Meeeeeh maybe this book just wasn't for me. The pacing felt a bit off, but I do have to admit the actual plot was actually pretty good and I did like most aspects of the romance between the main character and her boyfriend Jack.

A Brew for Chaos by Esme Addison is one of the best books I've read this month! So so good. I loved every single detail of this story. I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can.

Perfect small town cosy fantasy

A fabulous continuation from book one and two! The ending was chefs kiss!

This is a cozy autumnal mystery involving dolphins and heridtary mermaids. A delightful mix of magical realism with a mystery to solve and strong female relationships.

The protagonist is a likable, kind-hearted woman who left big city life behind to work in her Aunt's apothecary shop in a southern seaside town. She secretly has magical powers due to being a hereditary mermaid, and they come in handy as mysteries pop up in her life. As hard as she tries to live a quiet normal life, it's just not her fate.

The book is well written, with clues peppered in gently and subtly. It's a lighthearted, cozy mystery with supernatural elements, strong family ties, and meaningful friendships.

I highly recommend this as a great read to pick up in the late summer or early autumn. Oh, and there's dolphins.

i enjoyed this beautiful mystery story, the whodunnit plot line was great to read and easy to follow along with.
I would say the plotting of the story was a bit off - the start was incredible however it gets a bit bogged down in the middle with the heavy lore and then picks up again near the end which is why this is slightly lower in ratings as I think the pace could have been improved in my opinion.

Overall its a great addition to the mystery series

Received an ARC copy of this book and super glad for it!
I wasn’t sure what to expect but wow I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
I wasn’t hooked from the beginning and stayed interested the whole time. I loved the mystery and the ending was perfect!
Definitely give this a read! I’m waiting on my friend to finish so I have someone to talk about this with!!

A Brew for Chaos is a charming and atmospheric continuation of Esme Addison’s Enchanted Bay Mystery series. This installment deepens the magical world and brings a refreshing blend of small-town coziness, family legacy, and a dash of mystery. Addison’s storytelling is like sipping a warm potion—soothing, with unexpected twists and emotional resonance.

The protagonist, Aleks, continues to be relatable and determined, navigating both magical and personal challenges with heart. The setting of Bellamy Bay remains delightfully immersive, with its herbal shop, mystical lineage, and ocean-kissed charm. The magical elements feel grounded yet enchanting—never too over-the-top—and the mystery at the heart of the story is well-paced, keeping me intrigued without feeling convoluted.

Pros:
• Strong, relatable female lead with emotional depth
• Cozy, well-developed setting with a hint of magic
• Engaging mystery that balances stakes with charm
• Focus on family, heritage, and inner growth

Cons:
• Some side characters felt underdeveloped or faded into the background
• Pacing lagged slightly in the middle
• The magical rules could use a little more clarity at times

Overall, A Brew for Chaos is a delightful escape for readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with a hint of magic and heart. It’s not perfect, but it’s a comforting and thoughtful read—like a favorite cup of tea on a cloudy day.

This is an enjoyable book and really is a great cozy mystery, the concepts are really interesting and I'm interested to see what happens next in the series

A Brew for Chaos is the latest in the Enchanted Bay mystery series by Esme Addison. I was excited to be able to review this book, because I enjoyed the previous books in this series. I not only enjoyed this book, I loved it! It was exciting, very well written and so creative! This book is a cozy mystery, but it would also appeal to paranormal readers and fantasy readers. Ms. Addison has created a very unique world and one that I love to visit! If you have read the previous books in this series, you will love this book! If you haven’t read the previous book, I recommend reading them all. This has very quickly become one of my favorite series’ and Ms. Addison’s books are a must read for me. The mystery was lots of fun to figure out and the conclusion was great. What a cliffhanger! I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review this book. All opinions are my own.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

A Brew for Chaos is such a charming and magical read! It’s got that perfect cozy mystery vibe with just the right touch of witchy fun. The characters are lovable, the small-town setting is super atmospheric, and the plot keeps you guessing in the best way. If you enjoy a mix of mystery, magic, and heart, this one’s definitely worth curling up with.

Witchy vibes, small-town charm, and a twisty mystery—yes please!

This book was such a fun ride! A Brew for Chaos gave me everything I love in a cozy mystery—magic, mayhem, and just enough romance to make things extra interesting. Esme Addison has such an easy, enchanting writing style that made the pages fly by.

The magical elements are woven in so naturally, and the mystery had me guessing right up to the end. I loved the sense of community, the hint of danger, and of course, all the witchy goodness. And the main character? Smart, sassy, and someone I’d 100% grab a magical brew with.

It’s one of those reads that feels like a perfect mix of cozy and chaotic—in the best way.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

This review contains no spoilers.
Thanks Netgalley.
All words are my own.

This book was a cozy read! Don't let the murder investigation fool you, I still found it wholesome! It was easy to follow, well developed characters; which seems to be hard to find these days. I recommend it if your looking for a thrilling mystery, fantasy story. It definitely delivers!

Alex, our FMC, works in her Aunts apothecary as a herbalist in Bellamy Bay, NC. She is happily dating police detective Jack while helping her friend Pepper track down leads on a local murder mystery ‘The Fisherman’. On top of all that, Alex still manages to find time to practice her magical gifts her family has inherited as ancestors of mermaids.

Absolutely love the cozy, fall, coastal, mystery vibes spun together. I enjoyed all the characters and their quirks. The overall vibe of the book reminded of a hallmark mystery movie.

This is a perfect cozy read for fall, spring, or summer. I thoroughly enjoyed and can’t wait to read more!

This book was exactly what I needed after reading a lot of folk horror. A cozy small town mystery. An herbalist and a journalist? Stellar combo. The story of missing women in a fantasy perspective reminds me of The Last Unicorn, something I grew up loving. I’d recommend this to anyone.

#ABrewforChaos #NetGalley is a well written addition to this series by author Esme Addison.
Alex is our protagonist who is not only a practicing herbalist, she's also the ancestor of mermaids.
Alex lives with her aunt and cousin in Bellamy Bay, and works in the family apothecary.
When Pepper, an up and coming journalist asks Alex to help research a 20 year old story of missing women, she has no idea what she's in for.
This story was an amazing one, I immediately became involved in every aspect of the book, wondering what happened to the women and would any of them be found after all these years.
The ending blew me away, I was hoping the author would give us a clue, and Ms. Addison certainly did.
I'm looking forward to next book, I am excited to see what happens next.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

Perfect when your craving a good small town cozy mystery! Addison brings us a beautiful blend of crisp seasonal vibes with otherworldly intrigue and old secrets that won’t stay buried.

Our MC is a herbalist by day and mermaid-descended amateur sleuth by fate. Who is determined to live a low-key lie. But life has other plans. When her journalist friend stirs up an old cold case and a new body turns up, Alex is pulled right back into the currents of danger and magic.

There’s something nostalgic about this one for me. The kind of comfort you get from a well-loved cozy mystery but with just enough magical realism to make it feel fresh. The story feels soft around the edges, but still sharp where it counts. I loved the layering of small-town charm, ancestral magic, and eerie old crimes. It was like reading a warm, spiced tea with a bite of something curious.

A satisfying continuation of the series with a blend of folklore, mystery and magic that feels familiar and wonderfully strange.

The ENDING!!!!!!!!

Thanks so much to the Author & Net Galley for the ARC, I am leaving this review with my honest opinion.

This book was such a cosy read and quick to drink down. It felt familiar in a good way, as mysteries so often do, but the story was completely new. As a reader who enjoys fantasy and magical realism and wants to get more into mysteries, this book was the perfect bridge. Although there were some mystical elements that I wish were pulled back on a little. Some of the scenes with electricity felt a bit out of place, but I understand why they were included for the plot. For seasonal readers, would be an excellent autumn read with all the refrences the spices, smells, and Oktoberfest. But I read it in Spring and it felt just as appropriate with its ocean themes. This was my first read of this series and the book did a good job of quickly introducing the characters and context for a new-to-the-series reader, but not excessive that it would be disruptive to a continuing reader.