Reviews with content warning for Fire/Fire injury - A Rival Most Vial

this was a rly cute read! a rival most vial was my first cozy fantasy, and it was a fun, lighthearted read w/ a lot of heart and also grounded in relatable issues.

the characters are truly what make this book; not only ames and eli, but also the other characters particularly those on rosemont street, who all shine both individually and together. for the main couple, i enjoy the true enemies-to-lovers relationship and seeing them both develop and grow thruout the book; their internal issues and conflict are v much relatable and add depth to the story, and theyre a v cute couple who gives me butterflies. i also love the bond between everyone on rosemont st that truly envelops the found family trope; theyre super wholesome and heartwarming.

meanwhile, the writing flows nicely and is never an issue, fitting at all the right moments. as for the worldbuilding, for the immediate vicinity it's nice, giving the reader an atmosphere of the scar but it doesnt rly extend much beyond that to the other parts of the kingdom. perhaps ashwick will explore that more in the sequels. i do like the unique layout of the scar tho, and it's undeniable that the setting makes the book cozy as much as the characters.

i have one main issue w/ the book, however, w/ how it doesnt focus enough on the consequences of some characters' actions. thruout the novel, whenever sth happens the fault is often pinned on ames and he's called to apologize, w/ no mention of the party's part in the issue, namely dawn and - towards the end - eli. for the latter it ends too abruptly, w/ no mention of the hows and whys whatsoever of

his shop blowing up and the immediate aftermath of that is skipped

. dawn is the one that upsets me more tho, doing what she did despite being aware of ames' deeper issues, and instead it's only ames whos expected to plan a whole apology tour for trying to save her. she also doesnt seem to have changed at all from the incident, remaining an overachiever (or more like overcommitter) despite the consequences it could wreak on not only herself but those around her, and there's no discussion of her issues at all, which is disappointing.

in conclusion this novel does have its issues, but it's still an enjoyable, lighthearted read thats could make one feel both giddy and cozy. i look forward to the sequel!

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clarabooksit's review against another edition

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emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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ettagrace's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

**I received a copy of this book from the author and volunteered to leave an honest review.**

The best word to describe this book is “Delightful.” It’s a quick, entertaining, and exciting read, perfect for if you need something cosy to curl up with in the car on your way to a mandatory family field trip. It takes place in a world inspired by your typical sword and sorcery fantasy settings, and takes a closer look at what the NPCs are doing while your party is off saving the world. The strength of the worldbuilding comes not from elaborate politics or original species, but from the charming minutia of daily life – the dumplings at a favorite tavern, mail getting postponed by griffin migrations, contending with the whims of the local government, which sinkhole to scavenge for the best moss, and of course, the eponymous rival potion shops vying for customers.

The protagonists each have unique and memorable personalities, voices, and mannerisms that make both sides of the rivalry sympathetic and lovable. There were a couple moments at the very beginning when I wished they would simply talk to each other like grownups, the not-quite-a-fight scene giving me a bit of secondhand embarrassment for poor Ambrose and his busted knuckles. However, their original misunderstandings stem from differences in their backstories you learn later in the book, which puts everything into perspective. Both of their arcs were heartfelt and well-resolved, and the romance was really fun to read as well, as they both come to terms with their feelings, and then navigate a new relationship with career plans in mind.

The side characters are also wonderful in their own ways. Dawn’s friendship with Ambrose is a driving side-plot, and it’s interesting to explore how these very different personalities interact and support each other. Banneker is wonderfully weird and confident in his role as comedic relief, as well as a supportive friend. Sherry and Grim are the protective parents of the ragtag found family. I found it a fun subversion that the orcish Grim works with delicate jewelry, while the little old lady is the village blacksmith and armorer. I also would be remiss to end this review without a mention of the fantastical technobabble about potion reagents and procedure, or the fantastic illustrations. As a chemistry nerd myself, it was a blast to read about people who do the fantasy-version of my line of work. Even the chapter titles are the steps in a potion recipie!

I highly recommend A Rival Most Vial, as well as R.K.’s other series, starting with The Stray Spirit!

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silentrequiem's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This was utterly delightful. If you ever wondered about the lives of the shopkeepers in the high fantasy adventuring games, wonder no more. Ashwick creates a wonderful world featuring the shopkeepers of Rosemond Street, who cater to the adventuring parties trying their luck deep in the caves where their town is built, or farther afield. Ambrose runs the potion shop, and Eli opens up another potion shop directly across the street.

This is a cozy queer romance, enemies to friends to lovers, found family, high fantasy tale that I absolutely fell into. I loved the characters, who were very flawed, the absurd circumstances that have them forced to work together, and the sweet family of Rosemond Street who all look out for each other. I highly enjoyed this.

Review copy courtesy of the author via LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program. I am leaving a review voluntarily and received no compensation for the review.

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mirroroftoomanybooks's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review—and I loved it.

The characters stole my heart with their perfectly normal fantasy lives, no need for heavy action or high stakes. It’s an incredibly fun story that goes way beyond the rivals-to-lovers plot between Eli and Ambrose, also including minor situations about friends, getting ingredients and checking cisterns that felt so cozy and interesting I was never bored, even after the main plot ended.

Rosemond Street is populated by darlings. I could’ve spent much longer there with its found family of shopkeepers.

But of course the main attraction is Ambrose and Eli, and their insta-hatred caused by business rivalry and personality clash. The way they went about it (in almost childish antics) had me giggling, and then tearing up when we learn more about the characters’ past and insecurities. I rarely cry reading a book, but Ambrose’s childhood made me blubber.

It's easy to understand why everyone in the Scar adores this (apparently) misanthropic grouch; Ames was my favorite too. He’s a devoted character who cares about helping others through his work and would do anything for his loved ones. There’s a lot of mush under the prickly surface that made me want to squish him until he felt loved.

Not to say I didn’t like Eli: it would’ve been impossible to dislike his sunny personality. His homesickness for belonging somewhere, finding a calling or even just finding something he can stand doing for long—besides simply missing his family—was very sympathetic.

The Best Character Award, though, goes to Miss Tomato the Cutest Automaton.

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ambers's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Are you someone who reads LoTR and thinks 'wow, I wish we'd spent more time watching the Hobbits do their funky little thing?' Do you enjoy enemies to lovers, but often go 'hmm not enough punching each other and ALSO not enough tenderness and explicit consent'? Have you ever played Apothecaria? I could go on, but if you're nodding along even a little, then A Rival Most Vial is the read for you.

This is my first foray into the 'low stakes/cozy fantasy' genre, but I suspect not my last. I want to be clear that when I say 'low stakes' I don't mean low effort or low engagement - I was every bit as invested in Ambrose and Eli as I was when I read Rand's journey to the Eye of the World earlier this year. What I mean by that is our dual protagonists are focused on healing from trauma, loving their families (both by blood and of choice), and finding their way in the world, rather than changing all of history somehow. And honestly, isn't that just as rewarding to see?

From start to finish, this book is just such a joy to read, and there are many little touches that make it feel like a true labor of love on the author's part. For example, the titles are potion instructions. Each of our dual POV characters gets his own themed potion bottle to start their chapters. There's an art break midway through. But these are all bonuses, because at its core, this is just a wonderful story. Reading through Eli and Ambrose's love story left me feeling warm and fuzzy, and the world around them is just as delightful. Oh, to go shopping on Rosemond Street one day!

Of all places to find this novel, I randomly stumbled across this author posting on an ARC readers subreddit. So, I obligatory 'I got this for free, and this is my unbiased review' - but honestly, I feel very fortunate to have read this book, and I recommend people keep an eye out for it when it releases on 03/20/2023!

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