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One Knight Under Her Spell: A cozy fantasy with slow burn and hot tea
Act first, think later. Fedora knows it’s a flawed approach—especially when casting spells. But when a highborn dalliance turned out to be both a disappointing lover and married… well, she may have lost her temper.
Now… he’s a cat.
Fedora has no clue how to control magic, let alone reverse it. But she can’t let Lord Vosswhythe spend the rest of his days licking his paws on her windowsill of her woodland cottage. The solution? A spell from the Witches' Guild library. The problem? She’s spent years telling them to stuff their rules.
Now, in exchange for access, she has to fulfill some stuffy tea-leaf prophecy. Seduce the king? How hard can it be?
Except, it’s not the king their magic guides to her door—it’s his unethically handsome jousting double, Fynn. A soldier who’d rather be a baker, Fynn feels honor-bound to help her, even if mishaps follow each other like spiced buns at a royal breakfast.
And he's brought his oddball friends. Did she find love and the family she never had?
Or has she invoked her own curse?
“One Knight Under Her Spell” is a cozy cottagecore fantasy bubbling with humor and steeped in romance. With found family, cat antics, and enough tea to drown a scandal, it is the perfect escape for fans of T. Kingfisher or Travis Baldree.
☕ Cozy: 4/5
🔥 Stakes: 2.5/5
🌶️ Spice: 3/5
Now… he’s a cat.
Fedora has no clue how to control magic, let alone reverse it. But she can’t let Lord Vosswhythe spend the rest of his days licking his paws on her windowsill of her woodland cottage. The solution? A spell from the Witches' Guild library. The problem? She’s spent years telling them to stuff their rules.
Now, in exchange for access, she has to fulfill some stuffy tea-leaf prophecy. Seduce the king? How hard can it be?
Except, it’s not the king their magic guides to her door—it’s his unethically handsome jousting double, Fynn. A soldier who’d rather be a baker, Fynn feels honor-bound to help her, even if mishaps follow each other like spiced buns at a royal breakfast.
And he's brought his oddball friends. Did she find love and the family she never had?
Or has she invoked her own curse?
“One Knight Under Her Spell” is a cozy cottagecore fantasy bubbling with humor and steeped in romance. With found family, cat antics, and enough tea to drown a scandal, it is the perfect escape for fans of T. Kingfisher or Travis Baldree.
☕ Cozy: 4/5
🔥 Stakes: 2.5/5
🌶️ Spice: 3/5
- GenresCozyFantasyCozy Fantasy
343 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 10, 2025
4 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
E.P. van Gelder
3 books5 followersE.P. van Gelder has worked as an animator for video games, exhibited sculptures worldwide, and sold his soul making motion graphics for corporate TV behemoths—only to reclaim it by writing the books he loves.
He writes about flawed yet good-hearted characters who support each other through the struggles of being human—or orc, or dwarf. Now, more than ever, he believes that our only real power lies in togetherness.
In his spare time, he rides bikes, climbs mountains, and drinks an absurd amount of snob-coffee.
He writes about flawed yet good-hearted characters who support each other through the struggles of being human—or orc, or dwarf. Now, more than ever, he believes that our only real power lies in togetherness.
In his spare time, he rides bikes, climbs mountains, and drinks an absurd amount of snob-coffee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
April 19, 2025
This one definitely was different from your usual cosy fantasy. And I mean this in a nice way.
We follow a lone witch, Fedora, who is selling her herbs, but she is not doing much "workings", and the only spell she has ever cast turned her lover into a cat accidentally, and now she is trying to find a way to undo what she did. But little did she know what she was bargaining for!
She meets unlikely characters who become her newfound family, she learns truths about herself, and most importantly, she learns to accept help and that being with the company of others might not be so bad after all!
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
The beginning of this story hooked me in, and the writing style is easy to follow, witty and fun. The author did a great job of presenting us with a vivid picture of the people and the world he has created. Each character, although flawed, was interesting. Fynn and Fedora, as well as Seren (Seraphine), sometimes did questionable things and made questionable choices, which, for me personally, I found a bit too much at times, but nothing major, and it showed them as people prone to errors, just like everyone else.
I really liked our lord turned into a cat, he was mood! I mean, if I could choose to be a cat, I would be just like him!
Without giving too much away, I really want to know more about Fedora and the "family" part! I am looking forward to the next book, and I am sure this series will throw at us more adventures and some epic quests. I can already feel it. You can absolutely see that Gelder has worked in the video gaming world; it shows in a good way, and he knows what he is doing.
Overall, this cosy fantasy was a solid 4-star read for me, which I definitely recommend.
We follow a lone witch, Fedora, who is selling her herbs, but she is not doing much "workings", and the only spell she has ever cast turned her lover into a cat accidentally, and now she is trying to find a way to undo what she did. But little did she know what she was bargaining for!
She meets unlikely characters who become her newfound family, she learns truths about herself, and most importantly, she learns to accept help and that being with the company of others might not be so bad after all!
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
The beginning of this story hooked me in, and the writing style is easy to follow, witty and fun. The author did a great job of presenting us with a vivid picture of the people and the world he has created. Each character, although flawed, was interesting. Fynn and Fedora, as well as Seren (Seraphine), sometimes did questionable things and made questionable choices, which, for me personally, I found a bit too much at times, but nothing major, and it showed them as people prone to errors, just like everyone else.
I really liked our lord turned into a cat, he was mood! I mean, if I could choose to be a cat, I would be just like him!
Without giving too much away, I really want to know more about Fedora and the "family" part! I am looking forward to the next book, and I am sure this series will throw at us more adventures and some epic quests. I can already feel it. You can absolutely see that Gelder has worked in the video gaming world; it shows in a good way, and he knows what he is doing.
Overall, this cosy fantasy was a solid 4-star read for me, which I definitely recommend.
March 18, 2025
I had so much fun reading this book that is quite unlike anything I’ve read before!
The characters were delightfully flawed, the magical world was intriguing and the story was twisty without being overly complicated.
Magical, witty, whimsical, quirky - everything you want in a cozy fantasy tale such as this.
While it is pretty much fade to black spice level this is not YA. It’s full of innuendos, tension and explicit conversations. The witch just wants to get ravaged and her burly knight tries his best to act like a gentleman when really he is fighting back the urges of a beast.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
The characters were delightfully flawed, the magical world was intriguing and the story was twisty without being overly complicated.
Magical, witty, whimsical, quirky - everything you want in a cozy fantasy tale such as this.
While it is pretty much fade to black spice level this is not YA. It’s full of innuendos, tension and explicit conversations. The witch just wants to get ravaged and her burly knight tries his best to act like a gentleman when really he is fighting back the urges of a beast.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
May 9, 2025
This book was a delightful read, I got hooked very fast!
One of my favourite movies of all time is The Knight’s Tale and this book captured the same vibe: medieval yet with a modern twist, at least it’s how the world came to life in my head.
I really liked the writing style, very easy to follow, no nonsense fillers, but everything was explained well as we were going ahead in the book.
I’ve found the characters amazing, just like real people, growing along with the story.
Witty dialogues and some innuendos, there’s only very little I would change and I hope we will see more from this writer as it was a truly enjoyable ride, if you like cozy fantasy I can only recommend this book!
Thank you booksirens for my ARC copy, it was my first ever and a truly memorable one at that!
Congrats to E P van Gelder, great work!
One of my favourite movies of all time is The Knight’s Tale and this book captured the same vibe: medieval yet with a modern twist, at least it’s how the world came to life in my head.
I really liked the writing style, very easy to follow, no nonsense fillers, but everything was explained well as we were going ahead in the book.
I’ve found the characters amazing, just like real people, growing along with the story.
Witty dialogues and some innuendos, there’s only very little I would change and I hope we will see more from this writer as it was a truly enjoyable ride, if you like cozy fantasy I can only recommend this book!
Thank you booksirens for my ARC copy, it was my first ever and a truly memorable one at that!
Congrats to E P van Gelder, great work!
May 12, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ ARC: I was initially drawn to this book by the beautiful cover art, but after I read the first two chapters I was completely hooked. This story mainly follows Fedora, a witch who lives alone in the woods crafting tea and medicines to sale, and Fynn, a knight who loves to bake, but must pretend to be the king in jousts and tourneys. The two cross paths and the story unfolds from there. This is a cozy fantasy with elements of romance, magic, and fae-kind. While remaining in the realm of cozy, the book still deals with important themes like religious oppression and sexuality. Ultimately, I would say, the main theme of this book is found family and it is heartwarming to see the characters come together. I also appreciated that there are new discoveries to be made as you read and surprises that were not obvious (at least to me). Overall, this was a super fun and sweet read.
March 26, 2025
Reading this book was the equivalent of curling under a blanket with a hot cup of tea and a cat on your lap. One Knight Under Her Spell sets a new standard for cozy fantasy, with endearing characters, an imaginative story and a cute cat to top it off.
I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book through BookSirens. Thank you to the author, publisher and BookSirens for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.
I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book through BookSirens. Thank you to the author, publisher and BookSirens for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.
March 24, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a quick and cute read. I did like the characters but sometimes the Main Female Character did get on my nerves. But if you like cozy fantasy and found family this is great.
This was a quick and cute read. I did like the characters but sometimes the Main Female Character did get on my nerves. But if you like cozy fantasy and found family this is great.
did-not-finish
September 22, 2025DNF at 8%. Not for me.
March 18, 2025
Sooo… umm… WOW
This was really well written. It could use another round of editing but not bad there. I’ve read top bestsellers from traditional publishers that were worse. And the story. WOW. It kept my attention from the first word to the last and left me wanting more. It’s got humor, romance, issues to overcome and bad guys to get the best of. What more could you want? Well other than sequel that is. The characters were both believable and likable. And they talked like real people with natural sounding conversations. Definitely recommend this one and anxiously waiting for another!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was really well written. It could use another round of editing but not bad there. I’ve read top bestsellers from traditional publishers that were worse. And the story. WOW. It kept my attention from the first word to the last and left me wanting more. It’s got humor, romance, issues to overcome and bad guys to get the best of. What more could you want? Well other than sequel that is. The characters were both believable and likable. And they talked like real people with natural sounding conversations. Definitely recommend this one and anxiously waiting for another!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 2, 2025
I really enjoyed all the different characters and the epilogue.
The romantic relationship was not what I expected. The fmc was very into it and pressured the mmc to much for my liking. There's a lot of sexual tension between all the characters, but nothing ever happens. It only had zero spice or 1000% there was no middle ground.
From the story line I really enjoyed the beginning and the end of the book. The middle fell quite flat and I had no idea what we were doing and where the story should be heading. It felt unstructured.
The romantic relationship was not what I expected. The fmc was very into it and pressured the mmc to much for my liking. There's a lot of sexual tension between all the characters, but nothing ever happens. It only had zero spice or 1000% there was no middle ground.
From the story line I really enjoyed the beginning and the end of the book. The middle fell quite flat and I had no idea what we were doing and where the story should be heading. It felt unstructured.
April 5, 2025
An enjoyable feel-good book. With a witch who casts unpredictable spells, found family, and an obstinate cat, this has everything needed for a cozy fantasy.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 2, 2025
I am obsessed with this book! I can not wait for more from this series! It’s the equivalent of covering yourself in a blanket on a chilly autumn morning and transporting yourself into a whimsical fantasy realm!
March 27, 2025
Really enjoyed this book. Had just the right amount of plot and character development. I could definitely feel the character frustrations and dilemmas. The spice was hot and just the right amount of dark. Very quick read and a great break from some of the deeper books. I got this as an advanced copy and am leaving my review of my own free will.
August 8, 2025
Thank you to BookSirens for this ARC!
Unfortunately, I'm DNFing this book at 51%.
I need to preface my review by saying that I gave 3 stars to Legends and Lattes and almost DNFed it multiple times. But I'm a huge fan of T Kingfisher's fantasy-romance series. So I was expecting more of a Swordheart/Paladin's Grace than anything else. And it was not really on that level yet.
The writing was good, but the dialogue was a bit far-fetched. Also, everyone, and I repeat EVERYONE in this book, was so horny, my god! And everyone was obsessed with whether MMC got laid or not—what are they, 15?
I didn't feel the chemistry, and I didn't like the noble lady who, within 2 pages, became Fedora's friend. It felt like the story was trying to do too much, with too many plots. And some of them felt rushed/unrealistic (and I know it's a fantasy, but that's not an excuse for a weak plot line).
Also, the beginning of the story made me worried for a bit about consent (something akin to using a love potion). But nothing happened under the influence of potions, at least in the first 51%.
Overall, not a bad book, but not a book for me. If it sounds interesting to you, give it a try.
I'm curious to see what E.P. van Gelder releases next.
Unfortunately, I'm DNFing this book at 51%.
I need to preface my review by saying that I gave 3 stars to Legends and Lattes and almost DNFed it multiple times. But I'm a huge fan of T Kingfisher's fantasy-romance series. So I was expecting more of a Swordheart/Paladin's Grace than anything else. And it was not really on that level yet.
The writing was good, but the dialogue was a bit far-fetched. Also, everyone, and I repeat EVERYONE in this book, was so horny, my god! And everyone was obsessed with whether MMC got laid or not—what are they, 15?
I didn't feel the chemistry, and I didn't like the noble lady who, within 2 pages, became Fedora's friend. It felt like the story was trying to do too much, with too many plots. And some of them felt rushed/unrealistic (and I know it's a fantasy, but that's not an excuse for a weak plot line).
Also, the beginning of the story made me worried for a bit about consent (something akin to using a love potion). But nothing happened under the influence of potions, at least in the first 51%.
Overall, not a bad book, but not a book for me. If it sounds interesting to you, give it a try.
I'm curious to see what E.P. van Gelder releases next.
April 29, 2025
Despite my concerns throughout the beginning of this book, it never crosses the consent line. Once that was resolved, I spent the rest of the book wondering if the author was aiming for found family or polycule. (The answer is Found Family.)
This book is trying to do too many things. At the 80% mark I made a list of plot threads, mostly still unresolved. It was a dozen items long. In the end, many are resolved with a sentence or two, not very satisfying.
I found this book a struggle. Big romantasy fans may enjoy it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book is trying to do too many things. At the 80% mark I made a list of plot threads, mostly still unresolved. It was a dozen items long. In the end, many are resolved with a sentence or two, not very satisfying.
I found this book a struggle. Big romantasy fans may enjoy it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 9, 2025
Yeah… not a cozy fantasy. This book needed a TW for dub con- I read romance books with that all the time but I wasn’t expecting it and it didn’t fit in the storyline which made me feel gross. I received this as an ARC and this is my honest opinion.
May 21, 2025
Just to start, thank you to BookSirens and the author for this advance review copy, the following opinions are not at all influenced by the receipt of this copy.
Well, that certainly was a whirlwind book! This book is for you if you like any of these: Shifting, witchcraft (the innate power kind, not elemental or spellcrafty kind), super supportive best friends, high stakes, high-stakes secrets, and cats!
Admittedly due to the first quest our MC was on, I thought this was going to be a rather spicy or angsty book. It is the latter FYI. I absolutely loved the evolution of the MC relationship, and how they got to know each other. I also loved how whirlwind our MC Fedora is. What I wish I had more of was the [spoiler scene] in the forest when our MMC and Bhomm are on their way back to Fedora's from woodmill. It was this interesting scene with intrigue, and the potential for exploration but nothing came of what the characters learned by observing that scene.
I would like to thank the author for is Lord Perceval, the ginger cat. He was such a delight to read throughout the story. He is lazy, smart, afraid of heights, a bit nosy, and makes the cutest sounds. It was adorable to have a cat on page while my cat sits by my side as I read.
The last thing I'd like to call out though is how well paced this whole story was. You get plenty of exposition of our characters, understanding their place in the world and their intentions. Then you get a good amount of hijinks and fun with all the characters getting to know each other and some lesser known parts (like The Bard's Ball, my favorite). Then the ending plays out slightly predictably but really well paced. Nothing is tied together in a single paragraph. It all fits neatly in place sure but over the course of several chapters so we can eagerly anticipate what will happen next.
I would happily recommend this book to my friends, especially those are who are more interested in slightly less cozy but certainly not dark dark fantasy. This story is on par with anything from T. Kingfisher or A.K. Caggiano for sure.
So wait, why only 4 stars? Cause I mean, I need a little more on-page spice. Doesn't need to make my grandma blush, but just a bit more. The first attempt at a romance the two MC had it was super awkward, not only for them but for me to visualize.
Well, that certainly was a whirlwind book! This book is for you if you like any of these: Shifting, witchcraft (the innate power kind, not elemental or spellcrafty kind), super supportive best friends, high stakes, high-stakes secrets, and cats!
Admittedly due to the first quest our MC was on, I thought this was going to be a rather spicy or angsty book. It is the latter FYI. I absolutely loved the evolution of the MC relationship, and how they got to know each other. I also loved how whirlwind our MC Fedora is. What I wish I had more of was the [spoiler scene] in the forest when our MMC and Bhomm are on their way back to Fedora's from woodmill. It was this interesting scene with intrigue, and the potential for exploration but nothing came of what the characters learned by observing that scene.
I would like to thank the author for is Lord Perceval, the ginger cat. He was such a delight to read throughout the story. He is lazy, smart, afraid of heights, a bit nosy, and makes the cutest sounds. It was adorable to have a cat on page while my cat sits by my side as I read.
The last thing I'd like to call out though is how well paced this whole story was. You get plenty of exposition of our characters, understanding their place in the world and their intentions. Then you get a good amount of hijinks and fun with all the characters getting to know each other and some lesser known parts (like The Bard's Ball, my favorite). Then the ending plays out slightly predictably but really well paced. Nothing is tied together in a single paragraph. It all fits neatly in place sure but over the course of several chapters so we can eagerly anticipate what will happen next.
I would happily recommend this book to my friends, especially those are who are more interested in slightly less cozy but certainly not dark dark fantasy. This story is on par with anything from T. Kingfisher or A.K. Caggiano for sure.
So wait, why only 4 stars? Cause I mean, I need a little more on-page spice. Doesn't need to make my grandma blush, but just a bit more. The first attempt at a romance the two MC had it was super awkward, not only for them but for me to visualize.
May 5, 2025
I am always looking for more cozy fantasy to read, so I jumped at the chance to read One Knight Under Her Spell by E.P. Van Gelder.
This book follows Fedora, a witch who lives in the woods and who accidentally turned a potential lover into a cat when she discovered he was married. To fix the problem, she needs access to the witches’ library, which means she needs to make a deal with her fellow witches for that access. They want her to seduce the king, but when the king’s knight shows up instead, all chaos breaks loose.
This book, I think, has slightly higher stakes than a typical cozy fantasy in that the fate of the kingdom is on the line depending on Fedora’s actions. There are a lot of cozy elements, and a large amount of found family plot, but these are outweighed by the fact that the stakes are quite a bit higher than is typical for cozy fantasy. I will say that it doesn’t change the enjoyment of the story, it just requires a slight shift of expectations.
I think the book was written well, the characters were enjoyable, and I liked that everything turned out well enough. The biggest complaint I have about everything is the king. He’s a terrible person and his excuse for not fixing things beforehand was that it would be too difficult and things were fine, so he just sort of let the situation devolve and got his own family involved in it. I just…really? All of the problems could have been avoided if this one guy did what he was supposed to do.
Regardless of the king’s actions, I found the book enjoyable and entertaining. A good book!
This book follows Fedora, a witch who lives in the woods and who accidentally turned a potential lover into a cat when she discovered he was married. To fix the problem, she needs access to the witches’ library, which means she needs to make a deal with her fellow witches for that access. They want her to seduce the king, but when the king’s knight shows up instead, all chaos breaks loose.
This book, I think, has slightly higher stakes than a typical cozy fantasy in that the fate of the kingdom is on the line depending on Fedora’s actions. There are a lot of cozy elements, and a large amount of found family plot, but these are outweighed by the fact that the stakes are quite a bit higher than is typical for cozy fantasy. I will say that it doesn’t change the enjoyment of the story, it just requires a slight shift of expectations.
I think the book was written well, the characters were enjoyable, and I liked that everything turned out well enough. The biggest complaint I have about everything is the king. He’s a terrible person and his excuse for not fixing things beforehand was that it would be too difficult and things were fine, so he just sort of let the situation devolve and got his own family involved in it. I just…really? All of the problems could have been avoided if this one guy did what he was supposed to do.
Regardless of the king’s actions, I found the book enjoyable and entertaining. A good book!
May 11, 2025
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy of One Knight Under Her Spell for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Pros:
Where to start? Firstly, AMAZING story with a few turns I didn't see coming. It feels like a cozy fantasy, but has just a bit too much spice to really be considered cozy for me; definitely right on the border in that regard. That said, the spice is done extremely well and never really feels forced. The relationship between the main characters feels genuine despite the initial way they meet. The whole story is honestly an easy read and I always felt sad having to put it down for the night to go to bed.
Also, cat!
The Cons:
What keeps me from rating this book 5 Stars is really the editing; fairly often I ran into typos (more often) or grammar mistakes (less often) which is an issue to me personally that might not matter to others as much. Along with that, the mid-story reveal about one of the characters does feel like it came out of nowhere with no buildup or foreshadowing and I personally think it could have been done better, but overall it didn't detract much from the flow or the story.
Overall Opinion:
Fantastic story right on the border between cozy and spicy, with just the right amount of each. The story flows well overall, has interesting characters, and is short enough to be a fairly quick read while still being long enough to tell a fully cohesive story. Thanks to One Knight Under Her Spell, I have a new author to follow!
The Pros:
Where to start? Firstly, AMAZING story with a few turns I didn't see coming. It feels like a cozy fantasy, but has just a bit too much spice to really be considered cozy for me; definitely right on the border in that regard. That said, the spice is done extremely well and never really feels forced. The relationship between the main characters feels genuine despite the initial way they meet. The whole story is honestly an easy read and I always felt sad having to put it down for the night to go to bed.
Also, cat!
The Cons:
What keeps me from rating this book 5 Stars is really the editing; fairly often I ran into typos (more often) or grammar mistakes (less often) which is an issue to me personally that might not matter to others as much. Along with that, the mid-story reveal about one of the characters does feel like it came out of nowhere with no buildup or foreshadowing and I personally think it could have been done better, but overall it didn't detract much from the flow or the story.
Overall Opinion:
Fantastic story right on the border between cozy and spicy, with just the right amount of each. The story flows well overall, has interesting characters, and is short enough to be a fairly quick read while still being long enough to tell a fully cohesive story. Thanks to One Knight Under Her Spell, I have a new author to follow!
May 25, 2025
This is a lovely cozy fantasy, perfect for fans of the House Witch series or Legends and Lattes. I quite enjoyed spending time with the characters and I found the overall plot really engaging! There were a lot of moments that made me laugh and a few fun surprises along the way.
I’m also highly intrigued by the world building and the relationship between humans and the fae. There’s a lot to be unpacked there in future books and definitely makes me want to continue the series! I also really appreciated how the book focused on characters who are on the margins of their society in various ways and gives them a chance in the spotlight. I enjoyed watching them develop into a lovely found family scenario, with all the characters supporting each other and building each other up when they need it.
The only thing I was not as much a fan of in this book was the romantic arc. While there’s some really lovely moments there, I felt like the role of sex in the relationship was over-emphasized. I love a few sweeter spicy scenes (don’t get me wrong) but I felt the characters themselves were thinking a lot more about physical intimacy than emotional connections. That also led to a third act break up I found a little forced. That being said, this is the first book in a series and I’m hopeful that future books will develop the emotional side of that relationship a bit further.
Overall, a very fun read and I look forward to more from this author.
I received an ARC in exchange for this honest review
I’m also highly intrigued by the world building and the relationship between humans and the fae. There’s a lot to be unpacked there in future books and definitely makes me want to continue the series! I also really appreciated how the book focused on characters who are on the margins of their society in various ways and gives them a chance in the spotlight. I enjoyed watching them develop into a lovely found family scenario, with all the characters supporting each other and building each other up when they need it.
The only thing I was not as much a fan of in this book was the romantic arc. While there’s some really lovely moments there, I felt like the role of sex in the relationship was over-emphasized. I love a few sweeter spicy scenes (don’t get me wrong) but I felt the characters themselves were thinking a lot more about physical intimacy than emotional connections. That also led to a third act break up I found a little forced. That being said, this is the first book in a series and I’m hopeful that future books will develop the emotional side of that relationship a bit further.
Overall, a very fun read and I look forward to more from this author.
I received an ARC in exchange for this honest review
April 17, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review in exchange. To me a 4 star book is very good, I never give a book 5 stars upon a first read. 3 Stars a good book I liked it. 2 stars an OK book but I'd never bother to reread it. 1 star not the book for me.
With that out of the way, I just want to say how much I enjoyed this book, it was fast paced and had an interesting plot. However the thing that really stood out for me were how real the characters were and genuinely likeable. Not just Fedora and Flynn but the entire cast including the brilliant Lord Perceval.
The author is generously offering ARC copies on his website https://epvangelder.com/ before the release date. So if you read this review soon after posting head over there to check it out for yourself.
Here's a few of my favorite lines, no real spoilers.
Fedora’s smile faded. “Rules I never agreed to are not rules at all, are they? Just you and your need for control.”
If cats could shrug, he would have shrugged. But they don’t. Shrugging would be an entirely superfluous expression for cats. As it was, he returned his attention to where it mattered most and resumed licking his paw.
Fynn would rather bake then fight.
Mother dough, warm and true,
Rise with the sun, and bake with the moon,
Here is our wheat, so your spirit grows.
With every loaf, our life renews.
With that out of the way, I just want to say how much I enjoyed this book, it was fast paced and had an interesting plot. However the thing that really stood out for me were how real the characters were and genuinely likeable. Not just Fedora and Flynn but the entire cast including the brilliant Lord Perceval.
The author is generously offering ARC copies on his website https://epvangelder.com/ before the release date. So if you read this review soon after posting head over there to check it out for yourself.
Here's a few of my favorite lines, no real spoilers.
Fedora’s smile faded. “Rules I never agreed to are not rules at all, are they? Just you and your need for control.”
If cats could shrug, he would have shrugged. But they don’t. Shrugging would be an entirely superfluous expression for cats. As it was, he returned his attention to where it mattered most and resumed licking his paw.
Fynn would rather bake then fight.
Mother dough, warm and true,
Rise with the sun, and bake with the moon,
Here is our wheat, so your spirit grows.
With every loaf, our life renews.
April 24, 2025
Awesome book! The fantasy world-building is really well done, without going so in-depth you have to learn a whole new alphabet and languages. The writer knows their craft and has their own voice, without having to rely on trying to copy Tolkein, or Martin, or anyone else in the adjacent genres, which is a trap so many fall into.
A refreshing focus on colourful, interesting, multi-dimensional characters that you really care about. Also, the relationships between the two main characters and even their friendships with supporting characters are inspiring and aspirational. I'd love to have friends like the ones written about in this book! The people and the experiences that characters have are so visceral, you feel like the author must be writing from lots of deep and meaningful experiences.
The book is beautifully put together as well. Feels like a spellbook or something.
100% recommended for people on a long train ride with a bento box packed, people who have a deck or patio to put their feet up to while they read, people on a commute to work that's long enough to read at least a few pages on, and people who bench 250 lbs but have an I.Q. of 140.
A refreshing focus on colourful, interesting, multi-dimensional characters that you really care about. Also, the relationships between the two main characters and even their friendships with supporting characters are inspiring and aspirational. I'd love to have friends like the ones written about in this book! The people and the experiences that characters have are so visceral, you feel like the author must be writing from lots of deep and meaningful experiences.
The book is beautifully put together as well. Feels like a spellbook or something.
100% recommended for people on a long train ride with a bento box packed, people who have a deck or patio to put their feet up to while they read, people on a commute to work that's long enough to read at least a few pages on, and people who bench 250 lbs but have an I.Q. of 140.
May 9, 2025
One Knight Under Her Spell is a wonderful and charming read, full of quirky characters who don’t react the way you would expect. It was delightful to be surprised by the direct interactions throughout the book, which meant the story cut through the usual pattern of unnecessary misunderstandings or forced poor communication. I loved that everyone just got on with it. The pacing was excellent.
Great phrasing contributed to the world-building and also gave take-away gems of wisdom that may be useful for your own life path. Always love that in a fantasy book. Makes it a very memorable read.
“But that was not how Fynn shaped his loaves.”
‘Knowledge is not wisdom,’ her mother had often told her. ‘Wisdom is alive. You can’t store it, like eggs in a basement.’
Utterly wonderful. This is a genuinely great story and deserves to be out in the world. I received an advance review online copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I absolutely cannot wait to have the physical book in hand, and will relish reading it again with pages between my fingers.
Great phrasing contributed to the world-building and also gave take-away gems of wisdom that may be useful for your own life path. Always love that in a fantasy book. Makes it a very memorable read.
“But that was not how Fynn shaped his loaves.”
‘Knowledge is not wisdom,’ her mother had often told her. ‘Wisdom is alive. You can’t store it, like eggs in a basement.’
Utterly wonderful. This is a genuinely great story and deserves to be out in the world. I received an advance review online copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I absolutely cannot wait to have the physical book in hand, and will relish reading it again with pages between my fingers.
May 16, 2025
One Knight Under Her Spell was such a cute and cozy read. When I decided to pick it up as an ARC read, the blurb and description sounded fun and intriguing. After just a couple of chapters, I was hooked. Fedora and Fynn’s story was one of the most comical and entertaining books I’ve read in a while. And the found family vibes were more than satisfying. This is a book I could see myself reading again and again.
The characters were all well written and quirky in the best ways. There were plot twists that took me on a journey I didn’t know I needed. Overall, reading this book was just a good time and I was here for it.
There was humor and calamity. There was a journey of self discovery and of finding one’s place in a world that doesn’t quite fit as well as it should. There was found family and finding love and acceptance in the oddest of places and people.
This is a book I feel audiences of all ages can enjoy. It’s closed door spice and very little of it.
Thank You to Booksirens & EP Van Gelder for the opportunity to review a free copy of this book for my honest opinions!
The characters were all well written and quirky in the best ways. There were plot twists that took me on a journey I didn’t know I needed. Overall, reading this book was just a good time and I was here for it.
There was humor and calamity. There was a journey of self discovery and of finding one’s place in a world that doesn’t quite fit as well as it should. There was found family and finding love and acceptance in the oddest of places and people.
This is a book I feel audiences of all ages can enjoy. It’s closed door spice and very little of it.
Thank You to Booksirens & EP Van Gelder for the opportunity to review a free copy of this book for my honest opinions!
May 24, 2025
Thank you to BookSirens for this ARC!
this book was so fun!! I love it and was pretty much what I was looking for in a cozy fantasy. the characters were funny — especially Fedora — and I lovedddd the found family aspect.
I was a little iffy in the beginning with Fedora choosing to drug the king (even if it didn’t go how she planned). The plot felt really slow at times too, but other than that, I had a great time.
Fedora is hilarious and such a great fmc. Fynn is so cute, very respectful, and such a kind character. I loved following along with his discovery with himself. Him and Fedora are so nice together!
Seren and Fedora’s friendship had me tearing up at times. They’re so precious!! They are so perfect for each other. The characters are super realistic and very likeable.
Overall, super enjoyable. I loved the magic, the funny cat interactions, the tea, the atmosphere, and the writing style. Can’t wait for the next one.
this book was so fun!! I love it and was pretty much what I was looking for in a cozy fantasy. the characters were funny — especially Fedora — and I lovedddd the found family aspect.
I was a little iffy in the beginning with Fedora choosing to drug the king (even if it didn’t go how she planned). The plot felt really slow at times too, but other than that, I had a great time.
Fedora is hilarious and such a great fmc. Fynn is so cute, very respectful, and such a kind character. I loved following along with his discovery with himself. Him and Fedora are so nice together!
Seren and Fedora’s friendship had me tearing up at times. They’re so precious!! They are so perfect for each other. The characters are super realistic and very likeable.
Overall, super enjoyable. I loved the magic, the funny cat interactions, the tea, the atmosphere, and the writing style. Can’t wait for the next one.
May 13, 2025
I received an advance copy via BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
This was a cozy, magical read with fantastic world-building and some really satisfying character growth. I especially loved how the magical elements were woven into the setting, it felt whimsical without being over the top.
What didn't quite work for me was the setup at the beginning. The main character agreeing to seduce the king and get pregnant just to gain access to a library, in order to turn someone back from being a frog, felt like a bit of a stretch, especially since the frog seemed pretty content with his new life. It made it a little hard to connect with her motivations early on.
Still, once the story settled in I found myself really enjoying it. The relationships and the growth of the characters kept me coming back. A great pick if you're in the mood for something light, fun and cozy!
This was a cozy, magical read with fantastic world-building and some really satisfying character growth. I especially loved how the magical elements were woven into the setting, it felt whimsical without being over the top.
What didn't quite work for me was the setup at the beginning. The main character agreeing to seduce the king and get pregnant just to gain access to a library, in order to turn someone back from being a frog, felt like a bit of a stretch, especially since the frog seemed pretty content with his new life. It made it a little hard to connect with her motivations early on.
Still, once the story settled in I found myself really enjoying it. The relationships and the growth of the characters kept me coming back. A great pick if you're in the mood for something light, fun and cozy!
April 15, 2025
I am a mood reader, and with this book, “One Knight Under Her Spell” I got everything I wanted on my search for witty, magical vibes. This book has the perfect ingredients: cozy woodland vibes with lots and lots of tea, baked goods and a cute and extra smart orange tomcat.
What more can you need?
Oh, of course, you also get a feisty, stubborn and independent FMC, and a grumpy, introvert and veeery gentlemanly MMC. You also get a lot of humour, excellent side characters and a sprinkle of magic and romance.
An excellent read I definitely recommend, perfect to be paired with a sunny Autumn day with a piping hot mug of tea.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
What more can you need?
Oh, of course, you also get a feisty, stubborn and independent FMC, and a grumpy, introvert and veeery gentlemanly MMC. You also get a lot of humour, excellent side characters and a sprinkle of magic and romance.
An excellent read I definitely recommend, perfect to be paired with a sunny Autumn day with a piping hot mug of tea.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
April 20, 2025
ARC REVIEW
This book was the most cozy book that I've read in the last months. So, we have Fedora, a witch who transforms a lord into a cat, and she wants to find a way to make him human again. On the other hand, we have Fynn, a knight who lives in the palace.
I loved it! Honestly, it's the most coziest book that I've read. Fedora's and Fynn's chemistry is amazing. They're so different, but they're perfect together. Fedora is confident about everything, and Fynn is so shy, and his reactions are so cute. The cat, omg, he really is unbelievable.
It's a cozy fantasy romance with love, a really weird cat, and tea a lot of tea.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book was the most cozy book that I've read in the last months. So, we have Fedora, a witch who transforms a lord into a cat, and she wants to find a way to make him human again. On the other hand, we have Fynn, a knight who lives in the palace.
I loved it! Honestly, it's the most coziest book that I've read. Fedora's and Fynn's chemistry is amazing. They're so different, but they're perfect together. Fedora is confident about everything, and Fynn is so shy, and his reactions are so cute. The cat, omg, he really is unbelievable.
It's a cozy fantasy romance with love, a really weird cat, and tea a lot of tea.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 10, 2025
Oh my, I loved this! I am such a sucker for found family and cozy fantasy, and this hit all those fuzzy feeling buttons. Fedora realizing she doesn’t have to be alone to be comfortable and safe is one of those tropes I will 100% never get sick of. I’m not sure what it is about it. Fynn coming into his power, Seren being more than just a high born the growth in the entire main group is just chef’s kiss.
The one thing that got me, the ending. I’m a little unsatisfied with the “villain’s” arc. I don’t know that I believe he is truly evil, but what he did is pretty shocking for there to be little to no punishment that jeopardizes the plot. The Queen as well. Where’s the justice?
Overall, very lovely read and time very well spent. Thank you for the advanced copy for review!
The one thing that got me, the ending. I’m a little unsatisfied with the “villain’s” arc. I don’t know that I believe he is truly evil, but what he did is pretty shocking for there to be little to no punishment that jeopardizes the plot. The Queen as well. Where’s the justice?
Overall, very lovely read and time very well spent. Thank you for the advanced copy for review!
May 11, 2025
Rating: 4 / 5 ⭐
Spice Level: .5 🌶️
This was such a cozy read. The characters were lovely and the setting was immersive. The descriptions of Fedora’s home and surrounding woods give the best cottagecore vibes.
I loved the found family in this novel. I wish we could have had more background on Bromm and Innis and seeing their group of misfits grow was heartwarming. I will say that I wasn’t fully sold on the romance. It felt very one sided in an uncomfortable way.
If you’re a fan of Emily Wilde, I think you’d absolutely love this book (although it is more explicit).
Thank you to E.P. Van Gelder and SireBooks. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Spice Level: .5 🌶️
This was such a cozy read. The characters were lovely and the setting was immersive. The descriptions of Fedora’s home and surrounding woods give the best cottagecore vibes.
I loved the found family in this novel. I wish we could have had more background on Bromm and Innis and seeing their group of misfits grow was heartwarming. I will say that I wasn’t fully sold on the romance. It felt very one sided in an uncomfortable way.
If you’re a fan of Emily Wilde, I think you’d absolutely love this book (although it is more explicit).
Thank you to E.P. Van Gelder and SireBooks. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 28, 2025
Witty, whimsical, and utterly enchanting! Fedora is the perfect hot mess of a heroine—accidentally turning a nobleman into a cat, dodging a prophecy, and stumbling into a slow-burn romance with a charming jouster who’d rather bake than brawl.
This magical romp had me cackling one minute and swooning the next. Between the spell mishaps, lovable misfits, and banter that sparkles, I couldn’t put it down. If you love found family, magical chaos (the good kind), and reluctant love stories with heart, ~this~ is your next favorite read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This magical romp had me cackling one minute and swooning the next. Between the spell mishaps, lovable misfits, and banter that sparkles, I couldn’t put it down. If you love found family, magical chaos (the good kind), and reluctant love stories with heart, ~this~ is your next favorite read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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