4.5 stars for a cute little novella. Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

The Witch at the Edge of the wood was quite cute, and a fun little novella. This sits just to the left of cozy fantasy for me; there's a couple of tense moments, though nothing you'd find in a longer form novel. I had started to get a little frustrated with the main character after a while --she's incredibly passive, but I do have to say it makes sense within her wider backstory for why she's that way, so I couldn't get too upset. All said, though, there wasn't enough cozy to call it cozy fantasy, but not enough tension and action and plot to not call it that either.

Despite not really knowing how to place this one, though, I did enjoy it and listening to it. I liked it well enough to give it these 4.5 stars, though I'm not sure I'd say this one will stick with me. Enjoyable time all around. I enjoyed listening to the narrator; she has a very nice voice, though I'm not sure I could always tell who was talking right off.

One thing I especially appreciated was the lack of romance in this one --there would not have been the space for it with its short format, and I'm not of the opinion every book needs that.

The Witch At the Edge of the Wood by Liz Delton and narrated by Deborah Balm

I had so much fun listening to this cozy fantasy novella. The main character, Velina, is a young woman who was outcast for her appearance of silver hair and pointy ears and forced to work in various workhouses.
Velina escapes seeking out a witch in the woods for help but instead finds an abandoned, magical cottage.

While there, she is mistaken for the witch, and Velina decides to embrace this new role. With the help of her new cottage, she starts helping others.

Velina is such a relatable character overcoming hardships, starting a new venture and creating new connections. She experiences fear of the unknown, building of trust with others, and building new friendships, as well as becoming self-confident. This book is fast-paced and keeps you hooked in the story, I listened to the whole thing in one sitting as I needed to know what was next in her adventure. Liz Delton did a beautiful job of wrapping up unanswered questions at the end and creating a cozy heartwarming finally. I do wish there was more as the worldbuilding was very well done, and I just wanted more of the characters and the story. I am new to her work, but I am definitely interested in reading more now.

Deborah Balm did a fantastic job with the narration! You really felt the characters' emotions and brought you into the world and the lives of the characters.

This is the coziest of cozy books! Velina not only learns to help herself, but discovers the joy of helping others.

<spoiler> Having the cottage be magical and available to those who need it, is such a cute way to tell the story. Valina finds herself and gains confidence because she becomes the Witch! </spoiler>

Such a cute little fantasy story where the stakes are never so high that they cannot be overcome by cleverness, family is found, and the world is charming. I look forward to more books in this world!

The narration was perfect for this story, I felt like I was cozied up in the cottage with a cup of tea listening to the story unfold.

I received a free copy through NetGalley.

Wonderful cozy listen!

This was short and sweet novella. Absolutely gave similar vibes to Legends and Lattes which I appreciated. I hate picking up a book that has been compared to another and it is not similar at all. This novella absolutely lived up to the comparison. I wouldn't say this was as close to Howl's Moving Castle beyond the witches' cottage being able to travel locations by intention. I loved following Velina journey to becoming the witch at the edge of the wood.

The narrator perfectly set the tone and enhanced the cozy vibes with her calming voice. I really enjoyed this quick listen and hope there is more novellas to come in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sending me the audiobook arc for review.

This was a super cute, cosy read. I loved the magical transporting cottage, the host of quirky characters and the beautiful settings. A lovely little read!

This was adorably cozy and everything I was looking for - the main character was loveable and well developed, and despite the story being short I fell in love with all of the characters, I'm excited to see what happens next

This was so cosy and easy to listen to, I had so much fun and loved the narrator.

It felt so well rounded because the fmc starts off with nothing and nobody but because of how beautiful her personality is, she earns herself some found family. I love that she was pretty much rewarded for being a good person, rather than being dumped on for the whole book.

The narrator did such a good job with this one, bring Velina to life in the perfect way ❤️

The Witch at the Edge of the Wood is a sweet, peaceful story that fully embraces the “cozy fantasy” label. It’s a very short audiobook with a comforting, low-stakes plot, kind-hearted characters, and a happy ending. Everything about it is designed to soothe—and in that sense, it delivers exactly what it promises.

Personally, I tend to read longer and more intense fantasy stories, so this wasn’t fully my style. Still, I appreciate what the book set out to do. The gentle pace and the feel-good atmosphere make it a great pick for anyone looking to take a break from darker or more dramatic reads.

I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy quiet, uplifting tales or need something light and wholesome between heavier books. Especially ideal if you don’t have much reading time but still want a complete and cozy experience.

My New Favorite Cozy Fantasy

"She longed to open the pages of a book and lose herself in another world, another time, if only for a moment."

I devoured this little slice of heaven just like Velina savoring a scone from the boardwalk bakery in Elody! The Witch at the Edge of the Wood was pure magic—riddled with snippets of quiet wisdom, wrapped in a cozy, whimsical world that felt like a warm hug.

I was lucky enough to receive both the ARC and ALC of this gem, and I couldn’t have been more thrilled. I quickly flew through the ebook—the pacing was smooth, the characters charming, and the setting delightfully enchanting. It struck that perfect balance between comforting and magical.

Once I turned the last page, I jumped straight into the audio format for a reread! The narration was fantastic, adding even more depth to an already immersive experience. It brought cottage—and Velina’s gentle, heartfelt journey—even more vividly to life.

"We must find joy where we can get it, eh dearie? And when you can't find it, make it."

This is truly a book I see myself returning to time and time again. It’s uplifting, soothing, and quietly powerful. I can’t wait to explore more of Liz Delton’s work!

Huge thanks to Liz Delton, NetGalley, and Tourmaline & Quartz Publishing for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Witch at the Edge of the Wood is a short and sweet cozy fantasy following a young woman, Velina, in search of witch who finds a magic cottage instead. As she makes herself at home, she is mistaken for the absent witch and shenanigans ensue.

This story feels homey and wholesome in the best way. There’s a crew charming characters who become a found family, a fun magic system in the cottage, and a mysterious cat (which every witch needs). Plus, the audio book narration really engulfed me in the world. Anyone looking for a cozy summer read should check this out!

This was definitely the coziest most lowest stakes adult books I have read
Tbh it was a little dull for me, it almost felt middle grade but with less action

This book gives a cozy vibe with a little bit of detective work. It's about a woman escaping a bad situation and finding herself, meeting new people and make friends along the way.

✨ 4/5 stars ✨

Thank you to NetGalley and Tourmaline & Quartz Publishing for the ALC of this magical little gem!

The Witch at the Edge of the Wood was the perfect cozy fantasy. With a fast-paced plot and great atmosphere, it pulled me in from the very first scene. Despite being a short story, nothing felt rushed or incomplete—every thread was wrapped up beautifully. I often find myself wanting more with novellas, but this one felt just right.

The narration was also a standout! The narrator did a fantastic job capturing Velina’s spirit and personality, adding depth and charm to an already compelling character.

If you’re in the mood for a quick, satisfying witchy tale with heart, this one’s a great pick.

Ａｕｄｉｏｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ
🌟🌟🌟🌟.2
"The Witch at the Edge of the Woods" by Liz Delton is book one in the Cozy Cottage series. Sometimes you just need a cozy witch living in a forest cottage. "The Witch at the Edge of the Woods" delivers that.

The audiobook is narrated by Deborah Balam. She did a good job telling the story and bringing the characters to life. She was easy to understand and listen to. I listened at 2x speed.

Thank you, NetGalley, and Tourmaline & Quartz Publishing for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC (audio version) This was a lovely cosy book! An easy listen, likeable characters and a strong plot. Very much a one sitting story, and I can see there will be more books (or I hope!) following the other characters we meet in this story. For fans of legends and lattes and similar stories, this was a gorgeous book.

The Witch at the Edge of the Wood is a great book that wastes no time jumping right into the plot. It's a fairly short book but it still manages to introduce you well to the characters in the story and the story just moves right along at a good pace. It's a very cozy story about a girl who finds a cottage and an adventure that begins. It delivers a good message about finding your place and being accepted by others for who you are. I enjoyed it and can't wait for the next book in the Cozy Cottage series to come out.

The Witch at the Edge of the Wood was a perfect bite-sized cozy fantasy novella. Velina is on the run from a life of poverty in the workhouse where she’s shunned for being Faerun, when she discovers a magical cottage that will change her life.

The way Velina grew up deeply impacted her relationships, causing her to be mistrustful and afraid of being herself. I really loved how she found joy and purpose in her life through helping others, eventually finding her own found family through her deeds as she learns to let people in.

Delton doesn’t go super in-depth with her worldbuilding, but it also doesn’t feel necessary for the story. It was paced well, and didn’t feel as if I was missing cut content due to it being a novella. Discovering the boundaries of magic and the mysteries of her heritage alongside Velina added to the intrigue of the world, and also leaves more to be explored in the next book.

Deborah Balm did a great job with the narration, bringing Delton’s whimsical prose to life. Her voice suited Velina well and added to the overall coziness and fairy tale vibe of the story.

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC!

A very cute and short cozy fantasy, with low stakes and an interesting main character! Great audiobook too. I'll definitely keep an eye on this series as more books come out!

🌈Queer rep: none

✨I am so thankful to Liz Delton, Tourmaline & Quartz Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are 100% my own.

🌳The Witch at the Edge of the Wood by Liz Delton is like that perfect cup of coffee ☕️ on a cold day. It is fantasy novella perfection and if you are looking for a short cozy read or listen - this book is the warm hug you need!

✨Our adorable main character Velina is an orphan who has escaped a brutal workhouse. She runs off to the woods in search of a witch who can help her. Shunned for her silver hair and pointy ears, Velina has never had a friend. What ensues is Velina growing and developing a cozy home of her own, found family, friendship and of course some magic.✨

🌳The Narrator, Deborah Balm was the perfect choice for this read. Her charming voice brought this cozy magical world to life. Her pacing and change in pitch and tone for the different characters was on point.

✨This is book 1 in the Cozy Cottage series and you can be certain sure I will be listening to or reading every. single. one. Add in the joy of finding a new author with more books to explore and this reader is fanning herself with her bookmark collection! (Pardon the 3rd person - this book swept me way!). Enjoy!!!

The Witch at the Edge of the Wood is a cozy, magical story about a girl who escapes a workhouse and stumbles upon an abandoned cabin in the woods. She decides to stay but after a few odd happenings, she realizes this is not your average fixer-upper cottage... and something magical is definitely going on.

This is a quiet, atmospheric read with soft suspense, slow discovery, and a touch of mystery. There is no epic showdown or flashy spells here—just a gentle unfolding of magic and mood. If you’ve ever dreamed of disappearing into the woods to live your best cottage witch life, this book might be exactly what you’re looking for.

I listened to the audiobook edition, and Deborah Balm was a wonderful narrator. Her voice perfectly captured the story’s sense of mystery and gentle magic, making it easy to get lost in the world Delton created.