This was so cute! It was mysteriously magical and a fun time! The cover drew me in and I’m so glad I gave it a read! One of my faves now!

'A Tale of Mirth & Magic' is a cozy fantasy romance that brims with charm, mischief, and just the right amount of heat. Kristen Vale brings readers into a world of enchanted crafts and unexpected alliances, led by a feisty magical jeweler named Elikki and a kind-hearted half-giant, Barra, whose patience may be the most magical thing of all.

The novel opens with Elikki in trouble - again. She's bold, impulsive, and fiercely independent, which makes her dynamic to read but also prone to the kind of chaos that draws attention. When Barra steps in to help her out of a tight spot, the two embark on a journey that's equal parts perilous and playful. What follows is a delightful unfolding of opposites attracting, full of banter, adventure, and emotional depth.

Vale excels at weaving lightness and levity into a world that still feels grounded and real. The magic system is charming without being overly explained, and the romantic arc is well-paced - never rushed, but never dragging. Elikki's arc, in particular, is satisfying as she slowly lets down her guard and begins to believe she's worthy of both love and partnership. And Barra? Utterly swoon-worthy in a quiet, grounded way.

This was a really fun read. Vale was able to maintain a perfect balance between cute and sexy. The plot was fun, the characters were great, and the aforementioned spice was HOT. Will definitely be recommending this to friends.

Y'all, I absolutely LOVED A Tale of Mirth & Magic ! It's the perfect cozy romantasy read I didn't know I needed. The interactions between the main characters are sweet and filled with spice and humor.

Metalworking elf Elikki and gentle half-giant Barra find themselves thrown together and leaving town in a hurry after Elikki's interaction with an extremely rude client.

Elikki and Barra travel from town to town fleeing incompetent bounty-hunters and receiving help from a madcap group of supporting characters. On the journey they grow closer together and learn to be the best versions of themselves.

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

I loved every second of this book! I have a major crush on both Elikki and Barra. The character designs are great and I love their dynamic. Elikki being the sexually assured one is refreshing. Barra is the cutest thing ever. A true gentle giant.

A Tale of Mirth & Magic is pure joy in book form—equal parts spicy, heartwarming, and wildly entertaining. From the first page, Elikki had me hooked. She’s fiery, independent, a little bit unhinged (in the best way), and completely unapologetic about her power, her attitude, and her worth. I adored her chaotic energy and how she never once tried to shrink herself for anyone. Watching her butt heads with the world and charm her way through trouble was so much fun.

And then there’s Barra—my gentle, purple, cinnamon roll of a half-giant who stole the show with his sweetness and soft strength. Their chemistry is off-the-charts, but what really got me was the way their journey together brought out deeper layers of healing, self-worth, and belonging. Between the steamy scenes, the dangerous run-ins, the laugh-out-loud banter, and all the cozy inns and mouthwatering meals, this book felt like the perfect mix of fantasy adventure and romance comfort read. Kristen Vale has created something special here, and I already know I’ll be thinking about these two for a long time.

A Tale of Mirth & Magic is a warm, whimsical fantasy romance with a tender heart. Elikki and Barra make a delightful pair—her spark and sass balance beautifully with his quiet strength and sweetness. Their journey is full of cozy inns, gentle humor, and intimate moments that feel both playful and genuine. The story leans more on vibes than high-stakes action, which makes it a relaxing, feel-good read perfect for when you want something soft and romantic. While it’s a bit more of a gentle wander than a tightly plotted adventure, the charm and chemistry between the leads make the trip worthwhile.

This book was exactly what I needed right now. I’ve been having a hard time and my energy is really off so finding a book to match that energy was hard until I found this cozy romantasy. This was such a quick read and the fantasy was so much fun. The characters were lovable and so great to follow. Overall a fantastic read!

A fun, cozy romance for those who love fantasy!

Elikki is an elf who has not yet honed her magical ability to wield metal No matter, she learns to metal work in the traditional sense. She travels from village to village selling metal jewelry she creates.

Barra is a gentle half-giant with a unique purple hue to his skin, that sticks out wherever he goes.

The relationship between these two blooms after an unfortunate encounter with a rude customer.

This was a great read. I finished it quickly!

Thank you Kristen Vale, Forever Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC!

A Tale of Mirth & Magic by Kristen Vale

Elikki may not have a family, but she has her fierce independence, boundless charm, and enough talent as a jewelry artisan to make a living on the road. Unfortunately for some, she also can’t yet manage to control her chaotic magic. . . and her temper. Sweet, soft Barra lives a quiet life with his mas and three sisters, managing the books for his family’s business. All he wants is to blend in and not make waves—a bit tricky, as a nearly eight-foot-tall purple half-giant.

Rating: ****
Feels: Warm, Adorable, Precious, Found
Style: Fantasy, Adult Fantasy, Cozy Fantasy
First published August 5, 2025 : 288 pages, Kindle

This book was an absolute pleasure to read and left me wanting to curl up with some tea and scones for more. Cozy and oh so spicy with some really fantastic open door spice scenes. I would love to keep Barra as my book boyfriend forever with how thoughtful, protective and overall adorable he was. He was all half giant lavender sweetness and just the most adorable man ever that I didn't know I needed in my book world. He could made me breakfast in bed, protect me , massage my tired feet and look at me lovingly any day !!! El is one lucky lady !!! Also can we just say I loved our curvy, sassy Elikki and getting to watch her slowly thaw and melt for our guy was oh so fun. I loved reading about these two on their cozy adventure as they realized how to heal and love each other. The storyline was just the right amount of adventure, fun and mischief for our crew to get up to. Loved all the characters we got to met along the way !! Really hope we get to see more from this author as I really enjoyed this read.

Favorite quote: Drowsy, I hummed my assent and let my mind drift. " Sweet. You're so sweet." As everything faded and I slopped off to sleep, I felt Barra wrap his arms round me with a sigh. He held me tight and said, "So are you, love."

This book has:
Cozy Vibes
Curvy FMC
Cinnamon Roll MMC
Magic
Queer Friendly Story
One bed
One horse :)
He Falls First

Fans of cozy romantasy rejoice! A Tale of Mirth & Magic is exactly what you're looking for, especially if you like Jenna Wolfhart.

I had a lot of fun diving into this world and getting to know the characters. Elikki is charming and confident baddie, while Barra is the quiet lovable giant. It's a bit opposites attract (think extrovert & introvert). I enjoyed their dynamic and found them to be adorably sweet. I also thought their characters were well developed and had depth. Plus the steamy scenes were a nice surprise!

Vale delivers all the cozy fantasy vibes. There's magic, pretty landscapes and great sounding food. The atmosphere was easy to escape to while also not being complicated. I really liked the worldbuilding.

For fans of cozy fantasy/romantasy, opposites attract, forced proximity, and monster romance.

Wonderfully fun adventure with a healthy amount of steam! It is very easy to fall in love with this couple, their journey and the special bonds they develop as they figure out themselves and one another. The diverse and flourishing world the author created is so fun and vibrant! I'd love to live here. Can't wait for more from this author!

I wanted to like this book, but it fell flat in almost every aspect. There was such potential for a fleshed out world and complex characters, but what we got was a queendom don’t even remember learning was a queendom until the end of the book populated with characters who develop so quickly it’ll give you whiplash. I wish the author had been given space to expand the world and draw out the characters’ interactions over time.

It’s full of heart, magic, and genuine affection. The spice is lovely, the humor is delightful, and the emotional arcs feel true. I absolutely loved every single moment of it.

I don't gravitate towards romances, but the cover of this caught my eye, and I'm glad I stepped outside of my usual reads. This book is delightful! The main characters were nicely fleshed out, the world was SUPER cozy, and the spicy scenes were abundant and well done. In my opinion, this book is more character driven than plot driven (which appeals to me) as the main plot served more as a device to get the characters together and was overall a bit flimsy with a sudden resolution. HOWEVER, again I didn't mind this as I didn't really care about the plot and just wanted to focus on the characters and their developing romance.

I also appreciated how this book had an epilogue! Since it's a cozy escapist romance, why not give the readers a glimpse into the future (no spoilers, but it was sweet). I would happily read a sequel or another book set in this verse.

Thank you to Forever/Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to review this book!

I absolutely adored the diverse body sizes of both characters. It is so refreshing to read a fat/curvy FMC in a fantasy novel- especially when she is confident in who she is.

I also really enjoyed the premise of the story with Barra’s insecurities in love and well as El’s impulsiveness- both evening the other out. And who doesn’t love a good quest/hiding like outlaws in the woods.

My only “complaint” would be that at times the story seemed to drag. Overall, this was a really great spicy but cozy fantasy read! I can’t wait for more!

I went into the book expecting a cozy romance full of tea, food, some adventure and a romance. What you get, is that plus the main characters are HORNY. This definitely jumped right into the spice before any real romance occurred. Barra is a sweet, overly anxious Cinnamon Roll of a main character. He's been used for novelty and doesn't want to be used again, but he's willing to be flexible about that because he's really lusting after this elf. Ellikki is an elf with abandonment issues and honestly, I didn't love her as a FMC. She's the classic case of someone writing a "strong female character" and instead creating a character that is so stubborn and stupid that you find yourself asking "how did you stay alive long enough to get to this point?" Especially in Elliki's case because she's supposedly been on her own since age 16 but she seems to have the self-preservation skills of that deer you dodged on the highway. The book was fun, it was lighthearted. I will give it a lot of credit for its portrayal of LGBTQ and plus sized characters. I enjoyed the side characters that the two meet on the road and I want a book that is just a bunch of stories set in the Inn.

Favorite Quote: “I thought about the way you screamed my name last time. How much I wanted to hear that again.”🤭

My Thoughts: This was the cutest and coziest fantasy romance I’ve read in a very long time! Elikki is an elf who is on the run after one of her customers makes her angry, and her powers get the best of her. Barra is a half giant that accidentally gets himself roped in with her. I just loved them together. Is it insta lusty/insta lovey? Yes. But when it comes to these two, I didn’t care. Elikki is a hilarious and confident FMC, which I love when it comes to a female lead.

Barra is a new book boyfriend of mine💜🥹He’s such a gentle giant who is very attentive. The biggest cinnamon roll! I loved the descriptions of the food and the places the characters went throughout their journey. I felt like I was with them, eating lemon cake and sipping on tea.

The story as a whole was so much fun! If you love journeys, food, magic, cinnamon roll MMC’s, romance, humor, and spice, I highly recommend this book! It just had everything I loved in a cozy fantasy romance. I can’t wait to have a physical copy on my shelf when this comes out!

Elikki is an elf with magical powers who makes jewelry. Barra is a gentle half giant. Elikki is selling her wares at the market one day when she encounters a jerk of a customer and she defends herself, but now she's on the run. Barra saw it all and now they're on the run together.

This is such a sweet, HOT story. Elikki has endless energy and Barra is such a caring gentleman. The guy even saves a kitten, so you know he's a good guy. This is also about found family and learning what your strengths are. And this is a debut too!!

Thank you to Forever for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

A Tale of Mirth and Magic by Kristen Vale
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This cozy fantasy romance had such a promising start. A magical jewelry maker with chaotic powers, a sweet and shy half-giant, a dash of mischief, and the beginning of a fun on-the-run adventure? I was hooked in the first 30%—the setup had a lot of charm and potential!
But as I kept reading, I started to lose interest. The writing sometimes felt like it was trying too hard to explain everything, which pulled me out of the story. Some scenes and transitions were jarring, and I found myself confused at times wondering how we got from point A to B. The spice scenes also felt a bit sudden and didn’t always match the pace or tone.
I didn’t dislike the book—it had heart, and I appreciated the unique character dynamics and cozy feel. It just didn’t fully click for me. Still, I think others might enjoy the cozy-meets-spicy fantasy vibe more than I did!
3 stars from me, mainly because of how much I enjoyed the beginning.