A Serpent in Stormsby

by Ava Smiddy

A Firewitch in hiding. A shifter on the loose. And a Kingsman on a mission.

Abandoned by her brother, Roz has been burned down to the wick just trying to keep their family inn afloat. Now with Yule around the corner, all she wants is to make it through the season with her sanity and some extra coin.

But when a shapeshifter escapes the King's dungeons, The Mage & Rose is commandeered by a platoon of Kingsmen tasked with hunting the dangerous fugitive.

With the secret magic burning in her chest, Roz has plenty of reason to keep her distance from the King's forces. The topmost being the infuriating Captain Caelan... and his concerning effect on her power.

A Serpent in Stormsby is a cosy fantasy romance with a generous helping of spice and a dash of mystery. This a standalone novel.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Cozy, Romantasy, Witches, Adult, Mystery

Unknown Binding

Reviews

[eclecticbychoicereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come visit The Mage and the Rose, a cosy tavern in the village of Storsmby, and step into the world of cosy fantasy standalone with beautifully written characters you will fall in love with. Ava has created a story full of love, devotion, duty, passion and witty banter. Oh, and let's not forget the broom closet scene!

I love Ava's work, and you should, too! In case you haven't yet, I urge you to read On Silver Winds, Book 1, in her Duet of Snow and Silver. You won't regret it!

A Serpent in Stormsby has it all—a feisty fire-wielder FMC who would do anything for those she loves, a captain of the Kingsmen who persecuted forbidden magic users, lovely side characters who add so much to the plot, a hint of mystery and hidden identities, blossoming friendships and a soul-binding love. Add to the mix perfectly executed spice scenes, witty banter, unexpected twists and turns, and a HEA to warm your heart.

So, to sum it up, what do you get when you pair up Roz, the innkeeper and a secret fire-witch, with Caelan, a smooth-talking captain on a mission to hunt a Serpent, a magic user able to change his skin? You get tons and tons of buildup, so much tension, the infamous broom closet scene, and the birth of love ready to set the world on fire.

A Serpent in Stormsby is a perfect romantasy on the spicier side, with a great plot, written from a single POV (Roz) that will envelop you in a beautiful, cosy feeling, making you want to visit The Mage and the Rose and become a part of Roz's perfectly imperfect found family.

In short, A Serpent in Stormsby will gift you
- A spicy standalone romantasy
- Beautifully written cosy fantasy
- He hunts magic wielders
- She is an innkeeper and a secret fire witch
- She is the grumpy one
- He is the smooth-talker
- Banter and snark
- A touch of mystery and hidden identities
- Unexpected twists
- HEA
and a story that will hook you from the very first line: I was born with my heart aflame.

[Tori Baz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because what if I hadn’t made that silly reel about innkeepers lying about there being only one bed left when they see two hot enemies-to-lovers walk in… and Ava Smiddy hadn’t told me she wrote a book about an innkeeper who does exactly that?

The banter is amazing, the found/chosen family pulls every emotional heartstring I possess, and the chemistry crackles off the page. Serpent of In Stormsby is so so cozy. Warm fires, shared rooms, plenty of ale, and just enough danger to keep things interesting. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to crawl inside and stay awhile.

[Heathers Lit Voyage · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Serpent in Stormsby is the kind of story that pulls you in quietly with its charm and then surprises you with a simmering tension that builds page by page. I was completely drawn into Roz’s world. She’s a firewitch in hiding, running an inn that is barely hanging on, and just trying to survive the winter season. Enter the Kingsmen, a mysterious shifter, and one very compelling captain who makes it all a lot more complicated.

I loved the unique magic system and how it tied into Roz’s emotions and relationships. There’s a steady unfolding of secrets and power, and the slow burn between Roz and Captain Caelan kept me fully invested. And yes, that accent absolutely added to the tension in the best way.

I listened to this on audio and cannot say enough about Sara Brodt’s narration. Her performance was phenomenal. She brought Roz to life with strength and nuance and shifted seamlessly between characters with impressive vocal range. She captured the tone, tension, and emotion so beautifully that it elevated the entire experience.

If you enjoy cozy fantasy with layers of magic, emotional stakes, and just the right amount of romance and mystery, this one is absolutely worth the listen.

[V]

DNF at 40%, I found it boring

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

PITCH: If Frank Capra wrote a spicy fantasy

Smiddy has written a brilliant character study. This book epitomizes “character drives plot,” and all the characters are lively and entertaining. A tavern wench keeps her business afloat while a troop of soldiers are stationed there, and intrigue ensues. Smiddy is releasing this book as part of her newsletter, so go sign up!
https://subscribepage.io/avasmiddynew...

[Renna Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a feel-good book!! Following the life of Roz, a firewitch tavern keeper, we get to see classic romantasy storylines from the perspective of those on the outside.

Filled with laughs, wit, and all of the top notch banter (truly, the banter in this book takes the cake) Smiddy brings us a heartwarming, cozy story about love, community, and the spark that ties two souls together.

This is my favorite read of the year, and I truly cannot recommend this one enough. Book hangover, here I come

[Mandy-kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet story of magic and secrets and chemistry. I loved this quick read, and devoured it in a single day. The plot moves quickly, but the limited settings help keep you grounded in an effective way.

The moment I realized who the Serpent was, I literally yelled, “ah ha!”. It was a good moment, and a great twist.

Sara is such a fabulous narrator and I love that I forget it isn’t two narrators through out the story.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5/5

[Nic Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored this cosy romantasy, I also didn’t expect it to be as spicy for such a short book! (Not that I’m complaining) if you’re looking for a book similar to Forged by Fire vibes, a fantasy pallet cleanser and a standalone, this is the perfect book for this!

[Grace Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is allegedly cozy but the twists and turns had my blood pressure up

[Bronte Sprenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an enjoyable quick read. I feel like I just spent a cosy evening at the Mage and Rose. This book was adorable from start to finish and I'm so glad i stumbled upon it.

[Kel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was INCREDIBLE I loved it so much!! This was my first Ava Smiddy book and holy shit 100% not my last one 👏🏻

This book had everything in it! A grumpy innkeeper, a charismatic kingsman, banter, tension, SPICE, and the twistsssss 🤯🤯 when I thought I knew what was going on, I was proven wrong and ugh her storytelling abilities are absolutely amazing 🙌🏻 and I thought that having the entire story taking place in an inn and being about the innkeeper for once was very interesting and so enjoyable! It never leaves the inn where Roz works!
I LOVED Roz, she was strong and feisty, hiding out in her inn as she's a Firewitch. Her relationship with her cousin Sorcha was so sweet and I loved how she cared for her and cared for the inn that used to belong to her parents. Then one day Caelun barges in with his platoon, saying they need accommodations as they'll be in Stormsby for a while and the banter between him and Roz was 😩🤌🏻 chef’s kiss!! She feels a pull towards me, even her magic seems to like him and for a while, she fights until 🔥🔥🔥 (broom closet scene, anyone?) and her fire buuurnnnsssss oof.
If you want a romantasy book with incredible writing, banter, tension, a good dose of spice, and twists that'll have you wondering, PLEASE READ THIS BOOK!!!!
(I am now also in need of a Sorcha/Brennan story 😭)

[Anastasia Campo · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️ moderately spicy

- take the tropes but make it about the side characters
- shifters and magical beings and secrets
- fire powers and make it cool
- charismatic and kind MMC
- grumpy and loyal FMC
- cozy inn with wooden beams, snowy woods, rich foods and deep colored rugs kind of vibes
- great pacing
- emotional writing
- longing and forbidden love
- SPICY SPICE

WOWEE WOW WOW WOW. I LOVE this book. I am SO in love with the characters - Roz easily being my favorite. She’s fiery (haha) and loyal, sweet and hard working, got a sexy streak she has yet to explore, and as a collective, we are SO GLAD she didn’t fix the lock on the broom closet (THAT SCENE, HONEY). Caelan is SWOONY and sooooo charismatic and charming and lovely. They’re the perfect couple and it’s the perfect love story for them. This book is all about the tension and the burning desires, and fighting for the rights of the oppressed and solving mysteries and it’s just PERFECTION. I love that the setting doesn’t leave the inn. IT WORKS. Ava takes the romance tropes and makes you ask, what about the inn keeper that has to make the only one bed situation? Does she get her own story? And YEP SHE DOES. The plot twist is TWISTING. And the spice is SO SPICY. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

[sunbeams.and.rainbows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg my gods this book is HOT!! I was already a huge fan of Ava Smiddy’s work, but she certainly turned up the heat in A Serpent in Stormsby! Smiddy’s world-building is effortless & fully immersive. I was drawn into the story immediately & could clearly picture Stormsby & The Mage and Rose inn. I don’t often see the Grumpy x Grumpy trope used, but it is SO fun & the resulting banter is perfection. The delicious, fiery tension Smiddy creates between Roz & Caelan is a slow burn that, thankfully, we don’t have to wait too long for to fully ignite. There are so many twists, turn, & breadcrumbs expertly sprinkled throughout the story that stoke the mystery & intrigue. The pacing of the book is perfect. I flew through it because I just did not want to put it down! Smiddy is particularly gifted at creating vivid, distinct characters that feel fully developed & continue to evolve throughout the story. The Mage and Rose itself feels like a character & I would love to visit if it were a real place! If you’re looking for a fun, mysterious, flaming hot, standalone, look no further than A Serpent in Stormsby!

[m i a · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book saw my reading slump and laughed in its face. this story was like a warm hug from your favourite person in front of a cozy log burning fire with your warm drink and cherished pet.

the banter between rosie and caelan was top tier, their relationship was so sweet and the found family was heartwarming. things do get intense in places (read the content warnings!) but overall, it was just a cozy romantasy. the world building is super simple but creative with an original spin on the classic magic/shifting/classic fantasy worlds.

the ending was rushed but the book is less than 300 pages so i wasn’t too surprise that it went from zero to one hundred in the blink of an eye and we got a bit info-dumpy when it came to the B plot of the book but it was really good. rosie is hilarious and relatable and caelan is the perfect man!!!

-> “I told you, Rosie. I’d burn for you and be grateful for the warmth.” ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️


(side note: i HIGHLY recommend playing bardcore music while reading this. elevates the experience to an astronomical level)

[Sarah (TheLibrarysKeeper) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first read from Ava Smiddy and I loved the storytelling. Roz is a firewitch running a tavern called The Mage and Rose. A crime happens in the small town and the kingsmen come to the tavern to stay while investigating the crime. The problem? The kingsmen hunt magic users like Roz. Caelan is the captain of the guard and he's so smooth-talking it's hard not to immediately swoon over him or perhaps into a broom closet with him (IYKYK).

The book is not long and it doesn't need to be. There's a great saying that if you want to make something good make it short. Smiddy has mastered this. I was drawn into this book from the first sentence and captivated till the last. If you enjoy audiobooks, Sara Brodt has done this one and she's absolutely brilliant. Her male voices don't pull you out of the story and she does a fantastic job of narration that I swear I can just sit there and relax. It's so well done.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god, I loved this book so much. I had no idea when I saw the author promoting this book on Instagram, that I would enjoy this as much as I did. Captain Caelan is probably my favourite character, and I loved him from the moment we met him. He is deliberately infuriating in teasing Roz, and their chemistry was perfect especially in the spicier scenes dotted throughout the plot. Throughout the book I picked up on the subtle hints as to what the big twist towards the end would be and yet when it happened, I still felt goosebumps on my arms when the main character realised it. I saved this book until December to read and I’m so glad I did because the cosy fantasy and Christmassy vibes within the story are perfect for reading in winter with fluffy blankets and a hot chocolate. The plot was perfect and I loved the magic system underlying everything. This book is a standalone but I would happily read a spin off with these characters. This was the first book I’ve read by this author and I will absolutely be reading more books in the future.
Tropes: forced proximity, HEA, grumpy witch x annoying guard

[firebreathingb1tchqueen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for your next auto-read author? Found her. There is something about Aoife’s writing that is so soothing to experience, even as she masterfully tugs your heartstrings or stuns you with conflicts and leaves you gasping for more!

A Serpent In Stormsby was such a joy to experience. Roz’s sassy personality hooked me from the onset as she hilariously pretended her empty inn had only one bed in order to set everyone’s favorite “enemies to lovers” trope in motion! This full cast of easy-to-love characters had me falling into this tale and loving all the highs and lows as hearts were drawn together in the midst of lives being torn asunder by a mysterious villain.

Roz and Caelen’s story has definitely become one I’ll carry with me and reread in future.

[Ashley Groter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Serpent in Stormsby is indeed a cozy romance. I may or may not have guessed one or two of the plot twists but that’s actually something I don’t hate. I like being right about predictions & also who doesn’t make predictions when reading?

Stumbled upon this book simply because of a video making a joke about the inn-keeper intentionally giving a room with one bed to a couple that had some clearly charged energy between the two, it did not disappoint.

Are there flaws? Maybe. Did I dwell on them? Not at all. The magic isn’t confusing, the world itself is best put as “quaint”. It is a lovely read that doesn’t cause a headache but is still enticing enough to want to not put down.

[Jax · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roz is fighting to keep her family business afloat after losing her parents and her brother leaving from the incoming magical restrictions of the new regent. When Captain Caelen storms into her pub with the King’s guard looking for a dangerous shifter mage, she experiences a whirlwind of emotions and magic flares that leave her questioning reality. Will things ever be as they seem?

What a read! I got this from a SYK event and opened it for a refreshing standalone novel. I adore these characters and the intricacies of the magic system in this world as well as the slow burn romance between Caelen and Roz. A gorgeously written tale you can’t put down.

[Shawna Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this one. The setting and vibes are cozy but the story is interesting and heartfelt. I want to go live in Stormsby (after the ending for the book once things are politically settled, of course)! If you’ve ever wanted to read a story from the perspective of an innkeeper who only has one room left 😉 for the enemies to lovers, then this story is for you. It had a lots of moments to make a romantasy lover giggle but had a great story and good spice.
I listened to this in audio and the performance by Sara Brodt is spectacular! The male voices were so convincing that I actually had to double check that it was not a duet narration at one point.

[R.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It was a cozy romantasy that all took place in Stormsby. Roz runs an inn and has fire magic within her. When the Kingsmen swamp her inn in pursuit of a shapeshifter, she meets the enticing Captain Caelan.

I enjoyed the banter and the mystery of who could be the shapeshifter. The audiobook was also amazing, narrated by Sara Brodt! Even though it's a single POV book, the male voices were done very well!

If you're looking for a cozy fantasy with some romance and spice, give this one a chance! 4.5/5 🥰

[Jessy Melton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I loved this book SO much. The story was unlike anything I have ever read because it takes place in ONE setting and one setting alone—a tavern. The world building without building an actual setting other than the tavern was impeccable and so hard to wrap my head around how it was done so well!! It also was a Grumpy x Grumpy which was fun. AND I LOVE A MMC WHO BEGS 🤤

PLUS the audio was perfect. I normally lean more towards dual narrated audiobooks but Sara Brodt did a perfect job with Caelan and his accent and I’m just so impressed!

[Torie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly such a fun little book. We got so many stories of friendships and love and sacrifices. I was giggling my way through this book.

I loved how it was told from Rosaleen’s POV. She was my favorite and I felt she was just such a good person. Her and Sorcha’s friendship was so special I loved how much they cared for each other. Her and Caelan??? Loved. We all want a man who can pretty much read what we are thinking and that’s what he did and I loved it.

[Narrator.sarab · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is everything. Roz is my favorite. She’s so real and snarky and beautiful. The premise is unexpected and so delightful. What happens at the inn where everyone passes through? Can she run it? Does she belong? And then here comes the sexy kings guard?? And Caelan???? So so hot. The banter and the spice is top tier. The plot is fantastic. The writing? Perfection. Autobuy.

[Emilie Ocean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read!

What an amazing read by Ava Smiddy! This author is so talented. If you like romantasies with witches and shifters, you’re definitely in for a treat. The novel is beautifully written and is a page turner. I couldn’t put it down! I have bought Ava’s other book too, and I can’t wait to start it!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had such a great time with this book! It was wonderfully cosy, but with more than enough action to hold your attention if cosy isn’t always for you. I really cared about these characters and this little inn in the middle of nowhere, which isn’t easy to do in under 300 pages.

It’s fun for any time of year, but particularly around the winter/Christmas season!

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mostly enjoyed this. The vibes were very cozy, good for around the holidays. The romance was cute, if not a bit surface level and there was a bit of a plot to keep the story moving along. The FMC annoyed me a bit towards the middle/last half of the book, she was immature when dealing with her emotions. As well, more smut that true romance. Overall though, it was short and cute.

[Gabatron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by Ava Smiddy.
Just push through! The first half of the book left me confused with no good answers. I honestly thought I was going to DNF it with a 2 star rating. I’m glad I kept reading! The second half, Ava really tied the story together, clearing up a lot of the confusion, making it a nice read :)

[E.C. Glynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am OBSESSED. Best book of the year - and considering my previous favourite was “The Black Tongue Thief” this is a big call. I’m obsessed with the language, the humour, the characters. It was all just… perfectly executed. Thank you!!!

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun cozy fantasy romance from an Irish author. made me smile so many times. Loved it!