The Hearthfire: A Cozy Fantasy of Found Family and New Beginnings

by Jalál C. Hockett

After fifteen years of war, Ragna Threadscar inherits a run-down alehouse in a sleepy coastal village—and a chance to stop being a warrior.

Lighting the hearth should be the easy part. Keeping sharp-tongued orphans from claiming her life as their own? That's the real battle.

Ragna didn't plan on children. She didn't plan on community. She never expected magic humming in the hearthfire, or that building something—a business, a family, a future—would take more courage than any battlefield ever demanded.

Perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes and The House in the Cerulean Sea, The Hearthfire is a cozy fantasy about found family, second chances, and learning that it's never too late to choose a different story.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Cozy Fantasy

379 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 26, 2026

About the author

Jalál C. Hockett is a 22-year U.S. Army veteran writing unflinching grimdark fantasy from Texas. Inspired by George R.R. Martin and Joe Abercrombie, his Grey Deep series explores trauma, betrayal, and moral grayness in a drowned world with no heroes and no easy redemption.

Debut novel The Fracturing (Book One) is a 2026 SPFBO 11 entrant (Mark Lawrence’s Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off).

Book 2 drafting now.

Follow me!
X: @jalal_c_hockett
Instagram: @jalal_c_hockett
Substack: @jchockett

Reviews

[Dr susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! A definite gem of a fantasy adventure

The writing and worldbuilding are excellent. The characters are loveable and believable. Ragna has to learn to live life away from war. She and the children have to learn to trust. The found family theme is well-written, heartwarming, and often tearful. Einar is hilarious. I read this book in KU but will buy it and The Stray to reread; both are lovely lower stress books.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart warming

This book told a tale about Ragna, choosing to leave war behind and build a home in an inherited ale house. Over the year she learns to build family and community. I found the book to be tender without being trite. This was a very enjoyable read.

[Lois Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great series.

I truly loved reading these books. A storyline not dedicated to violence, but family and community. Full of compassion and help for those in need. We need more storyline like this, thank you!

[Kathy Patton · Rating 5 out of 5]

heartwarming

The story showed the ripple effect of how one person caring can make a difference in so many different lives and different ways. It didn’t overwhelm me with sadness or horror, but just sort of hugged me with more than love. Great story to read and I will recommend it.

[Kristin Kiely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming Story

A story about finding home and family. Enjoy the passing of the seasons as the main character makes a new life for herself. In the process she also finds herself building a family of children desperately in need of a place to belong. Full of quiet warmth and charm. Well written.

[Michael Bonkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

A warm and comforting tale

A most wonderful tale for anyone who feels a little down or out of sorts. A comfortable read to warm the heart

[Nancy Tice · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book started strong, with an interesting concept and good cast of characters. I was ready to be comforted and warmed by the fire of a found family. I truly enjoyed the first third. However, I waited in vain for a plot to develop. A story, no matter how cosy, really needs some conflict that can be resolved, and assists in character development, and allows for a successful resolution. Three orphans and a new life certainly would allow for some drama. But alas, everything proceeded calmly from day to day, and no one even lost their temper. Ever.

I think this author can have a wonderful success if they allow their characters and plot to have some emotions, conflicts, and fun.

[Becca Lafosse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd give the first half of this book a 5. The second half a 2. This could have been SUCH a great one. The story was beautiful. It halfway it was over and stop being developed. The second half of the book I felt like I was reading the same situation over and over. Hearing the same conversation. The same phrases were repeated over and over. It's like the author ran out of story and just used the same one. But I'll say the first half was so full of warmth and peace and love. Made it worth reading, and I needed to finish it, but I was a little annoyed the last 100 pages.

[Boho Beannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cozy, appreciated the hearth keeping tradition in a story. There were quite a few repetitions, the characters differentiated but flat. Read like quite a bit of AI was used

[Toni Adkins · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

Was this novel ai generated? Some inconsistencies made me think so. Spring coming, but snow on the ground and later the same day Gyda says the spring festival is the next day. The biggest inconsistencies were in how big the ale house was. It seemed new rooms were added all throughout the book, with no mention of any construction going on. At the beginning there were two rooms upstairs, Ragna’s room and the storage room that eventually became the children’s room. Throughout the book the children shared one room, but at the end all of the kids seem to have their own rooms. “She climbed the stairs and paused outside each door…” And…”On Runa’s door frame, a new drawing was tacked…”. There was also a spot where Solveig talked about turning the storeroom, where she use to sleep, into a place to rent to travelers. When I read, I see everything like a movie in my head. The inconsistencies on the number of rooms in the alehouse had me constantly trying to adjust, in my head, what the tavern looked like. All of these inconsistencies, plus many things that repeated throughout, really makes me thing this is an ai generated book. I don’t believe I’ll be reading any more books by this author.

[Hope Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy story of found family

There is a lot to like in this novel; a woman abandoning war after 15 years comes to a small village and takes in stray children while rebuilding an ale house and becoming part of a community. It is a soothing, gentle story, and an enjoyable read. It’s also evident that this is an early work; characters are built sparsely, with even Ragna not fully developed. While an entire year passes, the children are referred to as the same age at the end as at the beginning. There is also a repetition of the same phrases throughout the book, giving a Groundhog’s Day quality to the story. Still worth reading, but I’d like to see more depth in future novels.

[Andrew Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another incredible story from Jalál Hockett

I fell in love with the first Hockett story that I read - The Stray. Yes, out of published sequence, but no matter, both books are standalone. ‘The Stray’ and ‘The Hearthfire’ are fantastic. If I had to use one word to describe Mr. Hockett’s prose, it would be “honest”, in addition to magical, moving but not at all self indulgent. Without patronizing or condescending to the reader. Just a wonderful voyage about found family. The Hearthfire embodies ethereal magic, but the real magic is found in the found family and the strength of the woman, who forged it.

[Cynthia L. Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ragna and Family

A shield maiden comes to Saltfen to inherit an alehouse. A former warrior tired of war but knows nothing else. Ragna is trying a new way of living and learning as she goes. She slowly is learning love, community, and how to build not just war and destruction. Soon she finds herself with three orphans in need of a home just as she herself needs a home. Read this wonderful and amazing novel of a chosen family, love, acceptance, growth and building. This is a heartwarming novel that will stay with the reader. BLESSINGS.

[Joan Kempiak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprising story.

When I started reading this book I didn't have any idea how it would pull me into the lives of these people. I almost quit when it talked of swords and fighting and the heroine. I'm sooo glad I continued. Once the story developed I was hooked. I recommend this book highly for so many reasons. You won't be disappointed. The story offers many insights into life and its purpose through the eyes of old and young.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very sweet book, but needed a good editor. Continuity errors (ages and timelines not adding up, seasons and dates not lining up—the winter solstice is not the turning point in winter…) exact sentences repeated in similar conversations a few pages apart, and a story that doesn’t drive anywhere. I didn’t mind finishing it, but I spent way too much time thinking about how it should have been better.

[Stephanie White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this advertised on facebook - I believe and since I got KU I decided to try it out :)

This is a sweet little cozy. Ragnar leaves fighting the war and inherits an inn from an Uncle - so she goes to town not really knowing how to run an inn but she learns - and adopts three babes, and a town, and a partnership -

Cute little cozy!

[Glenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I barely made it through the first two chapters. There were contradictions between chapter one and two. The word scar(red) was used repeatedly to describe furniture, the main characters hands. The last straw for me was the repetitive use of "smelled of regret". After so many editing errors in the first bit of reading the book, I simply couldn't continue.

[Silver Rabbit · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming and refreshing read

Loved this book! Beautifully written felt like I was in the room and sharing in there journey.
Would recommend this book to anyone as I believe every person would get something out of it.
Wish I could continue to journey with the characters and continue to watch them grow, however it ends in a beautiful way very peaceful.

[Rochelle King · Rating 5 out of 5]

A definition of home

I don' t remember when I enjoyed a book more than I did this book. It describes what we all hope family is, what we hope our friends are and what we hope our community can be. I think most of us have been at a life crossroad trying to figure things out. This is the story of one woman doing exactly that.

[HJ Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tale of healing

This tale is a perfect foil for those who have been in the military. It is an example of lessons learned by many who accepted the truth that no is perfect, that work is lighter when shared, that family doesn't always mean biology, but can be choices. Beautifully written.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The bkessings of heart(h) and home

Jalál Hockett's fantasy of found familt and new beginnings is a supremely satisfying one. He builds it skillfully, season by season, one courageous risk of the heart at a time, in a Scandinavian village. I enjoyed the characters, the setting and the ideals, and look forward to reading more.

[tina nagy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful read

Wow! This book is worth read. It is a beautiful, heartwarming and just an all around feel good story. It’s well written, flows well and easy to read. I just absolutely loved this story. It’s the second one I’ve read from this author and the other one was just as good. I recommend it!!!

[Tanis Blount · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a world gone crazy I was looking for something to remind me that there is good to be found. This novel not only does that but reminds us that the small moments of being faithful and steadfast are important, probably the most important things we do.

[Teresa Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this story

I love this story and some paragraphs are achingly poignant. I just read that the author is 22. I think that is amazing. I'm looking for the next chapter...the continuing story of the Hearthfire, the family, and community.

[Rhanway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too beautiful for words!

So much simple wisdom in this powerful well written story. I couldn't stop until the end. It left me feeling warm and cozy. Very heartfelt. It's a real skill to perfect the blend of small tales inside a large one. Perfect:)

[Joy Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming

Beautiful story about lost people who find each other, nurture each other, and build family, friends, and community through all four seasons. Come to Hearthfire to leave behind chaos and distress while finding peace, safety, and comfort.

[Shannon Beadnell-Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Story

Such a feel good story of losing fear, uncertainty and finding a “chosen” family. The author definitely has a way with words. It was almost like being there in person the hearth giving warmth, security and love.

[Connie Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

timeline issues

This is a nice feel good story, but there are some timeline issues. Example: a character’s name was mentioned before the girl told them her name and pouring some mead that glowed before the glowing mead was discovered etc.

[Angie Titus]

This book is a warm story of family and home, but, with only about 80 pages left to go, I dnfed. The story has a lot of inconsistencies. A lot. Plus, the writing is very repetitive. I was enjoying the story, but, in the end, these two flaws overcame my enjoyment, and I had to stop.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story.

Hearthfire is the first Hockett book I have read. It is a sweet story with characters who are nice and kind to each other. I read it through in one day. No embarrassing moments and the only tears I cried were happy ones. I am going to read The Stray. Ext.