Prudence Marsh Is Not a Nobody Anymore

by Emily Krempholtz

A musician leaves her quaint town in search of a bigger life, only to get tangled up with a charming bandit and a royal heist in this delightful new cozy fantasy romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore.

Prudence Marsh has always known she’s meant for more than playing violin at small-town taverns, so when she learns of an audition for a royal wedding, she knows this is it: her chance to be somebody. After years putting everyone else first, Pru sets out to finally pursue her dreams of being a famous bard.

Callum DiCorvo, roguishly handsome cursebreaker and bandit extraordinaire, is content with his life of crime alongside his best friend. So content, in fact, that he’s determined to keep things exactly as they are. Cheerfully thieving is all he’s good for anyway.

When Pru collides with Callum and his crew in a roadside robbery that leaves her beloved violin in splinters along with her dreams, she demands to travel with the bandits until they replace it. Before long, Pru finds herself growing close to the motley bunch, especially Callum, whose sparkling banter and crooked smiles tease her like a song she can’t get out of her head.

But the bandits have stumbled upon a heist that could make all their dreams come true—breaking into the mystical Lune Vault at the palace on the same night as the wedding—leaving Pru to decide what’s more important: the dreams she’s held onto for so long, or the ones she’s building right now?

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Cozy Fantasy, Romantasy, Cozy, Fiction, Adult

432 pages, Paperback

Expected publication November 3, 2026

About the author

Emily Krempholtz is the USA Today bestselling author of Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore and the upcoming Prudence Marsh Is Not a Nobody Anymore (November 2026). Her cozy fantasy romance books are full of heart, whimsy, wordplay, and stabby sentient houseplants.

Reviews

[Ricarda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very excited when I first heard about this companion novel to Violet Thistlewaite Is Not A Villain Anymore and even more so when I saw that it's about bards and bandits, but unfortunately this book didn't do much for me while reading. I was quite fond of Violet and her evil plant magic in the first book, but Prudence here didn't have the same appeal to me. Her plan is to leave the cozy town of Dragon's Rest and become a famous musician in a city where she doesn't know everyone by name. She plays different instruments and is a talented singer and dancer, and it was nice to read about her joyful performances, but her talk about wanting to be famous was also slightly annoying to me if I'm honest. But her plans are interrupted anyway when she meets a handsome thief and later his whole group of bandits. While Pru dreams about playing at the royal wedding, Callum dreams about emptying the royal vault, and because their goals overlap at certain points, they might as well travel together. It's a cozy fantasy, but it still was strange to me how trusting everyone was when they are literally a group of wanted criminals. I didn't think much of the characters in general. Pru and Callum were uncomfortably all over each other from the very beginning, and none of the side characters were memorable to me except for Bartleby, the sentient houseplant who loves playing with knives. I remember thinking that book one was missing notable side characters and, funnily enough, book two now had too many to actually care about. The overall style and pacing felt very chaotic to me, the plot often convoluted. Now that the characters are traveling to different places it becomes notable that there is hardly any world building and that I basically know nothing about this world. That all might be true for the first book as well, but it wasn't much of an issue as the characters stayed in one place and focused on their little cozy shops. Book two wasn't a bad read by any means, but not really the continuation of the story that I had expected. I can only imagine that there will be a third book about the whole Bartleby situation, but right now I'm indecisive if I would want to read it. (Who am I kidding, if it has a stunning cover like the first two books, it will have my attention.)

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK | Sphere for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

[DianaRose · Rating 4 out of 5]

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!!✨💐

it was so nice to return to this cozy little world that emily krempholtz has created, this time from the pov of prudence.

prudence marsh is not a nobody anymore was a cozy fantasy but had some mid-level stakes to it — pru is traveling in hopes of creating a name for herself so that she may perform at the royal wedding, and callum is trying to be on his best behavior so that his friend vale will continue to participate in heists with him…

i think the next book will be vale’s, but im SO hoping that bartelby will get his time in the sun, after all of the time he spent as a plant, of course…

[Maeghan 🦋 · Rating 4 out of 5]

HUGE thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for a chance to review this arc! Need something cute to follow me along my busy work week 💗

Prudence Marsh is Nathaniel’s twin sister (the mmc in the first instalment). She never felt like her own person & lived her life according to what people wanted from her. She wants to play violin at the royal wedding & get the recognition she deserves. By doing this, she thinks it’ll give her life meaning as she won’t be nobody anymore.

I gave the first instalment 3.5✨ as I thought it was really cute but dragged a bit. I loved this one more. It’s really more about the journey than the heist, and knowing yourself & what you stand for. They spend a lot of time gathering people from town to town. It’s also filled with wholesome & heartfelt moments.

The characters were the strong suit of this novel. Prudence & Callum were amazing and unique characters to follow. They both felt multidimensional & had a lot of depth. There was a lot of character development & I loved the romance. It felt wholesome & full. I would’ve liked to have Vale’s pov as I think it would’ve added some nuances. I’m really curious about Bartleby and the continuity of this series.

Overall a very cute read. I recommend this for Cozy Fantasy lovers!

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

I had a lovely time with this one!

I love the non-villain villains and all the fun shenanigans that these books entail.

Whats to love…
- heist
- FMC leaves her hometown for the first time!
- swoony romance
- playboy mmc
- queer MCs
- road trip (not quite a quest but fun nonetheless!)
- cozy fantasy

After Violet Thistlewaite was a hit I knew without even reading the synopsis of this one that I wanted to read it...

Well the problem with not reading the synopsis before you start a book is you really have no clue whats going to happen--so when the first chapter opened with Bartlby's pov I jumped to the conclusion that he was going to be the MMC and then found myself disappointed he wasn't. Silly me. But that's not the books fault! And also Callum won me over big time so it all worked out in the end.

What might not work for some…
- This one is pretty cozy, imho more cozy than Violet Thistlewaite, so if you’re not in the mood for lower stakes and a slower plot this one might not work for you.

4.25⭐️| IG | TikTok |

Thank you Berkley for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[DianaRose]

thank you to the publisher for an arc!!✨💐 it'll be nice to return to this cozy little world from the pov of prudence, and the description sounds so fun and whimsical!!

[Miranda Reads]

The first book was so fun! Can't wait for the next one!!

[Liana Gold]

Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore is READ NOW on NetGalley for 24 hours only! Get your copy friends! I've wanted to read this cozy fantasy for a while and now that I got the ARC to the second book, its time to dive in (soon) :)


Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group/Ace and the author, Emily Krempholtz for an early eARC!

Publication: November 10, 2026

[Liz | lizzuplans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous one.
Loved Prudence’s story as much as I loved Violet’s story!!

Fun, light, with depth, cosy, filled with adventure, romantic: just the perfect read.
The various characters were fabulous, the romance was endearing, the plot was solid, and ugh I am sad the book is over.
I also really appreciated that the names of the characters were not crazy fantasy. Prudence, Callum, Frida– and not Penellaphe which you should read as Penelope (and I have seen crazier).

The chapter titles were so fun!
The cover is once again gorgeous and Bartleby was once again amazing.

This book is going on my fav list immediately! Cannot wait to buy my trophy copy!!
(Hope there will be more book in this “series”.)

I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC 4.5 stars!

This was such a fun magical read. If you’re looking for a cozy romance with adventure, a dangerous heist, and a ragtag group of thieves this book is for you.

This follows Pru Marsh who is a musician on her way to audition for the Royal wedding, and she ends up meeting a group of thieves along the way. She finds out they have a Robin Hood type scheme, and one thing leads to another, and now she sucked into their plan to rob the royal vault. Romance blooms between Pru and one of the thieves, Callum, and they both help each other figure out their true wants and needs in life.

On another note, I want a whole book on Bartleby. I hope we get more of his story. He was such a fun character and the ending had me so intrigued about his background. Books like this take me a long time to get through. I didn’t think the writing was as easy flowing as other books that I’ve read with a magical realism element however, this was still an enjoyable read, and I would recommend it for fantasy lovers.

This book was sent to me via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[BookishKB]

🎻✨ Prudence Marsh Is Not a Nobody Anymore ✨🎻

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

💛 What to Expect
• Cozy Fantasy
• Found Family
• Musician FMC
• Bandit MMC
• Heist Adventure
• Road Trip Adventure
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: November 10, 2026
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, Ace, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Joy Metzger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bartelby the violent and vicious pothos plant was hands down the best character in this book. Unfortunately, that’s about all I really enjoyed. I LOVED Violet Thistlewaite- this book lacked the charm and wit of book 1.

The plot and ever growing cast of secondary characters was confusing to follow at times. Honestly, it kind of took forever for the story to get anywhere.

Very very sadly, this one was a miss for me.

[Cheryl]

Her first book isn't great, but it has plenty of potential.

[Jenna O'Malley]

ARC RECIEVED. THANK YOU, BERKLEY! 💗💖💜🪻

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Selling Pitch:
More Tangled fanfiction but this time it slaps. Such a marked improvement from the first book, I genuinely think you should give this a try even if the original didn’t work for you.

Pre-reading:
I've gotta stop accepting arcs of sequels before I even read the first one. Hoping this is better than the first one, but I strongly suspect this is about to be more Tangled fanfiction.

(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
Heist heist baby is so funny.
Making out like a bandit better be a smut chapter.
I like all the puns in the chapter titles.

Why are all the ses randomly capitalized? (Must be an arc copy error)

So like now, do we fuck the plant or do I have to wait for the third book? (Third? Fourth maybe?)

So like that is Flynn Rider. They just can’t get his nose right!

And it’s a piney boy. Typical.

Detritus sin

Girl, you can’t be stupid enough to think Rook is his real name and not his nickname. Be so for real. You clocked Violet, but not this shit?

I fear I would rather read their book, the fuck? I like Vale and Lainey.

I like this one better already. I love charisma and banter.

I’m sat, I’m seated, I’m obsessed.
Like is it just a Flynn Rider/OUaT Charming and Snow copy-paste? Basically! But I’m such a slut for charisma and banter.

No, I love it. I’m so in on this plot.

I hope to god this ends with them freeing Bartleby for a third book. (Hee hee.)

I love a world with magic ponies, good god.

Mr. Sternness and his brat is gonna do it for me every time.

Lady is a LAME name, are you kidding.

Blew a raspberry? She’s a horse. (She uses this phrase throughout the book so it must be a writing quirk, but I really don’t like it.)

Vale has to be the princess’ brother, right? And that’s who he doesn’t wanna run into? (Nope!)

So like Bartleby and a pirate? If he’s a telepath, maybe he can communicate with the plant? We’re expanding the world a lotttt with this book.

Bartleby, my heart! I’m so massively on my period but that did just make me tear up.

This book is leaps and bounds better than the first.
Way more world-building, way more visuals, way more depth to characters. She gives you a stock archetype and then elaborates on it until it’s something more unique. That’s very satisfying. It does still feel like Tangled fanfiction, but this one feels like a riff rather than a copy and paste. (There’s still some scenes that are directly copied.)

Like he is just the lovechild of FlynnXRobin Hood, but I’m having the best time.

I love a werewolf. This book is so much better.

He’s such a libra.

Oh girl, you’re not even being subtle about it. That is Flynn Rider’s scene with the wanted poster.

I know they’re setting up Vale to be manipulating everyone and like kind of not the best but I said daddy capable, daddy sly.

I would die for Bartleby.

The banter is bantering this book. I am kicking my little feet. I love a flirt.

With all the lock picking, I feel like we’re gonna have to get her out of jail at some point, or they’re gonna pull a Tangled, and he’s gonna be in jail, and he has to save her, so the plant lets him out.

My dumb brain keeps changing Lago Ferro to Sara Lago, which is a random shitty hotel we stayed at in Orlando on a family vacation growing up.

Me last book: I don’t like Nathaniel. He’s mean to her.
This book: Vale kinda bossy, kinda nasty.
Me: that one, I pick that one.
On this episode of spot the Capricorn.
Like I know she’s setting him up to be the villain and that should be a deterrent, but it’s notttt

Is Vale veiled all the time with a glamour and that’s why he’s so flawless? (Yup.)

We didn’t start the fire 🎶

Reading is and always has been political. What a gem of a quote.

This is disgustingly better than the first book.

This has a bit of Six of Crows and Dance of Thieves about it. Those books are more complex than this one, but I see the inspo.

Genuinely, where was this writing last book because all of a sudden, locations have details, and I can picture them.

If Vale is the old architect, I’m gonna lose my shit. (Way off.)

I hated the romance in the first one. I didn’t think they had chemistry. This one is so good. There is yearning. There is banter. They crackle. Like I’m shocked it’s from the same author. It is literally also Tangled, but if the first one was Raps, this one is Flynn.

I really like them together.

I think we could’ve workshopped that ocean line more. I like the sentiment. I agree with it, but nothing about them is particularly ocean themed.

Even when they bantered, she was never making fun of him. Huh, weird how that would turn people off of someone. I feel like that’s a direct response to the first book’s criticism. I feel like this book was very wow, everything y’all criticized in the first book was correct. I’m gonna work on it and fix it. And she did! I’m having the best time. I don’t think the writing is quite good enough for a five, but this is an easy four. Very on par with an India Holton for romantic quality and humor.

I feel like Vale is gonna plant the keys on Marsh and frame her for the theft, but that’s kind of useless for villainy.

Yeah, OK so I’m keeping up but-
Vale’s motivation is still such an enigma to me. Unfortunately, I still think he’s sexy, even if the author is like he bad guy.

Also, I can’t reiterate enough how much better this is than the first book. I think if you like Holton’s style, you will love this.

Not the you were my new dream from not!Attila. Like it’s very unsubtly Tangled, but I love Tangled.

I don’t understand why the plant is limited in communication. If he can hold a lock picking set, can’t he hold a pen? Or like they make a chart and let him point to the letters ouija board style? Like they’re purposely not communicating with him.

Good god, I hope we get a Breanne of Tarth and a reformed Jamie Plant-ister for next book because-
Ohmygod, it’s happening. Everyone calm down. It’s happening.

Oh, shut the fuck up. Are we getting two reformed gay villains? Uh yeaH. YeaH! Sign me up. Do I wanna be back in the little town? No! But if she can write dialogue like she did in this book with them… Also, I want a Bartleby book. I really went from I wouldn’t continue the series to I need the next two books immediately. That is so impressive.

The ending is quite abrupt, but oh my god, this was so much better than the first book.

Post-reading:
Y’all, I had a really good time. I did not expect to. I kind of came into this with a stinky attitude after the first book. I was ready to resign myself to slogging through another 350 pages and then to never think about this series again.

That’s not gonna happen. I loved this. I will quite happily be continuing the series.

It really read like she took every criticism of her first book to heart and said okay, you guys are right. I will fix that. And then she actually fixed it. That’s so rare to see. Usually a mediocre first book only declines in quality for the second. This one is leaps and bounds better. The books function as interconnected standalones, which I think is really smart. You can very easily skip right to this book and miss nothing important. I’d honestly recommend doing that. I really didn’t like the first book.

This one expands the world so much, and it’s done in a very digestible way. We get sensory details not just info dumping. You’ll be able to picture all the places she takes you. She gave herself a lot of room to expand this series. We get some new magic without it feeling horribly overpowered, and the plot in this one is actually compelling from the start. The first book is so slow. That is not the case here. This book moves while still feeling cozy. She did a really good job balancing plot progression with character development. Everyone had a task, but they also got to go on a personality journey. It’s very satisfying. The plotting twists are still kind of obvious and predictable, but the book catches up to you much quicker than the first installment, so you’re not waiting around forever for a solution you already know.

And the romance! Reading all the flirting was a treat. This book banters. Do they read as 30-year-olds, probably not, but mid to late 20s is still okay. And at least this time around, you will root for the couple to get together. They are unquestionably well suited for each other. They can tease each other, but they still have so much respect for the other person which was definitely lacking in the first book. The side characters are fun additions. They’re still a little underdeveloped when compared to the romantic leads, but that’s a pretty common flaw in romance as a whole.

The smut’s better this time around. It feels more tonally appropriate and backs off before it gets super explicit. There’s probably gonna be a couple of lines that take you out of it. An “eyes on me” does feel like we’re just hitting on popular TikTok tropes rather than writing the characters we built, but their personalities at least stay consistent over the course of the whole book.

Once again, the pet sidekicks shine. I loved the Pegasus. I continue to love Bartleby. I was amazed how much my heart lurched when he whittled her the flute. That was such a sweet moment, and I cannot wait for his book. I feel like she’s gonna drag it out, and we’re gonna get Vale’s book first though.

This was good enough that I would encourage you to give this a try if you tend to like fantasy romance and didn’t like the first book. I don’t think it’ll be a new favorite necessarily, but I think you’ll thoroughly enjoy your time reading it. I guess I’ll see y’all again for the third one!

Who should read this:
Tangled fans
India Hilton fans
Campy fantasy romance fans

Ideal reading time:
Fall

Do I want to reread this:
I think I’ll just remember it, but I would absolutely continue the series

Would I buy this:
Yes! I hope Owlcrate makes a gorgeous matching sequel

Similar books:
* Six of Crows-the OG YA fantasy heist book, ensemble cast, romance, queer
* Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson-generic but well done fantasy romance, revenge, family drama
* Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer-campy, fantasy romance, family drama, revenge
* The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love by India Holton-campy, historical, urban fantasy, romance, autism
* Voidwalker by S. A. MacLean-campy, urban fantasy, monster romance, queer, family drama
* The Crimson Throne by Sara Raasch-historical fantasy romance
* The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley-campy, fantasy romance, queer
* This Dark Descent by Kaylin Josephson-YA urban fantasy, political, romance, queer, ensemble cast
* Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett-campy, historical, urban fantasy, family drama

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this as an arc and congrats to Emily on her 2nd book! This title releases 11/10/26.

I wanted to love Pru’s story as much as I did Violet’s but sadly I did not. I found Pru to be resentful and somewhat whiny and failed to connect with most of the characters. I am also unsure if this book is supposed to be a dual POV. It wasn’t labeled as such, however some of the chapters definitely read like it was.

Things I did love: BARLTEBY! I loved that he went on his own adventure, and I do hope his story gets told one day. I did love the title chapters and giggled at Pru’s checklist that had notes from Callum. I also loved the LGBTQ representation in some of the characters.

If you enjoyed book 1, I do encourage you to give this a read, it just wasn’t my jam.

[Alyx Gough · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

Thank you so much Berkley for the eARC!

OH MY GOSH. I loved this book SO MUCH.

This was giving Flynn Rider meets D&D and I was absolutely HERE FOR IT. 😂✨ Give me a charming rogue, a chaotic little adventure party, a ridiculous heist, found family, magic, and banter that had me grinning at my Kindle like an idiot and I am SOLD.

Prudence was such a wonderful character to follow. Watching her go from feeling like a nobody to finally figuring out what she actually wants—and realizing that maybe being important isn’t about being known by everyone—was surprisingly emotional. I loved her so much.

And then there’s Callum. 👀

This man had PEAK Flynn Rider energy and I ate up every second of it. The chemistry between him and Prudence was fantastic, but honestly? THE BANTER. I cannot remember the last time I had this much fun reading character interactions. They were constantly making me smile, laugh, and occasionally yell at my book.

This book was beautiful, emotional, charming, hilarious, and just ridiculously fun. It had that perfect D&D feeling where you have a group of slightly chaotic people, one questionable plan, and absolutely no idea how they’re going to pull it off—but somehow you’re having the time of your life watching them try. 😂

And the found family?! The adventure?! The magic?! The romance?! My HEART.

I finished this with the biggest smile and that very specific feeling of not being ready to say goodbye to the characters yet. This is exactly the kind of fantasy romance that reminds me why I love reading in the first place.

I need everyone to read this one. Immediately. 💛

[Natalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT!!! This book was so cute! It definitely had a “Tangled” vibe- Rook (Callum) reminded me of Flynn Rider and I absolutely loved him.

Oh sweet Callum, the bandit who really just wanted to be loved. Putting on a show, while simultaneously wearing his heart on his sleeve. He was adorable and pretty much stole my heart from the beginning. The biggest golden retriever and I adored him.

This book was the epitome of a cozy fantasy read, complete with lovable side characters (Bartleby - the stabby sentient pothos - was my favorite), adventure, wit and charm, the right amount of steam and a fabulous ending (NO third act breakup, and no mis-communication tropes - hallelujah!). I am a huge fan of Pru’s book and cannot freaking wait for the next installment. 5 glowing ⭐️’s

Thank you to NetGalley & ACE Publishing for the ARC read.

[KazReads · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

A little more rugged than Violet Thistlewaite, yet still undeniably cosy, Pru’s book is of full of love, laughs, and delightful hijinks.

I have to say, I did enjoy this more than Violet’s book, purely for the humour and levity of our new and familiar cast of characters. I enjoyed the ensemble and their interactions. The sunshine x sunshine pairing of Pru and Callum really lifted the already warm mood.

The messages about love and trust, etc. were a little on the nose for my taste, but certainly fitting for a cosy fantasy. I enjoyed the character acrs of both MCs as well as Vale in particular.

With the loose strings laid in the ending, I’m very much looking forward to reading the next book and experiencing Bartleby’s, and others, stories.

[SelkieReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, so, I read this one as an ARC immediately after reading book one.
I was already in the world and already on board with the vibe, not gonna lie though, I DEFINITLY thought this was going to go a different way, I guess I need to add a spoiler but I 1000000% thought Prudence was gonna get with Bartleby.
I am still disappointed she didn't and kinda feel like that would have been a better match... sorrryyyyyyyy
Pruby- FOREVER!

[Alisha Keig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Pub for this ARC!!

I was dazzled by this! I read Violet Thistlewaite last year I think and really liked it but this second book set in the same world and following Nathaniel’s twin sister Pru was such a fun ride. I loved being back in this world and that we get more Bartleby (I hope this means another book!!). I LOVE a heist, what a perfect trope. I love the oceans 11 meets Robin Hood band of friends, and I love that this whole book was basically a people pleasers anonymous meeting. Best of all: the only miscommunication we got was between the bros and they work it out like adults! I love when people communicate effectively!! Pru and Callum were a really believable couple and relatable individually. I saw myself in the way Pru didn’t want to shrink herself anymore and in the way Callum felt he had to be worthy of other people’s love by contorting himself into someone else. This book is going to make you miss your long distance besties! Fun, fast paced and everything you want out of a cozy fantasy really.

[Gali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cozy fantasy is my niche, and this book ticked all my boxes. "Prudence Marsh Is Not a Nobody Anymore" by Emily Krempholtz is a charming cozy fantasy following a bard and a bandit. I loved the first book in the series, "Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore," and was thrilled to get my hands on the sequel. The book is set in the same world as the first one, but with different players. While the first book focused on Violet and Nathaniel, this one centers around Prudence, Nathaniel's twin sister, and her love interest, Callum, and is told in alternating third-person POVs of the two. Luckily, Bartleby, our favorite murderous sentient pothos, is still in the game.

At 32, Pru decides it's time to leave Dragon's Rest and find her place in the world, hopefully as a renowned bard. Her dream is to play at the royal wedding and become famous. Unbeknownst to her, Bartleby, an ex-villain cursed into a houseplant, has his own reason for joining her: he hopes to find someone who can break his curse. He hides in one of the horses' saddlebags, and Pru lets him accompany her. Her journey gets off to a rocky start when she has to escape a pub after an incident involving a prized goat, with the help of Callum, a charmingly roguish bandit.

Pru encounters Callum again when she comes across him and his partner, Vale, in the middle of a roadside robbery. When she tries to intervene, the ensuing chaos results in her violin being broken. With no way to continue her journey as a bard, she joins the two bandits until they can find a way to replace it. When Callum and Vale reunite with the rest of their group, Pru finds herself swept up in their planned royal heist in the mystical Lune Vault at the palace, no less.

I enjoyed the book very much. The writing was good and immersive. I loved the Robin Hood–esque vibes, the world-building, and the magic involved, including the ability to break curses, illusions that can change appearances, and other magical elements. I also loved the smart wordplay in the chapter headings, such as "Between a Rook and a Bard Place" and "Heist Heist Baby," to name a couple.

The characterization is excellent, making each person come to life for me. I love Pru and relate to her need to prove her worth. She was always told she was too much and to dim her light, and I like that she overcame that. Callum is another great character, who has more layers than are apparent at first, hidden under his need to make others happy, sometimes at the expense of his own happiness. I appreciated his concern for the poor and his love for his found family. I thought they didn't give him all the credit he deserves, especially his childhood friend, Vale. Pru is the only one who sees through his mask and tries to peel back all his layers to reach the real him. I loved their banter and interactions. They are attracted to each other but deny their feelings for various reasons, and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop into a slow-burn romance.

The book explores themes of forbidden love, found family, imposter syndrome, and the power of believing in oneself. I loved the growth of the characters and their camaraderie. The found-family dynamic was another highlight for me. Among the side characters who make up this motley crew, I especially liked Laina, one of the triplet sisters; Butcher, the baker; Jeph, the dog; and Lady, a winged horse who can communicate through her feelings and memories. I wish there were more scenes with her.

Vale wasn't one of my favorite characters because of the callous way he treated Callum, his patronizing behavior, and condescension. He treated Callum as a child, thinking he knew best what was good for him and making decisions for him. I loved when Callum finally stood up to him, something he had avoided doing so as not to make waves.

Bartleby was the real star of the show. He literally stole the show. He loves knives and stole some at every turn. Well, he was an ex-villain after all. I loved how protective he was of Pru. His caring was shown through acts of kindness, such as carving a flute for her. He found a way to communicate without words, with his leaves, and the author showed it perfectly. I hope the next book, if there is one, will be about him. I would love to know his story. He deserves a story of his own!

I definitely recommend the book. The pacing dragged a bit in the middle, but I was happy to spend more time with the cast. It is just as good as the first one and can be read on its own, but I recommend reading the first one beforehand to get to know the backstory and appreciate all the little nuances. I loved the book and give it full stars. Fans of cozy fantasy with quirky characters, sparkling banter, and plenty of adventures will enjoy this one. I know I did!

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review on my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2026...

[gwen_is_ reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think my favorite thing about the cozy genre is the focus on character dynamics, community and banter. So many times I go back to a series again and again because I love and miss the characters. I have a feeling that this would be one of those for me. I fell in love with Violet Thistlewaite Is Not A Villain Anymore and immediately jumped into Prudence’s story because I needed more. I didn’t get as much time with Violet and Nathaniel as I would like, but with Pru and Bartleby the (only) slightly less homocidal plant. I enjoyed seeing more of the world the author created, especially the descriptions of the buildings. If another book comes out (maybe the many adventures of Bartleby?) I can guarantee it’s an insta-buy for me. They didn’t shy away from pain, shame, confusion or guilt. But there was an underlying warmth throughout the book that left things… not at all heavy. I loved Pru’s attitude, her joy and understanding of herself- and how she viewed her loved ones. I also loved that I got to watch her grow as a character as she thought about what she actually wanted her future to look like.

Collum was hard for me at first. It took me a minute to see him under the charm and jokes. His character was perhaps the most complex, and I felt like he had the most growth. To feel like you are always on stage, having to perform and be what others want (because no one likes a sad Callum) hit hard. He wanted things to go back to the way they were because he couldn’t stand to lose anything else- and he was willing to lose pieces of himself to get it. And then he met Pru, who he could be honest with, joke with… and eventually understoood he could be vulnerable with. The two of them together made me laugh so many times, but mostly made me smile. Their chemistry, their care for eachother, their connection…. it felt like sunshine to me. They made eachother stronger and I love that.

In short, there was a lot to love here:

Fabulous characters- I don’t think I could ever get tired of these guys (I am, in fact, deeply curious about many of the side characters and what happened after this book). The jokes and banter are perfection. I really love that we got a couple that obviously love eachother… but you could see them being best friends too. Too often we have this opposites-attract thing where the chemistry is off the charts but you can’t see them being able to just go out without hating eachother. This was refreshing.
World building: be it the towns and buildings, or the lore she wove into the story, I was charmed. I had a sense of the world and the magic. I loved the descriptions.
Freaking adorable asides: Pru’s letters to Nathan and her journal- which turned into an area where she and Callum interacted- was a wonderful addition that I really enjoyed.
There was also a bit that I felt could have been better. (Spoilers ahead)

There are a lot of lose ends, like the ending was rushed maybe? Or they just didn’t want to go there. For one: Bartleby. We have a huge reveal about the plant/ former villain…. and then they’re just like- oh they left a note, they’ll be back. Freaking what? Are we absolutely sure he’s going to remain in his current form? Is he going back to see the people from his past? Can he even do that??? I need more story here. The sisters: what happened after everyone split up. Last but not least- Vale and Sedwick??? If you read book one you will understand how I might be confused about this one. I guess my real question is… did we do this on purpose to make way for more stories? Is there going to be a ‘Desmond Bartleby Is Not A…. Anymore?’
Pacing was also a little bit of an issue. We spent a lot of time on certain things, and others flew by. The book would lag just a little in spots.
Both of these seemed like minor inconveniences, and overall I adored the book. This was a five star read for me. Honestly, I just had the best time.

On the adult content side, there is sexual content, language, drinking, and some violence. Nothing over the top- I would say the target audience is New adult but could go older or younger.

I was lucky enough to recieve an eARC of this book from Netgalley working with Berkley Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions are my own and were in no way swayed by this.

[Mitchie Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 rounded up to 4 stars.

Emily Krempholtz has done it again, and this time she's handed us a heroine worth cheering for from page one. Prudence Marsh is a woman who has spent her whole life playing second fiddle (literally, on a tavern violin) to everyone else's story, and Krempholtz uses that premise as a masterclass in character want versus character need. Pru's stated goal is fame as a royal bard; what she actually needs is to stop shrinking herself for other people. Watching those two threads diverge and finally braid back together by the final act is some of the most satisfying character work I've read in cozy fantasy this year.

The inciting incident, a roadside robbery that shatters Pru's violin along with her carefully laid plans, is a gorgeous piece of economy in storytelling. In one scene, Krempholtz strips her protagonist of both her literal instrument and her metaphorical voice, forcing her into proximity with the very people who took it from her. That's not just plot mechanics; that's thematic scaffolding disguised as a meet-cute. Enter Callum DiCorvo, a cursebreaker-bandit whose entire arc is built on dramatic irony. He's spent his life avoiding change, and the universe responds by dropping a stubborn, ambitious violinist directly into his crew.

It's impossible not to catch the Robin Hood DNA humming under this setup, and Krempholtz clearly knows it. A charming outlaw who operates by his own moral code, a loyal band of thieves who feel more like family than criminals, a plot that edges toward a royal wedding and the corridors of power- it's the archetype readers have loved for centuries, refracted through a cozier, more character driven lens. But where Robin Hood is usually the whole story, here he's only half of one, and Krempholtz smartly uses the archetype as a foundation rather than a crutch, subverting the "noble thief" trope by making Callum's resistance to change, not his moral righteousness, the real engine of his arc.

The push and pull between Pru and Callum is where Krempholtz's prose really sings. Their banter operates almost entirely on subtext. Every flirtatious jab is doing double duty as characterization, revealing exactly how much each of them is guarding. It's a slow burn executed with real narrative patience, letting proximity and forced interdependence do the heavy lifting instead of contrivance. And true to form for this author, the found-family ensemble surrounding them isn't just comic relief. Every side character earns their narrative real estate, each pulling their own small thread of the theme about who gets to decide your worth.

The heist sequence built around the Luna Vault deserves its own round of applause. It's a marvelous piece of imaginative world building, the kind of set piece that could easily have been a generic "get past the guards" affair but instead becomes a genuine showcase of Krempholtz's creativity, adding a layer of wonder to the plot's mechanics without slowing the pacing down for a second.

By the time the heist plot and the royal wedding collide, Krempholtz has fully paid off every setup she planted, and the emotional climax lands with the kind of earned catharsis that only comes from meticulous plotting. This is whimsical, big-hearted storytelling with real structural bones underneath the sparkle. The funny and tender moments are stitched together so well you don't feel the seams. An absolute triumph.

My only complaint, and it's a petty one, involves my favorite stabby, sentient pothos houseplant-Bartleby! His tale was left dangling on a cliffhanger. You can't just give the reader a handsome man with a mysterious background and not give us the full story! More, please.

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Helena · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all thank you Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for this ARC.

I liked book 1 in this series, so this book was on my TBR. I was thankful to read this in advance and I will try to give my honest opinion without giving too much away, but at the same time I really want to share why I don´t rate it higher.

This story is a cute cozy Romantasy about Pru from book 1 who is now having her own adventure. Being whisked away on a mission she did not see coming, with a bunch of bandits, accompanied by the knive wielding pothos Bartelby we know from book 1 is a great setup. You don´t necessarily have to read book 1 to enjoy this, but I would still recommend. This book has a great start. The world building is wonderful and overall vibe is fantastical and charming. I love Pru and her ambitions, her need to prove herself and chase her dreams and not be a "nobody" anymore. The writing is great and there´s lots of humour and witty banter (loved the scene in the beginning, it really made me laugh).

Unfortunately - and no one is more sad about it than me - the MMC Callum does not do it for me. And with this I mean he is simply, but totally NOT my type, but everyone is different, so I´m sure most readers will absolutely love him. So this is just personal preference and I want to give my honest opinion, but I marked it as a spoiler. He gives Flynn Ryder vibes. Which should be amazing. He´s smug and barely ever serious and he smirks a lot. Like a lot. But instead of being charming it got onto my nerves after a while. It´s a mask and like all other characters in this book, he´s a layered guy who has a past and is afraid of showing others the real him so it´s not like he´s shallow. But despite that I could not get warm with him and could barely take him seriously. He´s also the kind of guy who basically had a fling/tryst with most of his former crew members (who are all not in the story at least). It was five people, making Pru the sixth. Callum describes himself as a "fun guy to be around", he "falls in love easily and often", sometimes only for a week long fling with bakers sons. I´m really sorry, but this is just not overly appealing to me and takes away too much of the romance and chemistry with Pru, but like I said, it´s a personal preference. Ofc everything is different with Pru, the usual formula, but he still gives me the impression that, as soon as a handsome sailor or cute bakers boy comes along, he might be off again. And that´s not romantic in my eyes or the standard I have for a male MC. So if the kind of MMC who´s lovers are always kind of mentioned in the story and part of his character arc are not your cup of tea this might not be for you, but if you do not mind, you´ll love this book. So overall, I could not vibe with the romance, but they do have their cute moments and growth.

The spice in this book is about the same level as book 1, but it might be a little more? It´s not a lot, though and I would say maybe 2/5 on the scale. There´s lots of queer representation. I would even go as far as categorize this book genre as queer but that´s just a personal impression.

If you like stories with bandits, heists, and the journey of finding your purpose in this world, all in a queer normative fantasy setting with some found family vibes, you will love this book. There´s definitely potantial for more stories in this world.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm so torn writing this review, because I really, really wanted to love this, but it just didn't quite hit the mark for me.

I really enjoyed the overall plot, the team of bandits, and the idea of the heist, but the story really dragged at points and the characters weren't strong enough to fill the space in a meaningful way for me.

Pru was a really lovely character and was definitely a highlight of the book for me. Growing up she was used to being told to make herself smaller, be less loud, be less... her... but when she meets up with Callum and his crew it really felt like they embraced her fully and allowed her to be unapologetically her! I loved the scenes of her performing music and how lively and chaotic they are, her passion and love for music really shined through and her dreams of becoming famous and everyone knowing her name felt really real, I didn't feel like it was blown out of proportion or an unrealistic dream for her to have at all.

Callum at first gave me massive Flynn Rider vibes, and I absolutely loved that about him! He's charming, he's witty, and he's crafty as hell! However, after the initial introduction to him he honestly started to feel a bit childish. His whole motive in everything he does is keeping the gang together and making sure no-one leaves him. I think this attitude would've worked if all the characters were just a smidge younger, but these characters are described as being in their mid(?) 30s, with some being even older. A few of them had - reasonably - decided they'd aged out of a life crime and were now ready to settle down into a more stable routine, but Callum just couldn't understand this logic until about 3/4 of the way into the book when he finally starts to sit down and actually ask what the other characters want to do with their lives. This really frustrated me a lot as almost every chapter from Callum's POV revolved around him wanting everyone to stay together, and getting upset at the thought of anyone leaving. That honestly really turned me off of him as a character after a while.

The plot really caught my attention initially - I love bards and bandits, and I could immediately tell that this was going to be a book filled to the brim with wild adventures. Unfortunately, it just didn't quite meet the expectations I had for it, and the whole mid-section of the book where all the traveling and heist planning took place ended up feeling quite dragged out to me. There was a lot of repetition of scenes and conversations that all felt quite similar to ones we'd seen previously, and after a while it really felt like it was just there as padding to fill out this section of the book until we eventually reached the point of the heist, then when we finally reached the heist it was over so quickly! The characters also seemed to suffer no consequences for the mistakes they made during the heist and everything just felt a bit too neatly wrapped up with a bow. I don't know if this was intended as a slight cliff hanger for a third book, but I just found it hard to believe that there were zero real consequences for the things that happened.

This was still a cute and fun read, but I just couldn't throw myself into it fully as there were certain things that stood out a bit too much, and unfortunately not in a good way.

Thank you so much for the ARC!

[Katin · Rating 4 out of 5]

She didn't need fame.

She didn't need luck.

She was Prudence Marsh, and she would make her own.

In Prudence Marsh Is Not a Nobody Anymore, we follow the titular character setting out for her own adventure as a bard just to end up getting tangled with a band of bandits and potentially helping them with with one of their biggest heists and possibly falling in love along the way. Prudence was my favorite character in Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore so I was absolutely giddy her story would be told in the second companion novel. While I did enjoy hearing from Pru's perspective, I personally wish that the plot was on a smaller scale like the author's debut novel.

What I loved about Pru in the first novel was her banter and teasing, especially her brother. There was some of that here with Callum which I enjoyed, but it felt like it hindered because we had to focus on so many other things such as traveling to different places, how the heist was actually going to go, introducing and fleshing out so many more characters, etc. The pacing of the novel felt really inconsistent since I personally found it slower when the characters were figuring out the logistics of the heist since that wasn't my personal draw to the novel. I wanted more Pru and Callum, not Pru and Callum and Vale and Laina and Jeph and Kleo and, etc. This is where my true rating of a 3.5-star, rounded up comes in.

Despite feeling the way I did about the plot, I enjoyed all the characters that were introduced. I was so glad we had Bartleby featured as Pru's right-hand man (er, plant?). I rooted for the romance right off the bat even if I thought Callum winked too much. This is definitely the book for anyone who enjoyed the first novel and especially if you want a bit more excitement in terms of plot. For first-time readers, if you love a cozy fantasy where there are stakes, but you know things will work out in the end, this is for you.

I do hope a third companion novel is made. I already have thoughts on who it could be; I think I want a Vale romance story since he was heavily featured and has an interesting relationship with himself, but I feel like it'd be Bartleby in a second-chance romance scenario since it was more explicitly mentioned. I'm glad we got a family reunion with Violet and Nathaniel at the end and introductions were made. I am smitten with this world Emily Krempholtz created.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Fifi’s Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love that low stakes, cozy fantasies are trending right now because sometimes we just want to romanticize a fantasy universe without all the war, blood and violence of it all, ya know? Sometimes I just want a cute, day in the life of a musician playing at taverns who journeys to the capital to audition to play as a bard at a royal wedding, type of story. Thus, begins a cute story about a journey across a fantasy realm en route to the royal palace to audition for the princess’ wedding, with a group of bandits.

In cozy fantasies you get a lot of characters who are bakers, sometimes coffee shop owners, sometimes readers, but I don’t know of any others that have a musician. Pru is a violinist and excellent performer, who somehow gets tangled up with a group of bandits in the most creative manner (it involves a taxidermied goat in a tavern). The worldbuilding never goes into as much detail as I would’ve liked about these cute little fantasy towns mentioned, but I also haven’t read this book’s predecessor so that may be partially why. But, I did love the places they did stop at, like New Forest with its patchwork of architectural styles. It was very creative from your typical village or town in a fantasy novel.

I do think the book dragged on too long, and wasn’t super interesting for me until they got to the capital. I know that it is common in these cozy fantasies to kind of meander and not really have a plot aside from day to day life, but this almost has too much of, not enough plot. The whole, no plot just vibes thing, works for certain concepts. It’s enticing in the same way watching a vlog is; you get the normalcy of it all but in a fantasy setting. This works but only in settings where you’d want that. Like owning a coffee shop and coming up with different drinks each season. Or a princess cursed to stay in a bookstore and spends her days reading. This concept though, it just wasn’t interesting enough for me personally, for me to be engaged with the no plot just vibes. The way it could’ve been saved by as if there was more worldbuilding detail in the towns they pass on their way to the capital, which would make the whole monotonous journey thing more interesting. But this was just not cozy enough or easy to romanticize enough for the low stakes plot just vibes concept to work.

This was cute though, even though I wanted more about the princess and just more about the royalty of this kingdom in general. Not my favorite in this genre, but it was whimsical, cute, and made me smile.

Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Ace / Berkley for the NetGalley approval for this eARC!

I truly adored Emily's first book in this series of interconnected standalones, Violet Thistlewaite Is Not A Villain Anymore, and so I had high hopes for this second book. And it absolutely did not disappoint.

Focusing on Nathaniel's twin sister, Pru, and her journey to become a "somebody" out in the great big world, Prudence Marsh Is Not A Nobody Anymore is full of witty banter, a wonderful cast of found family, and a delightful romance. It's a story about not only finding yourself, but making sure that you truly see those you keep close for who they really are. It's heartwarming and hilarious and full of a fabulous adventure (and heist!) that all together makes for a wonderfully cozy and fun read.

There was so much about this book that I loved. First off, I adored the addition of Bartleby's POV for certain sections of the book, especially as this story leads into the recently announced book 3 of this series, which Emily has already confirmed follows Bartleby on his own adventure. You've also got plenty of found family, which is one of my favorite themes to have in a book, and Emily has written such a delightful cast of characters for this story, especially the bandits and their crew. And, of course, all the new elements of magic and wonder that Emily worked into these pages, from a magical library to Lady the cielea (aka magical winged horse) and... well I don't want to spoil the heist, so you'll just have to read and see what other sort of interesting and magical places our crew find themselves in....

Like Violet, I found the romance to be well balanced and incredibly satisfying, being both wonderfully spicy but also sweet and romantic. It's definitely a sunshine x golden retriever sort of coupling, with Pru being the sunshine, and Callum overwhelmingly being the golden retriever, just so eager to please others and putting others first. I really enjoyed the whole aspect of "playing" between these two as they naturally felt into characters and played out scenes with one another, like actors in a play, as the situation calls for it. And oh, the banter was so absolutely fabulous between these two!

Violet Thistlewaite Is Not A Villain Anymore has been one of my top recommendations for readers looking for a cozy fantasy romance, and now it seems that Prudence Marsh Is Not A Nobody Anymore is getting added to that list as well.

[megs 🎀 · Rating 4 out of 5]

♡ thank you to netgalley and emily krempholtz for an ARC of this book! ♡

4/5⭐️

"there's no such thing as a small life, so long as i live it with you" 🩷💫

immediately after finishing "Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore", i turned on post notifications for Emily because i NEEDED to hear pru's story! id say it lived up to my expectations!

i never knew where this book was going to go next 😭 i was definitely kept on my toes throughout the whole story, there were so many "OMG!!" moments, but i really enjoyed the twists and watching everything unfold. still, i have to be honest… the ending, especially the last chapter, wasn’t really my favorite. i wanted a little more from it. i felt like Violet's love story was completely sidelined, even though we spent the whole first book falling in love with her & nate. there were also other little things that i wasn't a huge fan of.

📖 plot & pace: prudence leaves dragon’s rest to chase her dream of becoming a famous bard, but those plans are a little derailed when she crosses paths with callum & his bandit crew. she ends up traveling with them and gets pulled into their plan to rob the lune vault during a royal wedding, all while trying to figure out what she actually wants for her future. this story never felt dull or boring, and i found myself taking away from ✨responsibilities✨ just to keep reading

👥 characters: i loved prudence’s determination to finally do something for herself & callum was such a fun character with all of his banter/ charm. their story was truly beautiful. vale was not a fan fav for me, but he somewhat redeems himself towards the end of the book. the sisters, butch, LADY!!, jeph... all of these character were phenomenal & really fit together. i can't leave out my favorite pothos either!

🤩 tropes: cozy fantasy, found family, forced proximity, slow burn

i will be keeping my eye out for more by Emily! book out nov 10, 2026!

[taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3/5 ☆ I had such high hopes for this book after really enjoying Violet’s story, but this just didn’t hit the mark for me. There were things I loved and things I could have done without.

The plot worked for me - a grand, never-done-before heist. And every book I’ve read involving a heist has worked for me. I love the sense of adventure and add in a found family trope, it had so many of the ingredients that I look for. But I found most of my issues with this book to be the romance and the characters.

I didn’t have too many issues with Pru’s character, but Callum felt so childish to me throughout the entire book. For the first quarter of the book (at least), he was winking after every single sentence that came out of his mouth to establish his “charm” and it was so unbelievably irritating to see it happen over and over and over again. Pru felt like a very whimsical, carefree and spontaneous character, but sometimes even she bordered on childish. The romance felt so forced at the start and, while it did eventually begin to feel more natural as the story progressed, it got to a point where I simply stopped caring.

I enjoyed the side characters, but we learned very little about them other than small tidbits of their life before and what they wish for in the future. It didn’t feel like they had much of a purpose other than just “playing their respective roles”. These characters had so much potential and they ended up just falling a bit flat and underdeveloped to me.

While I enjoyed the central storyline, I wish the romance felt more natural, the characters (side characters especially) were more developed, and the world was more fleshed out. For all the traveling this group of characters did together, there was very little world-building. And even though it didn’t hit the mark for me, I am hoping we are able to see these characters again in future books.