Title: The Baker and the Bard
Author: Fern Haught
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication date: March 5, 2024
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Summary
Juniper and Hadley are happy with their lives in Larkspur. They work at the local bakery, and perform at the inn on their nights off. When the owner of the bakery needs them to go on a journey to get a unique ingredient for a large order, they decide to add a little adventure to their lives.
During their journey, they come across an unusual mystery and decide to investigate. Some sort of creature has been eating farmer’s crops at night. Excited to have a new story to sing about, Hadley drags Juniper into the mystery. What was originally a quest for mushrooms now has turned into an adventure saving their new forest friends.
Review: The Baker and the Bard
Thanks to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Baker and the Bard by Fern Haught to review! Cozy fantasy graphic novels have been on the rise, and this book definitely fits the bill.
This graphic novel is short but sweet, featuring an adorable little adventure to find mushrooms. Haught has crafted a cast of diverse characters, and I absolutely loved the baking elements thrown in. There’s a recipe included at the end, inspired by the pastries with the glowing mushrooms. And it sounded delightful!
I would have perhaps liked a little bit more world-building, but I could definitely see this possibly becoming its own little series. The mystery about the creatures eating the crops was a low-stakes quest, and I did appreciate how the resolution presented more details about the world itself. But I’d be interested in learning more!
All in all, if you love things like Legends & Lattes and The Tea Dragon Society, definitely pick up this little graphic novel when it comes out in March!
4/5 stars