the mystery in this latest edition was less it's own and thing and more connected to the over-arching narrative, it was still entertaining. As for the over-arching narrative, I have a few theories that I look forward to seeing either confirmed or proven right in the upcoming (final) book in The Weary Dragon Inn series.

[Chels · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE CLIFFHANGER THOUGH
I can't believe we're so close to ending this series! This book was a little more intense than the others but since we're at the end I think the series calls for it. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this all turns out and to finally see who Bev was before she lost her memory.

[Lacey Holloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so excited to be at the end of this series with only one book remaining. Love seeing it all come together in this world I have grown so fond of. This book ramps things up a bit, with more intense magical mischief. Bev really shows her love and loyalty to her friends in Pigsend and as a reader I am very eager to read what happens to her in the next book’s finale.

[Karen Kersley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've really been enjoying this series and will be sad to see it end although I am very interested to have the mystery of Bev finally solved in the final book. I have never read a cozy mystery before and have found it quite good especially as nobody dies. All the mysteries have been interesting and this one was probably the most magically intense one so far.

[Domitila Modesti · Rating 4 out of 5]

lovely

As always witty, lovely, cozy… of all of the books it’s the one I liked the least, would have been nice for Bev to have been able to go down to Lower Pigsend and meet with the scapegoat of the book, and her past as a mystery it’s dragging now. Anyways can’t wait for the next book

[Lestat Nash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk about a grand story arc slow burn! I'm actively dying while I wait for the next book. This has been a series of gifts that keep on giving! The tempo of character development has paced with the story as it has slowly gained speed with each book and now I feel like it's about to really take off and I'm excited!

[AngryPixi · Rating 5 out of 5]

another lovely book, but it's 9/10 so I'm both sad it's coming to an end, and also worried book 10 is going to be so rushed to end the series with what I expect will be the queen being overthrown.

none of the other books so far have felt rushed though so cautiously looking forward to being proved wrong

[aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the ninth and penultimate book in the Weary Dragon Inn series. This time Bev has to investigate more problems just prior to Pigsend's Harvest Festival. Bev finds one of the farmers on the ground in a magical coma and then the investigation begins. More fun and coziness in this story as you can see the story coming to its conclusion. I'm looking forward to the final book!

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a little bit convoluted. A little harder to follow. I also have noticed an increasing amount of people who sort of bully Bev, The in keeper, to play sloop. They just demand it and she gives it. After a while that becomes tiresome.

[Cleocutie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great addition to the series. Things are starting to ramp up towards the final book and I can’t wait to see where things go from here.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one so much! I think it's my favorite Bev book. When the citizens of Pigsend are afflicted with a mysterious malady, who you gonna call? Bev, of course.

[Carolyn Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

An excellent mystery with great characters in a magical world, this was an enthralling read. I enjoy time spent with Bev in Pigsend, and hope others will as well.

[Jennifer Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

another wonderful cozy mystery

Fun and full of great characters! I’ve loved this whole series and can’t wait for the finale!! Read all of them!!

[Yvonne Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Need next one now

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE STORY **CONCLUDES** WITH THE NEXT BOOK?!?

No.

No. I love this series. I don’t want it to END. Waaahhhh!

[Kai Charles(Fiction State Of Mind) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Pigsend adventure as the stage is set for the arrival of the Queen.

[Alicia Foley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is my fave of the year. It’s so comforting and cozy while also being mysterious. I can’t wait for the next installments!

[Emily Lonsdale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I so enjoy these very easy reads

[Bryan Fulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun series overall. I'm nearing the end and want it to keep going.

[charli · Rating 3 out of 5]

one more book and then my silly little magical town will be gone. absolutely devastated rn

[Sax is my Axe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Bev

[Meggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg it's really ramping up for the last book!! I can't believe I'm almost finished this series, I've been loving it so much!! Can't wait to see what happens in the final book!

[Kimthebookishbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging as usual, that ending though! I need book 10, now! Only one I can remember that truly ends with anything close to a cliffhanger, but man was it cozy and all the feels that I expect from the Weary Dragon Inn books!

[emeraldragonlady (Maddie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

S Usher Evans has done it again! Mysteries and mayhem just before the fall festival. Is the fall festival at risk of not happening in pigsend again??? Bev who is tired of constantly solving the Townes mysteries and yet seems to have the perfect neck for it figures out who’s behind this latest mystery slightly a little too late. At the moment she’s been told by the culprit not to say anything or they will leak her past. The past that she does not know about and can’t remember and wants to know but doesn’t want to find out that way. A great cozy mystery fantasy series. I can’t wait for the last book to go on audible so I can listen to it in one sitting again.

[Phi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another fantastic addition to this wonderfully cozy series! I just adore the characters in this, and the story is so fun. Such an easy and delightful listen! Moving on to the next book immediately!

[Cori'sCorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio Length: 06:46:00