A scoop of high fantasy, a spoonful of 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 cruciall
Sometimes, the world doesn’t need a hero. Sometimes it needs a caretaker.
Despite being called the Cloud-Maker, Nuvem’s rain spells almost never work.
He lives quietly on a garden-raft along the Whisperbend River, helping where he can, and trying not to believe the whispers that say he simply isn’t very good at magic.
Then the rain begins.
After Nuvem uncovers an ancient relic in the marshlands, the river rises. Strange winged Watchers take to the skies, and secrets buried beneath the bog begin to stir. The people of Silverfern Hollow adapt with cheer and warmth, but something old has awakened, and it seems to be following him.
Why does the rain answer Nuvem now, when it never did before?
Why do the spirits of the river watch his every step?
And why do forgotten voices call him Keeper?
At his side are Ludovic, a merchant and scholar who sees worth where Nuvem sees only doubt, and Andy, his sharp-tongued axolotl familiar. Together, they set out into the marshlands in search of answers. There, among mushroom circles and lost villages caught between moments, he understands that magic does not always come from power.
Sometimes, it comes from care.
This is a story about being chosen not for strength, but for kindness.
About found family, slow rainy days at home, and a gentle LGBTQ romance that finds you perfect just the way you are.
About learning to trust the quiet work of tending, listening, and letting things unfold.
Perfect for those who loved A House in the Cerulean Sea, Legends and Lattes, and Studio Ghibli masterpieces like Spirited Away, and Ponyo.
This is book 3 of Tales of Silverfern Hollow series, but can be read as a standalone.
y, 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, winged ermine 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 kingdoms 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.
