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Embers of Magic
Not yet published
Expected 10 Nov 26Fiamma has never trusted her fire magic. It's volatile, unpredictable—destructive. All she wants now is to leave her past and her magic behind her, and search for the parents who vanished long ago.
Yet when she seeks aid from the king, he issues a chilling To earn his help, she must first assist his son, Prince Joseph, in ending the magical frost creeping across the kingdom... by killing the witch responsible.
Joseph is sweet, thoughtful. He seems entirely unlike his father; gentle in ways that Fiamma doesn't expect, despite his mercurial moods. As the two work together, Fiamma finds herself drawn to him, something beginning to spark between them.
But their newfound closeness uncovers a terrible this unnatural winter isn’t just consuming the land. It’s consuming Joseph, too, freezing his heart into something cold and unrecognizable.
To save him, Fiamma must confront the past she's so desperate to forget, and the true, devastating nature of her fire—even if doing so might unravel everything she’s begun to hope for.
Cozy, romantic, and brimming with magic, this reimagining of The Snow Queen is perfect for fans of Defy the Night and The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea.
Yet when she seeks aid from the king, he issues a chilling To earn his help, she must first assist his son, Prince Joseph, in ending the magical frost creeping across the kingdom... by killing the witch responsible.
Joseph is sweet, thoughtful. He seems entirely unlike his father; gentle in ways that Fiamma doesn't expect, despite his mercurial moods. As the two work together, Fiamma finds herself drawn to him, something beginning to spark between them.
But their newfound closeness uncovers a terrible this unnatural winter isn’t just consuming the land. It’s consuming Joseph, too, freezing his heart into something cold and unrecognizable.
To save him, Fiamma must confront the past she's so desperate to forget, and the true, devastating nature of her fire—even if doing so might unravel everything she’s begun to hope for.
Cozy, romantic, and brimming with magic, this reimagining of The Snow Queen is perfect for fans of Defy the Night and The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea.
320 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication November 10, 2026
About the author
Catherine Bakewell
5 books488 followersCatherine Bakewell is a writer, artist, freelance editor, and an opera enthusiast. She has lived in Spain and in France, where she romped through gardens, ate pastries, and worked on her novels. She is represented by Jordan Hamessley at JABberwocky Literary Agency, Inc.
Her YA Fantasy, FLOWERHEART, and her MG Fantasy, WE ARE THE SONG, are available wherever books are sold or at your local library.
Her YA Fantasy, FLOWERHEART, and her MG Fantasy, WE ARE THE SONG, are available wherever books are sold or at your local library.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Want to Read
July 4, 2026❄️🔥 Embers of Magic 🔥❄️
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Cozy Fantasy
• Snow Queen Retelling
• Fire Magic
• Prince x Mage
• Magical Quest
• Found Family
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: November 10, 2026
Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Cozy Fantasy
• Snow Queen Retelling
• Fire Magic
• Prince x Mage
• Magical Quest
• Found Family
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: November 10, 2026
Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“Embers of Magic” by Catherine Bakewell felt like curling up with a fairy tale beside a warm fireplace. It's cozy, magical, and full of heart, with just enough adventure and romance to keep the pages turning. If you're looking for a fantasy that's more comforting than stressful, this one is definitely worth picking up.
The story follows Fiamma, who has spent her life fearing her own fire magic because it's powerful, unpredictable, and has caused more destruction than she'd ever wanted. All she wants is to find her missing parents and leave her past behind, but instead she's swept into a quest with Prince Joseph to stop an unnatural winter that's slowly consuming the kingdom. What starts as a quiet journey quickly turns into a much bigger adventure, and I loved watching the story slowly build before taking off.
Fiamma and Joseph were such lovable main characters. Fiamma's struggle to trust herself and see her magic as something capable of healing instead of only destroying made her easy to root for. Joseph was an absolute sweetheart; he is the definition of a gentle prince. I loved watching him learn to embrace his emotions instead of hiding them away. Their relationship develops naturally, and their romance isn't just cute, it helps both of them grow into stronger versions of themselves. They were honestly adorable together.
This is a Snow Queen retelling, and even though I'm not super familiar with the original story, it still captured that classic fairy tale feeling. Catherine Bakewell has a wonderfully whimsical writing style that makes the world feel magical without ever becoming overwhelming. Her prose is beautiful but still easy to read, and there's this childlike sense of wonder woven throughout the story that made it feel like a comforting escape. At its heart, the book is really about kindness, hope, healing, and learning to believe in yourself, and those themes never felt heavy-handed.
The only thing I'd mention is that the beginning is a little slower as it introduces the world and characters, but once the adventure really gets going, it becomes hard to put down. I also found myself wishing the story had been just a little longer because I wasn't quite ready to leave these characters behind.
Overall, “Embers of Magic” is a charming, cozy fantasy filled with lovable characters, magical adventures, fairy tale vibes, and a sweet romance. If you enjoy books with gentle heroes, emotional character growth, whimsical magic, and stories that leave you feeling warm and hopeful by the final page, this one is an easy recommendation.
“Embers of Magic” by Catherine Bakewell felt like curling up with a fairy tale beside a warm fireplace. It's cozy, magical, and full of heart, with just enough adventure and romance to keep the pages turning. If you're looking for a fantasy that's more comforting than stressful, this one is definitely worth picking up.
The story follows Fiamma, who has spent her life fearing her own fire magic because it's powerful, unpredictable, and has caused more destruction than she'd ever wanted. All she wants is to find her missing parents and leave her past behind, but instead she's swept into a quest with Prince Joseph to stop an unnatural winter that's slowly consuming the kingdom. What starts as a quiet journey quickly turns into a much bigger adventure, and I loved watching the story slowly build before taking off.
Fiamma and Joseph were such lovable main characters. Fiamma's struggle to trust herself and see her magic as something capable of healing instead of only destroying made her easy to root for. Joseph was an absolute sweetheart; he is the definition of a gentle prince. I loved watching him learn to embrace his emotions instead of hiding them away. Their relationship develops naturally, and their romance isn't just cute, it helps both of them grow into stronger versions of themselves. They were honestly adorable together.
This is a Snow Queen retelling, and even though I'm not super familiar with the original story, it still captured that classic fairy tale feeling. Catherine Bakewell has a wonderfully whimsical writing style that makes the world feel magical without ever becoming overwhelming. Her prose is beautiful but still easy to read, and there's this childlike sense of wonder woven throughout the story that made it feel like a comforting escape. At its heart, the book is really about kindness, hope, healing, and learning to believe in yourself, and those themes never felt heavy-handed.
The only thing I'd mention is that the beginning is a little slower as it introduces the world and characters, but once the adventure really gets going, it becomes hard to put down. I also found myself wishing the story had been just a little longer because I wasn't quite ready to leave these characters behind.
Overall, “Embers of Magic” is a charming, cozy fantasy filled with lovable characters, magical adventures, fairy tale vibes, and a sweet romance. If you enjoy books with gentle heroes, emotional character growth, whimsical magic, and stories that leave you feeling warm and hopeful by the final page, this one is an easy recommendation.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Catherine Bakewell has this magic about her writing. She transports readers into fairytale settings where she explores beautiful messages with a childlike joy for the world. And, somehow, her books don't feel like they're just written for children, or like they're too preachy. Reading her books feels like a special treat to savor.
I really loved this book. It felt short and sweet, and left me wanting more in a perfect way. The characters were adorable, I loved Fiamma. Her powers were fun, and her emotional journey was great. We got to see her trust herself more. Joseph was also so good, I loved him. He was such a sweetie, and I liked seeing him learn to accept his emotions. They both went through a lot of growth, and their romance added to their growth. The story line was cute! It's a Snow Queen retelling, which I'm not super familiar with. Even still, it felt like a familiar fairytale, which I love.
But, if you're looking for a sweet book, a break from the world, or a fairytale to fall into, I would recommend this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins Children Books for this arc!
I really loved this book. It felt short and sweet, and left me wanting more in a perfect way. The characters were adorable, I loved Fiamma. Her powers were fun, and her emotional journey was great. We got to see her trust herself more. Joseph was also so good, I loved him. He was such a sweetie, and I liked seeing him learn to accept his emotions. They both went through a lot of growth, and their romance added to their growth. The story line was cute! It's a Snow Queen retelling, which I'm not super familiar with. Even still, it felt like a familiar fairytale, which I love.
But, if you're looking for a sweet book, a break from the world, or a fairytale to fall into, I would recommend this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins Children Books for this arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
On the way to find her family, falling to be used as a weapon by the kingdom? They trench their way to the realm and who knows what will happen! I requested this book on NetGalley because of the cover it capture my interest and thought it will be more fairy tale style, but I got something else! Love the way it starts a bit slow as weaving magic and then bam it's an adventure roller-coaster. Love the ending.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This read felt very familiar but also so unique and unlike anything I’ve ever read. It has so many homey and cozy feelings (which is hard to describe) but the magic system was different and I was immediately pulled in from the first chapter. I was wondering if the king was going to be the guy on the cover of the book but I guess you will have to find that out. 😏 I kept thinking about frozen because one of the plot points in this story, which is honestly a selling point for me!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews