I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance by Chiara Bullen Published by Del Rey on July 7 2026
Genres: Adult, Cozy fantasy
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon, Buy on Bookshop.org
Goodreads
The nitty-gritty: The perfect antidote to action-heavy fantasy, The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance has surprising depth, well drawn characters, and a nice found family vibe.
“Climbing a mountain is more than simply striving for the peak, Ainsworth.”
For a book that got off to a very shaky start, I was surprised by how much I ended up enjoying The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance. This is an extremely low stakes, cozy fantasy that focuses on the characters more than anything else. For me, it was one of those books that grew on me, and by the time I hit the mid point, I was completely invested in Ainsworth and Honey and how their relationship would play out. There’s also a mystery threaded throughout the story that kept me turning the pages, as well as a host of delightfully quirky side characters.
Ainsworth Gladsly is a scholar who has been given an unusual (and frankly, unwelcome) assignment—to leave his beloved Skarrow Library to investigate a mysterious mountain, which is shrouded in lore, rumors and speculation. Mount Vengeance is said to be the home of a fierce dragon, and Ainsworth’s job is to interview the “adventurers” who attempt to climb the mountain and face the beast. He knows this could be his big chance to propel himself to fame, provided he can uncover the mysteries of Mount Vengeance. At the foot of the mountain lies the Misnich Inn, the base camp, so to speak, for those making the journey to the mountain, and this is where Ainsworth plans to stay while he’s conducting his research.
But when he arrives, he’s greeted with suspicion by the innkeeper and her staff. He expected to find a lively inn teeming with adventurers getting ready to climb the mountain, but the inn is nearly empty of guests. Even worse, no one seems excited to have a scholar in their presence. Ainsworth, it turns out, thrives on attention and accolades, but Honey, the innkeeper, seems unimpressed with his status, fine clothing and his huge ego. The Inn’s guard, a tyflan named Ashe, is downright hostile and wants nothing to do with him.
But as the days pass and Ainsworth slowly gets to know Honey, Ashe and the other staff members, he realizes there’s an even bigger mystery afoot. The adventurers who do come to the inn inevitably decide not to scale the mountain and face the dragon, leaving Ainsworth with no one to interview for his book. Something is going on, and Ainsworth is determined to figure it out.
Ainsworth was the biggest surprise for me in this book. At first I couldn’t believe what a pompous ass he was, literally preening in front of mirrors and bragging about his status as a big city scholar. No wonder everyone at the inn was giving him the cold shoulder! But then things begin to change. Ashe calls him out on his rudeness, and Ainsworth begins to realize that if he wants to befriend these people, he’s going to have to take a good, hard look at himself. It’s a bit awkward at first. The reader knows how annoying he is and it’s painful to watch him face the truth. I loved the way the author handled his growth, which felt believable and made me start to love him.
The story also focuses on other types of personal growth, like reevaluating your life and figuring out what might actually make you happy. Ainsworth is obsessed with being recognized in his field, and his whole adult life has been geared toward a successful career. It isn’t until he leaves the city for the remote Misnich Inn that his research starts to feel less important. The friends he’s making, especially his growing romantic feelings for Honey, take on greater importance. Small moments, like sharing a delicious meal or chatting over drinks at the bar, make him feel real happiness, perhaps for the first time in his life. He is still passionate about research and learning, though, so it’s just a matter of striking the right balance.
Bullen’s secondary fantasy world is fascinating, full of different types of creatures (some of them based on Scottish folklore, I believe) who all seem to get along for the most part. The author doesn’t delve too deeply into the world, but it was just enough to get a sense of history and how things are connected.
Most of the tension comes from a man in Ainsworth’s past named Enach, another scholar and Ainsworth’s ex-romantic partner. Enach is a controlling, gaslighting jerk who tries to get Ainsworth to come home, and it was so stressful to watch those scenes unfold.
I also loved the mystery of why the adventurers kept changing their minds about climbing the mountain. When the reason is finally revealed, it was not what I expected at all, and it also ties in with a nice twist having to do with the dragon.
For readers looking for a break from heavy, action packed fantasy, The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance would be an excellent book to pick up. With a slow build, sweet romance, cozy elements like found family and good food, and an engaging mystery (despite the low stakes), I found myself smiling throughout the story.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
Leave a Reply