Sword & Thistle

Tales of Aedrea

By: S.L. Rowland

Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin

With age comes wisdom. For a seasoned adventurer, it also comes with back pain.

Taking quests, exploring ruins, and camping under the stars. For Dobbin Thornhill, there’s no better life than that of an adventurer. Especially with a reputation like his.

For all he’s gained, the loss of a friend during a botched quest still weighs heavy on his heart. How fitting that his next job will take him into Hells’ Crag, a dragon-ruined city still haunted by spirits half a millennia after the attack.

His task? Acquiring the elusive dragonfire mushroom—a rare delicacy rumored to grant visions to those who consume it.

While grief has led Dobbin to a life of solo adventures, some jobs can’t be done alone. Joining forces goes against his every instinct, but in a land of shadows, a cast of unlikely companions could be exactly what he needs to see the light again.

If he can find the courage to let someone else in.

Welcome to the enchanting world of Tales of Aedrea, where small-scale stories, low-stakes adventure, and cozy fantasy come to life within an epic, high-fantasy realm.

©2023 S.L. Rowland (P)2025 S.L. Rowland

a nice bite sized cozy fantasy

first I highly recommend reading/listening to cursed cocktails first. Eric Jason Martin does a great job narrating as always.

this book is a little more fast paced and features a bit more action but has several satisfying call backs to CC.

I devoured this story and looking forward to the next!

I also recommend this authors Sentenced to Troll

I loved this book and it was cozy enough for me...

I really couldn't comprehend how a second book in this universe would work because everything was wrapped up so nicely in the Cursed Cocktail, but of course this wasn't about that book at all, other than getting mention or two. This book is about Dobbin an adventurer who stopped by the pub just as it was getting it's legs. And Dobbin had stopped by to be fortified before he had'ta face down the rich noble for his next job. Which turned out to be that he would need to go to the Dragon blighted land and locate a particular mushroom. Why a mushroom find out read the book. And nobody, but nobody goes to the blighted land, or if they do they don't come back.
So go grab the book and see how that turned out!

Love this new world that has been created for us

Rowland’s LITRPG has been amazing. I’ve loved reading and listening to all of his works. This new world of characters and magic that he has created with this and cursed cocktails really does bring us into this cozy fantasy world. The writing is great. The narration is spot on. This is a must for all fans of fantasy. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator or publisher

A Good follow up to the 1st book

This is a Good follow-up book to " Crused Cocktails" and I thoughly enjoyed it. I have to say I liked book q more in various ways I would be hard pressed to articulate. I like how the two books are separate stories, but interconnect at the Tavern 🍺. The Narrator once agadoes a Wounderful job with all the characters voices and the entire storyline.

Strong sequel to Cursed Cocktails

This book went in very different directions than I expected based on the main character's introduction in the first book of the series, but ultimately it gave a satisfying conclusion to a concise adventure story. Devotees of the cozy fantasy genre may object to some of the tensions and violence in this book, but like the first it isn't particularly gratuitous or intense. If you liked the first one, this offers more of the same, though with different adorable animal companions and a focus on adventurous places rather than mystery and connecting in a city. The narration is similarly strong.

It also holds up well enough that you could start with this book and not miss out, but I do recommend listening in order.