Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K. England (ARC Read - Publishes June 2, 2026)

Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K. England
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oaklin Nettlewood was just freed from a traumatic 6 years as part of a mind-controlled evil cult, where her magic, body, and mind were made use of without limits and without her consent. So, what's next?

Obviously buy a farm–maybe magical? Maybe slightly haunted? and figure it out from there!

I loved this one, every word felt like a warm hug at the end of a long day. Autumn K. England packs it with classic cozy fantasy elements like found family, magical pastries, an adorably sweet romance, and so much more.

What really made this one shine for me was the realistic healing dynamics from PTSD and descriptions of psychological trauma for Oaklin and the other characters who were touched by the disaster that the cult brought. This story is mostly about Oaklin's journey to try and build a new life for herself and that journey was so vibrant and heartbreaking at times to read.

I loved the magic system in this one too - magical pastries and adorably specific descriptions were a treat peppered in throughout the story along with a few other magical elements.

Readers who loved Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldtree or You Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne will love this one, as well as those who just love second chance storylines bound up in a truly lovely fantasy world.

Bonus points - lovely diverse representation in our cast of characters including a potential m/m romance, a nb/f romance, and a really lovely found family dynamic with some sass. Definitely a new favorite in the cozy fantasy genre!

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and SourceBooks for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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