In this cozy queer romantic fantasy, two members of a motley adventuring crew must confront monsters, hostile landscapes—and a growing attraction neither of them expected. Perfect for fans of Legends and Lattes and Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries.

Sage has made her living as a ranger, moving constantly between adventuring parties, but has never had the chance to lead one of her own. So when she’s offered the opportunity to assemble a crew and recover a rare magical artifact, it feels like a dream come true. There’s just one problem: the quest leads straight into the most inhospitable part of the kingdom, with winter fast approaching.

Araphi has always loved music, in defiance of her powerful family’s expectations. All she wants is one last chance to perform before she has to wed to a man she does not love. Answering a call for a bard seems like the perfect escape—until she discovers it’s for an adventuring party, led by the woman she hasn’t been able to stop thinking about since she first laid eyes on her.

As danger mounts and trust is tested, their newly formed band must learn to work together—or fail. And amid the chaos, Sage and Araphi must decide whether the greatest risk of all is falling for each other.

© Jamie Pacton and Rebecca Podos 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026