What do you think?
Rate this book
Books & Broadswords, Volume One
This novella-length volume includes two romantic fantasy stories set in a shared world, each with a guaranteed happily ever after, plus a new bonus epilogue.
Books & Broadswords
The only thing Feora likes more than stealing the king’s gold is using it to buy books. But when a handsome, persistent knight interrupts her day, Feora must decide if saving his life is worth revealing her true nature.
Rocks & Rapiers
Zenira never wanted to sell her rock collection, but when the new landowner raises her rent, she’s out of options. Armed with a sketchy rumor about a collector who will pay for stones others might consider worthless, Zenira sets out, but she’s met with an icy scowl, a muddy manor, and the overwhelming urge to mend the mess—owner included.
Books & Broadswords
The only thing Feora likes more than stealing the king’s gold is using it to buy books. But when a handsome, persistent knight interrupts her day, Feora must decide if saving his life is worth revealing her true nature.
Rocks & Rapiers
Zenira never wanted to sell her rock collection, but when the new landowner raises her rent, she’s out of options. Armed with a sketchy rumor about a collector who will pay for stones others might consider worthless, Zenira sets out, but she’s met with an icy scowl, a muddy manor, and the overwhelming urge to mend the mess—owner included.
149 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2024
About the author
Jessie Mihalik
11 books1,903 followersJessie Mihalik has a degree in Computer Science and a love of all things geeky. A software engineer by trade, Jessie now writes full time from her home in Texas. When she’s not writing, she can be found playing co-op video games with her husband, trying out new board games, or reading books pulled from her overflowing bookshelves.
Sample chapters of all of my books are available on my website!
The Consortium Rebellion trilogy: Polaris Rising, Aurora Blazing, Chaos Reigning.
The Rogue Queen novellas: The Queen's Gambit, The Queen's Advantage, The Queen's Triumph.
Sample chapters of all of my books are available on my website!
The Consortium Rebellion trilogy: Polaris Rising, Aurora Blazing, Chaos Reigning.
The Rogue Queen novellas: The Queen's Gambit, The Queen's Advantage, The Queen's Triumph.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
June 21, 2024
can't say i liked it all that much, it wasn't that i disliked it and the idea was nice, but really it was a snippet without any depth or really anything super interesting or loveable characters. nothing to dislike BUT nothing to love and if you have anything else to read, then gamble and read that!
June 20, 2024
If you love Jessie Mihalik, you should read this fun Romantasy novella.
Actually, if you enjoy Fantasy Romance at all, find 90 minutes to breeze through this fun, quick yarn.
Actually, if you enjoy Fantasy Romance at all, find 90 minutes to breeze through this fun, quick yarn.
June 12, 2024
I’ve only ever read space opera by this author before so I really didn’t know what to expect but was expecting something similar in pacing and story to those just in novella form. This volume featured two very cute novellas and these were very different from anything I have read from the author before. These felt more like cozy mysteries without the mystery. Jessie always has amazing world building and these novellas do as well. The world she created was the best part of these. The romance and the stories themselves were so sugary sweet. There’s no real angst, no real conflict. The epilogues were spicy. A good read if you’re just wanting something short, sweet, and light.
July 9, 2024
DNF at 77%. The first story started out okay, with a book hoarding dragon. But the stories are rather boring in my opinion.
I cherish a lot of low-stakes fantasy as a great respite from the difficulties of real life, but that doesn't mean the characters in those stories don't experience personal growth or are blatantly shallow.
I'm better quitting this now than put more time in it, when I'm clearly not enjoying the book.
I cherish a lot of low-stakes fantasy as a great respite from the difficulties of real life, but that doesn't mean the characters in those stories don't experience personal growth or are blatantly shallow.
I'm better quitting this now than put more time in it, when I'm clearly not enjoying the book.
July 6, 2024
Oh.My.Gosh. I kinda loved these two stories. Actually, there's no kinda about it. Feora and her knight and Zenira and her cranky collector made my day. There's a little possessiveness (kidding, there's a lot of possessiveness) and maybe a little handwringing as certain individuals worried about taking away the free will of their potential special someone and I LOVED IT.
First up, Feora. Feora who likes books. Feora who slowly starts to think the knight who crosses her path is nothing like any of the other knights she's had the misfortune of dealing with. Feora who is honorable and just wants to be left in peace. Until Ansel, that is. Only she needs to make sure that he's sure about what he wants before she's willing to make any moves. *le sigh*
Then there's Zenira. She's in a bad situation and she's maybe a little desperate. Which is the only reason she's sets out for the cranky collector's manor with her horde of precious rocks. Striking a deal with the collector opens up a whole world of possibilities. For both her and him.
Some stolen gold, a knight with a mile-wide streak of honor, a lady who just wants to shelve some books, a manor in dire need of some TLC, rocks, snowstorms, magic, a grump of a collector, and a lady who can't help but tidy up. It turns out that possessive individuals with collections and magic do it for me. GOOD TIMES!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
First up, Feora. Feora who likes books. Feora who slowly starts to think the knight who crosses her path is nothing like any of the other knights she's had the misfortune of dealing with. Feora who is honorable and just wants to be left in peace. Until Ansel, that is. Only she needs to make sure that he's sure about what he wants before she's willing to make any moves. *le sigh*
Then there's Zenira. She's in a bad situation and she's maybe a little desperate. Which is the only reason she's sets out for the cranky collector's manor with her horde of precious rocks. Striking a deal with the collector opens up a whole world of possibilities. For both her and him.
Some stolen gold, a knight with a mile-wide streak of honor, a lady who just wants to shelve some books, a manor in dire need of some TLC, rocks, snowstorms, magic, a grump of a collector, and a lady who can't help but tidy up. It turns out that possessive individuals with collections and magic do it for me. GOOD TIMES!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
July 7, 2024
I’m gonna need about twenty more of these, thanks.
June 13, 2024
Books & Broadswords
- gosh how did a 50 page novella get me to feel the feels like.. twice? Three times? Yet the last book I read, which was 328 pages, I felt nothing? How??? Hahah. I do love the way Mihalik writes. What a cute and fluffy novella. I would consider rereading this just for the fluff.
- I also liked that the FMC was the dragon, not the MMC.
- What a nice little pick me up.
✅ feels
Rocks & Rapiers
- If I thought the first was fluffy… wow this was even fluffier. Zero angst, all fluffy sweetness.
- I liked how they bet on CLEANING lol. How freaking wholesome.
❌ feels
Overall
- I liked both… such a nice little palate cleanser novella set. I looooved the first novella and will probably reread it at some point.
- gosh how did a 50 page novella get me to feel the feels like.. twice? Three times? Yet the last book I read, which was 328 pages, I felt nothing? How??? Hahah. I do love the way Mihalik writes. What a cute and fluffy novella. I would consider rereading this just for the fluff.
- I also liked that the FMC was the dragon, not the MMC.
- What a nice little pick me up.
✅ feels
Rocks & Rapiers
- If I thought the first was fluffy… wow this was even fluffier. Zero angst, all fluffy sweetness.
- I liked how they bet on CLEANING lol. How freaking wholesome.
❌ feels
Overall
- I liked both… such a nice little palate cleanser novella set. I looooved the first novella and will probably reread it at some point.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2024
The stories on their own were cute, but the extended epilogues are what really made this shine for me. Can’t wait for more!
June 26, 2024
Not quite the caliber of writing I've come to expect from this queen of space operas but still fun, sweet little romantasy stories to pass the time with. Would definitely enjoy more like this.
June 13, 2024
I'd forgotten if I even knew... these were dragon stories. 😅
Very nice in a cozy way. Looking forward to volume 2 which presumably either exists or soon will?
Very nice in a cozy way. Looking forward to volume 2 which presumably either exists or soon will?
June 23, 2024
Delightful! I followed these on the blog while in progress and enjoyed them. These polished and expanded versions are much better. Romantasy at it's best.
June 14, 2024
I read these short stories as they were posted on the author’s website, and I loved both of them! I’m so excited to be able to buy these and have them on my Kindle!
June 24, 2024
Two wonderfully fun short stories…
Over the past year or so, Jessie Mihalik made her readers happy by offering a couple of short fantasy/romance stories for free on her website: Books & Broadswords in early 2023, and then later, in early 2024, Rocks & Rapiers. These were web-serials, both set in the same world, but not really linked other than that. And I enjoyed both of them a lot.
Now she has taken the stories off her website, and instead is offering the two together for sale in a single volume. It’s titled, optimistically, Books & Broadswords, Volume One, and came out at all the usual e-book retailers a couple of weeks ago, on June 11. (I say “optimistically”, since the presence of a “Volume One” in the title implies that there might someday be a “Volume Two“. And in fact, in her blog, Mihalik has mentioned that she has at least one more story in mind, although the time to write it might be a bit lacking...) Oh yeah, and there’s also some bonus material at the end of Volume One that didn’t appear in the online versions.
Anyway, now for my review, which will be short and sweet – buy the book and read the stories! Both are quick to read, with apparently mismatched/grouchy characters who eventually find their way to each other, with a fun twist or two along the way. And the two extra epilogues, one for each story, introduce at least one new character that (I hope) might form the basis for the next story in this world. But be forewarned – as Mihalik also mentioned in her blog, the epilogues have a bit more heat than would have been suitable to be posted on the web. Of course, you can also skim over those parts if you wish. In the end, though, these simply are two enjoyable stories that aren’t going to make or break the world, but will make you smile – and I think we don’t get enough of that these days!
Over the past year or so, Jessie Mihalik made her readers happy by offering a couple of short fantasy/romance stories for free on her website: Books & Broadswords in early 2023, and then later, in early 2024, Rocks & Rapiers. These were web-serials, both set in the same world, but not really linked other than that. And I enjoyed both of them a lot.
Now she has taken the stories off her website, and instead is offering the two together for sale in a single volume. It’s titled, optimistically, Books & Broadswords, Volume One, and came out at all the usual e-book retailers a couple of weeks ago, on June 11. (I say “optimistically”, since the presence of a “Volume One” in the title implies that there might someday be a “Volume Two“. And in fact, in her blog, Mihalik has mentioned that she has at least one more story in mind, although the time to write it might be a bit lacking...) Oh yeah, and there’s also some bonus material at the end of Volume One that didn’t appear in the online versions.
Anyway, now for my review, which will be short and sweet – buy the book and read the stories! Both are quick to read, with apparently mismatched/grouchy characters who eventually find their way to each other, with a fun twist or two along the way. And the two extra epilogues, one for each story, introduce at least one new character that (I hope) might form the basis for the next story in this world. But be forewarned – as Mihalik also mentioned in her blog, the epilogues have a bit more heat than would have been suitable to be posted on the web. Of course, you can also skim over those parts if you wish. In the end, though, these simply are two enjoyable stories that aren’t going to make or break the world, but will make you smile – and I think we don’t get enough of that these days!
June 14, 2024
This volume contains two cozy fantasy stories with sweet romances set in the same creative world where dragons have human forms. These are quick, feel-good reads without heavy angst or intense conflict.
Note: Most of the intimacy in both stories is closed-door, but it’s a little inconsistent. There are also two explicit bonus epilogues at the end. Mihalik’s sci-fi romance books were consistently explicit; these cozy fantasy stories have a different vibe.
📖 Books & Broadswords
Feora loves books more than anything, but when a knight escorts her on her way, she risks everything to save his life…
Feora was strong and capable from the start and Ansel was a tender-hearted knight. I enjoyed their playful banter and commitment to ensuring their feelings were true.
🪨 Rocks & Rapiers
Zenira has to sell her precious rock collection in order to meet the demands of her new landlord. But when she makes it to the stone collector’s messy manor, she has a desperate need to set it to rights…
Baldric had a delightful scowl and possessiveness. His banter with Zenira was witty and fun, and the chemistry was fire.
Note: Most of the intimacy in both stories is closed-door, but it’s a little inconsistent. There are also two explicit bonus epilogues at the end. Mihalik’s sci-fi romance books were consistently explicit; these cozy fantasy stories have a different vibe.
📖 Books & Broadswords
Feora loves books more than anything, but when a knight escorts her on her way, she risks everything to save his life…
Feora was strong and capable from the start and Ansel was a tender-hearted knight. I enjoyed their playful banter and commitment to ensuring their feelings were true.
🪨 Rocks & Rapiers
Zenira has to sell her precious rock collection in order to meet the demands of her new landlord. But when she makes it to the stone collector’s messy manor, she has a desperate need to set it to rights…
Baldric had a delightful scowl and possessiveness. His banter with Zenira was witty and fun, and the chemistry was fire.
June 12, 2024
2024 Spring Bingo (#SpringIntoLoveBingo🌷): Happily Ever After
Second novella is way better than the first, so this rating is an average for the two stories. Not a surprise since Novella #2 is twice the length and has more time to develop characterization.
The overall vibe seemed solidly cozy and closed-door… so nothing could’ve prepared me for the scene when the human heroine climbs on the dragon hero’s back and gets horny because her clit is sensitive to the ridges on his dragon form. 💀 Then the hero transforms back into a human and it fades into black. Truly a WTF moment, lol. I feel like you can’t introduce a “heroine rubs herself on dragon scales” hook and not follow through in the text. The epilogue finally has sex, but it’s the principle, you know?
Also: I truly am a basic bitch because the epilogue introduces a strong, silent, and (most importantly) dark-haired dragon with shadows. 👀 I wanna know what his hoard is.
Second novella is way better than the first, so this rating is an average for the two stories. Not a surprise since Novella #2 is twice the length and has more time to develop characterization.
The overall vibe seemed solidly cozy and closed-door… so nothing could’ve prepared me for the scene when the human heroine climbs on the dragon hero’s back and gets horny because her clit is sensitive to the ridges on his dragon form. 💀 Then the hero transforms back into a human and it fades into black. Truly a WTF moment, lol. I feel like you can’t introduce a “heroine rubs herself on dragon scales” hook and not follow through in the text. The epilogue finally has sex, but it’s the principle, you know?
Also: I truly am a basic bitch because the epilogue introduces a strong, silent, and (most importantly) dark-haired dragon with shadows. 👀 I wanna know what his hoard is.
June 15, 2024
3.5 stars
That was a sweet little book. One short story and one novelette, both happening in the same fantasy world. Dragons, knights, swords, forbidden magic, and many gentle smiles, this book reminded me of Travis Baldree's charming books. I enjoyed those too. Did you know that a dragon's hoard doesn't have to be gold. It could be books. Or rocks and crystals. It's really up to the individual dragon to choose their treasures.
The short format of the stories didn't allow for extensive world building, but what there was of it was interesting and ripe for further exploration. The author obviously had fun writing these tales. Consequently, I had fun reading them. As this book is subtitled Volume One, I hope for a Volume Two set in the same world. Soon, please.
That was a sweet little book. One short story and one novelette, both happening in the same fantasy world. Dragons, knights, swords, forbidden magic, and many gentle smiles, this book reminded me of Travis Baldree's charming books. I enjoyed those too. Did you know that a dragon's hoard doesn't have to be gold. It could be books. Or rocks and crystals. It's really up to the individual dragon to choose their treasures.
The short format of the stories didn't allow for extensive world building, but what there was of it was interesting and ripe for further exploration. The author obviously had fun writing these tales. Consequently, I had fun reading them. As this book is subtitled Volume One, I hope for a Volume Two set in the same world. Soon, please.
June 15, 2024
This volume consists of two (loosely) linked short stories and an epilogue that brings them a bit closer together. The first story is what caught my attention being about a highwaywoman who spends her pilfered gold on books, and the knight who comes looking for her. The second has a woman who comes to sell some rocks to an eccentric collector, but can't get the terrible state of his home out of her head and returns to offer her services as a cleaner.
They're enjoyable, cosy and quick to read. The epilogue adds some heat to the relationships, so if you're not into sex scenes, you may want to skip those but otherwise recommended to all lovers of books and clean houses. Oh, and dragons (did I not mention the dragons?).
They're enjoyable, cosy and quick to read. The epilogue adds some heat to the relationships, so if you're not into sex scenes, you may want to skip those but otherwise recommended to all lovers of books and clean houses. Oh, and dragons (did I not mention the dragons?).
June 13, 2024
A Lovely Pair of Novellas
Ms Mihalik is a writer that spins a great story no matter its length. These two stories are delightful and imaginative in a way I’ve come to enjoy with her other longer books. If you’ve had a rough day and need to relax a read something that will melt your troubles away, these two tales will bring you g a smile to your face guaranteed. These are in one way, a departure from the authors normal genre, but in other ways the hold true to her memorable characters and engaging action filled stories.
Ms Mihalik is a writer that spins a great story no matter its length. These two stories are delightful and imaginative in a way I’ve come to enjoy with her other longer books. If you’ve had a rough day and need to relax a read something that will melt your troubles away, these two tales will bring you g a smile to your face guaranteed. These are in one way, a departure from the authors normal genre, but in other ways the hold true to her memorable characters and engaging action filled stories.
June 28, 2024
Lots O’ Pointy Thingies…
BooksBroadswords1
A new departure for Ms Mihalik, but loads of fun.
As a fantasy setup, one can’t go wrong with ‘Knights, and Dragons, and Bandits, oh my’, but one still need good storytelling - because we have to care about them, don’t we?
The threat inherent in a dragon’s ability to protect its hoard, can’t be overcome or ignored, by anyone. And it makes these novellas a treat to read.
Not sure when the next volume is due, but I will be looking for it.
BooksBroadswords1
A new departure for Ms Mihalik, but loads of fun.
As a fantasy setup, one can’t go wrong with ‘Knights, and Dragons, and Bandits, oh my’, but one still need good storytelling - because we have to care about them, don’t we?
The threat inherent in a dragon’s ability to protect its hoard, can’t be overcome or ignored, by anyone. And it makes these novellas a treat to read.
Not sure when the next volume is due, but I will be looking for it.
June 13, 2024
so I read the first story, right, and I'm thinking this is a little cringe, a little corny, do I continue with the second short story within this novella? naturally, I mosey on over to the reviews looking for clarity, and nothing could have prepared me for finding out that in the second story homegirl dry humps her man's back while he is in dragon form. y'all, I picked this up expecting it to be a cozy wholesome fantasy novella palate cleanser. I was really NOT signing up for dragon smut.
July 1, 2024
I didn't know these were actually two novellas in the same universe (with a cross-over in the epilogues), which would have been great... except I liked the first one more than the second one. (Note: the "not knowing" mostly comes from "new Mihalik = auto-buy", because it's actually clear in the summary :D ) Still, it was a fun read, and managed to get my head out of gesticulates wildly things last night - not bad!
June 12, 2024
I love Jessie Mihalik, and her finally writing fantasy is a dream come true! Books & Broadswords is a collection of two short stories that were entertaining, cute, and super fun to read! I wish it had been longer, but now I'm all the more excited for her next book, Silver and Blood, which will also be a romantasy!
June 12, 2024
These two cozy fantasy romance novellas (set in the same world but starring different couples) were a total delight and exactly the pick-me-up read that I needed. Funny, charming, and extremely low-angst, they both made me laugh at various points (perfect hoards! tactical forearms!) and made me feel much better for having read them. I can't wait for volume 2 in this series!
June 23, 2024
This was a fun read. I enjoyed the stories and was intrigued by the world building. My interest in Malakai was definitely piqued. I do hope for a little more depth with a full length novel because these short stories really only scratched the surface a little, as is the nature of short stories and novellas.
June 23, 2024
a lovely little romance with just a teeny bit of magic
Mihalik does it again with just a few broad sweeps of her pen. 4 rich characters and just a few short moments to find the love of lifetimes. Like the perfect relaxing break from the stress of life. It’s quick, sweet, and delicious….Enjoy.
Mihalik does it again with just a few broad sweeps of her pen. 4 rich characters and just a few short moments to find the love of lifetimes. Like the perfect relaxing break from the stress of life. It’s quick, sweet, and delicious….Enjoy.
June 29, 2024
Super fun, quick read.
I love Jessie Mihalik and I adored reading these novellas when she was putting them on her website each month whilst trying her hand at writing romantasy.
So of course I had to preorder them. Loved the spicy new chapters too.
Auto buy author for me AND THERE IS A ROMANTASY COMING OUT NEXT 😱 just take my money now.
I love Jessie Mihalik and I adored reading these novellas when she was putting them on her website each month whilst trying her hand at writing romantasy.
So of course I had to preorder them. Loved the spicy new chapters too.
Auto buy author for me AND THERE IS A ROMANTASY COMING OUT NEXT 😱 just take my money now.
July 6, 2024
This has made me super excited for the full length fantasy romance coming up next from Jessie Mihalik. Cosy fantasy can be hit or miss for me, but this was definitely a hit, maybe the short length of both stories made the difference, but the sweet stories of grumpy dragons adding a mate to their hordes was delightful.
July 10, 2024
Great story!
I loved this book. It was such a fun read. I liked the characters. The knight Ansel, Baldric and how the dragons interact with their ladies. That one Dragon collected books as her precious horde was so neat! Have an entirely new outlook on dragons. I enjoyed the stories and had fun reading them. I highly recommend this book.
I loved this book. It was such a fun read. I liked the characters. The knight Ansel, Baldric and how the dragons interact with their ladies. That one Dragon collected books as her precious horde was so neat! Have an entirely new outlook on dragons. I enjoyed the stories and had fun reading them. I highly recommend this book.
June 11, 2024
So much fun - here be dragons
Love these short stories Andy introduction to this new world.
If you love conventions twisted just right and fairy stories, this is for you. Paper bag princess for grownups.
Loved this
Love these short stories Andy introduction to this new world.
If you love conventions twisted just right and fairy stories, this is for you. Paper bag princess for grownups.
Loved this
June 11, 2024
Mihalik turns to fantasy
This a delightful way to spend a summer afternoon. Ms. Mihalik has turned to fantasy for those delightful stories of magic, dragons, and love. Highly recommend.
This a delightful way to spend a summer afternoon. Ms. Mihalik has turned to fantasy for those delightful stories of magic, dragons, and love. Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews