I quite enjoyed this book! I was thinking that I needed to read about some full-figured main characters, and this book popped up among my choices with its two lovely main characters

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of A Tale of Mirth & Magic by Kristen Vale

This was my first monster romance and it was really charming and cute! It’s a cutesy romance between an elf and half giant. Elekka is a very forward and fun elf while Barra is a quiet and shy half giant. He helps her get out of a jam and they end up on the run together.

I really wanted to like this book, but it ultimately felt a little unfinished to me. Barra, the main male character, seemed like such a sweet character but didn’t feel very fleshed out and Elikki felt absent and very shallow. I thought the plot was interesting, but it didn’t seem to move forward with any of the actual story? Something is missing from this and I’m not entirely sure what it is. Also - the sex scene right after Barra got hurt and they just glossed over it? That felt very forced and almost like the injury was an afterthought. 2.5/5

Thank you to the author and publisher for this ARC! I am super interested in seeing what the final published version of this book looks like.

I read 30% of this book during which... pretty much nothing happened. At the very beginning Elikki has an altercation with an awful customer and has to go on the run. Barra follows her. And then they... camp. And flirt. and lust over each other. And walk down the road. And continue lusting after each other.

The writing is robotic and is all tell with no show. And we get *everything*. Barra hands Elikki a sandwich. She chews and eventually swallow. And then she speaks. Every thought and gesture is explained until its painfully obvious.

I honestly don't understand the good reviews and clearly don't get the hype. Cozy and "Nothing happens" are not the same thing.

*Thanks to forever for providing an early copy for review.

3.5. Cozy fantasy romance with a fiery elf and a shy half-giant. It’s short and fun. There’s a road trip, a bounty hunter, and a fair bit of spicy times in a variety of places. Barra is a sweetie and I liked seeing Elikki open up as the book went.
Overall the book would benefit from a bit of “show don’t tell” advice. I don’t need every motivation to be explicitly spelled out on pages. The characters feel very modern despite being fantasy creatures and the worldbuilding doesn’t give you much, so don’t go looking for much fantasy besides a general vibe. This is very much a romance with a hint of magic.

This book is a cozy, historical fantasy novel. The main characters, Elikki - an elf who has a gift for working with metals - and Barra, a lavender-colored half giant who is a gentle bookkeeper, meet in the village of Povon where both are traveling through on business. When a disgruntled character tries to cheat Elikki from a fair price for a bangle, Barra steps in to help the beautiful jewelry designer. Elikki doesn't need his help and banishes her foe on her own, breaking his wrist in the process. We later learn that the customer is related to people in high places and has a bounty put on Elikki. She and Barra escape Povon and travel to further towns while trying to outrun bounty hunters and their own growing feelings that neither want to acknowledge.

I love the idea of this book, and it's cozy atmosphere is perfect for reading while cuddled under a blanket. Unlike some cozy romances on the market, this novel delivers on spice - I would rate it 3.5/5 chili peppers on the spiciness scale. There is also lots of representation in this novel, our FMC is a proud curvy girl, there are several characters that are representing LGBTQIA+, and we get a good look at the anxiety of the main male character. What kept it from being a four or five star rating was the awkwardness between the two main characters. Even though they are supposed to be secretly (and some times not so secretly pining for each other in this novel, I just did not feel any kind of sexual tension between them and the spicy scenes felt awkward for me to read. I had a hard time connecting with either main character. The book is well written and the banter between the characters is fun to read, I just unfortunately couldn't connect with it as I hoped. Readers who enjoy cozy fantasy with the addition of spice will enjoy this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with an eARC of this novel for me to read and give a review on. All opinions are my own.

4.25 stars. The spice was perfect, the consent and level of understanding and conversation between the main characters was much appreciated. Definately a he falls first but I rather enjoyed that. She was outgoing one and he was reserved. Will read more from this author.

This was a very fun read! It reminded me a lot of the Mead Mishaps series by Kimberly Lemming--fantasy road trip with a dash of adventure and lots of steam.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

The gasp I let out when I saw that A Tale of Mirth and Magic was Read Now on Netgalley could be heard by aliens in another universe. I got lightheaded as I downloaded it to my Kindle- that's how excited I was for this release! This is the year of cozy romantasies! I was screeching at the early chapters, having a grand time and feeling lots of mirthful like the title promises. I did lose steam at 70% and was disappointed at the predictability and 3rd act break-up, but I still had a fun time finishing Elikki and Barra's sweet story.

Fans of That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming and lovers of sassy heroines will enjoy A Tale of Mirth and Magic!

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Loved this book, normally im NOT a fantasy girl but this AND spice!? Yes please! Not a fifth star because of a certain part i dont wanna mention and ruin it for others. But i hope there will be more ! 😍 stunning 🥰

A Tale of Mirth and Magic by Kristen Vale is, all in all, a solid and enjoyable read. The story features two lovable characters—Elikki, a feisty and independent elf, and Barra, a gentle half-giant—who made for a compelling and heartwarming match. For the first 70% of the book, I was fully invested in their journey.

The spice was especially well done—written with care and intention, adding to the plot rather than feeling gratuitous. It felt natural and tasteful, which I really appreciated.

That said, the third-act breakup didn’t quite land for me and pulled me out of the story a bit. Still, this was a fantastic debut, and I’d love to return to this world in future books. Kristen Vale is definitely one to watch!

I ate this book up! Elikki is a curvy, sassy, elf FMC and the MMC, Barra, is a 7.5 ft. tall lavender half-giant. They cross paths after a run-in with a not-so-nice guy and end up on a traveling adventure.

This cozy fantasy romance has a delicious amount of spice, banter, magic, and a well-written story to keep you wanting more.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the book.

I am OBSESSED with ‘A Tale of Mirth and Magic’ 😍 It’s everything I love in a cozy fantasy romance. Elikki is a total vibe—independent, fiery, and totally unfiltered, while Barra is the gentle giant of my dreams (I mean, literally, he’s almost 8 feet tall and purple LMAFO). The chemistry between them is 🔥🔥and the way their relationship develops? Swoon-worthy I quite literally fainted.

The best part? It’s not just about the romance though trust me, the steamy moments are UGHBSEIUSJSJS TO DIE FOR. The book also has the perfect mix of humor, adventure, and those cozy, heartwarming moments I crave. I’m obsessed and never going to shut up over it.

If you're a fan of found families, magical chaos, and a romance that’s both tender and spicy, you NEED this book in your life. Seriously, go grab a copy ASAP—you won’t regret it! ✨

I LOVE YOU FOREVER PUB IF YOU READ THIS THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALWAYS GIVING ME THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES TO READ RHE BEST BOOKS💗

3.5/5

This is actually the first book I have read of this nature. I was excited to see what this was all about.

Elikki and is one of our main characters that we follow. She’s a jewlery maker and has been on her own with no family for the majority of her life. So she finds her way by selling her jewelry and traveling town to town.

Barra is our other main character who takes an interest in Elikki after witnessing a situation with another towns person.

They eventually find themselves on the run together to keep of the bounty’s radar.

This book is cute and cozy but also has some spice sprinkled throughout the book between the two.

The pace of this book was pretty steady and it was a quicker read.

A lot of readers complain when FMCs are overly confident, and so self-assured, and while I think most times it is unfair I find it a necessary criticism here.

Elikki is insufferable, if we as readers had the context as to her personality earlier, that would drastically alter the experience. I most likely would have enjoyed it more if that background knowledge sooner. Instead, the impulsive and callous way she goes about early interactions with Barra is more frustrating.

I cannot believe the origin of the initial conflict between the romantic pairing is something thought of as being acceptable in any capacity. Insta-lust as a tropes can be used without making it one protagonist act jilted when she gets turned down while drunk, to a person she BARELY KNOWS.

It's really not the cozy read that I expected. It was more uncomfortable for me than anything. The tropes all stack up into a really bizarre pile that didn't make me feel at all lighthearted.

There's definitely a market for romances like this as this one has a lot of higher praise from other readers, I just am not a part of it.

I definitely wouldn't equate this title to being for fans of the other series listed in the blurb, that is for sure.

Elekki, a fiery, curvy elf, travels the land showcasing her handcrafted magical jewelry. But when a greasy, obnoxious noble pushes her too far, her temper—and her magic—flare, leaving him with a broken wrist. Enter Barra, a towering lavender half-giant, who steps in…and in a later altercation, he breaks the man’s other wrist. Unfortunately, their outburst earns them a price on their heads as the vengeful noble sets a bounty against them.

Forced to travel together, Barra quickly falls for Elekki, but she’s a free spirit with no interest in being tied down. Could her heart ever change? Could she allow herself to fall in love?

I loved this EXTRA spicy, sweet-as-honey, cozy fantasy—especially Elekki’s unapologetic confidence and the way Barra celebrated her curvy figure. Hoping for more stories set in this world!

4/5⭐️

This was an adorable cozy romantasy between a plus size elf and an anxious half-giant on the run from the law (but in, like, a fun way). Elikki and Barra were so cute, I love a pairing between an outgoing/confident girl who is capital T Trouble and a shy/quiet guy who will protect her at all costs.

Also, this book is so full of representation! Basically every character is queer (my ideal world), Barra has anxiety (same) but doesn’t let it control his life (we’re getting there), and Elikki is a curvy plus size girl and not only is she not ashamed of it but she owns it and loves it about herself (something we should ALL aspire to do).

This book was just such a feel-good romance with enough conflict and tension to keep it interesting but not so much it detracts from the romance. My only qualm is that it felt a little long at times compared to the amount of plot material but, honestly, I love fluff so I can’t complain too much!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this novel in exchange for an open and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I loved this book so much and wish I could read it again for the first time! It's cozy, it's spicy, it's romantic--it's everything I want from a book right now. I loved the diversity in characters (plus size, bisexual, lesbian mas) and I hope that Vale continues to write books that are so needed in this world. I have been recommending this to all of my friends and we'll definitely buy it for our library collection!

This was such a cute little story! A chance encounter and some bad luck lead two strangers into going on the run together where they find true friendship and maybe even something a bit more.

I loved how the MMC was very much the “gentle giant” type but also so caring and thoughtful all throughout the story.

I also really enjoyed the fact that while they make it clear that the FMC is a fuller figured character the author doesn’t do it. Elikki is confident and comfortable in her own skin. She’s beautiful and she knows it!

If you’re looking for a quick, fun little romance with chance encounters and endless adventures then this is the book for you.

This is an ARC review and I leave my honest review voluntarily.

This is a cutesy romance between an elf and a half-giant.

It is instant attraction from Elikki quickly followed by instant love from Barra.

I liked their story, but I didn't love it. At some points Elikki was just hard for me to connect with. She's very impulsive. While I understand these moments are a result of her past, I just felt she could he a little too harsh towards Barra. And it was almost too casual on her end. I felt his character was very open about not wanting to be used (maybe I read it the wrong way) but it seemed that's exactly what she was doing.

It's a quick read and the pacing is steadily executed. There's lots of representation for all. Take that as you will.