Jenna Wolfhart's "Forged by Magic" is a delightful standalone romance that seamlessly weaves elements of fantasy into its captivating narrative. This enchanting novel proved to be a cozy and enjoyable escape, delivering a unique and fun reading experience.

Right from the beginning, I was drawn into the compelling enemies-to-lovers storyline. Daella and Rivelin, the main characters, exhibited palpable chemistry that kept me eagerly turning the pages. The perfect balance of tension and angst between them added depth and excitement to their burgeoning relationship. Their journey from distrust to an unlikely and heartwarming union was portrayed with skill and authenticity, making their romance a true highlight of the book.

The world-building in the book was simple but effective. The author's descriptions transported me to the hidden island of Wyndale, evoking a sense of wonder and fascination. I found myself yearning to explore every nook and cranny of this magical world.

While the focus was primarily on the main characters, the secondary cast added some dimension to the story. Lilia, with her endearing personality and the contrasting presence of the antagonistic Gregor, provided intriguing dynamics that enhanced the overall narrative. These interesting characters breathed life into the pages and kept you drawn into the story.

The pacing of the story was generally well-executed, allowing the plot to unfold at a satisfying pace. However, there were moments towards the end where events felt slightly rushed in an effort to get toward the conclusion. I also wish that more had been done with the dragons and it would have been interesting to explore their relationships with the Orcs more. Nonetheless, this minor flaw did not detract from the overall enjoyment of the book.

The book successfully combined elements of romance, fantasy, and a touch of danger. It transported me to a world where love bloomed amidst adversity and where the desires of the heart were pitted against the pursuit of freedom. Jenna Wolfhart's skillful storytelling created a cozy and enchanting reading experience that will leave fans of the genre craving for more.

With its compelling characters, immersive world-building, and a touch of steamy romance, "Forged by Magic" deserves a solid four-star rating. It is a recommended read for anyone seeking an engaging and heartwarming blend of romance and fantasy.

Thank you, NetGalley, for sending me this ARC, this cosy fantasy sprinkled with spice was such a fun read. If you love Ice Planet Barbarians, Legends & Lattes with a sprinkle of Fourth Wing, you will love this!

We follow Daella who is a half orc who is being held by the emperor who invaded her home, and is forced to be his mercenary and she can't say no because of a ice shard in her body which he controls.

Her ship ends up crashing on the peaceful island and is found by the handsome but grumpy elven, and they end up forced working together both for different motives.

We have non complicated world building, different magical creatures inc dragons, enemies to lovers, 1 raft trope, grumpy sunshine, and a nice sprinkle of spice.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for giving me access to an e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first time reading anything by Jenna Wolfhart, but now I want to read everything!

This book is exactly how it was described, a sweet and cosy fantasy (with a tiny hint of spice). It has enough world building to let you know what is going on in the background of the story and it was so well paced you will never want to put this down.
This story follows Daella, a half orc prisoner of the horrible ice giant king who gets sent out to sea on a quest to find the last dragons. She ends up finding them, but not in the way she expects!

The love story in this features my favourite trope, enemies to lovers, and you see Daella and the grumpy elf Rivelin fall slowly in love with each other. You know how much I love enemies to lovers. There is only a small hint of spice in this, but like I said before it’s supposed to be more of a cosy fantasy so you don’t expect too much.

The surrounding characters and settings just made the story that much more cosy and you truly will not want to stop reading. It’s paced well, keeping you hooked and some of the twists are a little unexpected. If you want to read a fun and
lighthearted romantasy, then this is the book for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for letting me read this Arc!

This story was fantastical and so cozy. I just felt like curling up with a hot cup of tea and warm blanket to sit down to read. I devoured this and could not put it down! The world building and the unique take on Orcs was really cool! I will buying this as soon as it's published.

4.5 stars

Forged by Magic is one of those books that I requested on a random Netgalley browsing spree. Going into this, I had no idea what to expect. And this turned out to be a good thing because I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I haven't read very many cozy fantasy books but this one has to be one of my favourites. I loved the writing, the world building and the magic system; it was a delight to read and it was done so well. The writing was beautiful, not overly descriptive which made it so much more fun. Another thing that I really enjoyed about this book was the competition aspect and how it was done. It was so much fun to read about the characters competing in challenges related to the elements.

And of course, I cannot forget the romance. Daella and Rivelin had such a fun dynamic; their banter was honestly hilarious. I am so glad this book had a dual POV because it was so nice to see how each of them slowly fell for the other. Trust me, I was pretty much shipping them not half-way in.

All in all, if you're looking for a cozy fantasy to read, then Forged by Magic is a great choice!

Thank you to NetGalley and publish for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This cozy fantasy book was an interesting approach in including both quest for a better world and romance from two POVs. To me some scenes and progression of Daella and Rivelins relationship felt forced and predictable… which led to some cringey/cheesy scenes in my opinion. I appreciated the included glossary at the end to help understand some of the terms used for different magic and the map! I also was impressed by the variety of fantasy creatures including humans, Elves, Orcs, demons, etc. The surprise elements that were suppose to be suspenseful, ended up being very obvious/logical conclusions. I struggled to get through it honestly. I feel like it had good bones and plot elements but the execution was alittle rushed.

This was my first cozy fantasy and I absolutely loved it! Jenna did an amazing job of crafting a beautiful world that felt like coming home after a long day. Truly one of the best stand alone fantasies I’ve ever read. I’m really hoping she plans on writing several novels set here.

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

Rivelin and Daella had such a fun and beautiful relationship. I loved watching them grow and begin to trust each other. Also the spice?!🥵 I love me a ‘good girl’ moment.

It has grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers, who hurt you, tending wounds, and dragons. What more could you want!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC to review!

Cozy fantasy with dragons and a side of spice?? 100% yes!

This was absolutely amazing! Full disclosure - I picked up this book based off the cover alone because it is just gorgeous! I’m so glad I did because this is one of my new favorite cozy fantasy books of the year!!

We follow Dealla (a half orc) who has lived her life imprisoned by an evil emperor who has conquered her homeland and decimated her people. She has all but given up hope when her captor offers her a deal - complete a quest for him in exchange for her freedom. Shocked and not about to pass up a once in a lifetime opportunity she sets out on a journey to Fable to bring back anyone who is using dragon magic. Her world is once again turned upside down when a storm ravages her boat and puts her entire mission in jeopardy. When she finds herself on the wrong island and at the mercy of a local blacksmith (Rivelin) lines become crossed, edges become blurred, loyalties are tested, friendships are made hearts are changed forever.

I could go on forever about how cozy and amazing Forged by Magic by Jenna Wolfhart but I don’t want to spoil any of the amazingness that is in this magical book! Full of all the cozy fantasy vibes, smidge of danger, side of spice, swoony romance, unique magic system, fantastical world building, magical games, beautiful scenery & dragons - this is a 10/10 must read!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Starting the countdown now to when I can buy this book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this amazing book! I am a cozy fantasy lover and this one isn’t like the rest! The stakes are a bit higher and there is spice, and I couldn’t put this book down! I absolutely loved the main characters Daella and Rivelin, but it was so easy to love (almost) all of the characters. Alsooo if you’re on a dragon kick definitely give this book a try!

Absolutely a cozy read with a sprinkle of SPICE and some adventure. A very good palete cleanser if you are in need of one.

I am a sucker for cozy reads so it comes to no surprise that I absolutely adored this one.

The pacing for the story was well formulated so you were naver feeling bored. The dynamic of the characters was absolutely adorable. We have a grumpy blacksmith boi and a sunshiney mercenary gorl. The feelings of will they won't they definitely exist throughout the story.

Daella was first sent to the Fabled Isle in search of dragons and users of dragon magic. Finding some would mean her freedom, and boy does she want her freedom. She lands there during a shipwreck, and washes up at the feet of the one and only grumpy Rivelin.

Rivelin loves his dog, his town, and his craft. But all he really wants is to be left alone and protect everyone. He doesn't want anything to do with Daella, but if she is stuck on the island and he doesn't want her to find the island's secrets he must keep her occupied...right?

All in all, the story is very sweet and low stakes. It has an enjoyable world to explore and interesting enough characters to meet.

A fantasy romance with dragons. This book felt fresh, well paced and fun. And the spicy scenes were v.spicy but it didn't take over from the plot.
The world building and writing was great without the book being too long or wordy.

An enemies to lovers romance between an Elf Rivelin (a protector of a secret island he now calls hoom) and a half Orc initially believed to be a mercenary of the ice giant conquerer who took her freedom away.
Rivelin soon realises there's more to Daella then her infamous reputation of a Murk willingly killing for the Ice Emperor.
Together they team up to win the islands Midsummer Games each with their own motives - until they start to fall for each other and lines are blurred.

Rivelin and Daella are the perfect team and I loved their chemistry and slow burn romance. The bond forged between them is strong till rivals threatened to tear them apart and they are forced to examine their feelings for each other and the trust they share.

The side characters in this book gave the book cozy/chosen family vibes and I loved how quirky and heartwarming it made the village and the whole book.

Really really enjoyed this book. This was a cozy fantasy with slightly higher stakes than a few other cozy fantasies out on the market. Which just made it the perfect read. I ADORED Rivelin and Daella. They had the most amazing enemies to lovers storyline and banter and steam that just imploded!

"A heartwarming, feel-good fantasy romance…with a helping of spice and only a pinch of danger." I thoroughly enjoyed my first experience of Jenna Wolfhart's writing. Forged By Magic lives up to the promise of a feel-good, cozy fantasy romance which kept me captivated from start to end.

Though this does not have the same intensity in the conflict as an epic fantasy may have, it makes up for it in the lovely setting of the story and the creative elements in the Midsummer Games and the diversity of the characters. The touches of magic, mythology and mystery kept me invested to the very end.

I especially loved the MCs, both of whom were likeable as individuals, as well as the 'grumpy-sunshine' dynamic between the them, but personally I was wanting a tiny bit more intensity and conflict building up to their acceptance of each other, given this is intended to be an enemies-to-lovers story. My favourite element of this story was the dragons, and my only wish was that we could have explored their lore and the nature of their bonds more, but overall, I enjoyed this cozy fantasy and this lovely world created by the author.

This was such a cozy and cute book, with some life or death situations but still low stakes! Also some very lovely spice scenes. High fantasy, with all the fantastical creatures you can think of! (Even dragons!!) It gave me vibes from the Witcher (Rivelin, hello 💁🏻‍♀️), Legend of Vox Machina (Rivelin and his friends), Peter Pan (with the hidden island), Lord of the rings with all the magical creatures and the feeling of the Shire, and also GOT (ice giants, dragons etc.)
I completely devoured this book, it was so freaking good! It’s a standalone, so you don’t have to commit to an entire series (even though I would not mind if this was a series, I want more 🥺) This book had everything I want in a fantasy, cozy vibes, some spice, DRAGONS, all kinds of magical creatures (I mean I like fae, but give me some variety 😂) dangerous missions, a grumpy and handsome new bookboyfriend, and a sassy and badass fmc. I truly loved this book and highly recommend it to all fantasy lovers!

Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for giving me an ARC 🥰

I adore cozy fantasies and this just became one of my favorites! I loved Daella and Rivelin - the enemies-to-lovers romance was executed beautifully 😍
I wish I could hop on a ship to Wyndale and live in Hearthaven in my own cozy cottage 😭

The characters we really well developed and by the end of it had a nice found-family vibe that I always adore in stories. The ending I found to be a bit too fast and a little rushed, but it was still enjoyable! I'm always a fan of a happily ever after ending.

If anyone is looking for a Cozy Fantasy with romance, I will definitely be recommending this book!

This review is now posted to my goodreads as well!

This story was so sweet. It was such a cozy little fantasy and I loved that our fmc wasn’t the typical human or fae. For the genre this was great but I do have one note.

The spice was well written but it felt almost forced? Like it could’ve been fade to black and it would’ve fit better imo and this is coming from someone who loooves a dark romance. It just felt out of place but maybe if there was more tension or build up/foreplay it would’ve transitioned better.

That aside, it was sweet and cozy and very enjoyable. The stakes weren’t high which was nice for when you want a fantasy but not one that’s going to stress you out.

Despite being sold to the reader as a cosy fantasy and being anything but, this book was so good !

The magic system was easy to understand yet the new names and lore were making it feel new and exciting. The pacing was balanced between action-packed scenes and new information being given to the readers as we learn more about each character. The story moves along quickly enough to keep us readers engaged and wanting to know more, especially as the author blurs the lines of who is the "bad guy" constantly and makes you doubt the sincerity of all characters.

There is no violence in this book, which is refreshing. The characters are competing in 4 challenges based on elemental magic (one challenge for each element) that asks of them to show their skills at mastering said elements, and I found that was really interesting and fun to read. The whole small town where this is held feels like a small town romance where everyone knows and loves each other, but bickers from time to time. And finally accepts the new comer they were weary of.

However, I found both the plot and the love story to be actually pretty angsty. We never know if the main villain is going to show up and bring violence + if the main character is going to die. And on the love story part, this is a pure grumpy x sunshine with opposite attracts and difficulties with being vulnerable and open, leading to miscommunication and "will they/won't they" that kept me on the edge of my seat. Definitely a slow burn and even when the burn is burning, you don't know if it will last...

Highly recommend if you want a short fantasy read where things get solved with cupcakes.

Thank you, Victory Editing, Jenna Wolfhart, and NetGalley, for the ARC.

Nothing against this book. I was not in the mood to read it, so it took me a while. It was a great book; I will reread it when I'm more in the mood. It was a slow start, but it picked up around chapter 10. I loved the concept of the book. It is a sweet story. The Island is so cool, and I loved that it had games to give people one wish.

This is enemies to lovers story and slow burn. I recommend reading this book.

Do you enjoy Dungeons & Dragons, witty banter, and a cozy Happily Ever After? Run, don't walk to get this book!
When Daella, an unwilling half-orc mercenary, is sent on a mission to investigate and stop the use of illegal magic, she is offered the only reward she's ever wanted - her freedom! But when her ship is sunk in magical storm, she washes up on a foreign shore and discovered by an elf willing to do anything to protect the secrets of the island and the villagers who live there!
Pixies, demons, elves, orcs, dragons and more abound in this cozy fantasy romp that will leave you wishing for a ticket to the Isle of Fables and a tankard of ale at Lilia's Traveling Tavern!

I just reviewed Forged by Magic by Jenna Wolfhart. #ForgedbyMagic #NetGalley

This is one of those books where you know it’s going to be a 5-Star read before you even hit 20%.

Reading Forged By Magic felt like coming home after a lifetime of fighting battles others chose for you. This book was the perfect, romantic palette cleanser after reading a couple heavy, action-packed fantasy books.

The setting of Forged By Magic felt like what one might see if The Shire and Rivendell merged into one magical island location hidden by sea and storm. I wanted to live there.

The main characters were well developed and well matched for each other. The perfect amount of tension and angst made for a delightful read. I loved watching unease and mistrust turn to an unlikely yet wonderful union from both Daella and Rivelin’s point of views. The first person narration was done very well, and I’m typically a third person fan.

The minor characters were well developed as well. I instantly fell in love with Lilia. How could I not? The elf is her brother’s perfect antithesis and the dynamic that brought to the story was just…chef’s kiss. Then, there was Gregor, who I loved to hate.

Forged By Magic may not be a cozy fantasy romance, as the stakes are very high for the main characters and their setting, but it quickly became a comfort read for me. The romance felt like finding a safe harbor after a lifetime of enduring stormy seas, and the setting felt like something straight out of the mind of Tolkien and the hearts of elves and hobbits. There was just enough plot to keep the story moving at an enjoyable pace, with villains worthy of the title. Five stars.