Review: The Muffin Man (The Magic Emporium) by Kim Fielding

Morli is a prince on a mission—but he’d rather be baking.

Baxter is a lonely production artist stuck in a pandemic lockdown.

They are literally universes apart. But with a little help from a magic shop, a raven, and a dead great-aunt who was possibly a witch, Morli and Baxter are joined together on a cross-worlds adventure. Battling killer brambles in order to rescue an enchanted princess seems simple compared to their real challenges: discovering their strengths and creating a future together.

The Muffin Man is part of the Magic Emporium Series. Each book stands alone, but each one features an appearance by Marden’s Magic Emporium, a shop that can appear anywhere, but only once and only when someone is in dire need. This book contains reluctant heroes, sentient sourdough starter, lots of carbs, and a guaranteed HEA.

A super sweet addition to the Magic Emporium series, where different authors contribute to a shared premise.

Here, Morli is a doomed prince. His family can’t accept his less than royal proclivities towards baking and force him on a mission to save an equally doomed princess who lays sleeping in a tower guarded by impervious brambles. Said mission is basically a failure before it even starts, but Morli is saved somehow as he’s magically revived in another dimension, falling into the human arms of Baxter.

Baxter is sad and lonely, stuck in his apartment due to Covid-19 regulations with nothing that really garners his interest or incites his passion. When he comes across a curious shop, Baxter’s forced to buy 3 magical feathers, and unbeknownst to him, his life will never be the same as he unwittingly wishes upon one of them for happiness. No one’s more shocked than Baxter, who finds an otherworldly naked man on his back porch.

What I liked about this quasi retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairytale is that both Baxter and Morli have been dealt a few shitty cards. However, a chance at perhaps being better, in doing the right thing, by stepping out of their comfort zones, they both find an inner strength and resolve they didn’t know was possible. Happiness needs to be fought for and that includes not only in finding something you love to do but also finding someone to love and share that life with.

Though quite simple (and not explicit), Fielding creates a plausible slow burn for our heroes who are very likeable. Fans will enjoy her foray into the fantasy paranormal where the Magic Emporium knows what’s best for all!