Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cute, sweet, cozy graphic novel. I saw another review compare it to Tea Dragon Society and Legends and Lattes, and I can definitely see the comparisons. The art was very whimsical and colorful, and the plot was interesting and intriguing while also being low-stakes and cozy. A fun, quick read for those looking for some magic and whimsy and queer joy in their lives.

Thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for my review.

This comic follows Juniper and Hadley who go on an adventure to find a special ingredient for a large order the bakery they work at received. This is a quick read with a whimsical art style. The Juniper is a baker looking to start her own place and Hadley is a Bard looking for their big break. They have a cute relationship, lil Fern is precious, and Thistle and her Fay Caterpillar friends are hopefully living their best lives.

Highly recommend for those looking for something low key and sweet.

Cute, cozy, queer graphic novel! A fun and quick read. I loved the story but would have liked to feel a bit more emotional connection to the characters. In that area it fell a bit flat for me.

I got lucky and was allowed to get a copy of "The Baker and the Bard" on Netgalley. Thank you, Netgalley!
This doesn't influence my review, of course.

The Baker and the Bard is a cozy fantasy graphic novel.
It was the first graphic novel I have read in a while and I loved every second of it.

It is short, very sweet, heartwarming, there are very diverse and colorful characters and the story is easy to follow and perfect for a quick trip into another world for a little break from real life!

I was a bit sad when it was over so quick, I would've loved to get to know the characters even more.

4/5 stars <3

I enjoyed this story for everything that it was trying to be! It was a sweet story about two people trying to fulfil a task that may be too big for them alone, but not together! It fits perfectly with the cozy fantasy trend happening currently.

A cute book with some wonderful lgbtq characters. The art in the graphic novel was my favorite part. Thanks to netgalley for the advanced reader copy!

This was short, sweet and delightful. I am so happy I got to receive this ARC. Most of the story had a good flow but parts felt a little forced, creating forced character development instead of natural character development. I do hope to see more of these and how the writing develops.

Humorous, cozy, and inclusive—Fern Haugth’s debut is the perfect afternoon read with a cup of your favorite hot drink and a bag of cookies. The soft color palette and casual line art combined with a well-paced and wholesome plot, had me burying myself deeper into my couch ready to have a good-feel time. And good feelings were had aplenty! While simple at its core, the adventure still brought fun moments as we follow Juniper and Hadley. The laters antics and the exasperated fondness of the first, had me chuckling and happy-sighing at their very obvious chemistry. Lastly, the gentle lessons in gender expression and nature/animal conservation were rather pointed, but nonetheless appreciated. I hope this story is equally loved by many and we get a chance to read more of Juniper and Hadley’s adventures, or even follow other characters in this wonderfully cozy fantasy world!

Such a sweet and fantastic graphic novel debut!

The Baker and the Bard is as straightforward cozy fantasy that follows two bestfriend as they venture to find a secret ingredient for a special bakery order only to be caught in a social problem in their neighboring fey town.

I love the illustration and the art style in this graphic novel - fits the cozy fantasy storyline about feys doing an errand only to end up being mediators in a ecological destruction. The pacing of the story also suits the narration since what happened on this book is a mix of character-driven and plot-driven scenes.

Again, this one just felt a bit short and character development could have been improved but it was still able to deliver the message in the end.

GRAPHIC NOVEL & COZY FANTASY & QUEER!!!!

Anyone who knows me, knows these are some of my favorite genres to read. I am super excited to read more queer cozy fantasy in 2024. This is a very short & easy to digest story. Very colorful & very engaging. I almost wish it was longer only because I wish we had more graphic novels like this.

Thank you the author, the publisher, & to NetGalley for a copy of the Arc.

Such a cozy, heartwarming and wholesome little story showcasing queer characters and a lot of representation. I enjoyed the whimsical artwork and really wished the novel to be longer. I hope we will see more of these characters and author in the future!

The Baker and the Bard follows the story of Juniper, the baker and Hadley, the bard as they went on an adventure to get the special mushroom ingredient needed for their customer's order.

The characters are mortals and feys and some of them can do magic. It also features non-binary characters. I loved how heart-warming and adorable all their interactions were. And it was fun seeing June's and Hadley's differences and their dynamics.

It talks about friendship, accepting one's identity and gender, and taking care of animals and their habitat. I loved how warm and open they were in tackling these.

The art is so pleasant to look at, with its mostly light and warm colors. I especially loved the mouth-watering food illustrations. It was easy to want to get lost in its pages and be inside its beautiful world. There was also a recipe and bonus character sketches at the end which I appreciate.

Overall, The Baker and the Bard is a quick, light-hearted, cozy read that I finished in one sitting and definitely enjoyed. I would love to have a physical copy of this on my shelf just so I can adoringly look at its beautiful illustrations again. I would definitely read if there will be more about these characters and this world. I recommend for those looking for a cozy read with pastries and music and beautiful friendships.

I liked the concept of the story, but the artwork lacked refinement. There were things like anatomy mistakes that distracted me from the story. There are a lot of great YA fantasy graphic novels out there with great artwork, and this felt more like student work to me.

A cozy fantasy adventure? Yes, please! This was a quick read for me that felt like a warm blanket. What a pleasure to read. I look forward to continuing to follow Fern Haught's work.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

Low-stakes cozy queer fantasy graphic novel about foraging some special mushrooms. Super cute. I wish the artwork was a little more refined, but it's still very good with interesting character designs.

A lovely cozy story with unbelievably beautiful art. A must read for all who like legends and lattes.

“To all the kids who talked to the birds and filled their pockets with pebbles at recess” 🥹 this book already had my heart with just that quote. When I read legends and lattes I was saying I wish it was a graphic novel and that’s almost what this was like! It’s a very cute and sweet story and the graphics are very pretty.

A cozy, inclusive fantasy brimming with heart. Initially I wasn't sure if it would grab me, but it quickly did and I found such a warm, sweet world with lovable, adorable characters. Thistle the fey and their companion critters absolutely stole the show for me. Perfect for fans of the Tea Dragon Society.

I really enjoy reading MG comics. I am not sure who wrote the blurb, as “The Tea Dragon Society, Legends & Lattes, and Animal Crossing” are an odd pairing. Tea Dragon is the only one I would agree this, and I think this book feels flat in comparison. The characters were great as friends, and the switch from not talking about a crush to kissing with no communicating didn’t work for me, especially in a middle grade book. The plot felt rushed and didn’t need to be that simple for a MG audience. The art was colorful and charming, but the lack of background seemed a little too simple in a few places and faces also could feel flat. Also, I had an ARC so this may change, but the font kept bringing me out of the story.

The Baker and the Bard is a heartwarming and inclusive story. In this cozy narrative, responsibility, friendship, problem-solving, and empathy are all championed. It would be perfect for fans of The Tea Dragon Society or The Mothkeepers.