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.

I loved this so much! Great wordbuilding, loved the character development. I do wish she hadn't forgiven him so easily, but I also love them together so a double edged sword.

This book was super cute and I really enjoyed it. Will recommend when people are seeking out cozy fantasy reads!

liked the story, definitely ya and you could tell, but overall probably not one of my absolute favourites. id definitely recommend to people because it was a good book, but because im in a reading slump, it wasn't enough to get me out of it.

If you’re looking for an easy-to-read cozy fanatasy with some spice, this book is for you. If you or your patrons would describe yourself as “wanting to get into fantasy,” but “has a short attention span.” I would highly recommend this book. For me, it didn’t quite reach the level cozy I was hoping it would and missed a lot of the nuance that the characters deserved. It felt like the author was so excited for what was going to happen next, that she jumped through a bit quickly. HOWEVER, I truly think the booktokers will absolutely love this. For fans of cozy fantasy.

Ah, the enchanting world of "Forged by Magic" by Jenna Wolfhart! A tale that weaves the whimsical with the romantic, and sprinkles it with just the right amount of danger and intrigue. L

Daella, a half-orc trapped in a tower by a ruthless emperor, is a character filled with longing and determination. Her yearning for freedom is palpable, and when offered a chance to earn her liberty by tracking down wielders of forbidden dragon magic, she seizes it with both hands. But destiny has other plans, and a brutal storm leads her to the mysterious Rivelin, a gruff but handsome elven blacksmith.

The story unfolds on an island where Daella finds herself stranded, and Rivelin's initial reluctance to help her turns into an unexpected alliance. The chemistry between these two characters is delightful, sparking with tension and humour. Their enemies-to-lovers plot is addicting, filled with magic, dragons, and a magical tournament that adds a layer of excitement to their journey.

What I particularly loved about "Forged by Magic" was the balance between the romance and the fantasy elements. The world-building is rich and immersive, creating a setting that feels both magical and cozy. The characters are well-drawn, with Daella's strength and Rivelin's grumpiness playing off each other in a way that's both entertaining and endearing.

The romance itself is sweet with a hint of spice, and the way it unfolds feels natural and engaging. The magical tournament adds a fun twist to the story, and the stakes are just right to keep the reader invested without overshadowing the romance.

"Forged by Magic" is a delightful read that offers a perfect blend of romance, fantasy, and adventure. It's a book that invites you to grab a cup of tea, snuggle under a blanket, and lose yourself in a world filled with magic, love, and the promise of a happily ever after.

For fans of Dungeons and Dragons, Legends and Lattes, or anyone looking for a cosy, romantic fantasy, this book is a must-read. Jenna Wolfhart has crafted a tale that's both heartwarming and thrilling, with characters that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

I can't wait for the second book in this series, and I highly recommend "Forged by Magic" for a rainy day read with something delicious by your side. It's a charming novel that will leave you smiling and longing for more adventures.

This was such a cozy fun time and had all the things I look for in a romantic fantasy. You have a half orc mercenary paired up with a grumpy but sexy blacksmith elf with a enemies to lovers plot that was addicting. And did I mention theres magic and dragons? If your looking for a medium to low stakes cozy fantasy with a magical tournament, romance with some spice thrown in, look no further. I can't wait for the second book in this series.

A cozy fantasy? Sign me up!

This cozy fantasy is about daella, a half orc trapped in a tower by the evil ruler who killed all other orcs but kept daella alive because she is a half orc and he uses her as a hit girl.
One day she gets a chance at freedom: find the isles of fable and find the people who use forbidden dragon magic.
She does not want to kill anymore but if she wants her freedom she needs to do so.
So she sets sail for the fable island but a bad storm wrecks her ship and she blacks out.
Once she awakens she finds herself on a beach with a really good looking elf, rivelin.
No one on the island wants to help her because she works for the evil ruler.
The peoole of the island are afraid their secret might get out so they hatch a plan: get rivelin to win her trust and let her go so nothing happens. But what will happen once she finds out their secret?

This book is your perfect cozy read!
Grab a good cup of tea and a blanket and enjoy this amazing book!

Thanks netgalley for the review copy.

Forged By Magic follows Daella, a Half-Orc who is sent on a dangerous voyage to the Glass Peaks to carry out a mission for Isveig, and on the way, she gets washed up onto the shore of a distant island, where she comes face-to-face with resident grump, Rivelin, an elven blacksmith with a huge chip on his shoulders. The two become fast enemies, as Daella's reputation of being one of Isveig's most infamous murks travels far and wide. But eventually, they begin to tolerate each other and decide to team up to help Rivelin win the Midsummer Games, a competition that the people of Wyndale host every year to get a wish granted by the island to further improve their quality of life and protection from others outside of the village.

Rivelin and Daella were so sweet together. I am such a sucker for banter that is well done, and every single time they started going at it, I found myself smiling because lets face it, they're very cute. Wolfheart's prose is beautiful without being overbearing, easy to follow and well paced. The characters stayed true to themselves throughout the book and a big portion of this novel is about trust, about learning when to let go of mistakes and prejudices. Everything that happened in this book happened at the right time and the right pace. The stakes were high

The only gripe I had with this novel was the "high-stakes". I felt like very little agency was required on Daella's part for the larger stakes (events beyond the isle) to fall into place. Her life is on the line and I felt that throughout the story, she never quite felt the urgency of such a pressing matter.

I had a hard time putting this book once I started reading it, so a huge thank you to the publisher for the chance to read this charming novel. All the best!

This was definitely a cozy fantasy to me, and I really enjoyed it. I liked the characters and dual POV. I only wish we got a little more about Daella’s past. How could her parents have died from dragon fire when Orcs were apparently made from dragon fire or something? The first 3/4 was paced great, and then the last quarter felt rushed and like details were missing, like the whole ice shard dragon bond thing. Hopefully there will be more books for more answers! Regardless of the disappointing end, I still definitely liked the book.

A cosy fantasy-romance with a helping of spice and a low-stakes tournament? Just what I was looking for.

In 'Forged by Magic', half-orc Daella is forced to track down wielders of dragon magic for the ice king, who has kept her captive for years. When a storm capsizes her ship, she washes up on the shores of the Isles of Fable. Blacksmith Rivelin, who finds her on the beach, offers her shelter. But Daella quickly suspects that the elf is hiding something. As the two bicker and collaborate on the tasks for the Midsummer Games, sparks fly...

This stand-alone romance is sweet, with plenty of slice-of-life scenes. I enjoyed the mostly low-stakes magical games, particularly the cupcake baking and the one-person-raft. One issue with the plot, for me, was how little effort Daella made to sniff out the dragon magic, despite her life being on the line. I guess the main character is allowed to avoid and procrastinate every once in a while - however, I felt like very little agency was required on her part for the larger stakes (events beyond the isle) to fall into place. Overall a nice palate cleanser, a sweet romance with a grumpy/sunshine dynamic, and a few steamy scenes. I will be returning to the Isles for further stories in this world when they come out.

3.5 stars from me.

i loved this enemies to lovers vibe but... nice? nothing was overly high stakes and no one was too mean. i love a good competition and dragons?? count me in. the world building was great and it had just the right amount of spice.

The perfect enemy's to lovers book!

An amazing combination of magic, dragons and adventure that will keep you reading until the very last page.

I can't wait for her next book!

Perfect for lovers of Dungeons and Dragons and Legends and Lattes. A very cozy, romantic read for fantasy lovers.

Since she was young and the war destroyed her people and her country, Daella has been held captive in the emperor's castle, Now, the Emperor is desperate and offers her a deal for her complete freedom: travel to the Isles of Fable and take out those who are using forbidden dragon magic. She seizes her chance and agrees.

Unfortunately, a brutal storm deters her journey, and she ends up shipwrecked and penniless on the wrong island. The town is against her, and the deadline is looming when she meets the town's grumpy blacksmith, an elf named Rivelin. The grump offers her a deal, food and shelter until the next ship arrives in town for her help in The Summer Games.

But as the games begin, sabotage is discovered. Can Daella and Rivelin figure out who is at fault before it is too late or are they both doomed?

Super cozy and lovable read. Once you start you won't be able to put down. I highly recommend reading on a rainy day with a hot mug of something delicious.

My thanks to Netgalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Forged by Magic is a slower paced cozy fantasy perfect for fans of legends and lattes looking for more dungeons and dragons style vibes in their reading. Character development and dialogue were handled exceptionally well. I will certainly be reading more by this author.

This was a refreshing read that my palate really needed! I enjoyed the whole story from start to finish!

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy of Forged by Magic. This was so cute! It was like a D&D adventure wrapped into a cute little novel. I definitely this this is making a statement in the book world since we are seeing more of these styles of D&D adventures into little novels.

"If a book has an intriguing cover, I'm much more interested in opening those pages and finding out exactly what awaits me inside."⠀
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Jenna Wolfhart, Forged By Magic⠀
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Forged By Magic by Jenna Wolfhart is a cozy fantasy that's perfect for fans of Lattes and Legends, Dungeons and Dragons, or anything by Kimberly Lemming. I enjoyed getting to know Daella and Rivelin as their story unfolded and they were interesting and complicated but also super cute. I loved how grumpy Rivelin was at first and how with each challenge his layers were peeled back like an onion. Daella was a kick ass female lead and I loved that she was willing to change her mind about the dragons when she realized that she had been lied to. The whole community of the island was interesting and I loved getting to meet the new characters and seeing their personalities. The magic system and world building was so much fun and definitely had "cozy tavern on an autumn night" type vibes. The romance was steamy but not over the top and I really enjoyed this whole book immensely.

First 40% was very fun. Love the characters too but then I couldn’t get into it felt like it was too slow. DNF for now. But I will definitely try coming back to it and giving it another chance.

I wasn't able to download it here but bought it anyway to review it.

Well, It was certainly a compelling and heartwarming novel that just speaks of everything a fantasy romance should be. The characters and the world-building are just wonderfully made.