The Lost Art of Finding Where You Belong

The Lost Arts #2

by Ellie Ash

After falling hard and fast, can Perian handle the realities of a relationship with the head of the Mage Warriors?

Perian is ready to commit to this relationship, but as the head of the Mage Warriors, Brannal has duties hunting demons that take him away from the castle—and from Perian, who finds himself struggling with the absence. The rumor mill in the castle is working overtime, and some in the castle—thankfully a minority—dislike him. Perian’s not prepared when that dislike takes a violent turn.

Still, it's not all bad. Perian’s confirmed that absence makes the heart grow fonder, he’s strengthening new friendships (and learning how kinky some of those friends can be), and he’s watching Renny get stronger. But she’s still frustrated by her limits, and not everyone seems to be ready for these changes and the influence that Perian has.

Brannal clearly cares for Perian and doesn’t want him to get hurt, but if Brannal has to pick between his duties and Perian, is Perian going to lose? Or can Brannal prove that he’s more than just the leader of the Mage Warriors?

The Lost Art of Finding Where You Belong is a cozy MM fantasy romance with plenty of steam. Told in single POV, it features a newly established couple still working on their HFN as they try to figure out how to make their relationship sustainable. It is best read in order.

Genres: Fantasy, Magic, M M Romance, Romance, Cozy, Queer, Gay

287 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 18, 2025

About the author

Ellie has had a life-long love affair with books. She graduated from university with an English Literature Bachelors and Masters—as well as an avid appreciation for MM romance thanks to all the slash fanfiction she read and wrote. Around 2021, she realized that the kind of MM romance she enjoys was now being traditionally and indie published, and she has not looked back.

From devouring ARCs to betaing and editing while writing in her spare time, Ellie was inspired by a reader and writer conference in 2024 to take the plunge and put some of her own stories out in the world. In her spare time, she reads, writes, plays D&D, and pursues other geeky interests.

Reviews

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3 stars ⭐️

“You look so perfect like this, in my arms.”

This was definitely… cozy.
We get to see Perian’s typical day in the castle, him and Brannal trying to find the right balance in their relationship, lots and lots of sex. But that’s pretty much it.

The world is actually somewhat interesting and fun, but it’s not really explored to its full potential.

A very cute and sweet romance, with a touch of fantasy, but it didn’t exactly wow me.

If he could only bottle up this feeling, keep it with him always, he would be happy forever.

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

CW and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Mild violence
- Top/bottom
- Voyeurism/exhibitionism (no sharing)
- Platonic cuddling w/ other people
- Coming hands-free
- Rimming

[Bix Barrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun and sexy! This installment in The Lost Arts series is a cozy fantasy, mostly about deepening the relationship between Perian and Brannal. We also learn more about several of the side characters. I really enjoyed immersing myself in this world, and I can't wait for the next one to come out. I'm crossing my fingers for answers to at least some of the unexplained questions!

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

All sex, no plot, so boring.

I skimmed this whole thing looking for a storyline. It isn't there. Two books in and there is absolutely no point in reading them. The two could have been condensed into a novella if most of the sex was cut out and all of the repetition. Do I really have to read about breakfast, training, picnic lunch, and horse riding SEVENTY EIGHT times in one novel? No, I didn't actually count, but OMG I get it. He does that same thing every day and I still don't care. Thank goodness it was in KU and I didn't actually pay for it.

[Kate Berry · Rating 2 out of 5]

my review from book 1 remains relevant here with the added complaint that perian has known his lover for like three weeks and can't handle the 7 day absence and the author seems to think by having him acknowledge this repeatedly in his inner monologue that it makes it ok to include.

I still want to know how the trilogy ends but at the same time idk if I'll remember or care enough about it by the time October rolls around

[SMi · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.4–I didn’t particularly like it.

This is the second book of the series and the story picks up where it left off in the first book following the relationship between Perian and Brannal, as well as some of the other warriors, mages, and castle staff Perian has become friends with.

Honestly, the book is boring. It is a long series of day to day activities with no real plot highlight or any significant event, it just meanders along.

The book is also very shallow, focusing on how everyone looks and constantly mentioning how attractive the characters are, how muscular they are, how everyone is checking the others out, multiple times per page. It was tedious.

Instead of solving the mystery that is the deceased prince, nothing is ever done, no research. He’s a character without a purpose at the moment.

If the overall plot arc to the series continues in the trajectory it has been, it will take far too much time to tell the full story. As is, as it is going, it is just not interesting enough to hold my attention for what feels like will be many boring years to come.

Honestly, the book could have easily been condensed into a short story, which might then have been an enjoyable read.

Overall, as is I didn’t like it and I don’t know if I will be reading more of the series.

Edited for typos.

[Flick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm starting to worry I'm addicted to this series already...

This is the second book in the series (third if you include the prequel) and I am all in guys! Perian and Brannal are now an obsession (as are Molun and Arvus frankly) and I loved getting to see more of them and life within the castle. I adore the world these characters live in, the way in which society works and the characters themselves. It's very much cozy fantasy and the emphasis on found family is awesome. Occasionally books with lots of found family almost feel a bit preachy (that's not the right word, but it's emphasised so hard that it almost distracts from the actual relationships), but this hits all the right notes. These characters are good people who genuinely care about each other and want to see each other happy. They've created a family through those close bonds and it's really lovely to see. Plot wise, this is on the lighter side in that we get hints and possible clues for what's going on but there's nothing big in terms of moving the overall plot forward. I know that's not always everyone's cup of tea, but I like a calmer paced book especially where it's likely to have big reveals and things going on later in the series. I think it's important in longer series so that you have the time to actually get to know the characters and see them as they are without massive things constantly happening. Often there's so much getting thrown at characters that you never see their existence outside of reaction to trauma and I like seeing these characters actually be people first. Renny and Perian's relationship is as adorable as ever and I love seeing Perian actually relax into his place within the castle a bit. It's not easy per se, finding your footing somewhere new never is let alone somewhere with gossip galore, but Perian has people in his corner helping him find his way. Brannal and Perian also get to kind of relax into their relationship a bit more too. Whilst I normally really want a solid HEA, I think the way Perian and Brannal are actually approaching their relationship works really well. It has a realism to it - not everyone finds someone and within a week knows that person is it for them. Sometimes they have a suspicion that's the case or they even just need some time to truly get to know them. I feel like we're getting to see so much more in their relationship by it not being fast but also not being pining for ages. It's a genuine slow move into something that looks like it will truly last. It's still got that HEA vibe but without it being explicit I guess. It works for me anyway haha! I'm really looking forward to the next book and getting to do rereads of the series as a whole in the future. I really see this as a series that's going to become an absolute favourite and I'm super excited for what's next.

[Viki]

Will someone understand if I say this was a very Sherwood experience? No, well, let me put it simply: this was too fluffy to stand. Like, literary, as you can see by the DNF. One of the tags for this is High Fantasy and I am just... really? Is this what passes for one these days? I am not a true fantasy fan - I would say I prefer "low" fantasy, because high fantasy is all politics and pages of magical systems and culture and just, no, so low fantasy is a compliment. This is still like, the lowest level of low fantasy, because while the love interest might be called a warrior mage and the MC is having a picnic with a princess, it all just feels like contemporary romance borrowing their sibling's big, heavy coat - it clearly doesn't fit.

I was kinda okay with that whole thing. I can have Sherwood, I can have plenty of hugs and kisses and emotional talks and characters being nice to each other all the time without mentally barfing. But this book got worse than too fluffy - it got boring. NOTHING happens here. There was that one thread where it felt like he was going to discover he had life magic, a forgotten form of magic, maybe by saving someone's life. The hints were there. Or maybe we were going to find out about the mystery of the princess seeing her dead brother. Nada.

This book was just a repeat of the first book, except all there is left to do is empty and boring. Perin or what's his name has his hands "full" doing basically nothing. He trains. He eats. He talks to other characters. Basically, if you want to see him banter with everyone and oh, yeah, strengthen his relationship with his mage warrior, for example, by said mage warrior yeeting off on a mission for what felt like half of the book, this is the book. The MC has no occupation or mission. He has to make up pointless and mostly boring tasks and deal with very few, very boring events, like going riding with the princess instead of eating lunch with her. What a spectacular occasion.

Sigh.

I am ending the rant here, suffice to say I won't continue the series, it was mildly entertaining while the first book lasted but it sure seem to be spinning on its wheels now. I want to believe every book has something redeeming but I found nothing of the kind in here. I found no spark, only extra smut (also of the fluffy variety).

Please excuse the review, I rarely leave them for book I would (if I finished it) rated 2 stars but I needed to get it off my chest.

[Melora LaVigne · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay, buckle in because this is a long one. i read the first book and the prequel. i want to start with the fact that i really liked them—the world building is complex and draws you in, and the characters are interesting. i was really excited when this book came out. but something that bothered me a bit in the previous books, and only seems to increase as the series goes on is the over-explaining of what a “healthy relationship” is, both platonic and romantic. please don’t get me wrong, depicting healthy, communicative friendships and romantic relationships in books is so so important! but i wish the authors trusted the reader to read between the lines a bit more. it’s the classic idea of “show don’t tell” in writing. if you show us healthy behaviors and communication between the characters, we can gather that yes, sometimes couples fight, and sometimes they get upset, but communication is a great way to resolve issues! instead of simply showing this through the characters actions, the main character Perian spends a solid 70% of his narration repeating the same things to himself about how it’s okay if things aren’t perfect (even though, they pretty much are perfect because every issue they have is resolved almost immediately when the talk about it for all of two minutes). again, i think showing healthy relationships is great, but these seem very idealized to me when the problems are solved pretty much instantly, and the irony of Perian going over how important communication is in his head while the only times there is communication between him and Brannal it lasts for all of one page is frustrating. i genuinely spent so much time skimming the pages and not actually reading because it was just the same thing over and over and over again. i think that’s this is an incredible world with complex characters that i genuinely want to learn more about, but i wish the focus was a bit more on the plot than the constant stream of “what a healthy relationship should look like”. i’m going to try and get through the next book, which just came out, but if it’s more of the same i might have to DNF it :(
TLDR: show don’t tell—if you show us behaviors that indicate healthy relationships, you don’t have to spend half of every chapter detailing what those behaviors are and why they’re important

[Siobhan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Lost Art of Finding Where You Belong is the second book in Ellie Ash’s The Last Arts series. The first book, The Lost Art of Seducing a Mage Warrior, was a story that left me curious about what was to come. It was a bit too easy for me, but it had me crossing my fingers that book two would improve. Unfortunately, book two felt like much of the same.

I will be honest and say a part of me was ready to be generous and give this book a three-star rating. However, when I realised that I had given the first book a three-star rating, I realised I could not bring myself to do the same thing with this second book. While there were some sweet moments withing The Lost Art of Finding Where You Belong, there was zero plot. It was entirely vibes and making statements that will stick with people. Do not get me wrong, I appreciate both things. However, I need a plot to go with them. The entire book was dedicated to repeating the same daily events over and over. There were occasional hints at the bigger world, but there was never anything added. I created so many possibilities, yet nothing ever happened. It made this feel like a filler book. In fact, it could have easily been an extra for people wanting more of the characters as a bonus and not a necessity for the series as I feel people will not miss anything if they skip this book.

I am going to read the third book because I am committed to seeing if a plot appears. However, my hopes have dropped a lot since reading the first book. Fingers crossed for a surprise – and, by that, I mean fingers crossed the third book had a plot and is not solely vibes.

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I swear there's some sort of crack in these books. I don't understand it at all, because nothing really happens but somehow I'm fully invested? Like in this book the only external action is that someone sustains a minor injury. There was some stuff going on with the relationships and interpersonal drama, and Perian comes up against the castle's overactive rumour mill, but there really isn't much in the way of external plot. Yet somehow it remains very readable.

That said, I'm getting a little frustrated now, because I have thoughts and hints and theories, several of which I've had since book one, and although this gives a smidge more evidence, it doesn't actually confirm anything. I'm honestly starting to wonder if the books really are as low angst as they appear, and I'm seeing clues to things that don't exist. I really hope it's just the three books on the main story arc, if it's like 7 or something I'll have to tap out. The plot-- if you can even call it a plot-- is stretched too thin as it is, but I still definitely want to read book 3. Hopefully that will have some answers.

I really enjoyed the kink exploration in this. I feel like it's unusual to have an MC who is enthusiastically into both exhibitionism and voyeurism, and I was a little sorry they didn't explore the first one more. There was a ton of sex in this, these guys are insatiable, but it was on the basis of strong relationships, so it didn't bother me the way it sometimes does. The romance was really sweet, and I really hope it's all set up for a fantastic third and final book.

[Jvles · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
In this book we take a deep dive into Perian's life in the castle: how he spends his days, who he meets, how he builds relationships with people. It is a nice character study with the second main character Brannal not even being there for the first half of the book. The second half focuses more on the development of their relationship, including A LOT of bedroom activities. Don't get me wrong, I am absolutely for smut in the right dosage but in this story it didn't seem to really serve a purpose and the sheer quantity was more annoying than hot.
I do enjoy it when stories give enough space for character and relationship development but apart from that not a whole lot happened in this book. I didn't feel like the story advanced a lot.
I really like the cast of secondary characters in these books.They are colourful, distinct and super interesting and I would love to learn more about some of them. It was a little weird how Perian spent so much time with a couple of them in the first half of the book to then seemingly ignoring them afterwards but maybe we will find out things in the next book(s) that will explain this.
I still had the same issue with the writing style as in the first book, but with the wonderful world-building and great characters I still want to find out what (if anything) will happen.

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE LOST ART OF FINDING WHERE YOU BELONG is the second book in The Lost Arts series that gives you Brannal and Perian as the main characters. It does follow on from the first book, so I would absolutely recommend you read that one first.

This book is told from Perian's perspective, and you find out just how he's fitting in at the castle, what others think of him, plus his relationship with Brannal. Now, I may be jumping to conclusions, but I am picking up hints about what the future might hold! 😁 I'm keeping everything crossed that what I'm thinking comes to pass, but I'm also happy to go wherever this story arc takes me.

This book isn't full of action and adventure, but rather seeing more of the day-to-day routine and different relationships Perian has. The one with Renny is so sweet, and I love how fiercely she defends him, even when it shouldn't be necessary.

I am loving this world and the characters who are there. With some seriously spicy scenes, this was a delight to read, and I can't wait to return and find out more. Definitely recommended by me.

** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 17, 2025

[ivanareadsalot · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

✨Stars for: I finished it unforced, and the two horses, Prince Horsey and Lily.

Happy that others enjoyed this book but this wasn't for me.

The composition was the equivalent to empty carbs, and while the yummy stuff 100% has its time and place ie periods, breakups, binge nights, "treat yo self" energy, 300 pages is NOT it.

If you want sex, you got it babe. It kicked off at 4% and I'm sincerely wondering about what it takes for a book to carry an erotica tag.

Also, Brannal was gone on a work trip for a week (A WEEK) and Perian couldn't function. I can't even with this in any dimension.

The energy in the narrative was a bit tic-tac-toe-ish, and overall this left me with the feeling that this was a very unnecessary read.

I
Will say that
Brannal was extraordinarily dickish in this though. When he wasn't flying off the handle, busting through doors and yelling at Perian like a maniac, he was snarling at anyone who came near him. The emotional regulation was NOT present (for the #1 Mage Warrior he's supposed to be) and I was VERY disturbed by him not checking himself over the most nothing sh!t. Perian, in return a n d throughout, was milquetoast af.

So, hopefully Book 3 will be miles improved, because this was a miss for me.

[Em (Diversify Your Shelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I got an arc*

CW: at the front of the book

"The Lost Art of Finding Where You Belong" follows Perian & Brannal (Book 1 MCs) with the first half covering how Perian copes when Brannal's work takes him away for a week. He spends a lot of time with Renny having picnics & riding Prince Horsey as well as developing his relationships with Molun, Nisal, & Arvus.

Even though I enjoy Perian & Brannal as a couple, seeing Perian settle in the castle without Brannal there as a barrier was really sweet! It is nice to see how valued Perian is for being himself and not just as someone who settles down Brannal.

While I enjoyed the whole book, I felt like the half after Brannal returns didn't match the energy of the first half. While Brannal & Perian understandably want to spend time together after a week apart, it felt like the plot just abruptly stopped. The only real conflict was Brannal briefly being upset after (incorrectly) hearing that Perian had endangered Renny, and this felt a but contrived.

That being said, this series is so cute (but also pretty smutty haha) and I am really invested in how Perian has become integral to the lives of the most important Mage Warrior, the Mage Warrior's friends, a princess, and a persnickety horse.

[Shruti Mishra · Rating 3 out of 5]

God!! This lead gets pampered more than an omega in omegaverse, and not only from the love interest.

This book was a slow and boring read. While I enjoy fluff paranormal romance, this one lacked any engaging plot progression. The story felt stagnant, with little to no action happening throughout. Friendship and found family tropes were fully covered, but the magical elements or the main lead's connection to magic that was hinted at in book 1 were completely ignored or piled on some more vague hints.

The main lead is rewarded or revered for slightly decent acts, and because of the single person's POV, it felt like reading a journal of someone who really loves themself.

The romance was decent, with believable interactions and emotional moments that made the relationship feel authentic. The leads shared good chemistry, their playful banter and meaningful glances drawing readers into their dynamic and making it easy to root for their connection. The spicy scenes were engaging, blending passion and intimacy in a way that added excitement to the story and deepened the characters’ bond, making their romance even more compelling.

All in all, I didn't enjoy this one, but I am going to read the third one because it's hard for me to DNF a story.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perian is ready to move the relationship to the next level but first he has to survive separation when Brannal goes on patrol, hunting demons. Perian knew some were not happy with him but when it took a violent turn, he was unprepared. He did make new friends and strengthen relationships with others. As the head of the mage warriors, Brannal has responsibilities and Perian hopes he has room for him in his life. In addition, Renny is getting better and ready for more but not everyone can handle that.

This was a delightful story of two people working to make their new relationship work. They have so much to learn after being alone for a while. As they talk and listen to each other, they find their feelings deepen. Brannal was amazing in so many ways and yet even he had things to learn about being in love. Perian was just the one to teach him and to learn form him as well. It looks like trouble is ahead for these two so it is a good thing they worked out some issues. Best read in order, The Lost Arts Book series is fantastic.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 2 in the Lost Arts series, and in many ways it's a much smaller story than book 1 - a lot of day-to-day life, much less action and drama than book 1. And that would be ok, I don't mind if a story is character driven and isn't full of fast-paced action and adventure, but there is a lot of detailed description of what happens on these mundane days - Perian went to eat, then he went back to his room to change his clothes and he put on a shirt and pants, etc, etc. It was just too much and got repetitive, and unfortunately this extended to the sexytimes as well. With some good editing the book would be about half as long and you would still get just as much out of it. Too much telling, not enough showing. There is a lot of promised "spice," but it is also pretty repetitive and honestly gets a little boring. This book shows the evolution and strengthening of Perian and Brannal's relationship, but doesn't advance any other elements of the story. It sounds like book 3 is the final installment, so it will be a whirlwind to tie up all the loose ends. I'd give it more like a 3.5, rounded up to 4

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I like most in this series is the found family aspect and how all the characters work with each other.
that said, I really liked this one - although it has a bit of a middle-book syndrome. The storyline is not extensive enough for a book of such length.
the main point of this book is to establish all the different sides of the relationships for the next part of the story - which is ok, but it could have been a bit shorter.

another aspect, which was not my favorite part of this story were the different sex scenes. don't get me wrong, mostly I love these scenes as I think they are an important part of the relationship development and not all authors are able to pull it off to do it only "behind closed doors" .... and to be honest, it is hot ;-)
but here we have a lot of different characters engaged - no cheating!!!! - but just too much of that

nevertheless, I am really curios how that story will develop further. I have some expectations and guesses but no real clue.
can't wait to get my hands on the next book

[E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The Lost Art of Finding Where You Belong” by Ellie Ash is the second book in the ‘Lost Arts’ series and continues the saga started in “The Lost Art of Seducing a Mage Warrior” as Perian tries to figure out his ongoing role in Mage Warrior Brannan’s life, with a little help from friends, and an enemy or two.

This adult gay fantasy romance is more introspective than the first book in the series. Unfortunately, for me, it seemed like a series of sex scenes, with a lot of voyeurism, and not much adventure. Perian does start to make his own connections without being constantly in Brannal’s shadow, and I am happy to see that they continue to work on their relationship. There are a couple of unexplained conflicts that may be resolved in subsequent stories, and I enjoyed being introduced to new secondary characters that will hopefully get their own time in the spotlight. I look forward to seeing Perian continue to grow, and reading about more entertaining adventures in this world.

A copy of this title was provided for review

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t wait to see what’s next!

Loving this series so far! Ellie Ash is a new author and it shows, but what also shows is that she’s a fantastic writer and hopefully will write many more stories in the future. This book is the 2nd in the series and we see our MC’s separated for a while due to work. It’s nice to see how they handle being apart and how their relationship grows and changes. I also really liked that we got to see more of the supporting characters. To me, this book felt a little bit like an interlude. We gained some more world knowledge and definitely got a quite a few more spicy scenes compared to the first book, but not a lot of movement around the main story points, just more teasers. Effective teasers they were though because I cannot wait to read the next book. Sometime soon it’s all going to come together and I’m so excited to see what happens then. Definitely give this book a read.

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed the first book in this series and was really excited to read this one. It didn't disappoint although the first couple of chapters felt a clunky, but it soon got into its stride.

We're back in the castle with Perian and Brannal who has to travel for a week to one of the kingdom's outposts. The first half of the story is about Perian finding himself without Brannal there to support him. It's an interesting tale of finding balance between being in a committed relationship, but also being your own person, and being unhealthily reliant on someone. There was some soul searching, some laughs, yet another injury and some epic voyeurism. The second half is about their reunion and discovering how much they mean to each other. This is a sweet, cozy and very steamy story and I'm desperate now for book 3 as I think then I will finally have answers to all my questions.

[Melanie Rawlinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spectacular second book of a fantastic series

I absolutely devoured the first book in this series and moved straight onto this one because I needed to know what Perian and Brannal (and friends) did next.
I love all the characters, yes even Cormal, because they're so well-written you feel like you understand their hopes, motivations and fears so well. Perian is such a warm, friendly presence that I wish I actually knew him in real life, and Brannal is such a sweetie and trying so hard to be the best Summus he can be. I'm so invested in Renny and Kee, will he ever be corporeal again?, and in Arvus and Molun and Nisal and the rest. I have suspicions growing about why Life Magic disappeared when the demons were defeated and I am straight onto book 3 to see what happens next!

[Mandy Beyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A continuation of the story from Book 1 following the same main characters

-Perian struggles to figure out where his place is in this group, especially when Brannal is away. However, that struggle feels realistic when realizing how quickly they went from strangers to a couple and that Perian is away from any support system he has ever had.

-I enjoy these stories and appreciate how both characters see when communication is an issue, apologize, and LEARN FROM THEIR MISTAKES! So often romance ignores the necessity of change, so it's nice to see love needing some work. I'm also really enjoying the overall magic system and am excited to read on in the series. I have some guesses about where the overall story is going that I'm waiting to see if I'm right.

[Jeanette Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book two in Lost Arts series fulfils the promise made in the blurb of the first book. This really is "a cozy mm fantasy". Emphasize the cozy. There's very little new worldbuilding, the author continuing to build Perian and Brannal's relationship.
It's sweet and very spicy. Early in (about the 7% mark), Perian and Brannal put on a 'show' for Arvus and Molun. There's no problem in that part of the relationship. There's angst here. Perian suffers from "Am I enough/Will he get tired of me", while Brannal struggles a bit to be the man Perian wants and needs.
I love this pair and wish them all good things. We have some dangling plot arcs. Something to solve in book three.
A sweet and quick read. Looking forward to book three.
I received an advanced copy of this book and this is my review.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

More cozy, steamy sequel


3.5 stars
The second book in the series. I am still enjoying this cozy, fantasy story.
Perian is still trying to understand his place with Brannal, with the Warriors and at the palace, as a whole. The only thing he's sure of is his friendship with the young princess.
As Brannal prepares to go on patrol, Perian worries about the Mage Warrior's safety and their relationship. No new ground is broken in this story, though we see Perian become more confident, comfortable with the palace dwellers, like some of the warriors, medical staff, (especially after he suffers a deliberate attack).
Hoping that the next book delves more into the mystery of Kee (Renny's brother) and some of the other characters.
Enjoyed it!

[Suzanne Irving · Rating 5 out of 5]

More life at the castle

This series by Ellie Ash continues with more life at the castle and Perian and Brannal continue deepening their relationship. Perian is such a sweet character, who is forever trying to spread happiness so it’s hard to imagine someone not liking him, but there are some in this book. Brannal comes out of his shell a bit and we learn more about him in this book although Perian remains my favorite character, mostly because he is just such a nice guy. The story continues with a few (not too bad) bad things happening, but overall it is pretty cozy as it says in the subtitle. For me the whole thing is very interesting and a compelling read more because of the characters that are so great to follow.

[Cynthia M Brow · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lost Art of Finding Where You Belong is the second book in The Lost Arts series. This series is best read in order. We are back with Perian and Brannal for more of their story. I enjoyed the story even though it felt like nothing really happened in it. There was plenty of steam and the relationship between the main characters seemed to get stronger. I love the characters, world building, and writing style but none of my questions got answered. I still enjoyed the story though. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series to hopefully answer my questions. I would definitely recommend this book and series.

[Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the Lost Arts series, doesn’t disappoint. When Brannal has to go on a weeks long mission, Perian is lost but soon realizes that even though he misses Brannal horribly he has his own things to do and friends that he has in the castle. He also finds out how much he loves playing matchmaker. This book isn’t only fun and sexy, it also shows how Parian felt as many of us feel, not knowing how we belong somewhere or what direction, and that it’s ok to not know and to take appreciation and look at things in a new way to find your place. It also shows how hard working through relationships is and how communication is key. I can’t wait to read the third book!

[Bretton Coppedge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sequel was still quite cozy, though perhaps not quite as much as the first book, we want more Brannal. But Perian is still able to get up to plenty of misadventures with his friends. There isn't much of an overarching plot per se but doesn't flit from one thing to the next either. Very slice of life esque.

I think the final book will have to fo the heavy lifting in terms of plot, because there are definitely mysteries that need to be solved and bad guys that need to materialize. But this installment has plenty of steam and humor to keep you going for the next.

[L H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second book in this series is more about deepening the relationship between Perian and Brannal. This book is told more from Perian's perspective so we spend a fair amount of time learning about his life in the castle and how he fits in with others. In addition to getting to watch the evolution of Perian and Brannal's relationship we get to know more about other characters in this series. This was a good middle story in the series and feels like it is the bridge to something good to come. I am looking forward to it.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.