Wishspun

by India Holton

A librarian and a mage from rival kingdoms must work together to translate a magical book and lift its curse in this cozy cottagecore fantasy.

Welcome to Inglewood, a quiet village tucked into idyllic countryside. Inglewood’s librarian, Mellyd, is a shy woman who secretly writes magical wishes that she slips into each book someone borrows. These are simple charms to bless the villagers with happiness, health, and prosperity. Once, she dreamed of studying magic at university, but she’s grown comfortable in her placid life, with her tiny pet dragon and the library’s surly cat for company.

But when a stranger leaves a magical grimoire in the library, Mellyd cannot resist trying a spell from it. Just as she is doing so, Nian, a mage from the royal court of a rival kingdom, walks in and catches her. The grimoire was used to curse his king, and Nian must urgently find a way to lift that curse or else the king will die and the kingdoms’ delicate truce will be in jeopardy.

As Mellyd and Nian work together to translate the book’s mysterious spells, an attraction starts to grow between them. But pestered by nosy neighbors, a mischievous dragon, and a king so irascible it’s no wonder someone cursed him, they will need all the magic they can raise to secure a happily ever after for themselves and the world.

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

Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 16, 2027

About the author

India lives in New Zealand, where she writes fantasy romcoms featuring unconventional women and men who adore them.

India's writing is fuelled by tea and thunderstorms.

Reviews

[Melanie (meltotheany)]

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

this looks so perfect that i had to request an arc, but the cover is giving eren yeager a tiny bit 🤔

[DB (DB's Guide to the Galaxy)]

all I've ever wanted are more India Holton books 🤩

[Stella]

I YEARN FOR 2027

Shy librarian and mage from an enemy kingdom working together to decode a magical grimoire?? My dream date.

[Taylor Jefferson · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

This one is for the introverts!

Mellyd is a fiercely shy librarian in a small village. She's content to run the library, tend to her garden and practice small magics. The most excitement she sees is in the form of her ever-quarrelling pets, Tilly the cat and Pipkin the dragon. Until Nian, a royal mage from a rival kingdom, shows up and needs Mellyd’s help to cure his cursed king.

The cover designer deserves a raise; it perfectly prepares the reader for the story you will find inside. Sweet, flowery and enchanting. Be gone, sassy heroines and brooding heroes. Mellyd and Nian were both so adorably awkward and shy. They weren’t unhappy with their lives, but as soon as they met, they knew going back to life without one another would leave a void. Soulmate levels of compatibility.

Not quite a full 5-star experience because the “will they, won’t they” between Mellyd and Nian felt drawn out. Everyone could see how in love they were, lots of swoony eyes and secret smiles. The obstacles to them being together were easily overcome but I still enjoyed seeing them work up the courage to take what they wanted.

Filled with magic, meddling villagers and a quiet love story that I found utterly charming. A great entrance into the cozy fantasy genre.

Thank you Netgalley, for the advanced reader copy.

[Ella B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Berkley publishing for the ARC.

This book the is essence of comfort and the joy I felt reading this is unmatched.

I absolutely loved everything about it, from the soft, intentional, slice of life moments to the tender romance that stole my breath away.

I adored Mellyd and the quiet life she created for herself as a librarian, with a pet dragon and a surly cat. It was just so comforting to read the slice of life moments. But this peace is disrupted by Nian, a powerful mage from another kingdom. As they team up to undo a curse, chaos ensues. The antics and characters are hilarious and classic India Holton.

The romance was just so sweet and tender. Mellyd and Nian had a very supportive relationship, always encouraging and being there for each other. There were so many wholesome moments that had me swooning. I just can't get enough of them!

I would recommend this for when you want a soft, gentle paced plot, but still full of hilarious and wholesome moments.

🔥 Heat level: Closed-door, kisses only. Innuendos throughout.
🫢 Language: None

[Rebekah W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a decent amount of cozy, low stakes fantasy, and Wishspun is at the top of the list for the coziest fantasy I’ve ever read. Even though trying to cure a King’s curse to prevent a possible war seems like there might be some stakes involved, this was cozy through and through. Honestly so cozy that it put me to sleep multiple nights in a row. 😅 So read this if you want to cure your insomnia, I guess. This was very sweet. Both the FMC and MMC are introverted, cautious, nervous and soft. I don’t know that I’ve read many stories where the main characters in a relationship were so similar, but I found it worked pretty in this cozy, library setting. The characters fell a little too hard a little too early in this for my usual tastes, but there was still a lot of will they / won’t they up until the very end, which I enjoyed since the romance did move so quickly.

I love India Holton’s writing. Her vocabulary shines and makes it obvious to me that she started out in historical romance.

This was cute and if you’re looking for something cozy, this is for you. I felt bored in spots, but I appreciate this story for what it is. 3.5 stars.

[BonniePB · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Mellyd has a comfy, cozy, and lonely life as a librarian in Imerlay though that peace is potentially threatened by war. When a renegade mage from Imerlay’s rival kingdom leaves a grimoire that only she can open in Mellyd’s library, another mage named Nian shows up to shake things up a little.

Wishpun is a really cute, charming story with two of the greenest flag characters you’ll ever come across. I found myself identifying with Mellyd and Nian, who are both neurodivergent. Like usual, Holton’s prose and style are true representations of whimsical and magical. And she’s funny! And her romances are so healthy and wholesome. I did start to feel a little frustrated in the back half with the pace and certain interruptions at key romantic moments; I'm just not a fan of delayed gratification being used on repeat.

This is a good one for readers seeking a clean, cozy romantic time.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC via NetGalley.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

No spoiler review

"It's not often i look over and see you smiling at a book." My husband to me while reading Wishspun

I will preface this by setting the stage - India Holton is an auto buy author for me, I am currently reading an excessive number of cozy fantasys, and i love romance books. So when the opportunity presented itself to request India Holton's cozy cottage core romantasy I was beyond excited. I actually put down everything I was reading when it was approved and switched too it.

I adored Wishspun. I found myself rereading sentences just because of how they made me feel - at least once a chapter. Mellyd is a librarian, who desires peace and saftey. Nian is a mage, who needs to save the king who has been cursed. They find themselves allied, ready to translate a grimoior that will have the cure to the curse

The romance in this book is so soft and loving. Mellyd spends time healing, and learning more about herself. Still an introvert, but she has less fear as she grows. With Nian, she finds herself comfortable and given space to grow. They are so gentle with each other, full of care and soft edges. It is so beautiful.

All the characters in this book are so wonderful, from main to side and from the cranky king, to the gossipy neighbor, it is hard to put the book down because of the connection you feel to the story.

This is such a cozy romantasy. The big thing for me, is that if a book is going to call itself cozy, there cannot be any communication issues. And there are not any in this book!! There are conflicts sure, but Mellyd and Nian TALK


Ugh, such a beautiful story of healing from trauma and grief. This book had me smiling throughout

Thank you netgally and Berkley for the arc!

[Laura · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Wishspun is a cozy hug of a book. A slight departure from Holton's usually campy unhinged romps, Mellyd and Nian's story is so sweet it will make your teeth ache. Both shy, both not used to asking for what they want or putting themselves out there, these two were just so special. It's cozy fantasy at it's best. Thank you Berkley for the opportunity to read this one early!

[angelinabvby ۶ৎ]

got this gorgeous arc with its gorgeous cover 😻💗💐

[ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

thanks to berkeley romance for the ARC! full rtc (and yes the mmc looks like eren yeager) this is the sweetest, funniest, and most whimsical fantasy book ever read. i loved how tasteful the slowburn is, the overall dynamic of everyone in the story (found family yes!) and the cutest babies pipkin and tilly <3 i have so so much to say about how beautiful this book was 💓 india holton your writing is a gift

[M. Stevenson]

A lovely, soft dream of a book. Both main characters are very sweet, and I particularly loved that mages are all neurodivergent. Definitely a comfort read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

[Amber · Rating 2.75 out of 5]

Am I a curmudgeon? Or was this actually a cheese-fest??? 😭

I may be screwing myself out of future Berkley approvals as this was my first ever..but I just can’t get behind this one.

Going into this book, I was fully expecting Stephanie Garber-esque, whimsical vibes (which I love); but was met with an insta-lovey couple, an excessively vocal dragon who chirped nonstop, and sparkles that were everywhere. Sparkles in her belly, sparkles in the sky, sparkles in this, sparkles in that…I was fully expecting an Edward Cullen cameo at some point.

More simply put, it all felt really cheesy and more suited for a tween.

Thanks to the author, publisher (Berkley I’m sorry, pls forgive me), and NetGalley for the chance to read the advanced digital copy.

[Kayne Spooner · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Wishspun is a cozy fantasy with a quiet librarian and a royal mage who work together to save the king from a deadly curse. I was quickly swept up in the story and really enjoyed this magical world!

Mellyd finds a grimoire – a book of magic spells – that only she can open, and Nian, a royal mage, needs it to search for a cure for the king. When they realize the grimoire can only be opened by Mellyd in her library, Nian brings the king and his entourage to her little town, bringing chaos with him. I loved watching Mellyd grow in confidence as she steps outside her comfort zone to try and help Nian lift the curse. She and Nian have so much in common - they both love gardening, cold stormy weather, and quiet and their romance is sweet and tender.

The pacing slows down a little in the middle, but I love the descriptions of Mellyd’s gardens and all the delicious food she made. Holton created a world that shimmers with magic and I hope we get more stories set in this world. Thank you to the author, Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC. My full review will be at Spoonerreads.com closer to the release date, March 16th.

[Kelly · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

This book has everything you could ever want if you love cottagecore romantasies. All of the characters, including the animals, were so loveable. I found myself completely entranced by the world that was built, and I wish I could live there. India Holton makes it all sound so beautiful and dreamy. The romance was done so tastefully and it was just so wholesome. I loved being on this journey with Nian and Mellyd. I couldn’t put this down but I also never wanted it to end. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and cannot wait to receive the physical copy. The cover is just so stunning!

A huge thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, NetGalley, and India Holton for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. It was a pleasure!

[Jaimes_Mystical_Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute, cozy read! I loved following Mellyd and Nian in this story as they had to work together to decode a magical grimoire in order to save the king. I loved getting to know both the main characters, as well as Mellyd’s miniature dragon, Pipkin and cat, Tilly. I enjoyed seeing Mellyd come out of her shell in this book and liked the overall storyline of this book. Overall this was a cozy, romantic fantasy that I didn’t want to put down.

Read this if you like:

📖 Small towns
📖 Found family
📖 Introvert main characters
📖 Sweet romance

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted arc.

[Krista Kimball · Rating 5 out of 5]

India Holton does it again! She delivers a pure gem of a book that offers comfort and warmth. In Wishspun we meet Mellyd, a shy librarian with a slight fascination with magic. Her journey alone would be worth it. Wishspun though has a cast of characters you get so charmed by you can’t help but continue to read on.

Things I loved:
For those who like a no spice romance this is perfection. The yearning was so amazing.

The setting is amazing. I hope we get more in this world.

There are characters that we meet in this book that I sure hope get their own story.

If you cry easily, like I do, be prepared for some heart strings to be tugged. In the best way possible.

[Mariana ✨]

Ghibli x Anne of Green Gables oh okay this was engineered in a lab specifically for MEEE

[LeahReadsStuff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book. My review is based on that copy. The published work may differ from what I read.

I’m on the fence with this one. I was somewhat intrigued, but it has issues. The prose is rough. There are a lot of “rather”s and adverbs. It’s in need of a heavier edit. There were sentences that made no sense because they were missing words. Obviously, this is an advance copy. Hopefully they will clean it up before this is published. Aside from the technical issues, the prose style is also overwrought and purple. I wanted the author to calm down and take five steps back. The pace is also uneven and very, very slow. The story drags and meanders and wanders around.

The premise is interesting, and the tone less absurd than some of Holton’s other works. However, it has similarities that I found frustrating. The romance is ludicrous. I rolled my eyes through their entire first interaction, and continued to be annoyed throughout the entire book. Their emotional connection moves at the pace of an avalanche. It’s sappy and over the top. Mellyd is frequently treated in an infantilizing way by Nian, and most of the other characters as well. She’s babied and fussed along as if she were a child rather than an adult woman. It made me cringe. It was disappointing, because the setting was cozy and warm and fun. There was a lot of potential that was let down by poor execution.

The world and the magic system were intriguing, and I liked that the setting was less silly than India Holton’s other books. It’s a step in the right direction. However, between the issues with the prose and the flat characters, I wasn’t able to connect to the elements that interested me. And those elements are not given the same level of attention as the romance. I wanted more of the world and the plot, and less of the melodrama. The romance is so dominating and so silly that I struggled to get through the book. I spent most of my time frustrated that the author wasn’t more restrained, and wishing that the romance was less obvious and tropey.

The book didn’t work for me the way I wanted it to, but there was enough there to keep me entertained. There are some lovely emotional growth moments for Mellyd that I appreciated, and there’s a gentle, sweet tone to the story that I enjoyed. The focus on compassion and understanding was a nice choice. Overall, the story was silly and the romance unbelievable, but it was light, fluffy, and fun.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited when I was approved for this e-ARC; it sounded absolutely charming, and is by an author I’d been meaning to check out!
I was immediately disappointed to discover this is incredibly similar to The Spellshop. We have a prickly/probably autistic librarian FMC, who is doing illegal magic, has an accidentally created magical sidekick, and is hiding from a war in both books.

I’m glad I decided to keep going, however, because for the most part, this is a lovely and easy read, with its emphasis on kindness and empathy. I was frustrated, however, after Mellyd’s return to her village, where I felt the story slowed and became too repetitive. Additionally, I understand the suspension of disbelief necessary for both fantasy novels in general and cozy fantasy specifically, but I found it hard to believe a gossipy small town wouldn’t have been more into Mellyd’s business in general and would believe the king and his retinue were her family, regardless of magic.

The line “since he was dressed so richly that he could only be a king or a weapons manufacturer” made me snort. In contrast, I found it incredibly sad both that Mellyd had never hugged anyone before, and that this was basically a throwaway line before she and Nian were interrupted by the servants.

This book has beautiful writing and themes, but I felt it was rather too long and repetitive. Had that not been the case, it would be a lot stronger.

Many thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for my free e-ARC! It has not affected my honest review.

[Allison · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for sending me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pros: This was an adorably written cozy mystery that people who already like cozy mysteries and/or fairy tales will love. I liked all the characters and couldn’t help but picture this in my head as some sort of RomCom done in the style of NBC’s The Tenth Kingdom. (Alternately, it would also make a great Ghibli-esque movie, with the magic and romance of Howl’s Moving Castle and the quiet determination of Whispers of the Heart.)

Con: While I absolutely love the idea of cozy fantasy, I have come to realize that I personally prefer stories with slightly higher stakes to them and require a bit more thinking required on the part of the reader. I think a lot of people will love this book, but I need more—more explanations for things. The solving of the king’s curse, while hinted at throughout, felt a little too easy for me. And I wish we’d seen more of Calan. I know he wasn’t allowed to speak about the curse, his lack of presence was still a bit odd, and I wish we’d seen him speak to the king afterward.

I kept waffling between giving this 3 or 3.5 stars so I settled on 3.25 instead. But that’s just my personal opinion, and as I stated earlier, I think a lot more people will love this book more than I did. :)

[Emma Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that was incredibly lovely. This is a cosy fantasy about a librarian who enjoys the quiet life away from people (and enjoys weaving small wishes into the books she loans - how lovely) and the magical book she one day finds, which leads her to be tracked by a mage intent on preserving the peace between two kingdoms. The writing is so incredibly lush - I highlighted and sighed over several descriptions of nature and magic and love. This is precious. It encompasses, I think, all the feelings of spring, so it's fitting that it should be released in April. The ending turned this into a fairytale for me in the best way.

I'm only giving it four stars because I was personally bored as it's lacking in humour (don't expect India's fantasy of manners wit please, this isn't what this is for) and I think there was way too much romance for me, however lovely it is (this is primarily a romance) but if you need something gentle full of flowers and hope and love, please pick this up, it certainly delivers on that front.

My endless thanks to NetGalley & Berkley for the ARC!

[Lindsay Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an absolute joy to read. A lovely story filled with bursting gardens, a library set in a quaint country cottage, magic, romance, royalty, and so much more. I adored Mellyd and Nial. They found their way into my heart within the first chapter. All the quirky characters from Imerlay and Celindor made this a fun read guaranteed to make you giggle. Meanwhile Mellyd’s pets made it that much more cozy. I loved being immersed into their magical world. I took away a star because I felt that the cure for the king was pretty lackluster and fell pretty flat. Otherwise, it was a wonderful story! India Holton is a fantastic writer. Thank you NetGalley and India Holton for this ARC!

[cattolyst · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐ 4/5 ⭐

This book has the coziest, softest vibe. The writing is so vividly descriptive that the pacing can feel a bit slow at times, but if you're in the mood for an immersive, slow-burn atmosphere, it’s a nice read. Mellyd and Nian go together like lock and key (no, literally).

The cover is stunning; it features the comfiest shade of pink framed by gorgeous, rococo-esque floral borders. Pipkin and Tilly are my spirit animals, heh. I’m not gonna lie, this book caught my eye because I thought Eren Yeager from Attack on Titan was on the cover and that it would be an Attack on Titan-inspired story.

🧾 Review of an advance copy received from NetGalley

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was already familiar with India Holton’s work after reading The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love, and I loved how witty, charming, and fast-paced it was. So, of course, I was excited to pick up Wishspun—and it did not disappoint!

The setting, characters, and story were all so wholesome and charming. I loved getting swept up in this world and genuinely enjoyed every minute of this book! 🥰✨

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this ARC! I’m so happy I got to experience this one early. 💕

[isbah ♡]

thank you netgalley for the e-arc!!
dnf around 51% 😭 unfortunately this just did not work for me as the book went on

[Natalia · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! This one was really cute, a nice palate cleanser in between spicer/saucier/more action-packed reads. It was like a warm hug. The romance was sweet, and the main characters were lovable, and the side character animals were fun. There’s a tiny dragon who is a bit like a parrot, which I thought was adorable.

I did not, however, enjoy the pacing. The book is terribly slow and I did find myself skim reading and skipping pages…a lot of pages. Overall a 3.5 ⭐️ and not necessarily one I’d recommend as I think the majority will be bored with this one.

[Ati ୨୧]

I NEED THIS SO BAD

[Nic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

I was drawn in by the cover and the cozy quaint atmosphere. I stayed for the charm and softness exuding from each page. The plot and world was so gentle.

I loved how the characters were introverted and they came into their own and embraced their strengths throughout the book. There were so many heartwarming moments and humorous scenes.

This descriptions throughout the book add to the atmosphere and make you feel as if you’re embracing a more peaceful way of life. This book was a nice change of pace.

Recommended reading age (12 yrs+)
No Spice (just kisses)
Mild Explicit Language Use (1-10 swear words)
No Violence/Gore
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Utterly Charming

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Wishspun was a delightful and enchanting tale about a quiet village librarian who learns to come out of her shell with the help of a lively band of people and in particular thanks to the help of a gentle and kind battle-mage.

This story was lyrically beautiful. I did some research about this book prior to reading it and I learned that India Holton meant this book to be a love letter to Anne of Green Gables. I can tell you with 100% certainty that she definitely succeeded in that goal. Ironically I had just finished Anne of Avonlea a few weeks before starting this book so I was able to really recognize India Holton's love for that world reflected in her own story. It is very rare that you find a book that can make you feel with just descriptive words alone.

The plot was an interesting one. Our lovely battle-mage and MMC Nian enlists the help of Mellyd, our FMC, to help him break a complicated and temperamental curse that has been placed on his king. While Nian and Mellyd learn to navigate the magic plaguing the king, they also learn to navigate something far more complicated...romance. Since this is a cozy fantasy the plot is pretty low stakes which is nice when you are looking for something comfortable to read. The ending wrapped up the story very nicely but there is still definitely more tales that can be told in this world.

Mellyd is a very quiet FMC that will not vibe with everyone. She is very shy so she often will not speak up for herself and is very much an apologist. I didn't mind her but she was not exactly my favorite protagonist I've ever read. Nian is similar in that he is shy but a bit more outgoing than Mellyd. He was very sweet but, again, will not be everyone's cup of tea. As a couple I think they were a great match and it was nice to see their romance unfold.

I would definitely recommend this book to those who are looking for a warm, atmospheric read with beautiful writing, a fun story, and a romance that will melt your heart. While this is categorized as an adult novel, I believe it is even appropriate for upper YA readers.

I look forward to reading India Holton's backlog and any books she writes in the future!