A review by frootlupo
A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher

adventurous inspiring lighthearted fast-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? No

4.25

A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking was a cute, lighthearted, cozy adventure, with more depth than I was expecting. 
 
 Full to the brim with baking puns and metaphors, this book was one of the cases where I got exactly what I was expecting and hoping for when I picked up this book. After a few heavier books I was looking for something light and engaging - something that would be easy to read and enjoy. Defensive baking scratched that itch exactly and then some. The book positively oozed charm, and I was along for the ride almost immediately. In the most positive of ways, this is absolutely a book you can judge by its cover. My only small gripe was the occasional joke or line that was used a little too frequently for my taste.
 
 All that being said, the book had a hidden depth I wasn’t expecting. There was a moment when I thought I must be nearing the climax of the book, and it turns out I was only around halfway, and there was an entire other act that propelled the book even further. 
 
 Overall I think this book accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do. If the title and cover have piqued your interest, you’re almost certainly going to enjoy the book.