The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne

by Summer N. England

Love grows in the most impossible of places in Summer N. England's debut sweet and spicy cozy romantasy for fans of The Spellshop and For Whom the Belle Tolls! 

All gardener Clara Thorne wants is to live "happily ever after" in her beloved town of Moss, magically growing herbs and vegetables and trying to write her book. But Fate has other plans when The Goddess unexpectedly bestows her with an impossible quest. Clara has one month to travel to the cursed and abandoned town of Dwindle and grow them a garden. If she fails, she will be banished.

Only Clara's magic doesn't work outside of Moss, a fact she has kept hidden for years. Worse, the Goddess has assigned the absurdly sexy, annoyingly cheerful Hesper Altanfall to keep her safe. All leather and crossbows, Hesper is as determined to protect Clara as she is full of secrets—but Clara would rather eat thorns than accept help. Nevertheless, the two can't help but grow closer as they make their way across enchanted woods, share one too many tavern beds, and work together to rebuild Dwindle one garden bed at a time.

Clara, however, refuses to give in to their blossoming romance. She’s had one too many losses, and Hesper might the one to break her beyond repair. But if Clara can find the key to opening her heart, she may just unearth the life and love she's always believed to be impossible.  

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Cozy, Adult, Queer, LGBT, Cozy Fantasy

416 pages, Paperback

Expected publication April 7, 2026

Reviews

[Ricarda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know, maybe the author bit off more than she can chew when writing a "spicy debut cozy romantasy", because I was pretty underwhelmed by the spicy, the cozy, the romance and the fantasy parts of this book. For me this simply was a messy read that did not know its own tone. I guess the book relies on readers who like any of these genres to just find something that they enjoy in here, instead of telling a story with coherent vibes. I'm a huge fan of cozy fantasy for instance. There doesn't need to be much worldbuilding and I'm generally happy with a little magic and lovable characters, and adding a romance is also fine by me. But cozy + spicy is already a questionable mix in my opinion, because it just serves so different vibes. It was throwing me off so badly in this book, especially since I lowkey hated the main character and didn't think that she deserved the romance that she got.

But back to beginning when I still thought that this could be a nice and cozy read. I was looking forward to reading about town gardener Clara Thorne who is living in a small town where lesser magics are very common. There's kitchen magic and garden magic and beauty magic and I was intrigued. She lives in a cottage with a little hedgehog and is preparing the flowers for an upcoming celebration. It was a bit infodumpy, but it still was solid cozy fantasy material for me. But Clara is soon sent on a quest, meaning that she has to leave the cozy town. Her Goddess gives her the task of growing a garden in another town many miles away, and so a good chunk of the book is about the mostly boring journey from one place to another. Clara is accompanied by her protector Hesper, meaning that I had to suffer through one of the most incomprehensible romances I've ever read about. There is supposed to be some kind of enemies-to-lovers thing going on, but it is literally just Clara hating Hesper for absolutely no reason. She's blaming her for things that aren't her fault, she's rude and inconsiderate while constantly complaining about everyone and everything. She's oh so plain (she isn't) and she has no magic (she does) and she is of no value to the town (she does and literally everyone tells her so) and leaving means the end of the world (it doesn't and she is supposed to return in one month) and she just despises Hesper (she doesn't). I honestly don't understand how anyone would like her, but Hesper is just in love with her from their first meeting and calls her by the cutesy (and nonsensical) nickname "princess" on every occasion (ew). Everything was either overly dramatic or very childish until it turns into full-blown smut all of a sudden. The book doesn't transport the cozy vibes that I expected from the cute cover at all and I also had to wait up to the 70% mark until I got something that resembled the impossible-garden part from the title. The book is so long without ever really delivering the cozy garden magic that I actually came here for and my disappointment is immeasurable. I don't think that it's written poorly, but it sure has a lot of tone issues and is structured in a weird way. Like, at the end there suddenly is a villain who has no impact on the overall story and is fought off in 20 pages, so what the hell was the point? But you know, the book is probably not as bad as I make it sound like. It just annoyed me with many unnecessary things, resulting in a personal distaste. It might be fine for other readers, though.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Raynee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne to be magical, cozy, and just adventurous enough to keep me engaged. The beginning felt slow, though not in an immediately obvious way. I enjoyed settling into the characters and getting to know the town, but after a while, it felt like the story was lingering without moving forward. When the plot finally picked up, that’s when I was the most interested. There were many unique stops along the way that I wish had been explored more. Unfortunately, because the adventure portion was rushed, the beginning and ending ended up feeling somewhat repetitive, which threw off the overall pacing.

Once the story reached Dwindle, I had a lot of fun meeting new characters and seeing the world expand. Overall, I enjoyed this book for its charm and heart. While it didn’t do anything particularly new within the genre, I still found it to be a warm, endearing read.

Honestly, I think the cover alone made me like this book at least 10% more. It’s a perfect cover in my eyes.


Thank you Forever Pub for an eARC of this book.

[Jennybeast]

I’m not sure what I hated more — the whiny main character or the transparent plot. I put it down maybe a quarter of the way in and backed away. Clearly other people love it and good for them — not my cup of tea. And the random spelling of shoppe (and only the word shoppe) just made my teeth itch.

Advanced Readers Copy provided by edelweiss

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25-3.5/5

Oh my goodness, I love this cover so much. I think it is so stinkin/ pretty!

This has cozy vibes, a magical garden, and a very complicated relationship.

I didn't really like the relationship in this. It was too complicated. It was complicated in a way where I think they just need to break up and never see each other again. Just move on with your lives. And that will probably be a very hot take. It was just made way too hard to root for them.

And I think there's non-binary rep in here, but those pronouns did change about halfway through and I got confused (I don't know if that was no purpose or not. I don't know if I missed a whole conversation on that or not. Possibly. I don't know.).

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Gali · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne" by Summer N. England is a charming and spicy sapphic cozy romantasy debut, following a grumpy garden witch and her sunshine bodyguard. The book enchanted me from the first word with its warm, fuzzy atmosphere, catching me hook, line, and sinker.

Clara Thorne lives happily in a cozy cottage in the town of Moss with Warty, her sidekick hedgehog, along with books, writing, and her garden. She has one friend, an orc named Rosie, and prefers to keep to herself. Believed to possess garden magic, she was appointed Town Gardener upon her arrival in Moss at the age of 13 and has lived there ever since. Fast-forward 15 years, and her life takes a turn when the Goddess Eldrene sends her on a seemingly hopeless quest—to travel to the cursed town of Dwindle, which is on the edge of withering, and grow them a garden in a month.

Clara believes the quest is doomed since her powers are weak and don’t exist outside of Moss—or so she thinks. The Goddess appoints her a bodyguard, a warrior named Hesper, who has a crow companion named Edge. The two hit a false note from the moment they meet. Clara dislikes Hesper at first sight, blaming her for all her woes and being openly hostile toward her, so their journey doesn’t start on the right foot. Hesper keeps insisting that Clara has magic, which only further irritates her. Add to that an ancient enemy on their trail, an eclectic cast of characters—nymphs, fae, water nymphs, dryads, dwarves—and magic, and you get one hell of an adventure.

The book had everything I enjoy: a fantasy world with magic, talking animals, enemies to lovers, and a heroine forced out of her comfort zone and placed in situations that test her strength and heart. The whimsical names worked for me, Warty and Edge were delightful, and I enjoyed the friendship between Clara and Rosie, as well as the emotional dynamics between the characters. The novel thoughtfully explores themes of loss, found family, duty, hope, self-growth, believing in yourself, and the power of love.

This is a highly entertaining cozy fantasy with rich world-building, vivid characters, and a captivating magical setting. The division between major and lesser magic was especially fun—kitchen magic, beauty magic, garden magic, heart magic—and paired nicely with the whimsy of the tale and the banter. I smiled every time Hesper called Clara “princess” and at their comebacks. The chapter-opening quotes were also a nice touch.

I did find Clara to be a bit of a brat. Since she’s almost 30 years old, it didn’t always fit, and she lived up to her name—thorny. She was often whiny and irrational, hating Hesper for no real reason, treating her badly, and refusing to accept certain truths. Because it felt so one-sided, the enemies-to-lovers arc came across as a bit too constructed for the sake of the trope. That said, I still liked her. Hesper, on the other hand, was a delight, and I would love to read more about her past.

Overall, I enjoyed the book greatly and would happily read more stories set in this world. The writing was top-notch and kept me hooked all the way through. Fans of cozy fantasy, fleshed-out characters, and those who don’t mind spicy sapphic romance and a somewhat forced enemies-to-lovers arc will enjoy this book. I know I did!

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review on my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2026...

[Krysta Manning · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne is a cozy fantasy debut with a warm, lyrical voice and an imaginative heart. Summer N. England’s writing style was an immediate draw for me, and I appreciated the gentleness and care she brings to her prose, especially when exploring themes of self-doubt, healing, and belonging.

The story follows Clara, her town’s gardener, who quietly uses magic to help plants grow while deeply doubting her own abilities. Her lack of confidence is rooted in a traumatic upbringing, and that emotional history shapes much of her internal struggle. When a goddess selects Clara for a daunting quest to grow a garden in the desolate city of Dwindle, her fears intensify. Clara believes her magic is intrinsically tied to the loving, fertile town she calls home and that it cannot possibly survive, much less thrive, in a place defined by barrenness.

Accompanying her on this journey is a hooded protector named Hesper, who eventually becomes Clara’s love interest. While I found Hesper consistently kind, thoughtful, and supportive, I struggled with Clara’s instant and seemingly irrational hatred toward them. This reaction felt incongruous with Clara’s otherwise compassionate and reflective nature. I would have fully understood emotional distance or guardedness stemming from her trauma and the immense pressure she was under, but the intensity of her hostility felt less like an organic character response and more like an attempt to force an enemies-to-lovers trope into place. This disconnect nearly caused me to put the book down.

That said, I am glad I pushed through. Once the story settled into its rhythm, the strengths of the novel truly began to shine. The imaginative settings, curious creatures, and sense of wonder infused into the journey made for a delightful and engaging adventure. England clearly has a talent for world-building and for creating moments that feel both magical and emotionally resonant.

Readers should also be aware that while this is categorized as cozy fantasy, it includes multiple open-door romance scenes. For the right audience, that will be a feature rather than a drawback.

Overall, The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne shows a great deal of promise. Despite some characterization choices that did not fully work for me, this debut left me interested in what Summer N. England will create next, and I think many readers who enjoy cozy fantasy with higher emotional and romantic stakes will find much to love here.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I KNEW I would love this book from literally the cover alone, then I read the description and somehow managed to love it more, when I eventually got accepted for the arc and started to read it I just knew it would be a special story.
I love all the characters so much, they are all just so perfectly written and beautiful and make the story so magical and cozy. Each character has growth and it’s just heartwarming. My favorite characters have to be Clara and Rosie, their relationship was just so perfect and everyone truly needs a best friend like Rosie, she is just pure sunshine and lit up every page she was on. I also liked the character who owned the clothes stall Clara visited on her quest, the fact Clara didn’t know who she was at first? That whole part actually, the whole Lore Isles section of the book was amazing, and the journey there, I loved all the book but the Lore Isles was such a good part of the adventure part.
Moss is the town where Clara found herself arriving to when she was young, soon running into Rosie and Sylvie, Clara’s ‘Garden Magic’ became apparent and she was quickly appointed Town Gardener and appointed a home.
I was so sad when Clara had to leave Moss, Moss and its people were just so cozy and warm and happy and welcoming and everything, I know one of the lessons of the book is to go outside of your comfort zone but I loved Moss so much. It was quite literally filled with love.
The worldbuilding was fantastic, excellent, perfect, everything anyone could dream of. Every single place Clara and Hesper visited I felt instantly connected to, each place was well described, had its own look and personality and ugh every place was just so perfect and beautiful and CHARMING (that’s the word I have been looking for) Each place had its own Charm, as did the residents.
Hesper is also such a good love interest, I really really hope we get a second book so Hesper can take a little bit more of the spotlight. Hesper is mysterioua, incredibly hot, funny, flirty, just everything you would want in a partner for yourself. Obviously she is more than just Clara’s love interest though and I LOVED Hespers story, it’s so mysterious and even by the end we truly don’t know much about her, but I could still connect to her, understanding her and her emotions. Everything in this book is just so perfect, the character building, the world building, the storytelling, everything. I am so incredibly grateful for this book and the magic of the story, I recommend this book so so highly and I truly do think everyone needs this book.

[Rallie · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Fans Of: The Teller of Small Fortunes, The Spellshop, In Other Lands, Terry Pratchett
Spice: 3/5

"Belief, while not inherently magical, is a powerful thing."

Within the first few pages I knew I was going to love this book. England's writing is lyrical but not overly-so, and it is easy to hear Clara's voice coming through. Each step of the way was meaningful to the characters as themselves, to the story, and to character growth; the plot and narrative felt purposeful. England is not just telling us a story but taking us along with as passengers.

I appreciated the whimsy of the world, the names were delightful (a town called Dwindle at the edge of the withering? perfect), and the normalization of fantasy creatures (humans, orcs, dryads, dwarves, all living alongside each other; water nymphs rare but not unheard of) added to the sense of immersion in this cozy setting.

Clara's moments of emotional pain absolutely came through and affected me; this is cozy but you will probably cry to see a woman who has locked herself up so tight trying to convince herself that she needs to stay that way. She unwinds and then snaps back, over and over, and it is so painful to see. You want the best for her, but you have to wait for her to find it herself. The payoff at the end is well worth any amount of tears.

I loved Hesper, the big strong protector who is also SO so gay, the waves of sapphic energy just wafting off her building tension with Clara. She had an emotional depth and purpose/background that made both she and Clara the exact right kind of damaged the other could help prop up. She doesn't need fixing, but everyone can use a hand up sometimes.

This is a book to sit with, to take some time with, to smile and giggle with and roll your eyes and cry with. Anyone who has ever felt "not enough" unless (or even if) they give everything they've got - Clara's impossible garden is waiting.

Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for this ARC, I am leaving this review by my own choice and it is my unbiased opinion.

[Jackie • HeyJackieReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

“It’s a hard, odd, wonderful thing to be alive”

Enter the whimsical and cozy fantasy that is The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne. In this world that Summer England has created humans, orcs, nymphs, beasts, fae and goddesses all co-exist. Clara is sent on an impossible mission by the Goddess Eldrene: leave the cozy village of Moss to create an impossible garden in the not so cozy Dwindle with an impossibly sapphic, strong and stubborn companion.

Clara’s aesthetic is Florence Welch frolicking through a garden with an adorable hedgehog sidekick. (With weird capabilities by the end that I don’t understand but whatevs). Clara is the only character in this whole book who believes she’s powerless and despite the OBVIOUS signs proving otherwise she refuses to see otherwise. I did get frustrated with how Clara would ignore clear signs of her powerful magic or dismiss everyone that told her otherwise, but I get it, she has baggage.

Hesper, Hesper, Hesper. Our gloriously fae warrior who RADIATES sapphic energy… can protect me whenever she wants to. Summer deviates from the trend of making strong female characters impossibly thin but somehow impossibly strong. Hesper is the sensitive, stubborn, buff fae warrior of my dreams.

I enjoyed my time in Nesyria. I giggled, kicked my feet, cheered, rolled my eyes and teared up reading Summer’s debut novel.

[Annie Deo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has cozy vibes and is a very charming read overall. Well-written with an interesting plot and endearing side characters that make the world come alive around our heroine.

Unfortunately I got frustrated with characters acting childishly and/or distrspectful for no reason at various points - Clara takes an irrational dislike to Hesper and is embarrassingly rude for a while. Hesper slings Clara over her back on a couple occasions just to shut her up which I don't appreciate any more than the 'kiss someone to silence them' tactic. And Clara's BFF forces her to run at one point like there's an emergency leading to Hesper suffering injuries as a result of protecting Clara from a nasty fall - literally for no reason, just to set up an intimate moment like come on, there were a hundred better ways to work that hurt/comfort scene in .

The petty bickering between our main couple got old and tiresome really fast and I wished I could reach into the book to slap some sense into Clara when she kept denying the bloody obvious and insisting she had no magic.

But I did enjoy the magical system here and the creative mythology/lore that set up Clara's quest. The solution to her issue with magic was believable and felt earned, although her defeat of the bad guy, a literal god, felt way too simple: "super easy, barely an inconvenience".

[Ariel Cash · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌸 Enchanting Read Alert! 📚

From the very first pages, I was utterly hooked by the sheer lyricism of this world! The author doesn't just tell a story; she pulls you in as an essential passenger on Clara's deeply personal journey. Every twist, every turn, felt purposeful—pure narrative gold ✨.

I adored how delightful and whimsical the setting was. The effortless co-existence of humans, orcs, dryads, and more makes this fantasy feel utterly immersive and cozy.

Don't let yourself be fooled by the cozy vibes—this book has heart. You will cry. You will ache for Clara's breakthrough. But the emotional payoff at the end? Worth every tear shed 😭

And let's talk about Hesper 😍: the big, strong protector radiating such glorious sapphic energy! The tension between her and Clara is palpable and perfect. They are two beautifully damaged souls who find exactly the right way to prop each other up.

This is a book to savor. If you've ever felt "not enough," Clara's impossible garden is waiting for you. Go find it. Highly, highly recommend!

Thank you SO much to Forever pub for the ARC read!

[Emilee · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review - thank you to Forever for the early access!

I finished this last night, and it was such a fun adventure that was a surprising mix of cozy and spicy (genuinely - and not a closed-door romance either, lol). Aside from that, I loved Clara's growth throughout the story, but also how Hesper brought out the best in her since Hesper could see what Clara's potential was, even if Clara didn't believe Hesper at all. It was a charming little world of dark and light in all the ways that the most entertaining fantasies play out, with a true slow-burn sapphic romance running right alongside it.

I will say that I genuinely wished that we had more information on everyone's backstories because while Clara's tale and perspective were entertaining, finding out a little bit more of Hesper's background and Starfall was genuinely such an intriguing plot point that wasn't hit on more. It's my hope that the author does a prequel novel because I would love to see what Hesper experienced in her time before her journey, since it was so critical to her character development.

Overall, it's still a solid debut and one that I hope gets the rightful attention once it's out!

[Candy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Clara is a magical gardener from the town of Moss; she is forced by The Goddess to go on an impossible quest - restore a garden in the cursed town of Dwindle within one month to frow a garden or face banishment. The task is even harder because Clara’s magic only works in Moss, a secret she’s always kept. Assigned to protect her is Hesper, a charming and mysterious warrior whose help Clara resists. As they journey through enchanted lands and rebuild Dwindle together, their partnership slowly turns into something more. Haunted by past losses, Clara fears loving Hesper, but to succeed, and find happiness, she must risk opening her heart.

This is a warm read if you are looking for a book that checks all of the cozy fantasy boxes; I also enjoyed the world that was created in this book. I liked the journey to and time spent in Dwindle and getting to know the secondary characters. I cannot say I enjoyed the character of Clara as I felt she was meaner just to be mean for the enemies to lovers trope.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Grand Central Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle (Bamamele.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to Forever Pub for the preview. All opinions are my own.

This was so cute! I’d normally associate “cozy” with low stakes, and while this had a quest and some rather high stakes, it still did manage to feel cozy. Both Moss and Dwindle are so whimsical and magical as settings, we have animal companions, and delightful side characters, and overall it felt like a warm hug.

If you’ve followed Summer on insta or watched her reels, I feel like it will give you a really good idea of what to expect from both Clara as an MC and the book as a whole. And I say that in a complimentary way. Clara is sweet and a bit of a mess, and she’s in 100% denial about her magic and her abilities. She’s the type that when she finally figures things out, she’d look around and be like, did yall know? And the whole world will be like YES CLARA WE ALL KNEW!

I liked the sapphic romance with the mysterious Hesper. Hesper sees Clara so clearly and is so supportive, even when Clara is being snappish. We get a couple of steamy scenes, but more importantly we get some good emotional ones too.

The door is left wide open at the end for more adventures, and I will absolutely be here to read them!

[michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was cozy, and warm. whimsical and magical. adventurous and epic. frustrating and sad. hopeful and wondrous. there was a plethora of different characters, all of them (okay, most of them) were fantastic and some over the top. there was also mention of dragons, so I'm kind of hoping there's a sequel where we get to meet the dragons.

Clara Thorne is just an average girl, with minimal magical powers, then one day a Goddess comes to town and sends her on a mission. Clara, with her hedgehog and appointed bodyguard (Hesper - Xena Warrior Fae.- Altanfall) travel from the cozy town of Moss to the dreary Dwindle. meeting many a character along the way.. with great adventures, and perhaps some kissing they make their way to Dwindle discovering who they are and what they're capable of.

I had a great time reading this.

(e-arc via Netgalley)

[Brittney Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to read The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne as an ARC. The book cover was what originally pulled me in, with the cutesy, warm vibe.
This book did not disappoint. It is well written, funny, and has likeable, believable characters.
At times, it did feel a bit cliché (makeover scene about 18% of the way in), but it was still enjoyable overall.
The book was an "easy" read. It used simple sentence structure yet did not feel juvenile, making it easy to digest and enjoy.
This book IS sapphic/LGBTQ+. I noticed that in most places where this book is talked about, this important tag seems to be missing.
With that aside, this book is cozy, cute, and spicy. I enjoyed the time I spent reading it and recommend it to anyone who wants something to warm them up this winter!

[Bethany Wouters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever Publishing, for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I've followed Summer's escapades on TikTok for a few years now and have always loved the charmingly chaotic way she narrates her stories, and I think her personality translated well into her debut novel. The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne is Summer N. England's cozy, whimsical, cottagecore persona wrapped up in a fantastically endearing book, and I had a fun time reading it.

I will say that I did find parts to be a bit wordy at times, but, again, I think that's just part of how Summer talks in real life, and as a chronic oversharer myself, I can't knock her for that.

If you liked/loved the Emily Wilde trilogy, any of Travis Baldree's works, or cozy fantasy in general, you'll love this one, too.

[Kelli Sumner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne is a cozy fantasy, but it is also so much more. I loved Clara’s character and the depth of her struggles throughout the story. This is a fun read, but also an emotional one as Clara and other characters come to terms with themselves and the world around them.

I also loved the inclusion of all types of magical characters and the clever names for all the locations in the story. The descriptions of each location were so well done and made me wish I could actually visit.

I enjoyed the story and could have done without the spice, but I know there are probably many that loved that part too!

Thanks to Forever Publishing and Netgalley for access to the eARC of this novel in exchange for my unbiased review.

[Katie Lemons · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all thank you to the publisher and the author for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review of this book! This book is definitely for the people who loved The Spellshop or Honey Witch, but it is a bit more on the spicy side. also I was pleasantly surprised to realize that this is a sapphic cozy romantasy. I’m not usually a huge fan of cozy fantasy but something about this was just such a vibe like you can’t take it too seriously. It had me literally giggling at how unserious and ridiculous some moments were but it’s just a feel good pure vibes read. If that isn’t your thing then this might not be the read for you, and sometimes that isn’t my thing either but I think I just picked this up at the perfect time and mood.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I don’t always go into “cozy” fantasy with big expectations, but I think it’s because so many different people define it so differently. Did this book make me feel like I was embraced in a warm hug? yes, but there was also adventure and some action in the middle, and I think that’s the sweet spot for me. The love interest was also written specifically to destroy me (seriously a muscular woman who chops wood and uses princess as a pet name? I’m so in love). I also loved Clara as a character she was prickly but so so loving underneath. What a great read!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cozy tale is a sweet, slow-burning romance between two charming characters. The author works hard to create the setting, which slows the pacing, but once the action starts, the story moves along quickly. If you are looking to recommend a story with charm and filled with engaging characters, you won't go wrong with this fantastical tale. The cover is adorable, and I'd buy it just for the hedgehog on the front. This was a fun romantasy tale, nothing new to the genre, but overall a good story. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced reader's copy.

[Sierra Garlits · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is definitely one of those books that is hard to put down. Clara is probably one of my favorite characters out of any book I’ve read in awhile. I enjoyed yelling at the two dorks in love, until they finally admitted it to each other.

I’m hoping, with enough hope to keep the withering away, that the ending is a set up to another book, because I for one could read about these two and their familiars all day every day.

[Michelle (easy.vesey.reads)]

DNF at 20%.

I’ve fully determined that I am not a cozy fantasy person, so this book just wasn’t my cup of tea. I also didn’t realize it would be a sapphic romance because I couldn’t tell that by the book’s blurb (but apparently I missed that on Netgalley too). I’m sure if you’re looking for a cozy, queer romance book, then this will be a great choice for you! I do love the book’s cover.

Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

[Foxx Writer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for fans of books like The Enchanted Greenhouse, the Honey Witch, or Brigands & Breadknives! a fantastic blend of exceptionally cozy, and grand adventure that will leave you breathless with excitement, and clutching your pillow and giggling. a beautiful slow burn romance, epic magical quests, the discovery of ones self and purpose, and the discovery of ones heart. this was such a cute and cozy book and i was SO into the black cat, golden retriever energy. especially given how those roles were pretty flipped once the adventure started xD. if your looking for a way to get into cozy fantasy, this is definitely a book i would choose, as there are pockets of high activity action to help break up the slower pace of the cozy parts. this is easily going on my re-read shelf, and it's probably going to stay there for all time. beautiful slow burn romance, very entertaining and relatable characters, and a fantastic plot that makes it impossible to put the book down.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This felt cozy and relaxing to read. In the beginning, it was slow. But it started to pick up the pace throughout the book. I really liked that it has magic in it and towards the end of book, things got very interesting to me. If you like cozy fantasy books, this one is for you. Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this fantastic book. 😇

[Jakki (BizzyBookNook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a book that feels warm and comforting, this is it. I really enjoyed this story. Clara is an engaging main character, and I appreciated how honestly her flaws and inner struggles were written — they’re easy to connect with. Her journey to understand herself and her magic felt very real. I also loved Hesper. Her quick wit and one-liners added a lot of personality, and it was fun to watch their relationship develop. The supporting characters were great as well., I loved all their different quirks. The magic system is interesting and well thought out. I loved all the different abilities and creatures and how magical it truly made the story. Overall, the characters, their challenges, and the places they travel through make this book a genuinely enjoyable adventure.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the eARC.

Whimsy, cozy, warm, charming, adventure, joy.
Also, emotionally deep and having you cheer for the fmc to believe and pull herself through..
Read it, weep a bit, and fall in love with the world of Clara Thorne.

[Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! Full review to come!