The Size of a Mustard Seed

The Mustard Seed #1

by Val Melvis

A Christian cottagecore historical cozy fantasy inspired by Basque mythology in Studio Ghibli Style.

In the sunlit mountain village of Oliote, 16-year-old Ximena Helvarez is content with her life as an outcast. As a deaf apothecary apprentice, Ximena spends her days gathering herbs, avoiding the townsfolk, and guarding the burned sanctuary entrusted to her. However, her peaceful routine is shattered when she discovers an unconscious, amnesiac stranger behind the sanctuary's locked gates.

Thaddeus Rufus Montgomery III has a problem—he can’t remember. Despite his photographic memory, the talented inventor finds himself on the run from dark powers, with no recollection of how or why he ended up in Ximena’s land. As the two young adults try to navigate their new lives, forge friendships and move forward, disaster crouches at the doorstep.

When a mysterious material is unearthed in Anboto Mountain—home of a legendary dark figure—and a new mining company dealing in gold and secrets arrives, strange events unfold. As new friends and foes flood into the village, legendary creatures presumed to be mere myths begin to appear.

Forced to take an active stand, Ximena and Thaddeus embark on a perilous journey to reclaim his memories, unravel the mystery, and thwart the sinister schemes of the Immortal Queen Mira before it’s too late.

Here is what you can expect:
⭐Christian themes
🌿Cottagecore
✨Friends to lovers
🌼 Small Town romance
🌱 Cozy fantasy
🌻Studio Ghibli feels
⭐Deaf representation
🏔️ Basque Mythology

Genres: Fantasy, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Cozy Fantasy

658 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 25, 2025

Reviews

[Maria ♡]

Temporary DNF. The prologue turned me off. I don’t think the Basque Mythology element is for me, but I may try again later

[ezra [semi ia] · Rating 5 out of 5]

✾𝒽𝒶𝓋ℯ 𝒻𝒶𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝑔ℯ𝓉 𝓇ℯ𝒶𝒹𝓎 𝓉ℴ 𝓈ℯℯ 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝓂ℴ𝓊𝒾𝓃𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓃 𝓂ℴ𝓋ℯ✾
☼᪥☼᪥☼᪥☼᪥☼᪥☼᪥☼᪥☼᪥☼᪥☼᪥☼᪥☼᪥☼᪥☼᪥☼᪥☼᪥☼᪥☼᪥☼᪥☼

oh. my. goodness.
THIS BOOK.
LIKE.
RUN, GO GET IT NOW. PLEASE!!!

❁❁❁

if i’m gonna be honest, i’m completely speechless.. let me just say i did NOT want this book to end😭

❁❁❁

the characters, the world, the creativity. the CULTURE.
everything was just amazingness.

❁❁❁

i actually have a bit of basque heritage (and a basque last name- ‘ulibarri’) so reading this book and discovering the little sneak-peaks of the basque culture and of course the basque mythology.. it was just utterly amazing to experience and explore a country in book form!!

❁❁❁

okay, now let’s just talk about these characters!!!!!!!!!!!!😍
goals val melvis, GOALS.
every single character (except for mira ofc..) i fell in love with!! which is SO rare for me personally.
each character arc felt so natural in the story, not feeling forced or random when they finally changed and grew in their character.

❁❁❁

i would just say though that ximena was my ABSOLUTE favorite out of all of them. her relationship with the Most High was just so pure and genuine. and reading a book where the main character has a disability was definitely a new experience for me. the author did this in such a wholesome way, and i’m not sure why but whenever i think of someone (like ximena for example,) not being able to hear the birds chirp or a persons voice, i just imagine them disappointed that they never will get to experience those things. i feel terrible saying that but that was literally my thought process. 😭
But the author really changed my perspective on that. writing ximena’s character in a way that she blesses the Most High in her deafness because the voices and distractions of this world don’t hold her back nor drown out the still small voice of the Holy Spirit.

“𝓈ℴ𝓂ℯ𝓉𝒾𝓂ℯ𝒹 𝒾 𝓌ℴ𝓃𝒹ℯ𝓇 𝒾𝒻 𝒾𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝒶𝒸𝓉𝓊𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝒶 𝓅𝓇ℯ𝓈ℯ𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒾 𝒸𝒶𝓃’𝓉 𝒽ℯ𝒶𝓇 𝓃ℴ𝓇𝓂𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎．𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽ℴ𝓊𝓉 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝒹𝒾𝓈𝓉𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓉𝒾ℴ𝓃 ℴ𝒻 𝓌ℴ𝓇𝒹𝓁𝓎 𝒽ℯ𝒶𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔， 𝓂𝓎 𝓁𝒾𝓈𝓉ℯ𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝒮𝓅𝒾𝓇𝒾𝓉 𝒷ℯ𝒸ℴ𝓂ℯ𝓈 𝓈ℴ 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝒸𝓁ℯ𝒶𝓇ℯ𝓇.”
page 467:)

then she proceeded to further explain to thaddeus about the Holy Spirit,(or how they say it, ‘espiritu santua.’ ) how He is our advocate and helper.

ximena’s character was certainly thought provoking and was such an amazing perspective to read in!!! like, i wish she was real so i could be friends with her🥲

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speaking of the Holy Spirit! the christian elements in this book.. chefs kiss bro… it was AMAZINGGG!!!!
like i said before, goals!!

❁❁❁

i find sometimes in christian books the christian elements tend to feel.. unnatural to the story or even forced?? like, maybe it shouldn’t have been there in the first place, ya know??
but this one.
man.
every christian element felt so natural and flowed with the plot so seamlessly my mind was blown at times!
the scripture brought to mind from the Holy Spirit down to memory’s the Most High brought to their mind to help them. it all just felt so natural and real!! (for lack of a better term, lol)
let me just say val did such an amazing job🥹

❁❁❁

wellll, enough of my yapping.. (if you can even call it that:p
i honestly feel like there’s so much more to say but i just finished this book, like 20min ago and immediately picked up my i pad to type this up sooo. lemme just say my mind is still reeling so its hard for me to put my thoughts into words haha!

❁❁❁

anyways, one thing i can say for certain is simply that this is an absolute wonderful debut novel, and if you’ve just decided to read this book because of the cover, (because it is absolutely stunning!!!😍) just know that the inside holds a wholesome, thought provoking story that constantly points to the Creator of All!

❁❁❁

anyways, see ya later girlys🤠

[Grace Soto · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's plenty to love about this cozy Christian fantasy, from the diverse and genuine characters, deeply-held faith, and unique world, and to the slowly unfolding mystery, moments of danger, and unexpected twists!

Here are just a few of the things I enjoyed:
💛 FMC Ximena is genuinely precious. So gentle, kind, and good-hearted, while still experiencing relatable struggles and hardships. Her pet ferret Luna is adorable too!
💛 I adore a nerdy lad with a curious mind and a heart of gold, so of course Thaddeus has my attention right away. Plus his mysterious past and memory loss only add more intrigue!
💛 Faith makes up a large portion of the story but without feeling forced or trite.
💛Basque mythology and culture are SUCH a cool basis for the world building. I've never read anything quite like it!
💛 A village festival with dancing and food and UNEXPECTED DANGER 👀 (that was one of my favorite parts)
💛 A villain who is just as much a victim as those she hunts, a captive of a corrupt and broken system (yes, she has her own POV!)

A few things to note:
📝 Some scenes are pretty intense especially with the villain's POV, so definitely a book for mid-teens and up
📝The pacing is a little inconsistent. Starts very action-packed, then follows a much more meandering flow for a couple hundred pages, fulfilling all those cozy and Ghibli-like promises, before picking back up again in the second half.
📝Some elements of the mystery take a long time to get explained, so it can be hard to remember what the original introduction of an idea was by the time it gets resolved.

All that being said, it's definitely a story worth adding to your shelf, especially if you're a fan of any tropes or themes the author lists because she comes through on every single one.

I had the privilege of beta reading this delightful story and I'm thrilled to see other readers getting to experience the book now that it's near release day!

[Tania Ibrahim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Size of a Mustard Seed is a story that beautifully blends together cozy cottage-core vibes, intriguing world-building, lovable characters, and the redemptive message of the gospel! I really enjoyed getting to know this world and the band of characters that live inside it.

Characters: I love how all of the characters have unique character voices and plot motivations. It’s hard to do this, so a job well done to you Melvis!

Ximena- I love her heart toward the Lord throughout the whole book. Her faith is lovely and weaves into everything she does. I also think it’s beautiful how her being deaf, gives her a unique outlook on the world and her faith. (Also as an apothecary diaries fan, I absolutely love that she’s apprenticing as an apothecary 🤭).

Thaddeus- What a lad. I always root for the nerds of the story, so him being an inventor automatically made me adore him. I do enjoy seeing his path to the Lord. I’m curious if we’ll see more of his faith journey in the next book. Like if he’ll have struggles as a new believer and such!

Mailen- My favorite character. What really did it for me is when she comes into the shop with the witches and basically tells them to mess around and find out. Keep that witchcraft away from my kids. Yes ma’am, we love a parent that protects their kids! (IK she’s not really their mom but she might as well be lol)

Fernandez- Definitely a character I can root for. Though he’s Ximena’s older cousin, he is a great example of a father figure in a book. The way he cares for Ximena, is gentle with her, trusts her but still keeps an eye out for her, is honestly amazing. And he’s a spiritual leader too which I love to see.

Plot: The plot flowed pretty smoothly for the most part. It had a conflict and resolution but also left the readers with some questions that can definitely be answered in the next installment. The pacing did slow a couple times in the middle of the book but those parts show us more of the characters and their hearts. As someone who loves character-driven stories, I didn’t mind that.

Worldbuilding: I love the inclusion of Basque language in this book because I haven’t read a book yet that’s had that language incorporated in it! I did have to peek at the glossary a few times but honestly I started picking up on the language fairly quickly, so I enjoyed it a lot. On top of the language, the different faiths, kingdoms, and towns are portrayed really well in the book too—down to the festivals and customs.

Faith—Jesus (Kixme) and the Christian faith were heavily prevalent in this book and I found that really neat as a believer. I was very encouraged throughout the book as Melvis incorporated so many different scriptures within Ximena’s chapters. I loved it🩷

The dark parts of this novel that included Mira & the odd/evil creatures didn’t bother me since they were depicted in a bad light. I’m not the type to shy away from that as long as there’s clear distinction between bad and good. I would recommend this book as Upper YA, 16+, just because of those elements.

Overall I had a blast reading through this chonky book! I love that it was so immersive that it felt like I was right there with Ximena picking herbs, or with Thaddeus studying in the library, or with the whole family eating supper. It’s the perfect fall read to get into with a cup of tea and a cozy blanket.🧡

I received this book as an ARC by the author, in exchange for my honest review!

[Cornelius · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartfelt thank you goes to you Val Melvis, for allowing me to be one of your ARC readers in exchange for an honest review 😍 .

My take:
This was a 5 star ★★★★★ read. This novel had a lot of themes and genres that I never read before and therefore not knowing what I will encounter, I had high expectations, and this book surpassed them!

Genres and Themes:
This cottage core Christian fantasy consisted of a detailed world building, Christian themes, a slow-burn friends to lovers romance, and complex characters – and let’s not forget the cozy, cutesy vibes I kept getting from the main characters’ interactions and growing relationship! With most side characters having their own story, it made the plot even more interesting to delve into.

My view on the main characters:
Apart from having such an interesting plot that keeps you on your toes and wanting to find out what happens next, this book also had various verses from the Biblia that helped give me a positive view of the world. Two verses that I loved were – ‘But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for you will be rewarded’ and ‘Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it’. The FL, recited these verses in her head, which helped her to make the right decision required in certain situations. Even though she was shunned by various townsfolk, she did not lose faith in Kixme but instead reached out for help and guidance in her daily life.
She is a very sweet and caring character that I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about. Her views of the world were very positive despite the various hurdles she faced in life. Always with a smile on her face, and her heart on her sleeve, she got the attention of the ML that she happened to save one day! Their interactions were the cutest and most innocent thing ever 🩷

Other things I enjoyed in the story:
The book also had sayings that one would use in actual life but have been altered for this specific world these characters live in 😄 One of them being: ‘Two eels in one hand’ instead of ‘Two birds with one stone’, which -call me silly if you will- I found very cute and creative. Another thing I was thankful for and enjoyed was the glossary, which consisted of all the explanations of words I needed to know in the story -> So I just took a screenshot at the start of it to keep it handy and referred to it throughout the whole thing, which proved very helpful! ☺️

Final thoughts:
I had sooo much fun reading this novel. It was very lighthearted compared to what I had read recently, and it definitely made these recent days better ❤️ Now, where is book two? No pressure, but just know I’m waiting 👀 😇

[Izzy]

)“,,”,,”/ pre~read /,,”,,”,,(

Buddy reading this with Rachel this March!! 🤭 this looks like such a cute a daunting read! 😅

[Ava · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book much to my joy and pleasure and am giving my review of my own accord and to show why you should give this book a read!

I will start off with Val’s Absolutely beautiful writing. This writer really knows how to paint a picture with words. You can tell the author put her heart and mind into the world building and details. You can’t help but feel like you’re in this world with the characters. While some books might feel like it’s reciting historical facts about its world you see it in this one through the characters in a very magical and immersive way. The world building is so extensive, I cannot wait to explore it more in future books.
It is truly rich. The writing, the culture, the characters, the food! Everything is so vibrant and vivid in this book. I love it!

The depiction of Ximena’s relationship with God is so well done. While it might not be everyone’s personal experience I found myself really resonating with it and her. As well as highlighting how others relationships with the Creator vary, while based on the same principles each person has a unique relationship. Getting to see Thaddeus explore this as well was such a joy.

There was such positive masculinity in this book, the male characters are so well written and interesting. Not obnoxiously overprotective but a reasonable amount as well as expressing themselves in healthy ways. So refreshing to see in this day and age.
The relationships were so well done and fun to watch develop, really heartwarming and so many different kinds of love explored in this book. From family, to friendship, to romantic. And the many different ways that looks within each section for each person.

I will say I wish we had gotten to see a little more of Thaddeus and Shimon’s building relationship, their scenes were really interesting and watching their dynamic unfold. I would have liked a little more in the building of it.
That to say, I adored all the side characters and their quirks! Such a colorful arrange of characters in this book, I didn’t dislike a single one, only finding myself wanting more of each of them! I am hoping to see much more of them in the next book and their stories and development continue.

A very nit picky comment but I feel like there were a couple instances of minor plot points that would start but not find their end. Again very small interpersonal ones, but it would leave me a little confused on what happened. The only example I can think of off my head is the bracelet for one, but there were other minor details that fell to the wayside in the story. Inconsequential obviously, but still left my mind wandering. I have a lot of questions surrounding Fernandez specifically but this is less of a complaint and more of a curiosity. His character is so interesting and mysterious to me, while seemingly straight forward I think there’s a lot there with him. Some was hinted at but hardly touched on, so I am hoping this isn’t a case of a dead end but just something unexplored, for now.

Another minor issue for me was sometimes chapters start in odd places and we make jumps that leave me a little confused but nothing major. Just takes a little adjusting to get back into the flow of the story. I can see the style the author is going for and it works sometimes but other times definitely left me stranded for a sentence or two, taking time to reorient myself in the story.


This book is a wonderful cozy yet daring story of bravery and love. It was a breath of fresh air to read and I truly enjoyed it and am grateful I got to be apart of the ARC readers for something that someone put so much heart, soul, and love into.

I highlighted more quotes than I usually do for any books I read but I will share my favorite spoken by Fernandez,
“If you are welcome and wanted at the table of the King of Kings, what makes you think you are unworthy of the table of men?”

Such a beautiful and inspiring story filled with so much truth and wisdom!



THAT ENDING!!!!! GAH!!!!

[betweencredithours · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I am very thankful to have received an ARC copy of this book but all thoughts expressed in this review are honest and my own!*

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My thoughts: 

The characters in this novel were my favorite part. Ximena was easily my favorite, and I found her faith in the story so inspiring. I think faith in fiction can easily become trite or unrealistic, but Ximena’s steadfast belief throughout the work was so fun to read. In turn, I also liked Thaddeus’s story arc in the book. His practical outlook on life and later religion was something that was clear in the entire story. Getting to read Mira’s POV was another highlight from me! I loved seeing her thought process and learning more about her motivations.

The setting was very atmospheric in this read. Based on Basque mythology with a heavy dose of cozy vibes, I really liked reading about Oliote and its people. I liked the added dynamics the town brought to the story, and the contrast that the world of Herrildea brought too.

Lastly, this book is very long, which for the most part I enjoyed! This book had a lot of space for world building, so my initial confusion on the world was remedied after some time. However, the middle of this book left me really ready for some type of conclusion that was still many pages away. The pacing and a few writing style choices were my only critiques of this story. That being said, the ending completely hooked me back in!

Overall, I enjoyed this read! The ending hooked me completely, and I was shocked by how it ended! The world of this story left me intrigued, hopeful, and honestly really inspired in my faith life! Truly a great representation of faith based fiction!

Happy Reading!

[keira anne with an e]

When a man shows up at her local church injured and unable to remember what happened to him, a deaf apothecary finds her hands full.
As she tries to unravel the mystery behind this man’s sudden appearance– as well as her growing attraction to him– she discovers obstacles that only her faith in God can overcome.
Will they figure out the secrets surrounding them before it’s too late for them… and their world?

PLEASE NOTE: I received a free eARC of this book prior to its release. I was not required to leave a positive review, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

This book was such a unique premise. I mean, look at this cover!!! It’s absolutely stunning! The moment I saw it, I was completely sold. And I will say I loved the parts of the book that felt like this cover– the cottagecore and sweetness moments with bits of whimsy and quirkiness. Really.
I hope the author keeps up this beautiful, sweet cottagecore aesthetic for future books, because it is lovely, and I think she did such a great job with it! It really did make me want to walk around outside surrounded by sunflowers, and then go off on a picnic with strawberries (if you know, you know).
One of the things that really stood out to me about this book was the fact that the main girl was deaf, which was an amazing element to add, and I had a lot of fun seeing how the author handled the chapters from her perspective. The main guy had amnesia, which always makes things a little more interesting, and together, they were really sweet and fun. I was grinning so hard at some of their interactions.
The friend group seemed very supportive, and I liked how we got to meet so many people on very different walks of life/places of faith, which was unique for a Christian fantasy. I liked how it had a slightly historical feel to it, but also felt like a completely different world, with some very thorough details. (Also, there were a lot of names, but I was so grateful to the author for including a glossary that helped me keep everything straight.)
As far as content goes, there were a few things that were too dark for me, so I did skim/skip it, and I can’t offer a real content review. The main problem for me was the mythology element. Apparently I knew nothing about Basque mythology, and even though this was handled from a Christian perspective, it was still difficult for me to read about. It added a darkness I wasn’t a fan of, so those are the parts I skimmed/skipped to get back to the cottagecore cuteness. If you want to hear more about the content, I would highly recommend reading a review from a less sensitive reader, who actually read those parts, hehe. However, it did feel darker than my personal taste.
The cliffhanger… that was just so tough. I’m still in a bit of shock. I can’t say anything, because… well, spoilers, but… I NEED ANSWERS!!!
Thanks again to the author for giving me a copy! This is easily one of the cutest covers I’ve ever seen, and I loved seeing the deaf representation (and the ferret, of course!), as well as a healthy dose of Christian faith content that felt very thorough. Cottagecore books are so cozy!

EMOJI REVIEW!
🍄 cottagecore aesthetics
🧏‍♀ deaf main girl
❔ amnesia trope
⛪ lots of faith content
⛰ cliffhanger ending!!!

[Katie Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Size of a Mustard Seed was a unique tale of friendship, faith, acceptance, and peril! It’s a cozy fantasy but still delivers some action and danger.

It’s so refreshing to read a Christian book that’s filled with inspirational moments of following Kixme (Jesus). I really appreciated the faith elements.

It follows main characters Ximena and Thaddeus. Ximena is a deaf apothecary apprentice who lives with her uncle, when one day she stumbles on an unconscious boy and takes care of him. Their friendship was so cute, and I liked reading about their interactions and how Ximena witnessed to Thaddeus about her faith by living it out. She was always praying and listening to that inner voice of Kixme (though I feel like she could be a little too perfect at times. When things turned bad, she never doubted or feared, just prayed and everything was okay). Add in the mystery of Thaddeus’s missing memories and what happened to lead to him fleeing his home, and I was intrigued!

I really liked the setting! I could just imagine the picturesque landscape, with the rolling green hills and mountains. That being said, the author threw in a lot of italicized“fantasy” words that weren’t explained by the context at all, so I had to constantly go to the glossary to see what anything was, and that got old real fast. I’m an avid fantasy reader so I’m used to some of that, but usually they explain it a little in the actual book, plus I’ve never seen this large of an amount of new words I didn’t understand.

That’s actually one of the main reasons I gave it 2 stars—the confusion. I was constantly confused throughout the book, whether it was because of the new words, the unclear writing of the MC’s deafness (I never knew if she was speaking or signing, she supposedly “heard” everything that was said, even though she couldn’t have known to look at people’s mouths at every instance like if they were behind her or something, then the author would use dialogue tags that Ximena couldn’t have known, like they whispered, they said warmly, etc), or some things would happen and it just wouldn’t be explained clearly so I was confused for the rest of the chapter. Then near the end of the book, Thaddeus comes upon the villain at the end of a chapter, and I’m expecting a big confrontation moment…only for the next chapter to begin with him waking up hurt and trapped, and it’s never told what transpired between them or how he got hurt. Like what?? Did that chapter just get deleted or something? It made no sense.

Add on top of that, the beginning of the book introduced you to a new POV characters every chapter, and I was clueless to who anyone was or what they had to do with the story. There was two chapters that we only saw someone’s POV once and that was it for the rest of the book. Now that I think about it I still have no idea what they or the side plot with them had to do with anything. And I’m not the kind of person to be bothered by typos. I get it, they happen to every author no matter how famous you are. But this book was littered with typos. It was like she skipped the last few editing rounds or something, because it was nonstop whether it was a typo, missing word, swapped words, wrong sentence structure, commas in weird places, etc, and it made it hard to read. Now, I don’t know if she planned on doing a last proofread before publishing since I read an ARC, but usually when authors do that they make note of it, and there was nothing about that.

There was just so much confusion for me, and I hate that because I really wanted to like this book, but it just wasn’t for me.

All of that being said, I didn’t hate the book. Like I said earlier there were parts I really enjoyed and appreciated, it just got bogged down by everything else. The romance was a sweet slow-born, the characters were written well, the setting was pretty and cozy, the new friends they made played an important role in the story, and the villain and underground world was very intriguing. And let’s not forget the GORGEOUS cover!!! The author knew what she was doing with that!

And there’s a lot of positive reviews here, so clearly this book is for others! Don’t let my review deter you from reading it if you really want to, just go in knowing what it’s going to be like.

/I received an ARC from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own/

[cleanbook_reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨Favorite quotes -

"And he suddenly knew with shocking certainty that unless he accepted Kixme's sacrifice on his behalf, he would be a goner."

"So, she tried to finally give her thoughts and burdens to Kixme as she should have done already at the beginning of the evening. The reminder admonished, but gently. with the release of control came place in its place..."


The Size of a Mustard Seed by Val Melvis is a beautifully crafted Christian fantasy that deeply impacted me-both as a reader and in my personal walk with Christ. The spiritual depth of the story is undeniable. I was especially moved by Ximena's unwavering faith and her reliance on God in every situation. Her character is a testament to bold Christian living, and her journey is both inspiring and relatable.

The narrative explores the power of prayer with sincerity and reverence, creating many "amen" moments. The biblical references and names woven throughout added richness, and it's clear the author
has a deep love for Jesus and a genuine desire to glorify Him through her writing.

The first half of the book does move at a slower pace, which is why I'm giving it four stars instead of five. However, once the story picks up, it accelerates quickly, packing in a whirlwind of action, mystery, and high-stakes spiritual battles that honestly gave me goosebumps. The slow burn romance was also a highlight-gentle, intentional, and heartwarming.

Overall, this novel stands out as a powerful testament to faith, perseverance, and God's sovereignty.
It's a memorable read that I would recommend to anyone looking for a Christian fantasy that doesn't shy away from deep spiritual truths.

[Jessica J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book might very well be the most thought provoking, encouraging, faith filled story I've read in years. My heart is so full, I don't even know how to put it in words.
Ximena's faith challenged mine. She has grown so close to my heart and she will stay with me, probably forever. I can definitely say that this story changed me for the better and I sincerely recommend reading it.
It was so soft, cozy and pure and despite the darkness they're battling I found myself so encouraged every time I picked the book back up.
Another thing I very much enjoyed is that Val Melvis didn't just make a perfect Christian world but made it feel real, putting in all different kinds of worldviews and having conversations about it happening so naturally in the story.
Ximena's deafness was so beautifully portrayed as well and it added so much to the story for me.
The only thing that I had a bit of a harder time with was the many made up words that replaced known ones. Reading it as an ebook made it hard to go back to the glossary to find out, for example, which weekday was talked about so I found myself guessing the meaning of the words most of the time but it didn't take too much away from the experience and I love the author's creativity for coming up with the terms though it was a little confusing for me.
I do love the world that she created and all the characters have become so important to me. I cannot wait for the second book in the series and see their stories continue to unfold.

[Anna Barroso · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two Stars
Book 29 of 2025
Genre: Christian Fantasy
Format: E-book ARC

I absolutely wanted to love this book. I mean, I love all of the vibes: cottagecore, friends-to-lovers, cozy fantasy, studio Ghibli, and of course, Christian allegory, but I just . . . didn’t. I ended up DNFing at 10%.

First of all, the author switches POVs without any indication at the beginning of the chapter. It was extremely confusing because I thought the MMC teleported and was suddenly deaf until I read the word “she.” Next, there was just too much detail. The book is chonky, and unnecessarily so. Don’t get me wrong, I love reading stories with imaginative, figurative language, but this was distracting. For example, she used the quote, “he met the unyielding ground with a forced kiss, tasting lukewarm mud and gritty stones in his bleeding mouth,” and I had to reread that sentence several times before understanding that her character tripped and fell.

Again, I really wanted to like this book, and I think it has a ton of potential, but it feels unfinished to me. There weren’t any crazy indications–except maybe the missing POV thing–but it feels incomplete. It’s also completely possible that I just read this book at the wrong time and that maybe, in a different season, I would love it like I hoped I would. Nonetheless, I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to have read it.

I received a free e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy for review and am leaving my thoughts voluntarily.

The Size of a Mustard Seed by Val Melvis follows a whimsical Christian setting with a colourful mix of characters, all bright and brimming with personality. I loved every character (well, not the villains, but even they were well thought out, and their motives were clear and direct!), and I found myself deeply attached to the characters by the end of the novel.

The story it follows is sweet, and I loved the mystery surrounding Thaddeus; it was very intriguing.
The elements of faith in this story were very well intertwined, and I loved the backdrop of Ximena (the main character) and her belief in Kixme (who was Lord in this book). I thoroughly enjoyed the world-building and the relationships between the characters, which I found to be very well fleshed out and highly engaging.

Some of the main things I loved about it:
- The language used within the book and the whole world-building process of Oliote were very engaging, and the lore behind the country and the different traditions was interesting!
- I loved Thaddeus, the nerdy inventor boy who stumbles in with amnesia and is taken care of by Ximena and her family
- Ximena is so precious and a ray of sunlight, and it was stunning to see that so many times in this book, with how she handled different events and her reactions in general to things happening
- I loved Ximena's pet ferret, Lune; she was so cute, and I loved all the little interactions with her
- The setting was stunning, and now I wish I could visit! The Basque mythology used was intensely intriguing, and I've never heard of it before, which drew me in even more!

I would recommend this book for older readers as some scenes and some themes mentioned are more suited to them, but this book is such a lovely Christian read!

With the vibes of a Ghibli movie and a cosy fantasy novel, this book is perfect for fans of light-hearted, whimsical fantasies!

[Laurianna Koeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet book. I loved the characters so much, the setting was unique and curious, and the way faith and the gospel were woven so beautifully into the storyline was the best part of it all. Val’s writing style is absolutely beautiful and it was so easy to immerse myself in the world.

I am so looking forward to continuing this story in the future.

[Erica Blankenship · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my thoughts and review. First off the prologue peeked my interest but the first chapter did a very good job at leaving me wanting to know more. I like the writing, it feels whimsical for me, and the way everything flows is done well. 

If you like more details then this is a good book for you. It’s not overly detailed but more than the books I have currently been reading. I was able to picture everything really well. 

The pacing is a little slow for me but I am one who likes fast paced books and a lot more action. But it did keep me coming to read more. 

This is a more cozy slow read. I like the theme of christianity and thought it was done well. There is a good vs evil theme with some mystery thrown in.

I love the settings and the characters. I feel like I got a really good sense of the characters. One of the main characters is deaf and I thought it was done well and an interesting character. All the characters were different and stood out. 

It is done in third person and goes between three characters mainly. I will say there were a few times it went to another character's point of view and I just wasn’t sure why we needed that point of view and I wasn’t a fan of it.

Overall if you like long, slower paced, cozy fantasy novels with christian themes and good characters then this is a good one for you. I will definitely be getting book 2 when it comes out.

[Brook Gartshore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book and the characters are sweet, fantastical, and very cottagecore-coded — with enough suspense in the very first scene to keep me hooked! The story starts slowly, but there’s so many questions you want answered; about the world, the characters, and everything!

My favourite part, I think, was that I could picture every place and character the author described. She does an excellent job with her descriptions and it just brings the whole story to life! I do think some of the phrasing is awkward, but this is the author’s first book and I’m super excited to see her improve!

Overall, I definitely recommend this book. If you’re looking for a gentle-but-exciting story with great characters and AMAZING world building, check it out.

[Shayna Kraft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recieved this book as an arc and am writing a review of my own accord. This book was adorable, cozy, and action packed! I adored the characters and cannot wait for the next book in the series!

[Victoria (hotcocoaandbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - but it had the potential to have 4 or 5 stars.

I was sent an ARC from the author's IG early-reader sign-up. I thought it looked adorable, and the story sounded like something I'd be very interested in. The reason is, that I spent part of my early childhood partially deaf (80% loss, from 18 months old to nearly 5 - and I remember it well, and wish at times I didn't), I love cottagecore, and I am a Christian.

The setting is in the mountains of Oliote. A Basque-Spain (Euskal Herria) language is spoken there. There is a full glossary that you can look back upon to see what each word means, in case you do not know the language. I found this helpful, but at the same time, with an e-reader copy, it was a pain to go back and forth on, as I did need to use it often.

This book started out talking about a character named Kaitlin who seemed to be a shepherd girl who bumps into someone who is exalted as a deity of sorts. What I didn't understand, is that we don't even hear the name Kaitlin again until much later on, and by that time I had completely forgotten about the character (I re-read chapter one after I finished the book since that chapter had confused me as it was). Will Kaitlin be in the second book? I hope so.

The second chapter begins to tell us about a young man who is on the run from something. He is one of the main characters named Thaddeus. Thaddeus ends up getting found inside an old church that has not been used but is maintained by a happy young deaf woman named Ximena (pronounced Hee-Meh-Na. . . which I think many people will mispronounce, but I have a friend with the same name, which helped me). It is an interesting name to choose, as it means "one who hears," though I don't think that is mentioned in the book at all. It was apropos to Ximena.

The beginning of the book had a lot happening at once but it slows down, seems slightly confusing, since a bunch of characters start to get introduced, and then it just is very boring, that I started to fall asleep every day that I read it for a while (Would read a few chapters, got sleepy, took like 10 minute naps, and gave up reading more until the following day). It made me not want to continue. HOWEVER, the second half of the book is very engaging and amazing. I really was captivated and loved the plot and what was going on.

This is a unique cottagecore Christian fantasy tale. First off, don't let kids read this. It is aimed for older teens through adults, in my opinion. There is a whole scene where there are these naked women creatures (I won't say more, but they don't appear to fully look like women). One of the male characters seems to stare at them for a while, though it doesn't seem to be in a sexual way at all, more of a "what in the world is this?" sort of way. Their purpose is to draw attention to themselves though. There is also some sinfulness talked about without any descriptions. Some of these are a little gruesome and quite sad. Mainly this is due to an oppressive person.

The whole idea of this story is that Ximena loves Jesus, though he is called [i]Kixme[/i] in this. I was trying to find out more about this translation, because I see this as the word "kiss" in a couple languages, but don't know if that was the intent or not. Ximena is very into reading her [i]Biblia[/i] every day and does her best to be kind to people around her, even though people look down on her due to her disability. There was a whole scene talked about in this book that really rang true for some things I went through as a deaf child. I do think, in terms of deafness, the author (who is hard of hearing) got a lot of this right, but I think during the dance scene, she should have explained how Ximena would possibly understand how she could feel vibrations to even know how to dance on any beats or anything, but I think depending on the level of deafness, you can definitely hear some of it, but it seems like Ximena is completely deaf. I think those who are not deaf may not understand a lot of the deaf situations in this. Being someone who has been through it, I understood. For the most part, it was done very well though.

Ximena works as an apprentice apothecary for a woman who is sometimes thought of as if she is a witch, though she is not. She is someone I hope we get to learn a lot more about in the second book that is already in the works, honestly. I look forward to unraveling more of the mystery of her (though we get to know a little bit about her past in this book). Ximena lives with her cousin, who treats her very protectively like a father would. He pretty much is more like a father to her than a cousin.

Thaddeus has a bit of amnesia when he is removed from the church he is found unconscious in. He starts to regain his memories slowly, where we learn more and more about his past too. At the same time, he is helping out Ximena's family and forms a great friendship and bond to Ximena, as they become a bit inseparable. He is curious to learn more about this [i]Kixme[/i] that Ximena is so into. He takes his time to research mainly because Ximena is so fascinated by [i]Kixme[/i] there has to be a good reason for it.

This is a heavily Christian book. It reminds me a little bit of the book of Acts put into play but in a fantasy world that is also a real place that exists too. There are lots of mixes of real and fantasy in this book, but it makes me more interesting. It may seem preachy to some people, but the way Ximena explains it to her friends, she really never pushes or forces anything on those around her.

While the story starts to get really interesting, Ximena forms some friendships and bonds with a few people near to her age along the way while hanging out with Thaddeus. There is an understanding that people worship this deity-long-living-woman named Mira. There are festivals, games, and some fun events in this story. There is also a lot of sinfulness and spirituality. I do think there was so much information throughout this book, that it makes sense why it is a bit long, but also, I think it should have been shortened at least in parts of the first half of the story.

I loved seeing how Thaddeus and Ximena learn and grow in their faith throughout this, which is probably why the title is what it is. Everyone's faith can start out small and expand into something beautiful over the course of time. They are very sweet with one another.

I really wanted to give this book four stars, but I just couldn't. Do I want to read the second book when it comes out? You betcha. I think it will be much better, especially in light of how lovely the last dozen chapters were to me. I think this ended in a way to make me want to know what is going to happen next. The author did put a note saying that she was going to have a different ending and to "not hate her" for changing it. I have no qualms about the ending at all. I think it was a good choice.

Thanks again for giving me a chance to read this. I will be reviewing it on my BookTube for sure too.

[Finley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It had such great theology, and the characters were amazing. I would highly recommend. 15+

[A Good Girl's booknook · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ximena you could singlehandedly treat every illness within Oliote to this day and there will still be people who don't accept you or think you are cursed because you're different."

🌻⋆˚ 𝚜𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚢: (bear with me I'm questionable at condensing info): Ximena is living her peaceful life when she finds an unconscious Thaddeus who is from a place not on any maps, and doesn't remember how he ended up there. He tries to remember and settle into the village, she starts putting herself out there, they make unconventional friends and try to investigate what happened to Thaddeus + odd things start happening in the village (coincidence?) may or may not be a villain pov 👀

also THAT COVER?? just gorgeous no notes

first of all the worldbuilding was PHENOMENAL. I'm talking about lore on culture, place, time, names, currency (there's a glossary which was very helpful!) that was integrated so naturally into the lifestyle. It does start a little overwhelming in that fantasy book way with all the introductions. There was a lot of quick pov switches and inconsistent pacing (for plot) in the first quarter which I think may throw people off but never fear things started to piece together and I got so invested 🤭

It was inspired by basque mythology which I haven't read much on so I was excited to learn more about it. Cottage core vibes were 10/10.

Ximena is our wise and faithful fmc who just has such a hopeful outlook on life. She's deaf and communicates mainly by signing and lip reading. I personally can't attest to accuracy but thought it was very well explained and portrayed throughout the book. Thaddeus is the sweetest gentleman. He's awkward and a very talented inventor with a curiosity (they bond over books!)

Their friends to lovers slow burn just healed my heart. EMPHASIS ON FRIENDS which I personally feel more books should do.They built such a solid foundation and connection and then there were the gradual stolen glances and realising little things about each other, I just loved everything about it (play This love by Taylor Swift 🎶)

A main part of this book is about faith ahem hence the title. It can start as small as a mustard seed but can grow over time. I liked how Ximena just remained so faithful and true to Kixme and herself and she accepted Thaddeus until he was ready to learn more.

"And while he'd looked like autumn given human form, it'd been the concern burning in his gaze that had done her in"

thanks to the author for providing an arc in exchange for a honest review

[- ̗̀Emi ̖́- · Rating 4 out of 5]

➸

**4 stars**

> “Be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded”
>

—

*thank you so much to Val for this opportunity!!* <3

🌿Christian themes and basque mythology within fantasy

🌿cottagecore

🌿friends to lovers

🌿small town romance

🌿studio ghibli feels

🌿deaf representation

**plot & twists**

This was a super cutesy yet plot driven fantasy! I’m not a christian myself, however was extremely excited after finding this author on instagram as I love a cosy fantasy book! Other books I enjoy include legends and lattes and the spellshop, and if you love this genre this would be perfect for you! The beginning of the story is very engaging and has a mystery element which had me hooked the whole way through. The characters were super fun and I loved the deaf representation in this one!!

I had so much fun reading this book and I cannot wait to see what this author does in the future!! (Count me in for future ARCS) :)

> “Perhaps death was crueler to those that had been left behind. To miss, and wonder, and long for.”“My father taught me that fire can destroy, but it can also do other things. It can light our darkness in the night, it can mend us together.”
>

✨────────── ·✨· ──────────✨

**“The one who is within her is greater than the one who is in the world*.”***

➺

**Ximena**

- firstly, I love how cute her name is, so unique but fits her character perfectly! I loved everything about her character, her growth, thought process and vibes are so calming. she’s afraid sometimes and she’s doubtful, but most importantly, she’s trying, and her faith pushes her forward through even the hardest tasks. I love the deaf representation in this book as its not something I get to read often, and multiple moments in this beautiful story made me want to give her the biggest hug ever.

**“…..”**

➺

**Ximena and Thaddeus**

- I absolutely loved the bond that these two started forming! From the beginning Thaddeus adapted quickly to hold meaningful conversations with Ximena despite her deafness. The interactions between these two had me feeling soft insides at multiple points in the book.

> “The freckles dancing across his face were nothing less than exquisite”
>

✨────────── ·✨· ──────────✨

**final thoughts!**

i had such a good time with this book! The plot was great, the character interactions with one another were so wholesome :)

✨────────── ·✨· ──────────✨

[Mary Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for a free copy of the book. I am leaving this review of my own accord.

This cozy Christian fantasy is a must-read for the summer. I haven't read that many cozy fantasy books because I find them to be too mundane. This was amazing. I love how we are simply following around Ximena, Thaddeus, and Mira (for the most part), each living completely different lives that have now been merged together. There is so much stuff that happens in this book, but pretty low stakes, or at least it reads that way. Honestly, A LOT of stuff happens.

Ximena is the definition of sunshine if sunshine were a person. (Big note: Ximena is deaf). I have read a couple of books with deaf representation, but this one was hands down my favorite. My mother is deaf, so I feel like I am quite critical of deaf representation, and let me tell you, it is hard to pull off. Val did it! I didn't feel like I was missing anything being in her POV, and I felt that her deafness added so much depth to her and the strength of her faith. Her internal dialogue resonated with me a lot. I liked how much the Lord was brought back into the book. Every thought Ximena had was backed up or transformed by truth. I LOVED THAT!

Thaddeus, one of my favorite characters, was so sweet. His childlike faith sent Ximena reeling at times as he pushed her to grow outside of her comfort zone. I love the respect he had with Fernandez and Ximena in regards to their faith.

Mira is something else. The whole time, we see her as the villain when in reality, she is more trapped than anyone. I will say I was so confused at the beginning of this book, but it is definitely a trust-the-process kind of read. It felt like we were in Thaddus' POV most of the time, suffering memory loss as well.

Shimon :( So happy and sad for him... that was the plot twist of a lifetime. Side note love the love triangle here. Literally had me kicking my feet when Shimon told Thaddeus to take care of Ximena. Also, the banter was chef's kiss. Oh, and the almost kiss between Thaddeus and Ximena being interrupted by Shimon had me laughing so hard.

Maialen's crazy backstory adds depth to her and shows how the Lord can completely transform your life.

These are all my random thoughts without spoiling too much, but if you love Jesus, summer vibes, random monsters popping out of mountains, cave living people, tyrants, redheads, and sunflowers, you will love this book!

[Katherine Crowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this in exchange for my honest review.

The Size of a Mustard Seed is a fantasy novel with Christian themes throughout. The ghibli vibes described in the blurb are definitely present, but with a bit more of a C.S. Lewis edge to it, but with heavy, Tolkien level terminology.

I found TSOMS an enjoyable read, and I could see this being on the shelves of many a religious bookstore. The characters pray regularly, lean on their King (Kixme) and are good examples of faith being lived through word and action. The quotes from the Biblia (Bible) were especially beautiful. Theologically speaking, it seems to lean towards modern evangelism with a focus on one's personal relationship with their savior and conversion, but with a few traditional elements of Catholicism. I could dive deeper into this all, but I will keep it at that.

New faith/convert is contrasted well with a life-long believer/follower, and seeing the interiority of it all was a treat.

The terminology is what made it difficult for me to read in long periods. When it started with a glossary, I dreaded that a bit. It adds an immersive element to it, but I fear the terminology may be enough to turn off some readers. But where the terminology bogs, the author makes up for in very flowing prose. I hardly had any instances of noticing repetitive sentence structure or beginning words. The syntax was, in my opinion, close to perfect. Better than many books I've read, both trad and indie.

If you crave fresh Christian fantasy, this is a must read!

[KAurora Blythe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC and leave this review voluntarily.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Val Melvis’ debut novel stirred me at a soul level. I appreciated the examples of sincere faith in action, especially how Ximena modeled reclaiming negative thought patterns with truth. I wish there had been more stories like this for me to read during my formative years!

“The sudden realization dawned with the gentleness of a lightning strike. She’d been so focused on convincing people of what she wasn’t, that she hadn't spared enough thought into representing what she was, who she was, and most importantly, whose she was.”

“No, she mentally chided herself. These were foolish, unproductive thoughts that were not in line with the relationship they had.”

“Ximena had tried to simply convince herself that she was fine. When that had obviously failed, she had realized that no matter how hard she tried, it wouldn’t be enough. So each time the unpleasant memory rose its ugly head, she would seize it by the throat and give it over to her King. “

If you enjoy Studio Ghibli movies and cottage core details, then this endearing cozy fantasy is for you! To borrow a phrase from this book, it was a “feast of peace” to read.

[Mae McKoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF - too slow-paced for my taste!

This book had top-tier aesthetics and a promising premise. Despite not finishing it, I would like to try one day! Here are my takeaways from reading the first few chapters:

- I loved how grounded the FMC’s faith was. This incorporation of Christianity didn’t seem too pushy or cheesy, but rather something you could feel that the author was pouring in from her own faith. 🩷

- I really appreciated the deaf representation. I don’t experience deafness or know anyone who does, but it is amazing how authors are beginning to see the need for heroes and heroines to have disabilities so those few readers who also do can feel seen in literature.

- Overall, the pacing was just too slow for me. I’m a somewhat picky reader when it comes to pacing, so what I think is too slow could be perfect for others!

I would definitely recommend giving this book a try if you love that slower, studio Ghibli-type pacing! 🫶🏼

[Magdalena Bevanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok so there are so many things I have to say about this book.
Firstly, I genuinely enjoyed it, though I found it a little boring sometimes in the middle. However, when the drama picked up at the end, I read it to the end in one sitting.
I adored the characters so much, literally all of them (except the villains of course) and I loved the vibe of the story, as well as the setting and how it was portrayed.
I also loved the faith aspect in it all, it inspired me so much.
My problem however is, that the open ending caught me off guard, I didn't expect it (but I honestly should have, since this is the first book in a series) and I have to wait for the sequel now😭
Besides that, it was a really lovely read that made me feel like I'm in a Christian Ghibli movie

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had seen a post on her Instagram sometime back about this book and it seemed so interesting so I was glad when ARC copies were being given out and I was given mine. And I just want to say this book is amazing. I love the talks and aspects of faith in God and Jesus woven in the book. I also love the characters especially how diverse in personalities they are and some of the overall arcs we see in them such as Shimon. It was just so good. And that the ending like dang got me in suspense and anticipation as I wait for the sequel.

[Hannah completing_my_tbr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Ximena, and how her faith is so crucial to who she is. Christians are not portrayed well in most media, so it's very refreshing and encouraging to see how Val Melvis writes this characters.
Thaddeus is such a sweet character, and he gets an added point from me for being a red head. We don't see enough red headed men in books either!
I’ve really enjoyed the relationships and friendships in this book.
This is a relatively slow paced book, and at times I feel like we get too much Tell and not enough Show. But overall it’s an enjoyable read and I would recommend it!

[Chloe Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, first of all, how dare you? Second of all, I can’t wait for book 2.
Ximena’s unshakable faith is an inspiration. The way she relies on Jesus for every decision and is sensitive to the Spirit is beautiful. This book is so amazing, and I can’t wait for the next installment.