Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing me with a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
A cozy slice-of-life romantic fantasy set in a Regency-inspired world where humans and fairies compete for artistic supremacy, from Sylvie Cathrall, author of A Letter to the Luminous Deep.
On her first day working in the prince’s galleries, art conservator Florrie Hyverfell discovers that the most famous portrait in the collection is not only a fake―it’s also inhabited by Vern, a fairy trapped in the forged painting.
Tracking down the stolen original is the only way for Florrie to save her job and for Vern to escape his canvas. Yet as they journey to a famed fairy museum to find the missing artwork, Florrie finds herself taking more than an art historical interest in the changeling painting’s charming inhabitant.
My Review
The Art of Charming a Changeling is exactly what it sounds like: an absolute delight. This book felt like curling up with a warm cup of tea, cozy and sweet and charming in every possible way. Cozy romantasy is not typically my go-to, but this one completely won me over.
Florrie is such a wonderfully well-rounded protagonist. She’s smart, passionate, and deeply knowledgeable about her work, but also shy, awkward, and quietly working toward becoming more confident and independent. Her autism representation feels genuinely true and thoughtful, and I loved how kind and accepting the people around her are. The only character who provides any real friction around her neurodivergence is her cousin Chary, who I suspect becomes a main character in the next book, so Chary, please do better.
And then there’s Vern, who is unlike any MMC I’ve read in romantasy. He’s sweet, soft, quiet, and gentle. He’s short and a little rounder than the typical tall and broad romantic lead, which I found genuinely refreshing. He’s also in constant motion, always spinning yarn or weaving or embroidering something, and I strongly suspect he’s ADHD representation. I loved him completely.
This book is also a full-on love letter to art and museums, and you can feel that passion on every single page. The world is obsessed with art in the best possible way, and all the details about conservation, painting, and art history are so fun and interesting. The pacing is slow, but it never bothered me because reading this felt like luxuriating in something wonderful. The ending wasn’t what I expected, but it was exactly right for both characters.
THE GOOD:
- Genuinely delightful, cozy, and sweet from start to finish
- Florrie is a beautifully written autistic protagonist with thoughtful, true representation
- Vern is a completely refreshing MMC, soft, gentle, short, and absolutely loveable
- The slow burn romance is tender and earned
- The ending is unexpected but perfect
- A genuine love letter to art, museums, and conservation
THE NOT-AS-GOOD:
- The pacing is slow, which won’t work for every reader
- Chary is kind of a jerk (hoping for a redemption arc in book two!)
THE NEUTRAL:
- This is a very low stakes, character driven cozy romantasy, so if you need plot momentum and high tension, this may not be for you
- The art and museum details are extensive, which is a delight if that’s your thing
OVERALL RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The Art of Charming a Changeling is a warm, tender, utterly charming cozy romantasy with some of the most refreshing character representation in the genre and a love story that earns every single page.
PERFECT FOR:
- Fans of cozy, low stakes romantasy with genuine heart
- Readers who love thoughtful neurodivergent representation
- Anyone who wants a soft, gentle MMC for once
- Art lovers and museum nerds
- Readers looking for a slow burn that actually pays off
