Legends and Librarians

Legends and Librarians #1

by Pandora Pierce

At the Misty Mountain Library, stories don’t just sit on shelves—they leap right off the page.

When Nyssa returns to the magical library she adored as a child, it’s not quite how she remembered it. A wild magic storm has brought the books to life, leaving her to repair the library while wrangling tiny dragons, even tinier knights, a grumpy demon lord, and so much more.

With the Tales and Tomes Festival just around the corner, Nyssa needs the library ready for its grand reopening or it might disappear for good. But with the story spirits causing playful chaos, and the townsfolk convinced it’s haunted, she’ll need help bringing the magic back.

Roan, a wandering adventurer, takes the job expecting danger but instead finds himself charmed by the library—and by Nyssa. As they prepare for the festival, they’ll learn that restoring the library isn’t just about fixing what’s broken, it’s about building something new, together.

Legends and Librarians is a cozy fantasy full of found family, whimsical magic, and the warm feeling of discovering where you truly belong.

Genres: Fantasy, Cozy Fantasy, Romance, Cozy, Magic, Fantasy Romance, Fiction

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 7, 2025

About the author

Pandora Pierce writes cozy fantasy where the monsters are charming, the magic is whimsical, and the adventures are delightfully low-stakes. She has a weakness for slimes, red pandas, and other adorable creatures that inevitably sneak into her stories.

When she’s not writing, she streams as a VTuber, connecting with readers, writers, and gamers in a space as cozy and lighthearted as her books.

Reviews

[ReneeReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy, cute and magical. Sentient little libraries? I'm sold. This book was a delight to read and a fun little pick me up.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Pub Date: 1/7/25

[Brenda · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF - just couldn't get into it. The characters are shallow and the story is too simplistic. Not for me.

[KarolBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Roan sure knew how to win a woman's heart: with piles and piles of books."

No powiem tak mnie już kupił i moje serce bije dla was także dobra robota Roan. Ale zanim włączy się wewnętrzna fangirl przybliżę wam o co w tym wszystkim chodzi. W bibliotece Misty Mountain historie ożyły sprawiając nie jeden kłopot, stworzenia w nich zawarte grasują wolno siejąc chaos. Niestety nie jest to dobry czas na magiczne potyczki ponieważ zbliża się pewne bardzo ważne wydarzenie Festiwal Opowieści i Tomów, gdzie znów zostanie otwarta biblioteka, niestety przez zaistniałą sytuacje mieszkańcy miasta przekonani są że ów biblioteka została nawiedzona i niekoniecznie chcą się do niej zbliżać. I tu zaczyna się historia Nyssa odpowiedzialna za przygotowanie biblioteki do tak ważnej uroczystości potrzebuje pomocy a Roan, wędrowny poszukiwacz przygód, przyjmuje to zadanie.

Jeśli spodziewacie się walki ze smokami, demonicznego władcy, przygody, pot łzy i ciężką pracę, tu ich nie znajdziecie, przykro mi. To samo tyczy silnego męskiego bohatera.
Nie zrozumcie mnie źle Roan jako bohater był niesamowity, ale wiecie jakie to uczucie kiedy role się odwracają i to kobieta w tym wypadku Nyssa jest tą która gra pierwszą role, bez panienek w opałach, z charakterem i humorem oraz wielką determinacją. Zakochałam się w niej.

Cała historia z lekkim tłem magii była idealnie skomponowana, integrację postaci magicznych z bohaterami sama akcja i problemy z którymi się zmagały były bardzo dobrze skonstruowane.
Nie wiem co powinnam jeszcze dodać, książka sama w sobie jest bardzo krótka, lekko napisana z pamiętliwymi scenami oraz najlepszymi bohaterami. Po prostu słodka i urocza z nutką humoru.
Na pewno sięgnę po więcej, patrząc na to że to tom pierwszy. Jak na razie 4.5⭐

[Maliyah F · Rating 1 out of 5]

[ARC/buddy read for @longdistancereaders on instagram] We want to preface that we both admire the hard work that goes into writing a book. The drive and dedication to see a draft from beginning to end is recognized and valued. With that being said, we’ve made the decision to DNF this story, but we will provide honest reviews for what we have read. We are thankful to the authors for the opportunity to have received the ARC copies of “Legends and Librarians”. Also, thank you to Booksiren for sending the copy for “Legends and Librarians.”

This has a wonderful premise and plot going on. The idea of magical libraries, a love of books, and an epic adventure taking place with added romance sounds like the perfect book lover’s dream. Unfortunately, the story was not hitting the mark. For us, it was hard to get into the book, largely due to worldbuilding and writing. At the start, we found ourselves enjoying the concept of the story. The idea of an ancient library to be revitalized and all the rich magic to be discovered was very compelling. However, as the chapters went on, the essence and overall story flow became muddled, leaving us confused… and not the kind of confusion that made us want to keep reading to find out more. Definitely a lovely plot and premise, it just was not for us.

[Erin Hawley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cozy, low-stakes magical fantasy read!

This was a quick and fun read that felt like a love letter to libraries. This was a dual POV between the FMC and MMC with one main storyline discovering and rehabilitating the magical library and a romance side plot. I was more invested in the library side and magical library characters, but the romance was cute enough. There were times when the story felt a little predictable and the dialogue felt a little wooden and repetitive, but, overall, I had a good time. None of the conflicts of the story were stressful, and I was happy with the ultimate resolution. Who wouldn't want to visit a library of book characters who come to life? I'd read the second one in the series to read more in the world.

Thank you, Pandora Pierce, for the arc!

[Page_2_Pen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cozy fantasy full of mythical creatures and magical books! It's got an adventurous love story thrown in to make it the perfect cozy read on a cold day. I enjoyed how easy it was to attach to the characters and the storyline was intriguing and flowed well. Many thanks to the author and publisher for this wonderful winter read! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Bitsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Legends and Librarians” is an adorable read. I agree with other reviewers that it’s a great palate cleanser especially if you’re used to heavier fantasies. “Pleasant” is a good word to describe this book.

That being said I don’t think it was necessarily for me. I’m still going to round it up to 4 stars because it wasn’t bad, it was just different from what I was expecting. This was my first book from the author, so I wasn’t really sure what it was going to be. I found that it read very young. At times it reminded me of books by Rick Riordan, so it was fun and silly. But I think the characters and creatures could have used more depth.

Also certain themes and words used became a bit redundant at times. For instance the word “library” was used so much at the beginning it stopped looking real. I was really happy when the library was given a different name to be called.

I liked the romance and the plot, it was wholesome. The stakes weren’t too high so there wasn’t any stress involved. You could tell it was a book that was going to end with a happily ever after.

Overall a very sweet book.

I received an advanced copy of this book through BookSirens and this is my honest review. Thank you to the author.
3.5 📚📚📚📚

[Julia Boitsova · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very kind and sweet book. perhaps even too sweet and kind for me)))

[Amanda Marquette · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ I wanted to love this! I loved the idea of it, but the execution wasn’t great. By 60% I was getting pretty bored and by 85% I was just skimming. It felt somewhat repetitive, the writing wasn’t great (I’m sorry!), and I wasn’t a fan of feeling like I was in another world one second and then being brought to the present with modern vocab (ex: hard pass, hoodie, etc).

I feel terrible for even writing this because I know the amount of time and energy that goes into writing, but thought constructive feedback for the author might be useful.

[Tia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than expected!!

This book is the coziest of fantasy books with a dash of romance! I enjoyed myself so thoroughly, I read it all in one sitting and just basked in the warm, chocolate chip cookie with hot chocolate that was this book. I loved meeting all the different characters and really seeing stories come to life! I’m excited for the next book!

[Rachael | ☾ whimsicalfiction ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and fluffy but the writing style didn’t hook me. I love the idea of a magic sentient library as much as anyone but knowing the patron horror stories I’ve been privy to, I would hate to find out how exactly one of the misty mountain library patrons decides to deface the bathroom 🥲

[Abby Pankhurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! 🥰
I wasn't sure exactly what I was getting into but it was so cute!!!! This was the first book I have read in awhile that I really couldn't put down. It is just so warm and comforting, a calm in the midst of storms.
A lot of authors seem to think that there must be R rated content to create a sense of romance and attraction. I do not back that idea nor think it necessary or (most of the time) appropriate. Pandora created a fuzzy world where anxious minds like mine are able to rest. I don't enjoy pain and conflict, which, this lovely novel did not slap me in the face with the whole time.
I believe in reading for fun and joy and this book definitely provides that!
If you are looking for a low stakes, low conflict, high on whimsy and smiles then please read this!
I just finished it and found out the series continues and I kid you not I gasped and did a happy dance! 😂

The criticism I have:
she uses the specific word "vibe" a lot when there could have been a different word or sentence structure just to freshen it up a bit.
I was slightly confused on the mix of fantasy style and modern language/food.
But honestly it didn't bother me that much.
Very good, very happy I read it, it goes on my comfort book shelf now! ☺️

[Alex (HEABookNerd)]

DNF

Isn't grabbing my attention...which seems to be a common issue with me and cozy fantasy.

[Mila · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 this was really fun, pleasantly surprised

[Kat Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super low stakes and super cozy. I had a wonderful time just vibing, and book 2 sounds even more fun!

[erikoreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute little cosy book!! It was filled with such love for public libraries, and I adored the book spirits. It was such a delight to read!

[Addie Kirkland · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasure to read this book. My goodness. A dream world/plot for any book lover.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'ai passé un délicieux moment de lecture ! C'était mignon, chaleureux, confortable.
Et cette idée de bibliothèque magique à réparer et soigner ! 🥰

[Amanda Snodgrass · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything about this world! I adore the idea of sentient libraries, and I want a book tree (and a Mochi!) badly. Having such a major festival around books and writing, the partnership between writers and libraries, the idea that reading generates magical power. Just all of it is so cool!

Both main characters have such lovely arcs and growth, and their relationship and their relationships with everyone around them are so sweet. This was such a warm and cozy read and I cannot wait to return to this world in the future!

Thanks so much to Pandora and BookSirens for a review copy!

[Floprieee]

Definitely such a fun and cozy read, I loved the plot a bit wayyyy too much, the writing. characters and bonding buildup could have been better nevertheless fun atleast..
perfect to get out of my 2 month reading slump😭🙏

[Nyssa Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars. Don't get me wrong, this wasn't a bad book, I just think I wasn't the right audience for this book. Despite it being on the shorter side, it took me forever to push through because of how bored I got at times, but I can't say I hated it because I didn't. I liked the prose, the Guilds and the story spirits themselves, but there was also a lot that didn't work for me.

I was expecting something more exciting, with the story spirits causing more problems then they actually did (like something like the Library from The Librarian [2004]) or more scenes fixing up the library. Like for the Library to play such a huge roll, I honestly can't remember what it looks like. I needed more descriptions of before and after.

This book relied heavily on "tell" instead of "show", which, for a short book, it cannot be helped, but it meant I really needed to believe everything going on. There was no real struggle. Everything was resolved quickly from Roan staying, to his misunderstanding with his old guild and Nyssa including convincing the townsfolk the Misty Mountain Library isn't haunted. Even though there were times when both Roan and Nyssa admitted to having no idea how to fix something, they still succeeded without even looking at "how to..." and Diy books.

Again, this book didn't do anything overtly wrong, it just feels like nothing major really happened and there wasn't enough action/drama to keep me invested. There was no true sense of urgency. I want to say a lot was focused on the romance, but it really wasn't and, honestly, at the end of it, I thought Roan and Nyssa would make better friends than love interests.

Despite what I thought, I can see the appeal of this book and I will still recommend it, because I know there are readers out there who would love it. It is just after this, I've come to realize cozy fantasies aren't for me. I feel bad for giving it such a low rating when I'm obviously not the target audience for it, but if I did a tier ranking I wouldn't put this on the same list as my other 3 stars.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*There is some very light cussing in here with only a handful of cases*

The world in this book is one of the best I have reviewed so far. Having a library in which characters literally come out of the pages and exist in the real world has always been a fantasy of mine. This book has dragons, knights, a demon lord, an adorable and fluffy red panda, and even a large golem who loves gardening. It is a whimsical fantasy lover's dream set in a book-core paradise. The library itself is obviously magical and sits on top of a mountain within the forest. With a name like the Misty Mountain Library, it definitely lives up to the vision of being mysterious and grandiose. We do not get too much exploration of the town at the base of the mountain outside of the adventurer's guild but from what we do get, it gives me fantasy video game vibes. Very much a place I would take all day to explore.

This book is written through the alternating viewpoints of Nyssa and Roan. The romance plot takes a back seat compared to the magical and fantasy themes, which I preferred in this case.

The magic I found to have some very original ideas. Basically, all libraries are imbued with magical properties that come from the three OG gods that created everything in this world. They dish out this magic every year during the Tales and Tomes festivals that each library can participate in. One of the traditions of this festival is dropping the writings of an author in this well, followed by the written words of all the patrons in attendance which is typically about how this past year had gone for them and what they wish for in the future. If the gods are pleased with the different stories dropped into the well, the great tree (which is situated inside the library seemingly in a vocal position) gets a rush of fresh magic from them. Apparently if a library goes too long without getting a new blessing of magic, the library eventually disappears which was the reasoning behind Nyssa and Roan putting so much work into the place in the book. The Misty Mountain library was special in the fact that a wild magic storm blew through which gave it its unique characteristic of storybook characters coming to life within its walls. I loved the unique magic system in this book a lot and the fact it centered around libraries, which I have always considered magical to begin with, was extra amazing.

Nyssa is the headstrong head librarian of the Misty Mountain Library. She is a spitfire from the very beginning and willing to do virtually anything to achieve her goals which is evident with how she sells everything she owns to travel to the library in the first place. Being initially tossed out of the library by the story spirits, her stubbornness leads to her eventually placing herself back inside the walls and getting the spirits to warm up to her and her visions for the library. As Nyssa becomes more aware of the past of the place and why it has such a negative reputation with the townspeople, she remains sympathetic to how the library itself and the characters feel about all of her renovations. Everyone is wary of opening the doors up once again to strangers, but she remains patient and optimistic the entire book. The fact she is always willing to hear everyone's opinions and takes ideas seriously, shows how great of a leader she truly is.

Roan is the rugged and slightly broody adventurer that takes on the task of assisting with the reopening of the library. He has a bit of a troubled past filled with abandonment and thoughts of never truly belonging anywhere. As the story goes on and he begins to figure out what his purpose truly is, he begins to display the best character development in the book. He begins to open up more and more to not just Nyssa but the book spirits and the adventurers of his past. He is able to apologize to certain individuals as he was holding onto some regrets which were unknowingly holding him back from realizing his future. He is always on guard particularly around Nyssa, always carrying his sword with him as a true adventurer. Always willing to follow Nyssa's lead and put any plan into motion, makes him a wonderful partner for her as well as a general assistant to the library as a whole.

The romance between Nyssa and Roan felt a little bit rushed at times, as the flirtations between them began really quickly. At the same time, their attraction towards each other felt genuine, if a little awkward at times. It felt like two adults who have not really had any true relationship experience before, so it felt really innocent. They were an epitome of the broody male, bubbly female love story which I love so if you enjoy that trope, feel free to give this book a read. Roan is actually the one who eventually pushes their relationship to the next level which was very endearing in my opinion.

This book is the first in a series of two books (so far). The sequel seems to follow the perspective of the demon lord and one of the other side characters in this story. The female lead is actually the writer that sponsored the festival for the library. She seemed to be attracted to the demon character humorously, so the next story would be fun to read.

All in all, if you love magical and fantastical stories that center around a library with a minor romance plot, this book could be a great pick for your next adventure!

[Jano · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

Every reader could relate Nyssa and her desire to come back to the library of her childhood. Mist mountain library is close to disappear. Without patrons, magic and the gods blessings, the building’s future is to get lost in the memories. Nyssa leave her dream job, her apartment and a save future, pick a tight budget and go back to find that the library is haunted by creatures that scared the small town that don’t want be saved for a stranger.

Legend and librarians tell us the story of healing hearts that bond through the books, that happen to come alive behind the doors of mist mountain library.

I can’t describe how much I loved this book, is my first time reading a cozy fantasy book and this book set the standards very high. The atmosphere smells like cookies, you can’t tell me otherwise. Even though the book is simple, that doesn’t mean that is not well written; the author does a pretty good job describing how the world works and the rules that the reader need to know without the info dumping. The managing of the information while we are discovering all the mist mountain library is perfect and not overwhelming at all. The worldbuilding is amazing and visual, allow you to imagine and get immersed into the book.

The characters of the library are the most beautiful and adorable things that I ever read, I felt hard with one that doesn't speak at all but is capable to communicate and make you feel hugged with their kindness (*Mochi ILYSM💕).* That is only one of the multiple ways that the author tell the story to us, because for my surprise, the coziness, the laughs and the snacks, this book talks about some heavy topics like the scars that abandonment can leave, showing how the characters grow and fight the past and the shadows come from the abandonment to learn to be loved, and how everyone have their way to develop.

The main characters are hidden gold (I wanna gatekeep them forever) I relate Nyssa so much, and completely understand why the author picked her as a narrator. She is a little ray of sunshine that have to be protected, she’s always looking for others and her passion get thought the pages, you can feel the excitement of hers and her will to save the magic of the books that she had, so others can have it.

Roan is everything that we deserve as readers, he is kind, smart AND HE CAN FIX THINGS, what else we need? His chapters where my favorite, he bring dimensions and a tone that is more deeper.

I loved the book without doubts, but there was a tiny details that make some noise in my head, like the way that the romance was treated. I love the couple, but I feel it weird because he was so in love with her since chapter one. I thought for the first 5 or 6 chapters that he knows her before they meet. It was trying to develop a relationship and feelings that was already there.

The other thing is that a couple of important things are said abrupted or in an anticlimactic moment and the couple of solutions that are came from nowhere. Is not a big deal, because the nature of the book but make some noise.

The last is not like an issue, is a personal thing. The book doesn't follow the three acts formula, is like smalls tension scenarios that contribute to the final resolution. So there's not a big tense, is a hit and smart move from the author because of how is cozy fantasy supposed to work, but for readers that are used to read the typical three acts and expect a lot of tension, you will not get it because this book is meant to make you feel safe and hugged. The dragons just wanna have fun, you know?

[Jessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an E-Arc of this book via BookSirens in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to BookSirens, the author and the publisher, for this opportunity.

Actual Rating: 3.5/5

Legends and Librarians is an innovative and charming cozy fantasy romance perfect for fans of Bookshops & Bonedust and the Spellshop; filled with imaginative story-based magic, cute romance and mini-dragons!

The story follows Nyssa, a librarian who wants to help rebuild her childhood favourite library, the Misty Mountain Library, which has recently fallen under disrepair and Roan, an adventurer who she meets by chance at a book sale who decides to help her with rebuilding the Library after they discover that the Library may be haunted. However, Nyssa and Roan soon find that the Library is not haunted, but rather that in the absence of human patrons and wild magic gone array, the Library has become populated by story spirits, magical manifestations of book characters, ranging from mini dragons, a mysterious demon lord, a food-obsessed red panda and a determined librarian (who I suspect may be a reference to a character from Genshin Impact, one of my favourite video games).

The story follows both Nyssa and Roan in equal parts, with the chapters most often alternating between them. Personally, I enjoyed a lot of Nyssa's chapters more than Roan's, and because both of them were written in first-person, I sometimes found it hard to differentiate between them, and I think I would have had a much harder time telling them apart without being told which character POV the chapter was in. Additionally, I felt there was a lot of repetition in the writing, particularly with Roan's chapters, as there was a specific theme important to his arc that I felt the author often touched upon too directly and too frequently to the point that it was a bit grating. While I enjoyed seeing their romance develop in each of their chapters and how their relationships with the story spirits changed over the novel's course, I don't think that too much would have been lost if the author had focused only on Nyssa's POV. Similarly, I also thought that Nyssa and Roan's initial meeting was a bit rushed, and I felt they became overly familiar with each other very quickly, acting as though they were already friends instead of friendly strangers. However, I liked that this shifted as the story developed, with their romance becoming more of a slow burn, which I enjoyed more.

Another highlight of this book is the creative magic system, which is based on magic. In this world, reading, writing and everything bookish is magic in of itself. The story spirits, in particular, stood out to me, and I loved learning more about their origins and the stories within the world. I also thought that the author did a good job at fleshing out the religion in this world and explaining how and why books and bookish actions are related to magic in this world. However, because a lot of the plot focused on rebuilding the Library, I didn't really get a lot of insight into the greater world politics, which, given that this is a relatively short story and is meant to be low-stakes, is okay and may be something that other readers are looking for. I still would have liked to get more insight into the world beyond the Library, but given that there will be another book in the series, I hope the author will explore more of the world in later instalments.

Overall, Legends and Librarians is a charming and sweet cozy romance filled with fairytale magic, a cute romance and even cuter mini dragons!

[Alyssa Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book. My opinions are voluntarily given

Spoilers Ahead!

Super cute, cozy read. I loved the magical elements and creatures the author created in this story. Magical libraries and book characters come to life make for a delightful world. It reminded me a bit of the Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews, another series I liked – although that series is not as low-stakes and cozy as this book.

There were a few things I wanted more of in the story. I thought the world-building around the Misty Mountain Library was pretty well fleshed-out, but I didn’t have a good sense of the rest of the world. I think in an early chapter portal-travel is mentioned, but I’m not sure if that was how the characters got around in general. I didn’t have a good sense of how far away the main town/city with the festival was, or how the characters got there. Or if it was the same town with the library Nyssa worked at in Chapter 1?

There were a few spots where it felt like there was a build-up to an explanation or a scene that didn’t end up happening. Like when Roan and the golem were building a snack shack for Mochi. Roan was really excited for Nyssa to see it. But there was no big reveal scene, it was just mentioned that it existed a few days later. I’m somewhat of a visual reader, where I picture the world in my head. But I didn’t have a picture of the snack shack, because it wasn’t described. I also didn’t know if it was inside or outside the library, or maybe they moved it around? Somewhat similarly, it was sort of dramatic how the adventurer’s guild forced Oren to go with them to explain the library’s magic to them. It wasn’t really mentioned how long he was gone, and he didn’t come back to tell everyone how it went. He was just back at the library at some point and it wasn’t mentioned again.

The romance between the main characters was cute, although as other reviewers have mentioned, it felt a little rushed in the first chapter. I did get annoyed with Roan near the end, leading Nyssa on while saying he was going to leave. At one point she does say she’s getting mixed signals from him, but she doesn’t set a boundary and tell him to figure out if he’s staying and then they can figure out their relationship. She keeps telling him he’s welcome to stay and she wants him to stay, and he doesn’t commit, but then they’d make out or something. I guess I wanted her to stand up for herself a little.

I don’t mind first-person stories, and I don’t mind changing POVs, but I, personally, have a hard time with both. Their voices weren’t super distinct, so sometimes I’d get mixed up on whose chapter I was reading until I was a few pages into it.

All that to say, I did really enjoy the story, I mostly just wanted some more details of the world to get a sense of it, and some more of the character interactions. I imagine it’s difficult to write a story with so many characters. I believe the author is continuing the series, so the characters and the world will get more time to develop. I will keep an eye out for the next book!

[Leigh W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Come visit the library where magic is real. All the libraries are magical but there is something different about the Misty Mountain Library that sets it apart from the others.

Nyssa is finally fulfilling her dream of being the librarian for the Misty Mountain Library. That branch hasn't had a librarian in years after it was hit with a wild magic storm. But her childhood happy place is on the verge of disappearing which she is determined to not let happen. She has a plan and a vision and nothing will get in her way except a curious adventurer and the people unexpectedly taking care of the library. Once determined to do everything herself, Nyssa learns to rely on others to not only help her dream but to help those around her as well. Roan is between adventuring jobs and happened to stumble across a book sale looking for reliable maps and information. What he discovered is a librarian determined to save what she loves and the passion that drives her. Deciding to escort her and his half of the books he bought, he is brought close to a place he once called home with where old wounds and unresolved feelings of abandonment from his past linger. He is determined to leave before he starts forming bonds with Nyssa and the magical library but something about her and that place soothe a part of his broken spirit. Now he is invested in realizing her dream and maybe finding a new one for himself.

This was a very cute read with all the healing and comfort vibes present. I loved the idea that all libraries are magical but this one is especially so. And how stories become embellished and can cause damage, even if unintentional. Nyssa and Roan are absolutely adorable together and I like the progression they had, it wasn't rushed and had its stumbles in places. The characters we meet are fun and you can see a few tropes with them that will be fun to explore in future books. I would also day the visual of dragons high on ‘dragonnip’ and being goofy was hilarious and made a fun scene, especially once the old lady figured out what was going on and gave them extra later. A fun, enjoyable read that fills a cozy void.

[LinaVer · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Legends and Librarians" is a cozy fantasy book, that also touches upon such tropes and topics as romance, community, hope, self-discovery and healing from past experiences. It's a story about Nyssa, a cheerful librarian who quits her job, sells her apartment and moves to an abandoned Misty Mountain Library, hoping to revive it. While buying books for the library, she meets Roan, a slightly grumpy, cheeky adventurer-knight, who, well, kind of immediately feels attracted to our heroine's charm, and decides to help her in her mission of bringing Misty back to life. What ensues is a tale so cozy and cute, it was just what I needed to read as my last book of the year.

At first, as a true sceptic and grump, I found it difficult to immerse myself in this cozy, cheery, sweet, evenly paced and sometimes a bit simplistic story. Everything that happens, is sort of mild, there are no real dangers or challenges to the characters, only what the book calls adventures, and they're all written in a very even, non-dramatic style. I guess, this is what creates the coziness and a feeling of safeness for the reader, and it might be a feature of this genre (I am new to it). So, that is in itself not bad, I guess, it just took me a moment to get used to. And once I did, I really enjoyed the story and especially all the quirky magical characters (story spirits, as they are called in the book). I wish I could meet the mini-knights in real life.

Thanks to "Legends and Librarians", I am now interested to read more cozy stories, and I am looking forward to more works of this author. Not sure if Legends & Lattes is at all connected to this book or the genre, but I am now looking to read it as well. I guess, I really enjoyed this book and am now also a fan of the genre and the cozy craze. Thank you Pandora Pierce for this! 📚😊

Thank you to the author, publishers and BookSirens for the advanced reader copy of this book. I am sharing my honest review here.

[Treasure Box Of Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cozy little story about a kind, gentle-hearted librarian and her new unexpected beau who are determined to bring an abandoned magical library back to life.

This is definitely a cozy read as there are very low stakes throughout. Sometimes you're just in need of a calm book, and this is it! It's a perfect evening and bedtime read. I loved all the magical creatures! There are even live little free lending libraries hopping through the forest! 🥰 Oh and mini dragons! 🥰🥰. I liked reading about the story book characters, even the Demon! I liked him immediately even though he was attempting to be awful lol.

The romance, eh. Honestly, I wish it wasn't even in this book. I think this story would have done really well with strangers-to-BFF's, or even book-loving-librarian-co-workers-to-BFF's that had the same mission to restore the library. Sometimes I wish books would just be ok with not having a romance in there. I was way more interested in the bookish stuffs, library restoration, magical creatures and story book characters side of this story and I found myself wishing and waiting for more detail on those parts. The romance felt vanilla and lame to me and I felt a lot of eyerolls everytime I had to read those parts, which is intertwined 50% of the book.

If one were to take out the romance, this story read like a middle-grade book. I actually thought it was until it got to the forced proximity bedroom scene towards the beginning of the story. Then from there, the rest of the book is 50/50 about their budding romance and the library restoration. (Note: There is zero spice in this cozy book.) Another reason I thought it was middle-grade at first was because the writing style is simple and laid out. Actually too laid out in my opinion as everything is "told" to you instead of letting the reader make conclusions themselves. And they're very obvious conclusions that didn't need to be spelled out!

An easy read with magic everywhere!

I received an advance review copy for free (thank you publisher and author!), and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

an imaginative, fantasy story that has so many great elements

Rating: 4.25⭐️

Honestly, it had me at a librarian who’s going to restore a magical library. I’m in.

I kept hearing a certain librarian saying “I am a librarian “ as I was reading the story. And being completely delighted by such whimsical fantasy creatures as neglected tiny free libraries who hopped on their stakes like wooden puppies when seeing new books. The joy flew off the page and made these little decrepit boxes full of life and wonder. They became one of my favorites here.

Among so many offerings found in the abandoned Misty Mountain Library’s shelves, and now alive characters of the books that live on the shelves. Tiny dragons and knights, amongst them.

All waited for years for someone to return to help them.

Ah what a journey and a struggle for librarian Nyssa to get the library to forgive and accept her. And then another battle with the town that the old library up the mountain is as magical and beautiful as anything else around.

This is an imaginative, fantasy story that has so many great elements to it. Storybooks and their characters come to life, a library that has feelings and has been not just neglected but hurt. And a librarian returning home.

It’s not perfect. There’s several things that need more attention or exploration of their history to feel complete. Mostly it’s the secondary human characters who come off as one dimensional , especially when the little free magical libraries are so small and lively that they are more credible, adorable, and funny. I want one.

The second novel features a one of the characters from the books that were waiting for the librarian when she came up the Mountain. He’s quite the personality. Looking forward to reading his novel.

Beautifully illustrated and rich in detail. I love these covers.

Cover Design: The Book Brander Boutique
Interior Illustrations: Della Claire

Legends and Librarians (2 book series):
Legends and Librarians #1
Myths and Manuscripts #2

[Sarah A · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book based solely on the title - and they were met and even exceeded.

In a fantasy world where the Story Gods gifted the world with the magic of reading and magical tree libraries, there was one library that was of utmost importance to Nyssa - the one where she found and embraced the magic.
Now Nyssa is an adult librarian, trained and ready to return to that source library, the Misty Mountain library. She knows it was abandoned, but she’s determined to bring new life, hope, love and magic to it.
Nyssa discovers it’s worse than she thought, a lot worse, especially when the inhabitants throw her out minutes after her arrival. And the inhabitants seem to be monsters? Creatures? But some of them are quite small?

Roan is an S ranked adventurer, known for heroic deeds throughout the lands, a traveler, never making a home or finding time for friends, always looking to move on before he can get too attached as that only leads to pain and rejection. Roan likes the look of Nyssa, the librarian hiding the best books at the booksale. When he discovers her plan, he thinks it sounds like an adventure, go up the mountain to the abandoned library. He ventures into the Adventurers Guild to learn more about why the library was abandoned, and runs straight into his former mentor and his former trainee. Why are there so many requests for Adventurers to deal with the monsters at the library?

A truly beautiful and inspiring cozy fantasy - a cup of warm chocolate in a bubble of nature, love, books, dragons, a cuddly pup and red panda, and all things sweet and wonderful! Great adventure and cannot wait to read the sequel!