DNF at 25%

I don't read much cozy fantasy, but I usually adore the ones I do read (Legends & Lattes, Emily Wilde). Unfortunately, A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic was not for me, though I do think many people would enjoy it as a low-plot, low-stakes cozy read.

My main issues with this book are that I couldn't connect to the main character (which is very important to me), and the insta-love/insta-attraction was a bit much. The premise of a human baker entering a magical baking competition is cute, and the writing wasn't bad, hence 2 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Fellowship of Bakers and Magic is a charming, whimsical fantasy that blends cozy baking vibes with a dash of magic, a generous helping of heart, and just a sprinkle of romance. J. Penner crafts a delightful tale set in the enchanting land of Adenashire, where elvish elegance and dwarven craftsmanship are the norm—but it’s one determined, magicless human who rises to stir up the status quo.

Arleta Starstone is a baker with passion, grit, and a talent for mixing apothecary herbs into delectable pastries. Though she lacks magical abilities in a realm brimming with enchantment, Arleta proves that true magic can come from creativity, courage, and a well-timed tart. When her well-meaning orc neighbor enters her into the elite Langheim Baking Battle without her knowing, Arleta is pushed far outside her comfort zone—and into the heart of an adventure that’s as delicious as it is daring.

Penner’s worldbuilding is cozy and vivid, offering readers a charming backdrop full of fantastical creatures, magical traditions, and competitive baking with high stakes (and high-calorie temptations). What makes this story shine, though, is Arleta herself: relatable, humble, and quietly powerful. Her journey of self-belief is inspiring, and watching her carve out her own space in a society that undervalues the magicless is deeply satisfying.

The supporting cast is equally delightful—from the lovable orc neighbor to the swoon-worthy woodland elf whose charm never overshadows Arleta’s own strength. Their budding romance adds a soft sweetness to the story, complementing the themes of friendship, self-discovery, and the power of following one’s passion.

Perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes and The Great British Bake Off with a fantasy twist, A Fellowship of Bakers and Magic is a feel-good story that celebrates the quiet strength of underdogs, the joy of community, and the magic that can rise—one pastry at a time—from even the humblest oven.

A cozy, enchanting read that will leave you hungry for more—both pastries and adventures.

What a cozy read! I went into this one pretty blind and honestly I loved it! The main character is a baker with a sad back story and not many people she can rely on but the found family trope is STRONG in this one! We’ve got not only found family but fated mates AND surprise, surprise there’s only one bed left at the inn! Lol I really truly enjoyed this read and all the fun side characters in it as well. I can’t wait to read the next!

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my e-copy of this book!

I loved the cooking aspect of this book.

I love the storyline between Theo and Arleta and how no matter what, they are always there for each other.

I wasn't quite sure who was the lgbt+ character was in the book, maybe Doli or Jes.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

You had me at Bakeoff! A fantasy world baking competition? Sounds like my perfect book. Add in herbs and a magic romance and I was so on board. And I'm really sorry to say, this one was a bit of a let down for me.
Truly, I found our main character Arleta to be insufferable. Having anxiety and being discriminated against is one thing, but being incredibly annoyingly stubborn about every single thing, and self deprecating and believing that nothing can go your way, even after you already took the moral high ground and gave up your win, that's a complete other. The story, the world building, and the other characters were great! I could get past the overly descriptive writing and interesting pacing, but Arleta I just couldn't stomach. If the man of your dreams is there and telling you you're his soul mate, you're just gonna what? Ignore it? Crazy.
This book had a lot of potential, and I would be interested in reading other things by this author. The food writing was lovely, as were the descriptions of gardens, although I don;t actually think the author knows much about gardening. It had me aching for lemon bars and to get my hands in the soil. All in all, a fine book, but a let down nonetheless.

A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic is book one in the Adenashire series by J. Penner. And it was amazing.
I can’t wait to start book two A Fellowship of Librarians & Dragons.
This cozy fantasy made me feel warm and happy, I really loved the found family and the descriptions of the baked goods.

The first cozy fantasy I can remember reading was Legends and Lattes. And I loved it. Imagine everyday stories taking place in a fantasy setting. No epic battles or long quests, just the toils and struggles of everyday life. Wait…that can’t be fun or exciting…can it? It most definitely can, and I have to say right from the start, I loved A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic by J. Penner. Our non-magical human heroine getting entered into a baking competition is honestly just the break from reality I needed. Great characters, and an engaging story of friendship, romance, and the everyday struggles of an underdog, it’s just pure fun. Penner has crafted a world I will glad return to again and again. I’d like to thank Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic.

https://www.amazon.com/review/RYMDBMH27D7WA/ref=pe_123899240_1043597390_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Very Legends and Lattes -esque but I won't lie, I liked this more! So cute and cozy and sweet. I loved the characters, the romance, the found family and the worldbuilding

A truly enjoyable, entertaining plot line of how to succeed when all of the rules are against you, just because you're human. Cozy fantasy was a new genre desciption for me but it fits this book completely. There's not much deep thinking required when all you want is a piece of cake!!! Magical cake at that!!!! I believe this is the first book by J Penner I have read but I'm recommending this one to my reading circle and then looking to see what else is in his library.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.

Cozy fantasy with a dash romance and baking (including three actual recipes) sign me up. This is an adorable cozy fantasy that gives you that curled up drinking tea with a fuzzy blanket feeling. As someone who also struggles with imposter syndrome I could relate to Arleta as she struggled to connect with people and believe in herself. The author really explained the baking process in such a way that I could feel like I was in the kitchen myself, which is a fine balance between explaining enough to give you that feeling without it feeling like you are trying to make a recipe blog. I am also invested enough in the side characters that I can’t wait for the next novels to get their stories too. Also, as a baker I obviously had to try the recipes included and the lemon bars were delicious.

Thanks NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy of this book.

Despite some truly cringe-worthy similes, this was an otherwise lighthearted and sweet cozy romantasy. It's not going to blow anyone away, but the bakes sound yummy and the characters are fun. The plot could use some more depth and development, but ultimately it was a cute, easy read.

cozy fantasy is becoming one of my favourite things
if you like bake off shows, read this book! if you like pastries (who doesn't) read this book! if you like old fantasy magic with elves, dwarves, orcs in a wholesome setting.. do i even need to say it? read this book!! The romance was wholesome and cute even though it was slow burn and drove me crazy. The description of the pastries was delectable, and the addition of the recipes at the end was such a nice touch.
Reading this felt like getting a warm hug from a book :)

🍋 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙗𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛! 🍋

🍰 Arleta, a young non-magical human with a talent for baking is entered into the magical Langheim Baking Battle where she learns that sometimes it’s the magic you make yourself that brings the most joy.

This book is simple yet enchanting. The plot follows Arleta and her co-competitors at the baking competition and while somewhat predictable, is just unexpected enough to be entertaining. The characters are unique and endearing, and though Arleta’s constant self-doubt is a bit frustrating, I adore the unwavering support and adoration her friends and family show her. The precious little love story between Arleta and her handsome elf, Theo, is just icing on the cake.

This extra cozy fantasy with a dash of romance feels like a great big warm hug and I’m here for it. Plus, IT HAS RECIPES for several of the items baked as part of the competition.

Check this one out if you love to cook, enjoy watching competitive baking shows, and can’t resist a found family trope. Pairs well with a pot of herbal tea and scones in the garden.

Arleta is a struggling baker in a small village. Her products are amazing, but as a magicless human, she is often relegated to the worst booth, and has to heavily discount her sales. She's accepted this as her life until a friend enters her into a baking competition that could change her world as she knows it.

*****

I really wanted to love this book! It has everything you want in a cozy romance. A fae world with unique beings, a baking competition, and a sweet found family aspect. Unfortunately I found it really hard to related to the FMC. She was often an extremely negative character, who didn't believe in herself, saw the world around her as always against her, and doubted anyone could care about her. It made it really hard to relate, especially as we saw other characters attempt to get close to her and her shut them out.

The characters surrounding her also fell a little flat. They didn't come across as fleshed out as the FMC, and even her love interest just kind of existed. He'd pop up here and there, but he didn't feel like much of his own person. The relationship aspect felt forced and took such a back seat for the entire novel, that it felt weird when it finally came to fruition. It could have been due to the third person POV, the massive amount of time jumps in the latter quarter of the book, or because a lot of the attraction was tell and not show, that the chemistry didn't feel present.

The baking competition was entertaining, but I was surprised that it only took up about 40% of the novel and started so late. The competition starts a bit before the midway point of the book, and ends into the last quarter. Due to this the book felt like it was meandering to the point, and the pacing was kind of everywhere. I liked the baking competition and the food was described beautifully. The event itself was incredibly rushed though. In general I think everything was rushed and it was hard to fall into the novel itself, especially with all of the issues wrapping up so fast in the end. It seemed as though the author realised they'd left some plot holes and tossed it all together, instead of having it come about naturally.

Overall it was still a good book, the writing was well done and the story did keep my attention. It just wasn't a favourite.

*****

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 SWEET STARS! This one’s for readers who want to disappear into a world where the ovens are warm, the friendships are steady, and the most high-stakes moment might involve a poorly set custard. It’s not trying to be edgy. It’s trying to be kind. And in that, it succeeds.

The great baking battle is the heart of the book. It’s fun, cute, and full of cozy touches—like tiny fairies who cool the desserts mid-challenge and a (mostly) encouraging crowd cheering everyone on. The recipes sound delicious, the mood stays light, and the book doesn’t pretend to be anything more than what it is. You come for the cardamom and chocolate, and you stay because the world feels like somewhere you might want to live.

Theo, the romantic lead, is the best part. Kind, patient, and quietly self-respecting, he manages to be romantic without ever pushing. When he tells Arleta he grew his entire garden for her—before he even knew her—it’s not just sweet, it’s sincere. He gives her space, honors her agency, and still makes it clear that he cares. It’s rare to see a love interest written with that much gentle strength.

There’s room here for deeper emotional arcs, especially around Arleta’s romantic hesitation. The potential was there. A kiss. A moment of risk. A reason beyond fate. But the book doesn’t quite go there. Still, the story plants enough seeds that a sequel could bloom beautifully, especially if it leans more into the evolving dynamics of Adenashire, the baking battles, and the ripple effect of Arleta owning her humanity in a magical world.

If you like small-town fantasy, found family, food writing that will make you raid your kitchen, and characters who are soft but trying, this book will hit the sweet spot. Best read with something warm in hand and something sweet in reach.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the chance to review this deluxe edition.

Picture one week of the Great British Bakeoff, now make it cozy fantasy and that is this book! This was a really cute read that is perfect for baking and fantasy fans. My only complaint is the pacing was a little fast. The descriptions of all the baked goods was beautiful and I could practically taste it! If you're looking for a quick, cozy story that will encourage your sweet tooth, this is it!

I was rooting for Arleta from the start. My heart instantly knew that there was something about Theo and how he saw Arleta. This was not just about a baking competition. There was so much more. I fell in love with the characters, the friendships, and the journey Arleta went on. The ending sets it up for the next book and I am excited for it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-copy in exchange for a review.

Calling all cozy fantasy lovers! This book is perfect for you! A perfect combination of the magic and the honestly, the food network lol. This book was like reading chopped or another food cooking competition on the food network with magic and fantastic creatures.
If you liked Legends & Lattes, this is right up your alley.
Found family, Love, and of course delicious bites.
I loved this lighthearted, low/no stakes, sweet book. I was enchanted the whole time!

I know have the desire to go bake lemon bars!

I can't wait to read the next three books in this series!
A Fellowship of Librarians & Dragons - Out now!
A Fellowship of Games & Fables - coming soon
A Fellowship of Curses & Cats - recently announced ( I just know I'm going to eat this one up! Who doesn't love mixing cats with magic! )

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing the opportunity to read this book.

A super cozy and sugary sweet quick read that I devoured over the weekend!
This book world was filled with whimsy and all kinds of cool magical elements and fantastical beings.

Arleta is our main character, she is a human (with a passion for baking) living in an enchanted world. She's a little dramatic and easily overwhelmed but I found her likable and relatable.
She gets entered into the realms Baking Battle and travels to the castle to participate. The baking competition was so fun to read about. There were ice fairies to cool the desserts when needed, beautifully described treats and creations, there's a secret forest themed ball to celebrate...this book sparks the coolest mental imagery.

At the end of the book the author even provided Arleta's recipes! Just in case you want to try one of her desserts in your human world!

Was it literary perfection with a solid plot? No.
Was it a lively imaginary adventure perfect for a leisurely spring weekend? Absolutely, yes.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc, I had so much fun in this realm.

4.5 stars

If you fell in love with the cozy magical charm of Legends & Lattes, then A Fellowship of Bakers and Magic is the perfect next read. As a cozy fantasy, it blends the magic and the mundane. There are humans, orcs, dwarfs and elves.

Set in the heart of Adenashire, this story follows Arleta Starstone, a human baker with no magic but a whole lot of heart. Her unique mix of herbs and her passion for baking sets her apart in a world where spells and enchantments are often the real ingredients of success. When her orc neighbor secretly enters her pastries into the prestigious Elven Baking Battle, Arleta is thrust into a competition she’s not sure she belongs in. With the help of a handsome elf, she gets the chance to participate.

Much like Viv in Legends & Lattes, Arleta is a woman stepping outside her comfort zone, driven by a quiet determination and a desire to build something meaningful. Both stories center around creating joy in unexpected places, developing found families, and proving that even without flashy magic, there’s strength in sincerity and passion.

The bakery competition gives us mouthwatering descriptions (seriously—don’t read on an empty stomach), and a cast of lovable characters from across fantasy races. The camaraderie among the characters is reminiscent of the found family trope that makes Legends & Lattes so special, offering a sense of belonging and warmth It’s a story about believing in yourself even when you feel like the odd one out, and the sweetness of connection over competition.

It’s a reminder that sometimes the best magic isn’t in spells—but in being kind, caring, staying true to yourself and dreaming big.