3 Stars
One Liner: A mixed bag

Logan Theakar, the Bear, is now a retired monster hunter living with Pie (Magie), his beautiful bard husband, in the Stowatt village. The year had been great, making him enjoy domesticity for the first time in 42 years. Never mind that he still itched to use his axe and hunt some monsters.
One night, Pie disappears, and Logan soon finds he has been kidnapped and blackmailed into helping the evil king retrieve a precious object that could lead to devastation. With help from an old Countess, a necromancer, and some unlikely support, Logan sets out to find Pie and save the day. But what does it mean for him and his marriage with his darling husband?
The story comes in Logan’s third-person POV.

My Thoughts:
With a title, cover, and premise (mentioning unicorns, necromancers, and magic), how can I resist the book? The results, as you can see, are mixed.
I like that we have a 40+ lead M/M couple, even though they act as if they are in their early 20s. It’s an opposite attract plus grumpy vs. sunshine trope. Logan is the grumpy guy (no points for guessing).
Well, Pie-Magpie (Bond, James Bond, ugh) is beautiful and wonderful, according to Logan. He is a decent character who could have been better if given a chance.
Logan is like the grumpiest of the grumps. I know I should sympathize considering his backstory and fears, et al, but for the majority of the book, he is annoying. His ‘I’m the only one who is capable and can save you all while you go around partying’ attitude and actions grated on my nerves. Glad that he redeems himself in the last section to a good extent.
Ophelia, Gary, and a couple of others do what’s expected of them. However, the Countess, oh well! She starts out as someone quirky and funny without a filter. Since such women are now a thing, I could see her make some of those comments. That said, things got a bit too much, especially with her touching the men and making them uncomfortable (it borders on sexual harassment). I don’t see why this has to be her character trait when she is a powerful necromancer.
While the story blends mystery, fantasy, romance, drama, and magic, none of the elements actually shine. Everything is there but not in enough quantity to take the book to the next level. The world-building could have been better. The romance is sweet but with a lot of (unnecessary) angst, thanks to Logan. It doesn’t have much steam and is mostly fade-to-black, which helps.
Providing the past between Logan and Pie in installments (interludes) works great and prevents info dumping. Nevertheless, the relationship between the two reads toxic in some places. Of course, they do realize their mistakes, especially Logan. Having at least a few chapters from Pie’s POV might have helped me see things from another perspective.
The ending is good, all sorted and nice, with a good dose of hope. However, the last section (65-95%) is slow-paced and feels as if the story won’t end. I speed-read at one point to get to the crucial part.

To summarize, Til Death Do Us Bard has its moments but remains an average read throughout. The premise and setting have great potential, though the execution could have been better.
Thank you, NetGalley and Hodderscape (Hodder & Stoughton), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

4.5 stars! This was such a fun, hilarious fantasy romp - felt like a DnD home game! The story of Logan and Pie and their adventures has a lot of moving parts and at times I felt like there were a bit too many plot lines and characters to keep track of, which is why I‘m not giving it a full 5 stars. I still had a lot fun following this warrior, his bard and their host of unlikely allies through their story. I adored Pie, and the Countess (and her little dog) was absolutely my favorite character. What I really enjoyed about the book was that despite being so funny, it had a lot of genuine moments that made me feel for the characters.

My only real critique is that I wasn‘t sure about the tonality. From the cover, the marketing and the light-heartedness of most of the story, I thought it was going for a more cozy vibe. But there are actually some pretty gruesome scenes in this (and a lot of death, not only to do with the necromancer) and the stakes are also quite high in the end which I wasn‘t expecting. So I was never sure what could happen next in this story world which sometimes caused emotional whiplash.

But all in all, this book has everything! Epic fights, dramatic bards, sassy necromancers, ghostly possessions, pirate ships, a herd of unicorns and a wonderful romance at the center of it.

The Mummy meets Legends & Lattes in this epic fantasy adventure romance!

(Thank you to NetGalley, Rose Black and Hodder & Stoughton/Hodderscape for providing me with an eARC for this book in exchange for my honest feedback. All opinions in this review are my own.)

4⭐️ A fun, fantasy adventure that feels like being immersed in a D&D campaign & wrapped in a warm hug- this will put a smile on your face

Til Death Do Us Bard is a little bit crazy & extremely cosy with a loveable cast of characters including the grumpy, retired adventurer, Logan the Bear, his sexy sunshine bard husband Pie, the ghost of Logan’s sassy ex wife, Ophelia &, my personal favourite, the eccentric necromancer ( SHE HAS A CHARTER OK?!) Countess DeWinter & her (formerly) furry friend Ossymandius, a skeletal dog.

In a nutshell, Til Death Do Us Bard has:

💜 MM (Closed Door) Romance
🩵Queer Characters
💜Grumpy x Sunshine
🩵Found Family
💜Disability Representation
🩵Sex Positive Characters
💜Interesting & unique characters
🩵Adventure, Magic & Mystery
💜Spellcasters, Unicorns & Re Animated corpses

The author did a wonderful job of navigating themes of love, hope, friendship & the family that can be found as well as the difficulties attached to this. The romance between Logan and Pie was sweet & didn’t shy away from delving into very real issues that can lead to conflict and the challenges of overcoming these. This makes the book relatable, uplifting & leaves you feeling warm & fuzzy. The author carefully crafted a magical world of adventure with characters who you’re inclined to care for & while It may sounds weird saying a book feels like a warm hug, Til Death Do Us Bard was so cozy & joyful that being enveloped in a warm hug is the only way to describe reading it!

If you liked Legends & Lattes, Nettles & Bone, Our Flag Means Death or D&D then this is the book for you!💜

This is a meandering low-stakes fantasy novel with an interesting cast of characters. The world was pretty interesting and well developed and for the most part, I enjoyed this although it did feel tiresome in places and I honestly didn't feel the vibe between Pie and Logan.

Overall this was pretty decent but it didn't wow me.

This was such a fun read, I really loved the DnD style that the story was told through. It gave the perfect cozy fantasy vibes that I love during this time of year and Logan was a great character to follow along with on this adventure!

I think I've found a new favourite.


'Til Death Do Us Bard' by Rose Black is the kind of fantasy adventure that I've always loved, the kind of story that calls me in a deep and meaningful way... the kind of story that always find a place in my heart.

Logan 'The Bear' Theaker is an adventurer who has settled down with his husband, the bard Pie, hanging up his axe and leaving his adventures behind. But one day, Pie disappears, leaving Logan alone. As he tries to find his husband and discover what has happened, Logan will join forces with a necromancer and the ghost of his ex-wife in a quest that will reveal the truth not just about his husband, but also about their kingdom and its future.

There's so much power in a story like 'Til Death Do Us Bard', because in this world full of magic, adventure and danger, there's also space for emotions (both big and small). Rose Black has crafted a world that feels both alive and complete, a vivid tapestry of spaces and people that come alive with each new phrase and each new twist of the story.

But the true brilliance of this book resides in Logan, his husband (Pie), and the allies he meets along the way. Logan has been limited to the role of adventurer... the monster... the brute.... The Bear.... And seeing him going on this journey to reaffirm what Pie can see (that he's worth loving despite what the world may tell him) is truly everything.

It's that kindness that pushes our main character forward...
That same kindness that turn every reluctant ally into a real participant of this improvised quest...
It's simply everything.

'Til Death Do Us Bard' is one of those stories that will stay with me for a long, long time, and that I can see myself revisiting every once in a while.

It's heartwarming, chaotic (in the best possible way), thrilling and funny. Perfect for all the fans of 'Legends & Lattes' by Travis Baldree or books like 'So This Is Ever After' by F.T. Lukens.

Thank you to Hodderscape and Rose Black for letting me have an ARC copy of Til Death Do Us Bard to review.

Til Death Do Us Bard is a plot-driven story, based on the quest trope which starts to save the man whom the protagonist loves but expands to save the world. Feels like reading a DND game full of mythical creatures and magic. It’s a great title, drawing the eye. An easy read, with some great one-liners, and centered on values about how far we will go for the ones we love and commit our hearts to. The fantasy world-building feels a little wooly, I was expecting a lot more detail and set-up. I closed the last page, without any standout recollections for descriptive elements of places the story took me.

The pacing was a bit overwhelming and hectic for me. I found it found a stride around the midpoint, but little side-bar subplots are taking the limelight until the villain is revealed. Logan and Pie’s relationship is engaging, endearing and heart-warming. I have to admit, I kept turning the page just to see more of this and to see more of their relationship. Rose Black does write some incredibly good comical moments and her dialogue is sharp, witty, and punchy, especially some of the one-liners comebacks.

The characters in this book weren’t as strong as I would have liked. A lot is going on with the overall plot in the book, I did feel at times it was difficult to get to know the cast. The characters are genuinely well-thought-out and all of them given buckets of flaws, some unique traits, and Logan might be the most developed, relatable character in the bunch. He’s got a great character arc showing his growth between how he undervalued people in the past and how Pie’s love has made him a better man, I feel it gets sidetracked though in favour of the big bang plot.

I found some toxic relationship traits and dynamics between some characters. Sadly, it did bring down the tone of the book for me a little. I get the flirty traits of the Countess. She reminds me of my grandma, who flirted with everything in a kilt. It’s a different generation thing and reflective of a different value system between generations. But she did cross the line for me a few times, where it felt bordering on harassment of Logan and Pie. Every reader’s threshold is different, I didn’t like this behaviour.

Til Death Do Us Bard would target itself in the cosy fantasy niche, with some good comical moments, interesting banter, and a sweet redemptive romance. A gruff, good-natured story with a nice queer romantic couple at the heart of it and can boast some great sharp and punchy banter exchanges.

This review was made possible via an ARC through NetGalley.

Til Death Do Us Bard by Rose Black is a cozy fantasy with strong DnD elements and an MM grumpy x sunshine marriage as its heart. Logan’s husband, Pie, goes missing and he turns to a necromancer for help along with Logan’s ex-wife’s ghost, Ophelia, and Gary, the nephew of a unicorn herder.

The execution pushes the bounds of cozy and Romantasy, with a focus on interpersonal conflict between Ophelia and Logan and the beginning of Pie and Logan’s love story is featured in the interlude chapters as flashbacks. The use of necromancy and Ophelia’s backstory isn’t entirely what I would expect from the cozy subgenre, but the writing and tightness feels cozy because it does feel a lot like a DnD campaign being played between friends.

I would recommend this to readers looking for Queer fantasy that celebrates our relationships even when there are struggles and fans of Dungeons and Dragons.

Til Death Do Us Bard is a jaunty little fantasy, filled with a real rag-tag slew of characters, a relatively low-stakes adventure, and a heavy dose of irrelevant humor. I was really feeling Monty Python vibes! Since finishing the story, I’ve seen several reviews criticizing some of the characterizations, mostly the countess, and Logan (one of our MCs), and I want to just suggest that this fantasy may be for an older audience. Like say, those who actually match the age range of the characters (40+, heyyyyy gen X and geriatric millennials!). The main reason really goes back to my comment about Monty Python. Comedy that really teeters on the line of appropriateness, and sometimes just blatantly goes there- it’s something we get. Call it nuanced. Call it wrong. Call it whatever you want. When the countess was an off the rails cougar, it added to the oddity that was the adventure. It’s stupid humor, and I got it. To this point, I’ll add that the general feel of D&D is heavy, and perhaps also a generational thing. If you grew up watching MP & the Holy Grail, Excalibur, Willow, The Sword and the Sorcerer, etc, I think you could really enjoy this. If you’re not understanding any of my references, move along, nothing to see here.

Rant aside, I do wish the characters were more developed, and the world was further explained in more detail. I could absolutely have more romance as well, but the relationship between Logan and Pie was lovely. Overall it was a quick, and fun story that gave me nostalgia and made me smile. 3.75 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy, in exchange for my unbiased review.

3.5 stars.

This is a low-stakes queer fantasy that's super entertaining. We follow Logan, a retired monster hunter, as he works to get his husband back and unravel the mystery of his disappearance.

I saw someone compare this to The Witcher and I do agree that Logan and Pie have a bit of that Witcher and Jaskier vibe. It's not quite the same, but it's similar enough while being its own thing and I appreciate that.

I liked Logan and Pie as characters and enjoyed the love they have for each other, it was very heartwarming. I was actually more interested in them and their story than in the adventure and everything else going on.

The other characters were fine (except the Necromancer, I didn't like her), the world was interesting, and the story overall was fun. I enjoyed this one!

Rose Black's "Til Death Do Us Bard" is a heartwarming and enchanting blend of mystery, romance, and fantasy—a cozy narrative that feels akin to a heartfelt D&D campaign. Set against the backdrop of a quaint yet eerie village, the story unfolds with an enchanting mix of love, betrayal, and dark secrets.

The protagonist, Logan 'The Bear', a retired adventurer who had hung up his axe, finds himself alone in his cozy cottage with only a sign of his lovely bard husband, Pie. Driven by love and concern, Logan, despite having left his adventuring days behind, embarks on an extraordinary quest to find Pie and ensure his safety, even if it means delving into perilous alliances.

When Logan, the retired adventurer, teams up with a necromancer and a ghost, individuals with whom he shares a strained relationship, the narrative gains depth. This unexpected collaboration adds layers of complexity to Logan's character and the story itself, weaving a tale of unlikely alliances in the pursuit of love and protection.

This book encapsulates the essence of cozy fantasy, drawing readers into a world where the bonds of love and loyalty are tested against a backdrop of magic and danger. The interplay between Logan's determination, the enigmatic allies he joins forces with, and the urgency of his mission creates a captivating narrative that keeps readers eagerly turning pages.

"Til Death Do Us Bard" is a charming testament to the power of love and resilience. Rose Black's storytelling prowess shines through her skillful portrayal of relationships, forging an emotional connection between the characters and the readers.

As the story unfolds, it leaves readers eagerly anticipating more cozy fantasy from this talented author. With its engaging plot, heartfelt moments, and an intriguing blend of genres, this book promises an immersive and delightful reading experience.
Thank you Hodder Publicity and Netgalley for the chance to read this lovely ARC.

— 3.5 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

❝Death wasn't a monster. Death was an embrace.❞

📖 | 365 pages
👤 | author Rose Black
🏢 | publisher Hodderscape
📅 | release date 21 November 2023

What you can expect:
— Historical Fantasy Romance
— Third-Person POV
— "Legends and Latte meets OMFD"
— Queer Fantasy
— Spells, Magic and Necromancy
— Badass Necromancer Grandmother
— Grumpy/Sunshine
— Bi-Disaster Husbands
— Found Family

Til Death Do Us Bard is a cosy and queer Historical Fantasy Romance by debut author Rose Black. It's been almost a year since Logan 'The Bear' Theaker hung up his axe and settled down with his sunshiny bard husband, Pie. But when Pie disappears, Logan is forced back into a world he thought he'd left behind. Logan quickly discovers that Pie has been blackmailed into stealing a powerful artifact capable of creating an undead army. With the help of an old adversary and a ghost from his past, Logan sets out to rescue his husband. But the further the quest takes him, the more secrets Logan uncovers. He'll need all his strength to rescue his husband - but can he save their marriage?

This book is very correctly described to be similar to a "warm hug" as Til Death Do Us Bard delivers on everything you could hope for from a cosy Fantasy novel. Grumpy/sunshine is one of my top three favourite tropes of all time across all genres and I was thrilled to see this implemented between Logan and Pie. Logan is your typical grumpy man that stomps his way through life as he desperately seeks to keep his husband safe. Pie is a bright and charismatic bard that is liked by all who come across him, and I believe that Logan and Pie perfectly balanced one another out. Their relationship dynamic was everything and I truly felt the love who feel for one another shine through the pages. Cosy Fantasy is a niche that I am still fairly new to, and as somebody that's used to the chaos within Fantasy it will take some adapting to. However this book is perfect for anybody looking for an easy-to-read Fantasy book with minimal-stakes and a Queer cast of characters. I loved the side characters a lot as they made the adventures within this story infinitely more fun, plus there's a bone horse! It's a lot of fun.

In all honesty my main qualm with this story was the blatant sexualisation that the Countess regarded towards Logan and Pie. Even if it was intended to come across as all in good fun, for me personally, it came across as a bit of a double standard. It just seemed as if she got away with it too easily despite the comments lessening in frequency within the last 50% of the story. The comments felt uncomfortable the vast majority of the time and I would have personally better preferred that this had not been included within the story.

All-in-all Till Death Do Us Bard was an enjoyable and light read which was filled with an endearing cast of characters and and whimsical adventure filled with uncanny monsters. If you're looking for an easy standalone then look no further.

'Till Death Do Us Bard is a queer cozy fantasy. Logan "The Bear" is an ex-mercenary who has retired and lives with his husband Pie who is a bard and they both live in a cottage. One day Pie went missing and we read and the novel follows Logan's quest to find and rescue his missing husband. I enjoyed the medieval setting that perfectly fits the story. Also, the side characters were so much fun especially the necromancer who is an old powerful lady was so much fun to read. Overall, this book was so fun to read with great characters and a solid plot. If you like cozy fantasy ı, I highly recommend this book.  

Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for providing me with an early copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hodderscape for this ARC.

A grumpy monsterhunter stops working his trade when he marries a buoyant bard full of secrets. When the bard goes missing under mysterious circumstances, his bear of a husband recruits a flirty old necromancer, a naive unicorn caretaker, and the ghost of his snappy ex-wife to go on a rescue mission.

This book is exactly what I expected from one labelled "cozy fantasy". It managed to stay light-hearted all throughout, and even when the party faced hardships and betrayal, I never had the slightest doubt that everything will turn out just fine in the end.

Every character was loveable in their own way; even the antagonists had an understandable agenda, which I think most fantasy books lack. I laughed at the banter between Logan and Ophelia almost as hard as I did at the quirky comments from the Countess.

Wholeheartedly recommended!

What a lovely little fantasy book this was. I had a few hesitations as I thought it would be more romance than fantasy (nothing wrong with that. I’m all here for romantasy) but this was just so good. I loved the cast of characters with Logan and the Countess being my favourite.

This book was nothing like I expected it to be at all. The plot was fantastic and had me guessing what was going to happen next instead of being predictable. The love between Logan and Pie was everything and I loved seeing the soft side of the supposed macho hero. It was so refreshing to read.

The ending felt slightly rushed to me and I would have loved an epilogue, but that’s just me being greedy. Thank you netgalley for a chance to read this for an honest review.

I read the first 30% of this book and decided that this book and I weren't the great match I had hoped we would be. I don't think the book is to blame for that though. The book is well written, there is a lot going and it therefore never gets boring. The book is also clearly written to be light hearted and funny, despite the fact that not everything in this book is light hearted and funny. I think a lot of readers around the world will absolutely love this book. I just noticed that I was starting to count down the pages. I noticed that I was busy thinking about next reads and my schedule for the upcoming week. I missed the true connection with this story. Since the book is focussing on the adventure and exploring this fantasy world, it didn't feel like I builded a connection with the characters yet. And I wasn't entirely sure if building that connection was gonna happen. I think for a reader preferring character driven stories this simply wasn't the right book. I'm sure however that those who prefer adventure and humor this book will be a perfect fit.

4.5 stars rounded up

Til Death Do Us Bard is a lovely and heartwarming story. Following retired adventurer Logan as he quests to save his husband, Pie, I loved the flashbacks to other points of their relationship as well. It brought great depth to the couple and how they got to where they are in the present. Helping the reader root for them, the flashbacks are also just very sweet additions. We're also introduced to a great cast of supporting characters including the ghost of Logan's ex-wife, a flamboyant necromancer, and a shy young man and his unicorn. Each character added to the story and the growth of the main couple (especially Logan). A surprisingly cozy adventure!

4/5 Stars

A grumpy overprotective barbarian, the ghost of his dead wife, an eccentric necromancer, and a boy and his unicorn set out to save a bard, who just happens to be the barbarian's husband. Tears and a good laugh alike guaranteed!

You guessed it with the title: this is a book heavily inspired by D&D and I am here for it! Lovers of the all-time-favorite Legends & Lattes are not necessarily guaranteed to love this, but this book is very precious in its own way and did give me strong L&L vibes from time to time. The biggest difference, to me, was that this was way more action-packed than L&L and followed more of a Quest/Adventure storyline. Still, it was character-driven, had a lot of great development and some fun lines thrown in!

If you think you might enjoy this, I can tell you there is a good chance you will!

This book was cute, but overall it felt a little too reminiscent of existing works for me to feel fully immersed. It felt like it was going for a mix of the Witcher and legends and lattes, and it did read that way, but almost to its detriment.

But, it’s so very queer, and I still did like it anyway. I just think differentiating the future works from their inspirations will make for incredible books.

This book is a very cute and funny read with a range of interesting characters and plotline.

Set in a queernorm, medieval world, it follows Logan who pulls together a team to find his husband who disappeared. It’s a cosy vibe read and quick paced. I enjoyed the time frame jumps and found it gave a really good insight to the married couples relationship without overwhelming us! The ending was a little dragged out but overall an enjoyable read