Twig's Traveling Tomes by Gryffin Murphy Published by Bindery Books on 9/08/2026
Genres: Cozy Fantasy
Pages: 350
Format: eARC
Source: the publisher
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A plot is brewing between the adventure and romance aisles.
When visiting Twig’s Traveling Tomes, customers will get the exact book they need, even if it isn’t the one they want. As for the proprietor and renowned Book Witch, Louella Twig lives her life sequestered with her stories, just as she likes it.
When devilishly handsome rogue Everett Sharp stumbles in looking to remove some handcuffs—closely followed by Louella’s former tutor, whose prized grimoire has been stolen—her literary sanctuary is fully upended. Only Louella’s magic can locate the grimoire, and teaming up with Everett is her best chance at retrieving it . . . but how can she trust that the man behind the wolfish grin isn’t interested in stealing the book for himself?
With a host of friends old and new, Louella sets off on an adventure she never thought she’d take—and starts to realize that, just like her books, what matters most has always been what’s under the surface.
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher.
Heartwarming, playful cozy fantasy romance
A heartwarming, charming, and playful cozy fantasy romance, and a love letter to books, booksellers, and the power of opening your heart. I loved it!
Twig’s Traveling Tomes is a quest fantasy, a cozy fantasy, and a romance all rolled into one, although the quest plot is the dominant arc by a smidge.) The romance arc is woven in quite well, and the main characters, while certainly based on tropes, are absolutely delightful, as are most of the secondary characters. (Side note: kudos to the author for an unusual twist on the McGuffin [the object of the party’s search.])
Louella has an unusual magical talent: She knows (because her books tell her) exactly which book someone truly needs, even if she has just met them. It’s a talent that comes in handy with her customers, but it can also pose problems. Sometimes, the perfect book is one that won’t make the customer happy, as when she hands a book on “how to tell if he’s cheating” to a married customer. (Spoiler: he is.) Unfortunately, ignoring suggestions like that one makes Louella itch and sneeze. Also unfortunately, it’s not an accepted magical ability, which means that Louella, despite considerable power and skill, has never earned her broom. As a result, she has largely withdrawn from her peers; she has no real friends and doesn’t date. Her solo life as a traveling bookseller (complete with teleporting bookshop!) suits her, but… well, she’s both lonely and grumpy, with a bit of a chip on her shoulder about not having a broom.
And then a thief and her old magical tutor show up on the same day, turning her safe, quiet, predictable life upside-down. The thief, Everett Sharp, is on the run. He is far too attractive for Louella’s comfort, and he flirts with her outrageously, keeping her constantly off-balance. (Think Flynn Rider from Tangled.) Their relationship falls very firmly in the grumpy-sunshine trope, and it’s so much fun to watch it play out. Meanwhile, Louella’s erstwhile tutor, Feralorn Rags, needs her to find his missing grimoire, which has been stolen; he hopes Louella’s affinity for books will help her locate it. He’s quite a character, too: messy and disheveled, with his sleeves full of mice and a comical propensity for mangling words. Before long, they are joined in their search by several more would-be adventurers and encounter a bewildering but comical variety of hazards in their quest to recover Feralorn’s book. This is a cozy fantasy, however, so although there are plenty of exciting moments, the stakes remain more personal than world-threatening in scope; I was never too anxious about the characters’ survival and eventual triumph.
In addition to the characters and their adventures, I particularly enjoyed all the Easter eggs. The book is chock-full of thinly-veiled tributes to characters, scenes, tropes, and whole books or series from both the fantasy and romance genres (as well as a movie or two, Dungeons & Dragons, and probably several other games I’m less familiar with.) I had a blast identifying the ones I recognized, but I’m sure I missed some through not having read or seen the original! I’d love to go back through the book and make a list of everything I spotted.
If you’re looking for a light, funny, thoroughly entertaining cozy fantasy romance , I highly recommend Twig’s Traveling Tomes. As for me, I’ll be over here rereading it, pen in hand. And I’ll be on the lookout for whatever Gryffin Murphy writes in the future.
One minor quibble (probably moot): The advance copy contained several awkward turns of phrase and at least one misused word. I didn’t take those into account in my rating, because it was an ARC, and I very much hope they were caught in the final proofread. (I’m publishing this review on the book’s release date, so I haven’t had time to check my preordered copy to be sure.)
And a final note: Twig’s Traveling Tomes is the second book published by Meg Hood’s “Cozy Quill” imprint under Bindery Books. If you’re a cozy fantasy fan and you’re not familiar with Meg’s Tea Room, her Instagram account, check it out. Her magical tea room videos are warm, whimsical, and charming.
Challenges: COYER 2026: Out to Lunch Again; NetGalley & Edelweiss Challenge 2026
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- COYER 2026: Out to Lunch Again
- Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2026
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