Homeward for a Spell

Homegrown Magic #2

by Jamie Pacton, Rebecca Podos

In this cozy queer romantic fantasy from the award-winning authors of Homegrown Magic, two members in a motley crew of adventurers must confront monsters, hostile landscapes—and their growing attraction for each other.

Sage has made her living as a ranger, moving constantly between adventuring parties, but has never had the chance to lead one. So when she’s offered the chance to hire a crew of her own in pursuit of a rare magical artifact, it seems a dream come true—until she learns that they’re headed into the most inhospitable part of the kingdom with winter looming. Still, it’s a chance to finally put her name on the map… and how bad could it really be?

Araphi has always loved music, in defiance of her powerful family’s priorities. All she wants is one last chance to perform before she’s married to a man she does not love for the good of the family. So when she sees a poster seeking a bard for a party, she eagerly sneaks away to audition. Only to discover that the party in question is no festival, but an adventuring party, led by a woman she’s been fascinated with since she first laid eyes on her. It’s an unexpected twist, but if she takes the job, she’ll still be back in time for her own wedding… and how bad could it really be?

What follows is a life-altering journey for them both, filled with danger and misfortunes as their ragtag band of adventurers—most of whom have just met—must learn to work together to overcome the many obstacles before them. Not the least of which is the explosive chemistry between the rugged party leader used to watching her own back, and the pampered city-girl bard who may be far out of her element but is beginning to feel at home for the very first time.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Queer, Lesbian, LGBT, Cozy Fantasy, Cozy

368 pages, Paperback

Expected publication August 18, 2026

Reviews

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an amazing sapphic cozy fantasy, full of adventure, perilous activities, some magic, emotions and character growth. Two souls searching for a place to belong, finding their way in the world and each other!!

Sage is a ranger, hopping from one adventure party to the next, never being able to lead one, until an opportunity to go to the Northlands, with the winter approaching, present itself. She's finally a lead on a rather dangerous mission to retrieve a powerful artifact, assembling her own team, a team that now includes a bard she knows, a bard she desires.. Araphi loves music, but on the cusp of a marriage she doesn't want, one arranged by her wealthy family, she's ready to have one last adventure, an adventure led by a woman she can't stop thinking about.. An Agent, a Healer, a Fighter, a Spellcaster, a Bard and a Ranger go on an unforgettable journey filled with misfortunes, monsters, new friends, some undeniable chemistry, betrayal, battles and a home away from home..

Sage was always on the road, always looking for an adventure, never settling down and never letting anyone in, so seeing her open up more with Araphi, learning about her past and seeing her lower her walls little by little was a joy to witness.
Araphi had a life full of responsibilities and insurmountable pressure, but she came alive with her music. She was braver than she gave herself credit and her character growth was so special to see, how she became more confident and learned her worth. She had such a special gift and I loved the way she connected with people with it.

I loved their story, they wanted different things, but couldn't stop the connection.. The teasing, the banter, the chemistry, the wolves, the protectiveness, the hot spring, the tent, the ravens, the Swallow, the cabin, Arkney, the love, the battle, the freedom.. The Ranger and Her Bard, a love story in the making. They were perfect for each other, the understanding, the way they worked together, how good they were for each other. I truly enjoyed their journey.
The main complaint I have is that the lust was driving the story at times. I get why and I certainly enjoyed their scenes together, but I always prefer emotional depth over lust, which is why my favourite scenes were the ones where we could really see their connection. That scene before the gates has my heart forever!!
I also wish we had more scenes of them in Arkney, I live for those kind of moments, just them living their life and we kind of skipped over it faster than I would've liked. 

The crew, filled with such different character, each unique in their own way, some more lovable than the others, but all of them chaotic and with a story, I just wish those stories were developed more. My favourite was Wren though, I hope we get more of her.
And, since I didn't read book one, I'm definitely missing some context around Margot and Yael, but that didn't really affect the story much, at least for me it didn't. 

The story was character-driven, but it still had a very exciting plot. The world and the way it was so queer-normative was simply beautiful!!
The authors truly did a great job and they certainly gained a new fan!!

*Thank you to Netgalley and to Random House UK, Cornerstone for providing me with an ARC.*

[ava ★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

⤷ 𝘵𝘺𝘴𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 <3

ˋ°•*⁀➷ 3.5 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤 .˚🫐𓍢˖˚🍂𓍢˖˚🤍˚.

this was a fun read! I loved the other book I’ve read by jamie pacton (thr hyacinth labyrinth), so I went into this with fairly high expectations, and while I wasn’t necessarily disappointed it definitely wasn’t perfect by any means,but it was still enjoyable!

» [I wanna be your girlfriend - girl in red] «
0:00 ─〇───── 4:00
⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 🤎

౨ৎ sapphic romance
౨ৎ cozy-ish fantasy (it felt cozy but not low stakes!)
౨ৎ fun and easy to read
౨ৎ one bed

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

ೃ⁀➷ 𝘗𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘯

Ages 16/17+

𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 🫐

౨ৎ Language- a few uses of f*ck, sh*t, hell, damn, etc

౨ৎ Romance- a few spice scenes (on page but not overly descriptive), kissing, innuendo

౨ৎ Violence- I know there was some but I lwk forgot exactly what 😭


.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 🤍

⤷ Araphi- I loved her! She was definitely my favorite character

⤷ Sage- she was a decent character for sure! also kinda hot… like she’s not even my type but still 🤭

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.


𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒅 🍂

First if all, I loved the writing style! It was easy to read and just descriptive enough to be well written. I also liked the plot and worldbuilding- it described just enough about the world without being confusing or overwhelming at all, which I loved!!

The romance was also super cute, I love anything sapphic so muchhh like wlw books are really just the best thing ever 🙂‍↕️ it had some issues but was still enjoyable!! AND OML THE BANTER WAS PERFECT

The book got way more entertaining near the end too, I couldn’t put it down once I reached about 70% of the way through. While I read the start of it very slowly, I finished the second half of it in around 2-3 days!


𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 🪻

one of my biggest complaints is that it was extremely hard to get into. it wasn’t as boring as a lot of books I read but it did start out very slow and took me longer than most books to finish. I also found the middle part of it a bit slow, but once we got closer to the end it got much faster and entertaining!

I also found the romance wasn’t quite perfect, it felt like it at first was just attraction and no like actual emotional depth or love, and while it did grow a lot later in terms of that, I still found it a tiny bit shallow at times

I also just found the characters weren’t just as real feeling as some, they did have personality which I loved but I wish I could’ve known a bit more about them or related to them more


|🫐| post~read |🤍|

this was so fun to read! It definitely did have some things I didn’t love but it got a lot better near the end and I enjoyed it!


|🤍| pre~read |🫐|

yayyy I got an arc! I can’t wait to start this 🤭 I loved the hyacinth labyrinth which is by the same author so I have really high hopes for this! also it’s sapphic so that means it’s gonna be amazing 🙂‍↕️

[Jae Alistar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Homeward for a Spell was such a charming follow-up to Homegrown Magic, bringing back that same sweet, comforting magic while sending its characters on a much bigger adventure. Dangerous monsters, magical relics, snowy mountains, cozy taverns, and just enough peril to keep things exciting. It has all the makings of an adventure campaign while still holding onto that warm, comforting feeling that made the first book so special. It strikes that perfect balance between adventure and comfort, giving you enough danger to keep turning the pages without ever losing its warmth.

We met Sage and Araphi briefly in book one, and the spark between them was already there. Here, getting to know them more deeply made their pairing even more compelling. Sage is a fiercely independent Ranger who has spent years running from her past and convincing herself that feelings and attachments are weaknesses that will only hold her back. She believes the only way forward is to keep moving and never look back. Araphi, our charismatic Bard, is accustomed to comfort and privilege and is trying to step outside the future her family has planned for her and figure out who she actually wants to become. Their journeys are very different, but both are ultimately learning that moving forward doesn't have to mean leaving pieces of yourself—or the people you care about—behind.

Their relationship develops with such a natural mix of tension, yearning, and sharp banter. They start the adventure wanting very different things, and that friction makes every interaction between them feel charged, especially as they slowly let their defenses down. I loved watching Sage learn that needing someone isn't a weakness and Araphi discover that being soft, feminine, or “just a bard” doesn't make her any less powerful. They learn to truly care for each other through the journey—not by magically fixing one another, but by showing up, listening, and learning to trust. Their growing connection feels genuine, and their intimate moments carry the perfect balance of tension, desire, and the need to be truly seen. Their romance adds to the adventure rather than ever overshadowing it.

The adventure itself feels like settling in for the opening session of a really good campaign. The journey from lush forests into the snow-covered northern lands gives the story such vivid variety, and the pacing gives every part of the adventure, romance, and conflict room to develop. Nothing felt rushed, but nothing dragged either. And just like in Homegrown Magic, the supporting characters bring so much warmth to the story. Watching this mismatched group slowly become a true party—and then something much closer to family—was incredibly satisfying.

Sweet, adventurous, heartfelt, and magical, Homeward for a Spell is such a rewarding companion to Homegrown Magic. Beneath the quests and magic, we are told a story about choosing who you want to become, learning that you don't have to do everything alone, and realizing that sometimes the thing you're running from might actually be leading you toward the adventure you've been looking for all along.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey/Random House Books for the chance to read this ARC!

Favorite Quotes:
“Now that she's grown, her theory of happiness is more fully formed. She knows it can't be found in any particular place but moves constantly, like some mythical beast. You could spend a lifetime chasing it. Better to enjoy happiness when you cross its path instead of trying to catch and keep it.”

“Never share thy lips with a lady who shan't speak your name.”

“It's so good to be needed. To be more than a pretty face. To be part of something larger than everything she's ever known. Even if it's only until the end of this adventure...”

“But maybe love is just a willingness to put everything on the line for somebody. To be brave both for them and with them all at once.”

“You are not an anchor. You are the port. You're what I left looking for. And I'm not going anywhere. Now that I've found you, no matter where you go, I'll never belong anywhere else.”

“Her own magic is something entirely different. It brings people together, rather than tearing them apart. It builds and soothes, rather than bargains and breaks.”

[✨ gabi ✨ · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Yeah, no, maybe this book's audience is somewhere out there, but it isn't me. Araphi is so annoying and pretentious, and Sage loses all of her brain cells near Araphi's cleavage. This notion of "chemistry" did not work with me; it feels more like someone knocking two dolls together instead of two living, breathing people. Besides this, there's a lot of unnecessary exposition (no one cares to read a whole page about the background of a tavern that is important for one scene) and quite unsubtle wink-wink in-your-face Hints™ of a backstory for the main characters.

[Emily Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Review of ARC / free review copy**

3.7 ⭐️ sapphic bard x ranger DND vibes 🐉

I think where this book flourishes most is the quest/adventure focus. The romance is cute (and yes, there’s a dash of spice) but for me, the adventure portions gripped me more. It feels like a fun and messy DND campaign and I loved that.

It’s definitely faster paced, and even though it’s cozy there is a good deal happening in the plot due to the adventure aspect which I appreciated.

The romance side didn’t grip me quite as much as I thought it would, even though I liked both MCs, likely because I was more invested in the quest. I would say the romance is also on the faster burn side, and I would have liked a bit more build up. Saying that, I did find myself rooting for Sage and Araphi. (My fave was actually Tea- I have a soft spot there.)

Rep// butch WLW / Sappic MC, Femme WLW / Sapphic MC, non-binary SCs. Central romance is sapphic / WLW, femme x butch.

[D Dyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
This was a fun romp with lots of nods to frequently seen figures in classic fantasy and a sapphic romance without a ton of angst or too many complications. Sage and Araphi have pretty much instant mutual lust, often commented on by other characters so a lot of attention is about whether they will stay together, despite Sage’s uncertainty are around commitment, and Araphi’s familial responsibilities. The story moves relatively quickly though the final conflict is not quite what I thought it would be. And while characters from the previous entry in this series to make appearances and feature somewhat prominently near the very end, I think this could definitely be RED as a standalone.

[MC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for the eARC! Homeward for a Spell is out August 18th!
Homeward for a Spell was such a sweet fun read. In this cozy d&d-inspired queer normative romantacy, we follow Sage and Phi as they run from responsibilities and into each other’s arms. On their quest, our adventurers battle foes and discuss class inequality. Packaged in cozy vibes, Pacton and Podos ask the reader: what would you give up for love?
- Read if:
You play d&d
No matter what you are watching, you’re always waiting for the two girls to kiss
Golden retriever masc and black cat femme
Want to feel like fall is in the air

[Marlies Rasinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this cozy, magical and great read. It has sapphic Romance, really cool magic and an amazing quest. -What more do you need?
I really enjoyed the chemistry and dynamic between Sage and Araphi. It is sizzling between these two and they are also compatible as people as they really complement each other, which is an aspect I appreciate.

I think that it is also very cool that music is a „magical“ power in this book and that the bard, who is normally not important to a travel party, has such an important role and saves the day that often.

I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!

[Alice.thereader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Homeward for a Spell ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
I really enjoyed Homeward for a Spell. It's an epic fantasy adventure that balances an engaging, high-stakes journey with a sweet F/F romance woven naturally into the story.

The worldbuilding kept me invested, and I liked how the adventure unfolded without losing sight of the characters and their relationships. The romance added an emotional core that complemented the fantasy elements rather than overshadowing them.

While it didn't quite reach five-star territory for me, it was still a fun, immersive read that I'd happily recommend to anyone looking for epic fantasy with queer representation and a satisfying adventure. Overall, a solid 3.75/5.

[Alex Levine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very sweet! Nothing more thoughtful or much deeper to take away for me, personally - I just found it pleasant and nice which is enough for a good read! Both MCs and most side characters were decently fleshed out, and I understood most of their motivations and chemistry. Some pacing was odd to me - very quick conflict resolutions but lengthy idle scenes - and some plot twists seemed too random with not enough foreshadowing or explanation before & after. I really liked the writing style(s), with just enough lush description to add to the magical world but not too much to distract from the literal storyline.

[Demetri Papadimitropoulos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dragons, Demons, and an Injury Clause
Jamie Pacton and Rebecca Podos’s “Homeward for a Spell” understands that even a magical quest needs workplace protections, and that the hardest contracts are rarely the ones written on paper
By Demetris Papadimitropoulos | August 7th, 2026

Demons are dangerous, dragons worse, but the first monster Jamie Pacton and Rebecca Podos set before Sage Wilderstone in “Homeward for a Spell” is a bad contract. She limps back to Kingfisher from an expedition that cost her party fingers, blood, and most of its pay because the leader neglected to negotiate for delays or injury. When a mysterious Agent offers Sage her first chance to command, her opening act is not heroic but administrative: she demands an injury clause. The clause is funny because it is practical, and revealing because almost everyone else in the book is signing away something harder to price – time, safety, loyalty, a future. The question underneath the quest is not how to cut every tether. It is which claims on a life deserve to hold.

Even before Araphi Clauneck walks into her auditions, Sage has made an ethic out of exit routes. At twenty-six she moves from adventuring party to adventuring party and refuses to work with the same companions twice, because repetition becomes familiarity and familiarity becomes personal. The new job rewards that habit: assemble a crew, enter the Northlands before winter seals the passes, retrieve a powerful magical object, come back with enough money and reputation to stop being professionally invisible. Sage wants the commission, but she also wants the road for its own medicinal properties. Stillness leaves too much room for whatever she has been outrunning.

Much of the comedy enters carrying a lute. Araphi is twenty-two, rich, beautiful, engaged to Denby Oreborn for reasons closer to dynastic bookkeeping than desire, and privately serious about the pursuit her family regards as ornamental. As Phi Runesong, she performs as a bard. Hearing that someone in Kingfisher is holding auditions for a “party,” she assumes she is being hired to entertain one. Sage is recruiting an adventuring party. The mistake has the silliness of a tavern story. Its consequence is less silly: Araphi signs on for one last excursion before marriage and discovers that scheduled leave from one’s own life can make returning to it rather difficult.

Early chapters lay out a familiar adventurer’s kit: ranger, bard, healer, fighter, wizard, secret Client, magical artifact, bad weather, monsters with regrettable dental arrangements. Pacton and Podos do not pretend to have reinvented the quest. The surprise is not in the equipment but in who pays for it. Sage believes skill should buy authority. Araphi has been taught that music is charming but economically unserious. The Client regards obscurity as a discount on human risk. Clauneck, the demon underwriting Araphi’s family fortune, understands almost every relationship as bargain, leverage, or yield. The kingdom has dragon gods, but its labor market has the sour tang of recognizable subcontracting.

The road soon starts charging for every mile. A barbed-wolf attack scatters horses and supplies; Tea, the increasingly terrified wizard, bolts; Sage’s damaged knee keeps deteriorating; the Graywood is less enchanted forest than hostile workplace with fog. Now the bard has to do the magic. Araphi is expected to retrieve a dragon god’s tooth by following Tea’s wizardly instructions and cannot. Then she stops auditioning for someone else’s discipline and sings. Her bardic magic reaches the consciousness clinging to the tooth and draws it from the river. The tooth rises only when Araphi quits imitating the respectable magic the expedition expected and trusts the art everyone around her has mispriced.

Rarer, in this world, is magic that does not behave like a contract. Clauneck bargains. Menorath Clauneck, Araphi’s formidable aunt, uses agents and disposable workers to gather magical resources that might free the family from its patron while preserving its power over everyone else. Araphi’s songs ask rather than command. They gather people, circulate pleasure, and preserve stories. At the Dragon’s Bane, the same art her family treats as a hobby earns Araphi money under a name she chose for herself; at the Swallow, it accomplishes what wizardry cannot. When she and her mother eventually use music to wrench Clauneck out of Menorath and banish him, the opposition is almost diagrammatic – extraction against creation – but it has been prepared from the beginning. The supposedly useless art proves powerful without conceding that power was ever the proper measure of its worth.

If Araphi’s error is accepting her family’s price for things, Sage’s is treating mileage as proof of freedom. Her problem is not generic fear of commitment; she suspects every person who needs her will leave less of herself available to live. The authors delay the reason well. During Sage and Araphi’s first sexual encounter, Sage cries out the name Ollie. Ollie was her wife. Ollie did not die. Sage did. Killed on an earlier expedition and magically restored, she returned to a marriage in which Ollie wanted safety while Sage needed proof that her second life would not be smaller than the first. What first resembles romantic evasiveness becomes a survivor’s superstition. Sage treats survival like a debt payable in mileage.

Pacton and Podos place that confession inside their most revealing magical joke. After Sage dives into the lethal Swallow to save Araphi and badly worsens her knee, the women take refuge in an abandoned hunting cabin governed by a homecoming spell. Affection makes the place habitable. Kisses light candles. The fire catches. A bath fills. Food appears. It is the sort of enchantment that could drown in its own adorable bathwater, yet the scene survives because the joke and the emotional problem are identical. Sage has spent years treating dependence as enclosure; here allowing another person to care for her produces warmth rather than walls.

Araphi’s future, by contrast, arrives fully furnished. Her family has supplied property, status, a husband, an inheritance, and a dynastic assignment, leaving very little unallocated space in the person expected to inhabit them. Phi Runesong initially looks like a costume she can fold away before marriage. The journey makes that fantasy untenable. At Arkney, where Sage must remain through winter to heal, Araphi performs, works, teaches songs, acquires a secondhand lute that belongs to her rather than to a family legacy, and begins composing “The Ranger and the Bard.” She is no longer rehearsing a life. The harder problem is deciding how much of the old one she can refuse without making everyone she still loves pay for the refusal.

Precisely because escape feels so good, the decision to go back matters. Araphi returns south because abandoning the Clauneck structure would leave its costs for siblings and servants. Sage also returns, eventually, to the Rookery and to Ollie. Neither journey backward restores an old home. Sage can apologize without deciding their marriage should have survived; Ollie can explain the terror of watching Sage die without becoming the villain who tried to domesticate a restless woman. Their conversation permits something romances often resist: a freely chosen bond can fail because two people need incompatible lives, and nobody has to sprout horns for the failure to count. Ollie is not evidence that Sage once chose badly. She is evidence that choice itself does not freeze a relationship into permanent compatibility.

As the party goes north and later retraces its path south, geography starts doing character work. Thirty-five main chapters alternate strictly between Sage and Araphi before the epilogue, so neither woman is reduced to being the other’s destination. The design also keeps taking away whatever each mistakes for security. The party loses horses, supplies, its wizard, its uncomplicated commission, and eventually the artifact itself. Sage discovers that leadership is less about preparing for every contingency than recognizing when the original plan has become morally rotten. Araphi discovers that leaving is useful only if she returns with enough authority over herself to choose what remains.

Discipline has a price. Because the chapters alternate so faithfully, one emotional development is sometimes processed from Sage’s side and then polished again from Araphi’s. The prose shares that appetite for confirmation. Pacton and Podos write briskly, in a contemporary register alive to flirtation, embarrassment, and bodily inconvenience. Mud, blisters, bad stew, and aching joints keep the fantasy tactile. Sage notices routes, exits, weather, and threat; Araphi notices rhythm, performance, clothing, and the social temperature of a room. Those habits of attention distinguish them more effectively than decorative description. At times the strict alternation makes emotional reciprocity feel almost scheduled, as though every revelation has been issued a return ticket. But a scene that has already landed its emotional point is often followed by an interior paragraph making certain the parcel arrived.

Its prose wants the reader inside the tent, the argument, and the embarrassment, not admiring the sentence from the doorway. Most sentences are medium-length and lucid, frequently interrupted by fragments that sharpen a joke or flash of annoyance. Dialogue moves quickly; sex is frank without acquiring ceremonial gravity; exposition generally keeps pace with action. That accessibility suits a romance built on intimacy and momentum. It also limits mystery. Sage revisits whether attachment is a trap after the plot has already bent the bars; Araphi keeps asking whether Phi Runesong is real long after her behavior has answered. A motif can survive twenty pages without supervision.

Menorath’s commission gives Sage the cruelest professional lesson in the book. She imagines the secret Client as proof that somebody important has finally noticed her talent. The truth is meaner. Menorath wanted capable adventurers whose deaths would not make noise. Sage’s obscurity was not an obstacle to the job; it was a qualification. The reversal is especially good because it turns the recognition she craves into proof of how cheaply power has priced her. For a moment she considers completing the contract anyway, because delivering the tooth could still make her career. Then she refuses. That decision is her real promotion. She becomes a leader not when she gains the authority to issue orders, but when she decides the authority behind the orders no longer deserves obedience.

Its sharpest questions are harder than its answers. Menorath is most interesting when she seeks freedom from Clauneck by reproducing his methods of exploitation; possession later converts that contradiction into a rescue problem. Bramble’s attempt to steal the tooth for impoverished Tule opens an uncomfortable question about whether communal desperation excuses betrayal, then moves comparatively quickly toward remorse. Denby’s arranged marriage has shadowed Araphi’s future for hundreds of pages, only for him to greet its cancellation with near-comic relief and return happily to his machines. The solutions are pleasant. The dilemmas were better.

The last act makes reassurance almost a house rule. Remy steps aside. Bramble repents. Clauneck is banished. Menorath survives. Denby is relieved. Sage and Ollie understand one another. None of this violates the novel’s temperament; kindness has governed it from the start. But kindness can become narrative solvent when it dissolves the resistance that gave an earlier conflict weight. The story asks pointed questions about inherited wealth, dangerous freelance work, dynastic utility, and who gets to buy somebody else’s exposure to risk, then finds its most persuasive answers wherever one decent person can decide to behave differently. It is better at repairing relationships than imagining what would have to change around them.

Rebecca Thorne’s “Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea” shares its conviction that queer warmth need not require danger to vanish; Allison Saft’s “A Dark and Drowning Tide” offers the sterner expeditionary parallel, sending sapphic protagonists toward a coveted magical resource whose political purpose curdles along the way. A. K. Larkwood’s “The Unspoken Name” asks the harder neighboring question: when someone frees you from one claim only to acquire another, what would freedom actually look like? Pacton and Podos approach that problem with more jokes, more sex, and a considerably better bath.

On balance, 79/100, or 3/5 stars, feels right. The labor logic, Araphi’s mispriced art, Sage’s resurrection, the conversion of command into ethical responsibility, and the refusal to make love synonymous with settlement nearly lift the novel into the next tier. Overarticulated interiority, repeated emotional loops, familiar quest furniture, and an unusually forgiving resolution keep it just below.

Port, not anchor: that correction is the romance’s cleanest piece of thinking. An anchor stops a traveler. A port allows departure and return. The image has force because Sage imagines existence geographically from the first chapter: routes, exits, rivers, wilderness, the next commission. Love does not cure her of motion; it changes motion from escape into return. Araphi’s corresponding shift is artistic rather than geographic. By the epilogue she has turned their expedition into a ballad, becoming the person who decides how the life she chose will be remembered.

One year later, they are still adventurers. They have helped rebuild Tule, crossed forests, visited graves, returned to families, and arrived in Bloomfield for Yael and Margot’s wedding. Araphi has a song; Sage still has somewhere else she wants to go. Their happy ending is not stillness. It is the end of disappearance. A ranger keeps the road, a bard keeps the music, and somewhere between the next contract and the next chorus, each learns the rarest trick in a world thick with bargains: how to belong without being owned.

[S. L. Hemmings-Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this so much!
This was such a cute and cosy yet action packed story. When I think of fantasy, a story like this is what I think of, one full of magic and mystery. I enjoyed the characters and the chemistry between the two MCs, and I love how their story developed.
This is most definitely worth a read!

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing me with a free arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristene · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Jamie Pacton, and Rebecca Podos for trusting me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Before anything else, I strongly recommend reading Homegrown Magic before picking up Homeward for a Spell. While this book may stand on its own, having the background of the first book made the character relationships, growth, and emotional moments far more meaningful.

If you enjoy adventure, mythical creatures, sapphic romance, character growth, and fantasy journeys with real stakes, this book is absolutely worth picking up.

For readers wondering about the romance, I would place the spice level around a 3 out of 5. The intimate scenes were well written, respectful, and fit naturally within the story. Nothing says romance quite like finding a little privacy in a tent after a long day of adventure.

One of my favorite aspects of both books is the worldbuilding. Gender identity and sexuality are simply accepted throughout the world. Characters use they/them pronouns, families come in many forms, and queer relationships are treated as completely normal. None of these things are sources of conflict. They are simply part of the world, and I loved that. It felt like a world I would want to live in.

The strongest element of Homeward for a Spell is the adventure itself. Much of the story takes place on horseback and on foot as the characters travel through dangerous terrain, face mythical beasts, and navigate genuine threats. There are battles, injuries, blood, dangerous weather, difficult travel, and moments where survival is not guaranteed.

The character development is equally strong. One protagonist begins the story accustomed to wealth, comfort, and formal social events, leading to one of my favorite moments when she initially misunderstands what an “adventure party” actually means. Watching Araphi grow throughout the journey was incredibly satisfying.

One of the themes that stayed with me long after finishing the book was the exploration of identity and names.

Araphi was easily my favorite character. At first glance, she is presented as a wealthy, feminine young woman accustomed to privilege and comfort. However, the deeper the story goes, the more it becomes clear that there is far more to her than the role others expect her to fill.

What I found especially meaningful was her journey toward defining herself on her own terms. Her growth is not centered on gender identity, but on discovering who she wants to be, how she wants to live, and what she wants to contribute to the world. Part of that journey includes choosing a different name for herself, which I found incredibly powerful. Names carry meaning, history, expectations, and identity. Watching a character intentionally choose a name that better reflects who she is becoming felt like a beautiful affirmation of selfhood and personal agency.

The romance was beautifully done. The tension, emotional connection, and growing trust between the characters felt natural and rewarding. I especially enjoyed the dynamic between the two leads. Araphi’s femininity paired wonderfully with a heroine who often felt like the perfect knight in shining armor. As someone who enjoys butch/femme dynamics in sapphic fiction, this relationship really worked for me.

Ironically, the coziest part of the book comes in the middle. After a particularly dangerous stretch of travel, the characters find refuge in a welcoming community during the winter. Lost in deep snow and carrying injuries from their journey, they are taken in by a compassionate witch and given a place to heal. The scenes spent resting, recovering, and growing closer together were some of my favorites in the entire novel. I wanted to stay there right alongside them. If there is a truly cozy section of this book, it is this wonderful winter retreat.

My only hesitation comes from the marketing, and this is the same feeling I had after reading Homegrown Magic. Personally, I would not classify either book as cozy fantasy.

This is admittedly a somewhat subjective criticism, but when I think of cozy fantasy, I do not typically think of fighting large mythical beasts, blood, drowning, serious injuries, sword and knife combat, difficult wilderness travel, and life threatening situations. While there are certainly cozy moments, much of this story is driven by adventure, danger, and external conflict.

Readers looking specifically for a traditional cozy fantasy experience may find themselves surprised. Personally, I would place this closer to fantasy adventure or even romantasy, given how important both the adventure and romance are to the story.

That said, once I adjusted my expectations and embraced it as a fantasy adventure with a strong romantic focus, I absolutely loved it.

Adventure. Fantasy. Sapphic love. Character growth. Identity.

Those are the words that come to mind when I think about Homeward for a Spell, and it earned every one of its five stars.

[Unpopmary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited to pick this one up because cozy fantasy adventures are usually right up my alley, and it was also my first time reading these authors. Sadly, I came away feeling a little underwhelmed.

The story follows Sage, a ranger, and Araphi, a secret heiress who would much rather be living life as a bard than embracing the future everyone expects from her. Together, they set off on a dangerous quest that sounded like exactly the kind of adventure I love on paper. Unfortunately, I never felt like the execution lived up to the premise.

My biggest issue was that the story seemed far more interested in moving the plot forward than developing its characters. The quest itself was fairly predictable, and although there were a few enjoyable moments, nothing ever felt particularly surprising or memorable. The pacing also leaned on the slower side, which unfortunately made it difficult for me to stay invested throughout the journey.

I also struggled with both character arcs. Sage spends most of the novel convincing herself that she has to be the strong, dependable leader who doesn't need anyone else. While she slowly lowers her guard around Araphi, her emotional journey never felt fully developed. At one point she admits she doesn't even know what she's looking for in life, yet by the end she's suddenly certain of what she wants. I just wish that realization had been explored more because it felt like it arrived a little too easily.

Araphi's story didn't surprise me much either. From fairly early on, it became obvious which path she was going to choose regarding her future, so her ending felt exactly like what I had been expecting all along. Neither arc really challenged my expectations, and because of that, the overall story ended up feeling a little too straightforward.

I was also hoping for much stronger found family vibes. Considering the size of the adventure party, I expected to become attached to the entire group, but that never really happened. Part of that is because Sage intentionally keeps everyone at arm's length with her "don't get attached" rule, but I still wanted to see those relationships grow more than they actually did. Ironically, Bramble ended up being the one character who truly made the group feel like a family. I honestly wish we'd gotten more of him because he completely stole every scene he was in. As for Remy... let's just say we weren't exactly on the same wavelength.

The romance was another mixed bag for me. It was undeniably sweet, but I never fully believed in the emotional side of Sage and Araphi's relationship. Their attraction is obvious from the beginning, yet they spend very little time actually opening up to one another until the final stretch of the book. Because of that, their love story felt like it was built more on physical attraction than emotional intimacy.

There were honestly moments where they reminded me of two teenagers with hormones running wild because they always seemed to be thinking about each other at the most inconvenient times. Eventually, it started making their chemistry feel a little forced instead of something that naturally grew over the course of the adventure.

At the end of the day, this had all the makings of a fantasy romance I would've absolutely adored. I just don't think the execution found the right balance between the adventure, the romance, and the character development. Still, if you're looking for something lighthearted with cozy fantasy vibes, a bit of action, and an easy romance, I can definitely see this working for you. Just don't go in expecting much more than what it sets out to be.

eARC received via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

[Ariel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Homeward for a Spell is a sapphic, D&D-inspired romance which attempts to be both cozy and adventurous but doesn't quite hit the mark on either. Enjoyers of Legends and Lattes and similar cozy fantasies will probably like this book. I found it a little insubstantial (as I do with most cozy novels, so I was hoping it leaned more towards the adventure side).

The romantic leads in this book are Sage, a ranger leading her first party, and Araphi, a rich heiress by day and tavern bard by night who wants one adventure before her arranged marriage. Both characters are enjoyable, with Sage being more stereotypically butch and Araphi being high femme. They met once before the book started and evidently had instant chemistry, so it doesn't take them long at all to get together in the book. It was an interesting decision not to show their initial meeting, though that might have been in the previous book. In general, there didn't feel like much buildup between the characters, they were just into each other from the jump. There are numerous smut scenes which were pretty well done.

Besides Sage and Araphi, there's a young fighter, a nonbinary healer and acolyte to a salmon god, a student wizard, and a mysterious agent. There are also members of Araphi's family and Sage's best friend. None of these characters end up mattering much; this is distinctly not a found family story. What these characters do well is set up the queernormative world. There are multiple characters who use they/them pronouns, as well as multiple side characters involved in queer and polyamorous relationships.

The world building in this book was really fun. I liked the setting quite a bit, and the attention paid to the magic system when it was there. It being a queernormative world with none of the traditional barriers to Sage and Araphi's love (not even the objection that Sage is a penniless adventurer) did keep things firmly on the side of cozy.

What I really disliked about this book (besides it being written in the present tense) was how easy everything felt. It wasn't just the main characters getting together that was frictionless, it was the whole adventure. Every difficulty they face is solved by literally the first thing they try or an incredibly lucky break. Without spoiling any major plot beats, they encounter a troll at one point and slay it with one arrow before it even notices them, no fuss. Problems are solved in paragraphs and sometimes just sentences, not chapters or even pages. Even when Sage and Araphi hurt each other emotionally, they instantly recognize no real harm was meant by it and forgive each other. The lack of real stakes undermined what the authors attempted with the adventure.

Sidebar: I didn't realize this was a sequel until writing this review. The book does stand on its own. Fans of the original likely aren't reading reviews for the sequel, but will be pleased to know that the romantic leads from the first book do feature as prominent side characters in this one. One is Araphi's cousin and the other is Sage's best friend.

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early. I likely won't remember this book in a few months, but it wasn't an unpleasant read.

[Maria P · Rating 3 out of 5]

° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓛;𝓓𝓡 ✧˖°
An easy-to-read cosy fantasy perfect for readers looking for strong romantic chemistry, a fun magic system in a mystical world, and a low-stakes plot with family themes.

° ˖✧ 𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
3.25 ⭐
2 🌶️

° ˖✧ 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
"I don't think the queens' army built their beds to withstand us."

"You're trouble, Bard. But exactly the kind of trouble I like."
"You're exactly the kind of trouble I love, Ranger."

"Long the road stretched before them,
Treacherous and hard,
But they rode side by side together,
The ranger and her bard..."

"Now that I've found you, no matter where you go - whether a tower or a dungeon or the bottom of the Swallow - I'll never belong anywhere else."

° ˖✧ 𝓢𝔂𝓷𝓸𝓹𝓼𝓲𝓼 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 ✧˖°
When ranger Sage finally has the chance to lead a quest, it’s a dream come true. But when singer Araphi answers Sage’s ad for a Bard, she thinks it’s one last show before her arranged marriage, not an adventure in pursuit of a magic artifact...

° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
💘 Sapphic Romance
🌞 Grumpy x Sunshine
⚔️ Adventuring Party
⛺ Only One Tent
✨ Magical Quest
🔐 Secrets & Betrayals

° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓦𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
🩸 Mild Violence
🌶️ Sexually Explicit Content
💍 Infidelity in Arranged Engagement

° ˖✧ 𝓛𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
+ Romantic Chemistry and Spice
+ Fun Magic System
+ Mature Conflict Resolution
+ Mother-Daughter Ending

° ˖✧ 𝓓𝓲𝓼𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
- Slow Pacing
- Not Much Plot
- Weak Twist
- Prefer slightly higher stakes
- Some elements confusing

° ˖✧ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ✧˖°
I love reading sapphic romances but this one just missed the mark for me! Partially this may be due to a bit of burn out on my end, but the story just felt very slow without much occurring to keep me interested.

I would've preferred it if the story had started a bit sooner, to capture the moment Phi attempts to join Sage's party straight away rather than having the build up first. I recognise that cosy fantasy does tend to be on the slower side, but I just wasn't engaged enough in the scenes outside the main plot to stay interested.

However, I did love the dynamic between bard Araphi and ranger Sage - they have a strong attraction to each other early which makes for some of the scenes that I did enjoy even better! They have great chemistry and some of the microtrope moments were really fun.

I didn't enjoy the time skip about 2/3 of the way through, while it gave Sage and Phi's relationship time to develop, it just made it even more obvious that there wasn't enough to keep the story flowing for me. I also found the "twist" to be a little out there and closer to a "gotcha" moment from the author than something that felt pre-planned.

Also, the trouble that the adventurers got into was often resolved fairly quickly - again, I recognise the subgenre but I want the characters to work a bit harder for their happiness!

I did appreciate the fact that while there were elements of miscommunication between Araphi and Sage towards the end, they eventually came together and dealt with them before it got too bad. I also loved the ending with Araphi and her mother - though I have to say I found the whole "family patron" thing a bit confusing.

Thank you to Jamie Pacton, Rebecca Podos, and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the opportunity to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating: ★★★★☆ (4 stars)
cozy fantasy 🤝 sapphic romance 🤝 "there's only one tent..."
okay but...if you put "cozy fantasy" and "adventuring party" in the same sentence...
i'm already interested.
throw in a sapphic romance with some mythical creatures, a snowy landscapes with a found family and an "only one tent" situation...and i'm absolutely sold.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
what i loved was THE ADVENTURE.
this book feels like sitting around a campfire after a long day of traveling with your party.
there are dangerous monsters, magical relics, snowy mountains, cozy taverns and just enough peril to keep things exciting without losing that comforting cozy fantasy feeling.
it's the kind of story that reminds me why i love quest fantasies in the first place.
i also really enjoyed Sage and Araphi together.
their relationship develops naturally as they spend more time together and i loved watching them slowly learn to trust one another. the romance is sweet, full of yearning and balances nicely with the adventure instead of overshadowing it.
one thing i also appreciated was how easy it was to settle into the world.
technically this is the second book in the Homegrown Magic series...
but because it follows a new couple and a new adventure, i never felt completely lost.
that being said...i do think reading Homegrown Magic first would make certain returning characters and emotional moments hit even harder.
so while i definitely think this can be read as a standalone, i'd probably still recommend reading the first book if you have the chance.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
BUT...
okay, the pacing definitely leans into the "cozy" part of cozy fantasy...which means it takes its time.
i didn't necessarily mind that, but there were sections in the middle where i wished the story moved just a little faster.
i also wanted a bit more chemistry between Sage and Araphi early on, i liked them together but i wasn't immediately obsessed with them the way i hoped i'd be.
their relationship grew on me as the story progressed, but it took a little while to get there and while i loved the cozy atmosphere, i found myself wishing the worldbuilding dug just a little deeper in a few places.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
overall this was such a charming sequel.
it balances adventure, romance and cozy fantasy really well and it reminded me why i enjoy stories where the journey matters just as much as the destination.
is it action-packed?
not really.
is it comforting, heartfelt and full of lovable characters
absolutely.
so if you like reading cozy fantasy with sapphic romance, a found family that goes on adventuring parties and has magical quests and the "only one tent" trope...i think you'll have a lovely time with this one.

My final thoughts;
i came for the magical quest...
i stayed because apparently watching an adventuring party slowly become a family will never get old. 🏕️✨🩵

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with an ARC!

[Trevin Sandlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is fun to read outside of your typical comfortable 'wheelhouse' now and then. I don't read a lot of LGBTQ+ stories (and that's on me as a cis white man to be better). And when I do, it is typically a romance with two men, not two women. So this was definitely outside my wheelhouse, but I'm glad I read it.

This was very cute. The second book of a series (maybe? A second book definitely - whether there are more set in this world is up in the air to me, but there are enough hooks to write more) - though I confess I haven't read the first book (you can definitely read this without reading the first - this is a stand-alone story...mostly). I hesitate to call it 'cozy,' though I know that the marketing for it has described it as such and there are a lot of aspects that would push it towards the 'cozy fantasy' realm. But there's also some big action set pieces and there are real stakes outside of the relationship between the two leads. I enjoyed this take on the standard 'adventuring party' and a world in which it isn't so much a group of, as others have called D&D parties, 'murder hobos.' Here the adventurers are hired to acquire relics, or spell materials, etc. I loved how richly and effortlessly diverse the world we inhabit is - a refreshing kind of fantasy world where there are problems, but outright racism and outright sexism or homophobia aren't really part of the equation. Maybe that was more of an aspect in the first book.

I enjoyed that there are several different competing methods of magic, though I'll also confess one of them didn't work all that well for me (it was late in the book). Indeed - the first half of this book is what I loved most. The exploration and journey and the perils along the way. But something was off about the last third of the novel. It isn't bad - it just isn't what the rest of the book was. There were devices and plot angles that fell to the wayside and I wanted more of the found family of the group - we learn very little about most of the adventuring party and they're mostly there for window dressing or to propel the main characters further. They didn't feel like they had lives outside the story. Likewise, I really didn't care for the last couple of chapters and the epilogue. They just felt superfluous and unnecessary. There was a climax and an endng. And then there were two more chapters and an epilogue. I didn't need every i dotted and t crossed.

Still, I really did enjoy this and it reminded me that I need to read broader - not just my typical stuff. For anyone craving a sapphic fantasy, this one definitely will hit the mark and if you like it spicy...there's plenty of that. I'm going to call it 3.75 stars. Rounding up for GR.

Many thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for a chance to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own and were not compensated. Homeward for a Spell is out on August 18th and you can preorder it now!

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️ 1/5

🖤 Thank you to Jamie Pacton, Rebecca Podos, Del Rey Publishing & NetGalley for the eARC!

This book felt like coming home… in the softest, most magical way.

Homeward for a Spell blends that signature cozy, emotional warmth with a full-on adventure, and it works so beautifully. It leans into themes of belonging, identity, and connection, while still giving us a story filled with danger, magic, and a journey that genuinely changes the characters along the way.
At its heart, this is a story about finding where—and who—you belong.

We follow Sage, a determined ranger finally stepping into a leadership role, and Araphi, a bard who just wants one last taste of freedom before her future is decided for her. Their paths collide in a way neither of them expects, and what unfolds is an adventure filled with tension, growth, and connection.

What I loved:
🧡 Character dynamics — messy, layered, and incredibly real
Cozy magic — subtle, whimsical, and woven into the world naturally
⚔️ Adventure + DnD vibes — found family, quests, chaos, and camaraderie
🍂 Atmosphere — warm, immersive, and easy to get lost in
💛 Emotional core — healing, belonging, and second chances

The romance between Sage and Araphi is a slow burn that truly earns its payoff. They want very different things, and that tension carries through every interaction. The banter is sharp, sometimes a little biting, but when the walls come down, it hits. It’s soft, emotional, and deeply satisfying.

Beyond the romance, the found family dynamic is such a standout. The adventuring crew feels distinct and alive, and their relationships add so much warmth and humor to the story. It genuinely feels like being part of a chaotic, lovable party on a quest—very DnD energy in the best way.

I also loved how queernormative the world is. Queer relationships and identities simply exist without question, which adds to the overall sense of comfort and belonging the book creates.

A small note:
If you’re looking for a fast-paced, plot-heavy fantasy, this might feel a bit slower. The story takes its time, focusing more on characters and emotional stakes than constant action. But if you’re in the mood for something immersive and character-driven, that pacing really works in its favor.

Overall:
This felt like a warm cup of tea and an adventure all at once—comforting, a little bittersweet, and quietly magical, but still full of life and movement.

🖤 What to Expect:
• Cozy sapphic fantasy
• Slow burn romance
• Found family / adventuring crew
• DnD-style quest vibes
• Queernormative world
• Themes of home, identity & belonging

If you love stories that feel like a hug with just enough adventure to keep things exciting, this one is absolutely worth picking up ✨

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Homeward for a Spell is a cute, sweet, and generally nice fantasy romance; though, unfortunately, it just never got above ‘fine’ for me.

The story features Sage, a ranger who is suddenly put in charge of an adventuring party for a dangerous quests in the frozen northern lands, and Araphi, replacement heiress to the richest family in the lands who wants nothing more than to be a simple bard.

Overall, I found the romance between Sage and Araphi…fine? Nice? It was enough to keep me reading throughout the book; but, unfortunately for me and my tastes in romance books, it felt like the vast majority of the feelings shared between the characters was lust rather than love. Unlike the authors’ previous book which took place over the course of many months, the majority of the plot of this one happens over a few weeks; and even then, the two main leads don’t actually seem to talk to each other all that much. Instead, most of the romance is driven by mutual attraction, which is fine, but didn’t convince me particularly why they love each other rather than just want to bang, you know? While I generally liked them together, I really wish that there was more to it. While the book does just its runtime to try to convince the reader that its deeper than that, I just wish it spent more time showing that to me on the page. Thankfully, I did like each character individually; they were each compelling enough in their own right that it made me interested to see how the book would work out.

As for the overarching plot—similarly, it was good enough to keep the book moving forward, but unfortunately hampered by a few strange moments, especially at the book’s climax. There were a few moments that felt kind of trope-y for the sake of the trope (and, in particular, one that stood out was how whenever the characters did the do it often tended to be in a place where at least one other person comments about…knowing about it? Being around? Idk man, but that’s just not my jam in my fantasy romances), and the very end of the book that solves an overarching problem of the series was weirdly anti-climactic.

All in all…I don’t know. I didn’t hate this book; it was interesting enough to read on the plane or during the downtime of a vacation, and it was perfectly serviceable as a nice sapphic fantasy romance, but I just didn’t quite feel like the book did anything that’s going to stick with me. It was a good way to pass the time and an enjoyable enough book, but nothing about it particularly stood out to me. Ultimately, I’m giving it a 3.5 out of 5, rounded down. It’s fun enough, and I recommend it to readers seeking a cute sapphic romance.

Thank you to Del Rey for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Maé · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc!

I’ll admit, I kind of lost my way in the NetGalley website, and I may have requested books I wouldn’t normally pick up. But honestly, when I see a queer cosy fantasy, I thought what would be the harm in reading it ? Let it be known, this convinced that I am in fact NOT the target audience for cosy fantasy. This novel is actually the second instalment (which, of course, I didn’t know about) in a series set in this fantasy world. This story specifically is inspired by Dungeons & Dragons: Sage, a ranger, is tasked to lead her first adventure to retrieve a magical object. Araphi mistakenly auditions for said adventure, and will be the bard of their party. And, of course, the two are very attracted to each other.

Honestly, the plot was well constructed, but it did lack stakes and just felt boring at times. I know it’s supposed to feel like a D&D campaign, but it felt repetitive and predictable. The climax of the story, when they get to the object they’ve been waiting for, felt way too easy for the struggle it was supposed to be. The final “fight” was anything but impressive. I know that’s the point of a cosy fantasy, it genuinely felt we were just dragging the story along so the romance would progress.

The worldbuilding was more or less absent of this story. Honestly, if I read the first book of the series I maybe wouldn’t have complained, but it still felt like the characters were walking through a map the authors were just making along. The monsters they encountered were random at best—but this I can forgive in case it’s related to DnD shenanigans. I will say I did really like the power system and how it was explained.

To me, the most important aspect of a cosy fantasy, when you put the plot and the stakes to the side, is good characters. Expect this book absolutely forgets this. We have a set of the most bland characters with absolutely no personality. I genuinely expected a little found family moment but there is NO interaction happening between any characters of the party. The main characters have nothing interesting to say beyond their feelings for each other. The most complex character happens to be the guy we only learn the name of in the last few pages. Hell, even the antagonist could have been really interesting to investigate because of their motives, but they’re genuinely just there for the bit and then put to the side.

I wish I could say Sage and Araphi at least had a very well built romance. But this is the depiction of “insta lust”, and authors not knowing how to build on chemistry. These girls just think about each other’s body, and it doesn’t even feel like they were really falling in love. The only time they could have spend catching feelings for each other passed by like a montage—only to end up with them head over heels for each other.

This book, that could have been promising, told a story that wasn’t strongly based on anything. The plot was bad, the characters were uninteresting, the romance was awful. Yet, the premise itself is entertaining, and the writing is bearable, so it kind of drives the reader forward, but it definitely lacks what I personally like in my books.

[jayden abel · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Possible Spoilers*

Homeward for a Spell will absolutely find its niche. The characters swashbuckle their way across lands, and find true love along the way. The book was more plot-driven than character-driven. As someone who prefers relationship building to world building, I found myself not really caring what happened to Sage and Araphi.

The story starts off with two unhappy misfits agreeing to retrieve treasure in return for a load of cash. Sage is an insecure adventurer set on making a name for herself. Araphi joins Sage’s party, mourning her impending loss of freedom. Instead of marrying for political gain, she secretly wants to play music. Over the course of weeks and then months, the two women gain foes and lose friends, but always find each other.

Sage reads like the knightly hero. She wants to prove herself. Running away from her problems just happens to be a bonus of living on the road. In meeting Araphi, she learns that it’s okay to love and be loved. That’s kind of her entire story arc. I’m not saying that the growth isn’t valid but it did feel like reading a sluggish European fairytale.

I liked Araphi’s family more than I liked her. Araphi’s mother is a retired musician who misses her art, but has accepted the role of a socialite. As a sort of defiance to her life, she teaches Araphi how to cast spells with music. Araphi gains an appetite for the arts; I’m shocked. Araphi’s aunt ends up being the final antagonist. Although selfish and after power, she sees the limit of being a rich man’s wife. She doesn’t want to end up like Araphi’s mother: complicit and powerless. So, she goes looking for a magic wielding relic. Araphi’s character doesn’t have the same complicated motive and backstory as her mother and aunt. She’s sort of just a young aristocrat who gets humbled by the world and falls for a poor traveler.

Araphi and Sage are cute together, if lacking self preservation skills. Where one goes, the other goes out of solidarity and bravery. There was a ridiculous amount of euphemisms used during the bedroom scenes. “...pearl” and “...the valley between her thighs” aren’t sexy allusions.

While definitely not for me, I think that this book will resonate with a lot of people. It’s an epic queer fairytale with likable supporting characters and a grandiose love story. Sage just lost my interest when she went to a brothel instead of a doctor.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey and Random House Worlds for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[✨ tweety ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had D&D vibes, perfect for those who love adventure and cozy fantasy.

🍋 sapphic romance
🍋 bard magic
🍋 lovely worldbuilding

Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐
Pacing: Medium
Character Development: 3/5
Heat Level: 3/5
Pov: Dual

🏹

Sage was definitely my favorite out of the two. Her thrist for adventure all the time and not settling down but deciding to stop running to places for the right person was written well. I could feel her hesitation, her anxiety as she lead the party for the first time and had great responsibility. It was cool that she could find any place thanks to her skills as a ranger.

As for Araphi, I liked her a bit less. Araphi is a wealthy heirhess who is bound to be married to a man she doesn't love and she's not happy about that. She's also not happy about not being able to play her lute and be a bard, which is her dream. Her bard magic was something I hadn't seen before in a book! I wished we'd get more about that!

🏹

I loved the setting and that there was a map at the beginning of the book, though it was descripted very well, it was easy to imagine. The cast was diverse but I wished we'd seen more about Nura and Bramble and the Agent.

What didn't work for me were the long chapters. I am not a big fan of long chapters. I feel like every now and then, breaking the chapter into more does wonders to the pace, which was medium and a little fast in points where it was necessary to skip.

While the writing was good, I didn't enjoy the exposition. It's normal to have a character think about person/event/ecc. and briefly remember, but I felt it was done too much in this book. There were too many times flashbacks were inserted while a scene in the present was going on. I appreciated that the tense of the present was well, the present and for the past it was used a past tense. But it wasn't enough. Sometimes I would lose track of the moment where we left off and made the pace felt a bit stilted. Again, in my opinion breaking the chapters up would've been better for the pace.

Last thing I didn't buy that much was the romance. The spice was written really well and I enjoyed it a lot. But I didn't feel much chemistry between Sage and Araphi.

Nonetheless, I think fans of cozy fantasy and cozy romance who also love sapphic romances (there's never enough of them!) would love this.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the editor for the arc :)

[Tory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank the authors for providing me with an ARC copy of this book and for the opportunity to read and review it.

I requested this book shortly before reading the first one of the serie, Homegrown Magic, and after absolutely loving that one I was incredibly excited when my request for this sequel was accepted. I genuinely didn’t think it would be possible, but somehow I ended up loving this book even more than the first one. I read it in only two reading sessions, which is honestly very unusual for me since I tend to struggle with concentration and normally split books into many smaller sessions. This one completely absorbed me from beginning to end.

I absolutely loved both protagonists and thought they were wonderfully characterised (just like the secondary cast), and I adored their chemistry which was already noticeable in the first book but felt even stronger here. One thing I especially appreciated was how easy the story was to follow despite the amount of characters and events involved, nothing ever felt confusing or difficult to keep track of. The writing style is also exactly the kind of style I personally love: very smooth and immersive, easy to follow without ever feeling simplistic or childish. It made me feel completely immersed in the story and the adventure.

Another aspect I loved was the structure of the ending. Without spoiling anything, both books in this serie have a way of building toward the finale that feels very satisfying and different from the more predictable structures often found in fantasy books. It’s not only the ending itself, but also the way the story reaches that point that I found incredibly well done. Plus, I loved seeing some of the characters from the first book again, even if only briefly. Honestly I would happily read endless books set in this world, I really hope there will eventually be a third one, maybe focused on Wren or another character from this universe.

I would especially recommend this book to readers who enjoy Dungeons & Dragons vibes, quests, cozy fantasy, and strong character dynamics. One thing I would strongly recommend, however, is reading the first book before this one. Even though the stories are technically standalone, this book contains major spoilers for the first one (and that book is too good to be ignored), and I also think some emotional subplots and character dynamics are much more impactful when experienced in order.

[Dorkst3r · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received Homeward for a Spell through a Goodreads giveaway sponsored by the author and publisher. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review it!

This was such a fun little escape. I expected something fairly cozy going in, but I was surprised by how much actual adventure there was. Sage finally gets the opportunity to lead her own group on a dangerous journey to find a rare magical artifact, while Araphi joins for completely different reasons—mostly because she wants a little freedom before returning to the life and marriage her family has planned for her. Of course, neither of them realizes quite how much this trip is going to change things.

I really liked how different Sage and Araphi were. Sage is independent, guarded, and much more comfortable relying on herself, while Araphi comes from a privileged background and is stepping into a world she isn't exactly prepared for. Watching them get thrown together and slowly discover different sides of each other was probably my favorite part.

Their attraction is definitely there from the beginning, maybe even a little too quickly for me. I actually enjoyed their quieter moments more because that's where I started believing in them as something beyond physical chemistry. I liked seeing their walls come down and watching Araphi especially begin figuring out what she wanted instead of simply accepting what everyone else expected from her.

I also enjoyed the rest of the traveling group. Having so many different personalities trying to work together brought some humor and unpredictability to the journey. There are monsters, magic, dangerous situations, and plenty of things going wrong, so even though the book has a comforting feel to it, there are still real stakes.

A few parts moved slower than I expected, and I would have liked a little more time developing some of the supporting characters. Still, once the adventure really got going, I found myself wanting to see where everyone ended up.

Overall, Homeward for a Spell gave me romance, magic, adventure, and characters trying to figure out where they actually belong. It was charming without being completely predictable, and I especially liked the idea that sometimes finding your way home isn't necessarily about returning to the place you started.

[Hamad Naif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey books for a chance to review this fun and cozy ARC
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After Homegrown Magic showed just how well Pacton and Podos can balance humor with heart, this sequel builds on that foundation beautifully — and introduces two new leads you can’t help but root for.
Sage has built a solid reputation as a ranger, drifting between other people’s parties: skilled, reliable, and constantly underestimated. When she finally gets the chance to lead her own team, it comes with a major challenge — a journey into one of the kingdom’s harshest regions, with winter fast approaching. Meanwhile, Araphi has no interest in adventure whatsoever. All she wants is music, and one last chance to perform before her family’s expectations close in on her. Neither of them is prepared for how their paths; and their lives will collide.
The romance between Sage and Araphi is the kind of slow burn that truly earns its payoff. They want completely different futures, and being thrown together only sharpens that tension. Pacton and Podos take their time with it in the best way — the flirting is sharp, a little biting, and when the vulnerability finally breaks through, it really hits. By the time they stop circling each other, every moment feels deserved.
But Homeward for a Spell offers more than just its central relationship. The adventuring crew brings a found-family dynamic that’s both warm and genuinely funny. Everyone feels distinct, the banter carries a sense of shared history, and even the chaos of badly timed monster encounters somehow strengthens their bond. It’s the kind of world that feels good to return to — textured, playful, and thoughtfully built without ever slowing the story down.

What Pacton and Podos consistently get right is making comfort feel earned. This isn’t effortless cosiness; it’s carefully crafted. The stakes matter, the characters carry real emotional weight, and the happiness at the end feels like something hard-won.
Homeward for a Spell is a reminder that fantasy doesn’t have to be dark to be powerful. Sometimes, choosing warmth — and fully committing to it — is the boldest move a story can make. I can't wait to get the audio book!

[Caoimhe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last year, I read and enjoyed Homegrown Magic, the first in this series. What I really didn’t expect was to like the sequel even more.

This book follows Sage - a ranger who strictly does *not* get attached, moves on to a new party after every job, and does not look back - and Araphi - the reluctant heiress to a very wealthy and powerful family, who isn’t exactly thrilled about her upcoming nuptials and would much rather live out her bardic dreams as ‘Phi Runesong’ (honestly, a solid stage name). After a chance encounter prior to the story, a misunderstanding of the word ‘party’ results in Sage and Araphi adventuring together on the hunt for a mysterious and extremely powerful magical artefact.

What I really liked about this story was both POV characters figuring out what they actually wanted in life, and who they actually wanted to be. Both had been constrained - Sage by her own decision to not get attached, and Araphi by her family’s demands - and both had the opportunity to try something different: Sage found herself with someone that, try as she might, she couldn’t stop herself wanting to be attached to; Araphi was finally able to taste freedom and passion, not simply duty. Both of them are so different from each other, with vastly different backgrounds, yet they fit together so well and provide exactly what they need.

I’ve come to really enjoy this world that the author’s have created. In a lot of ways it’s an archetypal high fantasy, DnD-esque world of rangers and bards, gods and demons, magic and monsters. But there’s so much creativity here, the towns feel real and lived in, and it’s beautifully queernormative. I was a particular fan of how bard magic was written and how it contrasts with the warlock magic already established in this setting. Honestly, this is a world that I think I’d really enjoy playing a TTRPG in.

All in all, this was a really great read. I’d recommend it for anyone who wants a proper Dungeons and Dragons-style quest story, a cosy-adjacent fantasy romance, and some rather excellent sapphic spice. Thank you so much to the authors for this ARC, which I received in exchange for an honest review!

[Annmarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! An epic Dnd adventure that revolves around a sapphic romance in the adventuring party.

Lust at first sight
Only one bed/tent
Rich bard/poor ranger
Hurt/comfort
Spice 🌶️🌶️
Reluctant allies to lovers
DnD party romance

Araphi is from a wealthy family but only wants to be a bard, she’s forced the be the heir to the family legacy after the previous air ran off with their lover. As a last hurrah before being married off to someone she barely knows and doesn’t like, she enters into her first contest as a bard and wins. She overhears some of the other contestants talking about a party audition and decides she needs to try. Lo and behold, she gets there and finds out not only is this not a dinner party but an adventuring party, but that she knows the party leader as well! She convinces her to let her be part of the party and is determined to prove herself without the backing of her family name/money/power.

Sage is a ranger that’s running from herself. She grew up poor and always dreamed of leaving and as soon as she could she left for an adventuring party. She’s trying to prove herself as a party leader and make a name for herself so she can always be on the road, no attachments, no same party twice, always on the go and living on her terms. But then araphi shows up and mucks up her plans. She knows araphi, her best friend is in love with Yael, Araphi’s cousin and the previous heir to the family. Its lust at first sight but she convinces herself the party needs a bard. And she’s right.

The adventure is high stakes: secrecy, sneaking, anonymous hire, locate a very powerful magical artifact that is thought to be a legend and only one known song of it exists.
Each member of the party is an underdog, sage really gives each a chance, just like she’s hoping they’ll do the same for her. Every party member has something to prove and the money from this quest will change their lives.

Along the way there’s hardship with long days on the road but also lust and teasing and flirting relentlessly.

Sage and araphi are a great couple and the issues they have are relatable. I loved the characters and their story.

[Em Hathaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to journey alongside Sage and Araphi through this warm and whimsical adventure ahead of its release.

Homeward for a Spell is a warm, whimsical sapphic fantasy romance that brings an ambitious ranger and a runaway bard together on a perilous quest, with an unlikely adventuring party at their side and, naturally, only one tent.

Sage and Araphi’s relationship was one of the story’s strengths. Their attraction sparks quickly, but beneath the banter and flirtation is a tenderness that gives their romance warmth, particularly as both begin reaching beyond the lives they have known towards something of their own.

The Dungeons & Dragons-style adventuring party and the sense of whimsy woven through their journey were also highlights, from taverns and magical creatures to obstacles met with increasingly questionable decisions. There’s a playful quality to the world that lends the adventure much of its charm.

Where the story lost some ground was in the quest itself. Despite the dangers surrounding the party, the weight of what was at stake rarely felt quite strong enough, with obstacles often resolved before the tension had time to take hold. The landscape, creatures and magic could have carried a greater sense of peril, with dangers that felt as formidable as the quest suggested.

The wider adventuring party left a similar impression. Their individual personalities and histories are drawn in surprising detail, yet several never felt as fully realised within the group as their characterisation suggested they might. The relationships between them remain comparatively vague, and more meaningful exchanges would have allowed the found-family element to develop beyond the promise of what it could become.

Ultimately, Homeward for a Spell shines brightest in its romance, even if the fantasy surrounding it didn’t quite carry the same depth. There’s still plenty of warmth, whimsy and heart in Sage and Araphi’s journey, particularly in its reminder that sometimes finding your way home begins with choosing the life you want for yourself.

[Emily Capri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thankyou to NetGalley for the ARC!

Oh I absolutely LOVED Homeward for a Spell! We have Sage, a young adventurer keen to make a name for herself by leading her first adventure party to find a lost treasure. Then there's Araphi, a young bard looking to go on one last adventure before being tied down in a marriage she doesn't want but is being forced into because of powerful family politics. Sage assembles her chosen team of adventurers and what follows is a life-changing journey filled with crazy antics, dangerous creatures, new friendships, life lessons and growing romantic attraction.

I read this book in 24hrs, I couldn't put it down. It sucked me in right from the start and it didn't take me long to feel invested in the story and the characters. This book was like a queer Dungeons and Dragons sorta vibe and I absolutely loved every single second. I felt the world building was done beautifully and had me totally wrapped up and lost in it because of how well it was written. The world felt so vast and layered without being messy or difficult to understand.

The characters were so fantastically done! There was a lot of diversity and the authors spent time giving each character some depth and their own individual "moments". Sage and Araphi were so, so well written though. We gain such a huge amount of insight and understanding throughout the story as to who they are, their life experiences and their feelings and intentions. I teared up a couple of times because I could really just feel what they were feeling. The writing was so well done in this way.

One of my favourite parts of this book though was how queernormative it was. There were so many queer relationships of all different varieties. There were multiple non-binary characters. None of this was treated as anything special, just a normal part of life that no one so much as batted an eye at. As a queer, non-binary person myself, this just made my heart SO happy.

I loved this book so much and am so excited to recommend it to anyone and everyone who will listen! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️