On his way back from delivering a parcel one day, Everson stumbles across an empty cottage at the edge of the wood, where he quickly discovers its there’s magic within these walls, and he can make this place into the secluded home of his dreams.
His dreams, of course, include wall to wall books, and when a stranger stops for directions and mistakes it for a library, Everson gets an the first free library in Wrestia, where all are welcome.
Born with silver hair and pointy ears of the “cursed” faerûn, Everson has always had to hide his identity, particularly ever since his mother married the lord of Wrestia—and he’s kept to himself ever since.
But when his stepbrother summons him to the palace, Everson is confronted by the one person from his childhood who knows his his step-brother’s new fiancé.
Can he create the welcoming library of his dreams, or will it crumble to ruin before he even gets started?
Each book in the Cozy Cottage series is a standalone, and can be read in any order.
Liz Delton writes and lives in New England, with her husband and sons. She studied Theater Management at the University of the Arts in Philly, always having enjoyed the backstage life of storytelling.
World-building is her favorite part of writing, and she is always dreaming up new fantastic places.
She loves drinking tea and traveling. When she’s not writing or reading, you can find her baking in the kitchen, or out in the garden trying to keep her plants alive.
This book is an absolute gem! I loved every second of it! I honestly have enjoyed the edge of the wood books more than many other cozy fantasy titles I’ve read recently from bigger publishers.
I loved how Everson, upon finding a magical cottage, opts to use it to give to the community and not just for his own enjoyment.
One of the things I loved about this story was that it was cozy, but not no risk. There was intensity brought in by Everson’s secrets and the threat of the fever. It adds tension without spoiling the cozy aspects.
Highly recommend giving this book a read if you love a cozy fantasy with a bit more substance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the audiobook ARC of The Library at the Edge of the Wood!
This was such an absolutely wonderful and cozy tale! I love the characters and the magic of the library! Such a perfect book to curl up and read on a cold winter day! I soooo look forward to the next book in this (standalone) series!! They're always so cozy and delightful and just absolutely amazing!
Another delightful, cozy visit to the cottage at the edge of the woods. So nice to come back, and I’m excited that there will be more in this series.
If you haven’t read The Witch at the Edge do the Woods, no worries. These are standalone, cozy stories that are linked by setting, but separated in time. You don’t have to read Witch first, but why not give it a try while you wait for the official release of Library?
My early review is curtesy of being a Kickstarter backer.
Well heck! I'm gobsmacked! I'm in a state of sheer elation, I feel like doing a happy jig! Yes, that's exactly the effect this excellent read has left me in! I thought Witch at the Edge of the Woods was a stunning read, well, this one surpassed even that!
We start with young man half frozen, trudging through snow on his way to deliver goods. Yes, he's a courier but that's not all who he is... he's trying to forge a path of his own, separate from his brother and he's hiding a massive secret. Intriguing right? It just gets better...He stumbles across a certain cottage, with a promise of warmth, which we've met in the previous book. Just wanting to warm his frozen fingers and toes by the fire, he enters. But what he enters into was beyond his imagination! The realism Ms Delton infuses into her story, seemingly unaffectedly, deceptively so in fact, I felt MY fingers and toes burn with cold! This cottage EVERYTHING I want! It's a self contained magical pocket that unleashes my imagination into the abyss!
But here's the thing, even though the cottage grants Everton's wishes, he doesn't abuse it. He must be one of the nicest, kindest, most responsible, gentle, selfless characters on the planet! I guess it's easy to fathom that I really love him...Not a selfish bone in his body, not an iota of self-pity, not a dash of bitterness! His secret has been hidden from a very early age, his secret has the potential to see him set upon, imprisoned or worse,. What a huge secret a young boy has to contend with and geez did it make my heart ache! After his mother and stepdad passed, his only family, his stepbrother, Vastion didn't stop the teasing, so Everton vows to go it alone, not rely on the family wealth or standing and save to gain entrance into the university. His main reason is access to the library, oh, yes, he's a book worm of note! So, when the cottage grants him book after book, he's in his element! I love the joy that eminates from him through the pages, but so too does his dilemma. What to do... what are his next steps...
And, because the author has given me a complete and beautiful character, he gives back to the community. He starts a library, a free library, a library that anyone can borrow books, all for free. Oh dear heavens do I ADORE these characters! Every single one evoked a smile, an emotion, a response from me. From dour faced Fransisca, who, btw, is all sorts of embarrassed that anyone find out she's rather partial to a book called The Dragon Lord's Queen (which I need please Ms Delton!) to the exuberance of Mira, a love interest of Everton and the gregarious Nod. As a loner, Everton is used to being secluded, hell, he thinks that's the only way to keep his secret safe! But, when a gnome, Nod, appears, a beautiful friendship is formed. And when Mira shows up in his magnificent cozy library, sparks fly. It was one of those very slow burn fires one doesn't know will extinguish or ignite into an inferno and Liz kept me on my toes in anticipation but she almost had me in tears too...no, I'm not going to spoil it...she did, however, make my heart leap in joy at the very usual development.
Oh gosh, I'm rambling but if you read this book, you'll ramble too! I'm trying, and failing, to give justice the essence of the story, which was just phenomenal! The emotions are raw and often misplaced, the twists were unbelievably unexpected, as a few prime events smacked me over the head! I'm not sure who surprised me more, Vastion or Uncle Overforth, but both times my jaw dropped, in astonishment. I know I've mentioned how awesome the characters were, how warm they were, how unique they were so even if I were strung up over open coals, I wouldn't be able to say which is my favourite. Everton, with his purity, didn't only capture me, he evoked a fierce loyalty in all around him. His boss, Filgaria, Lyra, Nod, Mira, his brother Vastion and his fiancée Druida, to every single character to grace these pages, wrapped me up in warmth like a cocoon. These words enveloped me, made me want to burrow even deeper into my cocoon of bliss "You deserve this place. But more than that, you deserve a place free in this world". The plot was awesome, the storytelling sublime, it all really wrapped itself around my heart in the most beautiful way.
In conclusion, THIS was a superb read! It's a book about balance, love, caring and family and one where fears are faced, not hidden, and the beauty of realisation that acceptance of "the different" is very much attainable. To say "I enjoyed it" sounds too banal, I ADORED it! I'm in a state of euphoria! Even the cat Randolf found a place in my heart.Two things I'm left in dire need of, this particular book, The Dragon Lord's Queen, author unknown.... and more of this world! I read it in one sitting, I could not for the life of me put it down, and needless to say, I drank copious amounts of tea....
A Cozy Fantasy That Understands the Quiet Power of Libraries I listened to The Library at the Edge of the Wood over the course of two days, which honestly tells you everything you need to know about how comforting and absorbing this book is.The Library at the Edge of the Wood is a warm, affirming example of cozy fantasy done well. I loved the first book in the series, and this sequel, although it really is a standalone, delivered exactly what I hoped for: the same gentle magic, with slightly more emotional depth and a touch more romance. I was pleased to find that Delton retains the same gentle magic while allowing slightly more space for romance and character development.
The story follows Everson, a reserved but deeply kind librarian whose decision to create a free library at the edge of the wood becomes a quiet act of resistance against isolation, fear, and long-held prejudice. As a librarian myself, I found his belief in access, community, and the power of small, consistent kindness so relatable. The library is not just a setting here; it’s the heart of the story.
This is peak cozy fantasy: low stakes, character-driven, and intentionally soothing. While the book gestures toward heavier themes — identity concealment, prejudice, and childhood trauma — these elements are handled lightly and resolved relatively quickly. I suspect this was a deliberate choice in service of the genre, which prioritises emotional safety and warmth over sustained conflict. Personally, I felt some of these themes could have been explored more deeply, but I also recognise that the novel never set out to be anything other than comforting.
The romantic thread is gently woven in and feels natural rather than intrusive, adding warmth without overwhelming the core narrative. Most of all, Everson himself is a joy to read: thoughtful, earnest, and quietly brave in ways that feel very human.
Ultimately, The Library at the Edge of the Wood succeeds because it knows exactly what it wants to be: a soft place to land. It’s a story about building something good, opening doors (literally and metaphorically), and choosing connection over fear. I finished it feeling calm, content, and a little more fond of the world. Most of all, the novel excels in its tone: kind, optimistic, and quietly affirming
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A deeply comforting read that understands its genre and audience well.
Thankyou to Netgalley in collaboration with Victory Editing & Tourmaline / Quartz Publishing, and author, Liz Delton for sharing the Advanced Listening Copy of “The Library At The Edge Of The Woods” with me in exchange for an honest review.
The Library At The Edge Of The Woods is the 2nd book released in the “Cozy Cottage Series” by Liz Delton, but it can be read as a stand alone. As a reader there’s something special about discovering books within the same universe that can be read in whichever order and they’re still complimentary to one another. I thoroughly enjoyed The Library At The Edge Of The Woods and am looking forward to reading The Witch At The Edge Of The Wood.
The audio book runs for 7 hours and I recommend listening at 1.25x speed. Narrator, Charles Linshaw, has done an exceptional job with the story-telling that truly transported me into a world of snow, tea, books & magic.
It’s a low stakes, cosy fantasy, that follows, Emerson, a courier, wishing for someplace warm during a snow storm discovers a curious cottage at the edge of the woods. Shivering by the fire, Emerson, wishes for a cozy chair to curl upon, he finds himself blinking wildly in disbelief when the perfect chaise appears as if out of thin air. It then becomes akin to “when you give a mouse a cookie” as Emerson wishes for dry clothes, then a new book, and lastly a cup of tea. It’s then that Emerson realises that the cottage is magical, and that it could very well be the home of his dreams. A few days later and a few more dozen books, a stranger stops by for directions, and mistakes the cottage for a bookshop, it’s then Emerson decides to create a free library where all are welcome. Here he meet’s new friends, and finds the quiet joy in community and slowly accepts himself and the things he’s hidden his entire life, and discovers that the solution to every problem can be found in a book.
I adored listening, and found comfort and shared joy following Emerson as he crafted his library book by book, making new friends, and creating an accessible space for his community. The fact that he discovered magic and decided to share it with others despite of his personal struggles is so admirable and makes for a truly heart-warming tale.
The Library at the Edge of the Wood is one of those stories that feels like stepping into a soft blanket—comforting, magical, and full of gentle charm. It blends cottage‑core fantasy with a touch of mystery and just enough emotional tension to keep the pages turning.
Everson is an instantly endearing protagonist. Quiet, book‑loving, and carrying the weight of being a “cursed” faerûn in a world that doesn’t quite accept him, he’s easy to root for. His discovery of the abandoned cottage—and the magic humming inside it—sets the tone beautifully. The idea of turning it into Wrestia’s first free library is both sweet and inspiring, and the early chapters have that lovely, hopeful energy of someone finally building the life they’ve always dreamed of.
Of course, nothing stays simple for long. The return of someone from Everson’s past, now engaged to his stepbrother, adds a great layer of tension and emotional complexity. It’s handled with a light touch, keeping the story cozy while still giving it depth. The themes of identity, belonging, and found family fit perfectly with the series’ vibe.
The worldbuilding is gentle but immersive—enchanted cottages, woodland paths, and a society where magic and prejudice quietly coexist. It’s the kind of fantasy that doesn’t need high stakes to feel engaging; the charm is in the characters, the atmosphere, and the small but meaningful conflicts.
If you enjoy low‑stakes fantasy with heart, magic, and a love letter to books at its centre, The Library at the Edge of the Wood is a delightful addition to the Cozy Cottage Series. A warm, comforting read that leaves you smiling.
With thanks to Liz Delton, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
What a deliciously delightful story! Reading this book was like curling up with a mug of hot chocolate on a cold, snowy winter day. It’s been a while since I’ve read a fantasy novel that I’ve enjoyed this much.
When I began reading this story, I didn’t realize it was the second book in a series. After reading this story, I feel like it is totally fine to read this as a standalone book if you want, although now I’m intrigued and need to get a copy of the first book in the series.
This story has a delightful assortment of characters in it that I absolutely loved, so many different personalities, and so much personal growth among them. Everson, our main character, is returning home one day when he stumbles upon a mysterious cottage at the edge of the wood, and quickly discovers that it can grant wishes for him. The cottage turns his life around, and he uses its magic to create a free library that all people may visit and enjoy. This brings a large variety of new people into his life as they come seeking something for free that they have always been required to pay for in the past.
As the library grows and Everson reunited with his step-brother, Everson knows he needs to be true to himself and the community around him about who he really is, which he has kept a secret his whole life. Can he find the courage to make it happen?
If you are looking for a wonderful, cozy tale this is a great choice!
When Canadian winters climb with snow and cold with windchills marking -41 c and picking up this book with my earl grey marked the perfect time to read this book.
Welcome back to the cottage, the one that changes lives and steers its occupants on a path they needed to be on - when they didn’t know it. This cottage is cheeky, supportive and helpful in so many ways. If I could ever find this cottage - the Library is what I would want it to be.
Everything about this story hit home. Being at a stage in my life where all I want to do is drink my comfort drinks and read all the time (along with creating my other hobbies) this story felt like home. Just like the home our main character makes in this space.
He finds peace, he faces personal challenges and he changes and grows and creates a space for those around him as well. Creating his perfection before he even knew what his perfection was.
Witch - was a fantastic read. Library is just perfection <3 I can’t wait for the next book to come out.
If you’re looking for a cozy, magic filled world you must find your way to the cabin.
The author does it again! This series is super cozy, cottage core, whimsical, low stakes, all around simple and relaxing. I love that it the world seems to be interconnected but you could potentially read this one as a standalone.
I enjoy that the characters find an abandoned magical cottage and use it for different purposes. In the first book, the MC pretends to be a witch and uses the cottage to help others. In this standalone sequel, the MC turns it into a community library. 📚 We then see the daily tasks of the MC as he learns to build up his library, connect with his community, and navigate his own struggle with his identity and his family.
I also enjoyed seeing a romantic subplot here! Something we didn’t see in the first book. I enjoy the found family aspect with all the different characters and the simplicity of the story that feels like a warm hug 🫂
I recommend these books if you’re looking for something relaxing and whimsical!
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the audiobook arc.
Liz always gives us exactly what we need in a cozy fantasy. From representation to the sense of actually belonging. She nails cozy fantasy out of the park. I loved how Everson sought a sanctuary for himself and ended up creating something beautiful and magical for others as well. Learning to accept himself and realize that sometimes it doesn’t matter what other people think of us because we choose what is right for us. The growth we saw in Everson who wanted to go to Ravenshold University so badly and then come to realize his calling was something else entirely was heartwarming. The lesson of sometimes what we want isn’t what we need. I also absolutely love how Everson is so relatable, just wanting to curl up with a good book and a nice hot cup of tea. Sweet and cozy and always magical, Everson even got to get some reconciliation with his family which was fantastic!
Similar and loosely tied to the Witch at the Edge of the Wood, this book centers are Everson, stepbrother to the prince, and a faerun attempting to hide this fact.
While out doing a delivery for his courier job, Everson stumbles upon a cottage in the woods and is astounded at it's powers to pop into existence just about anything he wishes for. Primarily books and hot cups of tea.
Eventually he decides to turn the cottage into a free library and along the way creates a community, cures a terrible illness, heals hurt relationships, and has a dash of love.
This is so cozy and soothing it's almost like a sleep story, but there is something just so pleasant about a story wherein everything comes together perfectly.
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book. I love the world that's been created. This book is a perfect mix of feel-good cosy reading. We learn more about our mysterious cottage in the woods through charming characters that build on the first novel, Witch at the Edge of the Woods. Absolutely love this series.
This book perfectly captures the cozy genre. Not only did I root for every character like they were my dear friend, but I craved a cup of tea the entire read. By the end I just wanted to give Everson a big hug ❤️ can’t wait for the next one!
Delton does it again with another perfectly cozy story made to help you feel every good feel there is, ending the book with a satisfied sigh while simultaneously feeling some disappointment that your time in the story is at an end. I love that the theme is so strongly of finding and accepting oneself, along with a theme of found family, sometimes in the strangest of places. As an avid reader, one of my favorite parts was the nod to some great literary works in quotes by the characters even down to the name of the cat. Linshaw also did a great job narrating, I could clearly understand what was said and easily differentiate between the different characters.
This is such a wonderfully cozy book!! Everson stumbles across the deserted cabin while trying to escape a snow storm. He is shocked when the cabin begins to respond to his wishes and his life begins to overflow with all the books his heart desires. But what does one do with excess books?! When a dwarf makes a suggestion of the library, Everson finds a passion. Along with the resident cat, Randalf the Gray, we have an adventure. The author did such a beautiful job creating this world cabin and making it a living cozy space. Everson has a few insecurities that we see play out, but it happens in such a natural and normal way, that it feels like how it would really play out. I loved the additional characters that Everson meets and friends that becomes his regulars. They are such complete characters that you want to curls up on the cushions with them. I loved the library and wish I had one of my own.
"A little magic is what makes life worth living–whether you know the magic is there or not.”