This is the second book in this most magical series and I enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed book one. And I must say I did love the first line in the blurb, 'Spilling the tea has never been so cozy...'.

We are back in the quaint town of Adenashire with Doli Butterbuckle, a people-pleasing sunshine dwarf, following along on her adventures. I love the storyline and the magic of reading this book. It is cosy, fun and love recipes at the end of a good book. This book continued to entertain me, I enjoyed reading it as you can read it with such ease. The romance part doesn't do much for me but it is part of the story. The rest I really enjoyed and found I had finished reading before I knew it.

Looking forward to see what comes next.

Thank you NetGalley and Poison Pen Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book felt a bit higher stakes to me than the first book but still very cozy and enjoyable. I loved seeing Doli break out of her people pleasing ways and was definitely able to relate to some of her struggles. I love the idea of having tea magic and the descriptions of her tea cup holder just solidified that I need one for my ren faire outfits this year. I wish we had gotten to see her go into her fashion a bit more in this book and hope to see it come up in future books. The relationship between Doli and Sarson was sweet and how they accepted each other just the way they were was great. I love continuing to see the found family that they have all built from the baking competition and it really flourished in this book.

This book tries very hard to be cozy. It has lots of baking cookies and descriptions of rocking chairs, a heavy handed emphasis on vanilla smells and floral accents, and in case none of that was enough, it also has lots of people talking about how cozy things are, how nice, how good. The book is so cozy the racism, slavery, and xenophobia almost slip through the cracks ... but only almost.

So much talking, and telling, and explaining. You will never wonder why someone is smiling or thinking, because the book will tell you exactly what this smile means, why they sigh, the sound of their liquid trills that I’m guessing are laughter. Evvy may have been charming, she may not have been, but I’ll never be allowed to make up my mind because the book tells me that every single thing she does is cute, whimsical, adorable, wonderful …

But the worst problem with this book, beyond the simplistic writing, the constant telling, the belabored efforts to make me think things are cozy and cute is that this book is beyond boring. It’s tedious and dull and beyond painful to read. Honestly I had wondered if this was a middle grade/YA debut with how it was written.

This book is boring. It’s predictable. The writing is simplistic, and I honestly think the author really wanted to write a cook book but didn’t have enough recipes, and so wrote a story about how good her recipes were. I’m sorry, but I don’t recommend this to anyone.

Imagine being promised magic, dragons, and a found family—and then getting handed a very cozy, very scenic nap. That’s Fellowship of Librarians and Dragons for you: a book that sounds like a whimsical delight but sometimes reads like a fantasy-themed user manual.

Let’s start with the good stuff: the cozy atmosphere is really well-written. The descriptions are lush, the world feels lived in, and if you’re the type who enjoys curling up with a mug of tea and reading about books inside of books inside of libraries, this will hit the spot. The found family angle was genuinely heartwarming, and I did find myself rooting for the gang (except Doli & Jez, who I will be sending to the fictional version of therapy). But oh, Doli. Our resident whiner. I’m not sure what’s worse—her constant complaining or the fact that nothing ever happens while she is complaining.

At under 300 pages, this should have been a brisk, whimsical read. Instead, it felt like I was trapped in a time loop where nothing happened. I’m someone who loves “just vibes” books, but even vibes need a little momentum. Also, it felt like the writing couldn’t decide if it wanted to charm a seasoned fantasy reader or be someone’s very magical bedtime story. There were passages where the prose felt oddly juvenile, like the author forgot which age bracket they were writing for halfway through.

That said: Thank you to the publisher for the e-ARC! I can see this being a comfort read for some, especially fans of slice-of-life fantasy where the stakes are low. But personally? I needed a bit more dragon and a lot less dawdling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for giving me the opportunity to read A Fellowship of Librarians and Dragons by J. Penner in exchange for my honest review.

A Fellowship of Librarians and Dragons continues the cozy fantasy vibes first introduced in A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic, bringing us back into a world of whimsical creatures, heartfelt friendships, and self-discovery.

This time, the spotlight is on Doli Butterbuckle, a sunshiney, people-pleasing dwarf with a gift for tea magic and a habit of hiding her struggles behind a cheerful smile. When a mysterious inheritance arrives, her parents show up on short notice, and a charming but secretive gargoyle appears in town, Doli’s carefully curated life is turned upside down.

What I loved:
This book absolutely nails the cozy aesthetic. The tea breaks, the slow-burn romance, the snippets of magic, and even my favorite, the end-of-book recipes, made this feel like a comforting hug in book form. I loved reuniting with the original baker crew in Arleta’s hometown and watching the found family grow. The addition of Sarson (the gargoyle) and Evvy (the baby dragon) brought fresh energy, and the POVs from familiar faces added depth and fun.

The themes of self-discovery, learning to say no, and standing up to unrealistic expectations were handled thoughtfully. Doli’s journey toward owning her truth, rather than trying to be the perfect daughter or endlessly cheerful friend, is one many can relate to.

Where it fell short:
Unfortunately, the character development and pacing held this book back for me. While Doli is positioned as the main character, her internal struggles felt surface-level. I didn’t see the need to reference her “sunshine” personality repeatedly, but there wasn't enough exploration of what lay beneath that mask. Her bond with Evvy, the dragon, had such potential but remained underdeveloped—more time was spent on learning about dragons secondhand than truly connecting with the one she was raising.

Additionally, the romance felt rushed and undercooked. I wanted more time to see Doli and Sarson grow together organically. Instead, everything wrapped up in a whirlwind in the final chapters, making the resolution feel unearned. The same goes for the villain subplot and Sarson’s mysterious past, which ended with a whimper rather than a satisfying bang.

The world-building continues to be light, which suits a cozy fantasy, but I still hoped for a bit more expansion, especially regarding Doli’s unique tea magic and how it fits into the broader magical world.

Final thoughts:
If you're looking for a sweet, light-hearted read with magical vibes, delightful side characters, and plenty of tea, this one delivers. Just be prepared for a slower pace, a few missed opportunities, and a story that’s more about warm vibes than deep plot twists. I enjoyed it, but I liked the first book a bit more for its stronger romantic arc and pacing.

That said, I’ll be looking for the next book and more tasty recipes.

🩷 Book Review 🩷
📚 A Fellowship of Librarians and Dragons
✒️ J Penner
💫💫💫

Thank you Netgalley for an eARC in exhcnage for an honest review.

I wanted to really love it, instead I liked it. It started slow and suddenly picked up and then petered out again.
It could've been shorter and even though I know cosy reads are normally fluffy but there was to much fluff sometimes.

A Fellowship of Librarians & Dragons is Book 2 is the delightfully cosy fantasy Adenashire series.

This book takes place after the events of Book 1 (A Fellowship of Bakers and Magic) and features the Dwarf, Doli Butterbuckle, as she attempts to cure herself of people pleasing tendencies and foster a newborn dragon she didn't sign up to look after! Oh, and starting a relationship with a Gargoyle. Things really come to a head when her estranged parents come to town, with little warning, to challenge Doli's life choices.

Can Doli learn to be who she wants to be in a world where people are trying to make her something else?

I love the Adenashire series. They're gorgeous, cosy, low stakes fantasy with diverse characters, a hint of closed door romance, everyday magic and lots of yummy recipes. It's a series all about believing in oneself, and the everyday moments that are truly magical, whether it be brewing tea or making lemon bars, or having a dragon drop a fish on your head.

There are Elves, and Fairies and Wizards, and Orcs, and a Fennex, and even a couple of Humans in this delightful found family story that revels in simple pleasures.

(A few criticisms - Some of the writing was overly descriptive, there were a few sentences that seemed unfinished, and the ending felt rushed - but they're minor, and I still loved the book)

It's the literary equivalent of curling up in a window with a book and your favourite cup of tea.

And as an aside, I really like the cover on the Deluxe edition, more so than the standard ones!

~This is a NetGalley ARC. All opinions are my own, I also purchased the ebook and audiobook~

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the arc copy of this book.

A cosy fantasy with some found family, romance but zero spice. It has dragons, elves and just a lot of cuteness. Pick it up and tuck yourself in.

This book feels like a teacup full of sunlight. It’s the kind of read that doesn’t rush to impress you with big twists or high stakes but settles gently into your bones with warmth, whimsy, and low-key emotional resonance. Doli’s journey is soft and subtle, but it holds weight. The internal shift from people-pleasing to self-trusting is handled with care, and the cozy setting makes room for that growth to breathe. The found family dynamic is strong, and the sensory elements—tea magic, bakery treats, bookshop vibes, the chaotic adorableness of baby Evvy—make it a pleasure to linger in.

While I would have loved a deeper emotional arc for the love interest and more tension in the midsection, this is a series that knows what it’s doing. It’s not trying to be sharp or fast-paced, and that’s what makes it work. It’s gentle fantasy with a soft center, where growth comes from everyday bravery, and magic tastes like lemon balm and cinnamon. Perfect for anyone in their cozy era or anyone who just wants a little softness in a loud world.

An adorable warm hug between the pages as we meet up with the crew again.
We get to see life from Doli's view & as she was my favourite in the past book, I am not disappointed.
This is a story about growing up and finding out who you are, what you love & being brave enough to speak your truths.
Everyone here is someone I would be proud to call a friend. They're kind and caring, willing to help someone be their best.
Grab a cup of warm tea, a delicious cookie & settle in for a cozy adventure, in a small town, with the best of friends. Oh- and an adorable baby dragon up to hijinx

When you say Gargoyles and Dragons i already know I want to read this book. This is book two in the series but can be read out of order. I enjoyed book one as it was definitely a big throw to the British Baking show which I love to watch but with a fantasy cozy setting. This book continues in the same town with the same friends to it was a nice and easy step back into the Adenashire world. There’s found family, strong friendships, a diverse cast of characters and lots and lots of yummy food wrapped into a cozy fantasy romance. If you are interested in that type of book this is a series for you just make sure you have all the snack as it will make you hungry. I can’t wait to read book three!

This is the kind of book you want to curl up with under a blanket and savor slowly. If you're in the mood for a heartwarming fantasy with a hint of mystery, a lot of charm, and plenty of tea, this one’s a must-read. I didn’t want it to end.

Now this was cute. Very cute and very cozy. This is a delicious cookie with a heartwarming cup of tea kind of book. All the characters are lovable, with the adorable baby dragon to boot. It is all about growing up and away from overbearing parents who love you but just can't let go. It's about learning to love yourself and grow your talents, not the talents you wish you had. It's all about allowing yourself love even in the most unlikely circumstances. This is a super quick read and perfect when you need to smile.

Thank you, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press, for the eArc. These opinions are mine.

When Doli receives a mysterious package as her inheritance from an uncle, her entire world is flipped on it's head.

Dragons create bonds for life. Can Doli live up to that? Maybe, with the help of her friends!

In this book, we are back in Adenashire. We do get appearances from the characters in book 1 in this one so it does help if you read that book first, but if you don't, this one can stand on its own.

For me, the story was okay. I did have a tough time getting into it, but again, I also think another round of developmental edits would have helped with that. We are still getting the telling versus showing with emotions from our fmc and that creates a disconnect with the characters. I think if it got fixed in editing, the story would have flowed a little better.

Thank you to @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for this digital #eARC

I was very happy to be back with this found-family friendship group living in Adenashire. After the Baking Battle in book 1, Doli, Jez, Theo and Taenya are all living in the small town that Arleta grew up in.

Doli and Jez live above Ervash and Edreth’s bookshop, and work there. Arleta and Taenya have their bakery, and Theo is a great stay at home elf looking after Feylin (I’d kill to BE Feylin at this point).

Their peaceful lives and village are thrown upside down when Doli inherits a dragon egg that promptly hatches. And Doli has no idea how to look after a baby dragon. Luckily for her, the handsome gargoyle Sarson is new to town and has plenty of knowledge about dragons to help her.

I’ve mentioned before that I’m in my cosy fantasy era, and this series of books is seriously playing into that. I love this group of friends and digging into each of their personalities and relationships. I’m looking forward to the next one already!

3 stars!

I really like reading about Doli and her life in Adenshire. The writing style is really fun and very cozy. I enjoyed being back in this cozy world again.

I didn't enjoy this as much as I love the first book though as I felt it was too cozy which is the genre but nothing happens until the last 80% of the book where the situation resolves literally in a few pages which kind of disappointed me.

I didn't like Jez as much in this book with the way she was treating Doli and the main male love interest but I'm intrigued to find out why Jez behaved the way she did. I didn't enjoy Doli parents as well even with the redemption arc at the end, I just found them extremely annoying. I also felt that the male main character could have been fleshed out a little more.

overall, it's still a good book but I wished there was more to the story and more deep dive into the characters

Another cosy tale within the Adenashire series, another comfy read with loveable characters and settings from the author

This book had a lot of potential but I was disappointed by it. Doli inherits a dragon egg and must care for an energetic baby dragon in a town that sees them as a valuable novelty, and along the way falls for a gargoyle librarian. The dragon brings mayhem with it everywhere, but it felt like there was no development and simply a repetition of the same mischief as it grows, and our characters don’t learn to manage it better.
There are a cast of different magical creatures but there were so many of them that all Doli’s friends blurred together. The writing style also felt quite jarring, where every time a character entered a scene, it repeated what kind of creature they were and described what they were wearing in more detail than necessary.
The gargoyle, Sarson, had an interesting backstory but it was really glossed over and felt like it didn’t add anything to the story. Similarly Doli’s romance with Sarson felt very rushed, as if they simply decided they liked each rather other than actually feeling a connection. If anything, it felt like this book spent longer establishing a connection between the love interests of the next book in the series than they did on the actual protagonists of this one. The epilogue even follows the lead of the next book, rather than offering a last insight to Doli’s mind.
The conflicts of this book all felt very surface level: Doli’s parents are rude and overbearing but after one confrontation they accept Doli and forgive her, and the threat of dragon kidnapping is only properly established right before it happens, and it is easily dealt with and the dragon rescued.
Overall, I found that this book wanted to explore too many characters and too many points of conflict, which resulted in none of it being executed effectively.

Another cozy read in the Adenashire series. I liked reading from Doli’s perspective and getting to know more of her story. The pace is a bit slow, but the cozy atmosphere and delightful characters make up for it, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This was a delightfully fluffy and cozy read. You get to see how all the other characters are settling in to the lovely town of Adenashire after becoming friends at the baking contest. This time it is Doli's turn to be the star and she really starts of with a bang meeting Sarson, inheriting a dragon egg from her uncle, and getting a surprise visit from her parents with whom she has a strained relationship because she wouldn't conform to their wishes. It sure makes for a jam packed busy week (and some yummy jam cookies too). Is there danger? Kinda, but most of it is such a sweet and cozy vibe with wonderful baked goods, many entertaining and informative books (aka romance, and dragon training), friends that help out whenever needed, and a awesome gargoyle who just may be the love Doli has been looking for. Plus dragons! Mostly one, Evvy who is totally adorable but may eat all the cookies in your cupboard. I certainly think Adenashire would be a wonderful place to live! The characters may have small troubles to work through but there are good messages about being yourself, tea magic and all! I also like that there are recipes in the back of the book and I hope I can make the treats that taste as good as they sound in the story!

This is a fun and light series that are just right to get me in a good mood and I cannot wait to see when Jez will get her happy ever after! I love her grumpy yet caring nature and her desire to not be around a lot of people.