This Damsel Is Not in Distress: A Cozy Fantasy Romance

by Tee Harlowe

A magical castle.

The woman who’s to become queen.

And her growing feelings for the bodyguard that might just ruin it all.

When Niamh Merridon flees her war-torn kingdom, she doesn’t expect to stumble upon a tower that provides the protection she’s always wanted . . .

Until some idiot arrives to “rescue” her and somehow gets her locked out. Now she’s stuck with Rafe “the Wolfe” Wolfgang, a grumpy guard who’s wholly unsusceptible to her charms. Worse, he claims she’s to marry his prince because of some prophecy.

Niamh isn’t keen on the idea, especially when she arrives at a sentient castle and discovers she can’t become queen until the castle presents her with a key. How does she get this key? No one seems to know.

Niamh quickly realizes this might give her the safety she seeks . . . if she can survive the disappearing doors, shifting rooms, and mysterious secrets, secrets more dangerous than her own. Yet the hardest part of it all might be resisting the broody guard who makes her feel brave. If she can’t avoid the temptation, it won’t just be her heart on the line, but her life.

This Damsel Is Not in Distress is a standalone cozy, spicy romantasy with a grumpy/sunshine forbidden romance, a mischievous castle, and a know-it-all magical bookwyrm.

Genres: Cozy Fantasy, Cozy

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 26, 2026

Reviews

[Noi (in & out)]

Yes

[Bekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NerdFam and Tee for this ARC. All of these thoughts are my own.

The premise for this book is just so cozy and sweet! I loved the idea but this one was just not for me. It was very predictable but also so slow. Morton the bookworm was hilarious and probably my favorite character. Niamh was just so sunny and it felt very surface level, she did start to turn the corner as the book went on. Wolfe was so grumpy that I wasn’t sure Niamh and him were going to get together. Cillian I think was supposed to be a play boy but he wasn’t? Again I really wanted to love this! If you need a slow burn, some banter, and an easy read then this could be an option.

[Madison Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review:

It’s cozy and whimsical. It’s grumpy and sunshiney. It’s sweet and spicy. And there’s a pink bookwyrm who’s very cute. There might be some cringe in there but you can totally look past it.

[Belinda Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first chapter, I was swept into a magical world filled with enchanted objects, clever humor, and a quietly emotional journey about courage and healing.

We follow a dual POV that made the romance feel richer and more intimate. Niamh Merridon had been hiding in an enchanted tower for three years after her kingdom fell to war. Safety became her entire world—because safe meant surviving. 🕯️ But when the tower collapsed and a prince “rescued” her, her life took a sharp turn.

Suddenly, she was traveling to a mischievous, sentient kingdom where she was expected to marry the prince due to a prophecy… except she didn’t want the crown—or the prince. What she wanted was security, belonging, and maybe a chance to breathe again.

Enter Rafe “Wolfe” Wolfgang. The grumpy bodyguard. The prince’s brother. The man utterly immune to her charm… or so he thought. 🐺✨

Watching Niamh navigate shifting rooms, disappearing doors, and dangerous secrets while trying to earn a mysterious key from the castle was such a delight. The castle itself felt like a fun character—playful, unpredictable, and full of surprises.

But the real magic? The emotional growth.

Both Niamh and Wolfe struggled with fear and the desperate need for safety. Seeing them slowly lower their guards, challenge each other, and heal together made my chest ache in the best way. Their connection was tender, patient, and full of yearning. That slow-burn payoff? Absolute perfection. 🔥💖

And the humor! I laughed so many times—Morton, the gargoyles, Margaret, Cillian… every character added charm and warmth. The talking bookwyrm alone deserved a standing ovation. 🐉📖

This story felt sweet, calm, and whimsical without ever losing emotional depth. It reminded me why I adore cozy romantasy so much.

✨ Perfect for readers who love:
☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine
🏰 Sentient castles
📚 Magical companions / bookwyrms
🗡️ Bodyguard romance
💘 He falls first
🚪 Forced proximity
🚫 Forbidden love
😏 Banter for days
💞 Found family
🔥 Slow burn → medium spice (open door)
🧑‍🦳 Over 30 MCs
🌱 Healing journeys
❤️ Protective hero energy

We got tragic backstories, sassy sidekicks, training moments that made me grin, and YEARNING that practically hummed off the page. I absolutely devoured this book and could easily see myself rereading it someday.

Also… I am already impatient for more Wolfgang brother action. Book two cannot come soon enough!

Overall: Highly recommend if you want a romantasy that feels like a warm hug. Expect laughter, softness, emotional healing, open-door spice, and a beautiful HEA. 🌸

Thank you so much to Tee Harlowe and The Nerd Fam for the ARC opportunity—this story was pure comfort magic. ✨

[Ash’s Book Stack · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐4 🌶️2

Thank you to The Nerd Fam and Tee Harlow for the gifted eARC!

The story starts with Niamh, who has spent the last few years stuck inside a magical tower she can’t leave. Even though the tower gives her everything she needs, she’s still stuck there. When a prince and his bodyguard show up to “rescue” her, they end up destroying the tower altogether, forcing Niamh to leave with them and travel to a magical castle. There’s a prophecy claiming she’s destined to marry the prince and save the kingdom, but if she wants to stay at the castle, she has to earn her key. A big part of the story follows Niamh as she figures out where she belongs, who she really is, and how to face her fears.

I had a really good time reading this book. The characters were such a highlight for me, especially the grumpy/sunshine dynamic between Niamh and Wolfe (even though he’s the grumpy one with the nickname Sunshine). My favorite character was Morton, the bookworm (literal worm). He could have come across as cheesy, but instead he added so much heart and humor to the story. I loved his relationship with Niamh, and he often worked as a bit of comic relief. Even the sentient magical castle was a fun touch, it easily could have been over the top, but it was handled in a way that really worked.

The world building was also really well done for a cozy fantasy. There was enough detail to understand the magic and what was at stake without getting bogged down in explanations, which let the cozy vibes shine. I also enjoyed the romance and appreciated that it wasn’t instant love. Watching it slowly develop made it feel much more natural and satisfying.

That said, I did see the twist coming fairly early, which took away some of the impact of what felt like it was meant to be a big reveal. There were also a few slower moments early on, but once the story picked up, I found myself much more invested.

Overall, I’d recommend this book to anyone in the mood for a cozy romantasy with romcom vibes and a little spice. The ending sets things up perfectly for the next book, and I’m definitely excited to continue the series.

[Meg (fantasybook.adventurer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨This Damsel is Not in Distress✨

Gosh, I just love jumping into a story written by the wonderful Tee. I always know that I will feel so good, laugh a whole lot, swoon indefinitely, and be completely sufficed by the end. TDINID was exactly that.

We follow a dual point of view, adventuring into a new and magical realm of enchanted objects and scheming brotherhood. Our FMC, Niamh, has been living inside an enchanted tower for three years, ever since her kingdom was captured and burned down, leaving her alone. She is content to stay safe, because safe = good. But when the tower crumbles and she’s “saved” by a prince and his bodyguard, Wolfe, Niamh begins a new journey: one to marry the prince and hopefully save a kingdom. Except she isn’t brave and she doesn’t want to marry the prince.

Niamh, along with her talking bookwyrm, work to gain acceptance to a sentient castle and learn to overcome her fears. She does all this from the conviction brought about by her grumpy bodyguard and prince’s brother, Wolfe. Both MCs struggle with the need for safety and find themselves overcoming battles + healing because of the other. This story was sweet, calm, and so whimsical. I laughed often (Morton, the gargoyles, Margaret, Cillian). I adored the grumpy x sunshine dynamics and banter. The way things moved made me happy and appreciative of the author. And the slow burn pay off was 👩‍🍳💋. I can see myself rereading this. I’m already so excited for book two. 🤭

Tropes you may find in TDINID are grumpy x sunshine, sentient castle, bookwyrm buddy, she calls him sunshine, bodyguard, he falls first, forced proximity, forbidden love, banter, he only likes/opens up to her, slow burn to medium spice, found family, over 30+ MCs, and a HEA.

Thank you, Tee and Nerdfam for this gifted arc. I just love reading your stories and meeting all your hilarious characters.

[Tasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
First of all… a 35 year old sunshine FMC (with normal fears and desires) and a 42 year old grumpy MMC?! What a delight!

This was a cozy little romcom with a side of fantasy! The banter gave it the comedy, the unexpected connection, gave it the romance side. And a magical tower and a magical castle added a tasty bit of fantasy to it.

This was a fun and quick (well it normally would’ve been quick Had it not been for my own life event) read that cleanses the pallet from some of today’s heavy hitting fantasy/Romantasy books. I got to add a new favorite animal sidekick to my list! Morton was a cranky little delight and the gargoyles definitely added a humor element to the storyline.

This appears to be the first of interconnected standalone, so our story is not finished, and our problems are not solved! So if you love this story and don’t want it to end, don’t worry there’s more!

Thank you Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC!!

[Jennifer Richter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Damsel is not in Distress is a cozy romantasy story about Niamh, who fled from her traumatic past and just wanted to live in her solitary tower forever. Then the Wolfgang brothers show up, accidentally destroying her tower and taking her to the kingdom of Fairwitch Isle. Here, Niamh is to become queen and restore the magic castle's waning magic. But what if she falls for her betrothed's grumpy brother? 👀

Aww, this story is sooo cute! What an adorable whimsical world and a cute, emotional story. The book worked with a few stereotypes, but wasn't limited to them. In the end, it's its own story with characters that are very loveable. There are some unresolved strings in the end and I hope there will be a sequel! ❤️

Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC. #thisdamselisnotindistress #thenerdfam

[harpilyever.aether · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC! #thisdamselisnotindistress #thenerdfam

This was such a fun, sweet, romantic tale. I had that sparky ache in my chest for these two, kicking my feet at the courting & banter. A 35 year old, sunshine, sort of betrothed to his brother FMC & a self-loathing, melancholic, only-nice-to-her 42 year old MMC, both with past trauma they help each other overcome 😍 in an invisible city, and a bookwyrm!? The dual POV is done so well. The fast burn didn’t feel rushed, had proper tension, and was accurately paced.

I finished this in one day, -25° temp outside, by the fire. Perfection. I recommend this to anyone looking for an easy to get in to romcom with a bit of magic and no heavy world building. It seems the next book will follow side characters, and I can’t wait!

“Rafe Wolfgang, you are not something I could ever regret” 🥹💕

[Miryam Drakon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never read a book by Tee Harlowe before, so I was really excited when I got approved for this ARC. It was super easy to get into, and while I wouldn’t say it felt very original, it was still an enjoyable read overall.

Also, it was kind of weird for me because the FMC was named after someone I know lmao. I rarely ever come across that, so it kept throwing me off a little, hehe.

The bookwyrm was honestly interesting… like, really. The ending was good too, but I’m not sure if I’ll continue the series.

And this quote?? It honestly feels like something we'd say in our era about AI.
“We use magic to enhance our lives, not replace them.”

[A Sells · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such an enjoyable raid. The story, radiates, cozy, whimsical vibes, with magic that feels playful, rooms disappear, and reappear staircases move on their own. I loved how uniquely the magic was woven into the world felt imaginative without being overwhelming. The character development was especially well done showing how the main characters about similar and different and how each process is trauma in their own way it’s a charming creative story that blends enchantment with emotional depth in a really satisfying way.

[Patsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this In 3 days!!! It was a super cute, comfy and cozy read. The perfect thing to read on these cold winter nights.

The magic system was playful and whimsical making it so fun to read. I do love how the author wrote about and treated the trauma aspect of the story. It gave a genuiness to how people process trauma in their own ways. There were tender moments, laughs and emotional turmoil.

This was the perfect change from my dark romantasy reads. 4 out of 5 stars for me. I had never read a book by Tee Harlowe before this but I will 110% read more now.

[Danny Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC.

I really enjoyed this story! Cute, spicy, whimsical, everything in a great romantasy. Some of the wording occasionally took me out of the fantasy, as it seemed like very modern phrases (not any of the swearing, but like certain words and phrases used), but it didn’t distract too much from the overall enjoyment of the story. Calling it a “standalone” is a touch inaccurate, as that indicates a complete story all in one, whereas this is an interconnected standalone series, so that’s worth noting. But an enjoyable fantasy book overall!

[Ashley (andtheniwasbookish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooo I loved this.

• Cozy? check.
• Silly? check.
• Heartwarming? double check.

This book was everything that I love about cozy Romantasy and more. We've got a tragic backstory, grumpy x sunshine, sassy sidekicks, 1:1 training (wink), YEARNING, and so much more!

I absolutely devoured this book, I have no doubt I'll read it again one day. I started recommending this book to friends almost immediately because the writing and the plot just made me so happy.

Looking forward to some more Wolfgang brother action (hopefully soon.....right?).

overall: highly recommend
spice: open door

[Desirae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an eARC from The Nerd Fam (thank you so much!) I started it earlier yesterday and had a little break in between and finished it now. I could NOT put this down (I did not want to do anything but read it) It is such a Cozy Fantasy and it is hilarious as well as heart warming! There are so many different aspects to this book that make it so fun and different. It was mostly plot driven but there was some spice and it was GOOD spice! I loved it. Easiest 5 star cozy read!

[Sarah Seltzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a charming cozy romantasy with so many great tropes blended in. I loved the grumpy/sunshine dynamic between the main characters. Their banter and chemistry was fun and they paired well together. The spice was good, the story interesting, and the magical elements and creators unique. And what's not to love about a curvy, 35yo FMC?! I'm excited to see where the story goes with the next brother.

Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC.

[Mira Galperina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the nerd fam and Tee Harlow for an arc of this book. It was super cozy and easy to get into. The action pick right up from the second chapter. The book wyrm Morton is absolutely my favorite character. I found that the writing style wasn’t for me but it wasn’t bad. so if you want something easy to read that’s also super cozy and will make you instantly click with the characters, this is definitely for you!

[Reading_with_AAron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh Wolfe is literally the perfect grumpy character! I absolutely adore him! Oh and Morton too!

Tha k you so much to the author for having me on her arc team and The Nerd Fam for the opportunity!

This was such a fun read, I laughed often while reading it!

[LacysBookNook · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightfully cozy grumpy/sunshine romance! With just the right amount of plot, magic, angst, and quirky lovable side-characters, This Damsel is Not In Distress lived up to its genre. Highly recommend if you enjoy cozy romances such as The Enchanted Greenhouse.

[Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. As much as I liked the FMC I think Morton was my favorite character. I really enjoyed all of the magic and magical objects. I look forward to seeing what happens in the next book now that they have all been transported to a new place.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Damsel is not in Distress was so much fun! I gave it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I loved the characters and the setting. It’s a funny, cozy, spicy, fantasy with a 35 year old FMC. There is depth to the characters- having experienced loss and trauma- while they work to find safety in an unsafe world. I loved the Bookwyrm ❤️

Tropes:
*Forbidden Romance
*Grumpy x Sunshine

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC