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Enchanted Village
Not yet published
Expected 20 Oct 26A cozy, magical, slice-of-life holiday romance set in a village adjacent to a magic school—if the Dream Harbor series were set at Hogsmeade! I solemnly swear not to fall in love… Silas Birchwood wasn’t sure what to expect when he joined Emberwind Academy as the school’s first non-magical teacher. But he knows he’s found his calling, even if his wand-wielding pupils struggle with the scientific method. Living in Hex Hollow, the quirky village adjacent to the magical school, certainly has its charms—most notably Margaret Nettle, the witch proprietor of The Toasty Owl. Every night, villagers gather in the glow of the fireplace to sip her warming magical drinks. Margaret has devoted her life to running the pub left to her by her beloved mother and grandmother, even if it stings living so close to the magical school that rejected her. When a rival bar opens across the street, Silas is determined to help Margaret save her business. And despite herself, Margaret finds herself warming to the man who can fix anything in her pub—with a smile that melts her grumpy heart. When the secret to her magical drinks is stolen, Margaret fears she’s destroyed her family’s legacy. Can Silas help her see what he’s always known…that the magic was hers all along? Grumpy x sunshine Small-town romance Found family Opposites attract Magical village Baby dragons Magic pub Fish out of water
313 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 20, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
June 9, 2026
ARCQuest: Book 45
"You really don't see it, do you?" Silas asked.
Margaret averted her eyes. She pulled a can of whipped cream from her fridge, added a dollop onto each cup, and dusted each one with gold sugar. "Don't see what?"
"How loved you are, Margaret," he said, her name rolling off his lips. "I can't walk into a store in this village without someone asking about you. This whole place... people light up for you."
Well, this was a cozy little treat! And perfectly timed, too. It’s already Christmas in Jul- er, June. And I’m feeling warm and toasty surrounded by all of this beautiful white… sand…? Okay, so I read this on a hot beach while on a summer vacation. I still enjoyed it, okay!
Margaret is the owner of a pub in a magical village. Silas is new in town. It’s almost Christmas. I’m sure that everything will remain completely platonic, professional, and above board.
I had a lot of fun with Enchanted Village. It took me back to Ye Olden Days, when HP fanfic was a much larger part of my life. I mean that in a positive way, especially since Starling’s world seems a lot more open-minded and accepting. *Cough.* Anyway.
I enjoyed Margaret and Silas as two people who found something in each other that neither one was actively searching for. I appreciate the sort of kismet element of the relationship, considering they come from two different worlds. I don’t really think I would describe this as “grumpy x sunshine” as my ARC claims, but your mileage may vary, I guess. Margaret is guarded, sure, but she’s got a lot on her plate. She does not come across as grumpy to me in the least. All I can say is that insecurity is a beast, and I feel for her distorted world view and sense of self. Now Silas — or Professor Handyman, as I have christened him — is a bonafide golden retriever, and he can be “sunshine” all he wants. I pictured peak romcom Hugh Grant when he was at his most floppy, awkward, charming best, glasses and all.
The creatures were precious (Bernie, my love). Honestly Margaret could have been the school gamekeeper, and I would have been happy. The villagers were all relatively charming, especially with regard to how much everyone cared about Margaret. I did laugh that we mentioned Thanksgiving but skipped neatly over it. I get it, we’re all here for a cozy magic village at Christmastime, and Thanksgiving has Baggage. But it did make me laugh. I wasn’t actually sure where the story was set, and I think giving a touch more information about the location could have helped set the scene better.
I did want a bit more from the story. There is a lot of discussion on grief, which gives the story an emotional element outside of the romance, but I feel like there were a lot of conversations with Margaret resisting any sort of change that didn’t really move the plot forward. There were characters and relationships that I think needed a bit more buildup to understand how everyone ended up as they did by the final page (Imogen, for example), and I feel like some of that development was overlooked in favor of touching again on Margaret’s struggle to let go and move forward with her life.
I also think that things were wrapped up a little too quickly (and nicely). There were so few pages left that I thought this might actually end on a cliffhanger and be the first in a duology/series/what have you. I know this is like a spicier Hallmark Christmas movie set in Hogsmeade, so we want things to end on a happy, kind, tidy note; but certain characters (who will remain nameless for spoiler consideration) really deserved to face much greater consequences than they did. I do not care about the “why.” Liza had the correct energy. It’s okay to be compassionate and forgiving, but letting certain characters off the hook with basically a stern tsk-tsk and a well-meaning finger wag (especially in the last ten pages or so)? I can’t deny that it frustrated me. Maybe if there was a time jump or something, but whatever. I’ve made my peace with it. For the most part, anyway.
Regardless, I enjoyed this novel, and I am interested to see what other stories Starling might dream up. I noticed that Liza is still quite single at the end. *hintnudgecoughwink* Now to see to this cough…
"You really don't see it, do you?" Silas asked.
Margaret averted her eyes. She pulled a can of whipped cream from her fridge, added a dollop onto each cup, and dusted each one with gold sugar. "Don't see what?"
"How loved you are, Margaret," he said, her name rolling off his lips. "I can't walk into a store in this village without someone asking about you. This whole place... people light up for you."
Well, this was a cozy little treat! And perfectly timed, too. It’s already Christmas in Jul- er, June. And I’m feeling warm and toasty surrounded by all of this beautiful white… sand…? Okay, so I read this on a hot beach while on a summer vacation. I still enjoyed it, okay!
Margaret is the owner of a pub in a magical village. Silas is new in town. It’s almost Christmas. I’m sure that everything will remain completely platonic, professional, and above board.
I had a lot of fun with Enchanted Village. It took me back to Ye Olden Days, when HP fanfic was a much larger part of my life. I mean that in a positive way, especially since Starling’s world seems a lot more open-minded and accepting. *Cough.* Anyway.
I enjoyed Margaret and Silas as two people who found something in each other that neither one was actively searching for. I appreciate the sort of kismet element of the relationship, considering they come from two different worlds. I don’t really think I would describe this as “grumpy x sunshine” as my ARC claims, but your mileage may vary, I guess. Margaret is guarded, sure, but she’s got a lot on her plate. She does not come across as grumpy to me in the least. All I can say is that insecurity is a beast, and I feel for her distorted world view and sense of self. Now Silas — or Professor Handyman, as I have christened him — is a bonafide golden retriever, and he can be “sunshine” all he wants. I pictured peak romcom Hugh Grant when he was at his most floppy, awkward, charming best, glasses and all.
The creatures were precious (Bernie, my love). Honestly Margaret could have been the school gamekeeper, and I would have been happy. The villagers were all relatively charming, especially with regard to how much everyone cared about Margaret. I did laugh that we mentioned Thanksgiving but skipped neatly over it. I get it, we’re all here for a cozy magic village at Christmastime, and Thanksgiving has Baggage. But it did make me laugh. I wasn’t actually sure where the story was set, and I think giving a touch more information about the location could have helped set the scene better.
I did want a bit more from the story. There is a lot of discussion on grief, which gives the story an emotional element outside of the romance, but I feel like there were a lot of conversations with Margaret resisting any sort of change that didn’t really move the plot forward. There were characters and relationships that I think needed a bit more buildup to understand how everyone ended up as they did by the final page (Imogen, for example), and I feel like some of that development was overlooked in favor of touching again on Margaret’s struggle to let go and move forward with her life.
I also think that things were wrapped up a little too quickly (and nicely). There were so few pages left that I thought this might actually end on a cliffhanger and be the first in a duology/series/what have you. I know this is like a spicier Hallmark Christmas movie set in Hogsmeade, so we want things to end on a happy, kind, tidy note; but certain characters (who will remain nameless for spoiler consideration) really deserved to face much greater consequences than they did. I do not care about the “why.” Liza had the correct energy. It’s okay to be compassionate and forgiving, but letting certain characters off the hook with basically a stern tsk-tsk and a well-meaning finger wag (especially in the last ten pages or so)? I can’t deny that it frustrated me. Maybe if there was a time jump or something, but whatever. I’ve made my peace with it. For the most part, anyway.
Regardless, I enjoyed this novel, and I am interested to see what other stories Starling might dream up. I noticed that Liza is still quite single at the end. *hintnudgecoughwink* Now to see to this cough…
June 29, 2026
OK, this was SO cozy and adorable. It felt exactly the way the cover looks — like if a Christmas Hallmark movie took place in Hogsmeade.
Margaret is the third-generation owner of a cozy pub in a magical village. But unlike her mother and grandmother before her, she doesn’t have the same magic to help keep things running smoothly.
Silas was recently hired to teach non-magical studies to students at the village’s magic academy. He develops an interest in Margaret, but her little dragon gets overprotective, doing some significant damage to the pub while chasing him out.
Unfortunately, a competing pub is opening up in the village, just as Margaret has to temporarily close to do the repairs. Luckily, Silas doesn’t scare easily and has a knack for fixing things.
The story just exuded warmth. I wanted to dive inside the pages and be friends with Margaret, Liza, and Silas. I hope there is more magic to come from Hex Hollow!
Thanks to Avon a for the gifted ARC! All opinions are my own.
Margaret is the third-generation owner of a cozy pub in a magical village. But unlike her mother and grandmother before her, she doesn’t have the same magic to help keep things running smoothly.
Silas was recently hired to teach non-magical studies to students at the village’s magic academy. He develops an interest in Margaret, but her little dragon gets overprotective, doing some significant damage to the pub while chasing him out.
Unfortunately, a competing pub is opening up in the village, just as Margaret has to temporarily close to do the repairs. Luckily, Silas doesn’t scare easily and has a knack for fixing things.
The story just exuded warmth. I wanted to dive inside the pages and be friends with Margaret, Liza, and Silas. I hope there is more magic to come from Hex Hollow!
Thanks to Avon a for the gifted ARC! All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
”Take me to the place where thoughts run free.”
Enchanted Village has a simple story, but also more. Call it cozy, Heartwarming. Adorable. Giving all the fall and Christmas and holiday vibes.
And magic, which is always a bonus point for me. Because honestly? I feel like I could use some.
”In the time he’d spent living in Hex Hollow—relatively brief as it might have been—Silas had seen his fair share of oddities. (...) And yet, the thing that his mind seemed unable to shake was the woman from yesterday.”
Margaret has lived in Hex Hollow all her life. She knows everyone, and everyone knows her. It’s not that hard because she also runs the only bar in town, which was left to her by her mother and grandmother.
Her days go on usual. Until Silas comes into her life.
”I’m not doing anything because I feel like I have to. I’m doing this because I want to. And there are very few things that will stop me from doing what I want.”
Their meet-cute is, well, cute, and he finds himself drawn to the pretty witch who seems to have a way with magical animals, even the most dangerous ones other people don’t get close to. The witch who is alone most of the time and dealing with feelings of grief and nostalgia I could relate to. The witch who is used to doing everything on her own, and it’s going to take a while to convince her to let him in.
”But for the first time in a very long time, Margaret decided to trust the warmth that Silas had brought into the pub rather than the cold of her own making.”
Like I said, adorable. Silas has no magical powers, but he’s good at doing things the old-fashioned way, so, as an acts-of-service kind of guy, he shows up to help her fix the bar. Even if she tries her best to keep him at arm’s length.
And when another, more modern and shinier, bar comes along and threatens her livelihood and everything she is, he’s there too.
“If you don’t kiss me right this second, I swear to god I’ll find a way to curse you right here.”
They’re very cute together. It’s slow burn, with a moment with a jealous, protective (but I want to pet him!) dragon, an almost moment that gets interrupted, and meddling friends, but they get there.
Please note that this is not a steamy book, so don’t go in expecting all the spice.
“Not alone, remember. We’re together on this.”
As a debut book, I think this accomplished a lot. I think Lily knew the story she wanted to tell, and she did it. I missed a bit more depth to the characters, though, especially Silas. I feel like we know a lot about Margaret and not nearly enough about him.
And the conflict was solved way too easily for me—not to mention I wouldn’t be nearly as forgiving as Margaret was, so there’s that!
”She wasn’t magic. She was stardust incarnate, bursting with brilliant light, and he was the man who was somehow lucky enough to hold her in his hands.”
Another aspect I really liked was the way it dealt with grief. I have no idea if the author is dealing with something like that in her life, but some sentences could have easily come from my own head.
And, as usual, the found family element and the way the town shows up for her.
“You’re the magic, and you always have been.”
I feel like this was a story about learning we all have our own magic. It’s what makes us who we are. Sometimes we just have to let it shine brighter and believe in ourselves.
Enchanted Village has a simple story, but also more. Call it cozy, Heartwarming. Adorable. Giving all the fall and Christmas and holiday vibes.
And magic, which is always a bonus point for me. Because honestly? I feel like I could use some.
”In the time he’d spent living in Hex Hollow—relatively brief as it might have been—Silas had seen his fair share of oddities. (...) And yet, the thing that his mind seemed unable to shake was the woman from yesterday.”
Margaret has lived in Hex Hollow all her life. She knows everyone, and everyone knows her. It’s not that hard because she also runs the only bar in town, which was left to her by her mother and grandmother.
Her days go on usual. Until Silas comes into her life.
”I’m not doing anything because I feel like I have to. I’m doing this because I want to. And there are very few things that will stop me from doing what I want.”
Their meet-cute is, well, cute, and he finds himself drawn to the pretty witch who seems to have a way with magical animals, even the most dangerous ones other people don’t get close to. The witch who is alone most of the time and dealing with feelings of grief and nostalgia I could relate to. The witch who is used to doing everything on her own, and it’s going to take a while to convince her to let him in.
”But for the first time in a very long time, Margaret decided to trust the warmth that Silas had brought into the pub rather than the cold of her own making.”
Like I said, adorable. Silas has no magical powers, but he’s good at doing things the old-fashioned way, so, as an acts-of-service kind of guy, he shows up to help her fix the bar. Even if she tries her best to keep him at arm’s length.
And when another, more modern and shinier, bar comes along and threatens her livelihood and everything she is, he’s there too.
“If you don’t kiss me right this second, I swear to god I’ll find a way to curse you right here.”
They’re very cute together. It’s slow burn, with a moment with a jealous, protective (but I want to pet him!) dragon, an almost moment that gets interrupted, and meddling friends, but they get there.
Please note that this is not a steamy book, so don’t go in expecting all the spice.
“Not alone, remember. We’re together on this.”
As a debut book, I think this accomplished a lot. I think Lily knew the story she wanted to tell, and she did it. I missed a bit more depth to the characters, though, especially Silas. I feel like we know a lot about Margaret and not nearly enough about him.
And the conflict was solved way too easily for me—not to mention I wouldn’t be nearly as forgiving as Margaret was, so there’s that!
”She wasn’t magic. She was stardust incarnate, bursting with brilliant light, and he was the man who was somehow lucky enough to hold her in his hands.”
Another aspect I really liked was the way it dealt with grief. I have no idea if the author is dealing with something like that in her life, but some sentences could have easily come from my own head.
And, as usual, the found family element and the way the town shows up for her.
“You’re the magic, and you always have been.”
I feel like this was a story about learning we all have our own magic. It’s what makes us who we are. Sometimes we just have to let it shine brighter and believe in ourselves.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Received as an ARC from Netgalley.
I find myself as a fan of romances and fantasy. This was something i thought i would very much enjoy, and, to a certain degree, I DID enjoy some things about this book.
Short version is it's in a magical town where a woman who can't do magic runs a tavern. A man who also can't do magic comes into town as a teacher. The woman worries about her bar and he tries to get to know her and falls in love with her. That's pretty much the story.
I will say I thoroughly enjoyed the side characters of this story. the MC woman's best friend Liz is EASILY the best part of the entire novel, and honestly, i wish it starred her instead of the actual MC. She's fun, quirky, and actually containing a personality.
That leads me into a bit of an issue with the story. The two Mc's are very very very dull. I describe them as essentially a sandwich of mayonnaise on white bread. There's no bite from them. They have very very tame likes and dislikes, ranging from stuff like "fixing things" to "gardening" to "carriage rides". It's all very humdrum and dull. You can 100% do cozy without having your MC's have a blank piece of paper as their personalities.
The setting itself was indeed very cozy and i liked the town it was set in. It gave me a sort of "Shady Hollow by Juneau Black" vibe, except...you know, without the murders. The only thing I would say is an issue is the world building. We hear this is a magical town sure, but we don't really get told much about the outside world. Is it normal the rest of the world over? Is magic a common well known thing outside the magical world? Are there wizards in New York? IS there a New York? It's not something the author explains and I wish they did. It would have been nice to have gotten some world building in this place. A few lines here and there about the effect of magic on the world outside this town could have really buffed up the immersion.
Without going into spoilers, I'll say that the romance feels very lopsided. The guy (Silas) does pretty much everything in this story while the female MC kind of just goes "Can't romance. Business time!" and doesn't offer much moral support to him. it's all focused on her from both him as well as the townspeople. I think some back and forth would have been nice. No emotional support was really given to him FROM her and it kind of irked me. You can tell the author is very much trying to put all the weight of the story on trying to help the female MC and not Silas. Everything is for HER benefit and it's really HER journey of self discovery. It seems like Silas is kind of just along for the ride. He's the kind of guy who gets attacked by a dragon and then apologizes for being attacked (yes this actually happened and no, it made no sense whatsoever.)
The ending, once again without spoilers, was wrapped up a little too quickly and nicely. Consequences didn't matter too much. That's all I'll say about that. I wish there had been some more gravitas.
From a writing aspect, the writing style was just fine. Nothing was too complicated to understand, the page length was just long enough to not overstay its welcome and some parts (especially with Liz) wanted me to keep going on without taking a break.
While there was, what I felt, some unnecessary adult wordings sprinkled in here and there (most of the story is told very nicely worded and Disney channel-esc only for BOOM random F-bomb dropped out of nowhere) and there IS a singular "adult" scene, so, warning if you don't like that kind of thing.
All in all, it was a competently told story with interesting side characters and a world I wish was more fleshed out. Funnily enough, the worst part about this story were the main characters. They were both blank, boring slates without much going on, and the thing stopping the romance from moving forward for most of the story is a woman emulating Unikitty from the Lego Movie. "Business, Business, Business. Numbers?"
You can tell there's definitely some talent with this author and her writing style, I just feel like maybe she needs to trust herself a little more to make some waves and make more interesting main characters. It felt like it was played incredibly safe and that was to this story's detriment. Go a little wild. Have your characters be more interesting. Let your freaky flag fly!
As it is, it was fine. I hope to see more from this author in the future and see her improve.
3 out of 5.
I find myself as a fan of romances and fantasy. This was something i thought i would very much enjoy, and, to a certain degree, I DID enjoy some things about this book.
Short version is it's in a magical town where a woman who can't do magic runs a tavern. A man who also can't do magic comes into town as a teacher. The woman worries about her bar and he tries to get to know her and falls in love with her. That's pretty much the story.
I will say I thoroughly enjoyed the side characters of this story. the MC woman's best friend Liz is EASILY the best part of the entire novel, and honestly, i wish it starred her instead of the actual MC. She's fun, quirky, and actually containing a personality.
That leads me into a bit of an issue with the story. The two Mc's are very very very dull. I describe them as essentially a sandwich of mayonnaise on white bread. There's no bite from them. They have very very tame likes and dislikes, ranging from stuff like "fixing things" to "gardening" to "carriage rides". It's all very humdrum and dull. You can 100% do cozy without having your MC's have a blank piece of paper as their personalities.
The setting itself was indeed very cozy and i liked the town it was set in. It gave me a sort of "Shady Hollow by Juneau Black" vibe, except...you know, without the murders. The only thing I would say is an issue is the world building. We hear this is a magical town sure, but we don't really get told much about the outside world. Is it normal the rest of the world over? Is magic a common well known thing outside the magical world? Are there wizards in New York? IS there a New York? It's not something the author explains and I wish they did. It would have been nice to have gotten some world building in this place. A few lines here and there about the effect of magic on the world outside this town could have really buffed up the immersion.
Without going into spoilers, I'll say that the romance feels very lopsided. The guy (Silas) does pretty much everything in this story while the female MC kind of just goes "Can't romance. Business time!" and doesn't offer much moral support to him. it's all focused on her from both him as well as the townspeople. I think some back and forth would have been nice. No emotional support was really given to him FROM her and it kind of irked me. You can tell the author is very much trying to put all the weight of the story on trying to help the female MC and not Silas. Everything is for HER benefit and it's really HER journey of self discovery. It seems like Silas is kind of just along for the ride. He's the kind of guy who gets attacked by a dragon and then apologizes for being attacked (yes this actually happened and no, it made no sense whatsoever.)
The ending, once again without spoilers, was wrapped up a little too quickly and nicely. Consequences didn't matter too much. That's all I'll say about that. I wish there had been some more gravitas.
From a writing aspect, the writing style was just fine. Nothing was too complicated to understand, the page length was just long enough to not overstay its welcome and some parts (especially with Liz) wanted me to keep going on without taking a break.
While there was, what I felt, some unnecessary adult wordings sprinkled in here and there (most of the story is told very nicely worded and Disney channel-esc only for BOOM random F-bomb dropped out of nowhere) and there IS a singular "adult" scene, so, warning if you don't like that kind of thing.
All in all, it was a competently told story with interesting side characters and a world I wish was more fleshed out. Funnily enough, the worst part about this story were the main characters. They were both blank, boring slates without much going on, and the thing stopping the romance from moving forward for most of the story is a woman emulating Unikitty from the Lego Movie. "Business, Business, Business. Numbers?"
You can tell there's definitely some talent with this author and her writing style, I just feel like maybe she needs to trust herself a little more to make some waves and make more interesting main characters. It felt like it was played incredibly safe and that was to this story's detriment. Go a little wild. Have your characters be more interesting. Let your freaky flag fly!
As it is, it was fine. I hope to see more from this author in the future and see her improve.
3 out of 5.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Christmas in July? Well it is for me! I just finished reading an enjoyable cozy story written by Lily Starling. Set in a quirky little hamlet, Enchanted Village is about Hex Hollow, a place where witches and wizards live and work that is close to the Emberwind Academy for magical learning.
Margaret Nettle runs the town pub, started by her grandmother and then passed down through the generations to her mother and now Margaret, The Toasty Owl, serves up specialty drinks to the villagers. The charm in the pub is purely from Margaret as she has the ability to create just the right drink to comfort each and every customer. Margaret is from a magical lineage, but somehow her magical abilities never manifested. Yet her no nonsense nature and love of all fantastic creatures, especially her resident dragon Bernie, make her a village charmer.
Silas Birchwood is a non-magical science teacher, recently recruited by the headmaster of Emberwind Academy, Silas's uncle Elliot. Silas's job as a non-magical teacher is to teach the students that tasks can be done without magic as well as with it.
When Margaret meets Silas, one might say a spark was lit, but actually Margaret's pub was almost destroyed as her overprotective dragon , Bernie, tries to chase off Silas ,while simultaneously breathing fire all over the pub. In remorse for inadvertently causing the destruction, Silas proves his worth as a handyman using no spell work, just elbow grease and good intentions.
When a stranger moves into town and begins building another bar to directly compete with Margaret's Toasty Owl, all the villagers must help Margaret. Margaret's dearest friend Liza, an incredibly talented witch, encourages Margaret to make some changes to her pub and her life. Will Silas and Margaret find love outside of magic? Does Margaret save her pub from the ruthless new stranger's enterprise? Ultimately, does Margaret deal with the grief of her mother's loss and find her own magic in living life as the woman she was meant to be?
Starling does a admirable job of creating characters with depth and warmth. Her fantasy world of Hex Hollow captures the readers hearts and they in turn become part of her fantasy world through the pages.
I would describe Enchanted Village as a light read, perfect to pair with a warm drink on a cool fall or winter afternoon. Even reading it in July was fun as I dreamed of cooler weather and holiday activities. I rate the story with 4 stars. I found the book very entertaining and highly recommend seeking it out later this fall for the upcoming holiday season.
Enchanted Village by Lily Starling publishes on October 20, 2026 by Avon and Harper Voyager, a division of HarperCollins.
Thank you to Netgalley, Lily Starling, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Harper Collins for the Advanced Reader's Copy of Enchanted Village in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #EnchantedVillage. #LilyStarling #HarperVoyager #Avon #HarperCollins
Margaret Nettle runs the town pub, started by her grandmother and then passed down through the generations to her mother and now Margaret, The Toasty Owl, serves up specialty drinks to the villagers. The charm in the pub is purely from Margaret as she has the ability to create just the right drink to comfort each and every customer. Margaret is from a magical lineage, but somehow her magical abilities never manifested. Yet her no nonsense nature and love of all fantastic creatures, especially her resident dragon Bernie, make her a village charmer.
Silas Birchwood is a non-magical science teacher, recently recruited by the headmaster of Emberwind Academy, Silas's uncle Elliot. Silas's job as a non-magical teacher is to teach the students that tasks can be done without magic as well as with it.
When Margaret meets Silas, one might say a spark was lit, but actually Margaret's pub was almost destroyed as her overprotective dragon , Bernie, tries to chase off Silas ,while simultaneously breathing fire all over the pub. In remorse for inadvertently causing the destruction, Silas proves his worth as a handyman using no spell work, just elbow grease and good intentions.
When a stranger moves into town and begins building another bar to directly compete with Margaret's Toasty Owl, all the villagers must help Margaret. Margaret's dearest friend Liza, an incredibly talented witch, encourages Margaret to make some changes to her pub and her life. Will Silas and Margaret find love outside of magic? Does Margaret save her pub from the ruthless new stranger's enterprise? Ultimately, does Margaret deal with the grief of her mother's loss and find her own magic in living life as the woman she was meant to be?
Starling does a admirable job of creating characters with depth and warmth. Her fantasy world of Hex Hollow captures the readers hearts and they in turn become part of her fantasy world through the pages.
I would describe Enchanted Village as a light read, perfect to pair with a warm drink on a cool fall or winter afternoon. Even reading it in July was fun as I dreamed of cooler weather and holiday activities. I rate the story with 4 stars. I found the book very entertaining and highly recommend seeking it out later this fall for the upcoming holiday season.
Enchanted Village by Lily Starling publishes on October 20, 2026 by Avon and Harper Voyager, a division of HarperCollins.
Thank you to Netgalley, Lily Starling, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Harper Collins for the Advanced Reader's Copy of Enchanted Village in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #EnchantedVillage. #LilyStarling #HarperVoyager #Avon #HarperCollins
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3 ☆
So this was a pleasant little surprise. The second I saw the character art for this book posted by the author, I knew I needed to read it. The scene scape was just so cozy and warm, and it was time for me to find another cozy fantasy to dream over.
For a debut novel, this was really strong. The author did an incredible job building up the setting with such detailed imagery it planted clear cut visions in your head. The world of Hex Hollow is tranquil and quaintly quirky as it neighbors a magic school. Between following Silas, the first non magical professor at the school, and Margaret, as she runs her grandmother and mothers bar serving magical drinks to local townsfolk and visitors, it nestles in the perfect formulaic atmosphere of what you want in a cozy fantasy.
This is a story ultimately about believing and knowing your own worth even when it feels like you don’t belong. We all have our own kind of magic, and it’s okay if someone else pops into our life to remind us that. It’s about opening up your heart in trusting that refusing isolation is not lack in strength . I will say the moments shared between Margaret and Silas were very sweet. He is the definition of acts of service—between helping tidy and fix things around Margaret’s shop and in the other local businesses there wasn’t a moment where he wasn’t looking out for the lives of others around him.
Individually both Silas and Margaret were relatable and although this is a slow burn, the switch between friends to lovers still almost felt like a jump. Although they spent time together, Margaret was still closed off that by the time they solidified their relationship it still felt like they didn’t know each other quite enough. They went on one date, and I get there was infatuation present, but the connection felt like it needed to be expanded on in other areas than Silas doing things for Margaret. And something I see in a lot of debuts is that a character is drawn from near perfection and has zero flaws and that was definitely the case with Silas. Margaret had more layers that were peeled back to make her more dimensional while Silas just kind of showed up to save the day. This element wasn’t enough to contribute to me not liking the book, but more so doxing a star for it.
The third act I wasn’t overly fond of in terms with how fast things moved and how quickly the resolution was presented. It felt almost thrown in there to check the box of having some sort of main conflict.
Overall I still really enjoyed this and will be something i will recommend to people looking for a cozy winter-esque fantasy. Such a great debut and I’m excited to see what the author brings to the table in the future!
So this was a pleasant little surprise. The second I saw the character art for this book posted by the author, I knew I needed to read it. The scene scape was just so cozy and warm, and it was time for me to find another cozy fantasy to dream over.
For a debut novel, this was really strong. The author did an incredible job building up the setting with such detailed imagery it planted clear cut visions in your head. The world of Hex Hollow is tranquil and quaintly quirky as it neighbors a magic school. Between following Silas, the first non magical professor at the school, and Margaret, as she runs her grandmother and mothers bar serving magical drinks to local townsfolk and visitors, it nestles in the perfect formulaic atmosphere of what you want in a cozy fantasy.
This is a story ultimately about believing and knowing your own worth even when it feels like you don’t belong. We all have our own kind of magic, and it’s okay if someone else pops into our life to remind us that. It’s about opening up your heart in trusting that refusing isolation is not lack in strength . I will say the moments shared between Margaret and Silas were very sweet. He is the definition of acts of service—between helping tidy and fix things around Margaret’s shop and in the other local businesses there wasn’t a moment where he wasn’t looking out for the lives of others around him.
Individually both Silas and Margaret were relatable and although this is a slow burn, the switch between friends to lovers still almost felt like a jump. Although they spent time together, Margaret was still closed off that by the time they solidified their relationship it still felt like they didn’t know each other quite enough. They went on one date, and I get there was infatuation present, but the connection felt like it needed to be expanded on in other areas than Silas doing things for Margaret. And something I see in a lot of debuts is that a character is drawn from near perfection and has zero flaws and that was definitely the case with Silas. Margaret had more layers that were peeled back to make her more dimensional while Silas just kind of showed up to save the day. This element wasn’t enough to contribute to me not liking the book, but more so doxing a star for it.
The third act I wasn’t overly fond of in terms with how fast things moved and how quickly the resolution was presented. It felt almost thrown in there to check the box of having some sort of main conflict.
Overall I still really enjoyed this and will be something i will recommend to people looking for a cozy winter-esque fantasy. Such a great debut and I’m excited to see what the author brings to the table in the future!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Enchanted Village is a delightful cozy fantasy that wraps you in magic, warmth, with a touch of romance.
Told through dual perspectives, the story follows Margaret, the hardworking owner of The Toasty Owl (which has to be one of my favorite fictional pub names ever), and Silas, a tall, charming teacher assigned to teach non-magical science to magical children at Emberwind Academy. Margaret has convinced herself she has no time for romance, making her journey all the more rewarding as the story unfolds.
One of my favorite aspects of this book was how thoughtfully it handled its non-magical characters. Rather than making them feel inferior in a world full of magic, Lily Starling emphasizes that everyone has value and something meaningful to contribute. It was a refreshing message that fit perfectly with the heart of the story.
The character development was wonderful, exploring themes of love, loss, healing, and finding the courage to open your heart again. While there is romance, I'd say this is first and foremost a cozy fantasy with a gentle comedic tone and lovable characters.
The village itself is overflowing with festive charm, and the magical details made every page feel enchanting. My favorite passage perfectly captures the whimsical atmosphere:
“Hot chocolates always stayed warm, no matter how long you drank them, and whipped cream wove through every sip rather than staying at either the top or the bottom of the drink. Drinks like the Fire and Brimstone—which Margaret set to making for the girl—were made with steam that glittered and rose above the beverage to twist into shapes as you drank.”
I've seen this compared to the Dream Harbor series, but I don't think that's an entirely fair comparison. Enchanted Village leans much more heavily into cozy fantasy genre, and I think readers who already enjoy cozy fantasy will appreciate everything this magical little town has to offer.
If you're looking for an uplifting escape filled with enchanting worldbuilding, heartfelt character growth, humor, and a sprinkle of romance, Enchanted Village is well worth the read.
Told through dual perspectives, the story follows Margaret, the hardworking owner of The Toasty Owl (which has to be one of my favorite fictional pub names ever), and Silas, a tall, charming teacher assigned to teach non-magical science to magical children at Emberwind Academy. Margaret has convinced herself she has no time for romance, making her journey all the more rewarding as the story unfolds.
One of my favorite aspects of this book was how thoughtfully it handled its non-magical characters. Rather than making them feel inferior in a world full of magic, Lily Starling emphasizes that everyone has value and something meaningful to contribute. It was a refreshing message that fit perfectly with the heart of the story.
The character development was wonderful, exploring themes of love, loss, healing, and finding the courage to open your heart again. While there is romance, I'd say this is first and foremost a cozy fantasy with a gentle comedic tone and lovable characters.
The village itself is overflowing with festive charm, and the magical details made every page feel enchanting. My favorite passage perfectly captures the whimsical atmosphere:
“Hot chocolates always stayed warm, no matter how long you drank them, and whipped cream wove through every sip rather than staying at either the top or the bottom of the drink. Drinks like the Fire and Brimstone—which Margaret set to making for the girl—were made with steam that glittered and rose above the beverage to twist into shapes as you drank.”
I've seen this compared to the Dream Harbor series, but I don't think that's an entirely fair comparison. Enchanted Village leans much more heavily into cozy fantasy genre, and I think readers who already enjoy cozy fantasy will appreciate everything this magical little town has to offer.
If you're looking for an uplifting escape filled with enchanting worldbuilding, heartfelt character growth, humor, and a sprinkle of romance, Enchanted Village is well worth the read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Enchanted Village by Lily Starling
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Enchanted Village is a cozy fantasy read full of small-town charm, found family, baby dragons, and a sweet opposites-attract romance. From the cozy atmosphere to the well-written characters to the whimsicalness of it all, Enchanted Village features the perfect blend of magic, mystery, and romance to form an amazing story!
Silas Birchwood is Emberwind Academy’s first non-magical teacher and he knows that he has found his calling. His life in Hex Hollow has its charms and Margaret Nettle, the witch proprietor of The Toasty Owl, is one of the main highlights. Margaret has devoted her life to running the pub, even if it is difficult living so close to the magical school that rejected her. When another bar opens across the street, Silas is determined to help Margaret save her business. And Margaret begins to find herself slowly warming up to him. When the secret to her magical drinks is stolen though, Margaret worries that she has destroyed her family’s legacy. However, Silas is determined to help her see that the magic was hers all along.
Enchanted Village is such a sweet, warm, cozy, and enjoyable story. At its core, Enchanted Village is about finding magic where one never expected it and embracing community. Margaret and Silas have a fantastic dynamic. Grumpy/sunshine works well here and feels authentic. Margaret's background, her connection to The Toasty Owl, and her family's legacy all add depth to the story. Margaret’s journey of discovering her own worth is well written and her growth throughout is great.
A character-driven fantasy romance, the main highlights of the story include found family, quirky villagers, the cozy magical pub, a super cute romance, and a fun holiday atmosphere.
Overall, Enchanted Village is a sweet, fun, and cozy read that’s perfect for winter!
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Enchanted Village is a cozy fantasy read full of small-town charm, found family, baby dragons, and a sweet opposites-attract romance. From the cozy atmosphere to the well-written characters to the whimsicalness of it all, Enchanted Village features the perfect blend of magic, mystery, and romance to form an amazing story!
Silas Birchwood is Emberwind Academy’s first non-magical teacher and he knows that he has found his calling. His life in Hex Hollow has its charms and Margaret Nettle, the witch proprietor of The Toasty Owl, is one of the main highlights. Margaret has devoted her life to running the pub, even if it is difficult living so close to the magical school that rejected her. When another bar opens across the street, Silas is determined to help Margaret save her business. And Margaret begins to find herself slowly warming up to him. When the secret to her magical drinks is stolen though, Margaret worries that she has destroyed her family’s legacy. However, Silas is determined to help her see that the magic was hers all along.
Enchanted Village is such a sweet, warm, cozy, and enjoyable story. At its core, Enchanted Village is about finding magic where one never expected it and embracing community. Margaret and Silas have a fantastic dynamic. Grumpy/sunshine works well here and feels authentic. Margaret's background, her connection to The Toasty Owl, and her family's legacy all add depth to the story. Margaret’s journey of discovering her own worth is well written and her growth throughout is great.
A character-driven fantasy romance, the main highlights of the story include found family, quirky villagers, the cozy magical pub, a super cute romance, and a fun holiday atmosphere.
Overall, Enchanted Village is a sweet, fun, and cozy read that’s perfect for winter!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Title: Enchanted Village
Author: Lily Starling
Publisher: HarperAudio Adult|Avon
Format: 🎧
Narrators: Karen Cass and James Meunier
Genre: Romance, Sci Fi Fantasy
Pub Date: October 20, 2026
My Rating: 3 Stars
Pages: 320
Margaret Nettle is a witch who runs inherited the “The Toasty Owl”. The pub is a comfy place where the villagers gather and enjoy Margaret’s magical drinks.
Margaret is the third-generation owner but unlike her mother and grandmother before her, she doesn’t have the same magic. In fact, she was rejected by Emberwind Academy the magical school
Silas Birchwood is new to town as he as been selected to teach at the Emberwind Academy as the school’s first non-magical teacher. But he knows he’s found his calling.
He finds he has an interest in Margaret, but her little dragon gets overprotective, doing damage to the pub while trying to chase him out.
Margaret has to temporarily close for repairs.
At the same time a new rival pub just opened and is taking advantage of the situation.
Silas likes Margaret and doesn’t scare easily plus is great as a handy man and has a knack for fixing things.
Although I once was a big romance fan, but my first love was always mysteries and then switched to psychological thriller. Noe not big on adult romance stories but do like fantasy/witch stories-as well as sweet romance. So I was sure I would like this based on the novel’s description as a cozy fantasy.
Well- I did like Margaret and Silas so was sure of a HEA.
I wanted to give it 4+ Stars, but I was disappointed with the non-cozy language- to me it didn’t live up to being a true cozy and took away my enjoyment.
However, I know plenty of readers loved it!!!
I want to thank NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult| Avon for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 20, 2026.
Author: Lily Starling
Publisher: HarperAudio Adult|Avon
Format: 🎧
Narrators: Karen Cass and James Meunier
Genre: Romance, Sci Fi Fantasy
Pub Date: October 20, 2026
My Rating: 3 Stars
Pages: 320
Margaret Nettle is a witch who runs inherited the “The Toasty Owl”. The pub is a comfy place where the villagers gather and enjoy Margaret’s magical drinks.
Margaret is the third-generation owner but unlike her mother and grandmother before her, she doesn’t have the same magic. In fact, she was rejected by Emberwind Academy the magical school
Silas Birchwood is new to town as he as been selected to teach at the Emberwind Academy as the school’s first non-magical teacher. But he knows he’s found his calling.
He finds he has an interest in Margaret, but her little dragon gets overprotective, doing damage to the pub while trying to chase him out.
Margaret has to temporarily close for repairs.
At the same time a new rival pub just opened and is taking advantage of the situation.
Silas likes Margaret and doesn’t scare easily plus is great as a handy man and has a knack for fixing things.
Although I once was a big romance fan, but my first love was always mysteries and then switched to psychological thriller. Noe not big on adult romance stories but do like fantasy/witch stories-as well as sweet romance. So I was sure I would like this based on the novel’s description as a cozy fantasy.
Well- I did like Margaret and Silas so was sure of a HEA.
I wanted to give it 4+ Stars, but I was disappointed with the non-cozy language- to me it didn’t live up to being a true cozy and took away my enjoyment.
However, I know plenty of readers loved it!!!
I want to thank NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult| Avon for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 20, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for allowing me access to the eARC via Netgalley.
Silas Birchwood wasn't sure what to expect when he moved to the village of Hex Hollow to teach science at the nearby school of magic Emberwind Academy, but he quickly finds himself charmed by the magical village and especially Margaret Nettle, the owner of the local pub. Margaret has devoted her life to running The Toasty Owl, the pub left to her by her mother and grandmother, but when a rival bar opens across the street she fears for her business and family legacy. Together with Silas and her best friend Liza, they fight to save the Toasty Owl and maybe find love along the way.
The romance was very sweet and cute. Silas and Margaret seemed like they were meant to be together from their first meeting and I enjoyed how they grew closer together, despite Margaret's reluctance to be more than friends.
One of my favorite parts of the book were the magical creatures. There were dragons that were devoted to their human companions, hippogriffs that pulled carriages across the sky, and many others. Bernie the dragon was adorable and catlike in her manners and I loved how fiercely protective of Margaret she was. Margaret's love and care of the creatures was one of my favorite aspects of her character.
I have seen this book described as a Hallmark movie set in Hogsmeade and I have to say that is an accurate description. While it is not my normal sort of read, I really enjoyed the cozy atmosphere and read the book in two days. It is such a sweet cozy read about finding the magic within oneself.
Silas Birchwood wasn't sure what to expect when he moved to the village of Hex Hollow to teach science at the nearby school of magic Emberwind Academy, but he quickly finds himself charmed by the magical village and especially Margaret Nettle, the owner of the local pub. Margaret has devoted her life to running The Toasty Owl, the pub left to her by her mother and grandmother, but when a rival bar opens across the street she fears for her business and family legacy. Together with Silas and her best friend Liza, they fight to save the Toasty Owl and maybe find love along the way.
The romance was very sweet and cute. Silas and Margaret seemed like they were meant to be together from their first meeting and I enjoyed how they grew closer together, despite Margaret's reluctance to be more than friends.
One of my favorite parts of the book were the magical creatures. There were dragons that were devoted to their human companions, hippogriffs that pulled carriages across the sky, and many others. Bernie the dragon was adorable and catlike in her manners and I loved how fiercely protective of Margaret she was. Margaret's love and care of the creatures was one of my favorite aspects of her character.
I have seen this book described as a Hallmark movie set in Hogsmeade and I have to say that is an accurate description. While it is not my normal sort of read, I really enjoyed the cozy atmosphere and read the book in two days. It is such a sweet cozy read about finding the magic within oneself.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Really stinking cute. Cozy fantasy vibes with a soft little romance interwoven in. I loved the world that existed; there wasn't too much world building, which I mean in a good way. It wasn't a high fantasy with a huge action plot, so it didn't really need too much noise in terms of context. We got exactly what we needed to understand the world and how it was situated for the purposes of our characters, and I think it was exactly right for that.
I loved how prickly Margaret was (and for good reason), but I also loved how she kind of just melted with and around Silas. He knocked down her walls so easily, and who could blame her for falling. He was just A Good Guy. A little awkward, so helpful, and very much in awe of her. He's an acts of service king who was willing to do just about anything to help her on her way to success and happiness, all while wearing his little glasses and smiling at her. Like. Of course she fell.
I also have to say I actually really appreciated how the conflict went down. I think it was really realistic given the characters and context, but how everything got fixed was also really in line with who they were down to the bone. It was definitely a sweet little nugget of a story, all wrapped up in snowy, holiday packaging, perfect for wintertime. Also, the hints we're getting for Liza's story... I'm there.
----------------
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for the ARC!
I loved how prickly Margaret was (and for good reason), but I also loved how she kind of just melted with and around Silas. He knocked down her walls so easily, and who could blame her for falling. He was just A Good Guy. A little awkward, so helpful, and very much in awe of her. He's an acts of service king who was willing to do just about anything to help her on her way to success and happiness, all while wearing his little glasses and smiling at her. Like. Of course she fell.
I also have to say I actually really appreciated how the conflict went down. I think it was really realistic given the characters and context, but how everything got fixed was also really in line with who they were down to the bone. It was definitely a sweet little nugget of a story, all wrapped up in snowy, holiday packaging, perfect for wintertime. Also, the hints we're getting for Liza's story... I'm there.
----------------
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Enchanted Village was exactly what I wanted it to be: a charming, well-written romance with genuinely likeable charachters.
No, it's not trying to reinvent the romance genre or deliver some life-changing story, and that's perfectly okay. What it does do is tell a heartfelt romance with believable character growth and insecurities and problems that are relatable. While the relationship develops on the expedited timeline that comes with many romance novels, the emotions felt authentic, and both main characters were refreshingly flawed in very human, relatable ways. Their normalcy despite being a "paranormal romance" made it easy to root for them.
One of my favorite aspects was the holiday setting. This is absolutely a Christmas romance, but it never felt like it was checking off every holiday trope or overwhelming the story with festive clichés. The Christmas atmosphere enhanced the romance rather than overshadowing it, making it a cozy backdrop instead of the entire plot.
If you're looking for a sweet, character-driven holiday romance with genuine emotional connection and just the right amount of Christmas magic, Enchanted Village is well worth picking up.
Enchanted Village was exactly what I wanted it to be: a charming, well-written romance with genuinely likeable charachters.
No, it's not trying to reinvent the romance genre or deliver some life-changing story, and that's perfectly okay. What it does do is tell a heartfelt romance with believable character growth and insecurities and problems that are relatable. While the relationship develops on the expedited timeline that comes with many romance novels, the emotions felt authentic, and both main characters were refreshingly flawed in very human, relatable ways. Their normalcy despite being a "paranormal romance" made it easy to root for them.
One of my favorite aspects was the holiday setting. This is absolutely a Christmas romance, but it never felt like it was checking off every holiday trope or overwhelming the story with festive clichés. The Christmas atmosphere enhanced the romance rather than overshadowing it, making it a cozy backdrop instead of the entire plot.
If you're looking for a sweet, character-driven holiday romance with genuine emotional connection and just the right amount of Christmas magic, Enchanted Village is well worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a great magical world that reminds you of the Harry Potter world ♡ The village reminds me of Hogsmeade - with the exception of Old Man Weatherby's shop for items for non magical people like a coffee maker. They also have an old castle with enchantments and charms e.g. where it snows even in the corridors. I adored the magical creatures in the book, especially Bernie. She won my heart instantly.
How I adore and love Silas. He is such a huge green flag and has the purest heart and can be so protective for the people he cares for. I need more MMCs like him.
My heart broke for Margaret. I know how it feels to think you don't belong anywhere and to read her story was heart-breaking and heart-warming. I love her. How she doesn't want to be too much for everyone, thinks it is all her responsibility and she doesn't have the right to ask for help - I just want to hug her and tell her she is not alone! Thank you Silas and Liza for doing that for me.
I didn't see all the plot twists coming and really enjoyed the storyline. It was emotional, funny, cute, romantic, sad and beautiful.
I want to go to The Toasty Owl and drink a hot chocolate from Margaret and cuddle with Bernie. That sounds just perfect ♡
How I adore and love Silas. He is such a huge green flag and has the purest heart and can be so protective for the people he cares for. I need more MMCs like him.
My heart broke for Margaret. I know how it feels to think you don't belong anywhere and to read her story was heart-breaking and heart-warming. I love her. How she doesn't want to be too much for everyone, thinks it is all her responsibility and she doesn't have the right to ask for help - I just want to hug her and tell her she is not alone! Thank you Silas and Liza for doing that for me.
I didn't see all the plot twists coming and really enjoyed the storyline. It was emotional, funny, cute, romantic, sad and beautiful.
I want to go to The Toasty Owl and drink a hot chocolate from Margaret and cuddle with Bernie. That sounds just perfect ♡
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First, thank you, NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager, for letting me get an e-ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.
5/5 — stars
This is the perfect cute, cozy romance with a baby dragon. A BABY DRAGON. I need more baby dragons. I want a baby dragon or any of the other magical companions in the books. Bernie reminded me of my dog, which made me like him even more.
I laughed aloud when Bernie kicked Silas out. That is something my dog would do.
Hex Hollow was such a cozy place. It gave me the feeling of being in the small town near Howard. I would love to see more of it later.
The book follows Margaret. She owns a pub, and Silas is the new teacher at Emberwind Academy, the first one without magic. When a new pub opens and begins competing with Margaret while hers is closed for repairs, she needs someone to help her fix it.
The romance between Margaret and Silas was so cute. I will always love when the man is the sunshine and the woman is the grumpy one.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves small towns or cozy fantasy. This is one of the coziest fantasy books I have read. I deeply recommend it.
- Small town
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Found family
- Cozy fantasy
- Third person
- Baby dragons awwww
5/5 — stars
This is the perfect cute, cozy romance with a baby dragon. A BABY DRAGON. I need more baby dragons. I want a baby dragon or any of the other magical companions in the books. Bernie reminded me of my dog, which made me like him even more.
I laughed aloud when Bernie kicked Silas out. That is something my dog would do.
Hex Hollow was such a cozy place. It gave me the feeling of being in the small town near Howard. I would love to see more of it later.
The book follows Margaret. She owns a pub, and Silas is the new teacher at Emberwind Academy, the first one without magic. When a new pub opens and begins competing with Margaret while hers is closed for repairs, she needs someone to help her fix it.
The romance between Margaret and Silas was so cute. I will always love when the man is the sunshine and the woman is the grumpy one.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves small towns or cozy fantasy. This is one of the coziest fantasy books I have read. I deeply recommend it.
- Small town
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Found family
- Cozy fantasy
- Third person
- Baby dragons awwww
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a cutie, cozy read!
I’m pretty picky with my cozy fantasy books. I find a lot of them to be super boring, but this one had such a fantastic world built & with all of the seasonal goodness added in it was just the right amount of cozy for me!
The friendship between Liza and Maggie was absolute PERFECTION. We love a slightly unhinged ride or die bestie! Honestly all of the found family in this book was great. Just an all around amazing small town! And the fantastical beasts were incredible. An overprotective baby dragon? Yes please!
I will say I did think that the 3rd act drama was reallyyyyyy dumb. It just seemed super out of character for the MMC & was done just for the sake of the drama. That being said, I get what the author wanted to accomplish with it & I can understand why she did it. Still didn’t love it for the MMC though.
Overall I think this is a cute read!
𝙵𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚎:
”She wasn’t magic. She was stardust incarnate, bursting with brilliant light, and he was the man who was somehow lucky enough to hold her in his hands.”
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁:
✨Grumpy x sunshine
✨Small-town romance
✨Found family
✨Magical village
✨Baby dragons
✨Magic pub
Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I’m pretty picky with my cozy fantasy books. I find a lot of them to be super boring, but this one had such a fantastic world built & with all of the seasonal goodness added in it was just the right amount of cozy for me!
The friendship between Liza and Maggie was absolute PERFECTION. We love a slightly unhinged ride or die bestie! Honestly all of the found family in this book was great. Just an all around amazing small town! And the fantastical beasts were incredible. An overprotective baby dragon? Yes please!
I will say I did think that the 3rd act drama was reallyyyyyy dumb. It just seemed super out of character for the MMC & was done just for the sake of the drama. That being said, I get what the author wanted to accomplish with it & I can understand why she did it. Still didn’t love it for the MMC though.
Overall I think this is a cute read!
𝙵𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚎:
”She wasn’t magic. She was stardust incarnate, bursting with brilliant light, and he was the man who was somehow lucky enough to hold her in his hands.”
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁:
✨Grumpy x sunshine
✨Small-town romance
✨Found family
✨Magical village
✨Baby dragons
✨Magic pub
Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Read
September 17, 2026I received this book courtesy of NetGalley for the purpose of a fair and honest review.
Overview: Margaret Nettle has lived in Hex Hollow for her entire life. She's never been as strong with magic like her mother and grandmother were. But she does handle dragons of all kinds well. With a new pub coming in town, and the mundane schoolteacher showing some interest in her, can she keep her life as she knows it? And why does she fear letting people too close? Let's find out.
Dislikes: Um, cozy fiction doesn't have any spice to it at all. This book isn't a cozy anything, much less a cozy fantasy, and that fact ruined the story for me.
Margaret is a woman who will not have a good relationship until she let's go of her self-hatred. And she hates herself, why else would she believe that her failings (in her mind) continually cost her the relationships?
Likes: While Silas is more of "the perfect man" in these kinds of books, he did try to pull his own weight at the school and where he was staying.
Conclusion: This book suffered more due to the fact that the book was mislabeled. If you like a light read, somewhat spicy, romantasy, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.
Overview: Margaret Nettle has lived in Hex Hollow for her entire life. She's never been as strong with magic like her mother and grandmother were. But she does handle dragons of all kinds well. With a new pub coming in town, and the mundane schoolteacher showing some interest in her, can she keep her life as she knows it? And why does she fear letting people too close? Let's find out.
Dislikes: Um, cozy fiction doesn't have any spice to it at all. This book isn't a cozy anything, much less a cozy fantasy, and that fact ruined the story for me.
Margaret is a woman who will not have a good relationship until she let's go of her self-hatred. And she hates herself, why else would she believe that her failings (in her mind) continually cost her the relationships?
Likes: While Silas is more of "the perfect man" in these kinds of books, he did try to pull his own weight at the school and where he was staying.
Conclusion: This book suffered more due to the fact that the book was mislabeled. If you like a light read, somewhat spicy, romantasy, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
This is a cozy & magical romance, set in the quirky village of Hex Hollow. Margaret Nettle is the the witch proprietor of The Toasty Owl, where every night, villagers gather in the glow of the fireplace to sip her warming magical drinks. Her best friend Liza owns the local bookstore, and there are various other shops along the street. Emberwind Academy is just up the hill, and that is where Silas Birchwood comes in. He is non-magical, and teaches science at the school. Oh, and he fell in love with Margaret the first time he saw her. Did I mention there are dragons and other magical creatures? The village reminded me of Hogsmeade, and I was really rooting for Silas & Margaret. She already lacked confidence & now a new bar was opening up across the street, and everyone was going there instead of her establishment. Plus the owner was a class A jerk. This enchanting Christmas story was delightful, and I highly recommend it!
This is a cozy & magical romance, set in the quirky village of Hex Hollow. Margaret Nettle is the the witch proprietor of The Toasty Owl, where every night, villagers gather in the glow of the fireplace to sip her warming magical drinks. Her best friend Liza owns the local bookstore, and there are various other shops along the street. Emberwind Academy is just up the hill, and that is where Silas Birchwood comes in. He is non-magical, and teaches science at the school. Oh, and he fell in love with Margaret the first time he saw her. Did I mention there are dragons and other magical creatures? The village reminded me of Hogsmeade, and I was really rooting for Silas & Margaret. She already lacked confidence & now a new bar was opening up across the street, and everyone was going there instead of her establishment. Plus the owner was a class A jerk. This enchanting Christmas story was delightful, and I highly recommend it!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
What an honor to experience this beautiful, wonderful, cozy village!!! I cannot believe how fast I was flying through this book because I truly couldn’t get to what happens next quick enough. If I could visit Hex Hollow, there is no doubt in my mind that I would be packing my bags up for a move there expeditiously. The community alone is something I would love to immerse myself in.
Lily Starling does an amazing job writing grief and how you don’t have to be fully healed to be able to honor the lost loved ones. Additionally, the author does a fantastic job in showing that being the one to shoulder the pain and weight can be difficult and we should, in fact, be asking for help.
Our MCs and side characters were all stars. Bernie may be my all-time fave though, I fear.
My fingers are so crossed Avon and the author will give us more books in this universe. I never, ever want to leave Hex Hollow.
Thank you Avon and Lily Starling for a copy of this galley in exchange for an honest review.
Lily Starling does an amazing job writing grief and how you don’t have to be fully healed to be able to honor the lost loved ones. Additionally, the author does a fantastic job in showing that being the one to shoulder the pain and weight can be difficult and we should, in fact, be asking for help.
Our MCs and side characters were all stars. Bernie may be my all-time fave though, I fear.
My fingers are so crossed Avon and the author will give us more books in this universe. I never, ever want to leave Hex Hollow.
Thank you Avon and Lily Starling for a copy of this galley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a cute, cozy, magical holiday slow-burn!
Found family, self discovery, acknowledging grief while honoring memories, learning to love again- main character Margaret really goes through it in this one. Margaret is descended from a long line of witches, but unfortunately the magic missed her. Or did it?!
The story felt familiar because it pulled from many romance story arcs, and blended them together like a perfect potion.
Non-magical human professor Silas is the perfect friends-to-lovers cutie pie.
All in all, like a perfect mug of holiday hot chocolate in front of the fire.
This book sets up another (obvious) storyline involving BFF Liza and disliked businessman Patrick. I am expecting some sort of Christmas decoration rivalry, meets enemies-to-lovers :)
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the Advance Reader's Copy.
Found family, self discovery, acknowledging grief while honoring memories, learning to love again- main character Margaret really goes through it in this one. Margaret is descended from a long line of witches, but unfortunately the magic missed her. Or did it?!
The story felt familiar because it pulled from many romance story arcs, and blended them together like a perfect potion.
Non-magical human professor Silas is the perfect friends-to-lovers cutie pie.
All in all, like a perfect mug of holiday hot chocolate in front of the fire.
This book sets up another (obvious) storyline involving BFF Liza and disliked businessman Patrick. I am expecting some sort of Christmas decoration rivalry, meets enemies-to-lovers :)
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the Advance Reader's Copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Have you ever looked at the cover of a book and wanted to be transported into that exact scene…. Look no further because that is what this book delivers
It has the vibes of Hogsmeade with a Christmas Hallmark movie flair.
Enchanted Village is a sweet, warm and perfectly cozy fantasy read that you will find lots small-town charm, found family, baby dragons, and opposites-attract romance. The cozy atmosphere and well-written characters bring Enchanted Village to life. I absolutely love all the characters and want to be friends with them.
Enchanted Village features the perfect recipe with ingredients of magic,whimsy, humor, some mystery and romance to form a delightful book.
All in all this is a perfect winter time, snuggle up with a blanket and warm cocoa read
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for allowing me to be an arc reader
Have you ever looked at the cover of a book and wanted to be transported into that exact scene…. Look no further because that is what this book delivers
It has the vibes of Hogsmeade with a Christmas Hallmark movie flair.
Enchanted Village is a sweet, warm and perfectly cozy fantasy read that you will find lots small-town charm, found family, baby dragons, and opposites-attract romance. The cozy atmosphere and well-written characters bring Enchanted Village to life. I absolutely love all the characters and want to be friends with them.
Enchanted Village features the perfect recipe with ingredients of magic,whimsy, humor, some mystery and romance to form a delightful book.
All in all this is a perfect winter time, snuggle up with a blanket and warm cocoa read
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for allowing me to be an arc reader
October 2, 2026
Soooo, I was really enjoying this for the first 85% of the book. It’s super cozy and magical with the perfect little village reminiscent of Hogsmeade in the winter. I loved the FMC Margaret with her dedication to carrying on her family’s pub and her affinity with magical creatures, including a cute little dragon named Bernie. The MMC Silas is a hot teacher / handyman with dark hair and dreamy blue eyes, and they were really cute together.
Unfortunately, Silas turned into a dumbass at the end. Like, the third act breakup made me unreasonably angry. The “villain” also did something unforgivable in my eyes, and the author tried to redeem him immediately afterward. It seems like it’s hinting at a book involving him + one of the other characters, which I won’t be reading.
Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Unfortunately, Silas turned into a dumbass at the end. Like, the third act breakup made me unreasonably angry. The “villain” also did something unforgivable in my eyes, and the author tried to redeem him immediately afterward. It seems like it’s hinting at a book involving him + one of the other characters, which I won’t be reading.
Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Did Not Finish
October 3, 2026This story is set in a perfectly cozy winter village outside of a magical school with magic and creatures. It feels like stepping into Hogsmead, but this isn't Hogwarts. The characters are teachers, not students. Silas is a human teacher who has just started working at Emberwind Academy and he becomes enthralled by Margaret, a sort of outcast who has a way with magical creatures. The pacing of this story feels a bit slow, the characters do not actually introduce themselves to each other until 20% into the story. This might be for you if you are looking for a low-stakes magical romance with a wintery setting. Unfortunately for me, at 24% in I do not feel like there is enough to the plot or characters to keep me invested in the rest of this story. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this early.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I want to start by saying I am not normally a cozy fantasy reader. However, I absolutely ate this up! It is definitely a quick read and has some fun moments.
Silas is a very lovable MMC with charm and earnest effort. Margaret is a fun contrast with her darker attitude and more pessimistic view of the world.
I do have to admit that Bernie is definitely in the running for one of my favorite animal sidekicks in fantasy. That little dragon has so much personality for her size.
There is a lot of Harry Potter adjacent feelings and definitely has that Hogsmeade type of vibe. Sometimes it did seem almost like a fanfic mixed with a Hallmark movie.
Overall, a fun read and definitely worth the time.
Tropes:
Grumpy x Sunshine
Small-town Romance
Found Family
Silas is a very lovable MMC with charm and earnest effort. Margaret is a fun contrast with her darker attitude and more pessimistic view of the world.
I do have to admit that Bernie is definitely in the running for one of my favorite animal sidekicks in fantasy. That little dragon has so much personality for her size.
There is a lot of Harry Potter adjacent feelings and definitely has that Hogsmeade type of vibe. Sometimes it did seem almost like a fanfic mixed with a Hallmark movie.
Overall, a fun read and definitely worth the time.
Tropes:
Grumpy x Sunshine
Small-town Romance
Found Family
October 4, 2026
I really needed to read this today! I was feeling a little down earlier and remembered I got approved for this ARC yesterday. Literal definition of right book, right time.
This story is magical, heartwarming, cozy, and provided me comfort right when I needed it. It is slow burn, entertaining, not too spicy, and there’s no crazy third act conflict.
I would recommend this to anyone yearning for some ethically sourced Hogsmeade magical vibes. It hits the mark sooo well. I can already see the setup for a book two and I will be first in line for it!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story is magical, heartwarming, cozy, and provided me comfort right when I needed it. It is slow burn, entertaining, not too spicy, and there’s no crazy third act conflict.
I would recommend this to anyone yearning for some ethically sourced Hogsmeade magical vibes. It hits the mark sooo well. I can already see the setup for a book two and I will be first in line for it!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is like a creamy fruit tartlet where you bite into it and all your favorite things folded in creme sauce start to fall out. Think off-brand Hogsmeade with off-brand wizarding school down the road, plus BABY DRAGON, plus hunky romance. Extra bonus for not giving any of my money to that woman who I no longer like. Bottom line: Firstly, I'm going to need to make more friends to recommend this one too. Secondly, where are my second helpings? I'm going to need Lily to start writing the next one. This time with even extra dragon bits.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC copy from Avon and Harper Voyager via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What a fun, cozy read! I absolutely loved the magical village and found myself wishing it were real so I could move there. The magical creatures were delightful, and the enchanted drinks added so much charm to the story. The romance was incredibly sweet and heartwarming, making it the perfect finishing touch. Overall, this was a delightful, feel-good read that I thoroughly enjoyed, and I highly recommend it!
What a fun, cozy read! I absolutely loved the magical village and found myself wishing it were real so I could move there. The magical creatures were delightful, and the enchanted drinks added so much charm to the story. The romance was incredibly sweet and heartwarming, making it the perfect finishing touch. Overall, this was a delightful, feel-good read that I thoroughly enjoyed, and I highly recommend it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really wanted to like this book more than I did! It felt a little *too* Harry Potter universe inspired for me. That said, I loved how Margaret channeled her mother and grandmother, from the pub to the garden and their whole tight knit community. Pieces of this felt a little rushed, with plotlines tied up with a bow a little too neatly and with the conflict being glossed over a bit. I enjoyed the magical concepts put into so many corners like the garden, drinks, the record player and how Margaret's fellow shopkeepers use their magic as adults.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Arc Read number 1
This is a very warm read based around the holidays. My issue was it just wasn’t what I’m maybe accustomed to. Fantastic book. Characters are so relatable and the competing pubs was worth the attention. The dragons and magic added to the intrigue.
My only complaint about the story flow would be the amount of times the character names are used throughout instead of maybe a “he” of “she” or something to just make it read a little smoother.
Other than that it is a cozy fantasy romance that is 100% worth the read if you’re into that type of story.
This is a very warm read based around the holidays. My issue was it just wasn’t what I’m maybe accustomed to. Fantastic book. Characters are so relatable and the competing pubs was worth the attention. The dragons and magic added to the intrigue.
My only complaint about the story flow would be the amount of times the character names are used throughout instead of maybe a “he” of “she” or something to just make it read a little smoother.
Other than that it is a cozy fantasy romance that is 100% worth the read if you’re into that type of story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a cute and cozy read! I truly enjoyed the Hogsmeade vibes. The author's writing paints such a clear picture of this enchanted world that I felt like my imagination was bursting at the seams with beautiful images.
I have always wanted a pet dragon, and I love making drinks for people, so honestly, Margaret's life sounds like a dream. I can absolutely understand why she is so protective of her little slice of Hex Hollow.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review 💕
I have always wanted a pet dragon, and I love making drinks for people, so honestly, Margaret's life sounds like a dream. I can absolutely understand why she is so protective of her little slice of Hex Hollow.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review 💕
September 22, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Avon & Harper Voyager for the advanced copy of this book. This book was a lighthearted cozy winter type of read. As someone who reads a lot of books, the story didn’t feel incredibly original. That being said, I think the average person who loves a cozy, lighthearted book would enjoy this one. There’s magic, small troublemaking dragons, a plot that keeps moving throughout the book, and a love story with a happy ending. It was cute and fun and nice to see the fmc was the grumpy character vs the mmc.
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