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Lives Entwined in Kind: Tucked Away
Master Abrax was known to all as the utterly cruel, immensely powerful, and totally reclusive owner of the great Asulon Mansion. He was a man who had chosen to shut himself in, when he discovered he couldn't shut the world out. Until one day an uninvited and unexpected visitor changes everything. This visitor carries in her arms something that will change his life forever! This change forces this man, who had resolved to be tucked away, to depart from his woeful ways and find the answers to some anguished questions buried away long ago...
A journey of entwining worlds full of joyous victories and sorrowful devastations begins in Tucked Away, the first book in the series Lives Entwined in Kind.
A journey of entwining worlds full of joyous victories and sorrowful devastations begins in Tucked Away, the first book in the series Lives Entwined in Kind.
Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
June 13, 2024
Review: Tucked Away by Mel Parrish
Quotes: “I can’t give you what they would have given you. I’m afraid you would have been much better off with them, but I promise you I will do the best I can.”
"laughing at him with her eyes. How do these girls do so many things with their eyes? He marveled."
"It was amazing how something that, at times, felt like another lifetime, could also feel as only moments away."
"She breathed in deeply, trembling not from pain, but from joy. The feeling was . . . enough."
"it. It is often the case that the things given as our greatest blessings we contort until they become our greatest curses."
Review: I think there's a lot to this story. Abrax is a bit of a grump who's estranged from what family he has left. Until one night, he gets a visitor with a gift. The gift being a baby girl, his niece. Who's recently been orphaned. He instantly knows he has to take care of her. There's more to her story.
The heart of the story really is about grief. A Broken family and healing despite the absence of those no longer with us. With some whimsical magical elements thrown in there. A family curse, Mer people, and more.
I do think some of the names blend together at times, so you have to pay closer attention. Also, some of the creatures mentioned don't get a good description. Or perhaps that was just my experience.
Overall, the warmth in the writing really shines through. There's a found family element to it. As well as forgiving others and one's self. Some good heartwarming moments towards the end. Heavily dealing with forgiveness and redemption.
Once the story gets going, it flows nicely.
Perfect for a nice, cozy night to read.
I'll give it 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks for reading 📚
Quotes: “I can’t give you what they would have given you. I’m afraid you would have been much better off with them, but I promise you I will do the best I can.”
"laughing at him with her eyes. How do these girls do so many things with their eyes? He marveled."
"It was amazing how something that, at times, felt like another lifetime, could also feel as only moments away."
"She breathed in deeply, trembling not from pain, but from joy. The feeling was . . . enough."
"it. It is often the case that the things given as our greatest blessings we contort until they become our greatest curses."
Review: I think there's a lot to this story. Abrax is a bit of a grump who's estranged from what family he has left. Until one night, he gets a visitor with a gift. The gift being a baby girl, his niece. Who's recently been orphaned. He instantly knows he has to take care of her. There's more to her story.
The heart of the story really is about grief. A Broken family and healing despite the absence of those no longer with us. With some whimsical magical elements thrown in there. A family curse, Mer people, and more.
I do think some of the names blend together at times, so you have to pay closer attention. Also, some of the creatures mentioned don't get a good description. Or perhaps that was just my experience.
Overall, the warmth in the writing really shines through. There's a found family element to it. As well as forgiving others and one's self. Some good heartwarming moments towards the end. Heavily dealing with forgiveness and redemption.
Once the story gets going, it flows nicely.
Perfect for a nice, cozy night to read.
I'll give it 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks for reading 📚
May 7, 2024
Tucked Away, book one in the Lives Entwined In Kind series by debut author introduces us to magical world following Master Abrax, a powerful man who lives in seclusion until he is entrusted with the care of his orphaned niece. We witness multiple stories with a full host of characters, all of which paints a new, beautiful, fantastical world full of magic and mystery!
The storytelling in this book is top notch. My mind was led to imagine new magical lands with much promise. I thoroughly enjoyed the character development and the stories weaving in and out, connecting characters from past and present in unique ways.
I believe book one of the series was truly meant to introduce us to a new world and give us plenty of back story. I felt as though it lacked a full-fledge conflict, but I do believe future books are set up for such conflict to occur.
I must mention that while the narration was top notch and immersive, many of the names are very similar, which led to confusion on my part. I finally switched from audio to reading on KU for the last 20% of the book, and that helped.
While I felt a deep sense of love between characters, this book has no spice.
The story isn’t finished! While the book doesn’t end on any major cliffhangers that left me craving resolution, it did leave me wondering what comes next!
I am excited to see where the story goes! Huge thanks to Mel Parrish for my first ever ALC (Advanced Listener Copy). Truly made my day! It was a delight to read and review your debut novel!
The storytelling in this book is top notch. My mind was led to imagine new magical lands with much promise. I thoroughly enjoyed the character development and the stories weaving in and out, connecting characters from past and present in unique ways.
I believe book one of the series was truly meant to introduce us to a new world and give us plenty of back story. I felt as though it lacked a full-fledge conflict, but I do believe future books are set up for such conflict to occur.
I must mention that while the narration was top notch and immersive, many of the names are very similar, which led to confusion on my part. I finally switched from audio to reading on KU for the last 20% of the book, and that helped.
While I felt a deep sense of love between characters, this book has no spice.
The story isn’t finished! While the book doesn’t end on any major cliffhangers that left me craving resolution, it did leave me wondering what comes next!
I am excited to see where the story goes! Huge thanks to Mel Parrish for my first ever ALC (Advanced Listener Copy). Truly made my day! It was a delight to read and review your debut novel!
July 29, 2025
Tucked away is a debut novel by Mel Parish and the first in the lives Entwined in Kind series.
It start with the reclusive Master Abrax’s who has been tucked away from the world having to renter it, when his Orpheus baby niece Sancia is left in his care.
This is the catalyst that enables the reader to enter in to this fantastical world where characters, stories, history’s and curses interweave.
There is a very strong feeling of family and what that means running through the book which I liked very much.
Being of mix race I also identified with the character who had mixed magical heritage and how they coalesced these two parts of themselves becoming strong characters comfortable in their own skin and identity.
I loved my time with this ALC ( Advanced Listeners Copy) provided by NetGalley and gave it 4 ⭐️. I thought Tom Fairfoot’s narration was great and really, enhanced the story. I did partway through start to listen in tandem with the ebook from Kindleunlimited because there were a lot of similar names and just listening to the audio I did get a little mixed up at times. Though being dyslexic this tandem method of reading and listening is my preferred way to read whenever I am able to do so.
I would recommend this young adult novel to anyone who just wants to tuck themselves away into a fairytale world for a little time. I will definitely be continuing the series as I am eager to see what paths and adventures the characters we were introduce to in Tucked away will take as their journeys continue.
It start with the reclusive Master Abrax’s who has been tucked away from the world having to renter it, when his Orpheus baby niece Sancia is left in his care.
This is the catalyst that enables the reader to enter in to this fantastical world where characters, stories, history’s and curses interweave.
There is a very strong feeling of family and what that means running through the book which I liked very much.
Being of mix race I also identified with the character who had mixed magical heritage and how they coalesced these two parts of themselves becoming strong characters comfortable in their own skin and identity.
I loved my time with this ALC ( Advanced Listeners Copy) provided by NetGalley and gave it 4 ⭐️. I thought Tom Fairfoot’s narration was great and really, enhanced the story. I did partway through start to listen in tandem with the ebook from Kindleunlimited because there were a lot of similar names and just listening to the audio I did get a little mixed up at times. Though being dyslexic this tandem method of reading and listening is my preferred way to read whenever I am able to do so.
I would recommend this young adult novel to anyone who just wants to tuck themselves away into a fairytale world for a little time. I will definitely be continuing the series as I am eager to see what paths and adventures the characters we were introduce to in Tucked away will take as their journeys continue.
May 15, 2024
Ok, so honestly… looking at the cover of this book I’m not sure I would have picked it up in a bookshop… however, after reading the blurb and exploring the authors TikTok I was totally intrigued. That being said… please never judge a book by its cover (cliche I know!) but let me reassure you that “Tucked Away” inside this cover is a truly fantastic story!
I loved every page of this book and every single character within it! They were all so unique and the character development was brilliant. Loved the world building and it wasn’t overly complicated like other fantasy books. I want an Elek in my life!
A well written introduction to the series and I CANNOT WAIT to find out what comes next for Sancia, Ferrelous and the rest of the gang! What an ending, it has left me yearning for more!
I highly recommend reading this book!
I loved every page of this book and every single character within it! They were all so unique and the character development was brilliant. Loved the world building and it wasn’t overly complicated like other fantasy books. I want an Elek in my life!
A well written introduction to the series and I CANNOT WAIT to find out what comes next for Sancia, Ferrelous and the rest of the gang! What an ending, it has left me yearning for more!
I highly recommend reading this book!
April 18, 2024
Tucked Away by Mel Parrish is the book in the Lives Entwined in Kind series. This is a young adult novel that released in September of 2023. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you need to.
The reader is immersed into a fantastical world that will keep them in awe throughout the entire book. If you love Ya Fantasy then you have to check this out immediately.
The characters and their storylines were perfection and winds you through histories that melt together by the end of the book, and leave the reader wanting the second installment immediately.
There’s a strong sense of family throughout the entire work and significantly impresses what’s truly important in life.
Great read, great novel! What a treat!
Bibliophilebookstackswithdi on IG
The reader is immersed into a fantastical world that will keep them in awe throughout the entire book. If you love Ya Fantasy then you have to check this out immediately.
The characters and their storylines were perfection and winds you through histories that melt together by the end of the book, and leave the reader wanting the second installment immediately.
There’s a strong sense of family throughout the entire work and significantly impresses what’s truly important in life.
Great read, great novel! What a treat!
Bibliophilebookstackswithdi on IG
April 15, 2024
“To create beauty you must have beauty within you”
I was fully immersed into this world of fantasy and mystery that the author created for these amazing characters. The narrator was phenomenal, and I would highly recommend it on audio! If you loved fantasy adventure stories like Artemis Fowl and The Lord of the Rings, you will love Tucked Away!
- Fairies, Mermaids/men, Magical Beings and Creatures
- Multiple POV
- Adventure, Mystery, and Fantasy
- Magic
- Unexpected Connections
- Multiple Formats Available
- Cliffhanger Ending
Thank you to Author Mel Parrish for allowing me to review this book on Audio! I am so glad I got to experience Tucked Away, and I cannot wait for the next book!
I was fully immersed into this world of fantasy and mystery that the author created for these amazing characters. The narrator was phenomenal, and I would highly recommend it on audio! If you loved fantasy adventure stories like Artemis Fowl and The Lord of the Rings, you will love Tucked Away!
- Fairies, Mermaids/men, Magical Beings and Creatures
- Multiple POV
- Adventure, Mystery, and Fantasy
- Magic
- Unexpected Connections
- Multiple Formats Available
- Cliffhanger Ending
Thank you to Author Mel Parrish for allowing me to review this book on Audio! I am so glad I got to experience Tucked Away, and I cannot wait for the next book!
June 1, 2024
A colorful,cozy fantasy about a man known to be cruel, uncaring, and remote who suddenly changes when he discovers his long lost brother’s daughter is an orphan and brought to him to raise as her grandmother isn’t long for this world.
He hasn’t had a relationship with any of his family in many years, and was unaware his brother ever married never mind had a child, but doesn’t hesitate to take her in his home. His cold heart warms instantly and changes significantly after her arrival. This is a slow and steady story of magic, mystical creatures, and a young woman who melted her uncles otherwise cold heart.
He hasn’t had a relationship with any of his family in many years, and was unaware his brother ever married never mind had a child, but doesn’t hesitate to take her in his home. His cold heart warms instantly and changes significantly after her arrival. This is a slow and steady story of magic, mystical creatures, and a young woman who melted her uncles otherwise cold heart.
January 22, 2024
Great Title! So Many Characters Have To Be Discovered.
This book captures you from the first sentence! I loved the variety of characters and the unpredictability of the story. I hope the author writes a sequel.
This book captures you from the first sentence! I loved the variety of characters and the unpredictability of the story. I hope the author writes a sequel.
April 22, 2024
Enjoyed the characters and writing. Just wish there was more to read now.
May 25, 2024
Very fun read. The characters are interesting and the story original. On the lighter side but very enjoyable.
August 22, 2025
I received an audio ARC of Tucked Away via NetGalley, and overall it was a gentle, heartfelt listen. The story follows Master Abrax, a solitary man whose life shifts when he unexpectedly becomes caretaker to his orphaned niece. The emotional journey centered on grief, forgiveness, and the slow formation of found family felt sincere and quietly moving. The narrator’s calm, soothing performance added depth to the story, giving it a warm, fairy-tale quality that made the world feel intimate and tender.
That said, the pacing was uneven, with much of the book serving as setup rather than a complete, satisfying arc. At times the abundance of names and magical creatures became confusing, and I often wished for more clarity and forward momentum. While Tucked Away offers emotional richness and lays a strong foundation for what could be an engaging series, it leans heavily on world-building and tone, leaving this installment feeling more like a prologue than a fully realised story.
That said, the pacing was uneven, with much of the book serving as setup rather than a complete, satisfying arc. At times the abundance of names and magical creatures became confusing, and I often wished for more clarity and forward momentum. While Tucked Away offers emotional richness and lays a strong foundation for what could be an engaging series, it leans heavily on world-building and tone, leaving this installment feeling more like a prologue than a fully realised story.
June 24, 2025
Single Narration
Magical Creatures
Fun characters
A fun and captivating quick listen. The narrator did a great job. I really enjoyed his voice. Accents done very well. The story was good. I enjoyed listening to it.
Magical Creatures
Fun characters
A fun and captivating quick listen. The narrator did a great job. I really enjoyed his voice. Accents done very well. The story was good. I enjoyed listening to it.
November 4, 2025
(Edited to 4.5*->4*, looking back I'm not really thinking about it sooo)
I don't know if this should be a 5* or more like a very high 4*, so I suppose a 4.75*.
This was absolutely magical. It was soo beautifully written and narrated.
I liked the accents chosen, they made it funnier.
Downside is, it's an audiobook. I have no clue now how all these names should be written, all these species, all these villages 🤷
To be honest, not much happened in this book but it was still amazing.
Also it had kind of na unclear focus, like we're following loads of characters that are kind of intertwined but all have their own stories.
Sancia and Fearless give main character vibes but they both only appeared past halfway into the book. Before it was just Abrax, Gurgo (? Benz, Vence, whatever it may be) and Masceline. Also a little Jacqueline and HS (I have no clue what his name actually is)
Lowkey, Bibi was only cute in Mascelines time, now she's just plain annoying
The world building is stunning. It is however a bit complex for an audiobook. Like there are so. Many. Species.
- Solon (Abrax, HS, half sancia)
Some of the creatures closest to the creator, very mysterious and mostly live in Solon city. Are in charge of humans, help them grow to their potential, have shape shifting and very many other overpowered abilities
- whatever the species is of regular folks (allura)
Just plain regular people like you and me
- humans (Fearless)
Also very close to the creator, raised amongst regular people, by the people of name Aldor, also taught by the Solon. Very mysterious.
- Volos (Bolac/Bo)
Shapeshift to animals, reason for the death of Abraxs parents, mostly bad just like the Arteur, some exceptions like Bo. Natural enemy of Solons.
- Arteur (Benz, Elona, Cathelina, Antoll , etc.)
Obsessed with beauty, to the point of insanity and evil doing by Andorr, will hopefully get fixed when Benz reclaims his throne, again, not all are bad. Abrax put a curse so they can't come out in daylight? In any case not in redivivus? Can see people in their prime form. Can alter their appearances and others appearances, can create beings/things from their imagination
- Mer(Masceline, half Sancia, Bibi, uhh whatever the name was of the king)
Just water people, can't really come out of the ocean I think? Walk/swim in water very cool
- Ulmos (Alic)
Literally the only of his kind yet, created by Benz. Will in the future be essential to reclaiming the throne.
And probably like a thousand more I forgot.
I like the philosophical part of this book too. A lot of important topics are mentioned and emotions are explored from grief to joy to anger to love and everything inbetween.
I just kinda shipped Sancia and Bo so I don't want her to end up with Fearless 😭😭
Well I'll definitely read book 2 sometime, but preferebly not as audiobook. Also recommend unless you get bored easily.
I don't know if this should be a 5* or more like a very high 4*, so I suppose a 4.75*.
This was absolutely magical. It was soo beautifully written and narrated.
I liked the accents chosen, they made it funnier.
Downside is, it's an audiobook. I have no clue now how all these names should be written, all these species, all these villages 🤷
To be honest, not much happened in this book but it was still amazing.
Also it had kind of na unclear focus, like we're following loads of characters that are kind of intertwined but all have their own stories.
Sancia and Fearless give main character vibes but they both only appeared past halfway into the book. Before it was just Abrax, Gurgo (? Benz, Vence, whatever it may be) and Masceline. Also a little Jacqueline and HS (I have no clue what his name actually is)
Lowkey, Bibi was only cute in Mascelines time, now she's just plain annoying
The world building is stunning. It is however a bit complex for an audiobook. Like there are so. Many. Species.
- Solon (Abrax, HS, half sancia)
Some of the creatures closest to the creator, very mysterious and mostly live in Solon city. Are in charge of humans, help them grow to their potential, have shape shifting and very many other overpowered abilities
- whatever the species is of regular folks (allura)
Just plain regular people like you and me
- humans (Fearless)
Also very close to the creator, raised amongst regular people, by the people of name Aldor, also taught by the Solon. Very mysterious.
- Volos (Bolac/Bo)
Shapeshift to animals, reason for the death of Abraxs parents, mostly bad just like the Arteur, some exceptions like Bo. Natural enemy of Solons.
- Arteur (Benz, Elona, Cathelina, Antoll , etc.)
Obsessed with beauty, to the point of insanity and evil doing by Andorr, will hopefully get fixed when Benz reclaims his throne, again, not all are bad. Abrax put a curse so they can't come out in daylight? In any case not in redivivus? Can see people in their prime form. Can alter their appearances and others appearances, can create beings/things from their imagination
- Mer(Masceline, half Sancia, Bibi, uhh whatever the name was of the king)
Just water people, can't really come out of the ocean I think? Walk/swim in water very cool
- Ulmos (Alic)
Literally the only of his kind yet, created by Benz. Will in the future be essential to reclaiming the throne.
And probably like a thousand more I forgot.
I like the philosophical part of this book too. A lot of important topics are mentioned and emotions are explored from grief to joy to anger to love and everything inbetween.
I just kinda shipped Sancia and Bo so I don't want her to end up with Fearless 😭😭
Well I'll definitely read book 2 sometime, but preferebly not as audiobook. Also recommend unless you get bored easily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2025
I give this book a 3.5 but I rounded up.
I was drawn in with the characters and how they were developing. I enjoyed the world building and the writing style.
There were a couple problems I had with the book.
-There were several characters with an 'A' name and it took extra effort to figure out who they were.
-There were several creatures/species that were unfamiliar to me and I would have loved more of an explanation on them.
-The biggest issue I noticed was there was no major plot problem. It felt like this book was the setup for the next book. There were several problems presented by the secondary characters. However, I couldn't identify the main one.
With that being said, I tore through this fast. I really enjoyed the world and want to know more. The writing was beautiful and I am invested in the characters. I will absolutely be reading the 2nd book.
Thank you NetGalley for supplying me with a free copy.
I was drawn in with the characters and how they were developing. I enjoyed the world building and the writing style.
There were a couple problems I had with the book.
-There were several characters with an 'A' name and it took extra effort to figure out who they were.
-There were several creatures/species that were unfamiliar to me and I would have loved more of an explanation on them.
-The biggest issue I noticed was there was no major plot problem. It felt like this book was the setup for the next book. There were several problems presented by the secondary characters. However, I couldn't identify the main one.
With that being said, I tore through this fast. I really enjoyed the world and want to know more. The writing was beautiful and I am invested in the characters. I will absolutely be reading the 2nd book.
Thank you NetGalley for supplying me with a free copy.
May 8, 2024
3.5 stars
This book almost feels like a fever dream. If you asked me what this book was about, I honestly couldn't tell you. . . Though, I know I definitely did enjoy this book.
I binged it so hard, it was fun and wimsical and I really loved the character of abrax. His relationship with bence is wholesome and made me feel happy.
Though the thing that bence made( I can't remember his name for the life of me) reminded me so much of buckbeak from Harry Potter. This whole book kind of gave off Harry Potter vibes, mixed with my little pony.
The story was, at times, hard to follow, but Mel's writing style is so unique and captivating.
Also, Mel seems so sweet. I met her in person at a comic con and bought a signed copy of her book ❤️
I can't wait for the next book in the series 😍
This book almost feels like a fever dream. If you asked me what this book was about, I honestly couldn't tell you. . . Though, I know I definitely did enjoy this book.
I binged it so hard, it was fun and wimsical and I really loved the character of abrax. His relationship with bence is wholesome and made me feel happy.
Though the thing that bence made( I can't remember his name for the life of me) reminded me so much of buckbeak from Harry Potter. This whole book kind of gave off Harry Potter vibes, mixed with my little pony.
The story was, at times, hard to follow, but Mel's writing style is so unique and captivating.
Also, Mel seems so sweet. I met her in person at a comic con and bought a signed copy of her book ❤️
I can't wait for the next book in the series 😍
March 20, 2024
I wrote out an entire review, and then lost it to a Goodreads black hole, so here’s hoping I can recollect my thoughts.
I read this book as an audiobook and e-book combo. The narration of the audiobook was perfection and fully immersed me in this world.
This book is beautifully written. I highlighted so many quotes and passages, even highlighting an entire paragraph in chapter one that had me on the verge of tears.
I felt like a visitor dropped into a foreign land - never fully knowing the history, different magical races/creatures, etc., but wholly intrigued and catching on as we went. The story is told, not blatantly explained, and that created an air of mystery for me. I always felt like something was just out of my reach, and I learned a little more as the story slowly unfolded before me.
I tend to read books that make me feel like I’m in the midst of hectic traffic in a big city. I like those books, that why I keep reading them. This book, however, made me feel like I was taking a stroll down a country lane, given the time to discover new things along the way. It felt nice.
The characters were intriguing, the world interesting, the various storylines were each unique and always came back together as one.
There was an undercurrent of family that ran throughout the entire book: family relationships (both happy and strained), the importance of family in our lives, the impact those relationships have on us, and the familial dynamics of the found family we make for ourselves. This created opportunities for the characters to do some self-reflection and learn some lessons.
There were some cultural and political issues touched on, and with the way the book ended I’m seriously hoping there is a book 2 coming soon!
Overall, Tucked Away is a true fantasy book with characters and a plot that keep the reader engaged, a pace that moved along but also felt like sitting down in your favorite chair for a while, and many heartwarming moments.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it!
Many thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I have left this review of my own accord.
I read this book as an audiobook and e-book combo. The narration of the audiobook was perfection and fully immersed me in this world.
This book is beautifully written. I highlighted so many quotes and passages, even highlighting an entire paragraph in chapter one that had me on the verge of tears.
I felt like a visitor dropped into a foreign land - never fully knowing the history, different magical races/creatures, etc., but wholly intrigued and catching on as we went. The story is told, not blatantly explained, and that created an air of mystery for me. I always felt like something was just out of my reach, and I learned a little more as the story slowly unfolded before me.
I tend to read books that make me feel like I’m in the midst of hectic traffic in a big city. I like those books, that why I keep reading them. This book, however, made me feel like I was taking a stroll down a country lane, given the time to discover new things along the way. It felt nice.
The characters were intriguing, the world interesting, the various storylines were each unique and always came back together as one.
There was an undercurrent of family that ran throughout the entire book: family relationships (both happy and strained), the importance of family in our lives, the impact those relationships have on us, and the familial dynamics of the found family we make for ourselves. This created opportunities for the characters to do some self-reflection and learn some lessons.
There were some cultural and political issues touched on, and with the way the book ended I’m seriously hoping there is a book 2 coming soon!
Overall, Tucked Away is a true fantasy book with characters and a plot that keep the reader engaged, a pace that moved along but also felt like sitting down in your favorite chair for a while, and many heartwarming moments.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it!
Many thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I have left this review of my own accord.
June 22, 2025
Audiobook- This one was really short, which I prefer anyway! I enjoyed being able to listen to the whole thing in one day. The narration as great, his voice was soothing & he did a great job at switching tones etc for different characters!
As for the book itself:
The setting *name withheld, sounded hilarious to me right from the rip so I had a very hard time taking it seriously.
This book is DEF YA & has zero spice so keep that in mind.
However the character twists etc were awesome & I really enjoyed them. It was definitely not what I was expecting (in a good way)
Looking forward to number two.
*I would say this was similar to The cruel prince but not as good. Hope that helps!
As for the book itself:
The setting *name withheld, sounded hilarious to me right from the rip so I had a very hard time taking it seriously.
This book is DEF YA & has zero spice so keep that in mind.
However the character twists etc were awesome & I really enjoyed them. It was definitely not what I was expecting (in a good way)
Looking forward to number two.
*I would say this was similar to The cruel prince but not as good. Hope that helps!
July 31, 2024
3.5 STARS
This was such a unique story. I was drawn into the world Mel has created. The magic of Ansulon mansion was airy and light and intriguing. Hints of fairies and splashes of mermaids but not in the ways they've always been done. I love new and different takes such as this.
"But to create beauty you must first have beauty within you."
"Loyalty is an action as much as a feeling."
My only note is that there was not much of an explanation (and some not at all) for the different species. Tara, Solon, Artur, Volos etc. As an adult I was able to pretty much guess (and maybe that's what the author wanted?) except for a couple. But where this is a young adult novel I wonder if young kids would have a harder time with that. It came off as you should already know who they are which was confusing.
I wish there was a little more romance but I do think it's building. And I do love a good slow burn.
I'm a very intrigued with the story line between Ab and Ferrelous. And also between Ab, Bence and his brother. Wishing there was a little something more to connect the dots between it all. I felt like the two stories lines were left too disconnected.
But seriously for a debut novel this is wonderful! Highly recommend for someone wanting to get into fantasy for the first time/younger audience! I see so much potential here!!!
Read for:
-Magical Creatures
-Secrets
-Found family
-Emotional growth
-Slow paced
-YA Fantasy
Plot: 3.5 stars
Character Development: 4 stars
Romance: n/a.
Writing Style: 3.5 star
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Spoiler alert: wish there was more of a build up between Bence and his brother for a more dramatic cliff hanger at the end.
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Trigger warnings: death, animal attacks. YA appropriate.
This was such a unique story. I was drawn into the world Mel has created. The magic of Ansulon mansion was airy and light and intriguing. Hints of fairies and splashes of mermaids but not in the ways they've always been done. I love new and different takes such as this.
"But to create beauty you must first have beauty within you."
"Loyalty is an action as much as a feeling."
My only note is that there was not much of an explanation (and some not at all) for the different species. Tara, Solon, Artur, Volos etc. As an adult I was able to pretty much guess (and maybe that's what the author wanted?) except for a couple. But where this is a young adult novel I wonder if young kids would have a harder time with that. It came off as you should already know who they are which was confusing.
I wish there was a little more romance but I do think it's building. And I do love a good slow burn.
I'm a very intrigued with the story line between Ab and Ferrelous. And also between Ab, Bence and his brother. Wishing there was a little something more to connect the dots between it all. I felt like the two stories lines were left too disconnected.
But seriously for a debut novel this is wonderful! Highly recommend for someone wanting to get into fantasy for the first time/younger audience! I see so much potential here!!!
Read for:
-Magical Creatures
-Secrets
-Found family
-Emotional growth
-Slow paced
-YA Fantasy
Plot: 3.5 stars
Character Development: 4 stars
Romance: n/a.
Writing Style: 3.5 star
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.
.
.
.
Spoiler alert: wish there was more of a build up between Bence and his brother for a more dramatic cliff hanger at the end.
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.
.
.
.
Trigger warnings: death, animal attacks. YA appropriate.
April 15, 2024
Big thanks to the author for reaching out and asking if I would review her book and providing the audiobook to me! It is available on Kindle Unlimited so I listened and read along. You can read it on KU too and the audio narrator was excellent! This is, what I would describe as, a cozy fantasy. Abrax is a recluse in his big airy mansion until, one day, he gets a surprise visitor and is given a surprise gift. This surprise gift is his niece, Sancia, who he must care for after the death of his brother. Sancia forces him to change his ways and interact with the world. There are also a bunch of interesting side characters, my personal favorite is Ferrelous who was instrumental in Sancia's father's death, but I will not say how or why because spoilers. Sancia and Ferrelous develop a relationship of sorts. The world is intriguing as there are clearly a lot of different creatures and beings in it. For example, mermaids play a big role. The world isn't fully explained but slowly dripped to readers in bits and pieces. Which creates a ton of intrigue but perhaps a slight bit of confusion as well. The writing is very well done; it reads like an epic fantasy in certain structure and word choice, yet has more of a cozy fantasy feel. There are inferences on family and found family and an undercurrent of hope runs through the story, in my opinion. I have highlighted a bunch of good quotes, but one of my favorites is, "--wherever you are planted, even if it is in poor soil, you have the ability to make it rich again." Overall I rather enjoyed this book and the ending left me wanting to read the next installment. It's not an overly exciting plot, it's calm and quaint, but sometimes that's nice!
January 31, 2024
I got this book on a whim and I am so glad I did! This book is divine! The story is incredibly captivating and draws you in immediately. It is incredibly well written, the poetic devices, guys, just absolutely stunning! This is definitely a slow burner, you can tell Mel is laying an incredible foundation for a deeply layered story. Agh, so good!
Master Abrax is such a strong character and the dialogue is incredible. If Mel keeps this up throughout, what I hope will be a long series, we could have another fantasy classic on our hands!
I read the other review on this book which caused me to scratch my head a bit… not sure what they are talking about with it looking like a draft. That was not at all my experience! Highly recommend reading to anyone who enjoys fantasy, especially in the vein of LOTR or Chronicles of Narnia.
Master Abrax is such a strong character and the dialogue is incredible. If Mel keeps this up throughout, what I hope will be a long series, we could have another fantasy classic on our hands!
I read the other review on this book which caused me to scratch my head a bit… not sure what they are talking about with it looking like a draft. That was not at all my experience! Highly recommend reading to anyone who enjoys fantasy, especially in the vein of LOTR or Chronicles of Narnia.
Read
March 26, 2026I’m very glad that I listened to this as an audiobook! The narrator’s voice makes it sound like a classic fairytale. The story was so unique and wholesome, while including adventure and twists I didn’t expect.
The storytelling style was also reminiscent of The Last Wish in the Witcher series (which I love). The chapters all seemed like little vignettes that ended up “entwining” together at the end. It was really beautiful.
My comments would be that it was a little bit of a slow read, and it was a little difficult to understand the different fantasy races present because I had no spelling or context. Most of the creatures were different from those in books I’ve read before. I think a reference section of the world (people, places, etc.) would be super helpful in both the physical book and the audiobook. I’m definitely on board to listen to or read the second book when it comes out!
The storytelling style was also reminiscent of The Last Wish in the Witcher series (which I love). The chapters all seemed like little vignettes that ended up “entwining” together at the end. It was really beautiful.
My comments would be that it was a little bit of a slow read, and it was a little difficult to understand the different fantasy races present because I had no spelling or context. Most of the creatures were different from those in books I’ve read before. I think a reference section of the world (people, places, etc.) would be super helpful in both the physical book and the audiobook. I’m definitely on board to listen to or read the second book when it comes out!
July 2, 2024
This was such a unique and beautifully written book. It's not a book I would usually pick up, but after reading the book description, I was intrigued to find out more.
This was such an enjoyable and interesting read from start to finish. The characters came across bold and likeable right from the start. You could really picture the magical world within this book as you read.
I can't wait to find out what happens next for Sancia and to carry on following her incredible journey.
For me, this has shown that it is definitely worth trying new book Genre that you wouldn't normally pick up, An amazing five Star Read, highly recommended.
Thank you, @melparrish, for gifting me a copy of Tucked Away to review. I can't wait for the others to this series.
This was such an enjoyable and interesting read from start to finish. The characters came across bold and likeable right from the start. You could really picture the magical world within this book as you read.
I can't wait to find out what happens next for Sancia and to carry on following her incredible journey.
For me, this has shown that it is definitely worth trying new book Genre that you wouldn't normally pick up, An amazing five Star Read, highly recommended.
Thank you, @melparrish, for gifting me a copy of Tucked Away to review. I can't wait for the others to this series.
September 28, 2024
First off, thank you to Mel Parrish for this audiobook! I really enjoyed the opportunity to read this book, and I’m happy to share my honest review. I don’t believe I am the target audience for this book, and it isn’t something I would normally pick up, so this was a fun way to wade out of my waters.
Tucked Away is a whimsical, wholesome and unique story. It is a YA Fantasy book filled with:
•magical creatures
•family values
•quirky characters
•emotional growth & maturity
There are strong themes of redemption and morality. I would deem it appropriate to share with my own kids as I think it’s a very heartwarming, family friendly, & family oriented story.
Tucked Away is a whimsical, wholesome and unique story. It is a YA Fantasy book filled with:
•magical creatures
•family values
•quirky characters
•emotional growth & maturity
There are strong themes of redemption and morality. I would deem it appropriate to share with my own kids as I think it’s a very heartwarming, family friendly, & family oriented story.
August 18, 2024
I won a copy of the audiobook from the author via Instagram, and I'm glad I did! The narrator was spot on and made this an easy to follow and warm feeling listen. I felt the story was very unique and imaginative. The diverse characters were very intriguing and interesting. The multiple POVs in here flow well together. Sometimes, it's easy to get lost and confused, but Mel's writing style comes off very smoothly and performed very well by the narrator. The cliffhanger at the end definitely left me wanting more. This will be a series I will be keeping an eye out for what's to come!
May 7, 2024
Cozy, whimsical Read
Dropped straight in a world like Lord of the Rings meets Anne and the Green Gables.
I loved the mystery or all the creatures.
The different style of dialect.The starting drew me in with how it was talked like an old disney movie, old fairy-tail. Unique in every way.
Worth a read if you have an open mind and in need of something heartwarming little adventure where beauty is created and family is made.
Dropped straight in a world like Lord of the Rings meets Anne and the Green Gables.
I loved the mystery or all the creatures.
The different style of dialect.The starting drew me in with how it was talked like an old disney movie, old fairy-tail. Unique in every way.
Worth a read if you have an open mind and in need of something heartwarming little adventure where beauty is created and family is made.
April 11, 2025
Loved this book! I hope it gets made into a movie. This book pulls you into a fantastical world. Parrish weaves in many intriguing characters and places all while keeping you wondering what will happen next. I can't wait the second book "Emerge" to come out!!
July 21, 2025
"But to create beauty you must first have beauty within you."
Master Abrax was for all intent and purpose a grumpy irritable hermit of a man. Most think of him as unkind and mysterious, there for most were rather scared of him. He lived in a grand mansion tucked away far from others, only few knew him and even those that did know him, still saw him as an enigma. He decided to live away from his family, away from people, away from the world as he knew it, and it appears he may know it quite a bit better than most. One day an old woman, one who was far older than he was, showed up at his door, holding a baby far to young to be away from home, changes the life of Mr. Abrax forever. This man who has Tucked him self away, is about to be thrust back into the world.
This book is so much more than the cover leads you to believe. The magic and fantasy are so unique and yet feel so at home all at the same time. The audio book is absolutely wonderful., The narrator made it feel like he was sitting there telling you a life story solely for you to hear and learn from. This had the same feeling as reading Artemis Fowl and the Golden Compass for the first time in all the best ways.
The magical characters weren't just important just because of a long life, skills or magic. They were important because they were uniquely them and they were more than what they were born into. That's such an important message through the story, not just bluntly thrown in your face but a message strung though out from the story that resonates even when your done.
The species of magical beings you meet are vast, however there is a bit left up to the imagination if you don't often read fantasy books or take in context clues easily , and it being a book that is for a younger audience that may be new to the fantasy realms they may have a harder time figuring out who is who. However, with that being said this is the first book, and id be interested in seeing if we get more details in the books to come. As with the Mer, when they told their story at the beginning we got a lot of details.
The book as a bit on the "cozy" side of fantasy, not to much in the way of big conflict. There was tension and there is set up for conflict as well as over all plot movement. The cliffhanger at the end will keep you wanting more.
The story as a whole is whimsical and magical. This is a new brand of story telling that I cant wait to get more of and share with others!
Thank you NetGalley and Initium Books for the ALC.
Master Abrax was for all intent and purpose a grumpy irritable hermit of a man. Most think of him as unkind and mysterious, there for most were rather scared of him. He lived in a grand mansion tucked away far from others, only few knew him and even those that did know him, still saw him as an enigma. He decided to live away from his family, away from people, away from the world as he knew it, and it appears he may know it quite a bit better than most. One day an old woman, one who was far older than he was, showed up at his door, holding a baby far to young to be away from home, changes the life of Mr. Abrax forever. This man who has Tucked him self away, is about to be thrust back into the world.
This book is so much more than the cover leads you to believe. The magic and fantasy are so unique and yet feel so at home all at the same time. The audio book is absolutely wonderful., The narrator made it feel like he was sitting there telling you a life story solely for you to hear and learn from. This had the same feeling as reading Artemis Fowl and the Golden Compass for the first time in all the best ways.
The magical characters weren't just important just because of a long life, skills or magic. They were important because they were uniquely them and they were more than what they were born into. That's such an important message through the story, not just bluntly thrown in your face but a message strung though out from the story that resonates even when your done.
The species of magical beings you meet are vast, however there is a bit left up to the imagination if you don't often read fantasy books or take in context clues easily , and it being a book that is for a younger audience that may be new to the fantasy realms they may have a harder time figuring out who is who. However, with that being said this is the first book, and id be interested in seeing if we get more details in the books to come. As with the Mer, when they told their story at the beginning we got a lot of details.
The book as a bit on the "cozy" side of fantasy, not to much in the way of big conflict. There was tension and there is set up for conflict as well as over all plot movement. The cliffhanger at the end will keep you wanting more.
The story as a whole is whimsical and magical. This is a new brand of story telling that I cant wait to get more of and share with others!
Thank you NetGalley and Initium Books for the ALC.
August 9, 2025
A Heartwarming Tale of Accidental Parenting and Inconveniently Timed Magic
Nothing says "life-changing moment" like a surprise baby delivery at your front door—especially when you're the kind of grump who considers small talk a form of torture. Meet Abrax, a man so committed to his hermit lifestyle that he's probably never met a family gathering he couldn't avoid. Then boom: instant uncle duties, complete with a magically gifted niece and enough family baggage to fill a U-Haul.
What follows is part childcare manual, part grief counseling session, and part "wait, did that merperson just give parenting advice?" It's like someone took a Hallmark movie, dunked it in fairy tale logic, and decided that what it really needed was more emotional processing.
Parrish has crafted something genuinely warm here—the kind of book that sneaks up on you with feelings while you're busy trying to keep track of whether that character was named Theron or Therion or possibly just Steve. (Seriously, I needed a spreadsheet for some of these names. Fantasy authors: a little variety in your consonant-to-vowel ratios wouldn't kill you.)
The magical elements feel delightfully lived-in rather than flashy. This isn't Harry Potter's "look at my sparkly magic system"—it's more like "oh, by the way, your family tree includes some scales and gills, deal with it." The creatures could use a bit more description though; I'm still not entirely sure what a few of them actually looked like, but honestly, that might have been me reading past my bedtime.
Where this book truly shines is in its unflinching look at grief and the messy business of healing. Abrax's journey from "professional avoider of human connection" to "reluctant but devoted caretaker" feels earned rather than rushed. The found family elements hit all the right notes without veering into saccharine territory.
Fair warning: keep tissues handy for the final act. Parrish knows exactly when to deploy the emotional gut punches, and they're devastatingly effective. You'll go from chuckling at Abrax's parenting mishaps to ugly-crying about forgiveness and redemption faster than you can say "character development."
Perfect for: cozy reading nights, people who like their fantasy grounded in real emotions, anyone who's ever had to suddenly become responsible for a tiny human, readers who don't mind consulting a character name glossary
Minor deductions for: the occasional name confusion and some underexplained magical creatures that left me squinting at the page
Nothing says "life-changing moment" like a surprise baby delivery at your front door—especially when you're the kind of grump who considers small talk a form of torture. Meet Abrax, a man so committed to his hermit lifestyle that he's probably never met a family gathering he couldn't avoid. Then boom: instant uncle duties, complete with a magically gifted niece and enough family baggage to fill a U-Haul.
What follows is part childcare manual, part grief counseling session, and part "wait, did that merperson just give parenting advice?" It's like someone took a Hallmark movie, dunked it in fairy tale logic, and decided that what it really needed was more emotional processing.
Parrish has crafted something genuinely warm here—the kind of book that sneaks up on you with feelings while you're busy trying to keep track of whether that character was named Theron or Therion or possibly just Steve. (Seriously, I needed a spreadsheet for some of these names. Fantasy authors: a little variety in your consonant-to-vowel ratios wouldn't kill you.)
The magical elements feel delightfully lived-in rather than flashy. This isn't Harry Potter's "look at my sparkly magic system"—it's more like "oh, by the way, your family tree includes some scales and gills, deal with it." The creatures could use a bit more description though; I'm still not entirely sure what a few of them actually looked like, but honestly, that might have been me reading past my bedtime.
Where this book truly shines is in its unflinching look at grief and the messy business of healing. Abrax's journey from "professional avoider of human connection" to "reluctant but devoted caretaker" feels earned rather than rushed. The found family elements hit all the right notes without veering into saccharine territory.
Fair warning: keep tissues handy for the final act. Parrish knows exactly when to deploy the emotional gut punches, and they're devastatingly effective. You'll go from chuckling at Abrax's parenting mishaps to ugly-crying about forgiveness and redemption faster than you can say "character development."
Perfect for: cozy reading nights, people who like their fantasy grounded in real emotions, anyone who's ever had to suddenly become responsible for a tiny human, readers who don't mind consulting a character name glossary
Minor deductions for: the occasional name confusion and some underexplained magical creatures that left me squinting at the page
May 30, 2024
This was a really charming, cozy fantasy. Where most fantasy novels focus heavily on world building and the magic system, Parrish took a different route where she focused on the healing and forgiveness of her characters.
This is not to say that there isn't any magic in the novel, and the little moments where it happens were nicely done. They blended into the story naturally and didn't require too much explanation, which allowed readers to get to know Abrax, Bence, Sancia, and the other characters.
I would have liked a little more breakdown of the creatures. Often times it felt like readers were already supposed to know their history / cultures, etc. Even a small section at the end or beginning of the book with brief descriptions would have been nice.
And this is just a word of advice for ALL fantasy writers, please don't give 60% of your characters names that start with the same letter. Especially when they're not common names. I found myself mixing up characters and even species names because a lot of them started with A. Trying to figure out who was who took me out of the story when I was reading.
This would be a great read for someone who is just starting out in the fantasy genre. As someone who has both written fantasy and read a lot, I think I expected a bit more world building and deeper dive into the magic. But overall, a really nice read that is easy to binge. Book 1 ends at a great place to set up the continuation of the series.
Thank you to the author for reaching out and sending me a copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
This is not to say that there isn't any magic in the novel, and the little moments where it happens were nicely done. They blended into the story naturally and didn't require too much explanation, which allowed readers to get to know Abrax, Bence, Sancia, and the other characters.
I would have liked a little more breakdown of the creatures. Often times it felt like readers were already supposed to know their history / cultures, etc. Even a small section at the end or beginning of the book with brief descriptions would have been nice.
And this is just a word of advice for ALL fantasy writers, please don't give 60% of your characters names that start with the same letter. Especially when they're not common names. I found myself mixing up characters and even species names because a lot of them started with A. Trying to figure out who was who took me out of the story when I was reading.
This would be a great read for someone who is just starting out in the fantasy genre. As someone who has both written fantasy and read a lot, I think I expected a bit more world building and deeper dive into the magic. But overall, a really nice read that is easy to binge. Book 1 ends at a great place to set up the continuation of the series.
Thank you to the author for reaching out and sending me a copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
June 16, 2024
"𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆."
I loved the tone of Mel’s writing. I found it all a tranquil experience and it honestly was an easy read, and a great story.
The way the character stories at the beginning are introduced and woven together create an immersive world, and back story for the characters moving forward which I appreciated, though at times I did find myself a little bit lost, but only for a second.
Watching Sanci appear as a child and follow her as she finds her family and relationships, is a great journey. My favourite scene is when a friend is revealed without a disguise and she acts like any 14 year old would. It was just one of those truly authentic moments.
The world building is a great strength of this book, and I loved the incorporation of so many characters and creatures in such new and fun ways.
I would classify this one as a cozy read, with family being such a big theme to this book.
If you love all the magical creatures, a magical house, a story of redemption and a lost king. This is a story for you.
I loved the tone of Mel’s writing. I found it all a tranquil experience and it honestly was an easy read, and a great story.
The way the character stories at the beginning are introduced and woven together create an immersive world, and back story for the characters moving forward which I appreciated, though at times I did find myself a little bit lost, but only for a second.
Watching Sanci appear as a child and follow her as she finds her family and relationships, is a great journey. My favourite scene is when a friend is revealed without a disguise and she acts like any 14 year old would. It was just one of those truly authentic moments.
The world building is a great strength of this book, and I loved the incorporation of so many characters and creatures in such new and fun ways.
I would classify this one as a cozy read, with family being such a big theme to this book.
If you love all the magical creatures, a magical house, a story of redemption and a lost king. This is a story for you.
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