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A Home in Percival
Macrina loves her little house by Orchard Lake and her work as a freelance magic-user—but life in Percival is quieter and lonelier than she expected. As neighbors—and even her house—reveal secrets, stories, and hidden magic, she discovers that small-town life can be full of unexpected adventures, new friendships, and everyday magic.
At Home in Percival is a cozy, low-angst fantasy with warm community and a home that has mysteries of its own.
At Home in Percival is a cozy, low-angst fantasy with warm community and a home that has mysteries of its own.
- GenresFantasy
285 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 20, 2025
60 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Paula K. Berman
2 books2 followersPAULA K. BERMAN is a Six Sigma Black Belt who has worked with Quality Systems at companies of all sizes and in a range of industries. Her varied experience helped her develop a holistic approach to business process implementation, and practical solutions for getting results.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 24, 2025
Charming debut novel
Set in a low-key magical town, in a low-key magical world, with both magical and non-magical residents, this thoughtful novel addresses the real-life issues of finding/building community in a new location; friendship and love, and the adjustments required by both, in midlife; and the world of late 2021/2022, emerging from pandemic restrictions--do you eat indoors? where do you wear a mask? how do you re-engage with other people in person? The "Home" of the title is key; this house is sentient and eventually has quite a few surprises in store for its new owner and her friends. Perhaps best of all, the reader becomes invested in the characters' lives, hoping for more of their story to come.
Set in a low-key magical town, in a low-key magical world, with both magical and non-magical residents, this thoughtful novel addresses the real-life issues of finding/building community in a new location; friendship and love, and the adjustments required by both, in midlife; and the world of late 2021/2022, emerging from pandemic restrictions--do you eat indoors? where do you wear a mask? how do you re-engage with other people in person? The "Home" of the title is key; this house is sentient and eventually has quite a few surprises in store for its new owner and her friends. Perhaps best of all, the reader becomes invested in the characters' lives, hoping for more of their story to come.
August 25, 2025
excellent world and characters!
Lovely relaxing book. Extremely likable characters and setting. Well written; couple of errors/typos at the beginning of the potato party but sentences are well written and easily digested.
Not much in the way of plot/conflict in the classic sense (events linked by something other than just time) but a relief from too much drama IRL.
Hoping for more!
Lovely relaxing book. Extremely likable characters and setting. Well written; couple of errors/typos at the beginning of the potato party but sentences are well written and easily digested.
Not much in the way of plot/conflict in the classic sense (events linked by something other than just time) but a relief from too much drama IRL.
Hoping for more!
August 23, 2025
This book is well written and I would say it is almost the world building for a book with a story. Nothing actually happened, it felt like a diary. A magical diary, sweet characters, zero negativity, zero angst, zero story.
If there is a book 2, I hope there will be a story to follow, because the world building is top notch.
If there is a book 2, I hope there will be a story to follow, because the world building is top notch.
August 24, 2025
A cozy read with a touch of magic
I enjoyed reading this book. It drew me in with its characters, who were both magical and believable. I look forward to reading more, and also about the special home.
I enjoyed reading this book. It drew me in with its characters, who were both magical and believable. I look forward to reading more, and also about the special home.
September 27, 2025
Good
Macrina moved to Percival, Oregon at the height of the lockdowns. Now they're coming out of lockdown, she's trying to meet some of her neighbours and make some new friends, while juggling a long distance relationship.
Working from home with her magical business, Macrina's new social life brings to light something special about her house, which might just be the start of something wonderful.
This is a slow, cosy story featuring an unusual magical system, and a house that's a little something extra.
The characters are interesting, and even though the post-lockdown stuff made me grimace in remembrance, the sweet story of a woman in midlife finding her home was an enjoyable read.
There are no tense situations to worry about, and it was refreshing to read a new start story with a healthy relationship already established.
This is a great read for people who want something cosy and low tension to read, or who need a comfort read.
Macrina moved to Percival, Oregon at the height of the lockdowns. Now they're coming out of lockdown, she's trying to meet some of her neighbours and make some new friends, while juggling a long distance relationship.
Working from home with her magical business, Macrina's new social life brings to light something special about her house, which might just be the start of something wonderful.
This is a slow, cosy story featuring an unusual magical system, and a house that's a little something extra.
The characters are interesting, and even though the post-lockdown stuff made me grimace in remembrance, the sweet story of a woman in midlife finding her home was an enjoyable read.
There are no tense situations to worry about, and it was refreshing to read a new start story with a healthy relationship already established.
This is a great read for people who want something cosy and low tension to read, or who need a comfort read.
September 22, 2025
Very cute read
Found this book on a rec from another authors reader group bc this author mentions that one. Love sentient house stories. This story is adorable, cozy, and well written. Some inconsistencies, typos, grammatical errors, and formatting but not enough to distract from the story itself. The author does mix in quite a bit of English terminology, which is fine, but a bit odd for a MC who is from the States and the story is based in Oregon. Overall a cute read for a rainy day.
Found this book on a rec from another authors reader group bc this author mentions that one. Love sentient house stories. This story is adorable, cozy, and well written. Some inconsistencies, typos, grammatical errors, and formatting but not enough to distract from the story itself. The author does mix in quite a bit of English terminology, which is fine, but a bit odd for a MC who is from the States and the story is based in Oregon. Overall a cute read for a rainy day.
October 17, 2025
A Home in Percival is a low key cozy fantasy about a witch coming out of seclusion as the Covid pandemic was winding down. Having moved to a lakeside house in Oregon during the pandemic and working from her home, she’s looking to find friends in her new community.
I really enjoyed the community that’s created and her sweet relationship with her longtime boyfriend Gil. The magic and magical creatures are interesting and low key. There’s no danger or angst. This is just a sweet, restful story with minor mysteries, a few lakeside gatherings, and kind people.
I really enjoyed the community that’s created and her sweet relationship with her longtime boyfriend Gil. The magic and magical creatures are interesting and low key. There’s no danger or angst. This is just a sweet, restful story with minor mysteries, a few lakeside gatherings, and kind people.
September 1, 2025
Learning about this world, and how the magic works, was fun. Started slow but really picked up about 2/3 through.
My quibble, and this is a "me" thing, is that I do not enjoy reading about the pandemic, or the time immediately afterward. I think this book would have been fine without that detail.
My quibble, and this is a "me" thing, is that I do not enjoy reading about the pandemic, or the time immediately afterward. I think this book would have been fine without that detail.
September 22, 2025
Enjoyable!
This is a very enjoyable story. It’s cozy and fun. It does, however, have a continuity issue. And typos. The typos are not a big deal, but the continuity issue made me stop, say, “Wait. What?,” and go back to earlier in the book where what I had just read was contradicted.
This is a very enjoyable story. It’s cozy and fun. It does, however, have a continuity issue. And typos. The typos are not a big deal, but the continuity issue made me stop, say, “Wait. What?,” and go back to earlier in the book where what I had just read was contradicted.
September 23, 2025
A Home in Percival
This is a thoroughly enjoyable book and town. I loved the back story of the town origins and Sasquatch neighbors, plus anything with sentient houses.
In particular, the kindness and community that she finds after Covid. I'm looking forward to the sequel. A gentle and lovely book.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable book and town. I loved the back story of the town origins and Sasquatch neighbors, plus anything with sentient houses.
In particular, the kindness and community that she finds after Covid. I'm looking forward to the sequel. A gentle and lovely book.
December 26, 2025
DNF
This is a good start for a first novel but I was looking for a bit more action and discussion. By a third of the way through the most exciting thing was she fell off her bike and there was a drop of blood on the ground.
I’m sure there would be some good and interesting bits later on but I’m a bit too impatient to wait for them.
This is a good start for a first novel but I was looking for a bit more action and discussion. By a third of the way through the most exciting thing was she fell off her bike and there was a drop of blood on the ground.
I’m sure there would be some good and interesting bits later on but I’m a bit too impatient to wait for them.
January 10, 2026
Wonderful!
Very much worth the few hours it takes to read. I really hope there will more books in this series. Paula Berman is an excellent writer and the story is charming. I would enjoy more books about the house, but it looks like the next book is more about the village of Percival. I'm hoping for at least 8 in the series
Very much worth the few hours it takes to read. I really hope there will more books in this series. Paula Berman is an excellent writer and the story is charming. I would enjoy more books about the house, but it looks like the next book is more about the village of Percival. I'm hoping for at least 8 in the series
August 24, 2025
Wonderful, cozy, slice-of-life book
I adored this book! Well-written, engaging, with the types of characters I’d like to be friends with. It takes a village to emerge after the pandemic.
I adored this book! Well-written, engaging, with the types of characters I’d like to be friends with. It takes a village to emerge after the pandemic.
August 25, 2025
A Cozy Magical Place
This book isn't as much about magic as it is good friends, love and a very special home (of course with magic, and magical species). I really hope this isn't a one of as I would love to get to know more about the people.
This book isn't as much about magic as it is good friends, love and a very special home (of course with magic, and magical species). I really hope this isn't a one of as I would love to get to know more about the people.
August 26, 2025
Cosy and charming
A lovely, light and cosy read, with magic woven through it, while being very much set in recent times. There are plenty of surprises along the way and some cute felines to keep everyone in their place.
A lovely, light and cosy read, with magic woven through it, while being very much set in recent times. There are plenty of surprises along the way and some cute felines to keep everyone in their place.
September 24, 2025
not much fantasy
Too much pandemic references. We learned more about her socializing than any magic she did. We didn’t really learn much about the house till we were 91% done with the book.
Too much pandemic references. We learned more about her socializing than any magic she did. We didn’t really learn much about the house till we were 91% done with the book.
September 30, 2025
Magic is just another personal talent
Enjoyable tale with magical & non-m's beings with a sentinent house at the center. Love stories, personal discoveries and friends making families of themselves. Plus some practical magicks too.
Enjoyable tale with magical & non-m's beings with a sentinent house at the center. Love stories, personal discoveries and friends making families of themselves. Plus some practical magicks too.
September 2, 2025
Low-key cosy story that at times felt mostly like a diary. Charming characters and a town where all are kind and helpful.
September 19, 2025
Written by an online friend (who I have also been lucky enough to meet in person) this is a sweet, magical story. I very much enjoyed all the house parts, and I really liked Laxmi :)
September 22, 2025
enjoy
Took a bit to get into but was worth it. Enjoyed meeting the characters and the book. Hope there may be a follow up
Took a bit to get into but was worth it. Enjoyed meeting the characters and the book. Hope there may be a follow up
October 16, 2025
Wonderful
Quickly pulled me in. Loved the characters. Felt myself enter the book and become the story. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Quickly pulled me in. Loved the characters. Felt myself enter the book and become the story. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
September 22, 2025
A delightful and gentle book by a debut author. Highly recommend it for a day when you just want to curl up with a fluffy blanket, a mug of drinking chocolate and visit somewhere lovely to read about characters who welcome you to the page and a house that gives you a hug.
I'm looking forward to the next one.
I'm looking forward to the next one.
November 21, 2025
A cozy novel with magical and non-magical beings in a small town emerging from social distancing. A nice short read.
October 24, 2025
A really sweet and charming story about finding friends and getting settled in a new place :) I love love love descriptions of setting a house to rights and making it your own, so this was right up my aisle.
This is cozy fantasy at its best. No real conflicts, no real crises - just people being people. It is definitely character-driven rather than plot-driven, but as long as I like the characters, that's never bothered me :-D
And at the end of the day I picked up the book at every opportunity I got, and feel almost book hungover now that I've finished. This is right up my aisle, and I will definitely need a physical copy of it at some point.
This is cozy fantasy at its best. No real conflicts, no real crises - just people being people. It is definitely character-driven rather than plot-driven, but as long as I like the characters, that's never bothered me :-D
And at the end of the day I picked up the book at every opportunity I got, and feel almost book hungover now that I've finished. This is right up my aisle, and I will definitely need a physical copy of it at some point.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews