Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous

by Autumn K. England

What happens to all the mind-controlled minions when the evil villain is finally vanquished?

When Oaklin Nettlewood (accidentally) joined an evil cult, they and the rest of their small community were promptly whammied by mind control magic and forced to do unspeakable things. Now, years later, the realm's heroes have saved the day, defeated the villain, and shattered the last remnants of the spell...leaving destruction in their wake. Because the minions who were nothing more than obstacles were Oaklin's last remaining family and friends, and now as the entire realm celebrates, Oaklin is left alone to pick up the pieces.

And so, with a spell-damaged memory and whole bushel of trauma, they buy a small farm on the edge of Mossley's Rest and swear an After all the things they were forced to do with their magic, they will never use it again. Ever. But the gentle ghost who lives in Oaklin's house has other ideas. And as she coaxes Oaklin out of their shell and back into the world, Oaklin begins to find companionship (a grumpy horse and a very good boy dog), friendship (a local bard and magical baker who should just kiss already), and even romance (a paladin-librarian who makes Oaklin's heart flutter.)

Healing comes in gentle waves, and Oaklin doesn't have to do it alone. So what does it mean when an inquisitor comes to town just as Oaklin begins to think that maybe, just maybe, they deserve a happy ending after all?

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

368 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication June 2, 2026

Reviews

[Zoe Holborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an E-ARC in return for an honest review

The weather is dreary so what a perfect way to forget about than to read a cosy fantasy filled with magic, friendship and love. When Oaklin buys a farm to start afresh, they don’t expect to have a roommate that will push them to accept their past and look forward to their future.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. It was cosy and whimsical but still had some poignant and touching subjects. Sometimes the pacing was a little slow but it was an enjoyable read and perfect for anyone who is looking a cute cosy fantasy that’ll make you feel all the emotions

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book felt like being wrapped in a blanket in front of a fire with a hot cup of tea. On the surface this is a cozy fantasy about second chances, but it dives so much deeper with themes of guilt, friendship, healing, and forgiveness.

Oaklin Nettlewood is recovering from the trauma of having their mind controlled by an evil cult leader who forced them to use their magic to perform acts of horror. Oaklin cannot remember much from their time in the cult, but hopes that buying a farm in the small town of Mossley’s Rest will provide them with some much needed healing and solitude. What Oaklin is not expecting is a resident ghost granny, friendly and welcoming townsfolk, and a community that will do anything to support one another. Can Oaklin learn to accept support from others and begin to use their magic for good?

The world building and magic in this story are so wonderful that I wanted to dive into the pages and escape the horrid realities happening in the real world right now. Autumn K. England has created an incredible world where people are accepting, inclusive, and genuinely want to help one another. There are magical baked goods, new friends, and a gentle, soothing magic woven into the very farm Oaklin purchased.

I loved everything about this book and will be recommending it to all of my friends. I have seen rumors that there will be a second book set in this universe and really hope they are true. I would love to read more about these characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Dotti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous is a cozy-adjacent novel focusing on a former cult member after their traumatic experiences. Oaklin spent eight years being mind controlled and remembers only flashes of a terrible life, committing murders with magic. Now that they are free and in their own control, they have chosen to buy a farm in a small town as far away from the cult’s influence as possible. However, all things come back eventually, and Oaklin is forced to reckon with their past while finding healing, love and community.

This book is being branded as a cozy book. I think that is a mistake. The plot is low stakes, which is great, but the heaviness of Oaklin’s PTSD made the book a heavy read compared to many cozy novels. This book talks about death and murder and violations of the body and mind. I think the emotional stakes were a little too high for my own expectations, despite the cozy elements.

However, there were a lot of cozy elements that were done well. There’s a lot of time spent gardening with our hands in the dirt and foraging for mushrooms in the forest and plucking apples off of the vine. There’s magical baked goods that bring healing or joy or the cure to a hangover. There’s gentle language about trauma and consent and sexuality that feels soothing. The community has an ethos of coming together in mutual aid, which feels revolutionary to our character in the moment and also serves as a stark contrast to the world we live in now.

I loved the queer representation in this book. Our main character is non-binary, and there are multiple queer relationships that are mentioned casually. The love story between our nonbinary character and their female partner was enjoyable, though not the center of the story. It was all treated as very normal and accepted and not-at-all-strange and there’s something very cozy in the normality of it all. It feels very safe for a variety of identities to experience this book comfortably.

The magic system was a little confusing to me; there’s mention that Oaklin left home to learn about magic because of the lack of education presented, and there are spells mentioned. Yet, Oaklin does not seem to need any sort of spell book and is able to magically infuse things specifically around their gardening domain. It was hard for me to tell if the spells the author meant as “believing something with intention” as the magic is done, or if there are specific spells and chants that we simply missed. There were times it felt distracting to not understand, especially given that it was such a large part of our character’s motivation.

The real problem with this book, however, is that our character doesn’t feel very compelling. Their trauma is so deep and overwhelming that their self esteem is terrible. The book follows many of the plot movements of other popular cozy books, but Oaklin feels much less compelling than the other protagonists. Their own anxieties and self-deprecation really inform our understanding of the character, and it’s hard to root for someone who feels unable to root for themselves. Also, they have a strong flight reflex, and it’s hard to root for someone who has literally everything in the world going right and still is ready to run (but where would you run, truly? This was the most random place you could find, friend).

Overall, this is an enjoyable book if you’re able to handle the heavy PTSD themes. They get better throughout the book but never go away, and become a major element of the third act conflict. If you’re going into this expecting a cup of hot chocolate, this might not be the right book. If you’re ready to read about a broken person who gets a little less broken thanks to some friends and a persnickety ghost, then this might be a good book for you.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for this advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Eva_812 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!

This was a very comforting and sweet story about healing, a farm and small town life. It is the perfect story to read before bed. Which was a mistake as I then found myself in the miserable situation of wanting to read more but really having to go to bed. "Just one more chapter" I'd say a few times and way past my bedtime I'd put the book away and do the same the next day.
The interesting part is that it wasn't even thát good, so I couldn't say what had me hooked. Sweetness and curiousity, I'd say. But halfway through, I felt that everything went a little too smoothly for Oaklin (though not saying they don't deserve a break after what happened to them) : cheap farm, interactive ghostly manual, a source of income ready, super nice people helping them immediatly. It felt like the author didn't want to give Oaklin any more hardships (which is fair! but a little boring to read). And the progression in healing and finding their way was a little too linear: basically everything succeeded at the first try. Maybe a lot has happened in the timeskips, but as we're told and not shown, this doesn't really help me feel the struggles that Oaklin surely must deal with when being new at farming (I think I would also just have liked to see more of the farm and learning how to deal with it). This is also something that stunted my investment in the characters and didn't make me feel so involved with their relationships. For example I was surprised to see Oaklin start to care so much about Granny, as I didn't get to actually see their relationship progress so much.
And I know this was a low-stake cozy fantasy, but the stakes were a little too low for my taste. Of course there was the little incident with the inquisitor, but that was pushed to the background and I really didn't worry about that too much.

Also, the title is a little misleading... Oaklin isn't actually formerly villainous. They are not, nor have been, villainous. However, they have been mind-controlled. I would have said they don't even remember what happened, which is a statement made by Oaklin themselves, but they also later say they do remember flashes. Formerly villainous implies a redemption arc. Oaklin never had to be redeemed, as they weren't to blame (except maybe for being lured into a cult under false premises, which is unfortunate at best and naive at worst, but neither makes you a villain). Maybe it should be "A field Guide to the formerly mind controlled", I feel like that would be more fitting.

Overall this was a quick, easy and fun read, so if you want something lowstakes and delightfully sweet, I would recommend it!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
What a truly lovely book.

Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous is definitely a cosy fantasy, and one that had me smiling while I was reading. It takes place over three seasons in a small town, bringing you the hopeful fresh start of spring, the joyful connections and fulfilling work of summer and the cosy settling-in of autumn. I enjoyed the descriptions of tending to plants and the way magic weaved through the land.

Our main character Oaklin is non-binary (they/them) and bi- or pansexual – and they develop queer friendships and meet other queer community members as well. The community they find themselves in is friendly and tear-inducingly supportive towards new-to-town Oaklin: the people genuinely want to help, and the town has systems in place to support their residents. I think that anyone who has found themselves needing to make new friends as an adult will find this very endearing and comforting.

This book also explores trauma and all that goes along with it. We see Oaklin experiencing vivid flashbacks, seemingly caused by the most unexpected of things, as well as their dreams of trauma (and healing), and trigger-induced illness. It explores Oaklin's feelings of shame, as well as their struggles with trusting both others and themself. To watch them slowly heal, gaining more trust and openness over time (in the non-linear way that healing happens), was so very heart-warming. I was in tears in response to the understanding, compassion and forgiveness shown by Oaklin's friends.

I felt that some of the dialogue in the beginning felt a bit awkward or unnatural, but I either adjusted to the writing style or the dialogue improved as it went along, because it wasn't a problem for very long at all. There were also some minor inconsistencies in some side-details that I noticed throughout the book, but nothing big enough to affect my overall enjoyment of this novel.

I am not sure whether Autumn K England plans to make this a series, but it sure feels like there is plenty of potential for some of these characters to have their own novels in future, and I think this small town setting could lend itself well to a a series featuring different characters each time. I really hope it happens - I would very much look forward to reading them!

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this review copy. I greatly enjoyed my time with it, and this review has been my genuine opinion.

[Erik Hilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and foremost, I must say that I recognise this book for what it is: a shameless wish-fulfillment fantasy. However, I must also say that it’s exactly the kind of wish-fulfilment fantasy that happens to appeal to me, and I feel like this book would resonate with many living in these uncertain times. I’d be surprised if someone has never thought of quitting their corporate job, moving to a small farming community, living off of the land and starting their life all over again.

This book paints a very idealised, probably unrealistic picture of life in a small village. It also helps that the main character has magic (which they slowly learn to use again). Everyone supports everyone, and the sense of community in this imaginary place made me feel fuzzy and warm inside. In addition, there is no prejudice against queer people, who are numerous in this book.

The book is well written and has a style that I like: it’s great to read and difficult to stop once you get to it. I didn’t think it would be so fun and exciting to read about farming of all things. I like how Oaklin’s trauma was depicted and I thought the aversion to magic and the flashbacks were both believable. It’s satisfying to see the protagonist recover in small increments. The romance between the main character and Lior is also nice and the two had great chemistry in my opinion.

I also thought the worldbuilding was good. I like how magic is a part of daily life in this world and I thought that making wizards use their powers to bake bread and farm lettuce was ingenious.

Overall, I’d say that I really liked this book and would definitely recommend it. If you’re open to reading about a guy growing their own food using their magical powers, give this book a try.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you don’t need all the action of a traditional fantasy. Sometimes you just need to read a cozy fantasy, and that is what this book is. This story happens all the fighting and killing and burning of villages. This is what happens to both the “good guys” and the “bad guys” when the fighting stops. And it is a wonderful story.

The basic story is Oaklin was a mind-controlled murder, who was saved, and now just wants to find a quiet play where they can live out their days. They buy a farm with a ghost, who needs to tell how to run the said farm with magic. But Oaklin doesn't want to use magic, because that was what caused the problems in the first place.

What I like mostly about this book is how kind everyone is. There is a lot of horror out there in the world, and yet there is also forgiveness, and healing. And the people of the village that they move to all support each other. If someone’s crop fails, that doesn’t mean they will all starve. There are food banks, and other farmers can also help.

Now, full disclosure, I read this story when the author first put it up on StoryLoom, and loved it then too. But even if, like me, you read the story before, that doesn't mean you won’t enjoy reading it again, because it has gone from a single pretty flower, to a complete bouquet.

This story deserves all the stars. I believe the author has another story in this universe, in the works, and I look forward to reading that one as well.

Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published on the 2nd of June 2026.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A former cultist, a paladin-librarian, and a ghost walk into a pub... No, not a joke, just three deeply traumatized people trying to heal each other. Add a farm, a very good dog who doubles as a protector, and a grumpy horse, and suddenly this feels like Stardew Valley in book form. And honestly? It is. But it’s also more than that.

Beneath the cozy vibes, this is a story about regret, guilt, and old wounds that don’t heal easily. It’s about friendship, forgiveness, and the quiet magic of people choosing kindness again and again.

I might have gone in expecting a bit more action or some proper villain activity, but I didn’t mind letting that go. This book is meant to be slow, gentle, and comforting. It’s the kind of fantasy that hands you a warm blanket, tells you to sit down, and reminds you that it’s okay to rest. An ode to friendship, community, and helping the people around you, simply because you can.

The worldbuilding was a delight. Magic is part of everyday life here, and wizards using their powers to bake bread or grow cabbage felt oddly brilliant. At one point, the book made me genuinely hungry, and frankly, I would love a slice of blueberry sage balm cake to heal a few emotional wounds of my own.

There’s also the ghost who quietly became the heart of the story for me. She wasn’t there to haunt or punish. She was exactly what Oaklin needed: a kind word, a hug, a gentle "slap" in the face when necessary, and the motivation to keep going. Support in its truest form.

Before I finish, I will never forgive Oaklin for the whole cracking-the-book-spine incident. Some crimes are unforgivable.

[Juno ✦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for providing ARC access!

I think it's impossible to not fall in love with this book. For such a cute title with an equally adorable cover art, Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous doesn't shy away from exploring the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to its characters lives, their pasts, and what they do to work towards a happy future. It's touching to see a book handle complex subjects like trauma and community in a way that's both mature and comforting, and there's even more praise to be waxed for the author's tasteful skill in portraying human fear and insecurities in a manner that feels heartfelt and thoughtful. It's also just nice to see non-binary, LGBTQIAP+, and/or traumatized characters finding their place in a welcoming community and to be accepted for who they are.

Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous is the perfect stay-at-home read on a cold winter day with a warm cup of tea by your side. I found myself thinking about this book when I wasn't reading it, and when I was, I was grinning from ear-to-ear and enraptured by each page. Seeing the journey and the bonds that Oaklin, Lior, Ryn, and Jules cultivated had me cheering for them every step of the way. You'll celebrate with them, cry for them, pray for them, treat them like they're your real friends that are within your reach and deserving of the biggest hug you can muster.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Fieldguide to the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K. England is a cozy fantasy that balances charm, heart, and gentle magic beautifully. The story follows an ex-cultist turned small-town farmer, navigating a quieter life while remnants of magic—and the past—still linger. The premise feels fresh while delivering the comforting tone cozy fantasy readers crave.

The small-town setting is particularly well done, and the inclusion of a magical bakery added a delightful, sensory-rich element that enhanced the atmosphere. It’s the kind of world readers will want to linger in, ideally with one of the baked goods described on the page.

Representation throughout the novel is thoughtful and seamlessly integrated, and the romance is sweet and tender without overshadowing the broader themes of healing, redemption, and belonging. Character growth is handled with care, making the emotional beats feel earned and satisfying.

This book will strongly appeal to fans of cozy, character-driven fantasy. Readers who enjoy the works of Sarah Beth Durst will find much to love here. I would gladly recommend this title to readers seeking a comforting, inclusive fantasy with low stakes and high heart.

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5

I don't remember how many pages this had, but I remember it reading so quickly. I think that was the writing style. Some writing styles just read way faster than others for me. And I do find that more rare in fantastical books, so I did notice that.

This was super fun! (I need to descriptive words for books, I keep saying books are fun.)

I liked the fantastical cult angle. I really don't think I've ever read that sort of situation before. I do wish we got a bit more into that. Like if we got to see our main character being in the cult and then leaving instead of just being out? I don't know. I just am fascinated by cults and was so excited about that element.

This is definitely a slower, cozier fantasy. This has low stakes and is more of a reflection by our main characters on their life and moving on. I thought it was done very well. I think plenty of cozy fantasy readers will adore this.

I also really loved the setting of this small town with magical little shops. I want to go to there.

There was a lot of different elements, a little romance and a little mystery and a little redemption.

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

[Y.N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Press for the eARC

This book is a very sweet story, meant to comfort and focus on positive healing. The setting is build for that : farming and small town, in a very picturesque, cute way. Oaklin, our main character, suffer from their past as a mind-controlled minion for a Big Villain, and only wants a quiet life now. Which they get. The author clearly didn't want to add to Oaklin troubles, so this is definitely a sweet story, with a big idealisation of farm life and small communities. The ghost helping Oaklin is your archetypal old lady, which was fun (and there is nice lil' twist around her).

Oaklin development throughout the book, from using their magic and coming to trust the people of the town was nice. I can't I was really invested, I generaly need a bit more asperities to really get into a character, but it did the work. Lior was nice, Ryn was nice, everything was nice.

Overall, if you are looking for a sweet, low stake story (low stake not meaning no stake, the'yre just very tied to Oaklin's healing), you might enjoy this one!

[Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved everything about this book. I loved every single character I was introduced to (except the Inquisitor and the Enchantrix but I guess we were never properly introduced so doesn’t count <3). This story reminded me of everything I love about D&D and the last few sessions or epilogue to the campaign where everything is being neatly tied up while the characters are still having to deal with the consequences of their actions and those of others. It reminded me of what I love about stories and storytelling. It also just felt good to read through a heavily traumatized character’s journey of healing, knowing that with time and support anyone can keep going and find peace. It was cozy and low stakes, but still had me on the edge of my seat rooting for Oaklin throughout. Genuinely, I don’t think I can recommend this book enough. Thank you so, so much to the author for this wonderful story!

Huge thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Katie May · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is super low stakes cozy fantasy. It’s cute and hits all the cozy beats; cozy hobby, found family, healing from past trauma, and fun (ghost) companion. It’s a quick, fun read but it’s not doing anything groundbreaking.

The title is a little deceiving but from Oaklin’s POV it holds true. (I thought this was more like retired bad guy turns good, but it’s so much more than that). The message is great; sometimes you need someone to lean on and bad things happening doesn’t make you a bad person. I especially appreciated the line about poor people needing a sweet treat sometimes because if that isn’t the damn truth. Read this if you’re feeling low and hopeless, the sweet friendships and the sweeter romance will likely cure what ails you.

Would recommend specifically for: those who love gardening and are on a healing journey.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author/publisher for an early copy of this book in exhange for an honest review.

[diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

this was a very cute and whimsical book! i enjoyed the cozy vibes, from the farming to the village folk of mossley’s rest. i think the characters are fun and oaklin’s background as a former cultist is interesting. the book is fast paced, as there are a lot of time skips, some lasting 6 weeks. i think the book suffers from these long time skips, because we are then told about a lot of what happens during that time instead of shown. friendships and relationships develop off page, oaklin learning to manage the farm and their market trips happen off page. a lot of this book becomes a summary and that ruins some of the magic for me.

overall, a fun and quick read and it has made me want to pick up stardew valley again, for the millionth time.

[Lucie Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is exactly what I was looking for at this time of year, when all you want to do is snuggle up in a blanket and read a cosy book. The people of Mossley's Rest were so kind-hearted, and it was lovely to read about them supporting Oaklin as part of the community. There was also everything you look for in a small village – libraries, bakeries and festivals. The book was able to deal with Oaklin’s trauma and the process of healing in a way that felt thoughtful and considerate, balancing Oaklin’s struggles with the joy of their new life. I thought that the little romance subplot felt too instant, but overall, this was a great edition to the cosy fantasy subgenre!

[Tanya Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so this was marketed as Stardew Valley meets Studio Ghibli, and honestly, that's what hooked me.

Six years ago, Oaklin Nettlewood accidently joined a cult , and was mind controlled to do some horrific things. Now that the leader is dead, and they are no longer controlled, they just want to hide away and lick their wounds. They buy a farm far away from where they lived, and end up with an unexpected housemate. Slowly they end up making friends in the town, but what happens when their past comes catching up?

This really is an adorable cozy fantasy, that was deeper than I was expecting, but so, so good. If we get this one in store, it's definitely one I will be throwing at everyone!

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this one!

[Sarah Sjodahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need a book for every single townsperson is Mossley’s Rest.
This is one of the best cozy fantasy stories I’ve ever read. It’s going to be the book I suggest to people when they ask for recommendations.

It was such a wonderful story of forgiveness and healing. A powerful message for those who may have survivor’s guilt. Honestly, a powerful message for anyone and everyone.

Oaklin embodied the journey of healing in such a realistic way. The panic, the fear, the reluctance to accept help. It was so refreshing to read a character so real.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall this book was enjoyable, I too would love to live in a cozy town like Oaklin has ended up in! I am a fan of the cozy fantasy sub-genre but I think the labeling of this book as that is slightly misleading. I think the character’s struggle with PTSD while trying to live their new cozy life is somewhat jarring. I think if you just want a cozy escape this might at times not be the right fit. Although a common critique of cozy fantasy I see online is that it doesn’t have enough character conflict and growth so if you are looking for more of that then this could be a good fit.

Note: I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley.

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really sweet story about overcoming traumatic experiences— and boy, the bar is high for traumatic experiences in this one. I love me the characters, the messages about healing, the daily carrying on despite fear and anxiety and a really bossy ghost. Good romance, lovely community, pleasant farming fantasy. I hope that before publication there’s a little bit more time spent caring for the livestock — it’s hard to believe in a magical system that can keep domestic livestock going — but the rest is comfort and kindness.

Advanced Readers Copy provided by edelweiss

[Gabriella · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. In short: A low stakes plot, a bit of magic, a bit of whimsy. A tad too much PTSD for what’s marketed as a cosy fantasy.

I felt like this was a really enjoyable read and it honestly felt through a walkthrough of Stardew Valley (in a good way!), but I did feel it leant darker than expected in places which prevented it from being to a truly /relaxing/ read. With that said, I do absolutely recommend it to fans seeking a cottage-core cosy read, especially those that love Stardew and Animal Crossing. Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for early access!

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're the mood for a heartwarming, reassuring, gentle read (and who wouldn't be, these days?), this may be exactly what you're looking for. This story of recovery and self-forgiveness is a warm bath for the soul. There's not much tension or action, but that's okay. The story romps along, and goodness prevails, and who could argue with that?

My thanks to the publisher/NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

[Lorna Hee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

When the description said it was a stardew valleyesque read they weren't kidding. Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous reads like a cosy farming game with magical cakes, learning from library books about farming and a giant lovable livestock guardian dog. Oh and grumpy horse and the ghost of the previous owner.

I would play this book as a game!

It has ultimate cosy vibes with a hint of redemption from a traumatic past and undoing years of being controlled.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s not a bad book but very slow. At times I struggled to stay interested but it was a good tale of forgiving yourself for the past.

It’s a story about growth and acceptance which I liked. Had I found this book last year when I lost my mother I may have appreciated it more at that time but I like that this book exists.

Thanks to NetGallery and the publisher for this Arc in exchange for my honest review

[Samuel White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K. England was such an enjoyable read. I really liked the gardening elements and the cozy small-town feel, and the overall tone of the book is consistently positive and uplifting. It was simply a pleasure to spend time in this world, and I found myself enjoying the reading experience from start to finish.

[Shan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truly a beautifully written and utterly wonderful cosy fantasy with the sweetest romance. I can 100% say this is a new favourite of mine. I adored everything about it from the writing style to the characters and all in between. This will definitely be in my favourites at the end of the year, and I've absolutely ran to preorder a physical copy! Couldn't recommend this enough.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute quirky story. I liked that whilst the past had a crucial part in the story the focus really was on the present and the future. The characters are all fantastic and I’d love to read more books set in Mossley Rest.

[beyondthebookcase95 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really liked this!!!! A cozy fantasy filled with every thing you might want and some good backstory as well. I curled up and read this and was delighted by it!!

ARC provided by netgalley and publisher.

[Abbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely addition to the cozy fantasy sub-genre that has gained such traction in the last few years. It's the right balance of humor and heart, from Granny Ghost to the honest trauma Oaklin is dealing with. The romance between Oaklin and Lior is so sweet, and I think we all are going to want some of Ryn's baked goods! I'm looking forward to seeing more in the series. I'm hoping the next book is about Ryn and Jules? (Hint, hint.)

[Sarah R · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ arc arc arc ✨

Did someone say cozy, farm, queer, magical book?! I ate this up, it was so cute!