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Til Death Do Us Bard
Marriage isn't always sunshine and unicorns... sometimes it's monsters and necromancy.
In a world of magic and adventure, Logan "the Bear" Theaker had hung up his axe and settled down with his sunshiny bard husband, Pie. But when Pie disappears, Logan is forced back into the world he thought he left behind.
The kingdom is in turmoil, and Logan must come out of retirement to save it. But first, he must save his beloved husband from whatever danger he's in. With the help of an old adversary and a ghost from his past, Logan discovers that Pie has been blackmailed into stealing a powerful artifact capable of creating an undead army.
The fate of the kingdom hangs in the balance as Logan and his team set out to stop the brewing war and put an end to the king's ban on magic. But in doing so, Logan must confront his own hero complex and come face to face with the one man who's ever made him feel worthy of love.
Legends & Lattes meets Kings of the Wyld in this thrilling, queer, light fantasy. Follow Logan and Pie's journey as they fight to save their love and the kingdom they call home.
In a world of magic and adventure, Logan "the Bear" Theaker had hung up his axe and settled down with his sunshiny bard husband, Pie. But when Pie disappears, Logan is forced back into the world he thought he left behind.
The kingdom is in turmoil, and Logan must come out of retirement to save it. But first, he must save his beloved husband from whatever danger he's in. With the help of an old adversary and a ghost from his past, Logan discovers that Pie has been blackmailed into stealing a powerful artifact capable of creating an undead army.
The fate of the kingdom hangs in the balance as Logan and his team set out to stop the brewing war and put an end to the king's ban on magic. But in doing so, Logan must confront his own hero complex and come face to face with the one man who's ever made him feel worthy of love.
Legends & Lattes meets Kings of the Wyld in this thrilling, queer, light fantasy. Follow Logan and Pie's journey as they fight to save their love and the kingdom they call home.
320 pages, Paperback
First published November 21, 2023
133 people are currently reading
4050 people want to read
About the author
Rose Black
2 books76 followersRose Black is a combination of anxiety and dyslexia in a hoodie, bi, genderqueer, a professional computer wrangler, and mother to the world’s wiggliest child. They're lucky enough to live in the historic city of Bath and is capable of eating their weight in sushi.
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October 3, 2023DNF at 70%, no rating
Queer fanfiction of the Witcher that I was not invested enough to finish. Low-stakes medieval fantasy set in a queer-normative world sounds very much like my thing but this one really wasn't.
What bothered me was the behvaiour of the oldish female necromancer towards the male characters which I would classify as sexual abuse. It was mostly verbal, some ogling and some non-consented touching and I am just not here for it. This is not a cute character quirk, it's gross and insulting. The sexual innuendo and inappropriate jokes seemed to make the whole personality of the countess for the first half of the book and even though it was taken down a bit after the 50% mark, I couldn't enjoy the story.
CW: violence, killings, necromancy, ghosts
Queer fanfiction of the Witcher that I was not invested enough to finish. Low-stakes medieval fantasy set in a queer-normative world sounds very much like my thing but this one really wasn't.
What bothered me was the behvaiour of the oldish female necromancer towards the male characters which I would classify as sexual abuse. It was mostly verbal, some ogling and some non-consented touching and I am just not here for it. This is not a cute character quirk, it's gross and insulting. The sexual innuendo and inappropriate jokes seemed to make the whole personality of the countess for the first half of the book and even though it was taken down a bit after the 50% mark, I couldn't enjoy the story.
CW: violence, killings, necromancy, ghosts
November 13, 2023
Let's be honest here for a second: The reason why I, personally, but probably a lot of us readers picked this book up is the title. This title is simply perfection and very effective. So after I was lured in by the perfect title, I read the description and it sounded like so much fun! Exciting, cozy and focused on characters beyond their twenties, already in an established relationship. I was really intrigued and was looking forward to reading it.
Well, let's say, this turned out to be a bit of a mixed bag. It's obvious that the author was having a lot of fun with these characters and their story, and there's a lot of cozy humour and love in those pages. I quite liked our central couple, warrior Logan and bard Pie, too, and their love for each other is absolutely endearing. There are also some fun ideas a long the way, with unicorns and spellcasters and necromancers galore. But honestly... I guess I found the execution a bit lacking?
I have now seen this book described as Witcher fanfiction about Geralt and Dandelion, and I can see where these descriptions come from but also noone should expect them to be true. The only thing they have in common is the fact that the warrior slays monsters and is considered "grumpy" and the bard is pretty and good with words and also involved in crimey things. I found the whole world building severely lacking and couldn't picture the setting in my mind at all. We learn very little about this world, and while yes, this is definitely not a lore-focused story and doesn't have to be, I do need to be able to imagine the world the characters are interacting with in order to get invested in their story. This didn't happen here.
The story in general is very fast-paced and kind of hectic, often coming off as more surface level, superficial, instead of taking its time to explore the generally interesting aspects of the story. Everything happens fast, some of it off page, so in the end I just didn't really care.
My main gripe though are the characters. For one, because the author doesn't really take time to set up some of these characters, I just didn't care for most of them. The main antagonist was so underdeveloped, most of his big important story reveals coming way too late, that I wasn't invested in our characters bringing him down at all. Logan - our warrior protagonist - has a lot of emotional baggage and issues, but most of it is being said instead of being explored through his experiences. I felt for him, but not enough to make him memorable in any way. Pie, his bard husband, is a pretty stereotypical bard all around. He's fun and cute and I liked the more tragic aspect of his backstory. What really threw me off about them is the fact that they are supposed to be, if my memory serves me right, 42 and 37 years old. They do not act like it most of the time. This could have been a YA or NA couple.
The side characters were....... well. Some are okay but entirely forgettable (Gary, Seraphina), some could have been great but were butchered by their nonsensical, super weird ending (Ophelia) and one was just written in a way that honestly almost ruined the entire book for me.
Yes, it's the countess. I cannot believe the author wrote her the way she did and the editors read her the way she was written and all of them said "yeah that's funny, that's good humour, people will love this!" Let's say it this way: Had her character been a man, he would have been either edited heavily or turned into a villainous figure. She is constantly sexually harassing ALL the men in their group, even the very young and inexperienced Gary, in the most uncomfortable way. No, this is not a flirty, promiscuous character having a little fun. This is an older, powerful woman using every opportunity to make sexual comments, ogle or grope the men around her, and it is not funny in the least. Logan is constantly uncomfortable with this, but he just accepts it after a while and hey, she's his friend now. Noone really tells her off, Pie even encourages this kind of behaviour and thinks it's funny. I honestly could not believe what I was reading. No amount of cute skeleton dogs and badass necromancy can make up for this level of creepiness. Absolutely terrible character, even though there is clearly potential to turn her into something, someone better.
So yeah. In the end, this was a pretty mediocre story with barely existent world-building and characters that are either okay, forgettable, or horrifying. I wanted to love this so much, but I couldn't. 2 stars.
Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the arc!
Well, let's say, this turned out to be a bit of a mixed bag. It's obvious that the author was having a lot of fun with these characters and their story, and there's a lot of cozy humour and love in those pages. I quite liked our central couple, warrior Logan and bard Pie, too, and their love for each other is absolutely endearing. There are also some fun ideas a long the way, with unicorns and spellcasters and necromancers galore. But honestly... I guess I found the execution a bit lacking?
I have now seen this book described as Witcher fanfiction about Geralt and Dandelion, and I can see where these descriptions come from but also noone should expect them to be true. The only thing they have in common is the fact that the warrior slays monsters and is considered "grumpy" and the bard is pretty and good with words and also involved in crimey things. I found the whole world building severely lacking and couldn't picture the setting in my mind at all. We learn very little about this world, and while yes, this is definitely not a lore-focused story and doesn't have to be, I do need to be able to imagine the world the characters are interacting with in order to get invested in their story. This didn't happen here.
The story in general is very fast-paced and kind of hectic, often coming off as more surface level, superficial, instead of taking its time to explore the generally interesting aspects of the story. Everything happens fast, some of it off page, so in the end I just didn't really care.
My main gripe though are the characters. For one, because the author doesn't really take time to set up some of these characters, I just didn't care for most of them. The main antagonist was so underdeveloped, most of his big important story reveals coming way too late, that I wasn't invested in our characters bringing him down at all. Logan - our warrior protagonist - has a lot of emotional baggage and issues, but most of it is being said instead of being explored through his experiences. I felt for him, but not enough to make him memorable in any way. Pie, his bard husband, is a pretty stereotypical bard all around. He's fun and cute and I liked the more tragic aspect of his backstory. What really threw me off about them is the fact that they are supposed to be, if my memory serves me right, 42 and 37 years old. They do not act like it most of the time. This could have been a YA or NA couple.
The side characters were....... well. Some are okay but entirely forgettable (Gary, Seraphina), some could have been great but were butchered by their nonsensical, super weird ending (Ophelia) and one was just written in a way that honestly almost ruined the entire book for me.
Yes, it's the countess. I cannot believe the author wrote her the way she did and the editors read her the way she was written and all of them said "yeah that's funny, that's good humour, people will love this!" Let's say it this way: Had her character been a man, he would have been either edited heavily or turned into a villainous figure. She is constantly sexually harassing ALL the men in their group, even the very young and inexperienced Gary, in the most uncomfortable way. No, this is not a flirty, promiscuous character having a little fun. This is an older, powerful woman using every opportunity to make sexual comments, ogle or grope the men around her, and it is not funny in the least. Logan is constantly uncomfortable with this, but he just accepts it after a while and hey, she's his friend now. Noone really tells her off, Pie even encourages this kind of behaviour and thinks it's funny. I honestly could not believe what I was reading. No amount of cute skeleton dogs and badass necromancy can make up for this level of creepiness. Absolutely terrible character, even though there is clearly potential to turn her into something, someone better.
So yeah. In the end, this was a pretty mediocre story with barely existent world-building and characters that are either okay, forgettable, or horrifying. I wanted to love this so much, but I couldn't. 2 stars.
Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the arc!
November 18, 2023
This book fits perfectly in the cosy fantasy trend, making it a wonderful read for fans of Legends and Lattes.
Typically I have to go to middlegrade for my quest and adventure stories, and I'm not complaining, because I adore middlegrade, but it's really nice to have a version for adults. While a lot that happens in the book is quite brutal, the atmosphere always stays on the more comforting side, making this a really fun read.
It was especially nice to read about an already established relationship. Based on the synopsis, I was afraid we wouldn't really see them together much, but without wanting to give too much away, we did spend quite a lot of time with the couple. And besides that, there's an amazing cast of side characters teaming up together, which was just so fun to read about.
I would highly recommend this for your end of year TBR!
Typically I have to go to middlegrade for my quest and adventure stories, and I'm not complaining, because I adore middlegrade, but it's really nice to have a version for adults. While a lot that happens in the book is quite brutal, the atmosphere always stays on the more comforting side, making this a really fun read.
It was especially nice to read about an already established relationship. Based on the synopsis, I was afraid we wouldn't really see them together much, but without wanting to give too much away, we did spend quite a lot of time with the couple. And besides that, there's an amazing cast of side characters teaming up together, which was just so fun to read about.
I would highly recommend this for your end of year TBR!
November 20, 2023
Rose Black's "Til Death Do Us Bard" is a heartwarming and enchanting blend of mystery, romance, and fantasy—a cozy narrative that feels akin to a heartfelt D&D campaign. Set against the backdrop of a quaint yet eerie village, the story unfolds with an enchanting mix of love, betrayal, and dark secrets.
The protagonist, Logan 'The Bear', a retired adventurer who had hung up his axe, finds himself alone in his cozy cottage with only a sign of his lovely bard husband, Pie. Driven by love and concern, Logan, despite having left his adventuring days behind, embarks on an extraordinary quest to find Pie and ensure his safety, even if it means delving into perilous alliances.
When Logan, the retired adventurer, teams up with a necromancer and a ghost, individuals with whom he shares a strained relationship, the narrative gains depth. This unexpected collaboration adds layers of complexity to Logan's character and the story itself, weaving a tale of unlikely alliances in the pursuit of love and protection.
This book encapsulates the essence of cozy fantasy, drawing readers into a world where the bonds of love and loyalty are tested against a backdrop of magic and danger. The interplay between Logan's determination, the enigmatic allies he joins forces with, and the urgency of his mission creates a captivating narrative that keeps readers eagerly turning pages.
"Til Death Do Us Bard" is a charming testament to the power of love and resilience. Rose Black's storytelling prowess shines through her skillful portrayal of relationships, forging an emotional connection between the characters and the readers.
As the story unfolds, it leaves readers eagerly anticipating more cozy fantasy from this talented author. With its engaging plot, heartfelt moments, and an intriguing blend of genres, this book promises an immersive and delightful reading experience.
Thank you Hodder Publicity and Netgalley for the chance to read this lovely ARC.
The protagonist, Logan 'The Bear', a retired adventurer who had hung up his axe, finds himself alone in his cozy cottage with only a sign of his lovely bard husband, Pie. Driven by love and concern, Logan, despite having left his adventuring days behind, embarks on an extraordinary quest to find Pie and ensure his safety, even if it means delving into perilous alliances.
When Logan, the retired adventurer, teams up with a necromancer and a ghost, individuals with whom he shares a strained relationship, the narrative gains depth. This unexpected collaboration adds layers of complexity to Logan's character and the story itself, weaving a tale of unlikely alliances in the pursuit of love and protection.
This book encapsulates the essence of cozy fantasy, drawing readers into a world where the bonds of love and loyalty are tested against a backdrop of magic and danger. The interplay between Logan's determination, the enigmatic allies he joins forces with, and the urgency of his mission creates a captivating narrative that keeps readers eagerly turning pages.
"Til Death Do Us Bard" is a charming testament to the power of love and resilience. Rose Black's storytelling prowess shines through her skillful portrayal of relationships, forging an emotional connection between the characters and the readers.
As the story unfolds, it leaves readers eagerly anticipating more cozy fantasy from this talented author. With its engaging plot, heartfelt moments, and an intriguing blend of genres, this book promises an immersive and delightful reading experience.
Thank you Hodder Publicity and Netgalley for the chance to read this lovely ARC.
September 6, 2023
3,5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Very cute and funny with a range of interesting characters and plotline.
Set in a queernorm world we follow the retired adventurer Logan the Bear, who sets out on a new, unexpected adventure to find his husband, Pie, with the help of an old necromancer and other colorful characters.
It had very much Kings of the Wyld vibes, just more gay and not as dark.
The pacing were a bit off for me, but it was still cute.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Very cute and funny with a range of interesting characters and plotline.
Set in a queernorm world we follow the retired adventurer Logan the Bear, who sets out on a new, unexpected adventure to find his husband, Pie, with the help of an old necromancer and other colorful characters.
It had very much Kings of the Wyld vibes, just more gay and not as dark.
The pacing were a bit off for me, but it was still cute.
October 29, 2023
thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an early copy. this was a fun, sweet debut that was a quick & easy read!
set in a queernorm, medieval world, we follow the main character logan as he pulls together a team of "adventurers" (heavy quotes) to find his husband pie, who disappeared one night. the group consists of logan, a monster killer; countess adelaide, a necromancer; ophelia, logan's ex-wife and current ghost; and gary, who owns a herd of unicorns.
the first half of the book consists of the search for pie, the second half of solving his disappearance and bringing down the forces that made it happen. i hesitate to describe this as a "low-stakes" fantasy novel, because the personal stakes are quite high, but it feels and reads quite low-stakes and, in some parts, i would even describe it as 'cosy'. this very obviously takes inspiration from the witcher, namely the relationship between geralt & dandelion, but i would also comp it to t kingfisher works and legends & latte, both of which have given me the same sort of reader 'feel'.
as i said, it was a very quick read - i read it in two sittings - the writing was easy to follow & get absorbed into. the characters were fun and i especially enjoyed watching logan's 'growth' through the book. i also really liked the inclusion of gary & the unicorns!
i mostly enjoyed it, though i felt the pacing was a little bit off (the first half was much slower), and i got quite tired of the sexualising comments made by the countess to logan and pie, which felt like every other time she spoke.
set in a queernorm, medieval world, we follow the main character logan as he pulls together a team of "adventurers" (heavy quotes) to find his husband pie, who disappeared one night. the group consists of logan, a monster killer; countess adelaide, a necromancer; ophelia, logan's ex-wife and current ghost; and gary, who owns a herd of unicorns.
the first half of the book consists of the search for pie, the second half of solving his disappearance and bringing down the forces that made it happen. i hesitate to describe this as a "low-stakes" fantasy novel, because the personal stakes are quite high, but it feels and reads quite low-stakes and, in some parts, i would even describe it as 'cosy'. this very obviously takes inspiration from the witcher, namely the relationship between geralt & dandelion, but i would also comp it to t kingfisher works and legends & latte, both of which have given me the same sort of reader 'feel'.
as i said, it was a very quick read - i read it in two sittings - the writing was easy to follow & get absorbed into. the characters were fun and i especially enjoyed watching logan's 'growth' through the book. i also really liked the inclusion of gary & the unicorns!
i mostly enjoyed it, though i felt the pacing was a little bit off (the first half was much slower), and i got quite tired of the sexualising comments made by the countess to logan and pie, which felt like every other time she spoke.
April 22, 2024
I really wanted to like this book. But it was badly written, badly edited (at one point there is just a question mark in the middle of a sentence) and I just didn’t care at all about any of the characters. The plot was slow, the twists were boring. It’s a gorgeous cover trying to ride the coattails of Legends and Lattes but failing badly. Really disappointing.
Plus the female characters perving on the men, including constantly making unwanted sexual advances and touching them - was just gross. I should have DNFed. Nothing about this was worth it. Especially disappointing as I had such high hopes.
Plus the female characters perving on the men, including constantly making unwanted sexual advances and touching them - was just gross. I should have DNFed. Nothing about this was worth it. Especially disappointing as I had such high hopes.
August 10, 2023
It was the absolute honor of my life to read an early copy of Rose's debut, and I loved every minute of it. Logan and Pie own my whole heart, and I can't wait for the rest of the world to experience this book (along with Rose's others!!)
Want to read
August 2, 2023I heard that this is a heartwarming, cozy fantasy with found family and queer romance and i came running (also THAT COVER???!?! 😩👌🏻)
November 7, 2024
the title is too good for it to be this "meh" 😭 2.75 stars
December 19, 2024
Til Dead Do Us Bard feels like reading a book where the author thought 'why do kids get all the fun adventure and quest stories?' and decided to write one for adults instead.
Managing to be both gently paced and action packed, this is a brilliantly fun and cosy fantasy with a lively ragtag cast of characters who left no room for a dull moment. It's safe to say I'm already looking forward to Rose's next book.
Managing to be both gently paced and action packed, this is a brilliantly fun and cosy fantasy with a lively ragtag cast of characters who left no room for a dull moment. It's safe to say I'm already looking forward to Rose's next book.
December 25, 2024
This book was pure wholesomeness with fun and silly characters. The book doesn't take itself too serious and it's just a fun quick read.
Genuinely enjoyed this book
Genuinely enjoyed this book
October 12, 2023
Sometimes you just find a book where you see the cover, find it intriguing, read the synopsis, find that even more intriguing and then you read the book and it’s everything you wanted. That honestly doesn’t happen that often to me because expectations are a thing but »Til Death Do Us Bard« really did everything I hoped it would - it was really funny, there was some romance, a fun fantasy plot with high stakes. All the elements mixed together so well. Like, sometimes it’s too much romance and not enough plot or the other way around or it’s not serious enough or too serious. You get what I mean. But this book was just perfect (for me). I truly loved it so much, I had such a good time with Logan and Co.
Thank you for the eARC NatGalley and Hodder & Stoughton!
Thank you for the eARC NatGalley and Hodder & Stoughton!
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September 1, 2023Received from NetGalley, thanks!
I’m choosing not to leave a star rating here, because this book doesn’t have a lot of reviews and I don’t want to tank a debut author’s GR rating.
For me, this book didn’t really work. I feel like it had a lot of potential, and I could see what the author was trying to do, but it just didn’t quite get there for me.
To be honest, it felt like a YA novel, but with 40-something year old characters. Like, storyline, plot wise, it was a bit over the top in a YA sort of way, if that makes sense? Yes, this is a historical fantasy, but it just felt a bit too far fetched, with not enough consequences? And there were a few times that it felt like the characters just did really dumb things to justify a cool scene? I know that sounds a bit harsh, but that’s how I feel and how the book read to me.
I mostly liked the characters, but I found Ophelia’s character to be quite confusing? She’s helping, then she’s not, but now she is, and she blames Logan for her death and hates him. Oh, yes, Ophelia is the ghost of Logan’s ex-wife.
I really wanted to like this book. I liked the premise, I liked the author’s promo, but alas, I did not like the book. As I said, I could see where it was going, but it just fell completely flat for me.
I’m choosing not to leave a star rating here, because this book doesn’t have a lot of reviews and I don’t want to tank a debut author’s GR rating.
For me, this book didn’t really work. I feel like it had a lot of potential, and I could see what the author was trying to do, but it just didn’t quite get there for me.
To be honest, it felt like a YA novel, but with 40-something year old characters. Like, storyline, plot wise, it was a bit over the top in a YA sort of way, if that makes sense? Yes, this is a historical fantasy, but it just felt a bit too far fetched, with not enough consequences? And there were a few times that it felt like the characters just did really dumb things to justify a cool scene? I know that sounds a bit harsh, but that’s how I feel and how the book read to me.
I mostly liked the characters, but I found Ophelia’s character to be quite confusing? She’s helping, then she’s not, but now she is, and she blames Logan for her death and hates him. Oh, yes, Ophelia is the ghost of Logan’s ex-wife.
I really wanted to like this book. I liked the premise, I liked the author’s promo, but alas, I did not like the book. As I said, I could see where it was going, but it just fell completely flat for me.
February 25, 2024
Rose Black’s TIL DEATH DO US BARD is an entertaining romantic fantasy novel, that is equal parts heartwarming romance and adventure, with quirky lovable characters and a heart of gold.
This book is exactly the type of novel that I’ve been looking for!!! I have been saying that I want to read more books where the couple is already together! Maybe it’s a hot take but I don’t care!! With nearly every romance novel being about the couple getting together—or being a sequel—it was so refreshing to read one where the reader is tossed into their loving dynamic a few years in.
The adventure and conflict of the story is intriguing, playing with magic forces of life and necromancy, but the characters are what draw you in. Specifically Logan and Pie, as you learn about their independent histories and their connected futures. I adored them both, Pie especially.
The narrator also did a lovely job with the audiobook, a few of the accents took getting used to, but it only added to the immersion of the story, and bringing the characters to life.
I can’t wait to recommend this one for cozy fantasy fans, especially once it’s available in the US.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hodderscape, and the author, for providing a copy for advanced review.
This book is exactly the type of novel that I’ve been looking for!!! I have been saying that I want to read more books where the couple is already together! Maybe it’s a hot take but I don’t care!! With nearly every romance novel being about the couple getting together—or being a sequel—it was so refreshing to read one where the reader is tossed into their loving dynamic a few years in.
The adventure and conflict of the story is intriguing, playing with magic forces of life and necromancy, but the characters are what draw you in. Specifically Logan and Pie, as you learn about their independent histories and their connected futures. I adored them both, Pie especially.
The narrator also did a lovely job with the audiobook, a few of the accents took getting used to, but it only added to the immersion of the story, and bringing the characters to life.
I can’t wait to recommend this one for cozy fantasy fans, especially once it’s available in the US.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hodderscape, and the author, for providing a copy for advanced review.
September 12, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and to the Editor. I received this book in exchange for an honest review
3.5 stars
I think that this is the year of necromancers, for me. This is the fourth book I've read that feature a necromancer as MC or almost MC, and I think that this won the prize for the favorite. The countess is amazing. Sure, I have to say that if she was a man, and the other characters were women, things wouldn't have gone so smoothly, I am aware of this double standard, and I do not like it, but... but she added levity to the story, so even being conscious of this, I enjoyed her (with reserves). And I loved her animals! Bones and the dog (I can't write the name right, I tried, so sorry about that!).
The other characters are pretty standard D&D cliches, but they all have a personality and they are unique. And even if there are some things that I didn't enjoy so much (mainly, I love happy ending, and I love good characters but... but here they are a tad too good. I mean, there are a lot of people who do shitty things, and sure, they shouldn't pay forever for them, they deserve some forgiveness and to be happy too, sure, but every time something bad happens (And I mean bad, not just harsh words) and one of the characters is mad with the guilty one, there is always someone that says "yes, it was shitty, but she has reasons, so do not be mad". And I get it, but if you hurt people (betray them, kill them, etc...) you should be held responsible for your action, and sure, in the end you may deserve forgiveness too, but still you should be held responsible not just excused because you had a hard life or something bad happened to you. This is not excuse!
3.5 stars
I think that this is the year of necromancers, for me. This is the fourth book I've read that feature a necromancer as MC or almost MC, and I think that this won the prize for the favorite. The countess is amazing. Sure, I have to say that if she was a man, and the other characters were women, things wouldn't have gone so smoothly, I am aware of this double standard, and I do not like it, but... but she added levity to the story, so even being conscious of this, I enjoyed her (with reserves). And I loved her animals! Bones and the dog (I can't write the name right, I tried, so sorry about that!).
The other characters are pretty standard D&D cliches, but they all have a personality and they are unique. And even if there are some things that I didn't enjoy so much (mainly, I love happy ending, and I love good characters but... but here they are a tad too good. I mean, there are a lot of people who do shitty things, and sure, they shouldn't pay forever for them, they deserve some forgiveness and to be happy too, sure, but every time something bad happens (And I mean bad, not just harsh words) and one of the characters is mad with the guilty one, there is always someone that says "yes, it was shitty, but she has reasons, so do not be mad". And I get it, but if you hurt people (betray them, kill them, etc...) you should be held responsible for your action, and sure, in the end you may deserve forgiveness too, but still you should be held responsible not just excused because you had a hard life or something bad happened to you. This is not excuse!
October 23, 2023
Come for the coziness, stay for the bone horse! With Dungeons & Dragons-style high fantasy vibes and a colorful cast in a queernorm world, Til Death Do Us Bard is a fantastic debut for anyone who loves their relationships established, their characters older and more experienced, and their fantasy worlds filled with delightful creatures (grumpy stabby unicorns! and did I mention the bone horse?)
I loved how this book focused so thoughtfully on old wounds, both literal and emotional, and how its vibrant cast dealt with them. It was satisfying to watch Logan (and Pie, and Ophelia, and so many other characters) reckon with their pasts. I'm so glad I had a chance to see what sorts of endings they created for themselves!
(I am incredibly fortunate to know this book’s author and to also have the unfettered gall to beg for an early copy.)
I loved how this book focused so thoughtfully on old wounds, both literal and emotional, and how its vibrant cast dealt with them. It was satisfying to watch Logan (and Pie, and Ophelia, and so many other characters) reckon with their pasts. I'm so glad I had a chance to see what sorts of endings they created for themselves!
(I am incredibly fortunate to know this book’s author and to also have the unfettered gall to beg for an early copy.)
did-not-finish
November 19, 2023I got this book through Netgalley and read the first 30% of this book. I then decided that this book and I weren't the great match I had hoped we would be. I don't think the book is to blame for that though. The book is well written, there is a lot going on and it therefore never gets boring. The book is also clearly written to be light hearted and funny, despite the fact that not everything in this book is light hearted and funny. I think a lot of readers around the world will absolutely love this book. I just noticed that I was starting to count down the pages. I noticed that I was busy thinking about next reads and my schedule for the upcoming week. I missed the true connection with this story. Since the book is focussing on the adventure and exploring this fantasy world, it didn't feel like I builded a connection with the characters yet. And I wasn't entirely sure if building that connection was gonna happen. I think for a reader preferring character driven stories this simply wasn't the right book. I'm sure however that those who prefer adventure and humor this book will be a perfect fit.
July 30, 2024
This was fun. The narration really made the book for me, so I’d definitely recommend the audiobook.
February 23, 2025
This book is basically if the Witcher Hansa was more gay and had skeletal horses, I too have gotten incredibly fond of Bones.
January 1, 2024
I was lucky to have been one of the first to read Travis Baldree’s debut novel ‘Legends and Latte’s’, long before it was picked up by a traditional publisher. I was intrigued by the description of ‘cozy fantasy’, so took a chance and found it delightful. Til Death Do Us Bard, Rose Black’s debut, shares a similar vibe and offers an enchanting blend of mystery, adventure, romance, and fantasy.
In Til Death Do Us Bard, Logan ‘the Bear’ is forced to come out of retirement when his husband Pie (aka Magpie aka Aloysius Montague) is abducted by the realm’s corrupt King Ervin. To rescue the love of his life, and save the Kingdom from an unstoppable army of undead, Logan, and his unusual band of allies, must be the first to find the Chalice of Vivax.
Set in a medieval fantasy world, the plot plays out much like a traditional Dungeons & Dragon session might, with an overarching goal requiring side quests to accomplish it. It’s an entertaining adventure which involves magic and mercenaries, unicorns and pirates. There’s drama and action with betrayal and battles. The suspense grows as the story progresses, and though the stakes are high, the inevitability of the happy ending buffers the tension somewhat.
I loved the main characters, Logan and Pie are very much opposites, with Logan a burly, gruff, monster-killer, while Pie is a slender, extroverted, wily bard. They are an adorable couple and I loved learning the history of their relationship. The allies Logan gathers on his quest are a colourful group, including a sexually aggressive necromancer, Countess Ariadne DeWinter; the ghost of Logan’s bitter ex-wife, Ophelia; and a naive unicorn herder, Gary. I really enjoyed their individual quirks, and the overall dynamic of the party. There is also a horse named Bones and a grumpy unicorn called Fredrick Onyx-Heart the Third, Freddy for short, who are a delight.
Some of the humour will perhaps be judged as inappropriate, but overall I was amused by the irreverent wit and banter. For me, Til Death Do Us Bard was an entertaining and engaging read.
In Til Death Do Us Bard, Logan ‘the Bear’ is forced to come out of retirement when his husband Pie (aka Magpie aka Aloysius Montague) is abducted by the realm’s corrupt King Ervin. To rescue the love of his life, and save the Kingdom from an unstoppable army of undead, Logan, and his unusual band of allies, must be the first to find the Chalice of Vivax.
Set in a medieval fantasy world, the plot plays out much like a traditional Dungeons & Dragon session might, with an overarching goal requiring side quests to accomplish it. It’s an entertaining adventure which involves magic and mercenaries, unicorns and pirates. There’s drama and action with betrayal and battles. The suspense grows as the story progresses, and though the stakes are high, the inevitability of the happy ending buffers the tension somewhat.
I loved the main characters, Logan and Pie are very much opposites, with Logan a burly, gruff, monster-killer, while Pie is a slender, extroverted, wily bard. They are an adorable couple and I loved learning the history of their relationship. The allies Logan gathers on his quest are a colourful group, including a sexually aggressive necromancer, Countess Ariadne DeWinter; the ghost of Logan’s bitter ex-wife, Ophelia; and a naive unicorn herder, Gary. I really enjoyed their individual quirks, and the overall dynamic of the party. There is also a horse named Bones and a grumpy unicorn called Fredrick Onyx-Heart the Third, Freddy for short, who are a delight.
Some of the humour will perhaps be judged as inappropriate, but overall I was amused by the irreverent wit and banter. For me, Til Death Do Us Bard was an entertaining and engaging read.
May 13, 2024
This is the kind of cozy I like. Romance, but of an established couple, with feelings and sweetness and bitterness.
Plus, the title is A+
Plus, the title is A+
Read
November 7, 2023DNF @ 25%
Sexual harassment isn’t cute and quirky, sorry.
I had high hopes for this one because it sounded so good and the plot was very promising, but the characters made it impossible for me to finish this book.
The MMC and his ex-wife were both a bit insufferable, and their banter was just… not good.
But worst of all was the countess who ended up being the reason I DNFed. She was constantly hitting on the MMC, making innuendos about both him and his husband, tried to get close to him,… It was so uncomfortable and if the roles were reversed, you know people would not find this behavior acceptable at all. I might have continued but sexual harassment like that is not something I want in my cozy fantasy, or ever.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.
Sexual harassment isn’t cute and quirky, sorry.
I had high hopes for this one because it sounded so good and the plot was very promising, but the characters made it impossible for me to finish this book.
The MMC and his ex-wife were both a bit insufferable, and their banter was just… not good.
But worst of all was the countess who ended up being the reason I DNFed. She was constantly hitting on the MMC, making innuendos about both him and his husband, tried to get close to him,… It was so uncomfortable and if the roles were reversed, you know people would not find this behavior acceptable at all. I might have continued but sexual harassment like that is not something I want in my cozy fantasy, or ever.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.
March 25, 2025
this was picked out for me by my gf and a friend without me knowing anything about it so i am of course expecting this book to change my life
November 24, 2023
4.5 stars! This was such a fun, hilarious fantasy romp - felt like a DnD home game! The story of Logan and Pie and their adventures has a lot of moving parts and at times I felt like there were a bit too many plot lines and characters to keep track of, which is why I‘m not giving it a full 5 stars. I still had a lot fun following this warrior, his bard and their host of unlikely allies through their story. I adored Pie, and the Countess (and her little dog) was absolutely my favorite character. What I really enjoyed about the book was that despite being so funny, it had a lot of genuine moments that made me feel for the characters.
My only real critique is that I wasn‘t sure about the tonality. From the cover, the marketing and the light-heartedness of most of the story, I thought it was going for a more cozy vibe. But there are actually some pretty gruesome scenes in this (and a lot of death, not only to do with the necromancer) and the stakes are also quite high in the end which I wasn‘t expecting. So I was never sure what could happen next in this story world which sometimes caused emotional whiplash.
But all in all, this book has everything! Epic fights, dramatic bards, sassy necromancers, ghostly possessions, pirate ships, a herd of unicorns and a wonderful romance at the center of it.
The Mummy meets Legends & Lattes in this epic fantasy adventure romance!
(Thank you to NetGalley, Rose Black and Hodder & Stoughton/Hodderscape for providing me with an eARC for this book in exchange for my honest feedback. All opinions in this review are my own.)
My only real critique is that I wasn‘t sure about the tonality. From the cover, the marketing and the light-heartedness of most of the story, I thought it was going for a more cozy vibe. But there are actually some pretty gruesome scenes in this (and a lot of death, not only to do with the necromancer) and the stakes are also quite high in the end which I wasn‘t expecting. So I was never sure what could happen next in this story world which sometimes caused emotional whiplash.
But all in all, this book has everything! Epic fights, dramatic bards, sassy necromancers, ghostly possessions, pirate ships, a herd of unicorns and a wonderful romance at the center of it.
The Mummy meets Legends & Lattes in this epic fantasy adventure romance!
(Thank you to NetGalley, Rose Black and Hodder & Stoughton/Hodderscape for providing me with an eARC for this book in exchange for my honest feedback. All opinions in this review are my own.)
September 8, 2025
I wanted to like this book much more than I actually did, which is somehow really annoying to me because it had everything I could have asked for.
- d&d elements? check.
- queer people? check.
- humour? check.
- adventure? check.
- a story that seemed compelling? check.
But somehow, the execution was thoroughly lacking. I could not for the life of me care about Logan and his struggles, because I found him to be annoying and rude to everyone around. I liked Pie enough, but then again he was just a huge ray of sunshine with no real deep personality save for being his husband’s opposite.
The entire story was not well-paced and I found myself skimming most of the fight scenes because they were not compelling nor interesting to the story, neither characters was hurt for long each time (and over, and over…) and in the end I just wanted to finish this book once and for all.
The female characters revolve around their male counterpart and even make awfully redundant sexual jokes and heavy non-consensual touching throughout the entire book, and I just could not care much for any of the female characters in this book because of how cliché they all were from the older weird woman to the crazy ex-wife.
In short, the idea was nice and i was excited about the execution but Til death do us bard was not a good surprise for me!
2.25 ⭐️
- d&d elements? check.
- queer people? check.
- humour? check.
- adventure? check.
- a story that seemed compelling? check.
But somehow, the execution was thoroughly lacking. I could not for the life of me care about Logan and his struggles, because I found him to be annoying and rude to everyone around. I liked Pie enough, but then again he was just a huge ray of sunshine with no real deep personality save for being his husband’s opposite.
The entire story was not well-paced and I found myself skimming most of the fight scenes because they were not compelling nor interesting to the story, neither characters was hurt for long each time (and over, and over…) and in the end I just wanted to finish this book once and for all.
The female characters revolve around their male counterpart and even make awfully redundant sexual jokes and heavy non-consensual touching throughout the entire book, and I just could not care much for any of the female characters in this book because of how cliché they all were from the older weird woman to the crazy ex-wife.
In short, the idea was nice and i was excited about the execution but Til death do us bard was not a good surprise for me!
2.25 ⭐️
December 8, 2023
I really enjoyed Til Death Do Us Bard.
It was a fun and quick read that had great characters!
I loved both Logan and Pie. Their romance was really sweet!
I also really liked the countess who is a necromancer. She was a lot of fun, though she could be a bit much with her constant flirting.
I was surprised with how much this reminded me of The Witcher. Especially Logan and Pie, they reminded me a lot of Geralt and Dandelion/Jaskier, which definitely made me love the book even more!
I definitely recommend this book, especially if you are interested in a fun fantasy read with great characters and a queer romance between a bard and a retired adventurer.
The book also had unicorns, a unicorn tamer, a bone horse, a ghost, and more!
It was a fun and quick read that had great characters!
I loved both Logan and Pie. Their romance was really sweet!
I also really liked the countess who is a necromancer. She was a lot of fun, though she could be a bit much with her constant flirting.
I was surprised with how much this reminded me of The Witcher. Especially Logan and Pie, they reminded me a lot of Geralt and Dandelion/Jaskier, which definitely made me love the book even more!
I definitely recommend this book, especially if you are interested in a fun fantasy read with great characters and a queer romance between a bard and a retired adventurer.
The book also had unicorns, a unicorn tamer, a bone horse, a ghost, and more!
September 20, 2024
“I know what I see in you. One day, I’ll make you see it, too.”
Til Death Do Us Bard is the story of Logan Thieker who has to go on a rescue mission after his husband disappears. But sadly for him, in order to find his husband, he has to team up with the most unlikely (and strange) people. Ragtag quest time!
Logan was the most lovable bear of all time. I loved the journey he went on and how he changed and learned throughout the story. His crew were a lot of fun and there were so many deadpan jokes that I absolutely laughed at. The characters were lovable and although the story was more high stakes than I expected, it still had those cosy quest vibes that I was craving.
In short, this book is a lot of fun and I’m excited to pick up more from Rose Black in the future.
Read if you like to see:
🎶Older MCs (Logan is in his 40s)
🎶Grumpy/sunshine
🎶MM romance
🎶Wholesome casts of characters
🎶Quests
🎶Books that will make you laugh
Til Death Do Us Bard is the story of Logan Thieker who has to go on a rescue mission after his husband disappears. But sadly for him, in order to find his husband, he has to team up with the most unlikely (and strange) people. Ragtag quest time!
Logan was the most lovable bear of all time. I loved the journey he went on and how he changed and learned throughout the story. His crew were a lot of fun and there were so many deadpan jokes that I absolutely laughed at. The characters were lovable and although the story was more high stakes than I expected, it still had those cosy quest vibes that I was craving.
In short, this book is a lot of fun and I’m excited to pick up more from Rose Black in the future.
Read if you like to see:
🎶Older MCs (Logan is in his 40s)
🎶Grumpy/sunshine
🎶MM romance
🎶Wholesome casts of characters
🎶Quests
🎶Books that will make you laugh
November 13, 2024
6/10
thank you @sophie for lending me the bard book 😌
it was simple and fun and cute! better written than I was expecting tbh and logan and pie are very wholesome!
the plot was not bad, but also not engrossing. this is not in itself a problem for these sorts of books, but I did feel here that too much time and emphasis was spent on the plot when there was nothing special or unique about it or the setting, so I was kind of uninvested - I would have liked it to either develop the plot more or lean more strongly into the characters/relationships or the cosy fantasy trend (eg legends and lattes)
bonus points for the atla cabbage man reference
thank you @sophie for lending me the bard book 😌
it was simple and fun and cute! better written than I was expecting tbh and logan and pie are very wholesome!
the plot was not bad, but also not engrossing. this is not in itself a problem for these sorts of books, but I did feel here that too much time and emphasis was spent on the plot when there was nothing special or unique about it or the setting, so I was kind of uninvested - I would have liked it to either develop the plot more or lean more strongly into the characters/relationships or the cosy fantasy trend (eg legends and lattes)
bonus points for the atla cabbage man reference
January 14, 2025
*3.5 stars
It took forever to finally get this book from the library, and now that I've read it, it pretty much met my expectations. I wanted a cozy-ish fantasy story featuring an established romance and that's exactly what I got. There might not have been anything ground breaking nor any part that will really stick with me after I close the book, but I'm glad I finally got to read it.
I did love the interludes thrown throughout to expand on the main couple's backstory and was happy to see that Pie wasn't missing for too much of the book.
Overall, a fun story with a sweet romance.
It took forever to finally get this book from the library, and now that I've read it, it pretty much met my expectations. I wanted a cozy-ish fantasy story featuring an established romance and that's exactly what I got. There might not have been anything ground breaking nor any part that will really stick with me after I close the book, but I'm glad I finally got to read it.
I did love the interludes thrown throughout to expand on the main couple's backstory and was happy to see that Pie wasn't missing for too much of the book.
Overall, a fun story with a sweet romance.
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