This was a sweet, cozy, queer romance. Oaklin Nettlewood accidentally joined an evil world-ending cult and mind control magic forced them to do unspeakable things. After the heroes crushed the cult and broke the curse, Oaklin is left with holes in their memory and a bucketload of trauma. Oaklin swears never to use magic again and they move to a small farm on the edge of Mossley’s Rest. But the no-nonsense ghost granny who lives in Oaklin’s house won’t stand for it. She slowly coaxes Oaklin back into the world and they slowly form a found family that helps them start to heal. Oaklin even begins to quietly help the residents of Mossley’s Rest, endearing them to the residents. So when an inquisitor comes to town to hunt former cultists, Oaklin is ready to run. What they didn’t expect was the town to work together to protect them.
This book was so cute and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The narrator did a fantastic job voicing all the different characters. She was able to express Oaklin’s sorrow, regret, and shame for their actions, the no-nonsense advice from the ghost granny, and the support and encouragement from their new-found friends.
The author gently wove a beautiful story of forgiveness that included events that allowed Oaklin to feel a sense of redemption. I enjoyed seeing Oaklin come alive as they acknowledge their feelings for the librarian, and the sweet “will they or won’t they” interactions between a local bard and magical baker was adorable. If you are in the mood for a sweet, cozy romance with magical elements, this is one you shouldn’t miss.
I received a complimentary audiobook from Sourcebooks. All opinions are my own.
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