Lighthearted and sometimes steamy road trip with one independent elf and one easily attached but insecure half giant. Escaping the horrid cheat and bounty hunters while avoiding feelings creates a fun adventure!

A Tale of Mirth & Magic was my introduction to fantasy, fairytale, and creature spicy romance novels, and it definitely didn’t disappoint.

I loved how the world-building was done in a way that felt effortless. The author provided just the right amount of detail, enough to immerse me in the setting without bogging me down with an overload of names, histories, or complicated lore.

The story follows Elikki, a strong PLUS SIZE elf who has trouble controlling her power. Her character development was a highlight, and it was so engaging to watch her work through her internal struggles as she navigated both her powers and her emotions.

Then there’s Barra, the lovely lavender half-giant who is as lovable as he is vulnerable. His unwavering dedication to love, despite having his heart broken before, made him an incredibly endearing character.

Together, Elikki and Barra find themselves on the run from the law, and their journey is filled with plenty of flirting, banter, and vulnerable moments that brought their chemistry to life.

This book falls into the “open-door” romance category, so there’s a fair amount of spice throughout the story. I’d rate the spice levels around a 4/5—it was steamy, but not overdone.

Overall, I’d give the book a 4.5/5. It was an enjoyable read, packed with humor, magic, and heartwarming moments. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, slightly spicy fantasy romance.

This was cute and had real potential, but I spent most of the book being slightly annoyed by one or both of the main characters. For the most part, Barra was the dream book boyfriend: thoughtful, caring, communicative, in touch with his feelings, aware of his baggage and how it might impact his actions. He was a bit of an overthinker, but anxiety is a curse and those who have, understand.

Elikki, however, was infuriating. There was no emotional maturity at all, and her behaviour at times crossed the line into abusive and/or criminal.

I did quite like the story universe, particularly that everyone is bi/pan, and there weren’t any biases about size, though race/species still seemed to be an issue. I did *not* like that the entire romance progressed to love within three days. Come on, we’re all adults here: that isn’t practical nor realistic nor even desirable! It’s just creepy (and immature) AF.

There were also a few typos. Overall, a decent first effort but not quite hitting the mark. A skilled substantive editor could take this and make it significantly better, but it would take quite a bit of rewriting.

2.5 stars rounded up.

This book is a delightful diversion of a debut. It kind of gives off Pixar’s Onward vibes, but make it romance, not modern day, and horny. Really horny.

At a glance:
- Cozy fantasy
- Dual POV
- Queer, curvy, elf FMC + queer, lavender, cinnamon roll, half-giant MMC
- On the run together
- He falls first
- She’s afraid of emotional intimacy
- *Ahem* activities indoors and out
- Planned end date (but we all know how that goes 😏)

TL;DR: She’s independent and fierce and doesn’t know how to let others in. He’s a blushing, big, ole softie, who’s looking for real love and knows she’s not open to it, but he just can’t stop spending time with her and trying to protect her. The characters are lovable. I laughed. I grinned. And there’s plenty of steam.

I received an advance copy of the book from Forever. All review opinions are my own.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Elikki moves around a bit, making artisan jewelry. She also possesses magic and a temper which she cannot control well. Then there is Barra, more subdued, who works in his family's store and just wants to blend in - even though he is a purple half-giant at eight feet tall. The two meet up when Barra helps get Elikki out of trouble during a sale gone wrong. They go to the next town to evade her bounty - but Barra starts to develop a crush on her. As they continue to work to evade her capture, they experience all sorts of delectable things, and even become better versions of themselves.

As a reader, this was a delight. There were many cozy inns, great descriptions of the food, steamier scenes, and a solid plotline. I loved that the other character helped re-frame their perspectives of themselves, and how they became better versions of themselves, together.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing)/Forever for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.