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The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance
Win a free print copy of this book!
1 day and 02:32:45
10 copies available
U.S. only
BEHIND EVERY HERO, THERE'S A HISTORIAN
An ambitious young scholar is sent to research the mysteries of an adventurer's inn – only to uncover a centuries-old secret in this heart-warming and poignant fantasy.
Mount Vengeance is legendary, a monumental climb with a dragon at its peak.
For most, it’s an adventure, or a quest to prove themselves worthy of fame and glory.
For Ainsworth, it’s perfect thesis material.
Ainsworth Gladsly, ambitious young scholar, research fellow and up-and-coming historian is finally ready to make his mark on the world. When his supervisor learns of a rustic inn at the foot of the legendary Mount Vengeance, she send him to be the first to to document the exploits of the bold adventurers who face the perils of the mountain – and the dragon said to inhabit it.
But the inn is far from the sophisticated city life he’s grown to love, and even as he grudgingly warms to its rustic charm – and its lovely innkeeper, Honey – the mystery of the mountain refuses to reveal itself. Worse, Ainsworth can’t find evidence that anyone has ever undertaken the climb – every adventurer comes to the inn, stays for a single night, and then returns home.
And with Ainsworth’s reputation as an academic on the line, it’s a mystery he can’t allow to remain unsolved – even if he has to push the adventurers up the mountain himself.
An ambitious young scholar is sent to research the mysteries of an adventurer's inn – only to uncover a centuries-old secret in this heart-warming and poignant fantasy.
Mount Vengeance is legendary, a monumental climb with a dragon at its peak.
For most, it’s an adventure, or a quest to prove themselves worthy of fame and glory.
For Ainsworth, it’s perfect thesis material.
Ainsworth Gladsly, ambitious young scholar, research fellow and up-and-coming historian is finally ready to make his mark on the world. When his supervisor learns of a rustic inn at the foot of the legendary Mount Vengeance, she send him to be the first to to document the exploits of the bold adventurers who face the perils of the mountain – and the dragon said to inhabit it.
But the inn is far from the sophisticated city life he’s grown to love, and even as he grudgingly warms to its rustic charm – and its lovely innkeeper, Honey – the mystery of the mountain refuses to reveal itself. Worse, Ainsworth can’t find evidence that anyone has ever undertaken the climb – every adventurer comes to the inn, stays for a single night, and then returns home.
And with Ainsworth’s reputation as an academic on the line, it’s a mystery he can’t allow to remain unsolved – even if he has to push the adventurers up the mountain himself.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published July 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 393 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
While I generally approve of the cozy magical inn trend that we seem to be getting this year, I can't say that this book did much for me personally. It was kinda missing a certain spark that made me fall in love with the characters and so I was reading a character focused story without ever caring about said characters. There was barely any actual plot that could have made up for this lack and so I didn't really have anything to look forward to with this book. I don't even think that this is a bad book, but I was just not clicking with it.
It's the story of Ainsworth Gladsly, a scholar who loves working behind his desk and not so much out in the field. Nevertheless, he was sent to a remote location many miles away from his home, and at the beginning of the book he grumpily arrives at the Misnich Inn at the foot of Mount Vengeance. The inn is the place every traveler passes when seeking adventure on the mountain notorious for its treasures and the dragon at its peak. Ainsworth wants to write down the history of the inn and collect accounts of successful adventures, but he soon learns that no one actually every makes it to the mountain. Everyone just makes up their mind and returns home, no matter how determined they were about going up and fighting the dragon. Without an actual task, Ainsworth more or less ends up cleaning out the attic and starts befriending the staff of the inn, including the mysterious innkeeper named Honey. I'm sure that the author was trying to go for a found family dynamic there, but I had major problems with the characters. On the one hand, I didn't like Ainsworth much. He was an incoherent character to me. He is supposed to be a passionate scholar on the hunt for knowledge, but he is so very disappointed when he learns that something isn't what he imagined. Like, shouldn't he be thrilled to learn how things actually are? He also has prejudices about the inn and everyone who lives in such a remote place, and that behavior was called out by the other characters, but it didn't make me root for him anyway. On the other hand, there were just too many random people living at the inn. Not even guests, but just the staff who is always there. Most of them got little backstories eventually, but it was so hard to care about them when they basically had their one moment with Ainsworth and then were sidelined again. Their different races didn't matter either, because the race would only be mentioned when a character is first introduced and never play a role again. All these points made this book an absolute slog to get through for me. Every scene and every talk went on for longer than necessary and turned weirdly repetitive instead of just ending when everything was said and done. It's not even a long book, but I guess any story can drag if you just can't get into it. Not for me, 2.5 stars.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
It's the story of Ainsworth Gladsly, a scholar who loves working behind his desk and not so much out in the field. Nevertheless, he was sent to a remote location many miles away from his home, and at the beginning of the book he grumpily arrives at the Misnich Inn at the foot of Mount Vengeance. The inn is the place every traveler passes when seeking adventure on the mountain notorious for its treasures and the dragon at its peak. Ainsworth wants to write down the history of the inn and collect accounts of successful adventures, but he soon learns that no one actually every makes it to the mountain. Everyone just makes up their mind and returns home, no matter how determined they were about going up and fighting the dragon. Without an actual task, Ainsworth more or less ends up cleaning out the attic and starts befriending the staff of the inn, including the mysterious innkeeper named Honey. I'm sure that the author was trying to go for a found family dynamic there, but I had major problems with the characters. On the one hand, I didn't like Ainsworth much. He was an incoherent character to me. He is supposed to be a passionate scholar on the hunt for knowledge, but he is so very disappointed when he learns that something isn't what he imagined. Like, shouldn't he be thrilled to learn how things actually are? He also has prejudices about the inn and everyone who lives in such a remote place, and that behavior was called out by the other characters, but it didn't make me root for him anyway. On the other hand, there were just too many random people living at the inn. Not even guests, but just the staff who is always there. Most of them got little backstories eventually, but it was so hard to care about them when they basically had their one moment with Ainsworth and then were sidelined again. Their different races didn't matter either, because the race would only be mentioned when a character is first introduced and never play a role again. All these points made this book an absolute slog to get through for me. Every scene and every talk went on for longer than necessary and turned weirdly repetitive instead of just ending when everything was said and done. It's not even a long book, but I guess any story can drag if you just can't get into it. Not for me, 2.5 stars.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2026
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!
3.5 stars — the inn at the foot of mount vengeance is a cozy, lowstakes fantasy novel with an academic twist as readers follow our ambitious young scholar, ainsworth, who has been sent to research the mysteries of an adventurer's inn – only to uncover a centuries-old secret! ainsworth was a stuffy academic who felt that the staff at the inn of mount vengeance couldn’t provide much first hand accounts of the history; however, after interacting with the staff and passerbys, his character develops immensely!
i also listened to the audiobook on libby and the narrator did a great job!
3.5 stars — the inn at the foot of mount vengeance is a cozy, lowstakes fantasy novel with an academic twist as readers follow our ambitious young scholar, ainsworth, who has been sent to research the mysteries of an adventurer's inn – only to uncover a centuries-old secret! ainsworth was a stuffy academic who felt that the staff at the inn of mount vengeance couldn’t provide much first hand accounts of the history; however, after interacting with the staff and passerbys, his character develops immensely!
i also listened to the audiobook on libby and the narrator did a great job!
April 24, 2026
This is my favorite out of all the cozy fantasy novels I’ve read recently. Who would have thought that a book about a seemingly pompous, self-absorbed scholar would turn out to be delightfully wholesome? Chiara Bullen’s debut quickly pulled me in. I had to really slow down towards the last few chapters because I just didn’t want to leave Misnich Inn!
Ainsworth Gladsly is a privileged historian that reluctantly pursues studying Misnich Inn at the foot of the fabled Mount Vengeance. Many people are rumored to seek the dragon that resides in the mountain, but there is absolutely zero literature about the mountain, the inn, or any successful adventurers. He soon discovers that no one ever actually climbs the mountain. Everyone miraculously goes back home after a stay at the inn. Ainsworth is determined to discover why.
Ainsworth’s antics initially pulled me in. Ainsworth is hilariously snobbish. Like, over the top in a way that has me giggling at just how ridiculous he is- like you know he just has to redeem himself. But other than that, the story of the eventual redemption kept me reading. This story explores the desire to belong and prove oneself, when in reality self worth doesn’t need to rely on other’s opinions. All the residents of Misnich have interesting histories, all finding the inn when the most need it. Quiddle and Ruraidh are my favorites. But let’s not forget Honey! She’s mysterious but you can tell there’s a burning fire underneath her sweet exterior. I love how Ainsworth is so delightful unaware, even naïve, of other’s (positive) feelings for him.
If you want a cozy fantasy heavy on self-actualization with dnd vibes and a pinch of mystery, then I HIGHLY recommend this!! I will be impatiently waiting for another book by Bullen.
Thank you DelRey for the gifted eARC!
Ainsworth Gladsly is a privileged historian that reluctantly pursues studying Misnich Inn at the foot of the fabled Mount Vengeance. Many people are rumored to seek the dragon that resides in the mountain, but there is absolutely zero literature about the mountain, the inn, or any successful adventurers. He soon discovers that no one ever actually climbs the mountain. Everyone miraculously goes back home after a stay at the inn. Ainsworth is determined to discover why.
Ainsworth’s antics initially pulled me in. Ainsworth is hilariously snobbish. Like, over the top in a way that has me giggling at just how ridiculous he is- like you know he just has to redeem himself. But other than that, the story of the eventual redemption kept me reading. This story explores the desire to belong and prove oneself, when in reality self worth doesn’t need to rely on other’s opinions. All the residents of Misnich have interesting histories, all finding the inn when the most need it. Quiddle and Ruraidh are my favorites. But let’s not forget Honey! She’s mysterious but you can tell there’s a burning fire underneath her sweet exterior. I love how Ainsworth is so delightful unaware, even naïve, of other’s (positive) feelings for him.
If you want a cozy fantasy heavy on self-actualization with dnd vibes and a pinch of mystery, then I HIGHLY recommend this!! I will be impatiently waiting for another book by Bullen.
Thank you DelRey for the gifted eARC!
August 5, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I liked a lot of what this book was going for, but it didn't quite land for me. Weirdly, I feel like this book would have almost worked better with the perspectives flipped. The PoV being Honey rather than Ainsworth would've made for a bit more of a compelling narrative. Ainsworth is frustratingly dense at times despite being a "scholar." I also feel like the other scholars he interacts with at points are weirdly elitist in a gross way that I've personally never seen in academia. While I don't regret reading this book, I found myself wishing I had learned some of the things saved for the last 25% a bit earlier, and the later parts being focused more on the characters and research Ainsworth was supposed to be doing, which we get almost none of. I think the best part of this book, however, is that at least the relationship between Honey and Ainsworth is believable.
I liked a lot of what this book was going for, but it didn't quite land for me. Weirdly, I feel like this book would have almost worked better with the perspectives flipped. The PoV being Honey rather than Ainsworth would've made for a bit more of a compelling narrative. Ainsworth is frustratingly dense at times despite being a "scholar." I also feel like the other scholars he interacts with at points are weirdly elitist in a gross way that I've personally never seen in academia. While I don't regret reading this book, I found myself wishing I had learned some of the things saved for the last 25% a bit earlier, and the later parts being focused more on the characters and research Ainsworth was supposed to be doing, which we get almost none of. I think the best part of this book, however, is that at least the relationship between Honey and Ainsworth is believable.
Did Not Finish
June 8, 2026DNF @22%
In my reading experience, “cozy” fantasy doesn’t mean “boring” fantasy. But 22% in and there was nothing going on in the plot and the characters were so bland. My biggest issue was the world building. Creature types and places would be thrown out at me with little to no explanation. I also was very unclear on the MC’s relationship status which bothered me bc I wanted to know if I was supposed to ship him with another character or not…? The mystery of why all adventurers turned back at the inn and none went on to conquer the mountain was intriguing, but that was it. Finding out the answer to that wasn’t worth reading the rest of this.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc for review.
In my reading experience, “cozy” fantasy doesn’t mean “boring” fantasy. But 22% in and there was nothing going on in the plot and the characters were so bland. My biggest issue was the world building. Creature types and places would be thrown out at me with little to no explanation. I also was very unclear on the MC’s relationship status which bothered me bc I wanted to know if I was supposed to ship him with another character or not…? The mystery of why all adventurers turned back at the inn and none went on to conquer the mountain was intriguing, but that was it. Finding out the answer to that wasn’t worth reading the rest of this.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc for review.
July 12, 2026
I loved this sweet little book. A book about setting others expectations aside and slowing down. A book about the joys of good food and good company. As usual when I read fantasy, I ache for the kind of life they lead. All of these friends living in one tavern sharing food and wine and dance and stories. Always close by.
It was just so cozy.
And I loved the emphasis on being kind. That it does not matter if you are the richest or the smartest or the most accomplished one in the room what matters most is that you are kind and how you treat people. That you are a good friend.
I also loved all the references to "adventuring parties" and culture. Very DnD coded, which was fun for me!
I wanted a little more character interaction/dialogue and less cut scenes/summaries of time passing but I imagine thats hard to do when the story spans over so many months.
I didnt feel particularly bonded to the characters and think this was because once they had their interview/introduction with Ainsworth they kind of faded back into the background. But what glimpses we did get of the characters I enjoyed!
I think it was fitting that a story about slowing down felt a little slow at times, and I did not mind it at all.
I would rate it three stars for experience of reading it, but four stars for the feeling it left me with.
It was just so cozy.
And I loved the emphasis on being kind. That it does not matter if you are the richest or the smartest or the most accomplished one in the room what matters most is that you are kind and how you treat people. That you are a good friend.
I also loved all the references to "adventuring parties" and culture. Very DnD coded, which was fun for me!
I wanted a little more character interaction/dialogue and less cut scenes/summaries of time passing but I imagine thats hard to do when the story spans over so many months.
I didnt feel particularly bonded to the characters and think this was because once they had their interview/introduction with Ainsworth they kind of faded back into the background. But what glimpses we did get of the characters I enjoyed!
I think it was fitting that a story about slowing down felt a little slow at times, and I did not mind it at all.
I would rate it three stars for experience of reading it, but four stars for the feeling it left me with.
July 15, 2026
It's a cosy adventure, though the first half might seem boring and partially unnecessary until you get to the end.
Ainsworth is a scholar and he goes on a journey following the discovery of a letter from his grandfather, who was an adventurer. Ains arrives at the Misnich Inn at the foot of Mount Vengeance ready to plunge himself into the project of collecting adventurers' stories from right before they go to climb Mount Vengeance, planning to follow up with them later for the full accounts of their journeys. Surprise, surprise, though: no one actually ever goes up the mountain. They all spend the night at the Inn, only to leave in the morning as they decide they don't actually need the glory and the riches of the dragon that inhabits the Mount.
Our scholar is set on discovering what the secret is, but in the meantime, he gets familiar with the staff at the Inn, starts helping them, and makes his own place here. The longer he stays, the less sense it all makes. While the story develops, we discover his past relationship (and then we meet the guy, ugh), his background, and how he came to be the scholar we know. This is as much Ainsworth's coming-of-age story—coming into who he is supposed to be—as it is a cosy adventure story.
There are many characters that drift through the titular Inn, some of whom are unnecessary in my opinion and just a tad confusing. But everyone who lives there has their own problems we don't really dive into, only brushing the surface of them, and that left me hungry for more, to actually know where these characters came from.
Overall, it's a nice read, and I didn't feel like it was a waste of time.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
Ainsworth is a scholar and he goes on a journey following the discovery of a letter from his grandfather, who was an adventurer. Ains arrives at the Misnich Inn at the foot of Mount Vengeance ready to plunge himself into the project of collecting adventurers' stories from right before they go to climb Mount Vengeance, planning to follow up with them later for the full accounts of their journeys. Surprise, surprise, though: no one actually ever goes up the mountain. They all spend the night at the Inn, only to leave in the morning as they decide they don't actually need the glory and the riches of the dragon that inhabits the Mount.
Our scholar is set on discovering what the secret is, but in the meantime, he gets familiar with the staff at the Inn, starts helping them, and makes his own place here. The longer he stays, the less sense it all makes. While the story develops, we discover his past relationship (and then we meet the guy, ugh), his background, and how he came to be the scholar we know. This is as much Ainsworth's coming-of-age story—coming into who he is supposed to be—as it is a cosy adventure story.
There are many characters that drift through the titular Inn, some of whom are unnecessary in my opinion and just a tad confusing. But everyone who lives there has their own problems we don't really dive into, only brushing the surface of them, and that left me hungry for more, to actually know where these characters came from.
Overall, it's a nice read, and I didn't feel like it was a waste of time.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
November 25, 2025
My 1st ARC read did not disappoint 🥰
This book really felt like a journey, cozy one at that. Beautiful world building, nicely written characters, the mystery aspect was well crafted and the warm feeling I got throughout the story was refreshing 🖤 all I can say is good work and I can't wait to get my hands on physical copy 🖤🖤🖤
This book really felt like a journey, cozy one at that. Beautiful world building, nicely written characters, the mystery aspect was well crafted and the warm feeling I got throughout the story was refreshing 🖤 all I can say is good work and I can't wait to get my hands on physical copy 🖤🖤🖤
July 7, 2026
Thank you so much to Del Rey, Chiara Bullen and NetGalley for sending me an eARC of The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance!
The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance follows scholar Ainsworth Gladsly who has taken it upon himself to research the elusive Mount Vengeance, an unclimbable mountain with a dragon living atop it, and the small inn that rests at the foot of the mountain. Most adventurers seek the mountain for fame and glory, to kill the dragon and take its hoard, but for Ainsworth, this is a chance to break into his research career and to finally be seen and acknowledged by the high ups in the sophisticated city he's called home for years. However, upon reaching the inn, he discovers that every adventurer who seeks to make the climb decides to turn around and go home upon the morning that they're due to set out. Ainsworth must uncover this mystery in order to send adventurers up the mountain so that he can document their adventures in his book. While working with the inn's staff, and it's wholesome innkeeper, Ainsworth soon discovers that there's perhaps more to this mystery than he originally thought.
4.5 stars!
i had such a great time reading this book. I love a cosy fantasy and I think I read this at exactly the right time! It's such a heartwarming story with themes of finding where you belong, slowing down and putting less pressure on yourself, and learning to decentre toxic learned behaviours that I really enjoyed. Our protagonist Ainsworth starts out with quite an unhealthy and almost insufferable view about the world around him, and I was originally unhappy about this as I thought he might just be insufferable for no reason. However upon getting a deeper look into his backstory and his life before coming to the inn, you can really see why he was acting the way he was, and eventually I started to warm up to him and grew to really enjoy his character by the end. He really grew and began to understand how harmful his views and behaviours were, and also where they stemmed from, and from that understanding he changed his ways, which I really liked. He grew to become a really great character and also grew wonderful relationships with the inn's staff. I especially loved how Ashe and Bren warmed up to him slowly through the course of the book; those payoffs felt super rewarding.
The setting of this book is super atmospheric; you can really feel that you're at the foot of a grand mountain with the wind blowing through your hair and the threat of rain in the clouds. The writing was really nice; simple but also had some beautiful imagery in there. I really enjoyed the Scottish-inspired setting and also the mythology that was woven through the story; I want to go down a research rabbit hole about the different Scottish mythical creatures and legends that were used in this. The food descriptions also made me hungry, and the inclusion of recipes at the back of the book was so great; I really want to make those bannocks immediately. Just everything about the setting and writing had me wanting to read more.
Our other characters aside from Ainsworth were all great, aside from one notable exception. When Enach came onto the page I was struck by how loathsome he was, and some of the things he said made me viscerally angry! The way he was portrayed was so well done; he was a loathsome character but it was all hidden behind a veneer of a gentleman that could fool most people. Seeing Ainsworth react to being around him was really quite relatable for me, which did make me feel a bit uncomfortable, but also seeing Ainsworth stand up to him gave me a lot of happiness. The Misnich Inn's caretakers were all amazing, I loved them all so much. I do wish we'd been given a bit more of their backstories and seen them all together a bit more, but I really enjoyed the found family aspect of their relationships and found it all super heartwarming.
Overall I really enjoyed The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance! If you're looking for a cosy fantasy with themes of academia, found family and a reminder to slow down in an ever-moving world, this one is definitely for you! I'm excited to see what Chiara Bullen brings out next.
The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance follows scholar Ainsworth Gladsly who has taken it upon himself to research the elusive Mount Vengeance, an unclimbable mountain with a dragon living atop it, and the small inn that rests at the foot of the mountain. Most adventurers seek the mountain for fame and glory, to kill the dragon and take its hoard, but for Ainsworth, this is a chance to break into his research career and to finally be seen and acknowledged by the high ups in the sophisticated city he's called home for years. However, upon reaching the inn, he discovers that every adventurer who seeks to make the climb decides to turn around and go home upon the morning that they're due to set out. Ainsworth must uncover this mystery in order to send adventurers up the mountain so that he can document their adventures in his book. While working with the inn's staff, and it's wholesome innkeeper, Ainsworth soon discovers that there's perhaps more to this mystery than he originally thought.
4.5 stars!
i had such a great time reading this book. I love a cosy fantasy and I think I read this at exactly the right time! It's such a heartwarming story with themes of finding where you belong, slowing down and putting less pressure on yourself, and learning to decentre toxic learned behaviours that I really enjoyed. Our protagonist Ainsworth starts out with quite an unhealthy and almost insufferable view about the world around him, and I was originally unhappy about this as I thought he might just be insufferable for no reason. However upon getting a deeper look into his backstory and his life before coming to the inn, you can really see why he was acting the way he was, and eventually I started to warm up to him and grew to really enjoy his character by the end. He really grew and began to understand how harmful his views and behaviours were, and also where they stemmed from, and from that understanding he changed his ways, which I really liked. He grew to become a really great character and also grew wonderful relationships with the inn's staff. I especially loved how Ashe and Bren warmed up to him slowly through the course of the book; those payoffs felt super rewarding.
The setting of this book is super atmospheric; you can really feel that you're at the foot of a grand mountain with the wind blowing through your hair and the threat of rain in the clouds. The writing was really nice; simple but also had some beautiful imagery in there. I really enjoyed the Scottish-inspired setting and also the mythology that was woven through the story; I want to go down a research rabbit hole about the different Scottish mythical creatures and legends that were used in this. The food descriptions also made me hungry, and the inclusion of recipes at the back of the book was so great; I really want to make those bannocks immediately. Just everything about the setting and writing had me wanting to read more.
Our other characters aside from Ainsworth were all great, aside from one notable exception. When Enach came onto the page I was struck by how loathsome he was, and some of the things he said made me viscerally angry! The way he was portrayed was so well done; he was a loathsome character but it was all hidden behind a veneer of a gentleman that could fool most people. Seeing Ainsworth react to being around him was really quite relatable for me, which did make me feel a bit uncomfortable, but also seeing Ainsworth stand up to him gave me a lot of happiness. The Misnich Inn's caretakers were all amazing, I loved them all so much. I do wish we'd been given a bit more of their backstories and seen them all together a bit more, but I really enjoyed the found family aspect of their relationships and found it all super heartwarming.
Overall I really enjoyed The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance! If you're looking for a cosy fantasy with themes of academia, found family and a reminder to slow down in an ever-moving world, this one is definitely for you! I'm excited to see what Chiara Bullen brings out next.
February 19, 2026
4.5 Stars! What a cozy, high fantasy, low risk story full of adventure and discovery!
Ainsworth is a scholar from Skarrow’s Library on a journey to the Misnich Inn. He is off to find and document accounts of those who have traveled and bested Mount Vengeance. When he arrives and comes to learn that no one stays longer than a single night at the Inn, or even attempts to climb the mountain, Ainsworth starts wondering if the Inn is cursed.
While trying to befriend the owner and staff of the Misnich Inn, he comes to learn a lot about himself and how out of touch he really is. It’s a very heartwarming story of self discovery and friendship. Plus, the book ends with recipes!! How cute and fun!!
I really hope this also gets an audiobook! This would be the perfect book to listen to and craft. Listening to this story and putting a puzzle together, painting or crocheting ugh that would be so comfy cozy!! I felt inspired while reading this, and to have it in audio form would be amazing!
Big thank you to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this as a e-arc!!
Ainsworth is a scholar from Skarrow’s Library on a journey to the Misnich Inn. He is off to find and document accounts of those who have traveled and bested Mount Vengeance. When he arrives and comes to learn that no one stays longer than a single night at the Inn, or even attempts to climb the mountain, Ainsworth starts wondering if the Inn is cursed.
While trying to befriend the owner and staff of the Misnich Inn, he comes to learn a lot about himself and how out of touch he really is. It’s a very heartwarming story of self discovery and friendship. Plus, the book ends with recipes!! How cute and fun!!
I really hope this also gets an audiobook! This would be the perfect book to listen to and craft. Listening to this story and putting a puzzle together, painting or crocheting ugh that would be so comfy cozy!! I felt inspired while reading this, and to have it in audio form would be amazing!
Big thank you to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this as a e-arc!!
January 30, 2026
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rep: LGBTQ+ main characters
Tropes: slow burn, found family
Thank you to NetGalley & Del Rey for this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book had all the elements of a great cozy fantasy. A wonderful inn filled with delicious food, good company, and a low stakes journey that was so fun to read about.
Ainsworth, our MMC, goes through the most amazing growth that he desperately needed & he came out the other side 100% better. The found family elements in this were equally touching & heartbreaking just to hear some of the backstories these characters possessed. I found myself loving every side character & wanting to know more about each of them. They all bring something different to the table, and they make each other better in all the ways I wish all families could.
The romance is such a sweet slow burn, and it was beautifully written. A love that is gentle & kind was the perfect cherry on top to this story. It also comes with a special twist you won’t see coming, but it’s worth the wait.
This book felt like a love letter to D&D & magic, and I could stay in this magnificent world forever.
Rep: LGBTQ+ main characters
Tropes: slow burn, found family
Thank you to NetGalley & Del Rey for this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book had all the elements of a great cozy fantasy. A wonderful inn filled with delicious food, good company, and a low stakes journey that was so fun to read about.
Ainsworth, our MMC, goes through the most amazing growth that he desperately needed & he came out the other side 100% better. The found family elements in this were equally touching & heartbreaking just to hear some of the backstories these characters possessed. I found myself loving every side character & wanting to know more about each of them. They all bring something different to the table, and they make each other better in all the ways I wish all families could.
The romance is such a sweet slow burn, and it was beautifully written. A love that is gentle & kind was the perfect cherry on top to this story. It also comes with a special twist you won’t see coming, but it’s worth the wait.
This book felt like a love letter to D&D & magic, and I could stay in this magnificent world forever.
May 10, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley & Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. Sadly, I DNF'ed at 20% of the way through.
This book is advertised as a cozy low-stakes fantasy story and the protagonist made the story so unbearable I had to drop it. Ainsworth is a self-centered moron. I couldn't stand him! I thought he was incredibly rude and oblivious and it made it really hard to enjoy the story. He gets a free room at this inn and he's whining and moaning about everything not being perfect...no wonder his boss sent him a million miles away, he's so annoying lol.
This book is advertised as a cozy low-stakes fantasy story and the protagonist made the story so unbearable I had to drop it. Ainsworth is a self-centered moron. I couldn't stand him! I thought he was incredibly rude and oblivious and it made it really hard to enjoy the story. He gets a free room at this inn and he's whining and moaning about everything not being perfect...no wonder his boss sent him a million miles away, he's so annoying lol.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3⭐
This was a cozy fantasy, and while it did have a comforting atmosphere and a quiet sense of mystery, getting into it was a struggle.
The beginning was painfully slow. Nothing was happening, and it took me waay too long to feel even mildly invested. Then the middle dragged on as well, with scenes that felt repetitive and longer than necessary. I kept waiting for the story to pick up.
Thankfully, it does get better as it goes on.
One of the main reasons I didn’t DNF was Ainsworth. His character development was genuinely good. Watching him go from a snobby, self absorbed scholar to an actually kind hearted person felt natural and satisfying, and it easily became one of the strongest parts of the book.
Honey, our FMC and innkeeper, was also a highlight. She’s sweet, warm, and quietly strong, and I was completely engrossed in her story. I especially liked how the author created this ongoing sense of mystery around Honey. It always felt like she was hiding something, which kept me reading even when the pacing slowed.
The inn itself had strong cozy vibes, and the found family moments were comforting. I also really liked the ending. It felt satisfying and suited the overall tone of the book.
All things considered, the pacing issues definitely held this back from being more than a 3 star read for me, but it was still an enjoyable cozy fantasy with solid character growth, a sweet FMC, and a comforting conclusion.
Big thanks to Netgalley and the Del Rey Team for giving me the chance to review this book!
This was a cozy fantasy, and while it did have a comforting atmosphere and a quiet sense of mystery, getting into it was a struggle.
The beginning was painfully slow. Nothing was happening, and it took me waay too long to feel even mildly invested. Then the middle dragged on as well, with scenes that felt repetitive and longer than necessary. I kept waiting for the story to pick up.
Thankfully, it does get better as it goes on.
One of the main reasons I didn’t DNF was Ainsworth. His character development was genuinely good. Watching him go from a snobby, self absorbed scholar to an actually kind hearted person felt natural and satisfying, and it easily became one of the strongest parts of the book.
Honey, our FMC and innkeeper, was also a highlight. She’s sweet, warm, and quietly strong, and I was completely engrossed in her story. I especially liked how the author created this ongoing sense of mystery around Honey. It always felt like she was hiding something, which kept me reading even when the pacing slowed.
The inn itself had strong cozy vibes, and the found family moments were comforting. I also really liked the ending. It felt satisfying and suited the overall tone of the book.
All things considered, the pacing issues definitely held this back from being more than a 3 star read for me, but it was still an enjoyable cozy fantasy with solid character growth, a sweet FMC, and a comforting conclusion.
Big thanks to Netgalley and the Del Rey Team for giving me the chance to review this book!
March 4, 2026
If you want a cozy fantasy romance that sounds like a little bit like a wholesome dnd oneshot, please read The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance. It’s a light, low stakes, comfort read with a slow burn romance and character arcs that feel genuine.
Ainsworth is a scholar who has lost himself within the prestigious world surrounded by the wrong people. When he is sent on a research endeavor to figure out the mystery of Mount Vengeance and the adventures who seek to take on the mountain, he makes his headquarters the Misnich Inn.
While there, both Ainsworth and the reader get to meet and befriend the staff who attend to the few adventures that stumble upon the sleepy little Inn. It is here that you really get to know the cast of characters, falling in love with each one as you get to know more about them. You get the cozy day to day at the Inn interwoven with the Mountain’s mystery.
A cozy fantasy about finding the things that TRULY make you happy, the things that really make you smile. The book takes a light read, but gives you more substance than is typical for the genre, providing you with rich characters and a sweet and slow journey to finding true happiness.
Thank you to the author, Del Rey, and NetGalley for the ARC :)
July 12, 2026
I received a free copy from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
I really like the cozy fantasy genre, so when I saw this one on Netgalley I knew I had to read this one. When I was in the mood for a cozy fantasy book I started it. The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance follows scholar Ainsworth Gladsly, who travels to the Misnich to document it's history and the stories of the travelers who go to the mountain. He is used to the luxuries of the big city and struggles to adapt to the inn's life and then his biggest challenge hits with how no adventures actually go on to brave the mountain and instead turn back. He needs those accounts for his research and the book he is writing and is determined to figure out what's going on.
I have to say after the first few chapters I wasn’t sure whether I would enjoy this book, but decided to give it a few more chapters and I am glad I did s it got better and I ended up really enjoying this book. Ainsworth wasn't very likable at the start, he is used to luxury and think highly of himself and looks down upon those who work at the inn. But slowly I grew to like him more, he sheds some of his pompous behavior and I liked seeing that he actually isn't really like that, but it's more of a facade and way of being he taught himself. Slowly the real Ainsworth comes out the longer he stays at the inn. And he slowly figured out more of what he wants from his life and what really matters to him. I really liked his character development and getting to know more about him as the story progressed. He turned into quite the interesting character and I liked who he became at the end.
This book has quite the cozy vibe with the focus on the inn and those who work there. It has some found family themes as well with the people who work at the inn being like family and being close to each other. I liked getting to know the side characters and seeing Ainsworth interact with them and grow closer. There is also a bit of romantic vibes as Ainsworth grows closer to the innkeeper Honey. I also liked the scholar-y vibes with Ainsworth's research and the way he approached that. There is also some yummy food and cozy times at the inn and some adventuring vibes when Ainsworth climbs part of the mountain.
While mostly character driven I also liked the plot and the mystery of Ainsworth figuring out what is going on at the inn and why no adventurers actually go on with their plans to scale the mountain. I liked how this plot line got resolved and the reveal made a lot of sense, but I hadn't actually predicted that twist. The world building and mythical creatures feel a tad different from most books in the genre and is inspired by Scottish folklore according to the subtitle.
To summarize: I enjoyed reading this book. At first I wasn't sure if I would like Ainsworth as he was quite frankly annoying and rude at first, but slowly he changes and more of the real him shows and he became more likable. There's also some great character development there with him figuring out what he wants and what really matters to him and figuring out his way forward in life. The book has plenty of cozy vibes with the inn setting and some nice descriptions of food and cozy evenings at the inn. The side characters are interesting as well and I liked getting to know them. I liked the mystery of what is going on at the inn and how no adventurers actually go up the mountain and the resolution to that plot line was well done and interesting. All in all I had a good time with this book and I am glad I read it.
I really like the cozy fantasy genre, so when I saw this one on Netgalley I knew I had to read this one. When I was in the mood for a cozy fantasy book I started it. The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance follows scholar Ainsworth Gladsly, who travels to the Misnich to document it's history and the stories of the travelers who go to the mountain. He is used to the luxuries of the big city and struggles to adapt to the inn's life and then his biggest challenge hits with how no adventures actually go on to brave the mountain and instead turn back. He needs those accounts for his research and the book he is writing and is determined to figure out what's going on.
I have to say after the first few chapters I wasn’t sure whether I would enjoy this book, but decided to give it a few more chapters and I am glad I did s it got better and I ended up really enjoying this book. Ainsworth wasn't very likable at the start, he is used to luxury and think highly of himself and looks down upon those who work at the inn. But slowly I grew to like him more, he sheds some of his pompous behavior and I liked seeing that he actually isn't really like that, but it's more of a facade and way of being he taught himself. Slowly the real Ainsworth comes out the longer he stays at the inn. And he slowly figured out more of what he wants from his life and what really matters to him. I really liked his character development and getting to know more about him as the story progressed. He turned into quite the interesting character and I liked who he became at the end.
This book has quite the cozy vibe with the focus on the inn and those who work there. It has some found family themes as well with the people who work at the inn being like family and being close to each other. I liked getting to know the side characters and seeing Ainsworth interact with them and grow closer. There is also a bit of romantic vibes as Ainsworth grows closer to the innkeeper Honey. I also liked the scholar-y vibes with Ainsworth's research and the way he approached that. There is also some yummy food and cozy times at the inn and some adventuring vibes when Ainsworth climbs part of the mountain.
While mostly character driven I also liked the plot and the mystery of Ainsworth figuring out what is going on at the inn and why no adventurers actually go on with their plans to scale the mountain. I liked how this plot line got resolved and the reveal made a lot of sense, but I hadn't actually predicted that twist. The world building and mythical creatures feel a tad different from most books in the genre and is inspired by Scottish folklore according to the subtitle.
To summarize: I enjoyed reading this book. At first I wasn't sure if I would like Ainsworth as he was quite frankly annoying and rude at first, but slowly he changes and more of the real him shows and he became more likable. There's also some great character development there with him figuring out what he wants and what really matters to him and figuring out his way forward in life. The book has plenty of cozy vibes with the inn setting and some nice descriptions of food and cozy evenings at the inn. The side characters are interesting as well and I liked getting to know them. I liked the mystery of what is going on at the inn and how no adventurers actually go up the mountain and the resolution to that plot line was well done and interesting. All in all I had a good time with this book and I am glad I read it.
July 6, 2026
3.5/5 stars
The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance is a standalone cozy fantasy by Chiara Bullen. Research fellow Ainsworth Gladsly has traveled to the foot of Mount Vengeance to study the Misnich Inn, hoping to document its history and the adventurers planning to scale the mountain where a vengeful dragon has hidden its hoard. He believes the resulting book will be exactly what he needs to advance his academic career. But despite the inn’s rustic charm, its lovely innkeeper Honey, and its welcoming staff, something isn’t quite right. Every group of adventurers determined to make the climb changes their mind after spending a single night at the inn. Determined to uncover the truth, Ainsworth may have to brave the mountain and its dragon himself.
This was just alright for me. It wasn’t quite as charming as I expect a cozy fantasy to be. Very little actually happens, but it also lacks the strong slice-of-life focus that usually makes slower cozy fantasies engaging. Instead, the story felt overly slow and, unfortunately, fairly unremarkable. I think it would have benefited from being shorter and more tightly paced, given how little forward momentum there is.
Ainsworth was easily the highlight of the novel. He begins as a snobby, self-important scholar who thinks far too highly of himself, but his time at the inn gradually wears away that pretension. His personal history is compelling, from his rise out of a poor rural upbringing to the relationship he left behind, both of which add welcome depth to his character and make his gradual transformation satisfying to see.
The supporting cast, however, never felt fully realized. Although each member of the inn’s found family is given a backstory, those histories rarely lead anywhere or meaningfully shape the story. They often felt more like fixtures of the inn than fully developed characters with opportunities to shine. I understood what the novel was aiming for as a found family of diverse people brought together by circumstance is a cornerstone of cozy fantasy, but I wanted more moments that showed off each of them and for the group dynamic to truly flourish.
The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance had the right ingredients for a cozy fantasy but didn’t fully come together for me.
*Thank you to the publisher for the eARC via NetGalley
The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance is a standalone cozy fantasy by Chiara Bullen. Research fellow Ainsworth Gladsly has traveled to the foot of Mount Vengeance to study the Misnich Inn, hoping to document its history and the adventurers planning to scale the mountain where a vengeful dragon has hidden its hoard. He believes the resulting book will be exactly what he needs to advance his academic career. But despite the inn’s rustic charm, its lovely innkeeper Honey, and its welcoming staff, something isn’t quite right. Every group of adventurers determined to make the climb changes their mind after spending a single night at the inn. Determined to uncover the truth, Ainsworth may have to brave the mountain and its dragon himself.
This was just alright for me. It wasn’t quite as charming as I expect a cozy fantasy to be. Very little actually happens, but it also lacks the strong slice-of-life focus that usually makes slower cozy fantasies engaging. Instead, the story felt overly slow and, unfortunately, fairly unremarkable. I think it would have benefited from being shorter and more tightly paced, given how little forward momentum there is.
Ainsworth was easily the highlight of the novel. He begins as a snobby, self-important scholar who thinks far too highly of himself, but his time at the inn gradually wears away that pretension. His personal history is compelling, from his rise out of a poor rural upbringing to the relationship he left behind, both of which add welcome depth to his character and make his gradual transformation satisfying to see.
The supporting cast, however, never felt fully realized. Although each member of the inn’s found family is given a backstory, those histories rarely lead anywhere or meaningfully shape the story. They often felt more like fixtures of the inn than fully developed characters with opportunities to shine. I understood what the novel was aiming for as a found family of diverse people brought together by circumstance is a cornerstone of cozy fantasy, but I wanted more moments that showed off each of them and for the group dynamic to truly flourish.
The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance had the right ingredients for a cozy fantasy but didn’t fully come together for me.
*Thank you to the publisher for the eARC via NetGalley
July 4, 2026
A cozy fantasy where the MC finds himself in the process? Sign me up.
Scholar and researcher Ainsworth is set on chasing accolades and praise, but a new research opportunity has him questioning what’s important. He sets out for Mount Vengeance to learn more about the Inn that resides at the foot of the mountains, as well as discover why no accounts of the mountain and its perils have been documented. What he finds is found family, a cozy inn, and possibly a love worth settling down for.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Del Rey/Random House Worlds/Inklore for the eARC in exchange for my thoughts.
Scholar and researcher Ainsworth is set on chasing accolades and praise, but a new research opportunity has him questioning what’s important. He sets out for Mount Vengeance to learn more about the Inn that resides at the foot of the mountains, as well as discover why no accounts of the mountain and its perils have been documented. What he finds is found family, a cozy inn, and possibly a love worth settling down for.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Del Rey/Random House Worlds/Inklore for the eARC in exchange for my thoughts.
January 31, 2026
This is such a cozy low stakes fantasy! I’m immediately taken by everyone at the Inn. You get a variety of characters with differing personalities. Everyone is so likable and welcoming except maybe for Ashe BUT she has her reasons. Honey, the owner of the inn, is just like her name, sweet. She is so kind and warm. Ainsworth has sooo much growth throughout the book. He’s had a rough life and he got dragged into being someone he’s not to fit in. Very relatable. My personal favorite character is, Ruraidh. After learning his story, I felt for him. I’m so glad he found a place like the inn. Even though this is low stakes, it has a great little mystery! I highly recommend this book! Perfect when you need something light and cozy between those heavy fantasy books!
Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC!
August 6, 2026
This isn't a genre I've ever picked up before and honestly didn't think it was a genre I would be into, but I couldn't put it down, it was such a comfort read, easy to pick up and just wholesome. I really loved the fact that Ainsworth went in feeling above everyone, but quickly realised that how he was presenting himself wasn't actually him at all, I loved seeing him soften and the natural development of each friendship was just so warming. As much as I Love the relationship between Honey and Ainsworth. The relationship between Ashe and Ainsworth was the winner for me.
July 19, 2026
This book made me realize that cosy fantasies just really aren’t for me. I do really enjoy the plot of a slightly stuck up person having to go to this remote inn, meeting all these different people and learning that life isn’t what he thought it was. The fantasy world was also really interesting to read about, but them combined just didn’t work for me at all.
The book progressed so slowly and I constantly struggled to find motivation to keep on reading. I was starting to enjoy it more towards the ending but then we got such an enormous info dump that the positive feelings I had were instantly gone again.
If you do enjoy cosy fantasies, people rediscovering themselves and found families, I can imagine this book being really fun. But it just wasn’t for me sadly.
Thank you NetGalley and DelRey for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
The book progressed so slowly and I constantly struggled to find motivation to keep on reading. I was starting to enjoy it more towards the ending but then we got such an enormous info dump that the positive feelings I had were instantly gone again.
If you do enjoy cosy fantasies, people rediscovering themselves and found families, I can imagine this book being really fun. But it just wasn’t for me sadly.
Thank you NetGalley and DelRey for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Did Not Finish
July 24, 2026DNF @ 11%
Thank you to Del Rey for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.
I was actually very excited for this book when I first saw it. But unfortunately my reading experience was quite the opposite. I was bored. I had very little interest in our main character or those around him. I thought at that point it was better to not finish reading this and to give this author another chance in the future.
Thank you to Del Rey for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.
I was actually very excited for this book when I first saw it. But unfortunately my reading experience was quite the opposite. I was bored. I had very little interest in our main character or those around him. I thought at that point it was better to not finish reading this and to give this author another chance in the future.
August 2, 2026
3.5⭐️
February 9, 2026
The perfect read for a slow Sunday morning or whenever you feel like you need a hug 🤗.
Cozy fantasy at its finest.
Low stakes , big heart.
This book felt like a fluffy blanket keeping me warm on a cold winter day.
We follow Ainsworth, a scholar, travelling to the Misnich Inn to start his research on Mount Vengeance and tell the stories of the adventurers set to conquer it.
However, once there we discover that no adventurer actually gets to take on Mount Vengeance as they all feel compelled to abandon their plans - all of this making Ainsworth’s research plans take a different turn.
As we follow Ainsworth and the Inn inhabitants, we’re drawn into a beautifully crafted journey of self‑rediscovery, complete with memorable characters, mouthwatering dishes, intriguing mysteries, and thoughtful reflections.
The author also approaches serious topics —social struggles, toxic dynamics, and other serious themes - with remarkable sensitivity and care.
Happy debut to Chiara Bullen, I hope that many readers will be touched by this sweet and meaningful story!
Thank you Del Rey for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Cozy fantasy at its finest.
Low stakes , big heart.
This book felt like a fluffy blanket keeping me warm on a cold winter day.
We follow Ainsworth, a scholar, travelling to the Misnich Inn to start his research on Mount Vengeance and tell the stories of the adventurers set to conquer it.
However, once there we discover that no adventurer actually gets to take on Mount Vengeance as they all feel compelled to abandon their plans - all of this making Ainsworth’s research plans take a different turn.
As we follow Ainsworth and the Inn inhabitants, we’re drawn into a beautifully crafted journey of self‑rediscovery, complete with memorable characters, mouthwatering dishes, intriguing mysteries, and thoughtful reflections.
The author also approaches serious topics —social struggles, toxic dynamics, and other serious themes - with remarkable sensitivity and care.
Happy debut to Chiara Bullen, I hope that many readers will be touched by this sweet and meaningful story!
Thank you Del Rey for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
August 1, 2026
Thank you Del Rey and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Where do I start with this one?! I was so ready to have a cozy fantasy and one that explored the struggle with expectations from higher education? It healed a part of me! It wonderfully addressed the importance of friends & found family on recovery from social struggles, unhealthy dynamics, and (from my view) near burnout, as well as what does it mean to want something.
The story follows Ainsworth as he sets off on a new research project, which he hopes will bring him the recognition of his peers. It’s clear from the start that the staff at the Inn near Mount Vengeance don’t necessarily vibe with his impressions. However, the characters (and story) allow him to start a little prickly and slowly, but surely, warm up and win over everyone in the Inn, as he starts to question his own role in the friction and do some well rewarded self-reflection.
I was particularly drawn to the themes related to overcoming the trauma of a graduate education, and the unique perspective of achieving that when you don’t fit the standard (think first-gen college student in a PhD Program). I saw a lot of myself in his desire to meet the perceptions of his peers, and losing himself somewhat along the way toward a goal, and even, in his ability to course correct. His relationship with his advisor was particularly moving for me. The Inn turns out to be a soft place for him to land, allowing him to find his passion for research again, understand what it means to be seen for who he is, and how through safety and secure relationships, you can start to unpack some of the trauma of the past.
The story has elements of romance, which felt natural, as it started to develop after the main character started to recognize his own shortcomings, or even how he had shifted to fit a mold that he felt was predetermined upon entry into academia and started to address how he could reconnect with himself. Woven in with low-stakes mysteries and well-established side characters, the narrative allowed everyone a chance to shine, and I couldn’t ask for more. And to be clear, every side character had you wanting to know more, and excited to see them again.
I read this slowly, usually before bed, and the narrative was easy enough to follow that a day or two later, I could pick the story up and remember where we were. It also was easy to finish on a flight when I had 25% left. So if you're looking for something to take your time with or something to finish in a day, this is for you!
Bullen artfully brings us into the world, did not shy away from dealing with tough topics, and really showed what it means to lose yourself on your way to your goals, and made sure to remind us that it’s okay to take time to find your way back.
Where do I start with this one?! I was so ready to have a cozy fantasy and one that explored the struggle with expectations from higher education? It healed a part of me! It wonderfully addressed the importance of friends & found family on recovery from social struggles, unhealthy dynamics, and (from my view) near burnout, as well as what does it mean to want something.
The story follows Ainsworth as he sets off on a new research project, which he hopes will bring him the recognition of his peers. It’s clear from the start that the staff at the Inn near Mount Vengeance don’t necessarily vibe with his impressions. However, the characters (and story) allow him to start a little prickly and slowly, but surely, warm up and win over everyone in the Inn, as he starts to question his own role in the friction and do some well rewarded self-reflection.
I was particularly drawn to the themes related to overcoming the trauma of a graduate education, and the unique perspective of achieving that when you don’t fit the standard (think first-gen college student in a PhD Program). I saw a lot of myself in his desire to meet the perceptions of his peers, and losing himself somewhat along the way toward a goal, and even, in his ability to course correct. His relationship with his advisor was particularly moving for me. The Inn turns out to be a soft place for him to land, allowing him to find his passion for research again, understand what it means to be seen for who he is, and how through safety and secure relationships, you can start to unpack some of the trauma of the past.
The story has elements of romance, which felt natural, as it started to develop after the main character started to recognize his own shortcomings, or even how he had shifted to fit a mold that he felt was predetermined upon entry into academia and started to address how he could reconnect with himself. Woven in with low-stakes mysteries and well-established side characters, the narrative allowed everyone a chance to shine, and I couldn’t ask for more. And to be clear, every side character had you wanting to know more, and excited to see them again.
I read this slowly, usually before bed, and the narrative was easy enough to follow that a day or two later, I could pick the story up and remember where we were. It also was easy to finish on a flight when I had 25% left. So if you're looking for something to take your time with or something to finish in a day, this is for you!
Bullen artfully brings us into the world, did not shy away from dealing with tough topics, and really showed what it means to lose yourself on your way to your goals, and made sure to remind us that it’s okay to take time to find your way back.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was terribly cute! A very cozy read, gently slow-paced and more focused on the journey rather than the destination.
The ending has a bit more "action" than most of the book, but some readers might guess the twist much earlier in the story - which isn't a bad thing at all, since it serves to highlight the evolution of the main character's perspective over the course of the story.
Definitely a 2026 new release to watch out for!
The ending has a bit more "action" than most of the book, but some readers might guess the twist much earlier in the story - which isn't a bad thing at all, since it serves to highlight the evolution of the main character's perspective over the course of the story.
Definitely a 2026 new release to watch out for!
July 7, 2026
Thank you to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for this cozy fantasy with romantic elements.
I fell in love with this world, the characters, and the Misnich Inn itself, located at the foot of Mount Vengeance. Ainsworth Gladsly is the main character—he is a scholar sent from an academy in the city to a far-off inn in search of adventurers’ tales from the mountain. When he gets there, he is surprised to learn that no adventurer ever stays at the inn more than one night—and this mystery is unraveled over the course of the story.
The writing was so descriptive, I loved the moments when the author took time to really dig into the surroundings and capture the feeling of being in this world. The worldbuilding felt so expansive—you really feel that there could be numerous untold stories existing beyond the one in focus here. There are so many fascinating characters to meet and creatures to encounter.
There is a gentle, slow-building romance between Ainsworth and the proprietor of the inn, Honey. Ainsworth is in an abusive relationship at the beginning of the story, and it was beautiful to see the author show how he comes to that realization and how he begins to heal and learn what love looks like.
Additionally, this story has a genuine sense of found home and found family, as Ainsworth gets to know and love the various other members of the inn’s staff. Each individual is captivating and heartwarming in their own way.
Something I really appreciated in this story is Ainsworth’s character development. He starts out quite unlikeable—a pompous, arrogant and somewhat spoiled researcher. Over the course of the story, he sees himself in a new light and learns to be honest with himself, and to be more generous and kind to those he encounters. I felt so much affection for him by the end.
This was an excellent read, and I absolutely recommend it for anyone who loves the cozy fantasy genre.
Five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for this cozy fantasy with romantic elements.
I fell in love with this world, the characters, and the Misnich Inn itself, located at the foot of Mount Vengeance. Ainsworth Gladsly is the main character—he is a scholar sent from an academy in the city to a far-off inn in search of adventurers’ tales from the mountain. When he gets there, he is surprised to learn that no adventurer ever stays at the inn more than one night—and this mystery is unraveled over the course of the story.
The writing was so descriptive, I loved the moments when the author took time to really dig into the surroundings and capture the feeling of being in this world. The worldbuilding felt so expansive—you really feel that there could be numerous untold stories existing beyond the one in focus here. There are so many fascinating characters to meet and creatures to encounter.
There is a gentle, slow-building romance between Ainsworth and the proprietor of the inn, Honey. Ainsworth is in an abusive relationship at the beginning of the story, and it was beautiful to see the author show how he comes to that realization and how he begins to heal and learn what love looks like.
Additionally, this story has a genuine sense of found home and found family, as Ainsworth gets to know and love the various other members of the inn’s staff. Each individual is captivating and heartwarming in their own way.
Something I really appreciated in this story is Ainsworth’s character development. He starts out quite unlikeable—a pompous, arrogant and somewhat spoiled researcher. Over the course of the story, he sees himself in a new light and learns to be honest with himself, and to be more generous and kind to those he encounters. I felt so much affection for him by the end.
This was an excellent read, and I absolutely recommend it for anyone who loves the cozy fantasy genre.
March 25, 2026
The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance
By Chiara Bullen
Format: eARC
Rating: 3.5/5⭐️
The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance follows Ainsworth Gladsly as he travels to the eponymous inn to record accounts of a known dragon there. The book is written from the MMC’s perspective. He is an arrogant, superior scholar and, for the first half of the book, was not likable at all. My fear was he’d have no character development. Gratefully, his character growth arc was steep and significant, and, by the end, I was fully rooting for him.
One of my sticky wickets in fantasy writing is when the author uses commonplace, real-world elements. The world is meant to be totally different from our own, but then you read about a toilet or modern foods or trend-specific clothing. Bullen did an excellent job of veering away from that pitfall, especially regarding food and creatures. Some context, however, would’ve been helpful at times to illustrate what the creature looked like or way the food tasted like, as it was not always obvious from the name alone. That being said, there were still some modern colloquial phrases that snuck in a few times.
Also, there are a lot of fictional place names and locations in approximation others. A map would serve this story very nicely. (Perhaps there will be one in the finished book, just not in the arc…?)
Still, this book was fun, cozy, and immersive. Cozy fantasy is a difficult genre to get right. You have to strike the appropriate balance between plot, ambiance, and characterization. I think the author did admirably well for a first attempt, and I can’t wait to read more from them.
Thank you, Del Rey, for the ARC.
By Chiara Bullen
Format: eARC
Rating: 3.5/5⭐️
The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance follows Ainsworth Gladsly as he travels to the eponymous inn to record accounts of a known dragon there. The book is written from the MMC’s perspective. He is an arrogant, superior scholar and, for the first half of the book, was not likable at all. My fear was he’d have no character development. Gratefully, his character growth arc was steep and significant, and, by the end, I was fully rooting for him.
One of my sticky wickets in fantasy writing is when the author uses commonplace, real-world elements. The world is meant to be totally different from our own, but then you read about a toilet or modern foods or trend-specific clothing. Bullen did an excellent job of veering away from that pitfall, especially regarding food and creatures. Some context, however, would’ve been helpful at times to illustrate what the creature looked like or way the food tasted like, as it was not always obvious from the name alone. That being said, there were still some modern colloquial phrases that snuck in a few times.
Also, there are a lot of fictional place names and locations in approximation others. A map would serve this story very nicely. (Perhaps there will be one in the finished book, just not in the arc…?)
Still, this book was fun, cozy, and immersive. Cozy fantasy is a difficult genre to get right. You have to strike the appropriate balance between plot, ambiance, and characterization. I think the author did admirably well for a first attempt, and I can’t wait to read more from them.
Thank you, Del Rey, for the ARC.
July 8, 2026
What a cozy and charming story this was!! I loved being wrapped up in all the warmth radiating from every page.
The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance follows Ainsworth, a scholar sent to research a remote inn at the base of a mountain famous for its vengeful dragon and the treasures adventurers might seek there. Tasked with writing a book, he begins interviewing the inn’s staff and any travellers passing through on their way to the mountain… except no one ever seems to actually make the journey after spending a night at the inn?!
Ainsworth doesn’t make the best first impression, coming across as rather arrogant and self-important, but he grows into such a likeable character over time, becoming more open, curious, and willing to learn. I loved how he took the time to truly get to know the people at the inn beyond his research, slowly weaving himself into their found family. The developing feelings between him and a certain innkeeper were also incredibly sweet, and I found myself rooting for them the whole way through. Also, I hate Enach. That’s it.
The pacing is on the slower side, and it did take me a little while to fully get into the story. I also saw a couple of twists coming fairly early on. However, I still really enjoyed the story for its heart and the pure warmth of reading it.
I’d highly recommend this to lovers of cozy fantasy and found family stories - this theme is at the heart of the book, and it’s done beautifully.
The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance follows Ainsworth, a scholar sent to research a remote inn at the base of a mountain famous for its vengeful dragon and the treasures adventurers might seek there. Tasked with writing a book, he begins interviewing the inn’s staff and any travellers passing through on their way to the mountain… except no one ever seems to actually make the journey after spending a night at the inn?!
Ainsworth doesn’t make the best first impression, coming across as rather arrogant and self-important, but he grows into such a likeable character over time, becoming more open, curious, and willing to learn. I loved how he took the time to truly get to know the people at the inn beyond his research, slowly weaving himself into their found family. The developing feelings between him and a certain innkeeper were also incredibly sweet, and I found myself rooting for them the whole way through. Also, I hate Enach. That’s it.
The pacing is on the slower side, and it did take me a little while to fully get into the story. I also saw a couple of twists coming fairly early on. However, I still really enjoyed the story for its heart and the pure warmth of reading it.
I’d highly recommend this to lovers of cozy fantasy and found family stories - this theme is at the heart of the book, and it’s done beautifully.
July 13, 2026
"our names may only be known by the folk whose paths we cross, but that does not make the way we live our life any less impressive or important."
Cozy with a sweet message and a fun bit of mystery.
Ainsworth is everything negative associated with academia/academics when he shows up at the Misnich Inn for a research project that he proposed, but that he feels to be beneath him to complete. After reading a letter from his great grandfather about Mt. Vengeance, where he intended to adventure, and the Misnich Inn at its base, Ainsworth wants to interview adventurers who go on to summit the mountain and immortalize their tales.
There's just one problem. Apparently, none of the people actually ever try to climb the mountain. Everyone who stays at the Misnich just goes home.
This revelation brings on the start of a bit of an antagonistic relationship with Ainsworth and the rest of the inn's staff and inhabitants since he 100% blames them. Ainsworth doesn't want to give up his project, but he also is starts growing to like all of them.
By the time this got to about 60% of the way in, it was very clear where the "mystery" was going (maybe not so much the mechanics and the why, but definitely the who). It made the reveal feel a bit short on the payoff, but overall I really loved the "we were here and that is enough" message. This was cozy enough to be a low stress read, but exciting enough to keep me engaged throughout.
Thank you to Netgalley, Del Rey, and Chiara Bullen for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Cozy with a sweet message and a fun bit of mystery.
Ainsworth is everything negative associated with academia/academics when he shows up at the Misnich Inn for a research project that he proposed, but that he feels to be beneath him to complete. After reading a letter from his great grandfather about Mt. Vengeance, where he intended to adventure, and the Misnich Inn at its base, Ainsworth wants to interview adventurers who go on to summit the mountain and immortalize their tales.
There's just one problem. Apparently, none of the people actually ever try to climb the mountain. Everyone who stays at the Misnich just goes home.
This revelation brings on the start of a bit of an antagonistic relationship with Ainsworth and the rest of the inn's staff and inhabitants since he 100% blames them. Ainsworth doesn't want to give up his project, but he also is starts growing to like all of them.
By the time this got to about 60% of the way in, it was very clear where the "mystery" was going (maybe not so much the mechanics and the why, but definitely the who). It made the reveal feel a bit short on the payoff, but overall I really loved the "we were here and that is enough" message. This was cozy enough to be a low stress read, but exciting enough to keep me engaged throughout.
Thank you to Netgalley, Del Rey, and Chiara Bullen for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 2, 2026
Sweet and charming, but at times just really, really boring. 2.5 stars
Unfortunately, this book did not meet the expectations I set after reading the blurb.
I enjoyed the mystery that’s introduced at the beginning; why are all these adventurers deciding to return home after spending a night at this inn, why has no one managed to go all the way up the mountain and face the dragon that lives there? I thought Ainsworth’s research held a lot of promise for interesting revelations, but when the mystery finally begins to unravel, the truth is exactly as we suspected all along.
Cozy fantasy as a subgenre of fantasy tends to focus on character development, which is why sometimes I think these stories lack on plot or action. I did think that this book could have had more development in both plot and characterization.
First of all, it took some time before the story picked up, and I don't generally mind a slow start, but there were certainly chunks in the middle that lagged. The main character goes through a significant character transformation, but what I did not particularly like was the love interest, Honey. I struggled to enjoy her character, even more so after the grand reveal, when the mystery of the dragon is finally solved. I thought there was a lot more potential there for conflict between her and Ainsworth, after we learn what she has been up to. Instead, Ainsworth reveres her and easily accepts her despite the very questionable decisions she has made throughout her existence in the mountain. I also didn’t understand what the “dragon” intends to do with their hoard. I know there was some talk about redistribution, but the explanation as to how this makes up for the centuries of danger and terror the dragon has instilled did not make a lot of sense to me. Perhaps I missed something that didn’t make Honey sound like just a slightly nicer business owner that pays their staff a fair living wage and doesn’t exploit them.
Another thing I was confused about was the messaging that no one needs to prove to themselves (or anyone else for that matter) anything to be worthy of life, love. I understand that conquering the mountain is a sort of metaphor for proving something to yourself (whatever it is you value), but I don’t believe that is the only reason one might want to reach the top of the mountain. The messaging didn’t click with me and neither did any of the main characters. The one thing I truly enjoyed about the book was the world and setting, and the diversity of characters that existed in the world, and I wish we had dived a bit deeper into that, especially with the side characters.
I will confess, for a while this book was exactly what I expected from the premise and the writing hit just the cozy fantasy spot, but I just didn’t agree with some of the plot choices, and the off pacing made it even harder to fully immerse in the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Unfortunately, this book did not meet the expectations I set after reading the blurb.
I enjoyed the mystery that’s introduced at the beginning; why are all these adventurers deciding to return home after spending a night at this inn, why has no one managed to go all the way up the mountain and face the dragon that lives there? I thought Ainsworth’s research held a lot of promise for interesting revelations, but when the mystery finally begins to unravel, the truth is exactly as we suspected all along.
Cozy fantasy as a subgenre of fantasy tends to focus on character development, which is why sometimes I think these stories lack on plot or action. I did think that this book could have had more development in both plot and characterization.
First of all, it took some time before the story picked up, and I don't generally mind a slow start, but there were certainly chunks in the middle that lagged. The main character goes through a significant character transformation, but what I did not particularly like was the love interest, Honey. I struggled to enjoy her character, even more so after the grand reveal, when the mystery of the dragon is finally solved. I thought there was a lot more potential there for conflict between her and Ainsworth, after we learn what she has been up to. Instead, Ainsworth reveres her and easily accepts her despite the very questionable decisions she has made throughout her existence in the mountain. I also didn’t understand what the “dragon” intends to do with their hoard. I know there was some talk about redistribution, but the explanation as to how this makes up for the centuries of danger and terror the dragon has instilled did not make a lot of sense to me. Perhaps I missed something that didn’t make Honey sound like just a slightly nicer business owner that pays their staff a fair living wage and doesn’t exploit them.
Another thing I was confused about was the messaging that no one needs to prove to themselves (or anyone else for that matter) anything to be worthy of life, love. I understand that conquering the mountain is a sort of metaphor for proving something to yourself (whatever it is you value), but I don’t believe that is the only reason one might want to reach the top of the mountain. The messaging didn’t click with me and neither did any of the main characters. The one thing I truly enjoyed about the book was the world and setting, and the diversity of characters that existed in the world, and I wish we had dived a bit deeper into that, especially with the side characters.
I will confess, for a while this book was exactly what I expected from the premise and the writing hit just the cozy fantasy spot, but I just didn’t agree with some of the plot choices, and the off pacing made it even harder to fully immerse in the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
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