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The Bookshop and the Barbarian
Explore its many rooms, pick something nice off the shelf, and have a little read by the fire at the Cozy Quill Bookshop.
Running from strife in her homeland, Maribella Waters becomes the new owner of the fabled Cozy Quill. After finding squatters on her property, she employs Asteria Helsdottir, a giant, barbarian warrior woman more accustomed to swinging an axe than opening a book. Together, the odd couple must make a success out of the bookshop—and survive a dizzying procession of seasonal festivals.
But the local evil noblewoman has other plans in mind. Threatened with being run off the land, Maribella and Asteria must use their wits to outsmart Lady Malicent and keep their business open. Along the way, the whole town lends a hand, friendships are forged, and mysteries are revealed.
The Bookshop and the Barbarian is a low stakes, comedic and cozy fantasy with a slice-of-life, sapphic romance. It is about the celebration of books, autumn and winter, community, friendship, and unexpected love. There is plenty of fourth-wall breaking, and a narrator who may or may not be a green slime. And it is also very patiently waiting for you to pick it up and read it.
Running from strife in her homeland, Maribella Waters becomes the new owner of the fabled Cozy Quill. After finding squatters on her property, she employs Asteria Helsdottir, a giant, barbarian warrior woman more accustomed to swinging an axe than opening a book. Together, the odd couple must make a success out of the bookshop—and survive a dizzying procession of seasonal festivals.
But the local evil noblewoman has other plans in mind. Threatened with being run off the land, Maribella and Asteria must use their wits to outsmart Lady Malicent and keep their business open. Along the way, the whole town lends a hand, friendships are forged, and mysteries are revealed.
The Bookshop and the Barbarian is a low stakes, comedic and cozy fantasy with a slice-of-life, sapphic romance. It is about the celebration of books, autumn and winter, community, friendship, and unexpected love. There is plenty of fourth-wall breaking, and a narrator who may or may not be a green slime. And it is also very patiently waiting for you to pick it up and read it.
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 17, 2023
889 people are currently reading
10119 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 621 reviews
June 8, 2024
Cozy fantasy, bookshop, friendly neighbourhood... this book had everything you could want.
Unfortunately I'm not a huge fan of the tone/humour as I get tired of it pretty quickly. Princess Bride/Tress of the Emerald Sea vibes which are popular but to be they feel like "children's books for adults".
Not a bad book but I'm not the target audience.
Unfortunately I'm not a huge fan of the tone/humour as I get tired of it pretty quickly. Princess Bride/Tress of the Emerald Sea vibes which are popular but to be they feel like "children's books for adults".
Not a bad book but I'm not the target audience.
October 17, 2023
07/10/2023 EDIT: I have had to delete way too many harassing comments already. Just so you're aware if you come here trying to argue and say crappy things your comment is just going to get deleted. Don't waste your time 🙂
09/19/2023 EDIT: It's gotten to the point that some people are coming back weekly to leave messages and making burner accounts to do so. If you can't recognize this as harassing a Jewish person for A BOOK REVIEW maybe you should examine your behavior. I'm not taking this review down and your comments will continue to be silenced. Touch grass.
REVIEW:
I mostly reserve my 1 star reviews for books that have harmful representation in them. This book unfortunately falls in that category.
There is a long history of antisemitic representation of goblins in media. Goblins are a well used caricature to make Jewish people subhuman. Knowing that I was pretty immediately concerned about this book. Here's a break down:
The goblins are depicted using very negative language from the start. They have been slaughtered to the point that they are endangered species. They are kicked from their home at the very beginning because someone wants to take over a business. There's discussion of putting up a sign of "no goblin establishment". There's a random book burning in the town square right after this. And on and on.
Like are you getting a picture yet?
Even one of these things would be concerning but all together? Yikes.
There were other concerning aspects that weren't antisemitism. Unhoused/homeless people being called murder hobos... it was a whole bit 🥴
I think there was real promise here but this book as it is? Harmful and not one I could recommend.
09/19/2023 EDIT: It's gotten to the point that some people are coming back weekly to leave messages and making burner accounts to do so. If you can't recognize this as harassing a Jewish person for A BOOK REVIEW maybe you should examine your behavior. I'm not taking this review down and your comments will continue to be silenced. Touch grass.
REVIEW:
I mostly reserve my 1 star reviews for books that have harmful representation in them. This book unfortunately falls in that category.
There is a long history of antisemitic representation of goblins in media. Goblins are a well used caricature to make Jewish people subhuman. Knowing that I was pretty immediately concerned about this book. Here's a break down:
The goblins are depicted using very negative language from the start. They have been slaughtered to the point that they are endangered species. They are kicked from their home at the very beginning because someone wants to take over a business. There's discussion of putting up a sign of "no goblin establishment". There's a random book burning in the town square right after this. And on and on.
Like are you getting a picture yet?
Even one of these things would be concerning but all together? Yikes.
There were other concerning aspects that weren't antisemitism. Unhoused/homeless people being called murder hobos... it was a whole bit 🥴
I think there was real promise here but this book as it is? Harmful and not one I could recommend.
February 13, 2023
If Terry Pratchett wrote Legends and Lattes.
Maribella Waters rides into town on a Pig Wagon. She's bought a bookshop. Maribella’s bookshop is old. Its the only one in town. Its clickety and rickety and filled with corners and nooks. Doorways that are barred and some house guests that are unplanned for. There is a perfect balance between hilarity and heartfelt wise words. It mixes magic with the mundane until the mundane is as magical. It shows all the best parts of a slice of life read whilst also being riveting, beautiful and funny. There is the softest romances, beautiful friendships, and astonishing discoveries, as well as the most hilarious nod to Legends and Lattes. I hardly ever fully laugh when I am reading but I was giggling like every second page with this book. I also highlighted and tabbed pretty much every page because every page is a precious gem and should be treated as such
Maribella Waters rides into town on a Pig Wagon. She's bought a bookshop. Maribella’s bookshop is old. Its the only one in town. Its clickety and rickety and filled with corners and nooks. Doorways that are barred and some house guests that are unplanned for. There is a perfect balance between hilarity and heartfelt wise words. It mixes magic with the mundane until the mundane is as magical. It shows all the best parts of a slice of life read whilst also being riveting, beautiful and funny. There is the softest romances, beautiful friendships, and astonishing discoveries, as well as the most hilarious nod to Legends and Lattes. I hardly ever fully laugh when I am reading but I was giggling like every second page with this book. I also highlighted and tabbed pretty much every page because every page is a precious gem and should be treated as such
February 12, 2023
As Maribella lay under her blankets, tucked in tight and warm while cold wind howled outside her window, she listened to the building creaking. It felt alive to her, like she was inside the belly of a great beast.
She suddenly realized that if everything had gone as she originally intended, she would have been very frightened as she lay there in her new room. But thankfully, things didn't go as intended. You might even say she encountered nothing but problem after problem since arriving in town.
And thanks to that, she had a barbarian sleeping just downstairs, and so she didn't feel frightened at all.
Another reviewer described this as Legends and Lattes if it was written by Terry Pratchett, and that's a pretty good summary of a very enjoyable book. Tongue firmly in cheek, the author pokes gentle fun at the quickly exploding cozy-fantasy genre, while also managing to write a pretty great example of it.
The story goes as you might expect in most places - new bookshop owner moves to town, befriends inhabitants (including one special friend? maybe?), encounters obstacles which are dealt with in a series of less-violent-than-expected way. But Morgan Stang never met a fourth wall she didn't want to break, and so there's frequent asides to the audience , as well as references sure to be familiar to her readers.
It's a lot going on, but I genuinely enjoyed this and the other book of hers I've read (very different, but definitely contained touches of the humour here). I might have to start digging into the rest of her back catalogue!
She suddenly realized that if everything had gone as she originally intended, she would have been very frightened as she lay there in her new room. But thankfully, things didn't go as intended. You might even say she encountered nothing but problem after problem since arriving in town.
And thanks to that, she had a barbarian sleeping just downstairs, and so she didn't feel frightened at all.
Another reviewer described this as Legends and Lattes if it was written by Terry Pratchett, and that's a pretty good summary of a very enjoyable book. Tongue firmly in cheek, the author pokes gentle fun at the quickly exploding cozy-fantasy genre, while also managing to write a pretty great example of it.
The story goes as you might expect in most places - new bookshop owner moves to town, befriends inhabitants (including one special friend? maybe?), encounters obstacles which are dealt with in a series of less-violent-than-expected way. But Morgan Stang never met a fourth wall she didn't want to break, and so there's frequent asides to the audience , as well as references sure to be familiar to her readers.
It's a lot going on, but I genuinely enjoyed this and the other book of hers I've read (very different, but definitely contained touches of the humour here). I might have to start digging into the rest of her back catalogue!
April 20, 2023
Really? Are the reviews real? This reads like it was written for a 5 year old.
"Uh" she said intelligently...
She asked the boy a question,"tra la la" he sang as he went skipping by...
Hilariously funny? No.. No.. Just No
Really pretty cover to lure you into a world of nonsensical gibberish.
"Uh" she said intelligently...
She asked the boy a question,"tra la la" he sang as he went skipping by...
Hilariously funny? No.. No.. Just No
Really pretty cover to lure you into a world of nonsensical gibberish.
April 26, 2023
I’m normally a fan of the fantasy cozycore genre but I did not really like this book. It was predictable and the author broke the 4th wall too often and wasn’t as clever as they fancied themselves. But it was short at least.
Read
November 23, 2023DNF @ 33% because I am an adult and this is written like it's meant to be read out loud to children at a drag queen story hour
April 21, 2023
I understand where this book was trying to go, but it did not read as funny as it was wanting to.
Cozy but very chaotic and something bizarre/out of place at every chapter.
Reminded me of a writing journal from 3rd grade.
Cozy but very chaotic and something bizarre/out of place at every chapter.
Reminded me of a writing journal from 3rd grade.
October 10, 2024
This book was really whacky, in the best way possible! 💖
There were so many amazing characters, and I was smiling and laughing throughout! It was really fun, super cosy, and the perfect quick read for autumn 🧡 Hats off to the author for writing such a creative book! 3.75 ⭐️
There were so many amazing characters, and I was smiling and laughing throughout! It was really fun, super cosy, and the perfect quick read for autumn 🧡 Hats off to the author for writing such a creative book! 3.75 ⭐️
March 2, 2023
Kindle Unlimited. This is a delightfully quirky cozy fantasy in the truest sense of the word!
A truly sweet and low stakes wonder of delight! For lovers of casual fairy tales and that cottagecore vibe. It's just silly, irreverent, and yet comforting and cosy!
Maribella has just moved to Leafhaven and purchased the local bookshop which had been abandoned for 20 years. She is enthusiastic and ready to jump right in, but when some Goblins are hiding out in her new place of business and home, she needs some hired help to get rid of them. Enter Asteria a giant of a woman, with battle experience and her own past to discover, and many quips.
It's got a very witty dialogue to the writing itself, and how it presents itself to the reader -there's a lot of self-references - which I found incredibly charming and tongue-in-cheek.
We get to know the town, with a "villain", the process of setting up shop, new arrivals and old tales and lots of festivals and bonding. The past and the characters history is eventually told, along the way we meet haunted books, talking bookworms, a Llama merchant, and a Goblin Girl called Gidget.
I'm all rather fond of it all, and my only complaint is my desire to continue in this world, with all of these characters! It's not ground-breaking, and some may even call it boring, but it fitted the bill for what I wanted, and made me smile goofily enjoying the entire thing and I feel its a story that I will look back on in amusement, and would reread again, too.
I hope this isn't the last visit we get to this world and town, and hope we get to meet more characters soon.
A truly sweet and low stakes wonder of delight! For lovers of casual fairy tales and that cottagecore vibe. It's just silly, irreverent, and yet comforting and cosy!
Maribella has just moved to Leafhaven and purchased the local bookshop which had been abandoned for 20 years. She is enthusiastic and ready to jump right in, but when some Goblins are hiding out in her new place of business and home, she needs some hired help to get rid of them. Enter Asteria a giant of a woman, with battle experience and her own past to discover, and many quips.
It's got a very witty dialogue to the writing itself, and how it presents itself to the reader -there's a lot of self-references - which I found incredibly charming and tongue-in-cheek.
We get to know the town, with a "villain", the process of setting up shop, new arrivals and old tales and lots of festivals and bonding. The past and the characters history is eventually told, along the way we meet haunted books, talking bookworms, a Llama merchant, and a Goblin Girl called Gidget.
I'm all rather fond of it all, and my only complaint is my desire to continue in this world, with all of these characters! It's not ground-breaking, and some may even call it boring, but it fitted the bill for what I wanted, and made me smile goofily enjoying the entire thing and I feel its a story that I will look back on in amusement, and would reread again, too.
I hope this isn't the last visit we get to this world and town, and hope we get to meet more characters soon.
June 8, 2023
I feel like people comparing this book to Legends and Lattes or Terry Pratchett's books have read neither. If you loved Legends and Lattes and are looking for another cozy fantasy, please stay away from this and read A wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking or The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England (which could be considered cozy SF I guess) .
The author strongly wants you to think this book is funny without managing a single joke.
The setting could have been interesting and fun but the characters are flat and the writing bland.
It's very rare for me to find not a single good thing to say about a book but I guess at least it's short.
The author strongly wants you to think this book is funny without managing a single joke.
The setting could have been interesting and fun but the characters are flat and the writing bland.
It's very rare for me to find not a single good thing to say about a book but I guess at least it's short.
January 31, 2023
This book was soo adorable!! I'm def on the cozy fantasy train now!!
This is perfect for fans of Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries and/or A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking -- I've read and loved both of these books recently and they all have similar vibes. The Bookshop and the Barbarian, however, is much more "slice of life" with incredibly low stakes and happily ever afters for all the characters. The story itself was still very interesting! I LOVED the humor - I was laughing out loud constantly. This book did not take itself seriously, which I appreciated, and I had so much fun with it.
Also, Mr Reginald Cumberbutton is super great ❤
This is perfect for fans of Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries and/or A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking -- I've read and loved both of these books recently and they all have similar vibes. The Bookshop and the Barbarian, however, is much more "slice of life" with incredibly low stakes and happily ever afters for all the characters. The story itself was still very interesting! I LOVED the humor - I was laughing out loud constantly. This book did not take itself seriously, which I appreciated, and I had so much fun with it.
Also, Mr Reginald Cumberbutton is super great ❤
April 15, 2023
Quite the stupidest thing I’ve had the misfortune to read in a long while.
It reads as if someone invented a bedtime story for their children and then ill-advisedly committed it to paper. The characters are strictly two-dimensional and I'll not bother describing the plot because there isn’t one, just a series of unfunny jokes and laboured puns, punctuated with folksy asides to the reader, much like the modern televisual penchant for breaking the fourth wall.
A note regarding typos then degenerates into intentional malapropisms. At least I think they were intentional. Trouble being that - in fiction at least - such things should be amusing.
Ultimately, what baffles me about these exercises is who writes them? What motivates them? Is it an itch that just has to be scratched? In the postscript we discover the author confessing that, “I needed to get it out of my system...” to the detriment of the rest of us.
As an aside, I went on to read Leigh Bardugo's 'Ninth House' after this. Within the first 15 pages, Ms Bardugo put in more effort than Morgan Stang expended in the whole of this.
It reads as if someone invented a bedtime story for their children and then ill-advisedly committed it to paper. The characters are strictly two-dimensional and I'll not bother describing the plot because there isn’t one, just a series of unfunny jokes and laboured puns, punctuated with folksy asides to the reader, much like the modern televisual penchant for breaking the fourth wall.
A note regarding typos then degenerates into intentional malapropisms. At least I think they were intentional. Trouble being that - in fiction at least - such things should be amusing.
Ultimately, what baffles me about these exercises is who writes them? What motivates them? Is it an itch that just has to be scratched? In the postscript we discover the author confessing that, “I needed to get it out of my system...” to the detriment of the rest of us.
As an aside, I went on to read Leigh Bardugo's 'Ninth House' after this. Within the first 15 pages, Ms Bardugo put in more effort than Morgan Stang expended in the whole of this.
January 21, 2023
I absolutely LOVED this book. This is the definition of an autumnal read and had me yearning for the fall season. Even the village of Leafhaven is called a pumpkin town with decorative pumpkins in front of every establishment! Yes, it’s a lot like Legends and Lattes, but I personally liked this one even more! It was more cute and creative in my opinion, better worldbuilding (the kingdom of Plié Brûlée sounds SO cute) and even gives off subtle Tangled energy.
The writing was so adorable and whimsical and some of the parts were so random and clever that it actually made me laugh out loud. Do you know how rare it is for a book to actually make me actually physically laugh? This was just so fucking random and FUNNY. This whimsical style of writing is not something I encounter very often. I read this in my home library under a blanket with a steaming cup of frothy coffee and it was the highlight of my day. I thoroughly enjoyed this. More books in the cozy fantasy genre please!
The writing was so adorable and whimsical and some of the parts were so random and clever that it actually made me laugh out loud. Do you know how rare it is for a book to actually make me actually physically laugh? This was just so fucking random and FUNNY. This whimsical style of writing is not something I encounter very often. I read this in my home library under a blanket with a steaming cup of frothy coffee and it was the highlight of my day. I thoroughly enjoyed this. More books in the cozy fantasy genre please!
did-not-finish
April 30, 2023This was … not great. The writing style felt too forced, like it thought it was very clever and was constantly “wink wink nudge nudge” to get you on the same page. Not worth finishing.
May 8, 2023
This was a fun, bonkers, quick and cozy read. Can't say I emotionally connected at all, it's too brief and surface level for that, but it gave me some chuckles.
May 16, 2023
I feel bad giving 2 stars to an indie, and I read a preview so I knew what I was getting into... But it was a lot more of that than I thought.
There was a not-so-subtle nod to Legends & Lattes in the story too, which I can't tell if I like or didn't like.
But primarily the 4th wall breaking was just too frequent and extreme for my taste. When we were in the story I actually quite liked the writing, characters, and story. Then the next 4th wall break came and it was like hitting face first into a wall.
There was a not-so-subtle nod to Legends & Lattes in the story too, which I can't tell if I like or didn't like.
But primarily the 4th wall breaking was just too frequent and extreme for my taste. When we were in the story I actually quite liked the writing, characters, and story. Then the next 4th wall break came and it was like hitting face first into a wall.
Want to read
July 6, 2024Explore its many rooms, pick something nice off the shelf, and have a little read by the fire at the Cozy Quill Bookshop
You know what? I think I will.
You know what? I think I will.
Want to read
August 30, 2024A COZY SAPPHIC ROMANCE???? LET’S FUCKING GOOOOOOO
March 10, 2023
…The amount of happiness I got from this book is embarrassing.
The setting: amazing. The characters: wonderful. The plot: (kind of non existent, but absolutely amazing none the less) Lovely.
This book was pure comfort and definitely is directed at…certain people. (People need to stop judging me based on what I read (you’re opinion is wrong), also just stop reading over my shoulder. 🤯)
Anyways, I loved the town of Leafhaven, their many festivals and celebrations,
Duckover,
Pumpkin Festival,
Winter Solstice,
I loved Asteria ( my favorite Ha-Mazan Barbarian), Maribella (my favorite boookshop owner and tea seller “Bell” (stop :0), all the townsfolk, Gidget the Goblin Girl, the LAGFA, literally everything. This book really was just pure comfort with an interactive narrative.
“Please good sir, do take a look and perhaps purchase this fine table for sale.”
“I am your deity.”
“He strode over to the chairs, his walk as casual as his sexism.”
The setting: amazing. The characters: wonderful. The plot: (kind of non existent, but absolutely amazing none the less) Lovely.
This book was pure comfort and definitely is directed at…certain people. (People need to stop judging me based on what I read (you’re opinion is wrong), also just stop reading over my shoulder. 🤯)
Anyways, I loved the town of Leafhaven, their many festivals and celebrations,
Duckover,
Pumpkin Festival,
Winter Solstice,
I loved Asteria ( my favorite Ha-Mazan Barbarian), Maribella (my favorite boookshop owner and tea seller “Bell” (stop :0), all the townsfolk, Gidget the Goblin Girl, the LAGFA, literally everything. This book really was just pure comfort with an interactive narrative.
“Please good sir, do take a look and perhaps purchase this fine table for sale.”
“I am your deity.”
“He strode over to the chairs, his walk as casual as his sexism.”
July 23, 2023
I was ready to dnf this book at page 20. The writing style was really, really annoying but since there were only 163 pages I decided to continue.
The story itself was really cute with the saving of the bookshop, the bookworms (that don’t eat but read books!), and of course the two main characters. It was just that I couldn’t read over the writing style which kinda ruined the story for me.
So an interesting concept, but it would have been better as a comic.
The story itself was really cute with the saving of the bookshop, the bookworms (that don’t eat but read books!), and of course the two main characters. It was just that I couldn’t read over the writing style which kinda ruined the story for me.
So an interesting concept, but it would have been better as a comic.
June 19, 2025
Sadly, I did not finish this one. I tried really hard and made it almost two-thirds of the way through. I just couldn't do it anymore. It had some okay parts to it but the try at humor was just too over the top for me. It wasn't subtle and it tried too hard which ended up making it not funny at all. It became exhausting and I just gave up.
Give it a go though. If that sort of fun floats your boat, then you may just love the book.
Give it a go though. If that sort of fun floats your boat, then you may just love the book.
April 21, 2023
4,25
This was exactly the cozy fantasy I needed right now!! At first I thought it would maybe "try too hard" to fit in the hype of cozy fantasy atm but it was so so lovely.
We follow our main character Maribella who buys an abandoned bookshop in this small town. It's filled with so many books, reading books and undiscovered things behind closed doors. She meets a ton of different people in the town (and one special giant woman that turns into the most lovely sapphic romance 🥹) and creatures. I mean goblins and actual bookworms? Do I need to say more?
It truly gave me all the cozy feelings and it had me laughing out loud multiple times. It shows the magic that's in our daily life with actual magic sprinkled throughout.
There's also the most hilarious nod to THE cozy fantasy novel "Legends and Lattes" that I loved.
I now want to live in Leafhaven and visit Maribelle and Asteria in their bookstore and sit in a cozy chair with some tea and read, go to the Pumpkin festival and meet everyone.
This was exactly the cozy fantasy I needed right now!! At first I thought it would maybe "try too hard" to fit in the hype of cozy fantasy atm but it was so so lovely.
We follow our main character Maribella who buys an abandoned bookshop in this small town. It's filled with so many books, reading books and undiscovered things behind closed doors. She meets a ton of different people in the town (and one special giant woman that turns into the most lovely sapphic romance 🥹) and creatures. I mean goblins and actual bookworms? Do I need to say more?
It truly gave me all the cozy feelings and it had me laughing out loud multiple times. It shows the magic that's in our daily life with actual magic sprinkled throughout.
There's also the most hilarious nod to THE cozy fantasy novel "Legends and Lattes" that I loved.
I now want to live in Leafhaven and visit Maribelle and Asteria in their bookstore and sit in a cozy chair with some tea and read, go to the Pumpkin festival and meet everyone.
February 27, 2023
This was cute enough for a free (I think?) quick Kindle read on my phone when I couldn't sleep but didn't want to turn on a light and disturb my girlfriend.
There's a weird gimmicky fourth wall-breaking schtick the author does that I found most annoying, but in one particular instance really made me laugh (the bit about typos). If you don't like really heavy-handed "wink wink, nudge nudge, know-what-I-mean dear reader?" type stuff, avoid this because it will drive you batty.
I loved the barbarian character, the other character was a bit of a cipher for me, but she was OK I guess. It was very twee, and like, ZERO steam, which was kinda disappointing. I have found lately all of the D&D-esque queer romances I've read have been SUPER cozy and have had zero sex, which is a bit disappointing. I'm still looking for something like, I don't know, Wildfire, but with lesbians.
There's a weird gimmicky fourth wall-breaking schtick the author does that I found most annoying, but in one particular instance really made me laugh (the bit about typos). If you don't like really heavy-handed "wink wink, nudge nudge, know-what-I-mean dear reader?" type stuff, avoid this because it will drive you batty.
I loved the barbarian character, the other character was a bit of a cipher for me, but she was OK I guess. It was very twee, and like, ZERO steam, which was kinda disappointing. I have found lately all of the D&D-esque queer romances I've read have been SUPER cozy and have had zero sex, which is a bit disappointing. I'm still looking for something like, I don't know, Wildfire, but with lesbians.
April 26, 2023
Cozy as a bookworm in a book
This book is a great mix of Pratchett, Hitchhikers Guide, and just a cozy local bookstore. The writing is witty and reminiscent of Pratchett and Hitchhikers Guide, while telling a story that is heartwarming. Lovely read.
This book is a great mix of Pratchett, Hitchhikers Guide, and just a cozy local bookstore. The writing is witty and reminiscent of Pratchett and Hitchhikers Guide, while telling a story that is heartwarming. Lovely read.
May 2, 2023
i mean come onnnn. this book was SO funny and so cute! i really really really enjoyed this! solid 5/5
November 30, 2023
Very meta in some of its references, and had some funny moments! I wasn't quite as invested in the romance as I wanted to be, but appreciated the writing style and tone. The way the narrator told the audience things and broke the fourth wall reminded me of the one found in Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall, and of course, this does give SOME Legends & Lattes vibes. If you're looking for a L&L dupe, this won't feel like one overall, but the cast was still fun to follow!
October 9, 2025
It took a few chapters, but The Bookshop and the Barbarian absolutely won me over, and now I can't wait to see what Morgan Stang writes next!
At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the author breaking the fourth wall and directly addressing the reader. It pulled me out of the story a bit initially, but I’m glad I stuck with it. After a few chapters, it stopped feeling jarring and started feeling charming, almost like being in on a clever inside joke. That narrative style ended up being one of the unique touches that helped this cozy fantasy stand out from the crowd.
The real magic, though, is in the setting, characters, and plot, all of which checked every single box I look for in a cozy fantasy read. The story has a light and playful tone, but it’s never dull or predictable. The plot may be cute and low-stakes on the surface, but it still has a strong enough hook to keep you turning the pages. The small-town setting is lovingly crafted, and the characters (especially the titular barbarian) are wonderfully written: quirky, warm, and easy to root for.
And for fans of Legends & Lattes (like myself), there's a delightful little easter egg tucked into the story that made me smile. It’s always a treat to see authors give a wink to their inspirations, and the nod to Travis Baldree’s cozy fantasy was a great touch that felt right at home in this book.
At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the author breaking the fourth wall and directly addressing the reader. It pulled me out of the story a bit initially, but I’m glad I stuck with it. After a few chapters, it stopped feeling jarring and started feeling charming, almost like being in on a clever inside joke. That narrative style ended up being one of the unique touches that helped this cozy fantasy stand out from the crowd.
The real magic, though, is in the setting, characters, and plot, all of which checked every single box I look for in a cozy fantasy read. The story has a light and playful tone, but it’s never dull or predictable. The plot may be cute and low-stakes on the surface, but it still has a strong enough hook to keep you turning the pages. The small-town setting is lovingly crafted, and the characters (especially the titular barbarian) are wonderfully written: quirky, warm, and easy to root for.
And for fans of Legends & Lattes (like myself), there's a delightful little easter egg tucked into the story that made me smile. It’s always a treat to see authors give a wink to their inspirations, and the nod to Travis Baldree’s cozy fantasy was a great touch that felt right at home in this book.
March 7, 2023
So cozy, so cute and so funny. The cozy fantasy I didn't know I needed ❤️ loved it!
dnf
May 16, 2023DNF for antisemitism (also boring)
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