TL;DR Review: Cozy, heartwarming, and instantly engaging. A great look at a “second act/second career” so many of us can resonate with.
Synopsis:
When life gives you lemons, squeeze them into a stiff drink and stir.
After twenty years defending the frozen north against some of the most dangerous threats in the nine kingdoms, Rhoren “Bloodbane” has finally earned his retirement. While the blood mage’s service to the realm may have ended, burning veins and aching joints remain, and Rhoren soon learns that a warmer climate offers relief from his chronic pain.
And a chance at a fresh start.
In the warm and relaxing atmosphere of Eastborne, the umbral elf finds a new purpose and a sense of belonging. He may have left the frozen north behind, but he brings with him the skills and strength gained from a lifetime of defending the realm. Along with his most prized possession—a book of drink recipes inherited from his father.
Spilled cocktails may not carry the same weight as spilled blood, but opening a tavern brings a unique brand of challenges. With the right friends and a little bit of luck, he might just have a recipe for success.
Welcome to the enchanting world of Tales of Aedrea, where small-scale stories, low-stakes adventure, and cozy fantasy come to life within an epic, high-fantasy realm.
Full Review:
Cursed Cocktails is a simple, easy-reading cozy fantasy that strikes a wonderful balance between worldbuilding and character development, giving you just enough of both to ground you fully in the setting while keeping you engaged in the characters.
The story is told from the perspective of Rhoren, an umbral elf blood mage who is discharged from the Northern Guard after years of service protecting the realm from behemoths and monsters. He is ultra-powerful, but his magic has taken a toll on his body, leaving him weak when he uses it. He’s forced to find something new to occupy his life now that he’s no longer of service.
On his journeys, he finds himself at a tavern where he gets the idea to break out his father’s diary—filled with cocktails and beverages collected from his travels across the realm—and begin experimenting with his own drinks. There, he discovers a passion for crafting fine drinks, which leads to the next step in his life: opening his own tavern, called Cursed Cocktails (because the building he sets up in it is HAUNTED).
Rhoren’s character is well-balanced and easy to empathize with. After years of service, he feels aimless and has no idea where to go until he discovers his passion. We see him drifting along, going nowhere, just kind of existing, until something (and someone) puts that spark back into his life. We’re then taken along on his journey to bring his new passion to life—a struggle that so many of us can empathize with as we’re trying to fit our own hobbies and interests into our own lives.
The world is simple, pretty classic fantasy fare with elves and dwarves and gnomes and all the usual trappings, but that makes for very easy reading. We’re instantly at home and can get swept up in Rhoren’s story without the need for complicated worldbuilding or backstory. But there are little bits and pieces that feel fun and unique, making it an interesting adventure from start to finish.
Rhoren’s innate goodness amps up the cozy feel. Everywhere he goes, everyone he interacts with, he leaves the world a little bit better than he found it. Which inevitably, means that when he needs those same people, they’ll show up for him in return.
It’s a fun read perfect for Legends and Lattes, but who prefer cocktails to coffee!
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