4.5⭐️

I love this cozy fantasy series! While this is book 2 in the series, it can absolutely be read as a standalone. I read the whole thing in one night. I’m not always a fan of shifter romances, but I found myself really enjoying this one (probably because it was more of an emotional romance than a bunch of spice). The romance progressed pretty quickly but with the book being on the shorter side, it made sense. I love a book with dragons and this one delivered. You also get curses, amnesia, an array of magical creatures (fairies, elves, trolls, ogres, etc), a strong FMC, and witty banter galore.

I’m excited to continue this series and to see what characters and conflicts we get introduced to in book 3!

Thank you to NetGalley and Josephine for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Jonara is being sacrificed to a dragon who supposedly eats virgins. This dragon though is a bit different and eats fish. They begin a quest, by gathering an army, to defeat Asphodel the evil sorcerer, who is destroying towns on his way south to get the crown. But the dragon has a secret that changes everything. What choice will be made?

The book gifts us with a friendly, cozy narrative that is warm-heartedly funny and full of the protagonist's dry wit. There is a straightforward and honest feel to the 1st person POV of this clearly excellent plan-maker, go-getter, kind-souled person. I can see everything happening, clear as day, thanks to the precise detailing that breathes wondrous life into the page as Jonara shares her ongoing story. A tale colored in whimsy — a full-blown adventure with so many exciting things going on but paced beautifully.

I love the melding of different known dragon and ultimately fairy tale traits and the author's take on them, structured by her creativity. That jaw-dropping reveal about Jonara and the dragon's situation is a game-changer. You have never read a story with a dragon such as this, believe me. I was so pleasantly surprised, so glad that they didn't put it in the synopsis, so I'm not spoiling it either. Every reader should have the opportunity of that feeling, as I'm sure the author intended.

You will adore the dragon. I smiled so much reading this my cheeks should hurt. There were plenty of times I wanted to hug him and a few of the other interesting characters.

There is a lesson here in kindness, in caring and helping others. How the world could be different if only we would implement them. And there are fierce female power vibes and respect. This is a story of valor, the power of companionship, of love, of good over evil.

I had no idea this was the second book in a series when I started reading, but it didn’t matter at all—it stands alone perfectly! In fact, not knowing the backstory of Lucitopia made the plot twists even more exciting. If you’re into cozy fantasy, this is a book (and a series) you’ll want to check out.

Jonara, the tinker’s daughter, is such a fantastic character. She’s funny, clever, and completely relatable. The story kicks off with her thinking she’s won a pig in her village’s lottery, only to find out she’s actually been “chosen” to be a sacrifice to a dragon. Lucky for her, this dragon doesn’t eat maidens. Instead, he’s got a mission of his own, and Jonara quickly teams up with him on a quest to stop the evil sorcerer Asphodel.

Asphodel is stealing townspeople’s names and their will to live, creating a dark and intriguing backdrop to this otherwise lighthearted story. I loved the mix of humor, adventure, and a touch of romance. The growing connection between Jonara and the dragon is adorable without being too much.

The writing hooked me right from the start with its humor (that never felt forced) and fast pace. The dialogue was sharp and witty, and the humor balanced perfectly with the emotional moments. If you need a break from heavy, high-stakes fantasy, The Tinker’s Daughter is the perfect choice. It’s funny, heartwarming, and full of surprises. I’ll definitely be reading the rest of the series!

Thanks to Sungrazer Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC—this one was a delightful find! All opinions are my own.

A delightful fantasy that reminded me of The Princess Bride with laugh out loud moments as well as some tense ones.. Although it is the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone.
Jonara has won the lottery! Wonderful, her and her father can always use a pig or money, but wait, no she has actually won the opportunity to become a dragon's dinner. Not exactly something to celebrate. But as things turn out, maybe it is. Lots of tongue in cheek moments. Love Jonara, a girl not afraid to speak her mind and order a huge dragon around. A really delightful read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc to read and review.

I jumped at the chance to read and review this book when I saw it as an available option. If you love cozy fantasy, this may be a series you need to dive into. You do not need to read them in order and they really can stand on their own. The first book, Illustrated Girl happens in the same world as The Tinker's Daughter, but honestly, I didn't even link it in my mind until about 2/3 of the way through and a couple of things are revealed.

Jonara is a phenomenal and fun character. She wanders into the book thinking she's won a pig in the village lottery but is, instead, being sacrificed to the local dragon as the village believes they must sacrifice a virgin or the dragon will decimate their village.

Without getting into too many revealing spoilers, I will say the dragon is super cool and definitely doesn't enjoy eating virgins. He does, however, have a mission and Jonara is able to become in partner in a quest to defeat Asphodel, an evil sorcerer who has tormenting towns by stealing their names and almost removing their will to live.

There are secrets upon secrets which I hope you will stick around to read and find out. It's cozy fantasy more than romantasy but still, the bits about a crush and growing affections are super cute.

The book has a very sweet and cozy winter vibes!! Highly recommending this once the book is out for a perfect winter cozy read!! I enjoyed it a lot 😁 Thank you soo much Netgalley for this book and definitely would be checking out other Angelini books!

4/5 ⭐️
While reading, this book at times reminded me of classic fairytales, Monty Python, George of the Jungle, and Howl’s Moving Castle. I know. A strange combination. But I recommend reading this for yourself to see what I mean.
This is another book I’m torn on how to rate it. Cause on one hand I loved. It was an adult story, but silly and light-hearted. I loved the characters. I loved all their interactions. However, I really wish this was longer. Like I understand after the final big plot twist why it wasn’t, but everything felt so rushed. Like all the plot points and development would normally had made up 3-6 thick fantasy books. And because of the speed there were some plot holes and lack of understanding for certain motivations. Or the motivations would’ve been understandable and packed a bigger punch if it had been allowed to simmer.
Overall, very enjoyable. I loved it. Again, loved the characters and the twists. I just wish it gave itself more time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

Oh, I loved reading this book! I loved the first and I was excited to see where this sequel would go. I had such a great time getting to know Jonara and her dragon! It was such a nice and enjoyable fairly low stakes story with characters that were so fantastic to read about!

I'm wondering about the world, because the first book was about the Virtues, and they weren't mentioned in this one, it was about different creatures like dragons and such. I think each book will be affected by each story, which characters are there, and maybe about who is from our world. We'll see with future books!

Jonara is practical, and she's resourceful. To be given as a sacrifice to this dragon, and being lucky that he doesn't want to eat her, well, that was great. But then things built to being a rebellion against Asphodel, and her common sense and organization was of great help, and I loved it!

We basically got confirmation of my theory about Asphodel, which was great, as well as deeper view of this part of the world, which was great. Also, we got to see what it's like when someone from our world stays in Lucitopia, which was great to read!

This was a terrific read and I can't wait for the sequel!

A cute and cozy fantasy about a girl who ends up as a sacrifice to a dragon and goes off to war, for typical reasons but still worth the read. While this is a second book it can be read as a stand-alone.

This cozy fantasy started off well enough. Gorgeous cover. Great premise. I was laughing my tush off at Jonara’s witty protests to being offered up as a virgin sacrifice to a dragon and getting Enchanted Forest Chronicles vibes. Unfortunately, that took a turn at Chapter 5, and I ultimately DNF at Chapter 6 (17%). While I don’t necessarily mind the dragon turning into a man, I do mind him groping Jonara while she was asleep. Jonara then fixating on how handsome he was and describing him “probably the most wonderful man I’ve ever met” immediately after was the deal-breaker for me.

I feel like the dragon staying a dragon might’ve made for a more compelling story.

Readers who don’t mind dubcon will likely enjoy this more than I did.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.

3.7 Stars
One Liner: A fluffy and light read

Jonara has been a good girl all her life, which makes her a perfect choice as the village’s sacrificial offering to the dragon. Luckily for her, the dragon doesn’t eat virgins. Using this chance and the dragon’s help, Jonara rallies an army to fight Asphodel who had been destroying one town after another to claim the throne vacated by the death king.
However, the dragon has its own secrets and Jonara could play a vital role. What does the future have in store for this feisty good girl?
The story comes in Jonara’s first-person POV.

My Thoughts:
I quite enjoyed the first book in the series, though I don’t remember much about the details. However, it’s not necessary. This works well as a standalone. The characters and the setting are different though the universe is the fantasy land of Lucitopia.
While book #1 was YA, this is NA bordering on adult fiction. The lead characters are twenty and above, and there’s a fair bit of… *ahem* Still, it is closed-door romance.
Jonara is quite a personality. She can order anyone around like a military commander. Is it any surprise that she plays a vital role in building an army to fight the villain?
The Dragon is a sweet guy but also a sort of confused alpha. I rather like him. Also, I wouldn’t mind having such a dragon of my own. Scratch him and get gold! I’d be rich in no time. ;)
The world-building is pretty basic but it doesn’t affect the reading experience. We can visualize the scenes as there is enough information.
The writing style is casual which may not work for everyone. Jonara’s instinct to boss around might annoy some readers. I wasn’t bothered since I expected something like that (based on my experience from book one).
A certain scene in the first half might put off some readers, especially if they haven’t guessed it would happen. I knew what to expect (it’s a trope-y thing, and there are enough clues) so I wasn’t the least bit surprised.
The ending provides a short glimpse into the future (as in what’s to come in the next books). I noticed book #4 added to the list and read the blurb. Do NOT do that.
The pacing is a little off in this one but I wasn’t bored at any point. The book was exactly what I wanted to remove the traces of annoyance at my previous read.

To summarize, The Tinker's Daughter is what a GR friend calls brain candy – it is fluffy, lighthearted, cheeky, a bit dangerous, and has a good dose of romance. Ready for book #3!
Thank you, NetGalley, Sungrazer Publishing, and Victory Editing Co-op, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

The premise of this book had me immediately sold - a damsel sacrificed to a dragon, teams up with the dragon to take down an evil sorcerer? How could that not draw you in. I hadn’t realised that this was the second in the series, but honestly didn’t suffer from not having read the first. Overall, this was a fairly enjoyable fantasy that read almost like a bedtime story at parts, but very much grew in scope and stepped beyond the ‘cosy’ genre by the end. Personally, I felt this was the weaker aspect of the book - I just don’t think that the story carried this off well, and much preferred the interactions between Dragon and Jonara and their relationship over the wider plot of the land. I enjoyed the build up of their relationship, and really liked them as a couple. The framing device was played off well, although some aspects of Dragon’s humour already felt a bit dated, which is hard to play off in books when you try to be ultra-modern. The Tinker’s backstory was wonderful, and really fit into the world and added to the story. Overall this was a fine read, worth a look if you’re needing to scratch an itch, but I don’t think I would be picking up the sequel.

I am never dissapointed with a book from Josephine. This book had so much going for it with fantasy and storytelling. Don't get me started on the amazing characters who's growth is waeved into the very words. I do hope we get more from these characters as I want to see where this all goes. The magic is electrifying and leaves me feeling powerless without it. Give us more

Firstly, I did not know this was part of a series, so I did my best to read this like I had read the first book and tried to understand some context was from the previous book. Secondly, this was cosy.

I had high expectations of its cosiness, and even though it was cosy, it reminded me more of a fairy tale than a cosy fantasy.

This is a very easy read, with not many stakes and I predicted the twist, which did annoy me a little due to her treatment of the dragon throughout the book. You're telling me that the dragon was a person the entire time, and she treated them like a pet until they transformed into a human?

I'd define this book as a palette cleanser. You don't need to think hard when reading this book, and it doesn't take itself too seriously,

It was fun, but I probably won't read anymore from the series.

DNF @ 20%.

I thought the premise sounded really cool but I have yet to find a cozy fantasy that I loved, so maybe I am the problem. The beginning of this is unnecessarily crude in my opinion and other parts that I think they were supposed to be funny felt...creepy? It also seemed really strange to me that she was treating this dragon like a pet and ordering it around. Overall a miss for me.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I was really expecting this to be more of a gripping fantasy, but it was so cozy! I loved it!!!!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC!

This is the second book in a series but it stands well on its own. I really liked to premise of a virgin being sacrificed to the dragon instead getting the dragon to help her take down the evil sorcerer who is taking over the land. This was a nice read but I wouldn't really call it a "cozy fantasy" it's more of fairytale.

I did have some problems with the book though. The main character orders the dragon around like a pet and treats him at times like a pet which is really weird after we learn pretty early on that the dragon is in fact a human and remembers that he is a human. The dragon can even turn back into a human. so yup treating him like a pet was weird and a little uncomfortable.

speaking of uncomfortable my second problem with this book. There are moments in this book that I think are supposed to be funny? but just come off as creepy. As an example the main character at one point falls asleep and them wakes up to a naked man groping her. The man turns out to be the dragon and this is in fact how we find out that the dragon is human. I almost stopped reading at this point but kept going and did find stuff to like about the rest of the story but this is a problem that persists throughout the story.

This fantasy story made me smile from the first few words right to the end. This book was an unexpected treasure of a find. Easy read, fun, lots of humour in a fairytale story. Jonara doesn’t win a pig in a lottery as she had thought, no she wins something much bigger. The chance to befriend a dragon who thankfully doesn’t eat maidens, and an adventure because things are not at all as they seem. Thank you to Sungrazer Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

First, thank you NetGalley and the author for the advance copy of this book!

This was a fun, cozy and super cute read! It also managed to tackle some serious topics like sexism in a great way, showing that we're all equal in life. My only real complaint is that I wish there was more! I do hope we'll see them again given the ending, but either way, if you're looking for something quick, cozy and lighthearted, grab this.

This was a very light read; while there were stakes introduced, the characters generally did not have issues facing the obstacles and the happily-ever-after was easily won. In that sense, it's a "cozy" book. There was a bit of romance, though not explored in depth. There was a little bit of world-building, but it wasn't expansive. I think this is a decent "palate cleanser" book-- a quick read that doesn't have thorns and goes down easy.

This is a second book in a series, and I have not read the first, so I wasn't sure what I was getting into. Because of that, I did not expect the twist at all. Looking at the first book's synopsis, it probably would have been less surprising if I had read it first. I think the twist was fun, though, and not something very common to find in novels - in anime or manga, sure, but I can't think of many novels that use the premise.

Shapeshifting dragons are a favorite trope of mine, so I liked the dragon in this. The whole 'dragons produce gold and gems' thing was a little weird, though, and edged on body horror a bit. I liked some of the ideas behind it, like diamonds only coming from deep pain, but largely it just made my skin crawl.

By and large, this was a fun book, but for me it lacked teeth. It was a romp while I read it, but it's not going to stay with me.