There are many curious creatures in the world, none more so than goblins. Known for their hoards, goblins collect everything from buttons to wooden figurines, even plants. In the quaint town of Petylhaven, one such goblin, Reftia, tends to her garden filled with a lifelong collection of plants. Her prized possession is a toothy, carnivorous petalmaw. When something unexpected starts growing in the garden, Reftia must grab her shovel and uproot the voracious intruder before it destroys everything she loves.
The forested hills just outside of Petylhaven hold many creatures and legends, some dangerous and mysterious. One snowy day, Drir ventures into the forest to retrieve medicine for his mother. His mother’s warning: stay on the path and avoid the Witch in the hills. What should be a short trip ends up becoming a long night when the young gnoll gets lost in the snowstorm after encountering an owlbear. Drir’s only chance of surviving the frigid night is help from a kind, mysterious woman who lives in the forest. However, things aren’t what they seem in the little cabin in the woods.
Orcs have a reputation for being rough around the edges and more likely to have a sword in hand than a wooden spoon. But Urzog Rockhill, an orc baker, spends his days kneading dough and selling his creations from his bakery in Petylhaven. From cinnamon rolls to breads and cakes, each morsel is imbued with a dash of magic to invoke memories of childhood or even change emotions in each comforting bite. His quiet life of providing for his family is disrupted when an overly inquisitive writer comes looking for a story and dredges up a past Urzog would rather keep buried. Trouble arises, and Urzog comes face to face with his greatest shame—the day that ruined his life and cost him his dream—that now threatens his family and the new life he built for himself. Urzog must choose to let the truth come out or risk losing everything.
Reviews
Jay Olsen-Thrift, author of The Whispering Pass
“Another delightfully cozy installment of the Petylhaven series. I love the fresh take on creatures that historically are nasty or evil. Urzog and Rogmesh were super sweet. I wish nothing but the best for these lovely orcs.”
James’ RocBottomReviews, a bookreviewer
“Is this a cozy fantasy? A YA fantasy? A silly tale? A gardeners fantasy? A horror? Well yes. Yes it was.
Not for the faint of heart.
Particularly if you are goblin.'“
Kay’s Hidden Shelf, a bookreviewer
“Ultimately, this is a sweet, short tale pulling elements of cozy fantasy into themes of materialism, true treasures and wrapped in a quaint world.”