Member Reviews

This was an excellent book to start the new year, both characters are lovable and loved everything about this book!

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A low-stakes, cozy fantasy. I believe this can be read as a standalone, but think reading Forged by Magic first could be helpful!

I loved the premise of rival traveling taverns at the Yule festival. It quickly turns into a mystery for the main characters to solve. The romance was sweet. Ragnar is also so fine!!! I'd give it 2 peppers for spice.

The plot did feel a bit random at times, and the main character was surprisingly chill considering the amount of money she lost, but it was a quick read if you want an entertaining cozy fantasy.

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"Brewed in Magic," the second installment in Jenna Wolfhart's Falling for Fables series, weaves a delightful tale of love, rivalry, and whimsy in a world filled with dragons, magic, and enchanting festivals.
The protagonist, Lilia, is a free spirit with a heart that yearns for connection. Her days are spent on the road, accompanied only by a dragon and her famous Traveling Tavern. Despite her wanderlust, she longs for a deeper connection with someone who shares her adventurous spirit. Enter a handsome stranger who seems to be the perfect kindred spirit, until he mysteriously disappears.
The plot takes an unexpected turn when it is revealed that the mysterious stranger is not only a fellow traveler but also a rival with his own traveling tavern. As the winter festival approaches, tensions rise as Lilia suspects him of sabotaging the event by stealing supplies. The ensuing tale is a charming mix of mystery, romance, and fantasy.
What sets "Brewed in Magic" apart is the engaging dynamic between Lilia and her rival. Their evolving relationship is filled with sparks that gradually melt the icy barriers between them. The author skillfully navigates the complexities of trust and companionship, making the reader root for this unlikely pair.
The world-building in Falling for Fables is enchanting, and Wolfhart brings it to life with vivid descriptions of magical elements and whimsical festivals. The concept of traveling taverns adds a unique and enjoyable layer to the story, making it a fun and immersive read.
One of the strengths of this cozy romantasy is its lovable cast of characters. From the spirited protagonist to the mysterious rival, each character is well-developed and contributes to the overall charm of the narrative. The inclusion of dragons, magic, and festivals further adds to the book's appeal, creating a world that readers will find both magical and relatable.
"Brewed in Magic" is a standalone novel that successfully captures the essence of a cozy fantasy romance. Jenna Wolfhart's storytelling is both heartwarming and entertaining, making it a delightful read for fans of the genre. Whether you're drawn to the enchantment of magical worlds or the allure of budding romances, this book is sure to leave you with a smile.

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Jenna does the exact kind of cozy fantasy that I love. There is a cozy aspect to it, and the characters problems aren't crazy "The world is going to end" problems but more along the lines of "We have to save the festival from who is trying to keep it from happening." This book was never boring, it was fun and exciting, and I devoured this book.

I loved the chemistry between Lilia and Ragnar! I loved their romance story and I loved every single interaction between them. This plot of someone trying to keep the Yule festival from happening was also really well done. I love Jenna's writing style so much and her books just draw you in and that was the case in this book. This book had a fun mystery aspect to it that I also really enjoyed.

The only thing I didn't love was that the plot was predictable (not a deal breaker for me personally), and the ending was a little bit strange and rushed. How the town treated Lilia after everything she had done for them felt very out of character and I wasn't a huge fan of that.

Overall I would recommend this book because it is just a wonderful pallet cleanser fantasy book that put a smile on my face.

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I love this world so much! This was a cute and cozy read. I will say that I think I preferred the first one a bit more - I just found these 2 main characters a bit harder to connect to.

Overall, a super cute easy fantasy read!

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Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review/

"Brewed in Magic" by Jenna Wolfhart is a delightful blend of fantasy and romance, perfect for those who love a cozy yet enchanting read. The story follows Lilia, a free-spirited elf with a passion for wandering, as she navigates the challenges and surprises of running her Traveling Tavern. Accompanied by her dragon, Lilia's journey takes an unexpected turn when she encounters Ragnar, a charming rival tavern owner at the Yule festival. Their initial rivalry quickly evolves into a captivating alliance as they work together to unravel a mystery threatening the festival. Wolfhart's storytelling is enchanting, seamlessly weaving together elements of magic, romance, and adventure. The vivid descriptions of the festival and the magical world they inhabit are particularly immersive, creating a picturesque backdrop for the blossoming romance.

What truly sets this novel apart is its character development and the dynamics between Lilia and Ragnar. Lilia, with her wanderer’s heart and independent spirit, is a refreshing and relatable protagonist. Her interactions with Ragnar are filled with playful banter and an undercurrent of deeper emotions, making their relationship both engaging and believable. The inclusion of a lovable dragon companion adds a whimsical charm to the story. The narrative maintains a light and easy pace, offering the perfect escapism with just enough suspense and a dash of spice to keep the reader hooked. "Brewed in Magic" is a heartwarming tale that celebrates love, trust, and the joy of finding a connection in the most unexpected places. Jenna Wolfhart has crafted a magical world that is both comforting and thrilling, making it a must-read for fans of cozy fantasy romances.

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This story is a wonderfully light and fun high fantasy. Similar in tone and theme to Legends and Lattes, Wolfhart's Falling for Fables series never disappoints. This book is incredibly easy to fall into and fall in love with, Ragnar breaking through Lilia's hard exterior and the roller coaster of an adventure they go on is a fantastic cozy read. It is set during Yule, so I highly recommend reading during the winter for full atmospheric coziness.

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Ok this one was just as fun to me as the first.

I absolutely loved the story.

Competitors (rival taverns… sorta) to lovers. Oh my goodness
Dragons
Shameless Flirting
Festival (beer and food)

Falling for fabled will be an instant but for me every time!

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“This is a light-hearted palate cleanser for those days when you need something fun. Get ready for lots of banter, cosy moments, and a bit of spice, while our characters try to save a winter festival and fall in love.” (Author's note at the beginning)

The story was exactly what the author had promised. It was everything I had hoped for and expected.
It was a giggling, kicking-your-feet-in-the-air, sympathising, swooning good time.
The MC Lilia's stubborn, but with a heart of gold, Ragnar's a fighter from the outside, but gooey on the inside. And the development of their love was everything to me—sweet, fun, and wholesome.
Would absolutely recommend!

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4 -⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I want to do unspeakable things to you.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

Brewed in Magic is the second standalone novel in the adult cost fantasy series, Falling for Fables. In this novel we follow Lilia and Ragnar as these two rival travelling taverns are forced to work together when a series of thefts happen during the Yule time and threaten the festivities. Throw in some mystery, spicy tension, and cosiness and you have an Hallmark fantasy romance great for the winter weather!

This book was a lovely cup of hot cocoa kind of experience. The sweetness of the romance, the fluff of the marshmallow, and the richness and comfort of a traditional story.

Lilia is a character we were introduced in the previous novel and the sister of our previous male protagonist. In the book she is restless and looking to find her place. She wants to earn her way and finds connection in her work. Being at this festival means a lot of her and you experience her love, loyalty, and perseverance throughout. I loved her connection with the dragons and how well she engaged with others. She is the charismatic heroine we needed.

Ragnar is the mysterious figure that I adored. He is charming and wants to prove himself. He backstory unfolds in a quite beautiful way I loved the twists and turns it revealed. He compliments Lilia so perfectly.

In terms of spice, I would place this novel at a 1.5 spicy pepper out of 5 spicy pepper. This romance is slow burn in the spice regard but the tension and development is all the sweetness you need. The spice is delivered at the heigh of this in the second half and I felt it really worked to tie everything together. It's written more romantic and is a cherry of top to everything Lilia and Ragnar go through together.

"So everything we shared..."
"It was real, Lilia. It's all been real."

The story itself is a play of the tradition "gotta save Christmas" idea but set in a fantasy world with a Yule festival. I felt it was easy to dive into and has this investigative element that lent itself well to the world. Reykur was a great addition to the story as I am a sucker for sweet dragons. The first half takes on a slower approach before the second half ramps up the pace with twist that had me giggling as I caught them...or discovered them. This book is low stakes so don't expect a risk of life or major action but an easy pace and discoveries that add to the world. Also, there is a happily ever after that was sweet.

Overall, cosy fantasy romance for the win once again!

Thank you to the arc for this e-arc!

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Brewed in Magic is the second novel in the Falling for Fables series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. It's the perfect read if you like cosy fantasy, a good brew, the atmosphere of a winter festival, and dragons.

Lilia has the soul of a wanderer and is happiest on the road. When her cart gets stuck on the road to the Yule Festival in Riverwold, where she is planning to set up her Travelling Tavern, a stranger helps her out, and the two spend the night together. Lilia feels that she has found a kindred spirit, but come morning, the stranger has disappeared. When Lilia arrives in Riverwold, she finds that the stranger, Ragnar, has rushed ahead and set up his own travelling tavern in her usual spot.
When her supplies go missing, it becomes clear that someone is trying to sabotage the festival, and Ragnar is her prime suspect. But when he offers to help track down the culprit, doubts set in. And before long, sparks begin to fly... Can Lilia trust Ragnar to help save the Yule festival - and with her heart?

I loved the warm and cosy vibes of this novel, the mystery was entertaining and had unexpected twists, and the banter between the characters was entertaining. This is the perfect book to curl up with on a cold day - it will warm your heart and leave you smiling!

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I have honestly never agreed with a dedication more so than that of "Brewed in Magic," which goes:

"For anyone who has ever wanted the fantasy version of a wintry Hallmark romance movie."

This cozy book ABSOLUTELY delivered on this and more. Perfect read if you're looking for something akin to being wrapped in a cozy blanket – with dragons – and the ✨perfect✨ amount of tension that accompanies a well-done enemies-to-lovers romance.

Enter the self-sufficient FMC who's career-minded but has a strong heart and drive for others who we're first introduced to. Then, arrives the handsome MMC who helps her out of a sticky situation. Sparks fly. Then they part ways, only to meet again for a misunderstanding of epic proportions? I promise this sounds formulaic in some ways, but it really wasn't! I really felt like Jenna Wolfhart was able to capture all of the things most of us who watch holiday Hallmark movies love most about them. Taking those aspects at a base level, Jenna transforms them into something fantastical. Lilia and Ragnar were such loveable characters (not to mention equally-lovable side characters like Lilia's friends Nilsa and Ulrika). Of the "-to-lovers" tropes, I think I can appreciate rivals-to-lovers the most so this one had me hooked!

Another just fun thing to note is that I hadn't realized this was a Dual POV until I was a few chapters into reading and I was so pleased to figure that out! Really loved getting Ragnar's POV every so often in the storyline, and not just Lilia's. In my opinion, it helped to round out their relationship dynamic more so it felt more fluid. Only drawback was that the ending maybe felt a little rushed but it didn't feel uncomfortably quick. Just a little hastened the last 30 pages or so.

I have heard great things about the first book in this series ("Forged by Magic"), so I'm excited to go back and read that one now that I know I really liked Jenna's writing style. I've seen it said before, but she was absolutely meant to right cozy fantasy. I was absolutely hooked reading and walked away from reading it feeling all the warm fuzzies you want to read in a cozy Romantasy story!

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This was a really sweet fantasy with a really unique twist with the beer brewing. Very reminiscent of Legends & Lattes (but with beer).

Very cosy and comforting!

The ending felt slightly rushed however, so the pacing could definitely have been better. Considering it was enemies to lovers, they were lovers fairly quickly so I would have liked it if the pacing were more even!

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“Brewed in Magic” follows Lilia, a quite successful moving tavern owner, as she begins her journey to partecipate in the celebrations of Yule. During her trip she meets Ragnar, a mysterious man. After spending the night together he disappears only for the two to meet again at the celebrations where they will be rivals with their taverns. When some thieves start to steal materials however they need to come together to solve the mystery.

This was such a cute and cozy story to read. All the characters in this book were great, the setting and the celebrations as a background for the romance was fantastic and the whole book was super easy to read.

I think it’s the perfect book for the season, if you’re looking for a cozy fantasy romance you don’t have to look any further!

Thank you NetGalley and Victory editing for allowing me a copy of this book

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5 Stars
2/5 on my personal spice scale

This was my first official cozy fantasy and I LOVED it! Everything about this book felt like a warm hug. Lilia and Ragnar were such a great couple, and seeing the story unfold as they learned to work together was so rewarding. All of the side characters were so colorful as well; I want them to be my friends, too!

Wolfhart's writing style gave me such vivid images of this cozy fantasy town preparing for a Yule festival, and it was so lovely and low-stakes (I mean that in the best possible way). This book was a balm to my anxious heart, and I can't wait to see where she takes her readers next in this wonderful world she's created!

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Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this in exchange for a review.

I adored this, loved the 2 POVs of the 2 main characters. I want to visit and try this ale!

What isn’t to love about a book with dragons, travelling tavern and a cosy romance?

Would throughly recommend .

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After reading book one and really not enjoying it. I had already had this one so I thought why not try it. And I have to say that this one did a lot better than the first one. It still has a long way to go for me to really love the writing. However, the writing is getting better. The characters were wonderful and the story was done better than the first one. Cute little spicy fantasy romance that is cozy.

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I absolutely loved diving back into the world Wolfhart has created and so glad to follow Lilia's travels. Her tavern intrigued me in Forged by Magic and enjoyed her love of her business. Her interaction with Rangar and how their relationship changed was fantastic and I ate it up.

This book is 100% a cosy mystery within a romantasy that I think everyone should read!

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Brewed in Magic is book two of the Falling by Fables series, a collection of standalone novels set in the same world. If you read the first book, Forged in Magic, you briefly met Rivelin’s sister, Lilia. This book follows Lilia as she travels to another town for a Yule celebration. Tropes include cozy vibes, a dragon, only one wagon, and rivals to lovers. There is open door spicy content.

The Lovely: I loved the cute little holiday mystery. There are more stakes/tension in this than what is commonly referred to as “cozy fantasy”, which I think makes it more engaging. I devoured this book, wanting to know the answer to the mystery and what ultimately happened to the main characters.

The Nice: I liked the characters, Ragnar in particular. He came across as well rounded and driven by his past and motivations. I wish we could have seen the same about Lilia. We don’t really learn much about her parents or why she loves to travel so much.

Rating: 4/5 stars 2/5 spicy flames

Recommendation: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I love these standalones that are semi-cozy and generally a quick read. I’m hoping we get more in the future as I would quickly gobble them up. This was a great read and if you’re in the mood for something more cheerful fantasy, you’ll love this.

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Lilia is the owner of a famous traveling tavern who has a secret dragon companion and a case of wanderlust. Ragnar, a mysterious stranger, crosses her path in a moment of need, only to become her rival.

This a perfect cozy fantasy romance with just a touch of mystery, adventure, and most importantly dragons!

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