Back of Book: 

One part Legends and Lattes, one part Hallmark rom-com, and a generous sprinkle of cottagecore coziness.

Welcome to The Tusk & Tail Tavern where the fire is always crackling, the meat pies are rich and savory, the air is filled with laughter and bard-song, and friends are like family. At least, it used to be…

Half-elf Lira is eager to return to The Tusk & Tail Tavern, where she and her companions set off on their adventures many years ago. But the rundown tavern is no longer the bustling hub where dwarf mercenaries and halfling farmers shared pints over a friendly game of dice. More crucially, what Lira came back for—what she buried in the tavern’s basement—is now bricked over.

What better way to stay close to her hidden treasure—and figure out a way to retrieve it—than to offer to restore the tavern? After all, her grandmother taught her to bake, and she still remembers the recipes—for the most part.

She doesn’t count on having to partner with a dwarf warrior named Sassy or have a surprisingly clever raccoon take up residence in her kitchen. And she’s grateful for the shy orc soldier who offers to fix her stove and everything else that keeps breaking in the tavern, but why does he seem afraid to talk to her?

As she and her rag-tag group breathe life back into The Tusk & Tail Tavern, Lira remembers the joy in an evening by the fire, the value of a true friend, and what it’s like to fight as hard for the quiet moments in life as the ones marked by glory and treasure.

But leaving your past in the past isn’t always so easy. Danger has a way of finding Lira no matter how far she runs, but now she has more to protect than herself. And if she wants to leave her days of deception behind her, she’ll have to reveal the truth to those she’s grown to love.

Tusks, Tails & Teacakes is a wholesome, low-stakes, slice-of-life cozy fantasy chock full of mythical creatures and magic. It features no fights to the death or worlds to be saved, no epic journeys or warring armies. Only gentle intrigue, the power of unexpected friendship, and the hope that you can make the world a better place one buttery teacake and warm cup of chai at a time. 

Book Number: One 

Genre: Adult | Fantasy | Romance | Cozy Fantasy 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 

A cozy fantasy slice of life novel with a hint of mystery and romance. 

Lira is a half-elf who is ready to put the life of adventuring behind her. After the death of one of her crew members, she decides to return home and retrieve her gran's cookbook that she stashed in the local tavern, The Tusk & Tail, years ago. Only problem is, her hiding place has been bricked in and she has no way of retrieving it quietly. When the tavern owner catches her in the act of exiting the tavern, Lira finds herself volunteering to help renovate the tavern alongside a spunky dwarf by the name of Sass. Desperate to retrieve her loot, Lira starts baking her gran's sweets and comes to realize that she loves the lifestyle. Lira never would have guessed that returning to her hometown could lead to her finding the happiness she has long desired. 

This one was such a fun cozy fantasy read! It has a ton of similarities to the famous "Legends & Lattes," but I personally found this one to be so much better. I love the platonic connection between Lira and Sass as well as the fantastical vibes that played with unique concepts such as winged stoats. It's nothing crazy, but I personally found this story to exhibit so much more creativity than "Legends & Lattes." 

The main conflict in this book stems from the fact that Lira needs to break down a wall to achieve her gran's recipe book without being detected. There is a bit of a mystery aspect, too, due to the fact that someone turns up dead and no one knows what happened to them. This is by no means a murder mystery novel, but this incident adds a bit of intrigue. Lira also constantly feels like she is being watched which can be chalked up to her roguish nature, but it does add an air of suspense to this book. 

I appreciate how subtle the romance is in this one. It takes Lira quite a bit to trust others, so it is sweet to see her slowly learn to let her guard down. The love interest, Coral (I believe), is also awesome. He is sweet, endearing, and so darn awkward. Oh, and did I mention that he's an orc? These two are really adorable together, and I appreciate the slowburn nature of their relationship. They also knew each other as kids, which is something that I can certainly get behind. 

As with most cozy fantasy books, the cozy town and the colorful cast of characters was my favorite part of this book. The Tusk & Tail has such a cozy vibe after Lira and Sass fix it up. Watching all the townspeople come together in the tavern was such a joy and it made me smile to get to know everyone's friendly faces. Sass was personally my favorite. She is a dwarf who doesn't back down and isn't afraid to work for what she wants. The narrator also had such a fun voice for her, which didn't hurt either. Crumpet the flutter stoat was also another highlight. I'm not usually the biggest fan of silent animal companions but a stoat that loves baking had me hooked! 

Overall, "Tusks, Tails, & Teacakes" was a fun cozy adventure that made for a relaxing reading experience. It has a touch of romance and a hint of mystery, which kept me intrigued the whole way through. I'm really excited to read the second book in this series. It follows Sass, who is one of my favorite characters from this novel, so I'm intrigued to learn more about her in the second book. 

Audiobook Note: The audio narration in this book is peak! Jodie Bentley did such a stellar job of bringing these characters to life. Her accents were so fun, especially her voices for Sass and Iris. Her masculine voices were also done masterfully, which is something that I've struggled with in the last couple of audiobooks I've listened to. The voice she did for the grouchy wyvern was pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. I am so glad that I listened to this one on audiobook because it enhanced the story so much! I am seriously considering waiting for book two to release in audio format because this one was just that good. 

Back of Book: 

When you're running from your past, there's no better place to hide than a small village tavern—until your past walks through the front door.

Sass Thornshield has finally found happiness as co-owner of The Tusk & Tail in sleepy Wayside, with her half-elf business partner, a mischievous flutter-stoat, and the striking guardswoman Val making each day brighter than the last.

Then a stern dwarf warrior arrives with a dire warning. Suddenly forced to reveal her noble heritage and the truth about her flight from an arranged marriage, Sass must decide whether to run once more or trust her newfound family with her deepest secrets.

As the warmth of the hearth battles the chill of unwanted obligations, Sass finds herself caught between duty to her bloodline and loyalty to the family she's chosen. With Val offering unexpected strength and friends willing to risk it all for her sake, Sass discovers that a dwarf’s legacy doesn’t have to be forged with an axe.

Return to the enchanting village of Wayside in this heartwarming tale of friendship, found family, and the courage to face your past. Perfect for fans of cozy fantasy who crave gentle adventure with a side of romance, a sprinkle of baking, and the simple magic of finally finding where you belong. 

Book Number: Two 

Genre: Adult | Fantasy | Romance | Cozy Fantasy 

Review: ?