First, I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this complimentary ARC.

This was a cute romance that follows Elikki, a curvy 6-foot-tall elf, and Barra, an eight-foot-tall half-giant. We follow the two on their journey as they attempt to outrun bounty hunters, after an encounter Elikki experiences in the market. If you are looking for a fast and light read, where there aren't super high stakes and any conflict (interpersonal or otherwise) is quickly solved, this is the book for you.

Now I love love love, a monster romance. However, I wish that the characters and plot had a bit more depth. While issues weren't dragged out (which is always appreciated), it did feel as though everything was resolved a bit too easily. There were times I wished I could have dug my teeth in deeper, but it just wasn't there. Overall, this was a cute short read, and I would recommend!

Thank you NetGalley, and Grand Central Publishing for this advanced reader copy that I received at a Book Huddle retreat.

I’m not one for a cozy fantasy, but this was one of the best cozy fantasy’s I’ve ever read. It was equal parts light hearted and heartfelt. The characters were well written and complex, while also being surprisingly believable for mythical creatures. I liked the way their relationship evolved over the course of the book too. Everything happened at a reasonable pace. Would read ten more of these.

DNF.

Bleh. This isn't cozy fantasy, it's romantasy, and not even GOOD romantasy. It's awkwardly written with just random sexy talk dropped in in a way that just feels super gross. Uch. No thank you. Not a prude (love ACOTAR etc), but this is just ick. I saw another review that requested "get some plot to go with the sex please," and YES. This needs to go back to the drawing board for an actual story.

This was good but not great. I enjoyed a lot of aspects of this book and thought the representation was great. Overall I found this FMC to be insufferable at points and felt so bad for the MMC. It was just one of those relationships where I don't see it being an HEA. I just wished the book slayed as hard as the cover art did.

This is an open door romantacy. I didn’t really connect with the main characters, but it was a fun, quick read. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for my honest opinion.

I really wanted to love this, because I love cozy fantasies, but I couldn’t get past the first chapter. The writing really needs work!

This was cute, cozy and an easy fantasy read for beginners! Barra is a big lovable giant from the get-go, but El is REALLY callous and brash at the beginning and it made it a little difficult to truly feel for her at times. I did get over that feeling as we got further in to the story! The spice in this was done really well and wasn’t overdone or just thrown in there to make a point. I appreciated the variety of characters and the plus size and LGBTQIA+ representation. The banter was fun but the third act breakup did kind of throw me out of things a bit 🥲 overall solid fantasy romance and I would recommend it!

I quite enjoyed this book! I was thinking that I needed to read about some full-figured main characters, and this book popped up among my choices with its two lovely main characters

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of A Tale of Mirth & Magic by Kristen Vale

This was my first monster romance and it was really charming and cute! It’s a cutesy romance between an elf and half giant. Elekka is a very forward and fun elf while Barra is a quiet and shy half giant. He helps her get out of a jam and they end up on the run together.

I really wanted to like this book, but it ultimately felt a little unfinished to me. Barra, the main male character, seemed like such a sweet character but didn’t feel very fleshed out and Elikki felt absent and very shallow. I thought the plot was interesting, but it didn’t seem to move forward with any of the actual story? Something is missing from this and I’m not entirely sure what it is. Also - the sex scene right after Barra got hurt and they just glossed over it? That felt very forced and almost like the injury was an afterthought. 2.5/5

Thank you to the author and publisher for this ARC! I am super interested in seeing what the final published version of this book looks like.

I read 30% of this book during which... pretty much nothing happened. At the very beginning Elikki has an altercation with an awful customer and has to go on the run. Barra follows her. And then they... camp. And flirt. and lust over each other. And walk down the road. And continue lusting after each other.

The writing is robotic and is all tell with no show. And we get *everything*. Barra hands Elikki a sandwich. She chews and eventually swallow. And then she speaks. Every thought and gesture is explained until its painfully obvious.

I honestly don't understand the good reviews and clearly don't get the hype. Cozy and "Nothing happens" are not the same thing.

*Thanks to forever for providing an early copy for review.

3.5. Cozy fantasy romance with a fiery elf and a shy half-giant. It’s short and fun. There’s a road trip, a bounty hunter, and a fair bit of spicy times in a variety of places. Barra is a sweetie and I liked seeing Elikki open up as the book went.
Overall the book would benefit from a bit of “show don’t tell” advice. I don’t need every motivation to be explicitly spelled out on pages. The characters feel very modern despite being fantasy creatures and the worldbuilding doesn’t give you much, so don’t go looking for much fantasy besides a general vibe. This is very much a romance with a hint of magic.

This book is a cozy, historical fantasy novel. The main characters, Elikki - an elf who has a gift for working with metals - and Barra, a lavender-colored half giant who is a gentle bookkeeper, meet in the village of Povon where both are traveling through on business. When a disgruntled character tries to cheat Elikki from a fair price for a bangle, Barra steps in to help the beautiful jewelry designer. Elikki doesn't need his help and banishes her foe on her own, breaking his wrist in the process. We later learn that the customer is related to people in high places and has a bounty put on Elikki. She and Barra escape Povon and travel to further towns while trying to outrun bounty hunters and their own growing feelings that neither want to acknowledge.

I love the idea of this book, and it's cozy atmosphere is perfect for reading while cuddled under a blanket. Unlike some cozy romances on the market, this novel delivers on spice - I would rate it 3.5/5 chili peppers on the spiciness scale. There is also lots of representation in this novel, our FMC is a proud curvy girl, there are several characters that are representing LGBTQIA+, and we get a good look at the anxiety of the main male character. What kept it from being a four or five star rating was the awkwardness between the two main characters. Even though they are supposed to be secretly (and some times not so secretly pining for each other in this novel, I just did not feel any kind of sexual tension between them and the spicy scenes felt awkward for me to read. I had a hard time connecting with either main character. The book is well written and the banter between the characters is fun to read, I just unfortunately couldn't connect with it as I hoped. Readers who enjoy cozy fantasy with the addition of spice will enjoy this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with an eARC of this novel for me to read and give a review on. All opinions are my own.

4.25 stars. The spice was perfect, the consent and level of understanding and conversation between the main characters was much appreciated. Definately a he falls first but I rather enjoyed that. She was outgoing one and he was reserved. Will read more from this author.

This was a very fun read! It reminded me a lot of the Mead Mishaps series by Kimberly Lemming--fantasy road trip with a dash of adventure and lots of steam.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

The gasp I let out when I saw that A Tale of Mirth and Magic was Read Now on Netgalley could be heard by aliens in another universe. I got lightheaded as I downloaded it to my Kindle- that's how excited I was for this release! This is the year of cozy romantasies! I was screeching at the early chapters, having a grand time and feeling lots of mirthful like the title promises. I did lose steam at 70% and was disappointed at the predictability and 3rd act break-up, but I still had a fun time finishing Elikki and Barra's sweet story.

Fans of That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming and lovers of sassy heroines will enjoy A Tale of Mirth and Magic!

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Loved this book, normally im NOT a fantasy girl but this AND spice!? Yes please! Not a fifth star because of a certain part i dont wanna mention and ruin it for others. But i hope there will be more ! 😍 stunning 🥰

A Tale of Mirth and Magic by Kristen Vale is, all in all, a solid and enjoyable read. The story features two lovable characters—Elikki, a feisty and independent elf, and Barra, a gentle half-giant—who made for a compelling and heartwarming match. For the first 70% of the book, I was fully invested in their journey.

The spice was especially well done—written with care and intention, adding to the plot rather than feeling gratuitous. It felt natural and tasteful, which I really appreciated.

That said, the third-act breakup didn’t quite land for me and pulled me out of the story a bit. Still, this was a fantastic debut, and I’d love to return to this world in future books. Kristen Vale is definitely one to watch!

I ate this book up! Elikki is a curvy, sassy, elf FMC and the MMC, Barra, is a 7.5 ft. tall lavender half-giant. They cross paths after a run-in with a not-so-nice guy and end up on a traveling adventure.

This cozy fantasy romance has a delicious amount of spice, banter, magic, and a well-written story to keep you wanting more.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the book.

I am OBSESSED with ‘A Tale of Mirth and Magic’ 😍 It’s everything I love in a cozy fantasy romance. Elikki is a total vibe—independent, fiery, and totally unfiltered, while Barra is the gentle giant of my dreams (I mean, literally, he’s almost 8 feet tall and purple LMAFO). The chemistry between them is 🔥🔥and the way their relationship develops? Swoon-worthy I quite literally fainted.

The best part? It’s not just about the romance though trust me, the steamy moments are UGHBSEIUSJSJS TO DIE FOR. The book also has the perfect mix of humor, adventure, and those cozy, heartwarming moments I crave. I’m obsessed and never going to shut up over it.

If you're a fan of found families, magical chaos, and a romance that’s both tender and spicy, you NEED this book in your life. Seriously, go grab a copy ASAP—you won’t regret it! ✨

I LOVE YOU FOREVER PUB IF YOU READ THIS THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALWAYS GIVING ME THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES TO READ RHE BEST BOOKS💗