I’ll be real: I tend to find romances set in the South, even fantastical ones, to be about as segregated as Sunday mornings, which MLK once described as “the most segregated hour in America.” The Farewitch of Foxe Holler is a welcome exception. Even though the Main Female Character — Honey — is white, the Main Male Character — Mr. Knight, the Warlock — is half-Japanese, and Honey’s friends are queer, Black, and one is even both. We don’t usually get representation like this in Southern narratives, ones that reflect the reality of the new South; yes, there is a strong attempt to roll back the civil rights of Blacks and queer folk, especially trans people, but you can sometimes find your own band of misfits and make a good life.

There’s lots to love about this book. It brims with food references, memory-eliciting recipes, and enough garden and kitchen core to satisfy those who love the cottage core aesthetic. The romance is a true slow burn, where snark is on the menu and affection is only given in tiny morsels. There’s so much about it that connects to the issues millenials are currently facing. We’re caring for aging parents, getting burnt out by late-stage capitalism and boss-babe expectations, and we are, so many of us, in need of learning how to make space for true rest and more tenderness toward ourselves.

The only thing that kept me hemming and hawing about whether to rate this four or five stars was the length. There were a few times where I looked at my progress bar and wondered exactly what more needed to happen that so much of the book was left. Once I read the interview at the end of the book and learned that it had been a duology that they squeezed into one book, the length made more sense. I agree with their editor - this sings as one book. I can’t think of where I would have felt satisfied with the book ending, knowing there would be another year or more for the conclusion.

So, what do I rate it? The above in mind, I give it a hearty 5 stars.

DEBUT?!

The Farewitch of Foxe Holler follows Honey, who is a self-taught Farewitch (a witch who can heal through her food) as she is roped into trying to cure the town's despised warlock in order to save her mom, who is dying of a mysterious illness.

This is a perfect cozy fantasy to me. I could not put it down. The magic system was well developed without being overly complex, the writing was witty and immersive, the plot kept me hooked throughtout, and the character work was layered and endearing.

I just love when adult characters feel like adults, and both the main characters did. Both Honey and the Warlock are completely lovable in their own rights. Honey is both compassionate and feisty, which plays off of how much of a grump the Warlock is SO well. The Warlock absolutely gave Mr. Darcy energy (flexed hand included!!!!) and the tension and yearning had me giggling out loud (many times!!!) throughout.

There were so many moments where this could have become cheesy or trite, and it did not.

My only critique is that I would gladly had read 100 more pages of Honey and the Warlock :')

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Saga Press | S&S/Saga Press for the eARC!

This is a cute, cozy fantasy with some light romance. Honey is the Farewitch of Foxe Holler, who has a ton on her plate and people depending on her. Her mom and a warlock both need her help, and it is all happening at the same time. Not only that, but there is a conflict with the town and another person. I personally didn't mind the 4 different conflicts/plot lines as they interlapped and made things more complex. I love our side characters, whether it is the loveable dog or a grouchy, misunderstood lady. I read this book pretty steadily throughout my week and looked forward to what I would read next. There are some foreshadowing which was nice to see and some twists I didn't see coming but had a feeling that something was off. If there is another book in the Foxe Holler world, I would love to read it.

Thank you to Saga Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read The Farewitch of Foxe Holler by Ellen Pauley Goff.

I feel like THE FAREWITCH OF FOXE HOLLER is the first “cozy fantasy” to actually work for me. The conflicts are real and they matter without being world-ending, and the characters feel deeply rooted in the world and have stakes in the resolution of the various conflicts. For me, those things are often missing from “cozy fantasy” stories, and I’m so pleased to have read one that includes them.

This book’s prose is really wonderful, and the various plotlines are resolved in ways that felt satisfying. I think the pacing does slow down a bit in the middle, and the jokes and food metaphors are perhaps a little corny, but I don’t think any of that detracts from the book’s charm or overall structure.

Honey and The Warlock are both interesting characters, and their romance manages to be an important subplot in the book without entirely taking it over. It’s the sort of thing where the potential romance feels incredibly obvious to the reader, but the characters themselves need time to get with the program, and the resulting slow burn is delicious. Both characters grow and change throughout the novel, and for both of them, their main flaw is their stubborn, dangerous self-reliance, which isolates them from their community in a way that fans the flames of an anti-magic sentiment growing in the holler. The fact that neither Honey nor The Warlock is willing to fully embrace their community or admit that they need help sets them up for major growth moments fantastically, and because they have that flaw in common, the evolution of their relationship feels very natural and earned. I found myself really caring about Honey, The Warlock, and all of Foxe Holler and I hope the author revisits it in the future!

Thank you to Netgalley and Saga Press for the ARC!