This book was a funny and light read. Unfortunately, I did not become invested in the story.
I only kept reading for the necromancer and her skeleton servants.

This book had a lot of potential. The cover, the description -- the concept was there but the execution was lacking. This wasn't the worst writing I've read recently, but I just wanted more from it. More plot, more world building, and more fantasy in general. No spoilers, but if you like your fantasy to be pure fantasy (like I do) then this might have a bit too much sci-fi.

Also, if sexual harassment disguised as comedy gives you the ick... probably wouldn't go for this one.

This was such a cozy DnD style novel that just itched my brain the right way - as someone who mains a Bard i adored this and how heartfelt, funny, chaotic and just generally FUN this book was! I would love to read more like this!

Til Death Do Us Bard was such a fresh task on fantasy DnD inspired tales. A fun read with wonderful main characters and beautiful world building. It was easy to fall in to this book and get lost in the tale Black had created so perfectly. I would love another story in this world with nods back to these characters if not another installment with them altogether!

If you enjoyed Legends & Lattes but wanted a bit more adventure, I would definitely recommend Til Death Do Us Bard! I really loved this story at the beginning, especially the fun interactions between Logan and Pie. Pie is definitely my favorite character and I wanted a bit more from him. Unfortunately, Pie disappears (as stated in the synopsis), and Logan must put together a ragtag team of adventures to find him.

I was really hooked on this one at the beginning. I love all the characters and I’m a sucker for quests and dysfunctional found families. However, once the quest was actually underway, my interest definitely started to wane. I liked the fun jokes and banter, but I felt like something was missing and I was never fully invested in the story. Overall, it was still fun, just a bit average for me!

This is a fun, cozy read but it felt like a tale of two halves, I flew through the beginning but the pacing felt off in the second half and it felt too long.

This was cute and I was excited for the premise and plot line but I didn't feel very connected to the characters unfortunately.

This book was really fun! I loved the love story, even though it took a back seat to the events of the novel, as it was beautifully written and I found myself really loving their story. I loved the relationships between our main protagonist and his ex-wife, and other people he met along the way. Towards the end of the novel, I found myself unable to put it down and would definitely recommend this!

Loved this! Showboating sunny Bard and grumpy protective husband pairing that you'll adore. Necromancers, Royalty, unicorns, ghosts and ancient horrors at every turn of this unwanted rescue quest. The prose was lovely and engaging with the past consistently interwoven giving giving more depth and understanding. So many stand out characters, gorgeously vivid and well fleshed out. This is found family done perfectly and I got attached very quickly! The plot is engaging and surprising and there's so much humour and heart that it's super cozy and comforting at times. The interactions and care between the group are realistic and flow beautifully. I was not ready to leave them and sincerely hope we get more in this world with these characters.
Thanks to Hodder Books and Netgalley for the arc in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book is like a D&D campaign in novel form. Every single character is so unique and adds something different to the plot and I loved seeing the MC being so incredibly in love with his husband without it taking over his whole personality. Some of the locations in this book were really fun to get to see and it was wonderful to have a queernormative fantasy world, too!

It is a really difficult one for me to review because I cannot think of anything wrong with this book. Yet, I could not seem to fully connect with it.

Overall, it's a great read and perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes. It's a fun little fantasy with a perfect balance between cosy and action packed.

I was lucky to have been one of the first to read Travis Baldree’s debut novel ‘Legends and Latte’s’, long before it was picked up by a traditional publisher. I was intrigued by the description of ‘cozy fantasy’, so took a chance and found it delightful. Til Death Do Us Bard, Rose Black’s debut, shares a similar vibe and offers an enchanting blend of mystery, adventure, romance, and fantasy.

In Til Death Do Us Bard, Logan ‘the Bear’ is forced to come out of retirement when his husband Pie (aka Magpie aka Aloysius Montague) is abducted by the realm’s corrupt King Ervin. To rescue the love of his life, and save the Kingdom from an unstoppable army of undead, Logan, and his unusual band of allies, must be the first to find the Chalice of Vivax.

Set in a medieval fantasy world, the plot plays out much like a traditional Dungeons & Dragon session might, with an overarching goal requiring side quests to accomplish it. It’s an entertaining adventure which involves magic and mercenaries, unicorns and pirates. There’s drama and action with betrayal and battles. The suspense grows as the story progresses, and though the stakes are high, the inevitability of the happy ending buffers the tension somewhat.

I loved the main characters, Logan and Pie are very much opposites, with Logan a burly, gruff, monster-killer, while Pie is a slender, extroverted, wily bard. They are an adorable couple and I loved learning the history of their relationship. The allies Logan gathers on his quest are a colourful group, including a sexually aggressive necromancer, Countess Ariadne DeWinter; the ghost of Logan’s bitter ex-wife, Ophelia; and a naive unicorn herder, Gary. I really enjoyed their individual quirks, and the overall dynamic of the party. There is also a horse named Bones and a grumpy unicorn called Fredrick Onyx-Heart the Third, Freddy for short, who are a delight.

Some of the humour will perhaps be judged as inappropriate, but overall I was amused by the irreverent wit and banter. For me, Til Death Do Us Bard was an entertaining and engaging read.

This book was fun and light-hearted with a cast of character right out of a Dungeon's and Dragons adventure. I really liked the queer romance and the found family feel to the cast of characters. It all felt right for the book.

The only thing that put me off though, was this was quite obviously Witcher fanfiction. The author didn't seem to have done much to change it up. The main character was a grumpy monster hunter who was married to a man who is just everything a bard should be. I would have liked to see a bit more change in the characters to make it fresher. Though I have to say, I do love the Witcher so I didn't mind too much.

I've seen a few people calling this low-stakes and I have to wonder what book they've been reading. This is not a Legends and Lattes style low -stakes book so please don't read it expecting it to be!!

I am a little bit disappointed in this book. I was promised a laidback fantasy romance with The Witcher's queer energy. Instead, it was a generic story about a man who didn't even know his husband's last name. I know that people might jump into a marriage, but it felt like Logan knew nothing about this husband's past besides that he was hot. The adventure was not really memorable, but not bad. One of their party was a necromancer who was constantly sexually harassing the main characters regardless of them telling her to stop. Also, besides the main character and the necromancer, the other characters are incredibly forgettable. When one character popped back up (Seraphina), I had no memory of who she was. This book wasn't poorly written, but it felt a little too casual and modern for the setting. Overall, I wish this book was better than it is, but it wasn't horrible; it was just mostly forgettable.

This is a really sweet, fun adventure story. Although it's marketed as a queer romance, I think the marriage in the centre of the story is, in some ways, the least interesting part of the story though there is lots of lovely LGBTQIA representation. Legendary fighter Logan "the Bear" is married to a bard, Pie. When Pie goes missing, Logan goes on a chaotic quest to find his husband. Magic, magical creatures, a despotic king, a kind of swashbuckling, puzzle-solving, late '90s/early '00s adventure film feel to the whole thing. I hope it gets optioned because it would make an excellent romp of a movie. I particularly liked all the side characters and the little touches. One for D&D nerds, cosy fantasy readers, and fans of films like The Mummy and Van Helsing.

Although the premise of ‘Til Death Do Us Bard’ is intriguing, the story never quite hit the peaks I was expecting it to. Cosy fantasy fans will find a lot to love within this story and the main relationship was sweet, but I found myself wishing for a bit more. I love a good quest so that was a particularly enjoyable part of the book, however aside from our main couple, I didn’t love the characters. I would still recommend for fans of cosy fantasy, looking for queer main characters but overall not really for me.

The premise of this story is amazing. It’s high fantasy and a big adventure, but I found it to be lacking. It felt like there was too much going on with not enough world building. Logan and Pie’s relationship was cute and I’ll always eat up a queer affirming story. I just wish I felt more invested in them and their journey.

Thank you to Hodderscape and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

"Til Death Do Us Bard" by Rose Black is a delightful blend of cozy fantasy, romance, and even mystery. Featuring lovable characters and a touch of found family. The grumpy sunshine couple at the center of the story adds a charming dynamic, making it a perfect read for fans of heartwarming romance. The quest element adds an adventurous twist, keeping the narrative engaging and light-hearted. Overall, this book is a cozy and enjoyable escape into a magical world with some of your favorite bookish tropes.

I had fun with this!

Logan is a middle aged, retired adventurer - six months ago, he settled into a quieter life, with his new husband, Pie, a bard, living happily in their little cottage. But when Pie goes missing, under mysterious circumstances, it’s up to Logan to pick his axe back up and go and get his husband back - alongside a necromancer, her band of skeletons, and the ghost of his ex-wife. Throw in a unicorn for good measure. What a team!

This genuinely had me laughing out loud a few times - it’s witty and sharp, occasionally silly, while still maintaining the urgency Logan feels to get Pie back. We flit back to the past sometimes too, to see how they met, and fell in love, which adds more depth to them.

My favourite character, however, is the countess and her many skeletal assistants. I would read more books with her in them in a heartbeat. Such a fun, layered, character.

The storyline progressed quickly, and it really upped the stakes much higher than I was expecting. However, it’s still a lovely addition to the ongoing cosy fantasy trend, and I really enjoyed my time reading it.

Thank you to the publishers, and Netgalley, for the copy to review!

This read was such fun!

This was a really strong cosy fantasy that I found so easy to read and such a feel good vibe to it. That sounds quite odd considering some of the vibes of the adventure are on the darker side, but it really is a great light fantasy that leaves you smiling!

The plot throws you straight into the thick of it with action the undertaking of a quest - the side characters really made this story too, such an interesting and quirky bunch - I loved delving into their pasts - I loved exploring Logan and Pie’s developing romance as well as their established relationship,

This one is a must for cosy fantasy fans!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this story.

Quirky and fun. This is not my usual cup of tea but I'm glad I gave it a try. A cozy fantasy perfect to read while curled up under a blanket with a steaming cup of tea.