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Into the Haze: A Cozy Romantasy Adventure
AN UNLIKELY ADVENTURE AWAITS
Lucy never cared much for fairy tales. Now she’s alarmed to find herself at the centre of one. Her family inherits Granny’s cottage and move to the Isle of Man, an island steeped in mythology and superstition. Before long, a spell in Granny's old recipe book has thrust Lucy into a terrifyingly wild, shimmering world. Here, in the Haze, Lucy possesses powers that could help free the oppressed inhabitants from the flamboyantly cruel King Cloudcatcher.
A charismatic and revenge-bent rebel by the name of Riley recruits (well, kidnaps) Lucy to the Primroses, a rag-tag resistance group determined to restore harmony – and chaos – to these strange lands. Filled with surreal dangers and treacherous informants, the Haze is a perilous place, but Lucy would rather be a hero than return to her troubled home.
Besides, this world holds clues as to how her aunt disappeared all those years ago, promising closure to a family mystery...
But is the kingdom really as bad as the rebels claim?
Lucy grapples with her beliefs and desires as she resists the pull of power – and love. Victory means killing the enigmatic King Cloudcatcher, a man as emotionally unstable as he is annoyingly handsome. Failure means betraying the humble world she’s come to love – including Riley, a man as virtuous as he is dashing in tights.
No matter which path Lucy chooses, the evil she faces at home remains. In the ‘real world’, where she harbours no powers, she must find a way to protect her family from the abuse they suffer at the hands of her stepfather.
Not all problems have neat solutions, and telling right from wrong has never been harder.
VENTURE INTO THE HAZE FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE ESCAPE
This humorous and uplifting debut explores the many nuances of love while telling a story about finding inner strength in difficult times. Into the Haze glitters with a heartfelt belief in a better future, captivating lovers of 80s cult classics like The Labyrinth and The Princess Bride.
The first book in a new romantasy adventure trilogy.
376 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 30, 2024
7 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Ruby Harris
1 bookRuby Harris is a writer of fantasy, sci-fi and literary fiction in novel and short story format. She was born on the Isle of Man and currently lives in Sweden.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 11, 2024
Entertaining from start to finish!
There's a complex love triangle, relatable characters, friendship, laughs, heart-wrenching betrayals and a whole new world which is explored in a way that really draws you in.
Reminds me of the romance and adventure novels I loved as a teenager, spiced up with layers of fantasy and humour.
Can't wait for the next one in the trilogy!
There's a complex love triangle, relatable characters, friendship, laughs, heart-wrenching betrayals and a whole new world which is explored in a way that really draws you in.
Reminds me of the romance and adventure novels I loved as a teenager, spiced up with layers of fantasy and humour.
Can't wait for the next one in the trilogy!
April 28, 2025
This book is pure magic! If you love a whimsical, cosy fantasy this is for you. Alternatively, if you’ve read and loved Fairytale by Stephen King or loved Narnia as a child, you NEED to go into the haze… this story was epic, start to finish, and so unbelievably imaginative ❤️ read it, you’ll love it!
September 2, 2024
Much in the style of Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, The Never-Ending Story, and The Princess Bride, or even classics like Howl's Moving Castle, this book is unapologetically wild, gonzo fantasy at its finest...and that's a wonderfully refreshing thing in a market that feels saturated by grimdark gloom and doom. As a fan of the nostalgic 80s vibes, I love that it works to put the "fun" back in "fantasy" (even if f-u-n isn't technically in fantasy).
The best part about this story is that it's never not fun to read: even the more serious moments are filled with intriguingly intricate world-building details that will throw you for a loop, poignant character development, and plenty of humor to lighten things up. It's a fast, exciting read that only drags in a couple of small places - barely noticeable given how effervescent the characters and interactions are. The main character is instantly relatable, appealingly sassy, and always makes you want to cheer for her; the villain, complex and deep and will likely keep surprising you and defying expectations to the very last page. Of course there's a swashbuckling, wisecracking love interest and plenty of bizarre but crackerjack supporting characters, but to me the real heart of the book is the unexpected relationship between hero and villain which may make you reconsider if he's really as bad a guy as everyone says.
There are a few plot threads I wish were more elaborated upon and a couple of characters who I felt might have been dropped to the wayside a bit too soon with everything else going on in the book, but overall it's a fantastic fantasy debut! If you want fantasy to be fun again, pick up this book. You'll be glad you did.
The best part about this story is that it's never not fun to read: even the more serious moments are filled with intriguingly intricate world-building details that will throw you for a loop, poignant character development, and plenty of humor to lighten things up. It's a fast, exciting read that only drags in a couple of small places - barely noticeable given how effervescent the characters and interactions are. The main character is instantly relatable, appealingly sassy, and always makes you want to cheer for her; the villain, complex and deep and will likely keep surprising you and defying expectations to the very last page. Of course there's a swashbuckling, wisecracking love interest and plenty of bizarre but crackerjack supporting characters, but to me the real heart of the book is the unexpected relationship between hero and villain which may make you reconsider if he's really as bad a guy as everyone says.
There are a few plot threads I wish were more elaborated upon and a couple of characters who I felt might have been dropped to the wayside a bit too soon with everything else going on in the book, but overall it's a fantastic fantasy debut! If you want fantasy to be fun again, pick up this book. You'll be glad you did.
January 2, 2026
2.5 stars.
This book was mostly cute and fairly fun to read. It is sort of what it sets out to be - a "cozy" fantasy that draws a lot of inspiration from works such as Labyrinth - and I would suggest reading this with a playlist of "80´s fantasy music" in the background - it really helps set the mood.
With that said, I did really enjoy the first half of this book. I sat back, listened to aforementioned playlist and imagined all creatures in the Haze to be puppets a la Jim Henson and overall got into the "cozy" vibe. Laughed a bit at the Swedish names sprinkled throughout.
The second half, however, lost me a bit. I was not super invested in the romance, and the triangle drama felt low-stake. Lucy as a character didn´t interest me much after a while, and the ending itself felt very cookie-cutter, which is to be expected since, once again, this book sets out to be a "cozy romanatasy adventure".
The most accurate review of this book is probably "you get what you ask for" more or less, but I miss the suggestiveness and true whimsy of the works it's inspired by.
This book was mostly cute and fairly fun to read. It is sort of what it sets out to be - a "cozy" fantasy that draws a lot of inspiration from works such as Labyrinth - and I would suggest reading this with a playlist of "80´s fantasy music" in the background - it really helps set the mood.
With that said, I did really enjoy the first half of this book. I sat back, listened to aforementioned playlist and imagined all creatures in the Haze to be puppets a la Jim Henson and overall got into the "cozy" vibe. Laughed a bit at the Swedish names sprinkled throughout.
The second half, however, lost me a bit. I was not super invested in the romance, and the triangle drama felt low-stake. Lucy as a character didn´t interest me much after a while, and the ending itself felt very cookie-cutter, which is to be expected since, once again, this book sets out to be a "cozy romanatasy adventure".
The most accurate review of this book is probably "you get what you ask for" more or less, but I miss the suggestiveness and true whimsy of the works it's inspired by.
August 1, 2024
Have you ever whipped up a recipe from your grandmother's old cookbook and found yourself in a parallel world where you're the only one that can save it from a dictator? Ever stepped into a portapotty and ended up in a parallel world? If not, make sure to read "Into the Haze" in case it ever happens to you!
I'll admit I was drawn to this because of the cover, which is a very accurate representation of the story. The parallel world features magic, Princess Bride vibes, two love interests, and political turmoil on the verge of a revolution in a medieval fantasy setting. Cozy is the word to describe it. Lucy, the main character, resides on the Isle of Man, which has magical connections to the Haze, the parallel world. She must discover the magic inside of her to save the Haze and will fall in love along the way. Plenty of battles, spywork, and cloud magic await!
Narration: present tense
Spice level: 1/5
Conclusion: If you like the "Princess Bride," you'll like this one!
I'll admit I was drawn to this because of the cover, which is a very accurate representation of the story. The parallel world features magic, Princess Bride vibes, two love interests, and political turmoil on the verge of a revolution in a medieval fantasy setting. Cozy is the word to describe it. Lucy, the main character, resides on the Isle of Man, which has magical connections to the Haze, the parallel world. She must discover the magic inside of her to save the Haze and will fall in love along the way. Plenty of battles, spywork, and cloud magic await!
Narration: present tense
Spice level: 1/5
Conclusion: If you like the "Princess Bride," you'll like this one!
October 9, 2024
A heartfelt gem that remains warm and funny even in the face of dark themes. Lucy, Jobriath and Riley are so likeable and authentic that they keep you invested in the weird fantasy world of the Haze. You're left wanting more adventures by the end of the novel, which fortunately hints at a sequel. I'd describe this more as a cosy fantasy than a typical romantasy (because of the low spice), and there's definitely a nod to retro fantasy. Fans of My Lady Jane, The Princess Bride and maybe even Terry Pratchett would probably appreciate the humour and style.
April 1, 2025
Into the Haze is a beautifully written fantasy that blends whimsy, adventure, and just the right touch of romance. The atmosphere pulled me in right away—it gave me that same magical, nostalgic feeling I got from Narnia, while still feeling totally fresh and unique.
Ruby Harris does a great job building a vivid world full of charm and mystery. The characters are layered and memorable, and there’s a good balance between lighthearted moments and emotional depth. I found myself rooting for the heroine and eager to see what would happen next.
I was lucky enough to read this book for free, but honestly, it’s one I would’ve happily paid for. If you’re a fan of cozy yet thrilling fantasy adventures, Into the Haze is definitely worth the read!
Ruby Harris does a great job building a vivid world full of charm and mystery. The characters are layered and memorable, and there’s a good balance between lighthearted moments and emotional depth. I found myself rooting for the heroine and eager to see what would happen next.
I was lucky enough to read this book for free, but honestly, it’s one I would’ve happily paid for. If you’re a fan of cozy yet thrilling fantasy adventures, Into the Haze is definitely worth the read!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews