I received an advanced reader's copy from Net Galley in exchange for my opinions

I stand by my sometimes you just need a cozy paranormal, This one has fairies, and orcs and wizards and so many other fantasy creatures. Like if the Great British Baking show met up with dungeons and dragons. And I'm there for it! It was a cute cozy that checked all the boxes and there was baking and found family!

I had seen advertisements for it already, but I think it must have existed as ebook only before. There are two more books listed for purchase and a fourth coming out later this year. And I can see myself continuing to read on in this series

This cozy fantasy follows Arleta who enters a baking competition where she is the only human amidst many magical creatures. The story focuses on friendship, making your own family, fitting in, and has a little light romance sprinkled throughout. An easy, comforting read great for those who may be intimidated by the fantasy genre.

this one was cute! but if i'm being honest, the food/baking bits and descriptions were the best part. and that part of the book was done extremely well - had me craving some baked sweets the whole time i was reading it. it's very much giving GBBO but with magic, which is fun but not necessarily unique - they even use the same structure for the challenges.

the rest of it? cute but not something i'm going to be coming back to. the fmc was not particularly likable, always one tiny inconvenience from crying or giving up. the romance was lukewarm at best, and i felt no tension or chemistry between them. the villain characters are so obvious and then at the end, no longer villains.

the side characters were great though, especially doli and jez.

this could be good for someone who wants something light, quick and cozy and loved GBBO.

4.25 stars

This is a great book for fans of baking competition shows and cozy fantasy. The vibes were so lighthearted and fun and I absolutely loved all the descriptions of the food. (I especially loved that the author included some of the recipes in the back of the book because all those treats sound so good). I also really liked the found family vibes, both in the friends Arleta made at the competition and from back home.
Theo was such a sweet character and I loved that he was just so happy and supportive all the time. Because this book focused mainly on the baking show, we don’t get a whole lot of depth from either him or his relationship with Arleta but he was a great addition to the story and I did like the storyline with them we got. I thought they were a really great match for each other and I really enjoyed Arleta and Theo getting to know each other.

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

This was such a cozy read. I love fantasy and GBBO so this was such a fun mix.
Thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy. My opinions are my own.

The Great British Bake Off but make it fantasy. That’s exactly what you’ll get from A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic wrapped up in a cozy, low stakes read. The FMC had a great development arc during the story. I also loved all the baking details and flavors discussed even though it made me hungry while reading this, so I’d recommend having a snack handy. I enjoyed how the MMC got the FMC to step out of her comfort zone to enter the baking competition. This story also features delightful found family with the friends the FMC meets along the way. I combo read this between the audiobook and ebook. The audiobook narration was a delight that fit the story perfectly. Vicki-Jo Eva balanced the cozy nature of the story while also capturing the emotions this story invoked. Overall, I really enjoyed this and look forward to the next installment.

3.5⭐️
This book is a cozy fantasy that any fan of the Food Network or Baking shows will love. It has the intrigue of competition, found family and a love story all rolled up into one. I really enjoyed the the laid back nature of this book.

I love the Great British Baking Show. Mix that with my favorite genre of fantasy with a dash of magic and fated mates. Equals a golden brown, fluffy story that makes you feel warm and cozy inside. Then drizzle some icing on top of that with character development from Arleta, the FMC, as she finds her confidence, explores friendship, and tries new and scary things. Chefs kiss. The perfect cozy story with HEA. 10/10 recommend.

Such a fun world and an adorable book. Do not read while hungry!! All the bakes sounded so delicious and I can’t wait to try the recipes in the back. Super cozy read. The ending is a bit quick but easy to follow.

A Fellowship of Bakers and Magic feels like a giant, warm hug of a book. If the hopeful, cozy vibes of Great British Baking Show, the Shire scenes in Fellowship of the Ring, the feasts from the Redwall books, or Animal Crossing are your jam, you'll love Penner's fantasy book. It's a quick read, but I wanted to live in her world forever. Honestly. I really enjoyed the romance element--while parts of the back and forth were occasionally frustrating, I thought it was overall sweet and thoughtfully written. I really enjoyed the found family aspect as well. I will happily be back for more of Adenashire!

Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ebook ARC. All opinions are mine alone.

When her neighbor signs her up for the prestigious Langheim Baking Battle, Arleta is tempted to refuse the offer. She’s just a simple human, with no magic. How could she ever compete with elves, dwarves, and other magical creatures?! When a particularly attractive elf convinces her to compete and fight for her dreams, Arleta realizes that she has a lot to learn about herself, friendship, and romance.
This cozy, baking fantasy romance is exactly what you would expect, in all of the best ways possible. If you are a fan of The Great British Bake Off or The Baker and The Bard, then this book will make you feel like fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies.

This is a delightful cozy read about a non-magic baker just trying to make her way through a very magical world. I enjoyed all the characters who circle Arleta, our main heroine from her very delightful baking competition friends and her orc adoptive fathers to the elven messenger who is very mysteriously determined to make sure she gets a fair shot at winning. A wonderful escape read into a lovely new magical world.

"She wasn't a child and resented all the emotions this "adventure" was stirring up in her. This was exactly why she avoided getting close to people or opening up. All it brought was pain, and she didn't need that. Stability was her refuge."


Arleta Starstone is a talented confectionist that unfortunately doesn't get the respect or recognition she deserves. Discriminated against on the daily for being magicless and barely getting by because of it, Arleta gets the opportunity of a lifetime after receiving an invitation to the prestigious Langheim Baking Battle. The only problem? Magicless are very much looked down upon in this competition as well. Throughout the Baking Battle, Arleta has to undo years of telling herself that nobody can love or care for her when they find out that she has no magic.

Arleta is a wonderful main character. She can be upsetting and frustrating, but at all times I understood her hesitation to open up or accept that she, too, has a place in this world.

Her personal growth is at the centre of the story. We only meet a few of her contestants and the baking challenges are simple and concluded in short chapters. It's not a bad thing, because it's not really what the story is about. But if you are looking for an intense competition, know that this isn't that kind of story.

It's cosy, cute, and I love all the characters we get to meet. Especially Jez and Doli are stand-out characters. I do wish we got a bit more physical descriptions of these characters. They are continuously referred to as "the fennex" and "the dwarf", but I really don't have a good grasp on what they actually look like.

I would recommend this to anyone interested in cosy reads and cute romances!

---

Thank you to NetGalley and Poised Pen Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars!

A fellowship of bakers and magic is marketed as a cozy fantasy that reads like YA about a human, elf, dwarf who enter a baking competition. Our FMC Arleta is a magicless human who has encountered some hardships early in her life but is an extraordinary baker. She gets an opportunity to enter a baking competition where she competes against other magical creatures. The book has themes of found family, friendship and a touch of romance. I didn't care too much for the romance - it felt a bit sudden and like insta-love but i don't think that's the main point of this book. There's not too much character development from Arleta - she comes off as a bit young, and gets over her insecurities quickly. I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of the bakes plus the author includes some recipes she mentioned in the book in the appendix section! Overall, if you want something that is 100% vibes and you enjoy watching the great british bake off, then you will have a good time with this book. I know I did. It's a great book to read to welcome spring.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

So so so good! My first cozy Fantasy and I enjoyed every bit of it! This is definitely my new favorite genre and I will be reading more J. Penner asap!

*Received as a free ARC*
Delightful and whimsical! I enjoyed this greatly. The friendships were probably my favorite part. Looking forward to getting my hands on the rest of the books in the series.

4/5! Thank you to J. Penner, Poisoned Pen Press, and Netgalley for the ARC.

This novel was like eating a warm, gooey, chocolate chip cookie right out of the oven. Sweet, a little bit of salt, and semi-sweet chocolate mixed into a perfect treat. I plan to get a physical copy to keep on my shelves because it's one I will want to reread when I need a sweet pick me up!

We follow Arleta Starstone (a human) to the Langheim Baking Battle. Think Great British Bake Off but set in a fantasy world with all manner of creatures and species. She doubts she's earned her place there, but through friends, supporters, her two orc neighbors, and a potential love interest, she starts to learn just how gifted she is - in more way than one.

The story was quick and comforting, with a really sweet undercurrent of found family, sprinkled with a dash of self-discovery. Though I feel some of the characters could have been fleshed out more if the story was longer, I feel like the personalities we did get gave great balance. Some of the chapters may have ended a bit abruptly and some scenes I wished I could have seen played out, but for a cozy read, I enjoyed this a lot.

3.75 stars!
A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic is a delightful cozy fantasy with a little friendly competition.

Arleta is lovely and very kind, which often leads to some mishaps. Theo is a delight with his friendly and encouraging personality. Their interactions are so cute and heartwarming. Doli and Jez offered a lot of humor and joy to the story. However, I wish the competition scenes were more detailed. It seemed like they were over so quickly and left me wanting more.

Overall, this was a quick and cozy book full of love and friendship. Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the early copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Quick Thoughts

💇‍♀️ Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon by Annie Mare. Fancy a sapphic time-travel romance? The threads of this one got too complicated for me & I eventually stopped trying to understand all of the time travel intricacies (probably a me problem!). But the romance is compelling & the sensuality between the leads is nice. 3.5 ⭐️, out 06/03. (Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.)

🐉 Realm of Thieves by Karina Halle-a resourceful, strong dragon thief falls in love with her kidnapper & vice versa, as they work to pull off a heist & research the fearsome beasts. This one has steam, a fighting heroine (one of my weaknesses!), a declaration of love, endo rep, & secrets—in short, so much of what I love in a fantasy—but the plot felt loosely held together. 3.5 ⭐️, out 06/10. (Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.)

🥧 A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic by J Penner-this is a cozy fantasy with a soft romance between an elf & a nonmagical human. The heroine develops confidence in herself, forms friendships with contestants, & challenges herself in a baking competition, all the while surrounded by a beta hero elf & a host of intriguing secondary characters. 4 ⭐️, out now. (Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.)

📖 have you read any of these or are any on your TBR?

This was such an enjoyable read! It felt cozy and perfect from the very beginning. I loved the FMC—she was so relatable. Despite facing hardships in her life, she never gave up, and with the support of good people, she continued striving to achieve her dreams. I can’t wait to continue this series !