I requested this book because the idea of an Autistic main character set in a cosy fantasy spoke to me on many levels.

I was taken in immediately by Greton and his world. I adored how he was portrayed and was fascinated to see how those around him treated him,. This is an own voices story, the author himself is neurodivergent, which gives Gretons voice and experiences even more power.

An intriguing plot, fantastic prose and characters who warm your heart. I cannot wait to read the next instalment - I long to hear more from some of the more minor characters in this tale and hear more from Greton himself.

Perfect for fans of Legends and Lattes, The House in the Cerulean Sea, The Spellshop and Cursed Cocktails

This was an AMAZING Cozy Fantasy! as someone who is autistic myself, i found the main character to be insanely refreshing and very relatable! i loved every part of this book, from the indulging in ones special interest, to the very common problem of missing social cues. the found family, the mystery, the finding joy in ones life. this book just point blank SANG to me. i loved the world building, the soft magic system, the characters, the writing style. i laughed, i gasped, and most of all, i couldn't put it down! i'm going to have to go out and find the other books that david Green has written, because this one was just that good! So if your autistic, or if you love maps, or you just love a good cozy fantasy with found family, then you absolutely must pick up this book!

Thank you to Wise Owl Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC

what a cosy book! and what beautiful characters. Aria, Petra and Josha are so wonderful and I hope to read more about them in the future, but GRETON.

oh my god Greton. as an autistic person (and asexual) I can't believe I'm FINALLY reading about someone so like me in a book. and someone who isn't some cliche. Greton is fully formed and real. he has challenges I recognise but he has so many strengths too.

this book made me sob. it made me laugh. it warmed my heart. seeing a group of neurodivergent people come together and find one another and their place in the world was truly beautiful and I think this book is in my top 10 of all time. David Green has become an auto-buy (yes, I've ordered several paperbacks as gifts and one for myself).

Oh, and it was so refreshing to read a cosy fantasy WITHOUT SPICE AND HEAVY ROMANCE. there is a lovely romance subplot (and very neurodivergent!) between two characters, but the focus is on people and kindness platonic love and acceptance.

if you didn't guess, I FREAKING LOVE THIS BOOK!

Some people may need to adjust their thinking about autism and accept Greton for who he is and I hope they do. He's a character that is unique in fantasy and I hope people grow to love him as his friends in Barrow's Hill did. I NEED A GRETON IN MY LIFE!

thanks to netgalley and wise owl publishing for giving me an early copy of this book. the views are my own and i left this review voluntarily.

The best cozy fantasy book I've read so far, and I've been devouring them of late.

My son is autistic and I feel like this book has helped me understand him more. He's looking forward to reading this and is excited. He usually isn't excited about books at all as 'no-one is like him'.

Beautifully written, emotional and subtly funny, this books is remarkable. I'll be buying whatever book David Green writes next, but I hope there will be more Greton.

Thank you NetGalley and Wise Owl Publishing for an early review copy. View are my own.

My rating is 4.5 rounded.
Anything David Green writes, I'm reading!
This lovely cozy fantasy comes before the epic fantasy series Empire of Ruin (also stunning) and it introduces some characters we see in that series. Greton is our main character here and he has a wonderful side character/friend Atlas the owl.
The Autism/Neurodiversity/Queer representation is so very well done. This is low stakes but morphs into higher stakes as the story goes along. There is a mystery brewing but for a long time, it's a side story arc. The main story centers around Greton and his search for "the answer" for the question, what is his hearts desire? Meanwhile, he's helping others all around him.
This world is so warm and accepting, the side characters Aria, Petra and the pub owning elf, band together to form a family. Barrow's Snug is an absolute favourite place!
Get you a copy of this wonderful book and then continue on to the Empire of Ruin series.

Thank you NetGalley and David Green for the ARC to review. These thoughts are my own.

✨ “Whimsy, Warmth, and Representation — A Comforting Fantasy Debut for Me”
Rating: 4.5/5

Overview:
My first book by David Green — and what a wonderful introduction! Magic, Maps, and Mischief combines heartfelt storytelling with vibrant world-building and meaningful representation. Set within The Empire of Ruin universe, this standalone tale follows Greton on a quest that’s equal parts magical adventure and emotional journey.

Strengths:
• Beautiful neurodiverse and queer representation written with authenticity and care
• Found-family dynamics and small-scale stakes that create emotional comfort
• Whimsical humor balanced with introspective moments
• A vivid world and gentle pacing that make it easy to get lost in

Final Thoughts:
This story hit all the notes I look for in cozy fantasy — magic, heart, humor, and characters that linger with you long after. It’s both relaxing and emotionally rewarding, a perfect mix of whimsy and warmth. I’m so glad this was my introduction to David Green’s writing — and it definitely won’t be my last.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley #BookReview #ARCReview #CozyFantasy #FoundFamily #NeurodiverseFiction #QueerFantasy #MagicMapsAndMischief #DavidGreen

a moving, fun and emotional look at an autistic person searching for their place in the world. this is a great example of what cozy can be. the stakes might be lower but they mean something and the writer shows us another world through a character who sees the world differently. this is no sheldon cooper. greton is a real representation of autism (my husband is autistic and i asked him lots of questions about greton which he saw himself in) and not only that but its a beautiful and magical story. i want more by this author and i hope this book gets the success it deserves. it is refreshing to see books with characters like greton getting published.

thank you to netgalley and wise owl publishing for an early copy. this review is my own thoughts.