This book was exactly the comfort read I needed! J. Penner's "A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic" serves up a delicious blend of fantasy, friendship, and food that left me feeling warm and satisfied.

Set in the magical world of Adenashire, we follow Arleta Starstone, a human baker who lacks magical abilities but compensates with creativity and determination. When her orc neighbor secretly enters her confections into the prestigious Elven Baking Battle, Arleta must navigate a competition dominated by magical beings while proving her worth through sheer skill and innovation.

What makes this book special is how it celebrates resilience and authenticity in a world where you're expected to fit a certain mold. Arleta's journey resonated with me deeply - her struggle to be recognized for her talents without the advantages others have feels universally relatable. The friendships she forms along the way are genuine and heartwarming, demonstrating that connections can form across any differences.

The food descriptions are absolutely mouthwatering! Penner crafts magical pastries and confections with such vivid detail that I found myself craving sweets while reading. The inclusion of recipes at the end was a wonderful surprise that bridges the fantasy world with our own kitchens.

The pacing feels just right, building to a satisfying conclusion while still leaving me hungry for more from this world. The romance subplot adds a perfect touch of sweetness without overwhelming the main story.

If you're looking for a book that feels like a warm hug, with just enough magic, mouth-watering baking descriptions, and characters you'll want to befriend, "A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic" is a perfect addition to your shelf. This book is best enjoyed with a cup of tea and something sweet to nibble on!

A Fellowship of Bakers and Magic

~ What if it were true that accepting that … simply came down to a willingness to say yes? ~
 
Arleta Starstone is a magic less human with a magical last name because of an adoption by a wizard somewhere on her father’s side. In a society where magic rules, Arleta is a magic-less human. Nevertheless, she persists at perfecting her baking craft in memory of her mother and father, who were killed in a tragic accident when she was 16. Her mother was a baker and her father was an apothecary, from each of whom Arleta inherited a wealth of knowledge about plants, herbs, and other ingredients.

Arleta struggles to make a living, dreaming of the day when she can open her own bakery. When a handsome woodland elf appears at her doorstep with an invitation to the kingdom-wide baking competition that she most definitely did not enter herself into, Arleta’s adventure begins. Along the way, she struggles with her anxiety and feelings of worthlessness, then finally confronts those fears and finds herself enveloped in the love and care of her found family, friends, and even herself. A whole host of delightful characters accompanies her on her journey of self discovery - her delightful orc-neighbors, Verdreth and Ervash; Theodmon, the aforementioned woodland elf; Dolgrila (Doli), a dwarf of endless cheeriness; and Jez, a gruff but lovable Fennix round out the main cast. Numerous other side characters make appearances both delightful and meaningful throughout the story.

 
📖 World Building: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5) - I would have loved to have had more here. While there is a map and some explanations throughout the book, more information woven in about why our little kingdom has entrenched itself in prejudiced racial divides would definitely have made an impact on the reader, without pulling it out of the realm of cozy.
 
📖 Character Development: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5) - Nailed. It. Arleta’s development throughout this book, where she realizes that she needs to trust herself, trust others, and stop feeling guilty and anxious about everything was so real. Jez and Taenya were probably the next two in terms of drastic character development, and I loved watching both of them blossom.
 
📖 Predictability (lack of): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4) - Solid. There were some things I saw coming, some that were a surprise in execution but not content, and one absolutely beautiful twist at the end that was *chef’s kiss*. I do wish there had been a little more wrapping up of a certain woodland elf’s affairs with his house & garden. Also, I really, really need to know what happened to Faylin!
 
📖 Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5) - Very well done. It never felt bogged down or boring. And to be even more fair - I was sick today when I read this and was having difficulty focusing on anything. It kept my attention and distracted me from feeling unwell.

📖 Spice:  🥛 – upper middle grades and up safe. There is one very short passage alluding to adult activities at the very end but it is clean.
 
📖📖 Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5) – I really enjoyed this book overall. I will definitely keep reading the series and it was a fantastic palate cleanser. I loved the characters and the setting & I especially loved the touch of including the recipes at the end. It reminded me a lot of Erin Johnson’s Spells & Caramel series, just without the murder.
 
📖 Noteworthy:
     📚 friends to lovers
     🧁 orphan
     📚 found family
     🧁 unexpected friendships
     📚 MLM romance (secondary characters)
     🧁 journeys of self discovery
     📚 a magical cat
 
📖 TW/CW: racism, classism, a meddling mother, and some bullying

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press. J. Penner has written us a beautiful book about finding oneself, found family, grief, loss, magic and delicious baked goods. When our FMC, Arleta is secretly entered into a baking competition, she quickly realizes a big dilemma, she’s the only magicless baker. Through the book, we watch Arleta go from not believing in herself into her journey of self believing. J. Penner paints us a beautiful setting for our journey. So buckle up for one of the coziest books you’ll read this year.

This was such a cute and cozy read! If you liked Legends & Lattes you would definitely like this!! The characters were likable and the pacing was nice, the slow burn was a little too slow but i still loved the chemistry

There are some books that have to grow on you; it’s not until chapter 5 or 10 that you really fall for the book. Then there are some books that are ‘insta-love’ and for me, I fell for this book on page 2.

About a decade earlier, when she was 16, Arleta Starstone’s parents were killed, leaving her to fend for herself. She did so by baking- something she was extremely talented at even though she was still living week to week - adding herbs and other plants as her ‘little dash of magic.’ As she walks home after a long day at the market with her orc neighbor (and biggest fan) Ervash, he asks if she’s signed up for the legendary Langheim Baking Battle. No, she replies - it’s held by elves and as she’s human and thus magicless, she’d probably not even be allowed to participate, much less win, even though the prize money would allow her to open the bakery she’s always dreamed of.

A few weeks later, there’s an elf at her door with an invitation to participate in the battle; Ervash it appears submitted an application for her. So after never having left the small town of Adenashire, Arleta is whisked off to the big city Langheim where she’ll compete in the Baking Battle against elves, dwarves, and other magical creatures and learn how important family and friends are along the way.

I loved this book! It was such a feel good book. It was very G/PG - I think there’s only one four letter word in it and a little bit of kissing. I loved seeing how Arleta learned to trust herself, open herself to others, and learn she can trust others to help her.

Highly recommended - I look forward to future installments when I suspect the other bakers will get to tell their stories. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley.Com which I voluntarily reviewed.

I really enjoyed this book! It had an element of light-heartedness that I really appreciated. The protagonist’s journey was one I was invested in and I’m very pleased with the outcome. One of the first fantasy books I’ve read in years, and I’m very pleased with my experience.

What a lovely addition to the ranks of cozy fantasy! Arleta the FMC is so relatable in her inability to believe good things can happen to her and in her tendency to self-sabotage. I adore her for it!

And I found all the other characters loveable too! The MMC doesn’t come on too strong. The new friends are so much fun! The orcs next door are so sweet!

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book! This is my honest review.

“Who wants to be normal when you can be spectacular?”.

Arleta has always loved baking and has always wanted to open up her own bakery in honor of her parents. But living in a world where magicless humans are looked down upon, she can barely make ends meet.

The hundredth anniversary of The Langheim Baking Battle which is held in the Langheim realm of the Northern Lands by the woodland elves is fast approaching. And when an elf comes with an invitation to the competition for Arleta, she finally has the chance to prove herself despite being magicless that she is an amazing baker.

This is a very light fantasy story. Not a lot of detail, but enough to see and understand the world and what it’s like.

It’s a fast paced book. The competition seemed rather fast, as well as the romance and the story itself. Which wasn’t a bad thing, I truly enjoyed this book a lot. It had humor and charm, and the romance is quite sweet even though Arleta was a little annoying about it lol, so stubborn. It was still endearing and I loved the found family that resulted during this journey. Especially for Arleta who is not used to having friends or anyone who cares about her aside from her adoptive fathers.

The baking competition reminded me of the Great British Baking show and so of course I loved it. I just wish the book was maybe a tad bit longer to show us more of the competition and also experience the build up of the romance more.

Despite wishing it was longer, I really enjoyed this charming and humorous book and curious to know how the series continues.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A fellowship of bakers and magic was a delightful read that was easy and fun to dive into, I enjoyed the magical system along with the romance and the characters!

I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys easy and cozy romantasys! its like the best parts of fantasy and the best parts of romance novels all put together!

This book is the perfect example of cosy fantasy, the characters are amazing, lovely and grip you from the very beginning. The story is very much character driven which is perfect for me as I love it!

I would recommend this book (and hopefully the rest of the series!) to any and all friends.

Thank you @poisonedpenpress, @jpennerauthor for sending the Advanced Reader's Edition of this book!

A heartwarming treat best served with tea and something sweet.

What do you get when a human, a dwarf, a fennex, and an elf walk into a bake-off? A perfectly whisked blend of magic, heart, and sugar-dusted adventure.

In A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic, we follow Arleta Starstone—a determined, magicless human baker trying to rise in a land where elvish elegance and dwarven decadence dominate the culinary scene. In the whimsical realm of Adenashire, where the ethereal grace of elves mingles with the hearty craftsmanship of dwarves, a human named Arleta Starstone toils diligently in her quaint kitchen, blending the delicate art of baking with the enchanting properties of apothecary herbs. But her quiet life takes a bold turn when her orc neighbour (a lovable meddler) submits her creations into the prestigious Elven Baking Battle behind her back. Arleta's mother was an avid amateur baker and father had an apothecary business.

What unfolds is a deliciously cosy fantasy where pastries are spells of their own kind, friendships are as warm as fresh bread, and every chapter feels like stepping into a bakery that also happens to have a cat curled up by the garden.

A significant dilemma looms for Arleta as a magic-less human in a land steeped in enchantment, her entrance into this revered contest risks drawing more disdain than admiration.

Taenya, the winner of the prestigious Langheim Baking Battle, buys the storefront on the corner which Arleta has always dreamed of converting into cosy bakery. Taenya gifts it to her this store – A Little Dash of Magic Bake Shop. Taenya becomes a business partner with Arleta. That’s how their unexpected friendship starts to bloom.

Arleta's journey is more than a quest for recognition—it's a heartfelt exploration of identity, perseverance, and the quiet kind of courage. She navigates sceptical stares and magical mishaps, all while building unexpected bonds with her fellow contestants. There’s even a sprinkling of slow-burn romance that adds just the right amount of sweetness.

What makes this story shine is its balance. It never leans too heavy on fantasy or food—it braids them together like a beautifully plaited loaf. The worldbuilding is whimsical yet grounded, the character dynamics are layered and sincere, and the food descriptions? Utterly mouth-watering.

If you are just craving a story where kindness is a kind of magic, this book will feel like coming home. A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic proves that sometimes the most powerful spell is believing in your own worth—and that the right recipe, shared with the right people, can change everything.

You will come across a lot of bakery dishes – A thyme-infused raspberry tart, Cardamom lemon bars, Fluffy honey buns with silky whipped frosting, Flaky puff pastry laden with honey and walnuts, Rose water and honey cakes, Soft and chewy wild blueberry cookies, loaves of rosemary sourdough bread, cinnamon rolls, petite lemon lavender cakes, strawberry lemon curd bites, iweocot fruit, purplish-blue yageberries, crabapple tree, chocolate cherry tart, lime vanilla cake, coconut cream square, sea salt, browned butter, chocolate chunk cookies.

You will also find some amazing characters throughout the story – Arleta Starstone, Theodmon Brylar, Verdreth and Ervash - kind orc couple who act like fathers to Arleta, Tonix Figlet – the stall renter, a quokkan, does not like magicless persons, will always prefer to rent stalls to more prestigious merchants like elves, dwarves, rare ogre (no magic, no respect), Minotaur woman, Stocky bearded halfling, ecru-skinned woodland elf, Castors, Faun - Dreap and twins Rhegea and Ronorae, Dwarf - Dolgrila Butterbuckle, Jez - fennex a fox-like woman, Faylin - large brown and white cat forest lynx, sapphire-bellied finchlettes.

This story ends up forming a fellowship of bakers and magic with the five very unlikely friends—two woodland elves: Theo and Taenya, a dwarf: Doli, a fennex: Jez, and a human: Arleta.

2.25 stars

So boring. There was no plot (and I like plotless cozy fantasy sometimes so this isn’t a problem with the genre), and the plot that did happen I was like who even cares. The romance also didn’t work for me, the conflict was so dumb and unbelievable. I didn’t really like Arleta as a character and didn’t care about the side characters very much. This wasn’t horrible so it’s slightly above 2 stars, but I don’t see the point in reading

The story is really cute and totally fits the cozy fantasy vibe. I loved the characters and world building. 

The part of the story that keeps it from being a knock out is the FMC's internal struggle. It went on too long for me and I also felt that there was not enough fight from the MMC. I feel like there should have been more with Taenya as well. I hope she gets her own redemption story.

I liked the diversity of characters and it felt like a realistic magical creature small town. I liked the found family and the concept of the baking competition. I'm surprised that there weren't more partners in the shop venture. I also want to know what happened to Faylin and the amazing garden.

If you need a lighthearted fantasy read. You would enjoy this. The romance is a very slow, slow burn. There's also only 1 kiss and no spice scenes. I was hoping for more romantic tension for it being such a slow burn. It felt more like internal anxiety.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This was a fun and quick read. It was nice to get lost in a fantasy book about baking and a baking competition. I like h oh w several of the main characters stay true to theirselves regardless of what others think.

I have been an avid watcher of cooking and baking shows for a very long time, so I knew I had to read this book. It is a great cozy fantasy, with a dash of romance. It was interesting learning about this world throughout the story and I am looking forward to seeing more in the other books.

J. Penner does an incredible job describing these "magical bakes" throughout the entire book. It really made me want to eat them. I love how there are also recipes included in the back. Perfect for a book all about baking.

The side characters were my other favorite part of the book, especially Arleta's neighbors, a cute orc couple who are adopted dads for Arleta. They were great. I wish there was a book just about them.

There were parts of the romance I really enjoyed and parts that I didn't. I won't spoil them here. It was cute, but not my favorite.

If you are a fan of cozy fantasy stories, I would recommend picking this up. It was a lighthearted and wholesome story with a lot of heart.

Such a cute lighthearted book that will make you feel cozy. I enjoy reads like this because they’re a chance to escape the realities of the world and curl up with a story that will whisk you away. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

4.25 Stars

I love The Great British Bake Off. Finding out this book was essentially the fantasy version of that… Hello! Sign me up!

This book had all the vibes I was looking for. It was very easy to jump into, has a cast of characters that are the most precious, and food I wanted to devour on the spot. It has been taking me a while to read books lately and I finished this one in 2 days/nights. It was exactly what I needed.

I just want to give Arleta the biggest hug, and then immediately start talking flavor combos with her. I loved that she embraced the “it was the friendships we made along the way” mentality. Baking and the competition were in the forefront, but her growth and acceptance of the love around her was the real story for me. It is a character journey I have come to love.

All the side characters were a perfect match for Arleta. They each fed into her journey in different and meaningful ways and I loved them all. There were even a few moments that brought a tear to my eye.

The only thing that I was confused about was how the magic tied into the baking. I’m not sure if I just missed something or what. It was such a big deal that Arleta didn’t have magic, but it was never explained how magic made baking better or easier for others. Was she at a disadvantage? Was there something different? Or were people just biased against her because she didn’t have magic and magic itself never really played into baking at all? I would have loved for that to have been explored/explained a bit more.

This was such a delightful story. I was sucked in from the start and had such a fun time. I can’t wait to see what comes next in this world.


Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Being a magicless human in a world full of magical creatures such as elves and dwarves left Arleta, a baker, with little prestige. In this book she reluctantly embarks on a journey of much needed self-discovery and uses her baking talents along the way.

If you like shorter fantasy stories that involve baking, this book might be for you.

I enjoyed the descriptions of the food and the baking.

Although the main character is difficult to like due to her doom-and-gloom nature, there are several side characters that are more engaging.

This is book one of the Adenashire series.

#arc #netgalley #PoisonedPenPress #LGBTQIA #Romance #Fantasy #Magic #baking #fatedmates #selfdiscovery

Sometimes you just need the easiness of a cozy book. I always love to read one after a particularly heavy book. That was exactly the case when I picked up A Fellowhsip of Bakers and Magic.
This book follows our FMC onto a baking competition that resembles The Great British Baking Champship.
As that is one of my comfort shows. She’s a human living in a magical world, and the discrimination is real from some magical characters.
The only reason this wasn’t a four star read for me was the repetition of how our fmc believes that humans can’t be fated.
A super sweet and delightful read!
I received an ARC of this book, all opinions are my own.

A human, a dwarf, and an elf walk into a bake-off—and what follows is a warm, whimsical competition filled with enchanted sweets, unlikely friendships, and a generous pinch of self-discovery.

This book was exactly the kind of light, satisfying read I needed. The writing is smooth and easy to sink into, the pacing breezy without being rushed. While it's billed as cozy fantasy, I personally didn’t feel the full emotional warmth I usually associate with that label—but what I did find was a gentle, charming story that left me with a smile.

Arleta, the human baker with no magic in a world that reveres it, is a relatable underdog. Her journey through the Elven Baking Battle is sweet (pun intended), even if I occasionally found myself ahead of her in the plot, wanting to shake her into action. Some of the twists felt predictable, but never in a way that took away from the comfort of the read—if anything, they added to its softness.

If you're looking for something light, pleasant, and slightly magical to cleanse your reading palate, A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic is a delightful treat. Not life-changing, but definitely soul-soothing.