4.25⭐️

If you enjoy fantasy and shows like The Great British Bake Off, this book will be a “showstopper” for you! This was such a delightful cozy read and I would love to explore more of this author’s work. Each individual in the cast of characters was unique and loveable, the setting was quintessential storybook fantasy, and the plot of this book was absolutely adorable. Well-written, fun, and like biting into a fresh-baked cookie!

Cozy fantasy meets The Great British Baking Show in this adorable story of friendship and self-discovery. Arleta Starstone is the first ever human competitor in the Elven Baking Battle, which means she has to work harder than all of her magical competitors. She uses her own little dash of magic in her bakes through delectable extra touches like savory herbs. Throughout her journey, Arleta learns to lean on friends and even opens her heart to love.

This story was so cozy and sweet. I loved the baking competition. The descriptions of baked goods sound delicious and had my mouth watering! I also really enjoyed all of the characters and the friendships they built together. They truly supported each other, and it was really endearing. The romance component was also sweet, even though Arleta took a ton of time to admit her feelings even to herself! I also really appreciated the way that consent was explicitly built into the romance. Overall, this was a perfect cozy read, and I enjoyed every minute of it!

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

A Story Worth Savoring

I didn’t expect this book to leave such an impression on me, but it did in the best way. From the beginning, Arleta’s journey felt deeply personal. She is just someone trying to turn a small dream into something real, and that quiet determination is what drew me in. The story is not flashy or fast-paced and doesn’t need to be. It moves with the rhythm of real growth, showing what it’s like to wrestle with doubt, face failure, and still choose to keep going.

One of the things I enjoyed most was the fellowship Arleta forms throughout the story. Her connection with a dress-wearing dwarf named Doli (hard not to smirk picturing anything other than heavy armor on a dwarf) and a witty, standoffish, sarcastic fennex (if elves are your thing, there are plenty of those as well). They each brought something different to her journey and helped her grow as a baker and person. Their friendship felt earned, and their presence added warmth, humor, and support when it mattered most.

By the end, I felt like I had experienced something honest and comforting. This book doesn't rely on big drama or heavy twists. Instead, it gives you moments of reflection, small victories, and characters who remind you of the value of believing in yourself. It felt like reading a kind reminder that you don’t have to be extraordinary to be enough.

One of the most delightful surprises came after the final chapter. The book includes actual recipes from the competition Arleta takes part in. I thought that was such a thoughtful touch. It’s one thing to read about her lemon bars, but being able to try making them myself made the whole experience feel even more immersive. It’s as if the story stepped out of the pages and into my kitchen. Had I known about the recipes before jumping into the book, I might have even eaten a batch while reading.

Diverting romantasy meets reality Bake Off! Deluxe edition!

Delightful tale of a young woman who lives to bake (and bakes to live) whose world is turned upside down when her adopted father orcs enter who into the famed Bake Off—the Langheim Baking Battle.
Arleta Starstone’s problem is that this is a magical baking competition. Only elves and persons imbued with magic can enter, can’t they? Arleta is human. Can she even compete?
Arleta’s baked delights are loved by all her taste them in her home town of Adenashire. She adds little touches of her human magic to the mix, a dash of thyme, or a touch of lavender, wild blueberries, bay leaves…
Before she’d been orphaned at sixteen Arleta’s greatest delight was to bake with her mother, herself an avid baker, who’d taught Arleta everything she knew from the time she could hold a mixing spoon.
Arleta is fetched to Langheim for the Baking Competition by a very handsome elf. She’ll make friends with some of the competitors—a warm hearted dwarf, and a somewhat shy and rebuffing fennex. She’ll run afoul of some of the judges and competitors who would have her ousted from the Competition.
But just maybe Arleta will find her true love.
A lively read complete with romance, intrigue and lasting friendship.

A Poisoned Pen ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

This was delightfully cozy! As an avid baker, I loved all the details about the different bakes. I loved seeing the passion of all the different bakers as well and the community they formed. I definitely felt sorry for Taenya, because fames not all it cracks up to be especially when you don't have anyone close to you. And the orcs, I completely adore them! Arleta is so lucky to have them. I love where there is a good variety of magical characters and it's fun when there are humans in the mix too because then we can imagine ourselves there. I also got some Great British Bake Off vibes from this, which is essentially my comfort show. ❤️ Thank you to NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this Arc.

A cute cozy fantasy, perfect read for if you like legends and lattes! I enjoyed the banter and spirit of competition. The food descriptions had me salivating through the whole read! A few things to note is that our main character was kind of whiny and unrelatable, which is something that I rate heavily on. I think the writing could use a little work. It seemed to skate over relationships building and maybe felt a little quick to resolve the villian types? I’m not sure. But it’s a cute read! I will probably read the next in the series

This book was exactly what I was hoping for when I saw the title and synopsis of the story. A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic was just what a cozy romance should be and with the added spin of a magical Great British Bake Off (2 of my favorite things combined). I also really appreciate how all of these strangers bond through this experience and end up as a family. The characters are quirky in the most loveable way and you can’t help but root for them throughout the story. The sass and humor are also great additions to the overall plot, and I’m looking forward to where their story goes next.

I loved this story. Any cozy fantasy lover would eat this book up. It’s a warm hug for any fan of legends and lattes. So so cute!!! Highly recommend!!

A FELLOWSHIP OF BAKERS & MAGIC by J. Penner is a delicious treat of a story full of magic, wonderful characters, and BEST OF ALL, baking. I cheered on the characters, enjoyed the cozy atmosphere conjured by this talented writer. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased thoughts.

I loved this so much! It had me immediately with the cozy fantasy and baking. It was so cute and comforting, and I absolutely loved the characters. Honestly, it's the perfect book to get comfy on the couch with a cup of tea.

It even has actual recipes in it! I need to try baking them as soon as possible.
Arleta had me rooting for her right away, and the descriptions of the baked goods were so well done!

If you enjoy cute and cozy books or love baking and competitive baking shows, you definitely need to give this one a read!

I sat down wanting to snuggle up with a fun cozy read, and this hit the nail on the head. I absolutely love this fun read. The author made it so enjoyable and easy to love the characters. I look forward to reading more from this author.

This was the perfect cozy fantasy romance for me. As a fellow baker this book not only made me giggle at the romance (I love a slow burn) but make me hungry and wanting to bake at the same time. Such a fun and enjoyable read.

I found this to be a very cozy fantasy quick read full of yummy baked goods, a woman with a magic touch for baking (though she is human and has no powers), very low self esteem, and feeling stuck in Adenashire since her parents died in a carriage accident. But lucky for Arleta, she has very caring orc neighbors to help her along and she meets a handsome (and single) elf by the name of Theo who invites her to the baking contest. Cue new found friends (Jez and Doli are awesome!), realizing that she doesn't need magic to find happiness and make the most delicious goodies (despite the competition and a certain nasty mother who is a judge) and figures out what she wants in her future (which may or may not include one handsome elf). So delightfully cozy and comfy though it may make you hungry while reading it. Thankfully there are recipes at the back so you too can bake like Arleta! I think I will enjoy reading this series to see what happens next because it looks like Arleta's found friends will be the next ones to find their happy ever afters!

Happy publication day! I love the Goodreads cover, and this one makes it more open minded. What hooked me was the joke that "A human, a dwarf and an elf walk into a bake-off…" like okay I'm subscribe because I need to watch this because it liteerally took the cake!
The side characters are funny as hell.
The romance was so sweet and gentle like learning how to bake for first time.
The pacing and the plot felt very easy to read and i loved the whimsical factor about it all.
The writing did not read like a debut; it read like the author know how to set the world and smells with tastes just right. Chef's kiss!

Perfect if you want a taste of:
Slowburn Enemies to Lovers/ Rivals?
Elemental Magic/Fantasy
Competition
Different beings and Fun(ny) friendships

Thank you so much to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this arc! She better bake more books after this; she had me starving!

Bake off set in a fantasy world.

I liked that Arleta was a magicless baker and seeing the challenges she faced because of it was really interesting. Her low self esteem did get a little much after a while - how many people do you need to tell you you’re good before you believe it?? Our girl needs some therapy immediately. Which magical being is qualified? I loved the found family and how many people Arleta had in her corner.

The descriptions of the baked goods were so good - I wanted to eat everything. The cake to romance ratio was perfect.

Delightful low stakes cozy fantasy - recommend!

I enjoyed this fantasy read. The discrimination between the magical and those without magic is presented via Arleta, a magicless baker. It's told with touches of humor but the pain it causes can still be felt. Some might find Arleta difficult to like. She's stubborn, avoids relationships, has low self esteem, and typically refuses help from others unless she's somehow forced to accept it. I admit, it was a little annoying at first but someone living alone under her circumstances would likely be unwilling to trust and behave the way she does, so I empathizd with her more than it bothered me. The world built is realistic and I craved for the desserts. I really enjoyed the story and thought it was well written so will definitely read the next in this series.

Within Adenashire there is a hierarchy of beings, and humans are at the bottom of that list. So Arleta Starstone has a distinct disadvantage when selling her baked goods – no magic, no reputation, and no parents to support her. So when her loving neighbors secretly submit Arleta’s treats to the Langheim Baking Battle and she gets in, her world is totally upended.

Arleta travels to Langheim feeling underprepared and alone, but the friendships she makes and the revelations of who her family is give her all the support she needs to bake at her best. She’ll face tough competition, discrimination, and self-doubt on her journey, but the relationships she creates will lead her to victory no matter the outcome of the competition.

This was a fun read! Baking, magic, and self-realizations combine to create a cozy fantasy. I really enjoyed the unique characters and how their conflicting personalities meshed together. I’m excited to know there is a follow up book coming. A dash of magic, a pinch of love, and a sprinkling of caring combine to create a wonderful story!

this is a story about Arleta Starstone who is a talented baker that unfortunately gets discriminated against daily because she is magic-less. however, luck seems to be on her side and she gets pulled into a baking competition with a grand prize that might just put her on the map and allow her to get her own bakery, set in a fantasy world with a sub-plot of romance. This was a delightful cosy fantasy that had my attention throughout. i’m starting to realise how much i like cozy fantasy. Theo, the love interest shows Arleta that she has her own ‘little magic’ that is apparent in her cooking skills and that she is enough, even without magic. I think most people could see themselves in Arleta; having a dream and wanting more than what you currently have, whilst also having self insecurities and doubt. the baking competition wasn’t high stakes but i loved it just the same and i’m definitely going to try the recipes written at the end of the book because i happen to like baking. the friendships that Arleta develops and how her story concludes with her competitor was enjoyable and i do love me a full circle moment. Though, i felt like we could have used another 100 pages to flesh out the world building and characters more and it would’ve been a perfect read but nonetheless i enjoyed my time with it.

╰┈➤ I would recommend this to anyone interested in cosy fantasy and found family.

thank you to netgalley and poisoned pen press for providing me an e-arc of this book in exchange of an honest review <3

This book is the reader’s equivalent of watching the coziest season of The Great British Bake Off but with magic, the power of friendship and found family, and taking a chance on love.

This story is incredibly entertaining and easy to move through. Yes, there are some common troupes (fated mates, only-one-bed, “I’m different from my family”) but all of them are well written and just adorable. I smiled the entire time reading this book.

Additionally, the included bonuses of a nice map, a character drawing, and recipes at the end of the book really tied this together as a thoughtful and wonderful story. Based on the ending, I hope there’s another part of these wonderful characters adventures!

What an absolute delight of a read! A wonderful cozy fantasy, its heartwarming, whimsical, and full of charm. I’m so glad it’s getting traditionally published, and will definitely be reading the rest of the series!
The story follows Arleta Starstone, a magicless human baker in a world of magic. Her baking is often overlooked or dismissed as its not made with magic - despite this, Arleta pours her heart into perfecting her bakes, creating incredible things through her skill, passion and ingenuity.
This is a bit of a mix of Great British Bake Off and small-town happenings. The story centres around an elven baking competition which Arleta has long dreamed of entering, but she’s never had the courage to and believes, as usual, she’ll be dismissed merely because she doesn’t have magic.
One of my absolute favourite elements is found family - I’m a total sucker for it, and this book delivered beautifully. Arleta’s kind-hearted orc neighbours have looked out for her, since her parents passed and their dynamic is just the sweetest. Ervash, one of the orcs (who I adore), secretly enters her into the competition, which sets off a journey of self-discovery, courage, and of blossoming confidence.
The romance subplot is lovely, and there are plenty of fun side characters and genuinely funny moments that add to the book’s charm. The bonus chapter at the end was a lovely surprise!
Also, fair warning…. this book will absolutely make you hungry! The food descriptions are beyond mouthwatering. I could almost literally smell them through the pages. And there are actual recipes at the end! I’m still thinking about those lemon bars and can’t wait to make them myself.
If you're looking for something light and comforting, especially between heavier fantasy reads, this one’s a gem. I wholeheartedly recommend it.