I thought was a great graphic novel. The illustrations were great, the story is threaded with contemporary themes including a non-binary main character. Thank you for the opportunity to read this enjoyable book.

Oh, this was so, so cute! I finished this absolutely wonderful graphic novel in one sitting and I wish there had been more of it.

I am a huge fan of cozy graphic novels like The Tea Dragon Society, so this was right up my alley. I loved the characters, especially Hadley and their pet snake, Fern, because I’m non-binary like them. The artwork was absolutely beautiful and the colors were stunning, and I loved the details everything has.

I really, really hope we get more adventures with Juniper, Hadley, and Fern in the future; but even if we don’t I’m still excited to see what else Fern Haught has in store for us!

The Bard and the Baker

Cute, quick, cozy and queer. Not much more I’d ask for from a YA graphic novel.

A beautifully written and illustrated novel about two best friends with unknowing crushes on each other. Their relationship was so sweet. I loved the representation of gender and the quick conversation about it. Definitely a book to pick up and share with the kids.
As a D&D nerd I loved all the different designs of the characters, including the background characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Group for making this available in exchange for an honest review!
The Baker and The Bard, by Fern Haught comes out on March 5, 2024

Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Group for an advanced reader’s copy of this book!

This was a delightful cozy fantasy graphic novel with non-binary representation! The art is absolutely beautiful and I was so happy to join Juniper and Hadley on their adventure. I can’t wait to share this story with my kids!

<b>Thank you to Feiwel & Friends, the author, and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will release March 5, 2024.</b>

Juniper, baker of pastries, and Hadley, bard with a craving for adventure, live in the small town of Larkspur. When a mysterious customer comes into the bakery and orders galettes that require a particular kind of mushroom for a party, Hadley seizes the moment and volunteers the two of them to go foraging. Upon Juniper and Hadley’s arrival at a nearby town, they hear rumors that something big is in the woods and eating up all the farmers’ crops. Determined to get to the bottom of things, Hadley drags Juniper along to investigate—and meets Thistle, a fey with a connection to the “mysterious” creatures.

Short and sweet, <i>The Baker and the Bard</i> is a perfect encapsulation of everything that can go into a cozy fantasy: whimsical illustrations (the art style feels so folk-y to me, and I adore that), a quite simple reason to go on a quest, and a turn of events that centers on the necessity of respecting creatures’ natural habitat. The characters are charming, and I especially love Hadley’s zest for life. I also found it so precious how quickly Juniper and Hadley pivoted to aiding Thistle.

One thing I do wish is that this could have been a little longer. I would have liked to spend more time in this world and see a few facets of it deepened—including the characters! I don’t think a whole lot of complexity could be added to the resolution of the situation that Thistle faces without (perhaps) altering the tone of the book, though, and at that point, this would not be what it is supposed to be. Or maybe I’m wrong! Regardless, the focus on respect for nature is one of those areas that I felt deserved more attention that the page count could give it. I had similar thoughts about Hadley’s crush on Juniper and gender feelings. At the same time, though, I think that the more surface level of attention given to all these elements makes the book suitable for younger readers (maybe even at a middle grade level) and it doesn’t detract from the coziness—it just makes you want more.

Which you can have a little bit of, as a treat, by cooking your own mushroom galettes and viewing the character design sketches inserted at the end. Fun little extras are always a nice touch, and I think our protagonists would approve.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It took me about an hour to read, so it was a nice short cozy read. I loved Juniper and Hadley, they were honestly so cute and adorable. The illustrations were really cute and the world felt 'real'.
My complaint with the book was that the story felt half-baked. The magic in the world was not well explained, and because of that, I couldn't fully immerse myself in it. It truly felt like the story could be 2 times the size it is right now.
Despite that it was really fun to read and an automatic recommendation for anyone who is looking to read a slow-living book with a cute queer love story as well.

I got the book as an arc from NetGalley in exchange for a review!

The Baker and the Bard by Fern Haught

Summary: Juniper and Hadley have a good thing going in Larkspur, spending their respective days apprenticing at a little bakery and performing at the local inn. But when a stranger makes an unusual order at the bakery, the two friends set out on a journey to forage the magical mushrooms needed to make the requested pastries. What started as a simple errand to pick mushrooms soon turns into a thrilling quest to save some furry new friends who are in danger of losing their home.

Feels: This book was so cozy and cute! With a simple plot, it's written for younger audiences. That being said, you can enjoy it at any age. Small town magic, cute creatures, simple and clear gender conversations... chef's kiss! Looking forward to reading more from author.

#NetGalley

I receive this book for free for an honest review. Unbelievably sweet but such diverse characters and a beautiful Setting I couldn't put it down.

This graphic novel fits perfectly into the cosy fantasy trend. Its comps are The Tea Dragon Society and Legends and Latte, and those really hold up.

This is such a quick, lovely read, and super cosy and heartwarming. I'll definitely pick up a finished copy so I can reread this whenever I need a comfort read.

A short and charming novel with pretty art about two young friends (or ARE THEY? jiji) who go off on a wild ride seeking adventure! The two main characters are a baker and a bard who are quirky and adorable!

The art was beautiful and cozy, and I loved the design of the various characters. I enjoyed the vibes of the book and some parts of the story! I especially loved how the novel mentioned gender and being non-binary, it was a very queer book which I loved.

On the other hand, the plot was much too simple for my taste, at times it felt super lazy! I do love cozy no plot books but this was a stretch so I was disappointed. All in all, it was still very enjoyable read and I found it wholesome.

Y'all this book is adorable! I was smiling the whole time.

While it is adorable, it also covers some amazing topics such as gender, confidence, and being yourself. I thought it was just great all around and very age-appropriate.

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Juniper and Hadley live simple yet quiet lives in their small community of Larkspur. From working at the bakery to performing at a bar, everything seems okay on a day-to-day basis. When a client comes in to order a special dessert, it's up to Hadley and Juniper to retrieve the mysterious ingredients. Along the way, they meet Thistle and her family, whose lives are being upended. Can Juniper and Hadley save Thistle and still find those mushrooms for the dessert?
Breathtaking and whimsical, "The Baker and the Bard" is a tale of friendship and a little romance. Those two live gentle lives in the fantastical land of Larkspur. Pastels meet wondrous creatures in this enchanting tale of adventure and what home really means. Readers will enjoy this debut graphic novel and the beauty inside the numerous pages. A splendid read!

This was an adorable, lighthearted story about two friends (with crushes on each other) going on an adventure that becomes a little more involved than they initially expected. The relationship between the main characters was very sweet. I also loved the very casual, yet meaningful, conversation surrounding gender (and how presentation does not determine it).

I will say that there were times where the expressions didn't fully communicate the emotions of a scene, and I also wish that certain aspects of the characters were fleshed out a bit more. I would definitely read a follow up with these characters if one ever came.

Overall, this was a quick and delightful read. Thank you NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for the e-arc!

Fem Haught's graphic novel "The Baker and the Bard" is the perfect blend of atmosphere, fantasy, and wholesome, queer representation. I look forward to any other works that this author might put out in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Hadley and Juniper are excited to have a break from work at the bakery (and Hadley's open mic performances) to go on a super exciting quest. A prestigious client wants some rare glowing mushrooms that can only be found deep in the forest. But along the way, Hadley and June discover some mysterious glowing footprints and a problem with some missing crops. They decide the mushrooms can wait while they get to the bottom of this local trouble. In the process, they learn about natural habitats and coexisting and discover that they might even be more than friends.

This was definitely a cozy fantasy. The stakes were low, and the conflicts never quite felt challenging. I wouldn't have minded just a bit more uncertainty and tension, but I can't deny that this is exactly what the cover described. The characters and design are sweet and creative, and I love the gentle reminder of what "nonbinary" means.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

A wonderful debut, high fantasy, queer story about a baker and a bard who save the day in more than one way. With a unique illustration style I was drawn in and enchanted by sweet characters who, though distractable, are able to make friends and search for the mysterious item they are tasked with finding. I enjoyed this quick read thoroughly, I look forward to more from this artist and to see how they grow.

This kind of reminded me of a more D&D like Tea Dragon Society. It was cute and fun and the characters were so likeable.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC.

This is Fern Haught's debut graphic novel. This follows Juniper and Hadley who are good friends in their town. Juniper is a baker and Hadley is an up and coming bard. One day the bakery gets a special order where the two have to journey outside of their home to forage for magical mushrooms. Along the way, they stumble across a mystery that Hadley wants to solve for their Bardic craft.

Right off the bat the artwork drew me in. It was soft and colorful and relaxing to look at. The story is cozy and sweet, everything you would want from a low fantasy graphic novel. It also has a great message about being true to who you are with Non binary rep. The relationship between the two characters is lovely and supportive. This is the type of story to read outside in the sunshine with a cup of tea or coffee. My only complaint is that I wanted more, to see these characters grow and develop.

If you love The Tea Dragon Society or The Sprite and the Gardener then this graphic novel is just right for you.

The Baker and the Bard is a cute little cozy story about a baker and her friend, a local mischievous bard, going on a journey to fulfill a bakery order and accidentally make some unusual new friends along the way. It’s a fun short read, really sweet with lovely characters and beautiful art.

This story was super cute. Fairies, bakeries, a little bit of love? This seems to be the time for cozy fantasy, and this graphic novel totally fits the bill.

The soft pink and green illustrations and characters learning to be happy with who they are that are also willing to accept love and help those who are unlike them in small but profound ways. The friendships and self-acceptance were depicted in such easy and wonderful ways that I almost didn’t want it to end. 

This graphic novel is so beautiful and happy and I plan to revisit it when I need a pick me up. It is definitely a book to pick up when you want someone soft and light and still full of magic and low stakes adventure. 

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher, MacMillan Children's, for the advanced copy in exchange for this fair and honest review.