If there’s one genre romance readers can’t escape, it’s romantasy, and personally, I’ve never been a huge fan. With that being said, I went into A Tale of Mirth & Magic with moderate expectations.
First, this is incredibly short for a romantasy as it’s less than 300 pages and it’s being published by Forever. Forever has published some of my favorite books of 2025 so this already had me excited.
Mostly, though, this book felt like it was going to be the palate cleanser I’d be needing after reading some less-than-stellar titles. Thankfully, this one was every bit as fun as the cover makes it seem.
I’d like to thank Forever for putting this one on my radar and for giving me an ARC so I could read this one early.
A Tale of Mirth & Magic is a fun and low-stakes tale.
Since this is a pretty short book, I don’t want to give too much away, but the story follows Elikki, who is a jewelry maker, just looking to sell some of her pieces and travel. Things get heated when a local man insults her, and she decides to make her presence known. Before things get too heavy, Barra steps in to help her out.
At first, Elikki is going to let it go, but she can’t seem to stop running into Barra, who is a half-giant that’s purple. Since she’s now wanted, the two end up on these fun and at times, stressful road trips. Of course, the road trip isn’t without its fair share of fun tropes.
These two have such incredible chemistry, and Kristen Vale added just the right amount of spice into this book. It was clear these two were a great match, and honestly, I’d read a novella all about them being together in the future or even getting married. While I doubt Vale will write that, her writing was just so fun and engaging.
A Tale of Mirth & Magic is an excellent read to pick up if you’re looking for a late summer read or want something to help you transition into fall. It’s cozy and steamy without being too intense. Thankfully, it releases on August 5th, so you can go pick it up now.
The Tasty Screen 
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