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Amaranthine Interludes #5
Alder Woodacre and the Acorns of Affection
He doesn’t need to say much. One word will do.
Since its founding, the Reaverson farm has become a thriving enclave, with Nightspangle wolves looking after the boundaries and Woodacre squirrels playing tag in the oak trees. Joe’s a patient guy. Good at taking care of what’s his. Good at encouraging things to grow. But not the greatest at speaking up. After a decade, he decides it’s time for a change. He has something small in mind, but when unexpected guests keep turning up at Red Gate Farm, Kip’s heart isn’t the only one due for a shakeup. **A short story that revisits the cast of Bk3: Tamiko and the Two Janitors, set a year after the end of the Amaranthine Saga. Cozy Fantasy. Slice-of-life. Courtship. Family.
Since its founding, the Reaverson farm has become a thriving enclave, with Nightspangle wolves looking after the boundaries and Woodacre squirrels playing tag in the oak trees. Joe’s a patient guy. Good at taking care of what’s his. Good at encouraging things to grow. But not the greatest at speaking up. After a decade, he decides it’s time for a change. He has something small in mind, but when unexpected guests keep turning up at Red Gate Farm, Kip’s heart isn’t the only one due for a shakeup. **A short story that revisits the cast of Bk3: Tamiko and the Two Janitors, set a year after the end of the Amaranthine Saga. Cozy Fantasy. Slice-of-life. Courtship. Family.
128 pages, ebook
Published July 22, 2025
About the author
Forthright .
39 books551 followersa teller of tales with a fondness for unlikely friendships, wary alliances, unexpected upshots, hard-won trust, diverse cultures, found family, local legends, and folksome things. Author of the Immortal Holmes series, paranormal mysteries with a steampunk aesthetic set in an alternate history & the romantically-inclined Amaranthine Saga, with all of its attendant short stories & serials.
As a reader, this account is where I rate and review manga.
As a reader, this account is where I rate and review manga.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 19, 2025
In this book, author Forthright goes back to an earlier book Tamiko and the Two Janitors. In the earlier book, Tamiko got her happy ending. But did both of those janitors?
Alder Woodacre and the Acorns of Affection opens with the two janitors Joe and Kip already bondmates. So, in a sense, they were already a couple.
But Kip still misses is best friend Ash (now Tamiko's husband). Joe had settled years ago for second best but now he needs a change.
This is a relatively short book but the events happen AFTER the main series of the Amaranthine Saga has wrapped up. So we get to see a welcome return to the Stately House crew (specifically the kids) who come to Joe & Kip's farm.
Amaranthine Interludes tend to be shorter stories.
Once I went back to my copy of Tamiko and the Two Janitors and established that Tamiko and Joe were twin brother & sister and that Kip was an Amaranthine (who are a long-lived people and had lived with Ash for years before Tamiko met Ash), I was good to go.
Highly recommended for all who have been keeping up with Forthright's Amaranthine urban fantasy tales!
Alder Woodacre and the Acorns of Affection opens with the two janitors Joe and Kip already bondmates. So, in a sense, they were already a couple.
But Kip still misses is best friend Ash (now Tamiko's husband). Joe had settled years ago for second best but now he needs a change.
This is a relatively short book but the events happen AFTER the main series of the Amaranthine Saga has wrapped up. So we get to see a welcome return to the Stately House crew (specifically the kids) who come to Joe & Kip's farm.
Amaranthine Interludes tend to be shorter stories.
Once I went back to my copy of Tamiko and the Two Janitors and established that Tamiko and Joe were twin brother & sister and that Kip was an Amaranthine (who are a long-lived people and had lived with Ash for years before Tamiko met Ash), I was good to go.
Highly recommended for all who have been keeping up with Forthright's Amaranthine urban fantasy tales!
May 5, 2026
I’ve been a fan of Forthright since I read her Inuyasha fanfiction ages ago, and I absolutely adore this world she created clearly inspired by Japanese folklore and mythology. She has a unique style of writing that’s all her own and her plotting and wordplay is creative and clever. I hope she’ll continue to release more stories set in this cozy fantasy world of shapeshifters and dragons and magic that isn’t quite magic.
July 22, 2025
Crossers on a farm visit!
You must have read Tamiko and the two Janitors first to appreciate this story. Squirrel tricks, finding family and what's happening in the Red gate enclave make this a cosy read.
You must have read Tamiko and the two Janitors first to appreciate this story. Squirrel tricks, finding family and what's happening in the Red gate enclave make this a cosy read.
August 16, 2025
Just okay. Not much new added to the world. I thought Joe and Kip were cuter in the previous book. Joe seems kind of slow half the time and Kip still seems hung up on someone else and just decides to settle for Joe. I’d consider this a lackluster story overall.
August 21, 2025
Awwww, so glad Joe got his HEA. Just wish it was longer so the romance wasn't so BAM-here-it-is. I feel like Joe and Kip's story should have been more of a slow burn. But still so sweet! I love a main character that's a still-waters-run-deep personality.
July 24, 2025
Another oneside romance that blossoms into mutual love when you start paying attention to what was there the whole time.
July 24, 2025
Acorns are awesome!
Loved this story! Thank you!
The Enclave ever grows. Family forever.
Friends are special and so are the children.
More please!
Loved this story! Thank you!
The Enclave ever grows. Family forever.
Friends are special and so are the children.
More please!
July 25, 2025
Delightful meeting of old friends
I would say it is essential to have read the rest of the series, but so long as you have, you’ll love this.
I would say it is essential to have read the rest of the series, but so long as you have, you’ll love this.
July 25, 2025
Back to the farm.
I really liked the theme of accepting others differences. A nice lovely read. Hopefully more in this series. More songs.
I really liked the theme of accepting others differences. A nice lovely read. Hopefully more in this series. More songs.
November 29, 2025
This one was really touching. It was a very good read. I was so happy to have the story of Kip and Joe.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews