Valor & Vanilla: A Cozy Fantasy Adventure of Quests and Cookies

by M.J. Gillbright

The fate of four kingdoms rests on a recipe no one thought to learn… and a princess who never thought she’d be the one to bake it.

Embark on a cozy cookie quest in this warm and whimsical cozy fantasy about belonging, bravery, and discovering that ordinary tenderness can lead to extraordinary magic.

As the spare to the heir, Princess Vera has spent years being smiled at, dressed up, and gracefully sidelined. Now asked to retire, she’s become, in official terms, gloriously useless.

But when a strange affliction called the Numbness begins creeping through the kingdom and dragon realms alike, Vera, in all her retired royal irrelevance, volunteers for a quest into the dragon realm to recover the ingredients needed to make the legendary cure.

travelretired royaltyan opinionated sentient cottagemagical bakinglovable creaturesgentle humorslow-burn romancelots of warm fireside may leave you craving fresh-baked cookies!

For fans of Legends & Lattes, The Spellshop, and Assistant to the Villain

Genres: Amazon

419 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 23, 2026

About the author

Hi! M. J. Gillbright is our shared pen name. We are a husband-and-wife storytelling team who build worlds together (usually fueled by imagination, optimism, and delicious dinners).

We believe the world needs more stories that feel like a warm cup of “everything is going to be okay” with extra marshmallows.

As themed entertainment designers, we’ve spent years crafting immersive experiences and learning that the best stories don’t just entertain… they make you feel like you belong there!

When we’re not writing, you’ll find us hiking Southern California trails, sending out positive newsletters, and practicing the art of eating good food together (because we firmly believe that snacks are a love language).

Thanks for being here. We're so glad you found us.

Reviews

[Pam]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really loved this book, so much that I bought it and the first and preordered the third. It left me feeling like I was wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold winter morning. The characters were wonderful, relatable, and lovable. The world was interesting and has room for expansion. I am ready to dive in again.

[Kayla Lowder]

I was a member of the ARC team for the first book in this series so I was delighted to see a second installment and happily joined this team, receiving the book for free but leaving a review because I thoroughly enjoy this little universe that's been created.

Valor & Vanilla was a charming read, taking you through a trial of epic (and tasty) proportions. As in the previous book in the series there are a multitude of relatable characters, cute and entertaining critters and funny asides that are just as enjoyable to read as the plot of the book itself.

Without spoiling anything I will say what I enjoyed most was exploring the process of grieving in an unconventional way and being able to relate heavily to the FMC as a child who was never quite what my family expected of me either. Traveling through the plot of this novel with Vera and her merry band of companions and seeing her find herself along with much else was both enjoyable and emotional.

I recommend this read to anyone who likes character development, whimsy and a fantasy world that feels both magical and realistic all at once.

[Seljuk Shah]

For fans of both cozy fantasy and Bridgerton

Can't express how much I love the attention to the otherwise minute details that make up the nuances of interpersonal relationships. Every character you meet, every interaction (from the loving father, her adventurous sister, her overbearing mother), they are all crafted so well and I was literally turning pages with the same intensity as a progression work.

Also the tone is crucial when it comes to cozy fantasy, and Gillbright hit it out of the park with the pacing of it. Yes its positive, yes its something that you could immerse yourself into, but the tension and lows are there also, and its emotional and grounded.

[Lia Christie]

​A Deliciously Heartwarming Read

This delicious book, if I may express myself this way, leaves me with two messages beyond its pages that will stay with me: "stop performing, and start warming" and accepting life as "messy, magical, and somehow still worth every step of the story."
​It's a book that left me craving cookies when I finished reading it, and made me truly appreciate what this book means while eating them.

[Bob & Mary Emerson]

Vanilla cures all.

Vera in the dragon realm reminds me of Alice in wonderland. So much happening and so much changing. This book could be read by a grandfather to a sick grandchild like in the princess bride. I very much enjoyed it and approved by the cat on my lap.

[Kat]

Enchanting!

The sweetest of Cozy Fantasy stories, with humor carrying notes of both Jane Austen and Terry Pratchett. I loved it.

[Raminta]

Valour and Vanilla is a cozy fantasy that also qualifies as a therapy appointment. The authors were ever so kind to send me a free copy, and this is my honest opinion about the book.To say that this book punches above expectations set for it would be an understatement. I came for dragons, chaos, and overall warmth, and came out of it with lessons about love and vulnerability. I saw so many similarities between the main character and my personal struggle that I broke down in tears a few times. I loved Vera's growth, and her journey through the dragon realm was fun to read and immersive. The dragonland was very well thought out, and the dragons coming in so many varieties with their own customs and occupations was neat. I didn't know I could love a companion dragon more than I loved Etching, but Merp found his way into my heart, and I would love to share cookies with him. The romance was so raw and refreshing to read but also made me think about my relationship—and take notes. All things considered, this book is a 5-star read for me because it made me feel seen and gave me a wonderful world to escape into. And it made me want to go make cookies. I can't wait to see what M. J. Gillbright comes up with next.

[RoyalTeaReads]

Absolutely loved Valor and vanilla by M.J Gillbright ! Such a cozy, sweet, FUNNY (seriously laugh out loud) wholesome fantasy. The FmC Vera, is a princess, second in line to the throne. When an illness threatens her kingdom she is chosen to go on a mythical quest to find the magical ingredient for the cure. She travels with her adorable and hilarious familiar cat named Merp and her handsome guard. They travel through dragon realms, face trials and ultimately learn about themselves and life in the process. There’s a little romance, found family, hilarious banter, believing in yourself, magical quests, and of course baking!This is the second book in the series and the first, Chivalry and Chocolate is also HILARIOUS, cozy and sweet. I highly recommend both of these books for anyone looking for a sweet, cozy and funny escape full of positive messages

[Shana W]

I absolutely loved this engaging story with its charming characters and laugh-out-loud humour. I enjoyed Vera's trip through the dragon realm and the way she developed as a character due to all she experienced during her quest. I even found myself craving cookies! Her companions and those she met along the way were thoroughly likeable. I found Merp particularly endearing. This is a great series!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.