Twig's Traveling Tomes by Gryffin Murphy

I would like to start by expressing my gratitude to NetGalley and Bindery Books for granting me access to this ARC. Additionally, I want to thank the author for crafting such a beautiful story; I truly enjoyed every moment of it!

Summary - Twig's Traveling Tomes by Gryffin Murphy is a tale of a witch with a rare ability for book magic. However, branded as defunct, she starts her own bookshop to prove herself—a traveling bookshop. One day, her old professor requests her help; reluctantly, she is convinced to go on an adventure to retrieve her professor's grimoire that has been stolen. Along with a handsome rogue, a cheeky gardening gnome, a guard gnome with a fear of dragons, and two wizards, they set off on a grand adventure. It is a story about magic, love, friendship, community healing, dreams, and the feeling of never being enough, along with having the right people to help you see that you are enough.

Thoughts - The combination of a cosy fantasy with romantic elements throughout had me turning pages with excitement. The author embraced a gentle writing style infused with a hint of magic and lightheartedness, creating a comforting atmosphere. It beautifully explored themes of friendship, community, and healing. The world-building was so charming and dreamlike within each of the realms of four that they visited, from lush landscapes with plush, bouncy moss and mushrooms with neon hues illuminating the way to busy little markets with candlelit taverns. It created an atmospheric, immersive, and comforting feel. The scenes between each chapter blended so well and were just so enchanting. You wanted to be with them on this magical adventure. I think one of my favorite parts was when Everett and the gang met his parents and how the sylvan giants bond magically with the mycelium, which makes them clairvoyant. I just loved that little piece of information because mycelium travels underneath, communicating with life. I also love the little touch of Howl’s Moving Castle vibe regarding Louella’s bookshop. The magical creatures within the book were just so unique and cool, it was so much fun finding each new creature and discovering what they were. I don't want to spoil this part because I really think this is part of the charm within the book, as this is the whole adventure, but it has everything to do with Feralorn’s Grimoire Animagienchiridion, as he has a connection with animals.

As I moved further into the story, I just loved the friendship being built one page at a time. It started with Louella and ended with her having a beautiful group of friends and someone she could spend her life with. As she starts off her journey, it is lonely being a defunct witch, and she is always trying to prove herself, which makes her more reclusive in the world. But as her mentor returns, Feralorn, an eccentric and baffling wizard who trained Louella, and a strange and handsome rogue, Everett, who weaves his way into Louella’s heart, their journey begins, and the rest is history. On the way, she befriends Midge, a gardening gnome who takes pride in her garden of dangerous and intriguing plants and loves learning about new species. I loved her personality and little quirks. She was a fun character to get to know, and her passion for plants was delightful to explore. Oliver is also a gnome and has a history with Midge that blossoms again. He is afraid of dragons but is extremely loyal to his friends, no matter what. Lastly, Arturo is Feralorn’s old friend and partner. Together, they create the unforgettable adventure. There are other characters within the book, but you will have to read to discover them.

While this was a cosy fantasy with romance, there is still a beautiful message interwoven through the pages. This story celebrates our true selves, our uniqueness, and self-discovery, but also friendship, love, and connections. I really related to Louella, as I think many do, and to see her thrive and be her true self at the end with people around her who love her was a wholesome and endearing tale. I think Everett was such a great MMC for this story; he was exactly what Louella needed, and I absolutely adored their chemistry. I truly loved this Twig’s Traveling Tomes; it was fun, exciting, cozy, and full of fantasy. I would recommend it to anyone who loves these elements in a book.