Loved this! Showboating sunny Bard and grumpy protective husband pairing that you'll adore. Necromancers, Royalty, unicorns, ghosts and ancient horrors at every turn of this unwanted rescue quest. The prose was lovely and engaging with the past consistently interwoven giving giving more depth and understanding. So many stand out characters, gorgeously vivid and well fleshed out. This is found family done perfectly and I got attached very quickly! The plot is engaging and surprising and there's so much humour and heart that it's super cozy and comforting at times. The interactions and care between the group are realistic and flow beautifully. I was not ready to leave them and sincerely hope we get more in this world with these characters.
Thanks to Hodder Books and Netgalley for the arc in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book is like a D&D campaign in novel form. Every single character is so unique and adds something different to the plot and I loved seeing the MC being so incredibly in love with his husband without it taking over his whole personality. Some of the locations in this book were really fun to get to see and it was wonderful to have a queernormative fantasy world, too!

It is a really difficult one for me to review because I cannot think of anything wrong with this book. Yet, I could not seem to fully connect with it.

Overall, it's a great read and perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes. It's a fun little fantasy with a perfect balance between cosy and action packed.

I was lucky to have been one of the first to read Travis Baldree’s debut novel ‘Legends and Latte’s’, long before it was picked up by a traditional publisher. I was intrigued by the description of ‘cozy fantasy’, so took a chance and found it delightful. Til Death Do Us Bard, Rose Black’s debut, shares a similar vibe and offers an enchanting blend of mystery, adventure, romance, and fantasy.

In Til Death Do Us Bard, Logan ‘the Bear’ is forced to come out of retirement when his husband Pie (aka Magpie aka Aloysius Montague) is abducted by the realm’s corrupt King Ervin. To rescue the love of his life, and save the Kingdom from an unstoppable army of undead, Logan, and his unusual band of allies, must be the first to find the Chalice of Vivax.

Set in a medieval fantasy world, the plot plays out much like a traditional Dungeons & Dragon session might, with an overarching goal requiring side quests to accomplish it. It’s an entertaining adventure which involves magic and mercenaries, unicorns and pirates. There’s drama and action with betrayal and battles. The suspense grows as the story progresses, and though the stakes are high, the inevitability of the happy ending buffers the tension somewhat.

I loved the main characters, Logan and Pie are very much opposites, with Logan a burly, gruff, monster-killer, while Pie is a slender, extroverted, wily bard. They are an adorable couple and I loved learning the history of their relationship. The allies Logan gathers on his quest are a colourful group, including a sexually aggressive necromancer, Countess Ariadne DeWinter; the ghost of Logan’s bitter ex-wife, Ophelia; and a naive unicorn herder, Gary. I really enjoyed their individual quirks, and the overall dynamic of the party. There is also a horse named Bones and a grumpy unicorn called Fredrick Onyx-Heart the Third, Freddy for short, who are a delight.

Some of the humour will perhaps be judged as inappropriate, but overall I was amused by the irreverent wit and banter. For me, Til Death Do Us Bard was an entertaining and engaging read.

This book was fun and light-hearted with a cast of character right out of a Dungeon's and Dragons adventure. I really liked the queer romance and the found family feel to the cast of characters. It all felt right for the book.

The only thing that put me off though, was this was quite obviously Witcher fanfiction. The author didn't seem to have done much to change it up. The main character was a grumpy monster hunter who was married to a man who is just everything a bard should be. I would have liked to see a bit more change in the characters to make it fresher. Though I have to say, I do love the Witcher so I didn't mind too much.

I've seen a few people calling this low-stakes and I have to wonder what book they've been reading. This is not a Legends and Lattes style low -stakes book so please don't read it expecting it to be!!

I am a little bit disappointed in this book. I was promised a laidback fantasy romance with The Witcher's queer energy. Instead, it was a generic story about a man who didn't even know his husband's last name. I know that people might jump into a marriage, but it felt like Logan knew nothing about this husband's past besides that he was hot. The adventure was not really memorable, but not bad. One of their party was a necromancer who was constantly sexually harassing the main characters regardless of them telling her to stop. Also, besides the main character and the necromancer, the other characters are incredibly forgettable. When one character popped back up (Seraphina), I had no memory of who she was. This book wasn't poorly written, but it felt a little too casual and modern for the setting. Overall, I wish this book was better than it is, but it wasn't horrible; it was just mostly forgettable.

This is a really sweet, fun adventure story. Although it's marketed as a queer romance, I think the marriage in the centre of the story is, in some ways, the least interesting part of the story though there is lots of lovely LGBTQIA representation. Legendary fighter Logan "the Bear" is married to a bard, Pie. When Pie goes missing, Logan goes on a chaotic quest to find his husband. Magic, magical creatures, a despotic king, a kind of swashbuckling, puzzle-solving, late '90s/early '00s adventure film feel to the whole thing. I hope it gets optioned because it would make an excellent romp of a movie. I particularly liked all the side characters and the little touches. One for D&D nerds, cosy fantasy readers, and fans of films like The Mummy and Van Helsing.

Although the premise of ‘Til Death Do Us Bard’ is intriguing, the story never quite hit the peaks I was expecting it to. Cosy fantasy fans will find a lot to love within this story and the main relationship was sweet, but I found myself wishing for a bit more. I love a good quest so that was a particularly enjoyable part of the book, however aside from our main couple, I didn’t love the characters. I would still recommend for fans of cosy fantasy, looking for queer main characters but overall not really for me.

The premise of this story is amazing. It’s high fantasy and a big adventure, but I found it to be lacking. It felt like there was too much going on with not enough world building. Logan and Pie’s relationship was cute and I’ll always eat up a queer affirming story. I just wish I felt more invested in them and their journey.

Thank you to Hodderscape and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

"Til Death Do Us Bard" by Rose Black is a delightful blend of cozy fantasy, romance, and even mystery. Featuring lovable characters and a touch of found family. The grumpy sunshine couple at the center of the story adds a charming dynamic, making it a perfect read for fans of heartwarming romance. The quest element adds an adventurous twist, keeping the narrative engaging and light-hearted. Overall, this book is a cozy and enjoyable escape into a magical world with some of your favorite bookish tropes.

I had fun with this!

Logan is a middle aged, retired adventurer - six months ago, he settled into a quieter life, with his new husband, Pie, a bard, living happily in their little cottage. But when Pie goes missing, under mysterious circumstances, it’s up to Logan to pick his axe back up and go and get his husband back - alongside a necromancer, her band of skeletons, and the ghost of his ex-wife. Throw in a unicorn for good measure. What a team!

This genuinely had me laughing out loud a few times - it’s witty and sharp, occasionally silly, while still maintaining the urgency Logan feels to get Pie back. We flit back to the past sometimes too, to see how they met, and fell in love, which adds more depth to them.

My favourite character, however, is the countess and her many skeletal assistants. I would read more books with her in them in a heartbeat. Such a fun, layered, character.

The storyline progressed quickly, and it really upped the stakes much higher than I was expecting. However, it’s still a lovely addition to the ongoing cosy fantasy trend, and I really enjoyed my time reading it.

Thank you to the publishers, and Netgalley, for the copy to review!

This read was such fun!

This was a really strong cosy fantasy that I found so easy to read and such a feel good vibe to it. That sounds quite odd considering some of the vibes of the adventure are on the darker side, but it really is a great light fantasy that leaves you smiling!

The plot throws you straight into the thick of it with action the undertaking of a quest - the side characters really made this story too, such an interesting and quirky bunch - I loved delving into their pasts - I loved exploring Logan and Pie’s developing romance as well as their established relationship,

This one is a must for cosy fantasy fans!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this story.

Quirky and fun. This is not my usual cup of tea but I'm glad I gave it a try. A cozy fantasy perfect to read while curled up under a blanket with a steaming cup of tea.

This was a fun and sweet read, full of adventure and cute vibes.

I really enjoyed the DnD links within the story, which I think were still fun even if you're not into RPG's, and I hope the author writes more books in this style.

I really enjoyed the development of the characters throughout the story, having to come to terms with the fact that not everything is in your control and that you can't always protect everyone.,

If you enjoy a cozy fantasy read then this is for you.

I wanted to like this so much, but unfortunately it fell a little flat. It had heart, and was very well written, but I think it might have been a case of right book wrong time.

This book had potential, but unfortunately a few things fell flat for me. However, there are always some good things to point out in every book, so let’s start there. The world was interesting (not much world building though) and you had magic, monsters, and adventurers. At some time the adventure got a little darker which was unexpected but did up the stakes. Queer love which was very sweet at times. Ghosts. And older MCs which you don’t see too often. It was a nice change.

What fell flat for me in the end was the MC Logan. We follow him on an adventure to rescue his husband and throughout the journey we learn more about him, his husband, and the world. However, he remains the same grumpy, possessive, secretive character the whole book and I would have liked to see him grow into a partner that is able to talk more to his husband. He does realize the importance of the people in his life by the end which is something though.

The necromancer, Countess DeWinter, is a tricky character. She helps on the journey—sometimes, but her main role in the group seemed to be making aggressive passes at all the men around her. At times even looking at Logan naked and making suggestive comments. Her behavior felt more like sexual harassment than a ‘fun quirk’ it was probably meant to be. She made reading about the adventure hard at times, and brought me out of the cozy adventure it should have been. Keep in mind that this character gets different reactions from every reader and some did not feel this way.

It’s a cozy adventure that feels inspired by The Witcher (no nonsense attitude, strong fighter, not big on talking, has a loveable and talkative Bard) and has some great banter at times. In the end, I would have liked to see more growth from Logan and even Pie. Pie was a great character, but he didn’t get much room to show who he was.

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley & Hodderscape for providing me with this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m so sad to say I DNF’ed this one.

I was so excited to read it. A DnD-inspired fantasy with a punny title, pitched as Our Flag Means Death meets Legends & Lattes? Yes please!

But, I just couldn’t connect with the characters. It felt as if every time I was close to feeling like I understood a character’s personality and motivations, a sexual innuendo/joke was thrown in, feeling entirely out of place and at odds with the tone of the scene. This particularly bugged me with the two main female characters: they both had the same and honestly, perverted, tendencies. If it was a one-off comment, I could have ignored it — it might even have been funny at the right moment — but it was so persistent. For the first third of the book, it seemed as if they did little except leer at Logan (there’s a particularly uncomfortable scene where they watch him bathe in a lake). And when Gary showed up, they ogle at him instead. It is frequently emphasised how much younger and less worldly Gary is than the other characters, and the more I think about it, the creepier it feels. If the genders were reversed, I struggle to see how it would be published.

I reached 53% and decided to put it down. I plan to return to it one day, as I am curious about where the plot goes. Just not curious enough to deal with the discomfort right now.

I requested this late and then missed the archive date so I ended up buying this book!

It was a really cosy fantasy and I found myself glued, I couldn't put it down. I'm glad I ended up buying it. It was a quick read and is light-hearted as well as funny. The characters were great too.

Definitely a great debut from this author

Til death do us bard

2 ⭐️

This book is very fast-paced, a lot happens, and each event happens over the course of a few pages. It makes for a quick read, but everything felt thrown together and crammed to make it fit.

The problem with that is that characters are getting from point A to B, seemingly by teleportation. (Granted, they do use portals sometimes towards the end). But even the final fight happens in the last 10% of the book. Not to mention a betrayal by a certain character that kind of undid all the found family aspect of the book. The author tried to fix that later, but it was too late for me.

The romance was sweet if a little underdeveloped. We get glimpses of how they got together, but they're very short and honestly didn't give me a sense of them falling in love as much as learning to tolerate each other and being physical.

Then there's the countess. I didn't mind her storyline she had potential. It's just a shame it was ruined by her constantly sexually harassing people. What was the need for that addition? It didn't add anything to the story, and the other characters make excuses for her and even laugh when she does it to one of the side characters. It really ruined the book, and I almost DNFd it.

Overall, I gave it 2 stars because I liked the premise, and the general plot was good. Sadly, it lacked in execution for me, and as above, some aspects were just very unnecessary. It's not something I'll reread personally.

I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to netgalley, Rose Black, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

The cosy vibes of Legends and Lattes mixed with D&D action and banter, Till Death Do Us Bard was a highly enjoyable adventure romp.

Til Death Do Us Bard is a heartfelt, comedic, adventure and Rom-com, set in a world inspired by classic RPG's and Fantasy.

We start with a sweet married couple Logan 'The Bear' and Pie, as Logan lovingly calls him, who need to travel into town. However the worst happens when Logan wakes up and Pie is no where to be found. This starts our determined but a touch dense POV character Logan off on his adventure. Along the way we pick up the rest of the rag-tag bunch of misfits and heroes. The Countess steals every scene she is in and by the end of the novel also stole my heart, and maybe a few bones but you can never tell with a Necromancer. Gary and Frankie are a great team and surprised me with how much I ended up rooting for them. For the rest of the cast I won't say much beyond they all felt real, and reacted in ways that felt true to who they were in the world and the situation going on around them.

With this novel I went in expecting a lighthearted romantic comedy feel, and instead got a lovely letter to found family, the reason we love, and how love changes us even if we don't want it to. The comedy and romance was everything I was expecting, but the tenderness of commentary on found family was more then I thought I would find.

The final thing that impressed me about this novel was the variety of settings and the action of the adventure. This little adventuring party went from abandoned keeps, to cozy cottages, to overwhelming cities, to musty tombs, to magical lands, to rich forests, to the open ocean. Every new setting was intriguing and lead into a new section of the plot that had me turning pages unable to put the novel down.

I would recommend picking this novel up if you are looking for:
- Found Family
- Tender Romance
- Rom-com vibes
- Great humor
- Bone Dogs
- Unicorns
- Necromancers who do their own thing
- Adventures in RPG style worlds
- DnD

I can't wait to see what else this author writes and I hope they always keep their great sense of humor that is shown in this work.

I received an ARC of this book at no cost/for free, I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are wholly my own and unbiased.