Review: There Be Dragons Here: A Cozy Fantasy Adventure (Tales of Aedrea) by S.L. Rowland

Rating:5⭐️

My reading stars have been aligned lately because There Be Dragons Here by S.L. Rowland is the third stellar book by an undiscovered author in a fantasy genre that I’ve read in a row and I’m just overjoyed to with my reading lucky stars.

This is a side story to the Tales of Aedrea series of four fantasy novels, so I also have an additional world to meander through. I’m so excited.

But let’s start with this book, an amazing emotional journey of friendship, loyalty, and rediscovery of one’s inner fire.

Hilda Rockfall, 182 years old, grandmother, mother, beloved wife. But once, for 70 years she was renowned throughout the world as a Ranger in the Stone & Splendor adventurer group, a tight found family of four beings, who fought and explored together. Until she retired and married, putting that life behind her.

Now a funeral calls her away from home and leaves her the last remaining member of her group.

I love this book and Hilda so much. Her grief in losing her old friend, the journey his last quest takes her on. The stories that she tells, the people who she meets, and the inner person she rediscovers along this tortuous path, so inspiring.

And yes, there be dragons.

So many fantastic stories here. Memorable scenes, heartbreaking moments. And there’s war goats. Amazing!

This is one that’s both shiny and beautiful, a gem to treasure.

I’m highly recommending it.

Beautiful cover and stunning maps!

Cover design by Brent Minehan

Map by CartographyBird Maps

Tales of Aedrea (4 books):

Cursed Cocktails

Sword & Thistle

The Halfling’s Harvest

There Be Dragons Here

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comThere Be Dragons Here: A Cozy Fantasy Adventure (Tales of Aedrea) eBook

Blurb

At 182 years old, Hilda Rockfall thought her adventuring days were long behind her.

For over seventy years, she roamed the realm as a ranger with the adventuring party Stone & Splendor—taking quests, slaying beasts, and collecting monster teeth like trophies from the boundless sea to the edge of the wilds. But for the past eight decades, she’s traded her sword for slippers, living the quiet life of a proud grandmother nestled in the mountains, telling tales no one quite believes and baking a mean honey crumble.

That peace is shattered when an old friend—and former party member—passes on and leaves Hilda one final quest: scatter his ashes at a secret location marked on a map they looted back in their glory days.

Hilda figures it’ll be a nice little hike. Maybe a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

But then she opens the map.

And scrawled across the bottom in faded ink are four unsettling words:

There be dragons here.

About the Series: 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. Each tale can be enjoyed as a standalone novel.

There Be Dragons Here is a cozy, low-stakes fantasy of family dynamics, friendship, and proving that it’s never too late to find adventure. Perfect for fans of The Hobbit and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.

Publisher

Aethervale Publishing

Publication date

January 20, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

290 pages

Part of series

Tales of Aedrea

Review: Mech and Magic: An Epic Fantasy Steampunk Adventure (The Knack Book 2) by Kim McDougall

Rating: 4.5⭐️

“Magic runs the machines. Secrets run the city. And Squad 54 stands between order and chaos.”

Another excellent story in The Knack series, albeit really different from the previous book. In A Knack for Metal and Bone we saw the characters come together for an impossible mission. Squad 54 survived, but not without losses, learning some devastating truths about their own lives and setting them up for a new journey upon their return to New Torwood City. And Princess Rowan Andula, who was the mission’s tech has to stay in the City, looking for answers about the traumatic event that left her an amputee, her brother the heir in a coma, and her father the King dead. That means that her love,

Conall, werewolf Commander has to leave her and the City on his own mission to find out what happened to his brother, and the rest of the mages they were fighting.

This story divides into two journeys and sustainably different tales of high suspense and action. One is Conall’s as he’s dangerously crosses the Meadows and wastelands in search of knowledge about his family and brother. His journey continuously ties into the ongoing struggles back in the City and Princess Rowan’s story against hidden and not so hidden enemies of the court and her past. She’s surrounded by those who would see her not just fail but perish. And her part of the story is emotional and fraught with anger.

They are ties together by multiple sources, elements and somethings I won’t give away.

Each relationship, each person is beautifully rendered by their own words, cultures, clothing and even religion. Defined by their details and their deep of connections, to the land and each other.

I will warn the reader, much like the first story, a character dies here. One we’ve come to know and care about. Such is the nature of this world. I expect this to happen again as the series continues.

There’s a strong cliffhanger type of ending as there is no resolution to part of one major conflict and storyline. But the author has no information as to any further series book release.

It’s a wait and see status. This is a long book but it flew by fast for me. It’s that excellent.

I’ll be happy to wait for the next however long it takes.

This series is a must read. Highly recommended.

Published by Wrongtree Press.

Cover art and design by Christian Bentulan

The Knack (2 book series to date)

A Knack for Metal and Bone #1

Mech and Magic #2

Buy link:

Mech and Magic: An Epic Fantasy Steampunk Adventure (The Knack Book 2)

Blurb

Magic runs the machines. Secrets run the city. And Squad 54 stands between order and chaos.

Conall thought he’d buried the past with his brother. But when a cryptic summons surfaces—tied to a long-vanished village and a wolf who should be dead—he’s forced to retrace the path of the disbanded Squad 54. What he finds in the shadows could unravel not only their fate, but the fragile balance between elf and human kind.

Back in New Torwood City, Princess Rowan Andula is done playing the figurehead. With a seat on the ruling council, she’s ready to fight for her family’s legacy—until the city’s giant mech guardian begins to fail. Talos isn’t just a machine. He’s the heart of the city. His collapse could bring down everything her ancestors fought to preserve.

As enemies close in and new treacheries are revealed, Conall and Rowan must face the same question: How far will you go to protect what you love?

Mech and Magic is the second thrilling installment of The Knack Series—where ancient tech, dangerous politics, and fierce loyalties collide.

December 5, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

494 pages

Book 2 of 2

The Knack

Review: A Knack for Metal and Bone: An Epic Fantasy Steampunk Adventure (The Knack Book 1) by Kim McDougall

Rating: 4.5⭐️

“A royal tinker and a rogue soldier must unite to stop the monsters threatening their city—and unravel the secrets lurking within it.”

I’ve been incredibly lucky lately as the books I’ve grabbed up by “new to me” authors have turned out to be fabulous novels and, in some cases, great series. This is one of those.

I wasn’t familiar with Kim McDougall before but she’s firmly in my TBR list now. A Knack for Metal and Bone, the first in her series, The Knack, is a fantastic steampunk fantasy novel. Inventive, full of magnificent characters and epic storytelling, once I started I couldn’t put it down.

The characters are richly detailed and beautifully crafted in their variety of backgrounds and forms. From mech to shifters to elves to extraordinary creatures that emerge from the Meadow, the world is full of characters the engage both mind and heart with their journey and their own unique abilities.

Rowan is one I count as my favorite character and a uniquely crafted hero in this genre. She’s a royal princess who prefers her mechanics and workshop, avoiding her role in society and court. She’s a mech engineer, with a unique talent and touch, one that comes with an own story. She lost her arm as a child in an attack, one that sent her older brother, the heir into a 20 year coma, and cost the Kingdom their father who died.

Now she works in her tower workshop, with her mech arm and mech bird as companion, visiting her comatose brother daily and beloved Aunt. Until a mission changes her life.

Rowan is a masterful character. Multilayered, believable, grounded by her intelligence and ability with machines. Brace without stupidity, thoughtful and just an impressive personality. And her equal is the wolf shifter, Conall. An ex-commander in the Kingdom’s Rangers, he’s been hiding due to his actions in a past war. But this mission brings them together with others of equally strong or strange abilities.

The mission, their journey through wildly unpredictable situations and weird environments is exciting, dangerous and compelling. It’s breathtaking reading. And watching the growth of the individuals coming together, well most of them, into a cohesive unit is everything. The relationships between them are believable, grounded and real.

Which often makes the events suspenseful and nerve wracking. Because the danger is high at each stage of the journey.

The ending sets up the next story. It’s a steady progression as they set out to continue forward on the knowledge they’ve gained.

They’ve finished one stage but the next one, the very dangerous one is just starting.

This is such a fantastic story, full of outstanding characters and epic storytelling that I’m excited to share it.

Grab it up. The second book too.

Published by Wrongtree Press.

Cover art and design by Christian Bentulan

The Knack (2 book series to date)

A Knack for Metal and Bone #1

Mech and Magic #2

Buy link

A Knack for Metal and Bone: An Epic Fantasy Steampunk Adventure (The Knack Book 1)

Blurb

A royal tinker and a rogue soldier must unite to stop the monsters threatening their city—and unravel the secrets lurking within it.

Rowan doesn’t just work with machines—she hears them. The hum of engines, the whisper of gears and wires—they speak to her through the magic that flows from her mech hand. Whether she’s fine-tuning the colossal automaton that protects New Torwood City or toiling in her workshop, being a mechanic is the only life she truly enjoys. But the Regent’s Council wants more. They demand a princess who will embrace the pomp and ceremony of royal duty, not a tinker with oil-stained hands.

When she’s unexpectedly recruited into Ranger Squad 54 for a mission deep into the wild Meadows, Rowan leaps at the chance. Finally, a way to serve her city and put her unique talents to use—far from the glittering halls of royalty.

Conall, an ex-commander, knows the dangers of the Meadows firsthand. Discharged from the Rangers when his inner wolf broke free during battle, he now makes a living running rare artifacts between New Torwood and the southern cities. But the Rangers have a new mission for him—one that could clear his tarnished record. A group of international scientists has vanished, and recovering them is critical for the future of New Torwood. Failure could push the city into a war it cannot afford.

Thrown together on a high-risk mission, Rowan, Conall, and the Rangers of Squad 54 will face unimaginable dangers in the wilderness and uncover dark secrets that could shake the foundations of the city they’ve sworn to protect. But the real menace might be at the heart of New Torwood itself.

Embark on a thrilling adventure with A Knack for Metal and Bone, the first book in an epic new fantasy-steampunk series from the author of The Valkyrie Bestiary.

December 5, 2024

Language

‎English

Print length

450 pages

Book 1 of 2

The Knack

Fantasy, steampunk/fantasy, epic fantasy adventure, steampunk science fiction/fantasy,

Review: Wards & Measures: The Glyphwright Chronicles Book 2 by Jeremy Fabiano

Rating: 5⭐️+

If I could give this book and series a higher rating, I would. It’s just phenomenal.

I’m just upset that I have to wait for the third book to be released for my journey with these incredible characters to continue.

Marcus Fairwind and his now partner/friend, Felix Penwright are set to take their journeyman exams after winning through the events of the last novel. Each has gained new levels, acquiring new skills, abilities and magical knowledge that will help them achieve their goals as Wardmakers. Along with their new friends Sarah, Katherine, Ben, and now brilliant 14 year old Rose, Marcus’ young sister who has her own unique skills and talents to bring into play.

Fabiano shows off a wonderful talent for creating fully realized characters of both genders and ages here. Whether it’s Marcus or Felix, Sarah or Rose, Erasmus (their enigmatic Master) or any of the parents scrambling to understand and support their children, each of these people are believable, breathing, layered beings. People we can connect with and invest in emotionally.

And we will. For here some of their biggest achievements, problems and adventures lies ahead.

For what started as a two Grandmasters waging war, now the horrific ramifications are left to those who have to use innovative methods to solve them or all may be lost.

What follows is a completely absorbing story. There’s so much to this. The magical systems alone is incredible and throughly detailed and minutely executed. FYI, if you’re someone who likes magic done with a ‘wave of a wand’, and then everything explodes. Well, this might not be the thing for you.

Here different magical applications and approaches are imaginatively and clearly defined and detailed in scenarios by scenarios. It’s fascinating, gripping, sometimes scary, often suspense filled, and life threatening. I couldn’t tear myself away from the book. And the characters in whatever situation they were in.

The RPG aspect of the story is present as levels that each character obtains but it’s woven into the story in a manner that makes sense and doesn’t require any special attention from non-gamers.

The sense of found family, community and friends that builds here, especially at the end is so heartwarming. It feels real and satisfying. And even after such a long journey, I wasn’t ready for it to end.

A fantastic experience and grand adventure. Love this series and group of characters.

A highly recommended read. Just amazing work by the author.

Cover design by Jacqueline Sweet Design

The Glyphwright Chronicles (4 book series):

Ink & Intent #1
Wards & Measures #2

Trades & Treaties #3 – Feb 8,2026
Vision & Venture #4 – April 8,2026

Buy link:

Wards & Measures: The Glyphwright Chronicles – Book 2

Blurb

The journeyman exam was supposed to be the hardest thing Marcus and Felix faced this year. Then Erasmus sent for help.

After passing their journeyman examination, Marcus and Felix expected to settle into their new partnership. Instead, Erasmus sends word from the capital: he needs their help in the Eastern provinces. War disrupted the region’s magical infrastructure, and he needs glyphwrights who know how to adapt when traditional solutions won’t work.

The ward networks are failing. Dungeon containment is corrupted. Preservation systems are breaking down. It’s the kind of widespread repair work that hasn’t been needed in five hundred years.

Their royal escort, Prince Adrian, spent years training in combat and protocol to earn his abilities. Marcus’s fourteen-year-old sister can see magical patterns the Prince never will. The resentment is immediate. And somehow, Marcus has to get them all working together before minor failures cascade into disaster.

The Glyphwright Chronicles continues with infrastructure crises, unlikely allies, and the lesson that sometimes the most important work isn’t glamorous—it’s the foundation that keeps everything else standing.

December 12, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

450 pages

Book 2 of 4

The Glyphwright Chronicles

Review: Fate & Furies (The Legends of Thezmarr Book 3) by Helen Scheuerer

Rating: 4.75⭐️

I tried reading other books but knowing this series was complete I simply couldn’t resist and had to finish this amazing epic fantasy adventure featuring one of my new favorite characters. That would be Thea Voltaire.

Fate & Furies is the perfect, or near perfect penultimate book to build the up the drama and start to pull all the complex storylines of these incredible characters together before the final climactic battles, revelations and wholly satisfying ending.

Fate & Furies begins with a vengeful Thea on the hunt for ex-Warswords Wilder Hawthorne, traitor, whose betrayal has cut deep. With her is fellow warriors and friends Kipp and Cal, who are also aware of her real identity as well as her powers.

Helen Scheuerer’s story is heartbreakingly raw, filled with fury, pain, and, on Thea’s part, an almost mindless need to drive herself towards capturing the person who has betrayed her and the country. It’s so vividly written that the character’s state and actions are pouring off the page, as she’s burning herself out in grief.

Wilder too, is seeking redemption, from new characters who have been only quietly been mentioned in the other books. Here they come to the front of the action and the storytelling. Also all the issues I had with Wilder are brought up here by the characters and discussed in a well thought out conversation. He becomes, in a way, the character that, has grown considerably since the beginning.

The battle scenes are tremendous, the twists startling, and still looming over the relationships between the characters and their families and friends is that Thea’s time is running out.

That’s always a sorrowful note for whatever victory or moment of joy that occurs.

One more book. This is quickly become a series for my bookshelf.

Highly recommended. Love Thea Voltaire. And author Helen Scheuerer

Covers. Love the simplicity.

The Legends of Thezmarr – 4 books completed:

Blood & Steel #1

Vows & Ruins #2

Fate & Furies #3

Shadow & Storms #4

Sequel series (Wren and Torj) :

The Ashes of Thezmarr (2 book series to date)

Iron & Embers #1

Thorns & Fire #2 – July 31,2025

Buy link

Fate & Furies: An epic romantic fantasy (The Legends of Thezmarr Book 3)

Blurb

“I always knew you would be the end of me.”

With darkness cursing the world around her, Althea Zoltaire is desperate for vengeance. But as she hunts Wilder Hawthorne across the kingdoms, brutal secrets begin to unravel.

Not knowing what – or who – to trust, Thea and her companions find themselves entwined with a destiny far greater than one man. Together, they must navigate the haunting revelations that could shatter the very foundations of the midrealms.

Yet it’s not only the world at stake, but Thea’s heart too. As everything teeters on the verge of destruction, her fate collides once more with Wilder’s.

Will their reunion ignite the fiery passion between them amidst the ashes of betrayal? Or will it end in a heartbreaking, deadly showdown?

In a journey fraught with danger, where the lines between enemies and allies blur, Thea must decide where her loyalties lie, and who will stand at her side against the looming evil.

Get ready for an epic adventure brimming with steamy romance, and a sprawling world of magic and monsters. Fate & Furies is the penultimate book in the spellbinding epic romantic fantasy series, The Legends of Thezmarr and is perfect for fans of Fourth Wing, The Bridge Kingdom, and The Witcher.

Publisher: Alchemy (February 22, 2024)
Publication date: February 22, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 466 pages

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