Solstice, Spice and Everything Nice

Tales from the Tavern #2.5

by T.L. Stone

The longest night brings the warmest hearts—and one missing ostrich.

In the cozy village of Wayside, winter has arrived with a dusting of powdered-sugar snow and the promise of the Winter Solstice Festival. Lira can already smell the cinnamon and cardamom wafting from her kitchen as she prepares spiced shortbread and other treats to celebrate the return of the light. But when a fussy ostrich goes missing during the celebration, the village rallies to bring him home.

Between search parties and baking, hot chai and heartfelt conversations by the fire, Lira is reminded that Wayside isn't just a village—it's a family. From the tireless halfling baker to the protective orc who holds her hand through winter mornings, everyone here has found a place to belong. And on the longest night of the year, that belonging shines brighter than any solstice bonfire.

Perfect for readers who love their fantasy filled with shortbread, sweetness, and the kind of friendships that feel like coming home, this cozy tale will wrap around you like a favorite woolen cardigan. Pour yourself something sweet and hot, settle in by the fire, and let the magic of a snowy winter village remind you what truly matters.

This holiday novella is book 3 in the Tales from the Tavern cozy fantasy series and is best read as part of the series. It includes a recipe in the back of the book!

Genres: Fantasy, Cozy Fantasy, Fiction, Cozy, Holiday, Christmas, Romance

58 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 7, 2025

Reviews

[Kelsie]

Thank you so much to the author for the gifted copy!

It was so fun to return to the Tusk and Tail Tavern, even for a quick solstice adventure. With entertaining moments and hints at what’s coming next for our group of characters, it was such a joy to read curled up with a mug of chai. I love the family that has formed in these books, and I’ll keep coming back again and again to spend cozy nights with them.

[Luminea]

Our cozy crew returns for a winter solstice festival in this Tiny Tales from the Tavern novella. The setting is magical, and as usual the food and drinks are genuinely mouth-watering, but the heart of the story for me is this delightful cast of characters. This story is a pefect blend of warmth, camaraderie, and humour. While it would be a delightful December read, it's just as cozy and heartwarming a read at any time of year.

[Joan-Marie]

Cute little story in the series. I love this books. They are very calming to the soul.

[Jessy]

can someone explain the recipe at the back of the book? What is the point of yeast being added to the list of shortbread ingredients?

[Alexis Bullen]

Just not my cup of tea partly because I didn’t realize it was a one off side story and partly because (spoiler alert) this story is mostly just about a drunk ostrich

[Sarah]

This is the third book in the Tales from the Tavern series but is a short story set during the winter holidays. It is best to have read the previous books so you have the background of the characters. It took me less than an hour to read.

I am really enjoying this series and it was nice to get a quick fix of some of my favourite characters. All the characters we know and love are included and it centres around a search for Glen, the ostrich, who has gone missing and leaves the villagers concerned for it’s safety. There is cosiness and delicious foods aplenty in the story of which I think I would treble in size if there were such a place as I would be constantly frequenting the inn and bakery!

Solstice, Spice & Everything Nice is set during one of my favourite times of the year. It felt a little odd to be reading it during the current heatwave when the characters are wrapped up warm and drinking cups of Chai. If anything it had me envy them lol! It’s a light hearted read with some humour thrown in for good measure which resulted in a quick and entertaining read. Fans of the series will not be disappointed!

[Natasha Leighton]

4.5 Stars
Cosy and heartwarmingly entertaining! T.L. Stone’s winter themed companion novella was the perfect way kick off my seasonal reading.

The prose is bursting with festive cheer and community spirit, and the hijinks we encounter (involving a certain lavender battle ostrich) was wonderfully entertaining.

But what I loved most was getting to see Lira, Sass and Korl again, and the slight teasing of future events (especially involving Vaskel’s possible romantic prospects) that has me super excited for the next instalment (which I need ASAP!)

Overall, an enjoyable and really quick read (about 50-ish pages) that can easily be finished in a single sitting. Perfect for anyone looking for a cosy, feel good novella to brighten up a cold winter’s evening.

Also thanks to the author for the gifted e-arc.

[Lana]

I love cozy tales, and this is the first one I have read about the charming, magical village of Wayside and it's lovely tavern. Owned by Lira, who was once a rogue, but who was aiming to settle down now with her fiance the orc Korl. The whole village was preparing for the winter solstice festival, and everyone was pitching in to make the longest night the best ever. Then Glen, Erindil's battle ostrich, disappears and everyone goes in search of him. I loved reading this short story as it radiates warmth, a sense of community, of found family, of belonging and home. A place where all different races lived and loved one another without prejudice, where good food is appreciated, and traditions passed down, so that none who passed on where forgotten. I look forward to reading more of these tales from the tavern as we all need a book to warm our hearts!

[Niki N Evans]

This is an absolutely adorable story. This is the third book in this series which I feel like you don't necessarily have to read the first two but if you want background on how the characters came together to start with I would suggest it. Imaginary quaint little town with these elves and gnomes and dwarfs and all these types of creatures and a lavender ostrich, imagine this lavender ostrich gets loose on the first solstice festival in many years everybody comes together and helps find this ostrich the camaraderie and the friendship and all that shown in this makes for such a cute little story.

[A Novel Approach]

⭐️ 4.25/5. This holiday novella in the Tales from the Tavern cozy fantasy series falls in between books 2 & 3 and offered all the heartfelt and fireside feels I wanted this week. The village is preparing for their Winter Solstice Festival when suddenly Glen the lavender battle ostrich goes missing and the whole town has to pull together to search.

If you’re looking for a cozy fantasy series to read in the new year, you have to give this one a try. And don’t wait, because book 3 comes out on 2/6!

[Pamela]

Sweet Solstice celebration

Wayside is busy getting ready for the Solstice Market Fair. Of course it is the first one Lira is there for since her Gran had past and she is a bit sad but also excited. Then there is a disappearance that has everyone searching and Lira fells better because all of her friends step up to help with the search.

[Sebastian Micheals]

A Magical Tale of a Lavender Ostrich that goes missing.

A fun, filled solstice where Glen the Ostrich goes on his own journey, after drinking too much apple brandy, the cosy adventures never vanish as during the Solstice the Battle Ostrich escapes his harness and goes on a wild journey to Elmshire, the home of the gnomes.

A fun-filled 5-star novella

[Sarah]

This was a sweet little Holiday Novella following the characters of the two pervious books which are interconnected standalones.

You can read this without reading them, but I would say it will be easier to follow who the characters are if you read the first too.

Its a sweet cosy little story following the mystery of the lost Emu. Low stakes.

[Buddhangela]

Pushed myself to finish it

Okay, so this book was *lame*. I read the first two books in the series and enjoyed them, but this one lacks any real excitement or surprises or twists. I kept waiting for something to happen, but there was no drama or conflict. What was considered an adventure during their solstice wasn’t even interesting. Just lame. I was relieved when it was over.

[Ben Savage]

3.75, No other word for it, a cute little fantasy. Just enough to tide us over until book three. The definitions of " hopepunk" is apparently an ostrich. A lavender ostrich.

And new side characters as well as a great depiction of the Solstice celebration!

[Sebastian Micheals]

A fun adventure for Glen the Battle Ostrich, and missing apple brandy, and a journey to Elmshire in a snow storm, and the muscles are in a Waggon and going slow.

Don’t miss this fun adventure for Glen the Lavender Ostrich.

[Grace Catherine Geist]

Cute little short story! Very lighthearted.
These books make me feel like I am in middle earth post the destruction of the ring during Aragorn’s reign. The creatures have similar tropes. I say this as a compliment!

[Tiffany (areyoutellingstories)]

"The Winter Solstice Festival hadn't gone exactly as planned, but it has been perfect in its own way."
Oh no! Glen the Battle Ostrich goes missing during the Winter Solstice Festival! But Lira and her team of merry misfits are on it!

[Lacrima Mundi]

I really wish "authors" would stop using AI for their books. It's more than tedious to read the same empty phrases over, and over, and over again.

[Phi]

This was a fun little cozy short story full of so much holiday cheer! Add in an intoxicated ostrich, and you have a truly unique story, haha This was a wonderful holiday read!

[Margaret lee]

Quirky fun

I love these quirky cosy tales I always feel warm and fuzzy and also I have a big smile on my face a huge 5 stars

[Bianca Damhuis]

This novella takes place after the first 2 books. And just like those it’s heartwarming,cozy, sweet and funny.
It’s a quick read and fun read. With a hilarious twist.

[Sam Yaworski]

A short cozy read. Read this as a standalone and there was not much character development. It was a decent short story and the best part was Glen the lavender Ostrich.

[Mary Meserve]

Wonderful book

I love the characters and the warmth of the story. I can picture the story and people as I try to go to sleep.

[loni]

I just adore this series!!!

[Melissa]

4.5 stars a sweet seasonal read. This novella is set in between the 2nd and 3rd novels in the series and would be a perfect holiday season read.

[Kaylin Hanna]

Funny and super fast. Lovely refreshing book

[Melyna]

4.5/5

[Lavada Haga]

Good book

I enjoyed reading this novella very much. Glen the ostrich got drunk and ran off down the road to a halfling village where he fell asleep on a woman's roof. Fun!

[Susan Holland]

cute, short story

Fun little read. Glen’s adventure & all the found family. Romance.
Can’t wait for the next one. Three more words