A Healer’s Guide to Adventuring

The Healer's Guides #1

by David Green

Every hero deserves a safe place to fall apart.

Tanwin never wanted to be an Adventurer. After surviving a disastrous campaign that left her scarred in ways no potion could heal, she abandons Lanriel’s glory-seeking Adventurers' Guild and opens an apothecary instead.

Soon Tanwin spends her days helping battle-scarred heroes confront the emotional wounds no one else will treat, one steaming cup of tea at a time.

Until Lanriel’s most fearsome warrior arrives begging for help.

Fang-Ripper’s son is missing. A dragon is involved. And somehow Tanwin finds herself trekking into the dangerous Wilds with a handful of unlikely companions, a curious moondrill in her pocket, and absolutely no desire to become part of anyone's heroic quest.

But as ancient grudges resurface and war threatens to ignite between dragons and humans, Tanwin discovers that monsters are rarely who the stories claim they are.

And when the elf who has captured Tanwin’s heart is called back into peril, the peaceful life she has built begins to unravel.

A Healer’s Guide to Adventuring is a sapphic cosy fantasy with romance, perfect for fans of T.J. Klune, Rebecca Thorne, Sydney J. Shields and Travis Baltree.

Genres: Fantasy, Cozy, Lesbian

379 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 26, 2026

About the author

David Green is a neurodivergent, internationally best-selling writer of the epic and the cozy, the urban, and the fantastical.

With his character-driven dark fantasy series Empire Of Ruin, urban fantasy noir Hell In Haven starring Haven's only supernatural PI Nick Holleran, the cozy fantasy series Greton's Marvellous Maps or the upcoming cozy sapphic fantasy, A Healer's Guide to Adventuring with Boldwood Books, where therapy meets Dungeons & Dragons, David takes readers on emotional, character-driven journeys that leaves his readers wanting even more.

Hailing from the north-west of England, David now lives in County Galway on the west coast of Ireland with his partner and budding-writer son.

David is represented by Laura Bennet at LLA and, when not writing, can be found playing videogames, TTRPGs or contemplating the finer details of Middle-earth.

David is also the Chair of the British Fantasy Society.

Ask your Alexa/Rufus to notify you when I release a new title!

https://linktr.ee/davidgreenwriter

Reviews

[Maeghan 🦋 semi-hiatus · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Huge thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for a chance to review this arc!!
4.25✨
Such a unique concept! I loved this one. In a world where second-borns belong to the Adventurer’s guild… there’s bound to be a few of these people that just aren’t adventurers. Tanwin, our fmc, is one of them. She’s a gentle soul, empathetic, caring & she gets people to talk about things they never talked about before. But deadly adventures?? Not her jam.

I’ve never seen healing dealt with in such precision. It was just so well handled and I teared up in some parts because it’s relatable. I’ve mentioned this in a few of my reviews but I’ve had a very traumatic childhood. I spent a good part of my life in survival mode until I started seeing a therapist when I turned 22 and had just bought my house because suddenly… everything was resurfacing. I remember sitting in my therapist’s office for the first time, saying : « my objective is to never cry again. ».
It’s just so shocking to go through life being relatively ‘okay’ and then once you get out of survival mode… it’s as if everything just punches you right in the face. And you keep thinking : but I was okay?? Why can’t I just pretend anymore??
And this was PERFECTLY depicted. I’ve never come across a Fantasy novel that has handled this so well.

That being said, the worldbuilding & magic system were really unique. It’s a tough world, where first-borns & second-borns have no say in their lives. Their lives are predestined & no one wants to be the one to break this tradition because how hard is that? Anyone who’s ever broken a cycle knows that it’s never as easy as people make it out to be.

Different sides of healing are explored through this Cozy Fantasy and the characters were all very unique. I highly recommend this!

[Cameron Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for an advance copy.

A Healer’s Guide to Adventuring is a thrilling adventure full of heroics, hope and healing. It's not often you get to read about wounded warriors in fantasy fiction, and nobody ever talks about their mental health. Tanwin is a mind-mage, helping traumatised adventurers come to terms with the horrors of their past as well as confronting her own when she gets dragged into a perilous adventure involving dragons and the undead.

While this tale might be on the cosier side, it's not all cinnamon buns and tea (Ok, there's lots of tea!). There's a good dose of action, and it's so good to see properly terrifying dragons again!

[Julia Sarene · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Healer's Guide to Adventuring by David Green

When I shared the cover, I promised to devour this book before my tea went cold. Quest complete. I breezed through it in no time, and yes, the hedgehog did distract me a little. His name is Rundy, and he's actually a moondrill. He isn't crucial to the plot. He's more of a sweet extra, though a useful one, since he helps show emotions, especially for some of the neurodivergent characters. Mostly, though, he is cute as hell.

The story is cosy. The world it's set in is not. In Lanriel, your birth order decides your life. Firstborns live in a golden cage, a bit like royalty or mafia families of old. They don't get to choose their own path. Every decision serves the family, right down to who they marry, and whether they even like their spouse never comes up. Second-borns get handed a sword and pushed out the door to become Adventurers, ready or not. Glory is for the big names who slay dragons. Most of them are just cannon fodder, coming home short a few teammates, a few fingers, a few toes. The lucky ones only carry the nightmares.

Tanwin was always meant to heal, not to fight. She studied healing and has the heart for it. But she's a second-born, so one day the call came anyway. Her first campaign went worse than anyone could have imagined, and she came home alone. Her entire team was gone. So she did what nobody in Lanriel does. She said no. She turned her back on the Guild and on her family's expectations, knowing full well that it would bring shame on the whole house. Instead she opened an apothecary. By day she sells potions. Behind closed doors, she becomes her world's first therapist, helping Adventurers with the wounds no potion can reach.

Those sessions were my favourite part, and every single one landed for me. Reading them felt like a balm, gentle and soothing. Every character carries their own tangle of troubles, friend and foe alike. I loved brushing away the surface and following those feelings down to their hidden root. Because you can water the grass all you like. If the roots are rotting underneath, nothing will grow. Tanwin knows that. She doesn't give up at the first sign of resistance. She simply tells her clients that the first session is the hardest, and it gets easier from there. It's so spot on. You can tell David knows his way around therapy and honest self-reflection. Tanwin sums up her method best:

'The only way I know. By talking the pain out of your soul and into the world, where the Winds of the Fates can blow it away like the steam from a hot cup of tea.'

I especially loved the conversations about letting go of vengeance, about choosing to look forward instead of clutching the hate of the past. My only complaint? I wanted more. I expected the sessions to take up more of the book, so I was a little sad when the quest elbowed them into the background.

Because before long, Tanwin is trekking into the Wilds with a motley crew of battered souls. There's Fang-Ripper, the warrior famous for slaying the dragon queen's son, who might secretly prefer to be soft. There's Olan, a dwarf who no longer trusts his own choices and lets his dice make them for him. There's Neelan, a mage who sniffs smelling salts to keep his magic on a short leash. And there's Cora, an elf hungry to learn about her people and their past.

Tanwin never tries to change any of them. She helps them, and she lets them keep their quirks. As they slowly learn to trust themselves again, their problems don't vanish in a puff of magic. They shrink from walls into hurdles, and their real personalities start to peek through. The healing doesn't only flow one way, either. Tanwin gets nearly as much from her companions as they get from her. After all, every Mind-Mage needs a Mind-Mage of her own. There isn't one yet, but friends will do for now. And all it took was talking.

But the people who came to her weren't in need of fixing. They weren't defective.
They were people. People who needed help, self-compassion and love. Kindness too, from themselves and others.

The healing feels true to life, too. Progress is never a straight line. A character can be doing well one day, stumble back the next, and find their feet again the day after. David captures that back and forth beautifully. Bit by bit, the group learns to live without their crutches and without violence. They learn to forgive each other, the world and, most importantly, themselves.

Compared to David's Greton's Marvellous Maps series, starting with Magic, Maps, and Mischief, this book leans much harder into romance. Greton is asexual, which suits my personal taste, and the romance there is barely two shakes of the salt shaker. Here it isn't the main ingredient, but it is definitely a strong flavour. Think cosy with romance, not romance with cosy.

Tanwin and Cora worked well for me as a couple. They were friends first, just a little stuck and not quite brave enough. Once things finally clicked, it moved fast, but it felt earned, because they'd had years to build trust. Their quiet moments are lovely:

'Do you listen to my heartbeat often?'
'Yes. It's how I know when you need me.'
I always need you.

What didn't work for me was the one sex scene. It isn't super graphic, but it's far more detailed than I needed. I'd always pick a fade to black, and the wording in these scenes makes me cringe, here and in nine out of ten books I read. I don't mind erotica and pick it up now and then, but fantasy is what I love. It's a bit like Brussels sprouts and chocolate. When I'm really hungry, a plate of sprouts can hit the spot. Chocolate, though, I'll always love. And throwing sprouts in when I'm craving dessert doesn't help. It just ruins both. That's the only reason I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as Greton's adventures.

The quest itself is fine. It's really the window dressing for the emotional journey, and some of it wraps up a little too easily. It carries the feel of the book rather than being the hook, and it never pretends otherwise.

A Healer's Guide to Adventuring is a hot cup of tea for battered souls. Come for the dragon, stay for the therapy, and leave a little kinder to yourself.

[Abbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a unique and fantastic take on the healer-mage in adventure stories. David Green does an amazing job of handling PTSD and wounded warriors - we see so many variations of how it impacts adventurers, from misuse of alcohol and salts (their version of drugs) to decision paralysis to anxiety and depression to wanting to end things.

And Tanwin, despite her own trauma and panic attacks and physical manifestation of her mental struggles, knows that the answer to help so many of these traumatized warriors is taking the time to heal and talk through their struggles. In a world where adventurers/warriors are expected to fall in line and just keep going, she offers space to heal. And when she's kidnapped and taken on an adventure against her will by the most famous warrior she treats, who is trying to rescue his son from the dragon, she does some healing of her own and learns more about herself as she's trying to help each person in the team recover and survive this journey.

That's not to say the world-building isn't great, though. Underneath the coziness and the tea and the found family is a society built on lies and strict societal roles - the First Borns are trapped handling the family business and finances, marrying who their family expects, while Second Borns are required to be adventurers, fighting the enemies and bring home loot and rewards. Part of the healing of these adventurers is learning how broken their society is, but knowing that society itself will also take time to heal. Green handles it all incredibly well, from the individual steps toward healing of all the team members, including Tanwin, and the revelations about society and the ways it needs to heal itself.

Genuinely fantastic concept and book. Green is an amazing writer and I've come to completely trust him to handle complex topics like PTSD and neurodivergence, while also giving us a great story.

[Beba Andric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced advanced copy of this book and I couldn't have been more delighted, both at the honour and at the read.

David is undoubtedly the master of prologues, with a few paragraphs he has ability for me to sit up straight, his prose, oh dear lordie, his prose is exquisite! Rich and glorious, it's some of the tastiest I've ever experienced, his storytelling, a dessert as delectably flavoured as a slice of mille feuille, every layer uncovered a new piece of heaven.

Tanwin had a few things going against her, she was second born in a society that scoffed at second borns, she was "radical" in her thinking and approach to healing, she was not a conformist. She's a healer, not a fighter. Every citizen of Lanriel who's a second born, must do their part in "adventuring", conform to the Guild's dictates but, unfortunately, through no fault of her own, Tanwin's one and only attempt ended in disaster. Now, not only does she bear the stigma of "second born", she's a disappointment to her family, she's literally ousted as an embarrassment of the mighty El-Massa family. So she built a life for herself, a pretty darn good one too! Her unique healing abilities start to pay dividends but she's in danger of losing it all, thanks to her father. But then, oh goodness, THEN, one of her patients, abducts her, forcing her to join him on his quest to find his son, who went after a dragon, to prove he too could slay a dragon as his father, Fang Ripper had. Dragons hadn't been seen for many a year, yet one, the deadliest, Feraxis, who's very presence put the fear of the gods in Tanwin.

So here they are, the weirdest bunch of misfits, stepping out into the unknown, going where few have ever returned from and facing dangers that were even more horrifying than a dragon. Golly did David capture these characters outstandingly, I knew each one, I felt each one. Cora, an Elf and the object of Tanwin's desire; Neelan, a mage who's more drunk than capable; Olan, who needs a throw of the dice to decide for him and Tanwin herself, who's petrified of the entire quest. Her guilt and grief of her prior Adventuring is almost paralysing. The overriding thread is, they are broken, to some degree or another and not physically but mentally. Heck did David throw a curve ball! I was so not ready for the assault on the group, I was so not ready for the fierce action but blow by blow, heart thump by heart thump, I survived alongside the crew. The genius of this author is his immense knowledge of his reader, he sets up "one story" just to get you comfortable, then tosses accelerant into the fire, blowing any complacency aside and then he brings a positive right in the middle of the carnage. In fact, he never allows the thread of hope to be extinguished, the embers spark and flame, just like his characters, just like his plot, just like his twists, the fire roars to life. And there's dragons... awesome, emotionally distraught dragons...

What an amazing FMC Tanwin is, besides the fact that she had my utmost emotional support and sympathy from the onset, the rawness of her pain, the depth of her guilt screams from the pages. This "outsider" is so much more intricate than just a healer, the need in her to help others is intense, but she herself is intense. She hears more loudly than others, she sees more vividly than others, she feels more more than others, a true empathetic person. And when she starts to hear, see and feel something that should be impossible, lots of "Ooo" escaped from me! Expertly tucked within the folds of the story, shoot, it only enticed me more! Her little bonded friend, Rundy is so darling, she would never need a mood ring with him reflecting her emotions with his fur changing colour. This is another of David's skills, the simple is made superb, the downtrodden is depicted humanely and sensitivity. Tanwin is far from "just a healer" she might not be a mage, but the title bestowed upon her of Mind Mage, couldn't be more true. She's so dedicated in the "whole" something most don't take seriously, but these words are the soul of the story, of her, "Healing, is equal measures heart, body, mind and soul" While she utters words such as these, "Courage comes from within, when all is lost, you must believe in yourself", she struggles to apply them to herself. But she learns, she discovers, not only of herself, of who she really is but truths that have been hidden, truths she swore to expose.

What an incredible lighthearted, intense read this was, lighthearted in tone, intense in content. Vital in information of an ailment stymied in mystery and, dare I say, shame. Tackled with sensitivity, while shining a light on the complexity of the mind and the healing that "getting it off your chest" can accomplish. A perfect balance of fantasy, action, discovery of oneself, facing ones fears and overcoming them. Once you get past the thorns that draw blood, the truth is, there is a hero in all of us, if we'd just allow it to come to the fore, if we'd just allow the past to dissolve, if we'd just acknowledge that we are all broken in some way or another but we can all be put together again. Truth is liberating. The ending filled me with warmth, I shed a tear at the beauty of it and I had an urge to have a nice cup of tea....This is a fabulous feel good read, a truly outstanding read, this is another David masterpiece!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cosy! A beautifully portrayed autistic main character, so many depictions of trauma done realistically and respectfully. I love them all and I hurt for them all and it's lovely watching them grow and walk their individual healing journeys. Also there's dragons and who doesn't love dragons! I can't wait to read more in this series!

[Samantha Sturtz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I was drawn to this book for the cover art, the mention of dragons & an apothecary as well as the cozy romance. Not to mention the prelude being about having tea with a warrior named Fang-Ripper - of course I need to know more about how that came about.

The story follows Tanwin a second-born who was supposed to be an adventurer but finds herself shunned and running an apothecary instead. She helps adventurers with their feelings and trauma while dealing with her own trauma and grief. Then she finds herself on another adventure with Fang-Ripper where she’s taken along to me the Mind-Mage to the adventurers.

The story focuses on letting go of vengeance, healing, looking forward, bravery and being kind to yourself.

This is the perfect book to grab, curl up with a warm blanket & a cup of tea and prepare to come out feeling lighter once you make it through.


For fans of
Sapphic romance
Cozy fantasy
Found family

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to snag a pre release copy of this book at a convention and it is simply delightful! In short, it’s about giving (much needed) therapy to DnD characters.

Tanwin is a ‘failed’ adventurer who turns to mind healing, and who gets swept up into a quest to save the son of a client. I loved seeing her face her fears and really grow into her all-new profession. Her party all have their own problems and I enjoyed seeing them all grow and heal along the journey. It’s an adventure, but a kind one.

If you’re a fan of cosy with a bit of romance, but want to travel outside the bounds of an independent commercial enterprise, or if you’ve played DnD and wanted to give your characters a hug: this is the book for you!

[Tenille · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC

This was an amazing read from start to finish.
A Healer’s Guide to Adventuring explores the challenges of facing one's demons and allowing yourself to heal. This story is breathtaking, heartwarming and will have you cheering on the characters as you follow them along on their journey.
Highly recommend to those who are thinking of reading this book and those who aren’t. It’s an amazing read you won’t regret.

P.S. I will forever be wishing for a snuggle with the adorable Rundy.

[Brian O'Hara · Rating 5 out of 5]

completely new take on both cosy fantasy and epic fantasy, merging the two and adding therapy. a great concept and brilliantly realised by an author who keeps getting better and better

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a world teeming with bold adventurers, whose grand feats form tales greater than themselves, there is one who pays mind to the truth behind the stories: the pain, the fear, the quiet hope for a safer life.

I am very fond of this book. It tells the story of a woman who helps heroes work through the impacts of the horrors they have faced. In doing so, she also learns to accept her own past. I loved the concept, and the way the experiences of the heroes she helped shaped the overall story; as each of their tales unraveled, so did the truth of the world around them. The setting was so vibrant and unique - I am still lost in the vastness of long-forgotten cities and endless mountain ranges. I love it when places depicted in stories hold their own lost histories. It's giving Lord of the Rings, or At the Mountains of Madness.

I do think the plot was sometimes a bit on the nose with its depiction of therapy work, and in some cases subplots wrapped up a bit too tidily for my usual liking, but at the same time those elements made it feel like a very cosy and satisfying read, less challenging than the typical fantasy novel, which is not a bad thing! In many ways, the ease with which complex stories resolved was hopeful. It made it easier to consume stories of grief and loss, knowing that the characters were on a path of healing.

As for the characters themselves, I thoroughly enjoyed how distinct and alive each of them felt. They all had their quirks and their problems and their layered personalities, and I found something to adore in each of them! The group dynamic was also very fun and engaging, and it rarely felt like the whole world revolved around the protagonist. The romance (queer f/f) was so sweet and well-paced, with a good balance of yearning and "almosts" before they finally came together. I also thought the story did an excellent job of establishing a boundary between the people the protagonist was helping, and her love interest; there was no "therapist-patient" dynamic within the romance, which was a relief!

Overall, this was a lovely and cosy read that left me feeling warm and satisfied. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a chance to read the ARC!


Potential TWs I noticed: alcohol and substance abuse (fantasy substances) are present with one character, but the focus is on recovery and the addiction aspect was not explored in too much detail.

[James Thomson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tamwin is a mind mage. Well, really, she’s the first therapist in a world filled with dragons and danger, and the adventurers who have to deal with the resulting trauma on a daily basis would at least like to believe she’s got some magic to help them. When the most famous hero of them all turns up at her door, she’s happy to do what she can to help, but things quickly escalate into a full-blown adventure to help rescue his son.

The party is all damaged in some way or another, and the quest itself is near hopeless, but one bright spot is Cora the elf, who Tamwin has been quietly pining after for the best part of a decade. And she would happily continue to quietly pine after her for another ten as well, rather than act on her feelings. Tamwin has her own burdens, and definitely doesn’t want to be one for anybody else. And when you are the first therapist, who do you get to talk to?

I was introduced to the book through an entertaining panel on exploring the mental health of your characters at Fantasycon 2026. While this is pitched as a cosy sapphic fantasy, and has all the trappings of your typical fantasy novel, the problems everybody has to deal with are very real and real world, and I think cosy does go out the window somewhat when people are being incinerated by dragons all around you. Still, I enjoyed this a lot, and David Green is clearly writing this from a place of love and personal experience, if probably not the dragon part. It gets to do one of my favourite things from TTRPGs as well, the romance is sweet, and Tamwin has a cute animal companion, so it does tick many boxes for me.

I enjoyed the writing and world building overall, though there’s one sex scene that worked a little less for me in the context of the story. However, I’m glad to see that there’s another book in the series on the way next year, and so will happily read more.

Thanks to Boldwood Books for the review copy.

[Wendy · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley

An adventurer turned apothecary owner has to come back from retirement when the town hero's son goes missing and there are dragons involved.

I have to say I generally liked this book, but some things I really did not. I'll start with the good (and great).

I loved the plot. Simple as that. I feel like it's a different take on the classic adventure and it kept me involved the whole time. The fmc is also great. We are talking about an autistic human that was thrown into a career that she couldn't choose nor want and got scarred by it. She is kind, gentle, empathetic and soft, because she has learnt to live with her pain and deal with it the healthy way. I loved the positive representation of therapy and healthy masculinity and the hopeful feeling about healing. I liked that we are open to a sequel but it does not end on a cliffhanger. I also really like tea so...

However, I would not define this as cosy. There is so much trauma (well dealt with to be frank) for me to find this a cosy read. I do recognise that the feel-good and hopeful outlook possibly characterises this as cozy, but the story itself... Not so much. Also I normally don't expect spicy scenes in my cosy read, so I wasn't ready for that and I did not enjoy it much to be honest. But if it's your thing, it's well written (only one scene).

One thing I did not dislike but would have preferred different is the end, because I feel like the resolution comes a little too fast and I would have liked to know more. That was possibly a decision in view of a sequel, but still...

All in all it was a good book, and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to read it in advance!

[Ly ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

when i say this book has it all:
- cozy fantasy quest
- neurodivergent representation
- sweet, sapphic romance
- found family
- dragons!!!

FMC tanwin is a healer, not a fighter. after quitting adventuring due to a traumatic campaign, she becomes a mind-mage. her mission is to help other adventurers talk through issues that are never touched upon in your typical fantasy novel - trauma, grief, addiction, forgiveness. tanwin has just begun to make a name for herself when one of her clients presents her with a dangerous quest far from home... but he can't complete the quest without her mind-mage abilities. will tanwin be able to brave the wilds again in order to help lanriel's most renowned adventurer find his missing son?

my review:
a truly unique concept with great execution!! this is a beautifully written cozy fantasy novel in a DND-style setting, but also so much more than that. while the book is unmistakably comforting and whimsical, the content is also intense, emotional and action-packed, with a society built on deceit and exploitation at its core. it explores themes of vengeance and forgiveness, but most importantly personal healing.

the world building is excellent, the characters are all loveable and their dynamic as a group is great. this will make an amazing series and i am already excited for the next book!! i did struggle to get started at first but i'm glad i stuck with it.

if you love cozy fantasy, you need to get cozied with this book, a scented candle and a calming cup of herbal tea asap!!!

thank you to NetGalley, author David Green, and publisher Boldwood Books for providing an eARC of this book - this was my first ARC and it did not disappoint at all !!

[Eric Hoplite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for an advanced reader's copy through Net Galley.

After finishing this book, I described it to a friend as 'cosy fantasy where therapy saves the day'.

To start with, I really enjoyed the worldbuilding, especially the very detailed descriptions of the different cities and outposts and the how society functioned under the stranglehold of the Adventurer's Guild. A lot of fantasy settings feel either cribbed from Tolkien or a done as a real human culture with the numbers filed off, but the world here felt novel (which I appreciated!). It was also a queernormative setting, and we always need more of those.

As a mental health professional, I liked how Tarwin's 'mind magic', her healing practice, evolved to fit both her clients and the situation. She came across as a character not afraid to explore her own issues and trauma alongside those of her clients/fellow adventurers, which is very important - many therapists have their own therapists. The issues discussed (addiction, posttraumatic distress, physical disability, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, autism) were done so in a very respectful and natural way, taking a holistic approach to these characters as individuals and not just representatives of specific issues.

The romance was cute and while it played an intricate part of the plot, it wasn't the whole of the plot and opened the door to a lot of questions about the various races of Lanriel.

On the whole, I loved this book and am eagerly awaiting the next in the Healer's Guide series.

[The Lit · Rating 3 out of 5]

🚨 SPOILER ALERT: READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
​I am giving A Healer's Guide to Adventuring by David Green a 3-star review! ⭐⭐⭐
​A cozy fantasy quest packed with wholesome healer magic, whimsical creatures, and adventuring party tropes, though a very slow pace made it a struggle to stay fully invested. 🌿🧪🐉✨
​ARC Disclosure: A big thank you to NetGalley, author David Green, and publisher Boldwood Books for providing an advance digital review copy (eARC) of this book! All thoughts, fanatical reactions, and honest reflections shared in this review are entirely my own.
​The Review
​Though I recognize the good parts here... I had to force myself to finish because it felt slow, too slow at times, and I just couldn't connect.
​The Good
​Vivid worldbuilding, creative healer magic mechanics, charming adventuring party dynamics, and a whimsical cozy fantasy atmosphere that fans of slow-paced quests might really enjoy!
​The Not So Good
​The ultra-slow pacing made it feel like a drag at times, making it hard to build a strong personal connection to the story and characters.

[Amanda Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

love, love, love this book!

surprised to see it pushed so much as a romantasy. there is definitely a slow burn romance that is central to the story and characters - plus one or two spicy scenes - but this doesn't adhere to the shallowness often found in that genre. there is deep character work because therapy and healing is the key here. as tanwin often says "healing doesn't come in a straight line" and this story is about the path to healing, not the instant gratification.

that said, there are plenty of action scenes, humour, fun and adventure. but there are plenty of pauses to take a look at the characters we read about - how the world effects them, how their pasts haunt them. such a unique concept that doesn't just pay lip service to its themes. honestly, one or two reviews on here as shocked me - did people except one therapy session to solve everyone's problems? reading literacy shocks me these days! again, maybe because this is being aimed at the romantasy reader. books used to have depth and themes beyond hotness!

[Daniela · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

NetGalley Advance Ready Copy Review:

A heartwarming cozy fantasy novel. The style is a bit hard to get used to at first - too many imaginary concepts strewn together at too quick a pace and without being essential to the world building. It immediately made me think, this must be how a Dungeons and Dragon’s dungeon master sounds (and of course, in the end acknowledgements, the author mentioned he’s a D&D player). Perhaps just a niche fantasy style that isn’t really my favorite style..

That said, once I got 30% into the book, I really started to enjoy it. I was glad I gave the book a chance. I loved the whole concept of the Mind-Mage, and that healing the mind and working through trauma was essential to each character’s development. Not to mention, who doesn’t love a sweet, pansexual, polycule loving all powerful wizard trying to overcome an addiction? Who doesn’t root for a shy, sensitive herbalist/therapist who wants to build her own life on her own terms and get it on with her wild, redheaded elfen bestie? I ended up really loving the characters and wanting them to succeed in their mission and thrive in their lives.

Overall, kudos to the author for writing a fantasy book about the importance of therapy!

[Rudi McKay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this one! There is something so enjoyable about a story that combines adventure, magic, healing, and a little romance. I really enjoyed the idea of a healer helping adventurers deal with the emotional and physical aftermath of their quests. It added a different layer to the fantasy genre, reminding us that even the people who save the day sometimes need someone to help put them back together.

The characters, the world, and the adventure pulled me in, and the sapphic romance was definitely an added bonus. I will never complain about a little sapphic love woven into a good fantasy story! It brought another layer of warmth to an already wonderful read.

This was such a fun, heartfelt adventure, and I loved the balance of fantasy, relationships, and healing. Definitely a book I'd recommend, especially to readers who enjoy fantasy with a little romance and plenty of heart.

A wonderful read, and the sapphic representation made it even better!

[ech0reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for kindly giving me an ARC.

This was a really unique twist of on the classic fantasy genre. The focus on Tanwin treating adventurers who were suffering from PTSD because of what they'd been through with talking therapy was so cool. It was really interesting to see the after for once. I feel like a lot of books focus on the adventuring and not so much on how that leaves the characters after the job is done. It almost filled a niche that I wasn't aware I needed but absolutely love.

The world-building was really cool. I thought the hierarchy of siblings was so fascinating and it added a lot to the dynamic between Tanwin and her sister, as well as how Tanwin interacted with the adventurers. The sapphic romance was very sweet.

Overall, this was a really solid fantasy read.

[Ash Taylor · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy.

A Healer's Guide to Adventuring takes a different approach to the classic healer archetype: instead of being someone who heals with magic, the titular character of Tanwin is a therapist. Unable to confront her own trauma, she helps others with theirs, and makes new friends and startling discoveries along the way.
While this was an enjoyable, and easy read, owing to it's straight forward, character-driven plot, and language choices, I was left wishing there was a bit more depth to it. It will absolutely appeal to fans of cosy fantasy; anyone who enjoyed Becky Chambers' Monk and Robot books or Travis Baldtree's Legends and Lattes will enjoy a Healer's Guide to Adventuring.

[Farah G · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

A disastrous campaign with the Adventurers Guild leaves Tanwin not only battle-scarred but also deeply weary of the glory hounds that the organisation is populated with. Doing a complete volte face, she chooses instead a more peaceful civilian life, consisting primarily of ministering to others like her.

Until a most unexpected combination of circumstances leads Tanwin back into the life of an adventurer,. plunged into unlikely company and unanticipated challenges. Not to mention, a little romance on the side...

This is a charming story that will appeal to readers who enjoy world building fantasy with humour and heart. It easily earns 3.5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Melissa Givens · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I originally thought this book was going to be adventure based but it ended up being about a group of adventurers learning how to deal with their traumas. Tanwin (FMC) was called a mind mage and was thought to be magic. What she really did was provide tea and therapy to other survivors. She finds herself with an unlikely band of adventurers out on a quest to help someone find their son; and dealing with an angry and grieving dragon along the way.

This story was unique and fun, and not what I expected. I enjoyed the last half of the book more, the beginning was a little slow paced for me. If you enjoy cozy, happy ending books then you'll love this book!

[Violetdazey · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Thank you netgalley & publishers for the arc of this book 🐉🍯🍲🧉
⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔

What a cozy read with alot of emotions involved, I never imagined a book with such cute and cozy themes could integrate such depth of emotions and portrayal of ptsd of being dragged into a responsibility you didn't want and face quite literally the scare of death but here we are and the fact that the healing concept of it and therapy with mix of potion like drinks, along with experiences of various adventurer I absolutely loved reading this book on a Sunday to wind down from my own hectic routine of life, the author is talented and I cannot wait to hear about more books from them 🍃🔮

[Erin Edwards-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, I loved this book. I love the ACOTAR series, and this book absolutely scratched that itch for me. It’s a cosy and comforting read, which I really enjoyed.

A couple of things which would have made it 5*; there was no map (I had an ARC, so there’s a possibility it wasn’t included on the file), but I would really have benefited in my mind from a map of the different places and their location to each other. In a spicy scene, Tanwin’s vagina is refered to as her “domain”, it only happened once but it gave me 50 Shades of Grey flashbacks, and it felt a little out of kilter with the rest of the writing for me.

Overall a fantastic read, and I would recommend ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This sounds really cute, but I could not get into it. The writing is so overdone, so overwrought. The characters seem strong, the built universe has promise-- there's no need for the author to use so many tricks to dial up the tension. Trust your story!

The writing also contained a constant stream of fragments, none of which mirrored typical speech patterns. Those, combined with the very "artistic" deployment of commas, had me regularly rereading sentences just to figure out what they were saying, or trying to say.

Best for readers who can float along on vibes.

eARC from NetGalley.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new favorite. How has this not been explored in fantasy before? Im glad it has now. Tanwin is a Mind-Mage, a therapist, and the first one in the world of Lanriel. But she needs as much care as do the people she conducts sessions with. Who will Mind-Mage the Mind-Mage? Can the kindness of words and empathy help untangle trauma and a society built on explotation and warfare? Can I get my own Rundy?

A wonderful book.

[Mariah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A whimsical adventure with a heavy focus on romance. If you love a cozy adventure, sweet banter, and the lengthy conversations in D&D then you will love this. I came into this looking for a bit more adventure and introspection. I appreciate the speculative take on this narrative and ace representation – but was not for me. However, the writing is both eloquent and eccentric.

Thank you for this advanced digital copy!

[Sammi Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the coziness of the adventure. I love my cozy fantasies to have some sort of loose plot, and A Healer's Guide to Adventuring fit that bill to a tee. Tanwin was a great main character, and I love the tidbits that felt like she was a therapist for Fang-Rider.. Overall, this is a nice "break" book; it helps get you out of your head but isn't too heavy itself.

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the chance to review this early.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

a fresh take on both cozy and fantasy, taking a deeper look at the characters who take part in these tales. there's a slow burn romance too which is quite central. those looking for the normal romantic tropes and low character development might be in for a surprise here - there's proper work done. like therapy, this is a journey. the theme is extremely well baked into the premise.