4/5 stars on Goodreads
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| Field Guide for the Formerly Villanous by Autumn K. England |
Oaklin Nettlewood is trying to rebuild their life after years in a brainwashing evil cult that has left them without most of their memories and a fear of using their magic ever again, in case it’s used for evil. They buy a small farm in a quiet village with a vague notion that they come from a farming family—and how difficult can it be anyway.
It’s not an easy start to a new life. Oaklin isn’t a sociable person to begin with and their fear that people of the village will find out they’ve been in a hated cult prevents them from even trying to make friends. But the people of the village have different ideas. They pull them in, and despite themself, they find warming up to their new friends. There’s even a special person they think might be more than a friend—even though she’s a member of a church that used to hunt evil cultists like them. But then inquisition arrives to the peaceful village to hunt former cultists, plunging Oaklin back into despair.
At home on the farm, things aren’t as simple as they hoped either. The ghost of the previous owner still resides there, which turns out to be good, because she knows everything there is to know about farming the place. The bad thing, for Oaklin, is that farming the place requires magic, which they’ve sworn off for good. But the no-nonsense granny is exactly what Oaklin needs to get over their trauma.
Field Guide for the Formerly Villanous is a lovely, feel-good cozy fantasy. It’s a pleasant read, where all characters are nice, good and extremely understanding, but not too twee. Oaklin’s trauma is real and heartfelt, and it’s not glossed over or brushed away. They have to work their way through it. Luckily, they have the ghost and their friends to help them. Characters are mostly non-binary or gay, and it’s never questioned, so the world—a rural pre-industrial society with magic—is diverse and accepting. The ending is conclusive and good, but this appears to be the first book in a series, so we’ll get to read more about Oaklin’s adventures as a farmer. Or maybe we get the stories of the side characters, like Ryn and Jules’s. I would read it.
I received a free book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
