This was everything! Such a fun and cozy fantasy romance. This is the perfect palette cleanser after a heavy read.

Fantastic and fun book, very easy to read and very addictive.

Jenna Wolfhart has a great turn of phrase and writes romance in a very compelling way. The world building and characterizations are fun and brilliantly created.

I will definitely be continuing in reading both this series and other series by Wolfhart too.

This is really fun and light if you’re looking for something that is fantasy but not as intricate. I wanted to get a deeper understanding of the characters, and maybe that will be coming in book 2!

I loved everything about this book! The world building, character and the spice. It was everything I was hoping for and so glad I got to read this and review it. It was also my first Jenna Wolfhart book so I will be adding her to my autobuy shelf.

Get ready for a great time!

This was exactly the kind of story I enjoy!

I enjoyed many aspects of this book: the romance, the half-orc (I love orcs), the world building.

This was cozy and fun! So glad to have gotten the ARC!

“Where you go, I go. I am with you until the end.” - Rivelin

Really enjoyed this book. The characters were great and for a standalone book had just enough depth and backstory. Even the world building was done well, would love to read more in this world. This felt like a more sexual legends and lattes. Had the cozy vibe and similar characters with more romance. The games and mystery both surrounding the games and the characters was done really well also.
Would have loved to have had a few things fleshed out a bit more but overall very enjoyable read.
Would recommend.

An enjoyable fantasy romance. World building is fun & the two characters after their initial meeting of butting heads end up respecting each other and their relationship builds into a friendship & love. Mysteries abound between Daella not knowing her peoples history due to the destruction of it and of Rivelin's tragic backstory and finally who is trying to rig the games that happen every year on the island that Daella has washed up on.

Forged the magic was a really fun read, I adored the characters and falling in love as they fell in. Love. Readers who loved Legends and Lattes and Can't Spell Treason Wiithout Tea Will fall in love with the magic of this book

i really enjoyed this book. i thought the characters were well written and all had their own charm and depth. I liked the interaction between characters and found a lot of it to be genuine. I really liked the setting and the story line of the games. The island and its magic was really interesting and kept me wanting to know more. i enjoyed the magic system, it was fresh while at the same time being cozy and simple. i cannot wait to read the next book and see what happens next.

Forged By Magic
Falling For Fables #1
Author Jenna Wolfhart
Genre FantasyRomance
Book Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Spice Rating 🌶️🌶️/5
Fave Quotes

To be happy and free and in love, it had always been a dream. Someone else's fate, but never mine.”- Daella

“Where you go, I go. I am with you until the end.” - Rivelin

Summary

“Forged by Magic” is a pleasant fae-filled fantasy romance with dragons & spice and everything nice. I was first drawn to this book by the cover art and soon realized I wouldn’t be able to put it down as I always enjoy a well-written book with magic, mystery, & enough enemies-to-lovers vibes to meet my needs.
Daella is a half-blood orc, held captive by the Ice Giant Emporer for 16 years, only let out of her tower for her ability to sniff out Dragons and Draugrs - those who use dragon magic - a magic so powerful that it consumes and corrupts any who dare to use it. The Emporer has promised to finally set her free if she can hunt down the last of those using this forbidden magic. She sets sail to an unknown island where they are rumored to be hiding but a storm destroys her ship and washes her ashore where she is then not so welcomed by Rivelin, a handsome yet bitter elf who promptly makes an enemy of her as he throws the dagger her mother gave her into the sea.
Now, Daella, with a reputation as a mercenary who hunts Draugr for the Ice Giant, is stuck on the suspiciously dragon-scented island until the storm that shipwrecked her moves on. Rivelin is tasked to house her and charm her by showing her the beauty of the island while also keeping its secrets hidden. To further distract her, he makes her his apprentice for the Midsummer Games - a magical competition where the winner will be granted any wish as long as it doesn't cause harm. Of course, there are enemies and foes and trickery within the competition, and all this hypes up the conflicting emotions between Daella and Rivelin and makes it even harder for them to trust each other. They both want to win to protect what they love but at what cost? Will Rivelin betray his kind for his feelings for her? Will she become the thing she was always taught to hunt and hate?

Review

This book was definitely worth the read. I loved the main characters, Daella and Rivelin, and how you get a chance to read the story from both of their POVs. The enemies to lovers was quick-paced but kept my interest . These two may have a lot of distrust with each other but both are longing for someone to share their secrets with and no doubt they can't deny the chemistry that is taking place between them. Let’s just say the blacksmith’s forge isn't the only room of his house that gets a little steamy!!
I found the world-building with the many parts of the island and the small village warm and welcoming much like the side characters who added a lot of charm to the story.
The ending did feel a little rushed, like something was missing, like it was building to something a little more epic then just ended a little flat, but at least it was a nice happy ending.
The second book in this series, Brewed in Magic, is already out and even though it will be more focused on Rivelin’s sister I am excited to dive into it as I really liked her character in this book.

Read If Your Into

⚔️Enemies to Lovers
⚔️Steamy fae fantasy romance
⚔️Forced Proximity
⚔️Dual POV
⚔️Magical Trials
⚔️Magical Creatures
⚔️Possessive Growling
⚔️FMC With Dagger
🖤🖤🖤
Thank you to NetGalley and Jenna Wolfhart for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

‘Forged by Magic’ by Jenna Wolfhart is a delightful blend of fantasy, romance, and adventure that whisks you away to a world where love blossoms in the unlikeliest of places. The story of Daella, a half-orc trapped by her past and a tyrant emperor, unfolds with an irresistible charm that captivates from the very beginning.

Daella's journey from a prisoner to a seeker of outlawed magic is not just a quest for freedom, but also a heartwarming tale of self-discovery and resilience. Her character is beautifully flawed and relatable, making her struggles and triumphs resonate deeply. The addition of Rivelin, the grumpy yet endearing elven blacksmith, adds a delightful contrast to Daella's character. Their dynamic, evolving from mutual distrust to a tender, slow-burning romance, is the soul of this enchanting tale.

The world Wolfhart creates is rich and vivid, filled with magic, mythical creatures, and a cozy village that feels like home. The small-town vibe of the island, combined with the thrilling Midsummer Games, creates a backdrop that is both magical and grounded, allowing the characters and their relationships to shine.

Wolfhart's writing is a masterful blend of humor, heart, and fantasy. The pacing is perfect, striking a balance between action-packed scenes and quieter, more intimate moments. The narrative is engaging, filled with witty banter, endearing side characters, and a magic system that is both unique and intriguing.

‘Forged by Magic’ is a fantasy romance that offers more than just a love story; it's a journey of courage, hope, and finding light in the darkest of places. Daella and Rivelin's story is a testament to the power of love and the magic of second chances.

If you're in the mood for a fantasy romance that's light-hearted yet deeply moving, with a sprinkle of danger and a whole lot of heart, ‘Forged by Magic’ is the perfect read.

An indentured warrior half-orc and a grumpy blacksmith elf - sounds like quite the pair and I could lay out the story in this book for you. But I feel like the heart of this book is this pair and their meeting, starting as enemies but becoming friends and falling in love. They may be opposites in a lot of ways, but they also have a lot in common.
This book meshes cute and cozy with excitement and some low stakes action in a seamless way, and at its heart is this love story between an half-orc and an elf.
It’s whimsical and magical- and yes there are DRAGONS!

This was exactly how I want my cozy fantasy (and yes, that includes a little spice 🔥).

Pick up Forged by Magic for the perfect blend of cozy, fantastical and romantic.

I was really excited for this one. But now these cozy fantasy books have me scared that I am going to hate all of them. (you can insert crying here). This one sadly was more telling vs. showing and truth be told I didn't like the writing and I was just so very bored with this one. Sad to say I also have book two. Which I will take a look at but I am not holding out hope.

If you're looking for a simple cozy fantasy story with tropes like grumpy x sunshine, found family and enemies to lovers then you might want to pick this one up!

The world building is fascinating with a big world where there's a hidden magical island and several different creatures living together like Orcs, humans, dragons and elves which fantasy lovers would be thrilled to read about like myself.

This story has a dual POV from these two main characters which is a great touch to get to know the characters where they have their own agendas and see how they grow throughout the story.
The slow burn romance between Rivelin and Daella is delightful. I absolutely love the high tension and bantering between them which eventually leads to the spicy moments which is worth the wait.

However, as much as I like the people on the island and Riveliin (MMC) they were too quick to judge Daella (FMC) just because she was an outsider which really annoyed me sometimes.
Moreover, Daella kinda forgives too easy... I was hoping to see Rivelin groveled his way back to Daella a little bit harder.

Nonetheless, this book was a heart-warming and enjoyable story with easy to read writing style, badass FMC and other elements inside which fantasy romance readers would love.
The ending also got wrapped up nicely and I'm looking forward to read the next book from this series!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Death, fire injury, sexual content, war, confinement, cursing, sexual harassment, murder, and blood

Loved the cover art and the premise, I mean who isn't a fan of an assassin half-orc fem falling for a very pretty elf, but this was just not what I was looking for.

What I wanted was a cute enemies-to-lovers fantasy book, I was looking for something that could work for fans of the video game Baldur's Gate 3. But I just was not in love with either of the main characters and there was too much instant attraction for me. I was looking for something with more relationship development and time spent getting to know the characters but everything moved much faster than I expected and left me feeling like I was playing catch up.

I love cosy fantasy, and this perfectly fits the bill. Low stakes, and high charm - characters you fall in love with and a happy ending, what more could you ask for?

I enjoyed reading this cozy fantasy story. From the characters to the cozy atmosphere everything was great. It was such a magical day spending it in this cute book.

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers

I loved this cosy fantasy read!
The world building is fantastic and I loved the magic, dragons and everything that was incorporated into this book.
The storyline was great and I loved the bit of spice that was featured. I'd definitely be reading book 2

Forged by Magic is a very cozy fantasy Romance which entertained me..

But, somehow something was missing here, I saw a lot of potential that wasn't fully exploited.

At first it was difficult to get into the book and towards the end everything was dealt with much too quickly.

I liked the Characters and the cozy atmosphere here. I am definitely going to read the second one and let me surprise if it’s going to be better than the first one.
But don’t get me wrong, I didn’t hated this book but either did I loved it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing me the ARC!

I heard cozy fantasy with a little spice and was sold!
This had everything I didn't know I needed - magic, dragons, tournaments and a slow burn. Such an easy yet immersive read with great world-building, character development and tension.

I didn't know a grumpy blacksmith elf was my type, but now I do. A half orc named Daella is apparently also my type..

Just a great great read and perfect for those rainy fall days with a cup of something warm and candles around you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.