The Tidepool Keeper : A Low-Stakes Cozy Fantasy of Coastal Tides, Magic, and Found Family

by Lyra Sirena

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.

Genres: Fantasy, Cozy

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 4, 2025

Reviews

[Chelsea Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Lu · Rating 4 out of 5]

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. ✨✨🙌🏻

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Jersey Girl Dee · Rating 1 out of 5]

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.