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The Tidepool Keeper : A Low-Stakes Cozy Fantasy of Coastal Tides, Magic, and Found Family
One newbie keeper. One opinionated puffin. And a crumbling ancient pact.
When Maris Thorne inherits her grandmother’s seaside cottage, she never expects to also inherit a conservancy for magical sea creatures - or the selkie-human pact that’s starting to fray.
With the autumn equinox approaching, Maris must learn what it truly means to be a tending tidepools humming with old sea magic, earning the trust of wary townsfolk, and uncovering why selkies have begun returning to shore after years of silence.
With Pip the puffin at her side, a mysterious key that unlocks more than doors, and a marine protection officer who knows more than he lets on, Maris discovers that mending the past may lead her to where she belongs.
A warm, low-stakes cozy fantasy of found family, coastal folklore, and gentle magic - perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes, The Spellshop, and Emily Wilde.
A heartwarming cozy fantasy of found family, coastal folklore, and gentle seaside magic - perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes, The Spellshop, and Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries.
When Maris Thorne inherits her grandmother’s seaside cottage, she never expects to also inherit a conservancy for magical sea creatures - or the selkie-human pact that’s starting to fray.
With the autumn equinox approaching, Maris must learn what it truly means to be a tending tidepools humming with old sea magic, earning the trust of wary townsfolk, and uncovering why selkies have begun returning to shore after years of silence.
With Pip the puffin at her side, a mysterious key that unlocks more than doors, and a marine protection officer who knows more than he lets on, Maris discovers that mending the past may lead her to where she belongs.
A warm, low-stakes cozy fantasy of found family, coastal folklore, and gentle magic - perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes, The Spellshop, and Emily Wilde.
A heartwarming cozy fantasy of found family, coastal folklore, and gentle seaside magic - perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes, The Spellshop, and Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 4, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 20, 2026
This was my introduction to the "cozy fantasy" subgenre and I am hooked. This book was delightful, like a Hallmark movie for other worldly beings. The writing was descriptive but still subtle enough that you could use your imagination to fill in some blanks. I loved how the magical existed right alongside the ordinary, not dramatically but in a delicate homeostasis. The story itself was heartwarming, and spoke to me about breaking generational curses. I can hardly wait to read the second book.
May 22, 2026
Good
4.5 stars
Maris came to the town where her grandmother had lived and died, expecting to take over an ordinary nature conservancy- a place where marine creatures could be rescued and healed, and where one might educate a few children on the importance of the local ecosystems.
Instead, she is thrust into a world where magic is real, where Pip the puffin talks (a bit too much sometimes), and where mythical creatures want to communicate with her about the world they all live in.
It’s a stressful time for Maris, but she is determined to plow through the paperwork and legal issues, to make everything come together.
She’s not alone, though. She has a team of people who loved her grandmother and want to help, and then there is the local ecologist, Rowan, who might be a little particular in his habits, but is definitely open to learning about the extraordinary!
I was initially drawn to this book, because I loved the cover of it. Yes, some of it was the painting of Pip, which is almost ethereal, but in truth, the cover actually captures the essence of the book quite well. If a book could be described as whimsical, then this book meets that definition. It’s a tale where things are often described in whimsical, poetical terms; where creatures vary from realistic to mythic, and the people from grumpy to green light.
It’s a town painted in magical colours, with an underlying story that is both cosy, and adventurous, and also utterly unique. I enjoyed it immensely, both for the original idea and for those cosy, low stakes vibes.
This is an excellent read for cosy, slice of life fantasy fans, and for those who love the idea of living near the coast. In fact, I think it might even be a perfect beach read! I look forward to seeing more of Maris and Rowan, and their town- and the magical world they represent.
4.5 stars
Maris came to the town where her grandmother had lived and died, expecting to take over an ordinary nature conservancy- a place where marine creatures could be rescued and healed, and where one might educate a few children on the importance of the local ecosystems.
Instead, she is thrust into a world where magic is real, where Pip the puffin talks (a bit too much sometimes), and where mythical creatures want to communicate with her about the world they all live in.
It’s a stressful time for Maris, but she is determined to plow through the paperwork and legal issues, to make everything come together.
She’s not alone, though. She has a team of people who loved her grandmother and want to help, and then there is the local ecologist, Rowan, who might be a little particular in his habits, but is definitely open to learning about the extraordinary!
I was initially drawn to this book, because I loved the cover of it. Yes, some of it was the painting of Pip, which is almost ethereal, but in truth, the cover actually captures the essence of the book quite well. If a book could be described as whimsical, then this book meets that definition. It’s a tale where things are often described in whimsical, poetical terms; where creatures vary from realistic to mythic, and the people from grumpy to green light.
It’s a town painted in magical colours, with an underlying story that is both cosy, and adventurous, and also utterly unique. I enjoyed it immensely, both for the original idea and for those cosy, low stakes vibes.
This is an excellent read for cosy, slice of life fantasy fans, and for those who love the idea of living near the coast. In fact, I think it might even be a perfect beach read! I look forward to seeing more of Maris and Rowan, and their town- and the magical world they represent.
March 8, 2026
This was such a cozy fantasy by the coast. The atmosphere was one of my favorite parts of the whole story. The seaside cottage, the sound of the water, and the magical tidepools created such a comforting setting that made it really easy to sink into the world. 🌊 It felt peaceful and a little whimsical, exactly what I hope for when I pick up a cozy fantasy. 🫶🏻
I also loved the slower, character-focused pacing. The story really lets you settle into the setting and enjoy the small magical moments along the way. 🥰
My absolute favorite part, though, was meeting Pip 🩷🫶🏻. He completely stole the show for me. 🤣 His personality and commentary had me smiling the whole time. Honestly, I need a Pip in my life just to give me unsolicited advice and keep things entertaining 🤣
If you enjoy cozy fantasy with coastal vibes, magical nature elements, and charming animal companions, this one is definitely worth picking up. ✨✨🙌🏻
I also loved the slower, character-focused pacing. The story really lets you settle into the setting and enjoy the small magical moments along the way. 🥰
My absolute favorite part, though, was meeting Pip 🩷🫶🏻. He completely stole the show for me. 🤣 His personality and commentary had me smiling the whole time. Honestly, I need a Pip in my life just to give me unsolicited advice and keep things entertaining 🤣
If you enjoy cozy fantasy with coastal vibes, magical nature elements, and charming animal companions, this one is definitely worth picking up. ✨✨🙌🏻
June 23, 2026
My reviews are my own. If you enjoyed this book, I’m glad you did. If not, I respect your opinion, so please respect mine. This is simply my view, so let's keep it courteous. My review is honest and voluntary.
This book had a great premise, but the execution fell short. Beyond the inconsistencies and uneven pacing, my biggest issue was that the story was marketed as the main character helping magical animals, yet she seemed to spend far more time dealing with human relationships and political matters than actually discovering or caring for magical creatures. The book also feels like it could have benefited from stronger editing, as the narrative comes across as choppy rather than cohesive, with frequent repetition and several noticeable inconsistencies.
On to my next adventure, Happy Readings!!!
This book had a great premise, but the execution fell short. Beyond the inconsistencies and uneven pacing, my biggest issue was that the story was marketed as the main character helping magical animals, yet she seemed to spend far more time dealing with human relationships and political matters than actually discovering or caring for magical creatures. The book also feels like it could have benefited from stronger editing, as the narrative comes across as choppy rather than cohesive, with frequent repetition and several noticeable inconsistencies.
On to my next adventure, Happy Readings!!!
December 13, 2025
Empathic Sea/Life
I’m an empath, & thoroughly enjoyed this empathic magic adventure. I read so much, so quickly, but enjoyed savoring this slowly. Very much enjoyed this bridging of two worlds, another aspect of life I’m very familiar with. Highly recommend.
I’m an empath, & thoroughly enjoyed this empathic magic adventure. I read so much, so quickly, but enjoyed savoring this slowly. Very much enjoyed this bridging of two worlds, another aspect of life I’m very familiar with. Highly recommend.
March 9, 2026
What utter crap. Do people actually have editors?! She’s talking to people by name although we weren’t introduced to them. She talks about things without it being mentioned…why does she know it’s market day - it’s like her second day there, at least that’s what it seems like. Why does she know to collect shells for market day? She doesn’t tell us if she helped the grandmother when she was younger. How does she know people’s names?! She’s been there a day and a half, but she knows Ron, and Carlos, etc. How is she getting paid? The town and tourists know about the magic but the DEP or whatever the heck they’re called do not. WTF?! Makes no sense and is just so stupid. Some stuff I can hand wave, but I’m only 10% in and stupidity is everywhere. I thought it would be cute…magic, talking puffin, what’s not to like, but this is as bad as that stupid Cat Dragon book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews