A Remedy for Fate

by M.A. Kuzniar

A missing heart. A magical deal. A sprinkling of fate.

Prague, 1769. In the Magic Quarter of the jewel-box city of Prague, Thea runs Stiltskin's Apothecary. There, she brews potions to chase away nightmares and soothe heartache - and strikes bargains to change her customers' fates.

The only fate she cannot change? Her own.

Seven years ago, Thea bargained away her heart and her memories to the apothecary's owner, the cold, yet enigmatic Jasper, for reasons she cannot remember, and a reward she cannot recall.

Then one day a stranger arrives with an unusual request. One that will upturn Thea's entire existence - and offer her a precious chance to recover her heart . . .

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Historical Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Retellings, Cozy Fantasy

304 pages, Hardcover

First published March 12, 2026

About the author

M.A. Kuzniar is also published under the name Maria Kuzniar.

Reviews

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The setting was absolutely amazing and the found family aspect perfectly executed, but I didn't always like Thea and that impacted my enjoyment a great deal...

Seven years ago, Thea bargained her heart and all her memories to Jasper, the mysterious apothecary owner.. Since then, she's been his apprentice at the Magic Quarter in Prague, helping people with their problems and changing the fates of those who desperately need it, for a price. A handsome stranger with an unusual request and her unwillingness to take the price for the fates she alteres anymore is about to unravel everything.. Nothing is as it seemes, danger is coming and some secrets might be finally coming to light..

I'm going to be honest, I've been debating how to rate this, because while I adored the setting and the magic system was fascinating, I found Thea and her decisions infuriating.. I understand her frustration and distrust, she did lose all her memories and that is heartbreaking, but she clearly lost every drop of rational thinking with it too, or maybe she never had any to begin with, who knows... The amount of stupid and impulsive decisions she made is quite honestly concerning. I'm sorry, but going against sane advice because you think you know better isn't empowering and brave, it's stupid, plain and simple. I spent far too much time screaming inside while reading this to ever properly enjoy it, but the world this author created does deserve love.
I liked Jasper though and I wish we learned more about him and the past. 

The secondary characters were captivating and lovable, they made this book better. The community they created was the best part, as was the way they stuck together after chaos ensued. There wasn't a single character I didn't like in the Magical Quarter, they were such a colorful bunch. 
Jasper and Thea ran a little hot and cold which given the circumstances is understandable, but they were great together overall. Their story was definitely unforgettable. 

The writing was very good, but the storyline, while exciting, was incredibly predictable.. I figured what was going on pretty early on and nothing that happened was truly surprising. I don't usually mind that and if I hadn't been so frustrated with Thea, I would've enjoyed this book very much. It was cozy, magical, chaotic and compelling and it makes me a little sad to give it three stars, but with all the issues I had with it, I just can't give it more.

This author is new to me, but I'll definitely check out more of her books!!

*Thank you to Netgalley and to Hodder and Stoughton for providing me with an ARC.*

[Srivalli (Semi-Hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

One Liner: Depends on how much you like the FMC

1769 Prague

Thea runs Stiltskin's Apothecary in the Magic Quarter of Prague. Her potions and bargains help her customers, but none seem to change her fate. Seven years ago, she bargained her heart and memories to Jasper, the apothecary’s cold owner. If only she remembered why!

When a stranger arrives one day with an unusual request, it could change Thea’s life and maybe help her recover her heart.

The story comes in Thea’s third-person POV.

My Thoughts

The idea of a Magic Quarter hidden in Prague after the official witch trials ended (though we know how it was unofficially) was interesting. Added to it the intrigue of a bargain that left the FMC with no heart or memories, I couldn’t resist trying this ARC.

The book is not really bad. The setting is great. Though we get very little of actual Prague, the Magic Quarter is beautiful, cozy, and easy to visualize. The historical vibe with a fantasy world combo reads well.

The magic system is good, too. There are kitchen witches, weather witches, pixies, vampires, fate weavers, etc. Moreover, humans and witches can enter the place and live in it as long as they have good intentions. The cast also has a blend of humans with abilities and magical beings.

The concept of fate weavers is terrific, and I enjoyed the scenes when their talent is displayed. Easily the best part of the book.

The side characters are just as cool (better than the FMC most of the time). I was rather relieved that one of them had the much-needed realistic reaction to the screw-up.

There’s an unwanted love triangle, and man, I saw the twist right away. The MMC ticks the checklist, but I so wish we got at least a few chapters in his POV. It would have added depth to his arc. Still, I did feel bad for him.

Now, my biggest issue (as it often happens with this genre) was the FMC. She was supposed to be thirty-five, but acts like a twenty-year-old. While I see her struggle, it literally makes no sense to hate someone who did what you wanted and gave you the bargain you asked for!

Moreover, she gets into trouble and brings trouble to others just because she doesn’t want the guy telling her what to do and what not to do. Woman, this isn’t empowerment. It’s stupidity!

The entire plot hinges on the FMC breaking rules and doing stupid things repeatedly, only to play the hero at the end and fix the problems she partly created. Readers who don’t mind this might enjoy the book more.

The reveal was too obvious. I mean, logically, it would have been my first guess. But the FMC doesn’t seem to think so.

The whole hullabaloo about the memory-heart bargain was because of something that happened to the FMC. While the incident is indeed painful, and it made sense as to why she chose to forget it, the execution should have been better. There isn’t enough space for readers to feel the emotions. This had to be sustained, but since the information comes late in the book, there isn’t enough time to let it sink in. A lost opportunity to add depth to the narrative (giving the MMC his POV would have helped).

To summarize, A Remedy for Fate has good bones, but the development and execution could have been much better. A more sensible FMC would make the story enjoyable.

Thank you, NetGalley and Hodderscape, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

#NetGalley #ARemedyForFate

[Rina | Worldsbetweenpages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much Hodder & Stoughton | Hodderscape for the arc!

„Do not make the mistake of underestimating me. I will not be caged for your comfort.“

✨Prague 1769
🗝️secret Magic Quarter
✨characters in their thirties
🗝️magic hunters
✨memory loss

What I liked:
- I’m absolutely obsessed with the idea of a secret Magic Quarter hidden in the middle of Prague! I wish I could explore the streets and shops myself and that the protagonist had taken us into every single one of them. Besides the magical shops, like the apothecary and the Gingerbread Café, time-telling owls and messenger ravens are part of the quarter. Weather witches, pixies, shapeshifters, spirits, and gifted humans roam the streets and I wish I could watch them all!
- I don’t think I disliked a single character. The side characters in particular were amazing! The protagonist’s friends (a kitchen witch and a human with second sight), the grumpy old witch and the neighboring garden witch were my favorites.

What I didn’t like:
- Although the protagonist is in her thirties she often behaves much younger. She has one simple task: inform her employer (the most powerful person she knows) when unusual things happen. The Magic Quarter is in danger; she doesn’t tell him. His shop gets damaged; she doesn’t tell him. A threat is pinned to the shop door; she doesn’t tell him. Magic hunters visit the shop and confiscate items; she still doesn’t tell him. All because she has an exaggerated hatred for the shop owner because of a deal she made with him and the price she had to pay, even though she was the one who initiated it. For a woman in her thirties, she seems to live far too much in her world of romance novels and self-righteous ideas to act rationally.
- The plot twists were quite obvious (and I’m really not even good at predicting them) and it made me roll my eyes that the protagonist didn’t see them coming.

Writing style: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Worldbuilding: 4,25/5
Story & Plot: 3,5/5
Vibes: 4,5/5

Will I buy a physical copy: yes
Will I read more books by the author: yes
Where would I place it on my bookshelf: Somewhere between The Moonlight Market and The Spell Shop

[Annemieke / A Dance with Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Hodderscape and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.

TW Mentions Loss of Child | Violence

A Remedy for Fate is a historical romantical cozy fantasy set in historical Praque. This being set in a non-english speaking country was a huge selling point for me. It is a fine read as a whole but unfortunately not that memorable.

We meet Thea as she walks through Praque and is heading back to the Stiltskin's Apothecary that she runs for its owner in the magic quarter. Seven years ago she bargained her memories and heart away to the apothecary owner. She doesn't know the reasons or what she got in return. It leaves her very angry.

As a whole A Remedy of Fate is a fun cozy fantasy to read. The writing is fine as is the story. If you suspect early on in this book how this story is going to go, I'm going to say you are probably right. It does not have surprising twists or turns for the seasoned reader though I suspect it hopes it does.

I think one of the biggest letdowns this book has for me is that this is set in Prague but because everyone is hiding out in the magic quarter we get very little of actual Praque. Such a missed opportunity. Adding on to that, I feel this book lacked depth in places. The reason for her mermory bargain and such could have been deepened out over the course of the book even if she doesn't remember it. Instead it hides behind her memory loss to not offer it to us. As such the book remains superficial and not that memorable.

[Carola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. My review is my own and not influenced by others.

3,5*

First of all, I liked the world building a lot and it’s the main reason why I kept on reading this book. Besides that, I really liked Jasper, the MMC
.
Now, for the things that I didn’t like, the plot was obvious from the beginning of the book. So obvious, that I had a eye roll when I came to the last part of this book because it was so predictable in a not original way that I was eye rolling that Theodora, the FMC, didn’t figure this out at the beginning of this book.

The other thing that I really didn’t like in this book is, surprise, surprise, Theodora. I felt frustrated by her actions and irritated a lot at her behavior and how she threated Jasper. The romance felt therefore flat and unbelieveable.

The reason for 3,5* is because the world building and Jasper were good and the reasons why I kept on reading.

[nihaarika · Rating 3 out of 5]

a remedy for fate had all the makings of being a great standalone fantasy, but as much as i wanted to love it, there were so many things about it that weren’t enjoyable at all.

what i liked about this book was the writing and the world-building. i’ve heard a lot of praise for m.a. kuzniar’s writing, and this book has helped me realise why. the descriptions were stunning and had a magical & whimsical feel to them. they made the setting come alive and made the magic quarter feel all the more real and immersive. i could easily imagine every building in front of me, and honestly, i wanted to live in the quarter by the time i finished reading the book. i also have to give praise to the found family aspect of this book, which came together beautifully.

now, what i didn’t like. the plot. unfortunately, no matter how beautiful the setting is or how great the side characters are, if the plot isn’t good, it just isn’t. it was so utterly obvious from the beginning. like i figured out the reason behind thea’s memory loss by chapter 3, and when we actually got to the answer, the way it unfolded wasn’t enjoyable. i like it when books keep us on our toes and keep us guessing as to what’s going to happen next, but this one didn’t. the obvious nature of things was so easy to figure out, it was a wonder that i wasn’t bored when i hit the 50% mark in the book. the magic system also, was so interesting, but the story barely spent enough time with it.

i also felt like we barely got to know any characters super well beyond thea. like the side characters were so interesting, and the crumbs that we got about them, and the found family aspect was so much more fun and interesting, but i wish we’d have gotten more interesting arcs with those characters. beyond his broody, enigmatic nature, and thea describing him as handsome, there is literally nothing i could tell about jasper as a character. sadly, i didn’t end up enjoying the romance either. i just wished we’d gotten to know more about jasper because he had so much potential.

overall, a remedy for fate was just okay for me. i did love the writing though, and i will certainly be checking out m.a. kuzniar’s other works.

thank you hodderscape for sending me an e-arc!

[Faye Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured A Remedy For Fate in one go today, I just couldn't put it down! It was a perfect combination of everything I personally love - a plot inspired by a fairytale and Slavic influences, with a 35 year old protagonist. FMC Thea acted her age, and I loved that. She didn't overreact to anything and she felt like a grown woman. I was totally invested in both the plot and in the romance, and although I did guess where the plot was going, I was so swept along by the characters and the vivid descriptions, that I didn't mind at all that I'd guessed the twists. I still found the main events emotional.

Because this book is set in a secret magical community underneath Prague called The Magic Quarter, I can't say that the setting specifically screamed 1700s 'Prague', but it did feel like a close knit, historical village where magic users and other supernaturals lived. I really enjoyed the depiction of the friendships that Thea made there, and that the focus on friendship was up there with the focus on the romance.

For me, this was a fantastic standalone and I'd recommend it to fans of Naomi Novik and T. Kingfisher. A Remedy For Fate was my first book by the author but it won't be my last!

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley and a physical ARC from Hodderscape but this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure whether to read this as I didn’t care for MA Kuzniar’s previous book, Midnight in Everwood, but I loved the idea of a story set in 18th century Prague so I decided to give her a second chance. I’m glad I did as I thought this book was much better.

A Remedy for Fate is very loosely based on the fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin and is written from the perspective of Thea, a ‘fate weaver’ who runs Stiltskin’s Apothecary, brewing special potions that can change her customers’ futures – for a terrible price. Thea herself paid that price seven years earlier when she agreed to lose her memories and her heart for reasons she can no longer remember and in return has been given the ability to weave fates. Although she’s still human, Thea’s body is held together by a spell controlled by her employer, Jasper Stiltskin. The only way to free herself from the spell is to correctly guess her birth name, which she has forgotten as it’s yet another memory taken from her by Jasper.

The Apothecary is located in Prague’s Magic Quarter, a secret world hidden beneath the city which can only be accessed by people in need of help. However, the protections that keep the Magic Quarter safe from those who wish it harm are starting to break down, allowing entry to the sinister Magic Hunters who are determined to find the evidence they need to close the whole area down.

Although the historical Prague setting was the thing that attracted me to this book, I found that we didn’t actually see as much of Prague as I’d expected. Although Thea does occasionally venture up into the city, most of the action takes place in the Magic Quarter, which is described very vividly – a maze of narrow streets, wreathed in mist and lined with enchanted pastel-painted shops. It’s also populated with colourful characters including Pani Dagmar, an elderly witch who claims to be five hundred years old; Wojslav the vampire, who leads a solitary life running an antique shop; and Thea’s friend Zofka, the kitchen-witch, who bakes magical cakes and pies. The world-building is wonderful and I loved the way Kuzniar creates a feeling of community where the residents of the Magic Quarter, despite not always seeing eye to eye, all come together to fight the forces threatening their lives and livelihoods.

Because the story is set mainly in the Magic Quarter, a fantasy land which is very separate from Prague itself, there’s very little sense of the time period. Apart from some references to Empress Maria Theresa’s recent banning of witch burning and torture in 1768, I felt that the book could really have been set in any period, past, present or future. I also thought Thea, although she’s supposed to be a woman in her thirties, felt much less mature and the book in general, like Midnight in Everwood, seemed to be aimed more at younger readers, despite them both being marketed as adult novels. Not necessarily a problem, but something to be aware of if you’re planning to read them.

Thea’s actions frustrated me at times, but I thought Jasper was a great character and I enjoyed watching his relationship with Thea unfold and change throughout the book. The answer to the question of Thea’s real name seemed quite obvious to me, though, and I’m surprised she was having so much trouble guessing it! Overall, then, I found this an entertaining read, with just a few negative points, and the writing style didn’t irritate me the way it did in Midnight in Everwood. I would be happy to try Kuzniar’s other adult novel, Upon a Frosted Star, which is based on Swan Lake.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cosy vibes of this book are immaculate. A secret magic quarter in 18th century Prague, with messenger ravens, a magical apothecary, bookshop, bakery, flower shop and a taciturn vampire? Yes please!

I loved all the descriptions of food, interiors, comfort and friendships. I loved the found family themes, and the setting overall (both Prague and the magic quarter), and when I started the book I thought it would be an instant favourite.

Unfortunately, I did not really gel with our MC, Thea. I'm all for strong and willful women, but her motivations just seemed.. not well founded. She seemed awfully immature for someone in her mid thirties. And I couldn't get on board the "Jasper is evil" train. Thea knows how the fate weaver bargains work, she knows she agreed to it, she knows it was her choice, but somehow Jasper is the a**hole? And as others have said, she was kind of dense. The plot was a little obvious, which made the book drag a little while we all waited for Thea to catch on to what we had already understood from somewhere near the beginning.

Because it took so long for the big reveals to happen, I also feel like I missed some more depth and nuance to the backstory, as it all needed to be wrapped up pretty quickly. So a bit of an uneven reading experience but kind of worth it for the vibes.

Thanks to Hodderscape for the ARC!

[Sophie Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this fantasy story - the writing was great and so immersive due to the incredible world-building which truly built up this magical apothecary and the alternative Prague that it is set in - so atmospheric and beautiful.
As someone who hates romantic focused fantasy books - this places the magic at the heart of the story and the idea of a found family rather than the romance as such. It was a delight to read.

[Magdalena (magdal21) · Rating 5 out of 5]

M. A. Kuzniar’s adult books always have this unique fairy tale vibe that works perfectly for me, especially in winter. This one was no different. I really enjoyed the novel and I think it will appeal both to readers already enchanted by this author’s work and to those discovering her for the first time.

Remedy for Fate follows Theodora, a 35-year-old woman who runs an apothecary in the Magical Quarter of late eighteenth century Prague. Although she has found a sense of community there, she cannot fully live her life. Seven years earlier, she made a bargain with Jasper, the apothecary owner, which ultimately erased her past and cost her her heart for reasons she can no longer remember. One day, a man named Malek arrives at her shop with an unusual request, and the consequences of this meeting soon become far more serious than Thea could have imagined.

What I liked most about the book are the elements I tend to enjoy in all of Kuzniar’s work: the beautifully enchanted setting and the romance. The atmosphere carries clear Faustian inspiration, but also touches of Slavic folklore. As for the romance, I will not say too much to avoid spoilers, but I can say that it is one of my favourite enemies-to-lovers arcs I have read this year. Honestly, it is not truly enemies, more irritation mixed with fascination, but the banter is handled wonderfully. As always in Kuzniar’s books, there are a few bittersweet notes woven into the story, and for me they added the emotional balance that a fairytale-like narrative needs.

I must admit that I did not always understand Thea’s behaviour. At times she felt almost too stubborn to be believable, and a few of her choices seemed more like plot necessities than natural reactions. The ending also felt slightly rushed. But in the end, these quibbles are easy for me to overlook because the overall atmosphere was exactly what I hoped for, and the romance was genuinely sweet.

I will read everything this author publishes, and I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an enchanting tale that is not too dark, yet still clearly inspired by classic fairy tales.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Maria P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melt in your mouth cosy!

I'd been so excited to read A Remedy for Fate after loving Midnight in the Everwood a couple of years back. The way M.A. Kuzniar builds worlds is so immersive and a joy to live in. The Prague Magic Quarter that's the setting for our FMC Thea is extremely festive and warming, and the forest around it equally mystical! I loved reading about the various wonderful and whimsical every-day things the characters lived with. A weather vane that morphs depending on mood, gingerbread men that dance across tables, people that can weave fate...

Watching Thea run her store is enviable, her customers range from friendly neighbours to non-magical folk. But when she's tasked with changing someone's fate, I definitely had my heart in my mouth. However, I really enjoyed watching her puzzle through different solutions for people's problems. The magic system is as beautiful as it is severe.

Jasper, Thea's boss, is a man of contradictions. He's gruff on the outside but sometimes he gets a look in his eye that has Thea wondering what he's thinking. Between Thea's love of romance novels and her meddling friends, Jasper doesn't really stand a chance. That is, until Malek comes to the apothecary for Thea's help.

Thea's love life is a sweet one that, although you could see coming a mile off, is very satisfying. However, I do wish that other elements of the story had been a bit less predictable. There's an active external plot threatening to destroy the Magic Quarter, but barring a few spare moments, the entire set of story beats were obvious as soon as they were introduced. At least personally.

Also, Thea could occasionally be a little childish. She's in her 30s but despite being told by Jasper to contact her if there are any problems, proceeds to try to solve everything by herself and not once does she inform him of something until it's too late. Besides Thea's involvement in creating Malek's fate-changing request, and at a moment in the final scenes of the story, Thea is often times causing more trouble than doing anything of note.

However, I still really loved the magic of A Remedy for Fate - it was heartwarming and indulgent and a beautiful tale of love conquering all. I think that anyone who enjoys a cosy fantasy would enjoy this story, providing they don't mind some predictability!

Thank you to M.A. Kuzniar, and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Hodderscape for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

I love Kuzniar's books so much, they give adults an excuse to read fairytales. However, I didn't find this one lived up her other work.

There's no denying she is so brilliant at creating a sense of space and place. This fantasy world is described in such detail that you can practically walk alongside the characters - it had a similar feeling to the first time I read about Diagon Alley in Harry Potter. As a whole, it also reminded me of Stephanie Garber's books.

This has magic pouring out of every page, but beneath that it has a human story of friendship, community, family, and love.

Her previous books have been loose adaptations of fairytales, and whilst this is loosely based on Rumpelstiltskin, it had a different feel about it. In my opinion, it felt very far away from Rumpelstiltskin; it still had those enchanting magical elements, but felt original.

I do love the idea of a secret magic quarter in a normal city, this idea that magic could be there all the time under our noses. And whilst magic can often be depicted as negative in books, Kuzniar's books, whilst they don't hide away from that negative side, they do highlight it in an enchanting, joyful, and - dare I say it - magical way.

The characters were where this went wrong for me. They were okay, some had their good moments but overall I felt they were lacking. And Thea...she's in her 30s but she comes across as young and juvenile and immature. She is very stubborn and puts her own issues above that of the rest of the community, which highlights her naivety.

It isn't my favourite of her books and it's not her best one either. I did enjoy reading it and it had a lot going for it. But it was missing something special, something that tied it all together. It was missing the shine that her other books have.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton | Hodderscape, and M.A. Kuzniar for the arc.

This was a very sweet, magical story even if it was also very predictable. Maybe I just read too many of the same types of books, but I wasn’t surprised by anything. However, writing was enjoyable; the cast of characters was entertaining, diverse, and memorable; and the MMC was great.

Although this is listed as a historical fantasy romance (taking place in Prague in the 1700’s), I think it would be pretty much the same story without the historical aspect. The story takes place in the Magic quarter of Prague, and it is separated and contained enough that it could really be anywhere. When we meet Thea, she is 35 years old and working in Stiltskin’s Apothecary in the Magic Quarter. Her earliest memory is from seven years ago when the owner, Jasper Stiltskin told her that her name is Thea, he took her memories and her heart and that she can have them back when she guesses her true name.

In that seven years, Thea has built a life in the quarter with her two best friends, various neighbors, messenger ravens, and a busy job at the apothecary. But someone is attempting to attack, the wards start failing, and Thea and her friends have to figure out what is happening before the wards can fail.

This is a fade to black, standalone. Perfect for anyone who loves fairytales. While it is sweet, it also has a dark side. TW for grief and child loss.

[Camilla_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.75 stars

A sweet and sometimes cozy historical fantasy set in 18th century Prague; charming, romantic and overall a lovely read. Although Thea made some decisions that genuinely baffled me when, as the reader, I felt the real answers were screaming her in the face - she was still a delightful protagonist to follow, and I loved the life she had in the hidden magical quarter of Prague. The descriptions of the streets, the scents, the food and the clothes made it feel deeply immersive. While I predicted the twist pretty quickly, it was no less fun reading along as the characters unravelled things for themselves.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨3 stars✨

Set in 18th century Prague, A Remedy for Fate follows Thea as she attempts to rediscover her memories and her sense of self after she bargained them away with the apothecary’s cold and grumpy owner, Jasper. I thought the setting was atmospheric and I enjoyed the found family elements. However, for being such short book, I felt that the plot dragged in places and I didn’t feel completely sucked into the story for parts of the book. There was also a short of love triangle but not really because it was blatantly obvious who Thea was going to pick once she was able to get her memories back.

Furthermore, the characters in this book were supposed to be in their 30’s which I would enjoy if not for the fact that their actions made them feel immature and younger than that. There were times when I thought this book was written as more of a YA fantasy yet everything states that this is an adult fantasy so perhaps keep that in mind.

If you enjoyed whimsical, fairy tale-esque stories (as I pretty sure this is a Rumpelstiltskin retelling of sorts… The MMC is called Jasper Stiltskin!) then I would recommend giving this a go.

In addition if you liked:
- The fact the setting of Prague like in A Daugther of Smoke and Bone,
- the high stakes of the Faustian bargain with a powerful being like in the invisible life of Addie La Rue…
Then you may enjoy the topics explored in this book.

I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stunning fairytale reimagining that perfectly combines lyrical romance with found family.

Drawing on the story of Rumplestiltskin, A Remedy For Fate creates a world where magic thrives - provided its kindly users remain undiscovered. I really enjoyed the historical setting, and as with her previous books, M A Kuzniar has a fantastic ability to effectively explore both the real world and the fantastical - I particularly liked how she included a blended community of magic users/ beings!

Friendship and romance were perfectly balanced, and none of the character relationships ever felt gratuitous to the protagonist's experience of her surroundings. While this works completely as a standalone, I would love to see what happens next with these characters!

Books with similar vibes - The Curse of the Wolf King by Tessonja Odette, Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett, The Honey Witch by Sydney Shields, Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett, and Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik.

[Svea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute and I really liked the setting. I have a soft spot for Prague and I liked how the magical world was built in this story, with all these different kinds of magical beings and folklore inspirations. The concept of the story was also one I really enjoyed: Our protagonist has sold both her memories and her heart to a mysterious powerful man who she is now indentured to work for. The mystery of why she would have wanted to get rid of her memories and heart as well as the budding romance between her and said mysterious powerful man and the cozy found family vibes of the magical quarter really worked for me. At least for a while.

In the end, I didn't not enjoy my time with A Remedy for Fate. It's cute, it's short, it's full of likeable characters and the world is intriguing. But it's also rather predictable and some reveals are so incredibly obvious that it makes Thea, our protagonist lady, look kind of stupid at times. Not just naive, actually stupid. She's also rather childish for a thirtysomething year old woman and honestly, sometimes I was genuinely annoyed by her behaviour. Purposely walking into dangerous situations and ignoring the absolutely reasonable and justified warnings just because she's an Empowered Woman!!! and will not!!! do what a man tells her!!! is not the badass bosslady behaviour she, or the author, think it is.
The romance is cute but there's also very little nuance to it. Jasper - aforementioned mysterious powerful man - is likeable enough, but both of them change their opinions so quickly it almost gave me whiplash. One second Thea doesn't even consider him a handsome man at all, next second she can't stop thinking about how hot he is, then she's angry and vows to never forgive him, ten seconds later she's basically in his lap. Jasper isn't any better. The pacing is all over the place for these two so I couldn't really connect with the romance.
Also, side note, Thea has to pretty awesome best friends but sadly about 90% of the time they spent together they're just talking about Thea's love life, which does them a disservice. Also, one of them openly rooting for the guy who for all they know did take Thea's heart and memories and refuses to give them back all while forcing her to work for him is... not great. Yes, he turns out to be a good guy, but they do not know that yet.

Still, it's a quick, fun read with an interesting enough plot, even though you'll probably guess most of not all of the reveals. That doesn't have to be a bad thing though if it's still written well and the journey to these reveals is a fun one. I read this during a cold, rainy weekend and it's perfectly comfortable for that. The quintessential three star read, with one star dedicated to the intriguing cozy world Kuzniar built.

Many thanks to Hodder&Stoughton and Netgalley for the arc!

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

I didn’t know of this book until its publisher contacted me and offered it to me via Netgalley. At first I intended to refuse because I had a lot of ARCs for the month of March but after reading that it was about an apothecary in a magical quarter in Prague in the 18th century I was sold, I had to read it.

And I don’t regret it, it was so much fun, especially towards the end, when characters that I thought were flat and were created to move the plot forward were revealed to be so much more, especially the villains. It was the villains that I struggled with for most of the book, because the main characters Thea, Jasper and their friends, were all well portrayed and unique each of them, it was easy to fall in love with the found family of this quarter that is hidden in plain sight. Jasper is a darker character but he was intriguing and, why not say it, sexy. But it was Thea who won my heart over and over again.

Thea is the apprentice apothecary. Seven years ago she made a deal with Jasper, the fate weaver and owner of the shop. According to their contract, Thea had sold her heart and thus her memories of her previous life went with it. Thea doesn’t even know her own real name, so for those seven years she had to start over, with the help of witches and pixies, and a very introverted vampire… she’s spent all those years making potions and herbs to help people who needed something extra and magical. One day a wealthy young man shows up telling a story about his sister being in danger, he needs a special key that will let him enter wherever the girl is and save her. At the same time, agents of the government are set on destroying the quarter and its people.

I loved that Thea is a 35-ish woman full of insecurities. She is loveable and lives a cosy life in the apothecary. She loves reading romance novels that, of course, for her are contemporary but for us readers are historicals, my favourite romance subgenre. I found myself drawn to her, connected to her in a way and I wanted her to choose Jasper because he is dark, tall, broody and moody. He has secrets and is overbearing and a bit arrogant, and I fell in love with him from the very beginning. There’s a lot of yearning on his part and I loved that.

This book is full of surprises. It has some plot twists that I saw coming and some other plot twist that were completely surprising for me. If I have to say something negative about it I’d say it’s the spicy scene. It was set in a moment where it was weird, anticlimatic and uncalled for. I can’t develop for fear of spoilers, but if that scene was deleted, the book would have worked all the same, or perhaps even better. Nevertheless I would love to read more books by M.A. Kuzniar

[Acantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A magical, mystical adventure that is held back by some strange character choices - your enjoyment will depend on how much you like the MFC. I wanted to like her, I did. But I couldn't get over how much she hated the MMC for the most stupid of reasons.

Thea makes a deal with a 'fate weaver', and trades her memories and her heart. In return she must work in his shop and is protected there. She willingly, freely made this deal, that is never in any doubt or question. While Thea cannot remember why she made the deal, she knows she CHOSE to make it.

And yet she spends the majority of the book being angry at the 'monster' (her word) who stole her memories and won't give them back. Part of the deal is that she will get her memories back when she guesses her true name. And let's ignore the really predictable, obvious name that the book drops really unsubtle hints about, the mere fact that she's mad at HIM for keeping true to their deal is annoying. It's been seven years apparently since she made the deal, and she still spends all her time trying to 'thwart' him, mad at him, doing anything she can to escape this 'prison.' That she KNOWS she willingly agreed to and would have begged him for.

Now don't get me wrong, to lose all your memories would be insanely traumatic and scary, but again, she knows she picked this.

Luckily, outside of the MFC and her dumb choices - no spoilers, but she makes a terrible choice at one point, a proper facepalm, why would you do that you moron choice, and other people actually call her out on her crazy behaviour so that's nice.

Back to other people; all the other characters are great. There is a wide variety of different magical creatures and they all feel like their own thing, rather than variations. From the weather witches, to the ones connected to baking and more. It isn't just witches though, there were pixies, vampires, the previously mentioned fate weavers, it was a rich and magical world that was crafted here. There were very strong found family elements that was just a warming and comforting tale. Right near the end there was a dip into some quite dark topics but then we shift back to the family and all the love.

Setting it in Prague was both wonderful and sad, simply because we did not spend enough time in that most magical of cities itself, but its a great setting and a wonderful time to pick.

The story itself is a little predictable, but that isn't a bad thing. There is something soothing about a lot of this book, and if you can get over the MFC then you will have a lot of fun with this book.

~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~

[Josie-Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Remedy for Fate follows Thea, a woman who bargained away her heart and memories to an apothecary owner. She yearns to get both back from the apothecary owner, Jasper, and finds that this might be possible when a stranger arrives with an unusual request.

Straight off the bat, I adored this book. It's very cosy and whimsical and has gotten me very excited about reading more books by M. A. Kuzniar.

The plot was strong, in my opinion. I felt like there was a lot going on and there was little to no plot holes. I found it engaging and interesting, especially the moments where you're getting to know about the different magic systems throughout, and the back stories of each of the characters. I did predict what was going to happen before it happened, but this didn't impact the story one bit for me and instead made me love it even more.

The characters were all delightful. Thea, at some points, did feel gulliable and silly and I did have moments where I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her erratically because I felt like she just wasn't getting it. Otherwise though, she was a very solid FMC and I enjoyed her journey throughout the book. I adored all of the side characters, they were all different and unique, and definitely gave the "found family" vibe. Similarly, the romance within this book was absolutely stunning - tragic and beautiful. It did make me cry because it was just so emotive and romantic.

The writing style was good, I enjoyed reading this and didn't at any point feel bored. It's very descriptive and provides great imagery throughout. The world really feels cosy.

The pacing was medium. I found that it did take me a long time to get through the book despite enjoying it.

The world building was good, as I have said, it was definitely a cosy, feel good world. This is a world wrapped up in magic, baking, florals and everything in between. It was a beautiful book and felt warm throughout.

I enjoyed the ending. I found it extremely satisfying and exactly what I wanted. As I said, it was one that made me cry because it was so emotive. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book for those who enjoy a cosy, fantasy, romance read. It is a beautiful book and I am excited to read other books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a review.

[Janette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remedy of fate is a cosy fantasy with a dark heart loosely based on the tale of Rumplestiltskin.
It’s set in 18th century Prague where the Magical Quarter hides under the city and can only be accessed by those who need its help and have no intention of causing any harm.
The setting is gorgeous. I loved the Magical Quarter itself which has strong cosy, fairy tales vibes. There are times when the characters venture out into the actual city too and that comes to life in the same way.
Seven years ago, Thea paid the price of magic with all of her memories and can only get them back if she remembers her real name. She has no idea what the magic was that required such a huge price but is determined to get her memories back. The fate weaver, Jasper Stiltskin refuses to let her change their bargain and holds her to her agreement. Now she lives in the Magical Quarter where she has created a new life and found friends.
Thea runs the apothecary and we see her creating remedies for those who call on her. Some of these just involve her knowledge of herbs and plants whereas others require actual magic and the customer has to pay a price. I love magic systems where there is a cost for using magic and this one feels perfect.
This story had so much to recommend it but it didn’t quite hit the spot for me. I think my problem was the character of Thea. As other reviewers have said, she is supposed to be in her mid-thirties but often comes across as a teenager and quite a spoilt one at that. I suppose that it is experience that brings maturity and if you lose your memories of those experiences maybe you become more immature but it didn’t feel right. I got especially annoyed when she persisted in disobeying the laws of the magic and not asking for the price that her customers should have paid. I know it was a plot device and part of her character but it jarred nonetheless.
This had a beautiful setting with found family, a satisfying plot and a slow burn romance. There were some parts that felt quite predictable but then there were other aspects that took me completely by surprise. Generally, this was an enjoyable read just not my favourite by this author.
Three and half stars rounded up
Tnank you as always to Net Galley and the publishers, Hodder and Stoughton, for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this is definitely one of my favourite books of the year so far!

7 years ago Thea made a deal with Jasper Stiltskin to take away her memories and her heart, with the only way to get them back being to guess her own name. After giving up her old life, Jasper allows Thea to work in his apothecary, and lends her his powers so she can make deals with their customers on his behalf.

I ADORED the apothecary so much! It was such a magical, whimsical shop and I loved that we got to see Thea at work, manipulating the threads of fate for their customers. I've always been a fan of magic having a cost, and I think A Remedy for Fate handled this beautifully! In theory customers can request anything they want, but in return they must give up something of equal value. This ranged from small memories of books they've read, to years of their lives. This was definitely one of my favourite elements of the story and I loved how it was weaved in so seamlessly.

The Magic Quarter is under threat from a group of Magic Hunters who are snooping around the shops and residents. The stakes really start to ramp up around 50-60% through the book and it does start to take on a bit of a darker tone at points. We start finding out more about Thea and Jasper's pasts and they have incredibly tragic back stories, so whilst this is a cosy fantasy I would say go into it prepared to feel a little heartbroken and sad for some of the characters at certain points.

The romance between Thea and Jasper was absolutely *chefs kiss* I love them both and they're officially one of my favourite couples! Despite their tough exteriors you can tell there's so much yearning between the two of them, and they feel a real pull toward one another that they try their best to ignore and fight against. Every interaction between them had me (impatiently) waiting for them to both finally give in to their feelings!

This was such a beautifully cosy book with some higher stakes elements mixed in, and the world building throughout was absolutely fantastic, I can't recommend it enough!

Thank you so much for the ARC!

[Ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A Remedy for Fate is a romantic fantasy set in 1700s Prague. Thea lives and works in Prague’s Magic Quarter, which is hidden from the rest of the world by powerful wards that only allow those who mean no harm through. Thea has been working at Stiltskin’s Apothecary for 7 years, since she made a deal with its owner, Jasper, in which she gave up all her memories - and her heart, and in return granted her a measure of his fate-weaving power. Unfortunately, hers is the only fate she seems unable to change, but a mysterious stranger arriving in the quarter may lead her to answers - and her heart.

This was a super cosy fantasy set in such a wonderful little world. I could literally feel the chill of Prague nipping at my cheeks as I bundled into the Gingerbread Cafe for a magical hot chocolate. The setting was absolutely elite, and the cast of side characters that made up the Quarter were just as wonderful.

Thea was… fine. I do feel like she was mildly nondescript as a protagonist, but she was harmless. Furthermore, I was excited to find a fantasy with a main character closer to my age, yet Thea felt more like 25 than 35. She was in no way unlikeable, but I also did not feel particularly strongly toward her.

The romance was also… fine. There is a bit of a love triangle but around 50% in something happens that pretty much confirmed which direction we were heading in, which sort of dissipated any tension. It also led to several of the plot twists becoming abundantly clear.

Which leads me onto my final point: it was just a little obvious. The plot was absolutely fine, just predictable. The vibes were immaculate, but I was never particularly gripped or shocked as things progressed.

I think this was a very sweet novel that was easy to read and is perfect to curl up with on winter evenings with a hot drink in hand. If you like cosy fantasy with a dash of romance and a dollop of found family, you’ll really enjoy this book.

3 🌟

[Sifa Poulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.

A REMEDY FOR FATE is an enemies-to-lovers romantasy set in a magical Prague.

The tension between Thea and Jasper was so good. You can absolutely understand why there is friction, but there is also a frission between them too. It's the sort of dynamic where things are either going to go very well - or very, very badly! That potential to go either way, coupled with the arrival of a potential suitor in the form of a customer ups the stakes for the relationship.

It is also a tale of found family. Thea has made a life of her own in the magical quarter, building a new community. Mostly the tale is focused on her closest two friends, but the entire quarter pulls behind her. I really liked that we focused on close female friendships in your thirties, an age range often overlooked by fantasy. It was so nice to see a book saying that a community can be built after your 20s and that it can be spread across age groups (there are people in their 500th year in this magical world!)

The book is set in 1769 Prague and actually embraces that Baroque setting with its clothing. It's not picking the bits it likes and then bundling them in with vaguely "medieval" stuff alongside modern myths, but looking at what the clothing actually was like. No corset myths, the more common paniers (rather than the absurdity of the upper echelons), and so on. It was nice to see the realities of baroque embraced.

This is a very lose Rumpelstiltskin retelling. The weaving is not of straw but fate and it is Thea's name that must be guessed, not his. The fact that it doesn't adhere closely to the fairy tale gives the book a lot more flexibility and surprise in the plot because you don't know what beats will be entwined with the tale of protecting the hidden world in Prague.

There are two more historical fantasy romances announced from the author, which is exciting!

[Helen Freire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Remedy for Fate is the second book I’ve read by M. A. Kuzniar, and I absolutely love her stories. She has a way of creating fantasy that feels whimsical and enchanting while still weaving in romance and emotional stakes.
The story follows our FMC, Thea, who runs Stiltskin’s Apothecary in the enchanting Magic Quarter of Prague in the year 1769. Seven years before the events of the story, she made a mysterious bargain with the apothecary owner, Jasper, one that cost her both her heart and her memories. Since then, Thea has lived with the consequences of that choice while helping others with her magical remedies.
The worldbuilding is very unique with witches, vampires, and fate weavers living within the Magic Quarter, while the mystery surrounding Thea’s missing heart remains an important element, the story focuses more on her attempts to protect the Magic Quarter from the growing hostility of humans who fear magic.
And the romance, oh my God. I haven’t giggled this much over a couple in a while. The dynamic between Thea and Jasper had me smiling through so many scenes. It’s not exactly enemies to lovers, but more of a “you annoy me and I dislike your presence” tension that slowly evolves into something deeper. There is a brief attempt at a love triangle, but it feels more like a plot situation rather than a serious romantic conflict.
There are a couple of plot twists that I did see coming, but they were still enjoyable and added to the story. My only real complaint is that I wish the book had been longer. The world of the Magic Quarter felt so rich and interesting that I wanted more time to explore it.
Overall, this was a charming and whimsical historical fantasy with romance, magic, and a mysterious past slowly unraveling.

[Annette Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Remedy for Fate by M.A. Kuzniar is a lush historical fantasy romance set in 1700's Prague.
Thea runs Stiltskin's Apothecary in the protected and secret Magic Quarter of Prague, on behalf of the owner, the handsome and mysterious Jasper Stiltskin. He is a fate weaver, a magical being who can change fate or destiny, but always in return for a price and for Thea the price was her memory, her heart and an agreement that she run the Apothecary on his behalf, allowing his powers to flow through her. Thea knows she must have been running from something truly terrible to have made such a bargain but as the years have passed she is starting to look for ways to free herself. When a handsome stranger comes to her with a request for magic more complicated than anything she had done before it might help her to find a way to find her heart and free herself, but if things go wrong it could destroy not just Thea's life but could threaten the future of the whole Magic Quarter.
With beautifully evocative and descriptive writing I felt transported to the past while reading and I truly did not want to leave this charming and magical world behind. Thea is a very sympathetic character, it is clear that her past is traumatic and while it was obvious that there must have been some sort of link between her and Jasper, knowing that did not hinder my enjoyment of the story. In fact what I found most annoying about her as a character was her impulsiveness and unwillingness to listen to good advice. The various secondary characters who made up the magical community were a delight, the friendships and found family aspects of the story were a highlight.
3.5 stars rounded up
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

[Emily Pankhurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Netgalley Review
The writing oozed cosy and had my attention from the beginning right through to the end. There were lots of little things going on that kept the story interesting. Something that I particularly liked was the love and friendship that shone throughout the book. It was lovely to read about and gave the story a nice feel.

The chapters were fairly long, which meant that you got a good chunk of the story before moving on. The first chapter was titled with where and when the story was set, with the rest of the chapters just being numbered.

There was a good flow between the chapters. I didn't really notice the length of the individual chapters and quite happily sat and read the book for long periods of time.

There was a good pace to the book, with something always happening that kept the story moving forward. I liked that there were little moments where there were some lovely details of the characters' surroundings. That slowed the story down and made me appreciate where the characters were.

The characters were great. I enjoyed reading about their different powers and how they all came together to protect each other. I enjoyed following the main character and really felt for her at times.

There was a good mix of personalities that helped to bring light and shade to the story as well as to create fear and tension.

Lastly the settings. There was a good balance between the scene descriptions and what the characters were doing in those scenes. There were some exquisite details that sucked you in to the characters' world and grounded the story well.

Overall a wonderful hug of a book that oozed cosy. I recommend.

[Ulrike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Prague in 1769, A Remedy for Fate follows Thea, who made a bargain with the fateweaver Jasper Stiltskin seven years ago—a bargain that cost her her heart and all her memories. Now living in the Magical Quarter, Thea runs Jasper’s apothecary and has found a place within the magical community. Longing for romantic love, she struggles to forgive Jasper for taking not only her memories, but also her sense of self. When the city’s hunters begin to threaten the Magical Quarter and a strikingly handsome customer starts courting her, Thea becomes increasingly determined to uncover who she truly is.
I particularly enjoyed the historical setting, the strong sense of friendship between Thea and her female companions, the rich magical atmosphere, and the central mystery surrounding Thea’s past. The tension between Thea and Jasper adds emotional depth, and the vivid descriptions make for an engaging reading experience. While some plot developments were predictable, parts of the resolution still managed to surprise me, and I found the ending very satisfying.
That said, I occasionally struggled with Thea’s contradictory behaviour. Even after moments of closeness, she repeatedly pushes Jasper away, gets herself into trouble through sheer stubbornness, and yet continues to defy him. This was not always easy for me to understand. In the final third of the novel, the pacing also felt a little slow.
Overall, I read this story with pleasure and would recommend it to readers who enjoy the cosy feel of a close-knit community standing together against outside threats—romance included.