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Alchemist of the Wilds: An Ex-Assassin's Guide to Cozy Romantic Brews
Lianthorn Belladonna could have been so many things. An artist, a mage, a gardener. Instead, his family sealed his future, trapping him in a life of scheming, poison, and murder.
He’s through with it.
On the cusp of completing his poisonous masterpiece, Lianthorn makes a choice that will change everything. He flees the gilded cage of their family manor and seeks refuge in a quiet town on the outskirts of civilization, where the name Belladonna means nothing.
With his family’s infamous scarlet-bound recipe book hidden away, he attempts to forget the toxins and discover the simple joy of helping people. But out on the frontier and in the company of a red-scaled Draconian working as a carpenter in spite of her fire powers, ‘helping people’ will require all his skills.
Including the alchemy he worked so hard to escape.
Lianthorn abandoned everything he’d ever known to gain his freedom. Now, to flourish in his new life, he’ll have to learn a whole new way of living... and maybe, just maybe, discover the recipe for happiness along the way.
He’s through with it.
On the cusp of completing his poisonous masterpiece, Lianthorn makes a choice that will change everything. He flees the gilded cage of their family manor and seeks refuge in a quiet town on the outskirts of civilization, where the name Belladonna means nothing.
With his family’s infamous scarlet-bound recipe book hidden away, he attempts to forget the toxins and discover the simple joy of helping people. But out on the frontier and in the company of a red-scaled Draconian working as a carpenter in spite of her fire powers, ‘helping people’ will require all his skills.
Including the alchemy he worked so hard to escape.
Lianthorn abandoned everything he’d ever known to gain his freedom. Now, to flourish in his new life, he’ll have to learn a whole new way of living... and maybe, just maybe, discover the recipe for happiness along the way.
- GenresCozy Fantasy
408 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 14, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 29, 2026
Loved it
This was a really fun slice of life story. I am really hoping the author gives us a book 2!
This was a really fun slice of life story. I am really hoping the author gives us a book 2!
January 16, 2026
Better Than I Had Expected
I read this originally on RoyalRoad, and I’m honestly thrilled I chose to read it. This is such a fun read, and from the point of view of a kind of protagonist I’ve never read before. The depiction of the fae, and the interactions between the different mythological races and humanity, are grounded and fascinating, and the romance is fantastic. I’ll admit I have a bit of a guilty pleasure when it comes to romance, and this is great. It’s excellent. I highly recommend it.
I read this originally on RoyalRoad, and I’m honestly thrilled I chose to read it. This is such a fun read, and from the point of view of a kind of protagonist I’ve never read before. The depiction of the fae, and the interactions between the different mythological races and humanity, are grounded and fascinating, and the romance is fantastic. I’ll admit I have a bit of a guilty pleasure when it comes to romance, and this is great. It’s excellent. I highly recommend it.
April 21, 2026
Cute but not as cozy as I thought it would be
Thorn is a Belladonna, born an heir to the poison his family is named for. But he wants a different life. One not filled with death, he wants his own path. So he slips away in the night to escape to the frontier. To the farthest settlement he can find, Swiftband, but he is wary of them knowing who he is. An accomplished alchemist absolutely, but a Belladonna, not a chance.
It was really lovely to see Thorn learn who he was in this book. Discovering things about himself and trusting his own skills, not just in poisons. The townsfolk were quirky and very different, but lovely to encounter each time. While some parts of this books were much less cozy, many parts still had the cozy story I was looking for. The abrupt ending though leads me to believe that there may be more story for other characters here in the future.
"It was a good thing I didn’t expect my life after escaping from home to be easy."
Thorn is a Belladonna, born an heir to the poison his family is named for. But he wants a different life. One not filled with death, he wants his own path. So he slips away in the night to escape to the frontier. To the farthest settlement he can find, Swiftband, but he is wary of them knowing who he is. An accomplished alchemist absolutely, but a Belladonna, not a chance.
It was really lovely to see Thorn learn who he was in this book. Discovering things about himself and trusting his own skills, not just in poisons. The townsfolk were quirky and very different, but lovely to encounter each time. While some parts of this books were much less cozy, many parts still had the cozy story I was looking for. The abrupt ending though leads me to believe that there may be more story for other characters here in the future.
"It was a good thing I didn’t expect my life after escaping from home to be easy."
April 28, 2026
While this started out cute, it definitely took a much less cozy turn. I enjoyed the beginning but started losing interest somewhere around midway. It wasn't a bad story; it just wasn't really my cup of tea, and not what I was expecting. I finished the book, but the ending was pretty abrupt, and I'm not likely to continue this series. It may be great for someone else, but it just wasn't really for me.
April 16, 2026
A cute and cozy book, but with substance
I absolutely enjoyed this book. It does a good job of blending world building, action, and romance. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy stories, regardless of age or gender.
I absolutely enjoyed this book. It does a good job of blending world building, action, and romance. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy stories, regardless of age or gender.
April 2, 2026
Very good. PG-14. Please make more. The MCs are SO CUTE
April 28, 2026
A slightly misleading subtitle -- but only slightly. The first volume
Our narrator is about to complete brewing the poison that will mark the end of his studies. He will become an assassin and a valued servant to the fae Autumn King, and do his family proud. He gets to the end -- and doesn't complete it.
Aware of the danger, he realizes he must flee to the frontier, which is the only place where he can hide.
Despite the inherent dangers, his finding his place there leads to a charming tale. (He brews healing potions, and things to preserve wood, not love potions).
It involves the upsides and downsides of bridges, the effects of mana on wildlife including causing plants to grow in unsuitable climates, direbears, the education of doctors (who tend to have a bad rap), and more.
Our narrator is about to complete brewing the poison that will mark the end of his studies. He will become an assassin and a valued servant to the fae Autumn King, and do his family proud. He gets to the end -- and doesn't complete it.
Aware of the danger, he realizes he must flee to the frontier, which is the only place where he can hide.
Despite the inherent dangers, his finding his place there leads to a charming tale. (He brews healing potions, and things to preserve wood, not love potions).
It involves the upsides and downsides of bridges, the effects of mana on wildlife including causing plants to grow in unsuitable climates, direbears, the education of doctors (who tend to have a bad rap), and more.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews