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Cooking Up Magick
She only wanted to travel the world—now she has to save it.
Paisley Dell is a halfling chef with a simple dream: learn to cook foreign cuisines and bring warmth to the world one meal at a time. But her peaceful culinary quest derails the moment she stumbles upon a talking cat, meets a dragon in disguise, and unleashes magick no one has wielded in five centuries. Now an ancient sorcerer wants her dead.
Paisley and her new friends—a pair of loyal dwarves, a wandering high elf, and an honorable half orc who believes their fates are intertwined—race against the shadow of a rising war.
As the sorcerer’s assassin draws closer, Paisley must navigate sieges, secrets, and her bewildering new powers… all while trying to protect the people she loves.
She never asked to be a hero. She just wanted to cook—but Cooking Up Magick is exactly what destiny’s recipe calls for.
Legends and Lattes meets The Lord of the Rings. Cozy fantasy warmth meets epic fantasy stakes in a story where kindness, love, and community aren't weaknesses to overcome, but the very strengths that win wars.
Great for fans of T. Kingfisher.
Paisley Dell is a halfling chef with a simple dream: learn to cook foreign cuisines and bring warmth to the world one meal at a time. But her peaceful culinary quest derails the moment she stumbles upon a talking cat, meets a dragon in disguise, and unleashes magick no one has wielded in five centuries. Now an ancient sorcerer wants her dead.
Paisley and her new friends—a pair of loyal dwarves, a wandering high elf, and an honorable half orc who believes their fates are intertwined—race against the shadow of a rising war.
As the sorcerer’s assassin draws closer, Paisley must navigate sieges, secrets, and her bewildering new powers… all while trying to protect the people she loves.
She never asked to be a hero. She just wanted to cook—but Cooking Up Magick is exactly what destiny’s recipe calls for.
Legends and Lattes meets The Lord of the Rings. Cozy fantasy warmth meets epic fantasy stakes in a story where kindness, love, and community aren't weaknesses to overcome, but the very strengths that win wars.
Great for fans of T. Kingfisher.
- GenresFantasyCozy Fantasy
426 pages, Paperback
Published October 13, 2026
About the author
H.L. Bernabe
3 books44 followersHL Bernabe wrote her first story at age seven: a tale of horror and woe involving a nine-foot-tall stick of celery that followed her home and tried to eat her. She still doesn’t trust celery.
That early flair for storytelling eventually led to a filmmaking degree with an emphasis on screenwriting, and two decades spent GM-ing tabletop RPGs—training that turns out to be excellent practice for building fantasy worlds. When the pandemic hit, she channeled the extra time into writing, completing three books of her fantasy epic, The Dell Chronicles, in just sixteen months. Cooking Up Magick, Book One in the series, releases in October.
HL lives in the high desert of Central Oregon, where the mountains are tall, the summers are hot, and the winters go on a little too long. When she’s not writing, she’s probably being supervised by one of her cats.
That early flair for storytelling eventually led to a filmmaking degree with an emphasis on screenwriting, and two decades spent GM-ing tabletop RPGs—training that turns out to be excellent practice for building fantasy worlds. When the pandemic hit, she channeled the extra time into writing, completing three books of her fantasy epic, The Dell Chronicles, in just sixteen months. Cooking Up Magick, Book One in the series, releases in October.
HL lives in the high desert of Central Oregon, where the mountains are tall, the summers are hot, and the winters go on a little too long. When she’s not writing, she’s probably being supervised by one of her cats.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this story! I loved the characters, and Paisley is such a fun FMC. A halfling sorcerer? So cool! And a talking cat? All there.
This had all the cozy fantasy vibes I love but enough action to keep me turning the pages. Before I knew it, I was at the end and honestly a little sad the story was over... for now.
The world was incredible, the banter was great, and the characters were so much fun. Definitely a world I recommend falling into!
This had all the cozy fantasy vibes I love but enough action to keep me turning the pages. Before I knew it, I was at the end and honestly a little sad the story was over... for now.
The world was incredible, the banter was great, and the characters were so much fun. Definitely a world I recommend falling into!
October 14, 2026
I can not recommend this enough. You have to add it to your list if you love cozy fantasy.Paisley Dell is a halfling chef who dreams of traveling the world, learning new cuisines, and bringing a little warmth to people through food. Girl same lol Well, that plan goes completely off the rails when she meets a talking cat, discovers a dragon hiding in plain sight, and accidentally unleashes magic that hasn’t been seen in 500 years. Suddenly she’s being hunted by an ancient sorcerer and somehow finds herself responsible for helping save the world.Along the way, Paisley ends up surrounded by the most unexpected group of friends a pair of dwarves, a wandering high elf, and a half orc who is convinced their destinies are connected. Together they’re facing a growing war, dangerous secrets, an assassin, and powers Paisley is still trying to understand.What I loved most is that this story doesn’t make kindness and community feel like weaknesses. They’re actually what make these characters strong. I loved the combination of food, found family, magic, and adventure.If you like the cozy feel of Legends & Lattes but want a little more Lord of the Rings style adventure, this is definitely one to pick up!
October 30, 2026
Give me a fantasy world with questionable maps, ancient infrastructure, and people arguing over how to get somewhere, and you’ve got my attention. HL Bernabe’s Cooking Up Magick understands the entertainment value of a journey that requires actual planning. Roads matter. Terrain matters. So do supplies, transportation, and the irritating fact that everyone travels at a different speed. Paisley Dell’s wish to explore the world’s cuisines provides an appealing starting point, but what caught my interest was how thoroughly Bernabe thinks through the world she’ll have to cross. Erdea has the accumulated history of a place people have been building, fighting over, and making themselves comfortable in for centuries. Even its old magick has practical consequences for the people living there now.
I particularly enjoyed the attention to work and expertise. Botany, medicine, languages, agriculture, and military strategy all get their moment, and knowledge can change the possibilities of a scene. Buckley’s fascination with plants is a good example of how a character’s profession becomes part of the adventure’s machinery. Bernabe also explores how societies decide which talents deserve respect and who’s allowed to pursue them. Expectations around gender, ancestry, and family status influence people’s choices, sometimes painfully. Those pressures give the different cultures something more substantial than distinctive clothing or unfamiliar names. You start to understand what it would feel like to grow up inside their rules. The pronunciation guide and glossary are useful additions for readers who enjoy examining the details of an invented world.
The approach to magick held my interest, too. Learning involves experimentation, imperfect explanations, physical effort, and the occasional spectacular mistake. There’s something satisfying about watching people work out what an ability does and how to use it responsibly. That same practical curiosity carries into the larger conflict. Leaders have to consider what they know, what they’re guessing, and what they can afford to risk. Bernabe gives these decisions space, so the political and military stakes develop through discussions as well as action. The shifting viewpoints help here: you can follow different interpretations of the same situation and watch uncertainty become a source of tension. There’s a distinctly tabletop-adventure pleasure in seeing a difficult problem approached by people with different skills and incomplete information.
The book’s voice is loose, cheeky, and comfortable being outrageous. Its dialogue includes swearing, rude jokes, and the kind of exasperated remarks people make when a situation has become thoroughly ridiculous. Alongside that humor, Bernabe writes violence with blunt physical detail and takes the consequences seriously. Moving between those registers gives the novel an unruly energy that I found memorable. The descriptive passages also make good use of space, particularly when the setting shifts between open country and the built environment of the dwarven kingdom. As the opening installment of a larger story, it offers plenty for readers who enjoy learning how a fantasy world functions while an adventure gathers momentum. Cooking Up Magick makes the workings of its world as compelling as the dangers waiting inside it.
I particularly enjoyed the attention to work and expertise. Botany, medicine, languages, agriculture, and military strategy all get their moment, and knowledge can change the possibilities of a scene. Buckley’s fascination with plants is a good example of how a character’s profession becomes part of the adventure’s machinery. Bernabe also explores how societies decide which talents deserve respect and who’s allowed to pursue them. Expectations around gender, ancestry, and family status influence people’s choices, sometimes painfully. Those pressures give the different cultures something more substantial than distinctive clothing or unfamiliar names. You start to understand what it would feel like to grow up inside their rules. The pronunciation guide and glossary are useful additions for readers who enjoy examining the details of an invented world.
The approach to magick held my interest, too. Learning involves experimentation, imperfect explanations, physical effort, and the occasional spectacular mistake. There’s something satisfying about watching people work out what an ability does and how to use it responsibly. That same practical curiosity carries into the larger conflict. Leaders have to consider what they know, what they’re guessing, and what they can afford to risk. Bernabe gives these decisions space, so the political and military stakes develop through discussions as well as action. The shifting viewpoints help here: you can follow different interpretations of the same situation and watch uncertainty become a source of tension. There’s a distinctly tabletop-adventure pleasure in seeing a difficult problem approached by people with different skills and incomplete information.
The book’s voice is loose, cheeky, and comfortable being outrageous. Its dialogue includes swearing, rude jokes, and the kind of exasperated remarks people make when a situation has become thoroughly ridiculous. Alongside that humor, Bernabe writes violence with blunt physical detail and takes the consequences seriously. Moving between those registers gives the novel an unruly energy that I found memorable. The descriptive passages also make good use of space, particularly when the setting shifts between open country and the built environment of the dwarven kingdom. As the opening installment of a larger story, it offers plenty for readers who enjoy learning how a fantasy world functions while an adventure gathers momentum. Cooking Up Magick makes the workings of its world as compelling as the dangers waiting inside it.
October 19, 2026
HL Bernabe’s Cooking Up Magick, the first book in The Dell Chronicles, begins with a wonderfully understandable ambition: Paisley Dell wants to see the world and learn how to cook its food. A halfling chef who works at her aunt’s inn, she’s curious about the dishes that make travelers feel at home, and she’s ready to go looking for them herself. That appetite for experience carries her into a sprawling fantasy adventure full of dangerous journeys, ancient magick, political tensions, and unexpected companionship. Bernabe gives the story an inviting sense of everyday life, then lets the stakes grow around it. You get the pleasure of traveling with someone who’s eager to understand everyone she meets, even when the world gives her plenty of reasons to be frightened.
Paisley makes an appealing traveling companion. She’s cheerful, stubborn, sometimes impulsive, and deeply invested in other people’s comfort. Her enthusiasm has texture because Bernabe makes room for the grief and uncertainty she carries alongside it. You can understand why she’d want an adventure and why she’d sometimes ache for the safety of home. The companions around her bring their own personalities and pressures: Buckley’s scholarly enthusiasm, Torin’s blunt confidence, Idari’s reserve, and Gunur’s mixture of strength and tenderness all create lively exchanges. Then there’s Whipclaw, a cat whose attitude deserves its own place at the table. The group’s affection grows through teasing, awkward conversations, practical help, and the gradual discovery that someone else might understand you. Romantic feeling adds another layer of vulnerability to those relationships.
The food earns its place throughout the novel. Bernabe pays attention to ingredients, preparation, and the satisfaction of making something another person loves. The cooking scenes have enough sensory detail to make you hungry, but their emotional value is just as appealing. A familiar dish can carry family history; sharing a recipe can open a conversation between cultures. Paisley’s skills give her a way to connect with people whose lives and values differ enormously from her own. That attention to care also shapes the book’s more serious questions about duty, prejudice, belonging, and the responsibility that comes with power. Its humor is earthy and frequently bawdy, and its violence is graphic. Grief and the cost of conflict receive sustained attention, giving the warmth between these characters real weight.
Bernabe’s prose is direct and expressive, with kitchen comparisons woven into Paisley’s view of the world. The short chapters and shifting viewpoints let you spend time with several characters, including people whose intentions create a very different kind of tension. The storytelling has a spacious rhythm, lingering over meals, conversations, and the practical work of traveling and learning. Some emotional exchanges revisit familiar ground, but that close attention also makes the friendships feel lived in. As a series opener, the book gives you a substantial introduction to Erdea and a cast whose company is a major part of the appeal. What stays with me is Paisley’s insistence that caring for people matters, even when caring becomes difficult. Cooking Up Magick gives kindness the force of a battle cry and puts a cook’s heart at the center of an epic.
Paisley makes an appealing traveling companion. She’s cheerful, stubborn, sometimes impulsive, and deeply invested in other people’s comfort. Her enthusiasm has texture because Bernabe makes room for the grief and uncertainty she carries alongside it. You can understand why she’d want an adventure and why she’d sometimes ache for the safety of home. The companions around her bring their own personalities and pressures: Buckley’s scholarly enthusiasm, Torin’s blunt confidence, Idari’s reserve, and Gunur’s mixture of strength and tenderness all create lively exchanges. Then there’s Whipclaw, a cat whose attitude deserves its own place at the table. The group’s affection grows through teasing, awkward conversations, practical help, and the gradual discovery that someone else might understand you. Romantic feeling adds another layer of vulnerability to those relationships.
The food earns its place throughout the novel. Bernabe pays attention to ingredients, preparation, and the satisfaction of making something another person loves. The cooking scenes have enough sensory detail to make you hungry, but their emotional value is just as appealing. A familiar dish can carry family history; sharing a recipe can open a conversation between cultures. Paisley’s skills give her a way to connect with people whose lives and values differ enormously from her own. That attention to care also shapes the book’s more serious questions about duty, prejudice, belonging, and the responsibility that comes with power. Its humor is earthy and frequently bawdy, and its violence is graphic. Grief and the cost of conflict receive sustained attention, giving the warmth between these characters real weight.
Bernabe’s prose is direct and expressive, with kitchen comparisons woven into Paisley’s view of the world. The short chapters and shifting viewpoints let you spend time with several characters, including people whose intentions create a very different kind of tension. The storytelling has a spacious rhythm, lingering over meals, conversations, and the practical work of traveling and learning. Some emotional exchanges revisit familiar ground, but that close attention also makes the friendships feel lived in. As a series opener, the book gives you a substantial introduction to Erdea and a cast whose company is a major part of the appeal. What stays with me is Paisley’s insistence that caring for people matters, even when caring becomes difficult. Cooking Up Magick gives kindness the force of a battle cry and puts a cook’s heart at the center of an epic.
November 1, 2026
Paisley Dell is a halfling chef in a small inn who doesn’t know she is Cooking Up Magick(ebook from Geek House Press). Not knowing she is the first sorcerer born in centuries, she decides to accompany two dwarves to their home to learn dwarf recipes, HL Bernabe tells us that an ancient sorcerer, Verzod, has awakened from stasis and has decided to conquer the world starting with the dwarfs. This makes Paisley’s journey very dangerous. Luckily she finds helpful companions in a talking cat, a wounded half-orc, and a high elf. While Paisley is slowly learning Sorcery and spending more time cooking, the war begins. I had a lot of fun with the tale and am waiting patiently for the tale to continue in the next book.
October 30, 2026
In a crowded fantasy genre should you choose to read this book?
I did and I loved this cosy, adventure and start of a series. This is a substantial read. But the pages flew by. Nice characters, and a good story.
Paisley is keeping a promise, to go and travel. Discover recipes to bring home.
She’s quite personable, and setting out on her own she soon finds people to travel with, and along the way a cat too. They start to become good friends.
But she finds the world around her is readying for war. She and her new friends find themselves drawn into the conflict.
Standing up for the people she has come to care for, Paisley has a much bigger part to play than she could have imagined. And that’s not only feeding those around with the new dishes she is preparing.
Thank you to Holly Bernabe and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine.
I did and I loved this cosy, adventure and start of a series. This is a substantial read. But the pages flew by. Nice characters, and a good story.
Paisley is keeping a promise, to go and travel. Discover recipes to bring home.
She’s quite personable, and setting out on her own she soon finds people to travel with, and along the way a cat too. They start to become good friends.
But she finds the world around her is readying for war. She and her new friends find themselves drawn into the conflict.
Standing up for the people she has come to care for, Paisley has a much bigger part to play than she could have imagined. And that’s not only feeding those around with the new dishes she is preparing.
Thank you to Holly Bernabe and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine.
November 1, 2026
I was lucky enough to get an ARC. I really enjoyed reading this book. It has found family, new magic and experimentation to learn how to use it, fighting and overcoming obstacles of your own creation. It is great fantasy read that also gives some cozy vibes.
October 14, 2026
A Recipe for Cosy Adventure
This book was such a delightful blend for me, cosy fantasy world-hopping with food and recipes as the actual quest structure! Paisley Dell setting off from Aspenwood to learn recipes from dwarves, elves, and orcs is such a lovely idea, and I loved that her whole reason for leaving home was a promise to her best friend Prilani. I think it gave her journey real emotional weight rather than just being "girl wants adventure."
The worldbuilding felt properly lived-in too, ancient Mammoth Red Pine trees with roads carved straight through the trunks, dwarven cities, magical cats hiding secrets from sorcerers, there's a lot going on and I appreciated how much texture it gave the journey.
I'm giving this four stars rather than five simply because a few sections moved a little slower for my personal taste, but the concept alone, food and magic and found family on the road, is exactly the kind of cosy fantasy comfort I go looking for. 💜
This book was such a delightful blend for me, cosy fantasy world-hopping with food and recipes as the actual quest structure! Paisley Dell setting off from Aspenwood to learn recipes from dwarves, elves, and orcs is such a lovely idea, and I loved that her whole reason for leaving home was a promise to her best friend Prilani. I think it gave her journey real emotional weight rather than just being "girl wants adventure."
The worldbuilding felt properly lived-in too, ancient Mammoth Red Pine trees with roads carved straight through the trunks, dwarven cities, magical cats hiding secrets from sorcerers, there's a lot going on and I appreciated how much texture it gave the journey.
I'm giving this four stars rather than five simply because a few sections moved a little slower for my personal taste, but the concept alone, food and magic and found family on the road, is exactly the kind of cosy fantasy comfort I go looking for. 💜
October 20, 2026
This was a fun fantasy adventure story with food and cooking as its backbone. It has cosy, found family vibes and interesting characters. I especially loved Whipclaw.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy
This fun fantasy novel follows a Halfling chef named Paisley Dell on a journey that mixes cozy character moments and romance with intense adventure and war. With a great cast, including a talking cat and a warrior dwarf, it perfectly blends cooking with magical world-building. Even though the multiple perspectives are a bit confusing at first, the gripping plot and vibrant characters make it a highly recommended, immersive read. I'm excited for the next book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 7, 2026
In this book, you will find different magical creatures, found family, cozy fantasy, and epic moments. Here, it's important not only how you use your magic but also how you help others.
This book felt like a hug but was also full of war since it's what our main character deals with without expecting it.
In my opinion, this book is well written, has amazing characters, and the plot is very interesting and keeps you engaged all the way. But the only thing I would change is the beginning. This book is written with different POVs, which makes it difficult to understand at the beginning since the characters are in different places and play different roles in the story.
Overall, a good and engaging story that I rate 4.5 stars.
This book felt like a hug but was also full of war since it's what our main character deals with without expecting it.
In my opinion, this book is well written, has amazing characters, and the plot is very interesting and keeps you engaged all the way. But the only thing I would change is the beginning. This book is written with different POVs, which makes it difficult to understand at the beginning since the characters are in different places and play different roles in the story.
Overall, a good and engaging story that I rate 4.5 stars.
October 13, 2026
This was a very cute and cozy book with found family. I love the magic and characters. Whipclaw was definitely my favorite. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
October 3, 2026
This is the perfect mix of cozy and epic fantasy! You can tell that HL Bernabe really spent time with these characters--even the most minor side characters are well fleshed out. I think two of my favorites are Torin, the female warrior dwarf with a soft spot for a botanist, and Whipclaw, a talking, magical cat. Paisley and Gunur’s interwoven paths also feel so natural, and you just can’t help but root for them!
If you are a fan of classic fantasy, read this if you are looking for something familiar but also a little bit different.
If you are a fan of cozy fantasy, read this if you are looking for something with a few more drastic stakes.
Actually, everyone should just read it!
If you are a fan of classic fantasy, read this if you are looking for something familiar but also a little bit different.
If you are a fan of cozy fantasy, read this if you are looking for something with a few more drastic stakes.
Actually, everyone should just read it!
October 8, 2026
A promising start to a new series. I was given the opportunity to review an ARC of this book through NetGalley. This book was a lot of fun, Paisley and her friends are an entertaining crew. Can’t wait for the next one!
August 9, 2026
Never before have I read a book that combines cozy fantasy with epic fantasy! This one somehow blends them both in a new literary recipe that I never would have thought possible until I tasted it. The juxtaposition of sweet, rich characters (who would be at home in a cozy fantasy for the most part) over epic fantasy and war is probably difficult to do, and this author did a masterful job of weaving them together.
HL Bernabe pulls off such a coup here! I love to see intelligent, curious characters behaving realistically, and both traits are present in full measure in this book. Without spoiling any plot points, I can say that I love the sensible, thorough healer we meet who explains why something shouldn’t be done, not just what should. Also, there is an excellent mentor character as well, but they cannot be everywhere at once nor do everything alone; letting others play their own roles as appropriate sets the perfect balance.
The storytelling is compelling, frequently delightful, and yes, difficult at times due to the realism in places. “Villains full of villainy”, as Danny Kaye once sang; that’s a necessary part of any epic fantasy, too, and you’ll believe the evil characters just as you do the heroes you’ll meet herein. One of my favorite chapters explains a magical process I’ve seen described, but never this clearly or effectively; it was magnificent for this layperson to read!
Also, the pronunciation guide, glossary, and cast of characters in the back are useful references, although I glanced briefly at the pronunciation guide out of curiosity and then dove straight into the book. By the end, I knew most of the words in the glossary just from reading, and I remembered most of the characters listed in the cast for the same reason. All of that is a sign of good storytelling and good writing by the author.
Characters I fell in love with over and over, a plot that is both plausible and gripping, and some marvelous literary devices all come together to make this first novel by a brilliant new author a clear winner. Absolutely five out of five stars possible!
HL Bernabe pulls off such a coup here! I love to see intelligent, curious characters behaving realistically, and both traits are present in full measure in this book. Without spoiling any plot points, I can say that I love the sensible, thorough healer we meet who explains why something shouldn’t be done, not just what should. Also, there is an excellent mentor character as well, but they cannot be everywhere at once nor do everything alone; letting others play their own roles as appropriate sets the perfect balance.
The storytelling is compelling, frequently delightful, and yes, difficult at times due to the realism in places. “Villains full of villainy”, as Danny Kaye once sang; that’s a necessary part of any epic fantasy, too, and you’ll believe the evil characters just as you do the heroes you’ll meet herein. One of my favorite chapters explains a magical process I’ve seen described, but never this clearly or effectively; it was magnificent for this layperson to read!
Also, the pronunciation guide, glossary, and cast of characters in the back are useful references, although I glanced briefly at the pronunciation guide out of curiosity and then dove straight into the book. By the end, I knew most of the words in the glossary just from reading, and I remembered most of the characters listed in the cast for the same reason. All of that is a sign of good storytelling and good writing by the author.
Characters I fell in love with over and over, a plot that is both plausible and gripping, and some marvelous literary devices all come together to make this first novel by a brilliant new author a clear winner. Absolutely five out of five stars possible!
Review of advance copy
A cozy culinary quest grows into a high-stakes fantasy adventure in Bernabe’s spirited series opener in the Dell Chronicles. Halfling chef Paisley Dell sets out to explore foreign cuisines and bring new recipes home, only to discover a startling connection to magick. Accompanied by two dwarves, a mysterious High Elf, an honorable half-orc, and a decidedly unusual cat, Paisley finds her travels swept into the shadow of approaching war.
Bernabe builds the novel around an immensely likable heroine whose warmth, curiosity, and instinct to care for others give the sprawling adventure its heart. Paisley’s culinary background is cleverly woven into her developing powers, making cooking integral to both her character and the novel’s playful approach to magick. The lively ensemble supplies humor and camaraderie, with the culturally mismatched bond between Paisley and Gunur adding a tender romantic current. Whipclaw, meanwhile, is a scene-stealing companion whose secrets deepen the intrigue. Rich worldbuilding, distinctive cultures, dangerous creatures, and escalating political tensions broaden the initially cozy premise into epic territory. Though the large cast and abundant lore make for a dense journey, Bernabe keeps friendship, courage, and compassion firmly at its center. Lovers of cozy fantasy, culinary adventures, and character-driven epic fantasy will find much to savor.
Bernabe builds the novel around an immensely likable heroine whose warmth, curiosity, and instinct to care for others give the sprawling adventure its heart. Paisley’s culinary background is cleverly woven into her developing powers, making cooking integral to both her character and the novel’s playful approach to magick. The lively ensemble supplies humor and camaraderie, with the culturally mismatched bond between Paisley and Gunur adding a tender romantic current. Whipclaw, meanwhile, is a scene-stealing companion whose secrets deepen the intrigue. Rich worldbuilding, distinctive cultures, dangerous creatures, and escalating political tensions broaden the initially cozy premise into epic territory. Though the large cast and abundant lore make for a dense journey, Bernabe keeps friendship, courage, and compassion firmly at its center. Lovers of cozy fantasy, culinary adventures, and character-driven epic fantasy will find much to savor.
Review of advance copy
Bernabe’s series opener in the Dell Chronicles serves up an ambitious blend of cozy fantasy, sprawling adventure, romance, and high-stakes epic fantasy, anchored by an endearing heroine whose greatest strengths are compassion and curiosity. Halfling chef Paisley Dell leaves Aspenwood hoping to experience other cultures and master their cuisines, only to discover extraordinary magick and become entangled in a gathering war alongside an eclectic band of companions. With danger gathering around her, Paisley must master her emerging magick while keeping her unlikely band of companions safe.
Paisley proves a particularly appealing fantasy lead because newfound power never eclipses the qualities that define her. Her instinct to nurture others shapes both her magick and her heroism, while food becomes an effective gateway into Erdea’s varied cultures. The expansive worldbuilding offers plenty to explore, from competing kingdoms and distinctive traditions to dragons, wyverns, and other magical creatures. The colorful ensemble brings warmth and personality, with lively camaraderie and playful humor energizing the adventure. Warmhearted, imaginative, and brimming with adventure, the novel makes for a flavorful start to an enchanting fantasy saga.
Paisley proves a particularly appealing fantasy lead because newfound power never eclipses the qualities that define her. Her instinct to nurture others shapes both her magick and her heroism, while food becomes an effective gateway into Erdea’s varied cultures. The expansive worldbuilding offers plenty to explore, from competing kingdoms and distinctive traditions to dragons, wyverns, and other magical creatures. The colorful ensemble brings warmth and personality, with lively camaraderie and playful humor energizing the adventure. Warmhearted, imaginative, and brimming with adventure, the novel makes for a flavorful start to an enchanting fantasy saga.
Want to Read
September 19, 2026Thankn to the author for my ARC
no spoilers
cozy fantasy
FMC warm, curious
Loved the story and the sweet adventure it took me on.
no spoilers
cozy fantasy
FMC warm, curious
Loved the story and the sweet adventure it took me on.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Found family!
A wonderful, unique group of misfits, who accept each other, will become a powerful force against the evil that threatens their world. This story has a friendship, romance, magic, war and much more blended together to make an interesting but long tale with a huge cliffhanger.
A wonderful, unique group of misfits, who accept each other, will become a powerful force against the evil that threatens their world. This story has a friendship, romance, magic, war and much more blended together to make an interesting but long tale with a huge cliffhanger.
September 8, 2026
What a wonderful opening to a series! I really enjoyed reading this book. I can't wait to find out what happens next. Cozy with epic adventures, found family, inclusive, and light versus dark.
The writing was descriptive without being overly wordy. I highly recommend this Cooking up Magick, you should read it!
The writing was descriptive without being overly wordy. I highly recommend this Cooking up Magick, you should read it!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I won this book through a Goodreads Giveaway. I enjoyed this book. The plot was interesting and left me enthralled.
Did Not Finish
October 31, 2026Thanks NetGalley and the author for the ARC.
Unfortunately, it is a DNF at 45%.
I really wanted to like this book but I found it very confusing and I didn't understand anything.
Maybe some people will find this book interesting.
Unfortunately, it is a DNF at 45%.
I really wanted to like this book but I found it very confusing and I didn't understand anything.
Maybe some people will find this book interesting.
October 21, 2026
A good light read, but it turned out to be a typical Hero's Journey novel. Perhaps it's the fact that I was hyper-focusing on the writing style, or perhaps it's the editor training messing with my ability to enjoy the book, but there wasn't much here to make me read ahead.
There's the Chosen One, the trip from a small town to the big, wide world, Bakhtin's chronotope of the road, an overarching battle, individual stakes, a prince to fall in love with, a mortal injury to treat, an evil sorcerer, dragons (wyverns), you get the point.
The writing was the strongest in the opening chapter, which made the book sound promising. That said, I wouldn't give this book a BAD review; it's just for a very light, predictable read.
I didn't end up reading to the end because I sort of knew how it would go. Perhaps I'll come back to it at some point.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
There's the Chosen One, the trip from a small town to the big, wide world, Bakhtin's chronotope of the road, an overarching battle, individual stakes, a prince to fall in love with, a mortal injury to treat, an evil sorcerer, dragons (wyverns), you get the point.
The writing was the strongest in the opening chapter, which made the book sound promising. That said, I wouldn't give this book a BAD review; it's just for a very light, predictable read.
I didn't end up reading to the end because I sort of knew how it would go. Perhaps I'll come back to it at some point.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I received a copy of this book from Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review. Being who I am the parts with the very, very essentially-cat talking cat were appealing. The rest sometimes had its points, but the writing was so amateurish, the inelegant imposition of a 21st-century mindset* on fantasy characters so glaring, that I sometimes considered just stopping- I undeniably had better things to read. 3 stars reluctantly because I rarely give 2.
*Yes, the novel is trans-people-positive and so am I. That is a plus for books that are already good, not something that changes my mind about books that aren’t. This is not what I mean, though, by 21st-century mindset.
*Yes, the novel is trans-people-positive and so am I. That is a plus for books that are already good, not something that changes my mind about books that aren’t. This is not what I mean, though, by 21st-century mindset.
Did Not Finish
September 11, 2026The cover indicates "cozy." The blurb says a mashup of cozy and LOTR-style fantasy. But the prolog gives us the horrible death of an innocent, and by 10% we have an entire town being ruthlessly slaughtered, and... no. Not what I was looking for. I don’t object to stakes, even high stakes, in cozy, but cruelty and brutality are a tonal clash I can't get past (and elements I never want to read about in general, personally).
Needs more past perfect tense, but otherwise well edited.
I received a pre-publication version via Netgalley for review.
Needs more past perfect tense, but otherwise well edited.
I received a pre-publication version via Netgalley for review.
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