The Last Room in Haven House

by M. Kayes

The magical found family of Howl’s Moving Castle gets a D&D-flavored twist in this close-to-cozy debut fantasy by M. Kayes!


Magical narrating houses, meatloaf-making paladins, androids in sweaters, and demons who love doing the dishes


When a centuries-old sea elf claims an abandoned house in the human realm as his kingdom, he has only one goal in mind: To create a restful place for anyone who needs it. But a house can do more with an ocean of magic than Fane imagined, and providing a safe haven for some of the most persecuted people in the past, present, and future means his own rest is often hard to find. There is only one room left in Haven House, and this time, Fane fears even an ocean of magic may not be enough.

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The Last Room in Haven House is a warmhearted slice-of-life fantasy perfect for fans of Travis Baldree, Rebecca Thorne, Sangu Mandanna, and TJ Klune!

Genres: Cozy, Queer, Adult

306 pages, Paperback

First published August 25, 2026

Reviews

[Amanda]

I’m not usually a fan of cozy fantasy stories, but I absolutely loved this one. I loved all the characters. They were each different but complimented each other beautifully. I would even say that this had more of an ensemble feel even though most of the story is from Fanes POV. I also thought the author did an amazing job of bringing all different sorts of people together and it worked.

I loved the idea of a Haven house. For those that felt they didn’t belong anywhere could find rest at Haven house. It didn’t mean they didn’t have problems but it meant that they weren’t alone.

So many beautiful conversations about death, asking for help, making a difference doesn’t have to be “big”, being yourself, found family.

This didn’t leave on a cliffhanger but it definitely left it open for a book two and I’m going to keep my fingers crossed that happens.

Also, the cover art is beautiful!

I highly recommend this one.

[Corin.garbe.2]

Delightful novel focused on a eclectic and unique set of characters.

[Bones99]

It's not often you get to support your local independent book store AND a local author with the same person. We were lucky enough to get to do both when we picked up this book. This is a cute cozy mystical story. Tons of different magical beings who manage to live together in a house built to allow individuals a place to rest when they have no where else to go. Each character has their own story to tell and I hope the author creates stories for each one. From young children who are supposed to be evil but learn that you can honor your heritage while respecting others, to an older elf trying decide if he is too old to keep giving of himself and realizing you don't have to do everything alone. A cute fun read.

[Cindi]

Who doesn’t love a found family of misfits? M. Kayes did amazing job of bringing characters to life in this book of giving people a chance, remembering to ask for help, and actively searching for joy in each aspect of life. They bring adorable moments as well as thoughtful moments throughout the book. If you are a fan of House on the Cerulean Sea, you are sure to love this book 💚💖🌼

[Mark Adams]

This is an absolutely beautiful story that will surely make you smile and contemplate the biggest questions in life. If you love fantasy with elements of whimsical children and magic, you will adore this book. Fans of howl’s moving castle, and the house on the cerulean Sea will treasure this book as well!

[Dahlia]

This book has made me realize that 'close-to-cozy' is exactly the kind of cozy I love. It's not entirely zero stakes, but it also isn't a massive world-build of complex plot lines. There's romance, but it's not over dramatic third-act-breakups and forced miscommunication.

The characters have depth, they grow alongside each other as the story progresses, and the book takes you through phases of feeling relaxed and a little anxious and very sad. Literally a book that I can say 'I laughed, I cried, I raged'

It's a cathartic rollercoaster ride through the emotional spectrum, and I loved every moment.

[Jerica Etheridge]

What a wonderful book, I absolutely loved it! If you liked House on the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, this is a must read. An excellent debut novel…I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

[Grace Anne]

if you love good omens (and other Terry Pratchett) and t kingfisher's Swordheart and Nine Goblins, then this debut fantasy is for you!!

- magical house (the first few chapters, I kept saying it was like, Encanto meets The Muppets)

- found family (my favorite, every time)

- caretakers learning how to take care of themselves

- lovable cast of characters

- love (and a good backup plan) wins, everytime

every character in that house was a cutie patootie, and i LOVE it