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The Confectioner Chronicles #1
The Confectioner's Guild
A magic cupcake. A culinary killer. The perfect recipe for murder.
Wren knew her sweet treats could work wonders, but she never knew they could work magic. She barely has time to wrap her head around the stunning revelation when the head of the prestigious Confectioner’s Guild falls down dead before her. Poisoned by her cupcake.
Now facing murder charges in a magical world she doesn’t understand, Wren must discover who framed her or face the headsman’s axe. With the help of a handsome inspector and several new friends, Wren just might manage to learn the ropes, master her new powers, and find out who framed her. But when their search for clues leads to a deep-rooted conspiracy that goes all the way to the top, she realizes that the guild master isn’t the only one at risk of death by chocolate.
If Wren can’t bring the powerful culprit to justice, she and her friends will meet a bittersweet end.
The Confectioner’s Guild is a delicious YA fantasy mystery. If you like spunky chefs and twisty mysteries with a drizzle of romance, then you’ll love Claire Luana’s scrumptious tale that’s sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Buy The Confectioner’s Guild to conquer your cravings with a magical mystery today!326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2018
About the author
Claire Luana
31 books632 followersClaire Luana grew up reading everything she could get her hands on and writing every chance she could. Eventually, adulthood won out, and she turned her writing talents to more scholarly pursuits, going to work as a commercial litigation attorney at a mid-sized law firm. While continuing to practice law, Claire decided to return to her roots and try her hand once again at creative writing.
She has written and published five series, the Moonburner Cycle, the Confectioner Chronicles, the Mythical Alliance, the Knights of Caerleon, with Jesikah Sundin, and the Faerie Race, with J.A. Armitage. She lives in Cle Elum, Washington with her husband and two dogs. In her (little) remaining spare time, she loves to hike, travel, binge-watch CW shows, and of course, fall into a good book.
Check her out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/claireluana/
She has written and published five series, the Moonburner Cycle, the Confectioner Chronicles, the Mythical Alliance, the Knights of Caerleon, with Jesikah Sundin, and the Faerie Race, with J.A. Armitage. She lives in Cle Elum, Washington with her husband and two dogs. In her (little) remaining spare time, she loves to hike, travel, binge-watch CW shows, and of course, fall into a good book.
Check her out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/claireluana/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 422 reviews
September 6, 2020
Second Read 06/09/2020
Re Read with the amazing Darce in our Buddy Reads group! Thank beautiful for agreeing to read this series with me 🥰💕
I can’t believe it’s been almost exactly two years ago since I last read this book, and can I say I am in love with it such as much as the first time I read it.
True it didn’t have the same suspense as it did the first time you read a book but figuring out what happens next was always fun, and sometimes you pick up small details you hadn’t realise especially once you knew who the real killer was. There was definitely hints of it that you don’t notice the first time cause your mind is set on another character. That’s what I call great detective writing! Hat off to you Claire 🤠😎
Definitely a Series worth picking up, especially on days when you need a little burst of sunshine and you want to crave all the sweets! This book is delightful and great vibes throughout.
Makes me appreciate all the characters more, like Hale and Sable, Lucas and Virgil, even Olivia and Violena. Can’t wait to read more of these characters in the next book.
Once again thanks Darce for reading with me, onto our next Buddy Read!
First Read: 20/09/18
This is too good to miss! A must read!
I am so glad the author decided to give out arc copies months before we had to review it by release date.
One, because of my crazy schedule, I barely have enough time to read a book all in one go like I use to, and two, i was able to take my time and enjoy this incredible journey with Wren!
Wren is a very talented confectioner. She works for her master at an ordinary bakery, baking and decorating beautiful cupcakes and other sweets.
To the eyes of the customers, she has a wonderful and average. But Wren's past is anything but wonderful, and her life becomes even more confusing when she has captured the attention of the Guildmaster and is forced to leave her shop and see him.
But, the most unexpected happened (please note this is not a spoiler since it's said in the description blurb of this book), the Guildmaster is poisoned and Wren is blamed for it!
Now Wren finds herself in a position with no friends or family or allies to defend her. But she has been given the chance to prove her innocence before the king's inquisitor arrives in a months time. It's a race against time for Wren to find out who framed her for the death of the Guildmaster before she has to suffer the tortures of the inquisitor.
During her quest, Wren makes unexpected allies, who become her friend, her family and allies, and yet, if she cannot find the real killer, her time with them will be cut short.
You simply cannot pass up this incredible journey! It's such a delight to find out who killed the Guildmaster, why he was killed and most importantly, who betrayed them
It was so good to act as a detective and try to figure out who did it. But let me tell you, the one who did was not even on my list!
Amazing, amazing, amazing till the end! I foresee my new favourite series of the year!
If you want mystery, betrayal, humour, sexy flirting, with a hint of romance and action in your books, then series is for you!!
Re Read with the amazing Darce in our Buddy Reads group! Thank beautiful for agreeing to read this series with me 🥰💕
I can’t believe it’s been almost exactly two years ago since I last read this book, and can I say I am in love with it such as much as the first time I read it.
True it didn’t have the same suspense as it did the first time you read a book but figuring out what happens next was always fun, and sometimes you pick up small details you hadn’t realise especially once you knew who the real killer was. There was definitely hints of it that you don’t notice the first time cause your mind is set on another character. That’s what I call great detective writing! Hat off to you Claire 🤠😎
Definitely a Series worth picking up, especially on days when you need a little burst of sunshine and you want to crave all the sweets! This book is delightful and great vibes throughout.
Makes me appreciate all the characters more, like Hale and Sable, Lucas and Virgil, even Olivia and Violena. Can’t wait to read more of these characters in the next book.
Once again thanks Darce for reading with me, onto our next Buddy Read!
First Read: 20/09/18
This is too good to miss! A must read!
I am so glad the author decided to give out arc copies months before we had to review it by release date.
One, because of my crazy schedule, I barely have enough time to read a book all in one go like I use to, and two, i was able to take my time and enjoy this incredible journey with Wren!
Wren is a very talented confectioner. She works for her master at an ordinary bakery, baking and decorating beautiful cupcakes and other sweets.
To the eyes of the customers, she has a wonderful and average. But Wren's past is anything but wonderful, and her life becomes even more confusing when she has captured the attention of the Guildmaster and is forced to leave her shop and see him.
But, the most unexpected happened (please note this is not a spoiler since it's said in the description blurb of this book), the Guildmaster is poisoned and Wren is blamed for it!
Now Wren finds herself in a position with no friends or family or allies to defend her. But she has been given the chance to prove her innocence before the king's inquisitor arrives in a months time. It's a race against time for Wren to find out who framed her for the death of the Guildmaster before she has to suffer the tortures of the inquisitor.
During her quest, Wren makes unexpected allies, who become her friend, her family and allies, and yet, if she cannot find the real killer, her time with them will be cut short.
You simply cannot pass up this incredible journey! It's such a delight to find out who killed the Guildmaster, why he was killed and most importantly, who betrayed them
It was so good to act as a detective and try to figure out who did it. But let me tell you, the one who did was not even on my list!
Amazing, amazing, amazing till the end! I foresee my new favourite series of the year!
If you want mystery, betrayal, humour, sexy flirting, with a hint of romance and action in your books, then series is for you!!
September 7, 2020
Reread with the beautiful Karen!!!
Wonderful story! Cute, interesting, mysterious, romantic, and the story had some really nice messages. All up this is such a fun book :))
~~~
Recommended by Karen 😊
I read this because it was recommended by the lovely Karen, and I’m glad I did. It was a fun and entertaining read about magic and baking with some romance to spice everything up. There was mystery and there was murder, betrayal and bonds formed, and throughout the book you got to find out the wonder of baking magic. This book reminded me slightly of Chocolat (there are clear similarities with baking and magic) but this book had the story of a girl framed for murder.
Wren is an ordinary MC who actually had the emotions of a normal girl, which was good. She’s an orphan but throughout the book she finds new family, as well as some romance with a slight love triangle. There is a little bit of torture in The Confectioner’s Guild, but it’s a small amount and there isn’t much detail.
Thanks to Karen for this recommendation and I look forward to reading future books in this series!
Wonderful story! Cute, interesting, mysterious, romantic, and the story had some really nice messages. All up this is such a fun book :))
~~~
Recommended by Karen 😊
I read this because it was recommended by the lovely Karen, and I’m glad I did. It was a fun and entertaining read about magic and baking with some romance to spice everything up. There was mystery and there was murder, betrayal and bonds formed, and throughout the book you got to find out the wonder of baking magic. This book reminded me slightly of Chocolat (there are clear similarities with baking and magic) but this book had the story of a girl framed for murder.
Wren is an ordinary MC who actually had the emotions of a normal girl, which was good. She’s an orphan but throughout the book she finds new family, as well as some romance with a slight love triangle. There is a little bit of torture in The Confectioner’s Guild, but it’s a small amount and there isn’t much detail.
Thanks to Karen for this recommendation and I look forward to reading future books in this series!
November 1, 2018
So I knew I was going to enjoy this. I loved Claire Luana's Moonburner Cycle, after all. But I wasn't sure I'd like this as much since I was somehow under the impression it would be more fluffy and lighthearted.
SO NOT TRUE.
This is NOT a fluffy or lighthearted story. It's very different from Moonburner, yes, but it's full of the same high stakes and drama and excitement and near-deaths-and-escapes. Not to mention incredible world-building, a fantastic kickbutt lead heroine, and a very charming hero. Oh, and a completely fascinating villain who might be more of an anti-hero? Maybe? I guess we'll see how the next book develops.
Anyway, yes. Definitely a new fav, and I highly recommend it to EVERYONE.
SO NOT TRUE.
This is NOT a fluffy or lighthearted story. It's very different from Moonburner, yes, but it's full of the same high stakes and drama and excitement and near-deaths-and-escapes. Not to mention incredible world-building, a fantastic kickbutt lead heroine, and a very charming hero. Oh, and a completely fascinating villain who might be more of an anti-hero? Maybe? I guess we'll see how the next book develops.
Anyway, yes. Definitely a new fav, and I highly recommend it to EVERYONE.
July 26, 2022
Though THE CONFECTIONER'S GUILD brings some sweet ideas with a mystery to whet your appetite, it sours with cliché, clumsy and often obnoxious attempts to create drama and the complete 180 of priorities when the two stereotypical and underbaked love interests are introduced.
DNF at 24%.
I read this on public transport and the amount of times I rolled my eyes must have been a cause for concern for other passengers.
What drew me to THE CONFECTIONER'S GUILD is the mystery mixed with quirky baking antics. For the most part, this novel opens well, introducing a fairly standard and somewhat generic protagonist Wren, with auburn curls, as the orphan-turned-baking prodigy apprentice of her master with a magical gift that thrusts her into the world of the Confectioner's Guild. Add a murder by poison, and I'm intrigued.
... And then love interest 1 was introduced. The Douchebag. Wren, sixteen years old with auburn curls, goes absolutely gaga for him. Forget that they've just met, forget that she's only trial for murder, forget that he's one of those assholes who negs a girl when he likes her... this bloke is super hot! He has bronze abs! When he teases her it's so annoying but also sexy! He his gorgeous long golden locks and a sharp jawline! He's godlike! It doesn't stop. She has just met this guy, and already she slobbers over him like a puppy over a bowl of kibble.
Also Wren, the girl with auburn hair, utters this line: "No doubt [the Douchebag] had sampled choicer morsels than she". Just... what the frack?
THEN we get love interest number 2, the Inspector. He's stoic, dark, but gentle and helpful and four (?) years her senior. The age gap is iffy at best, gross at worst, and Wren also fawns over his lavish locks and his chiselled jaw that she "suddenly wanted to run her fingers over"... because that makes sense. This person is also the inspector helping her murder case, btw, if there wasn't anything else to add to the frustrated cringe of the budding romance already. Isn't that illegal? She even hugs him and they share a moment... because of course (keep in mind it's not even a quarter of the way through yet...).
The Douchebag and the Inspector even have a hostile meet-up and get their nuts in a twist of jealousy, Inspector getting overprotective over Wren and the Douchebag riling the Inspector over it. The Inspector warns Wren off the Douchebag because "he's just that type of guy and you don't want to be with him".
Utterly infuriating.
My hunch is that the Douchebag is the real murderer, but Wren is going to fall for his charms, realise it too late, then come crawling back to the Inspector. Obviously this whole love chevron is done just so we can splooge over these two handsome men that are hot for this self-insert for me— er, I mean, vanilla protagonist that is totally not meant to be a reader stand-in. Hah.
Auburn-haired Wren also laments that people have called her "skinny thing" as if this is supposed to be unflattering. She's thin but hates being called thin! Woe is her! (Note: she specifically uses the phrase 'skinny thing', rather than something that does actually have cause for concern, such as underfed, malnourished, or anorexic.)
Aside from that, you also have the generic Best Friend, Evil Mentor and Bitchy Rival. There's probably more, but then I'd have to read on, and I'd rather not.
Btw, did I mention that Wren has auburn hair? Because it's auburn. In case you didn't know. Auburn.
WILL I READ ON? Frankly, I'd rather drink that poison.
eARC received from Live Edge Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This title releases 28th October 2018.
LAST REVIEW
DNF at 24%.
I read this on public transport and the amount of times I rolled my eyes must have been a cause for concern for other passengers.
What drew me to THE CONFECTIONER'S GUILD is the mystery mixed with quirky baking antics. For the most part, this novel opens well, introducing a fairly standard and somewhat generic protagonist Wren, with auburn curls, as the orphan-turned-baking prodigy apprentice of her master with a magical gift that thrusts her into the world of the Confectioner's Guild. Add a murder by poison, and I'm intrigued.
... And then love interest 1 was introduced. The Douchebag. Wren, sixteen years old with auburn curls, goes absolutely gaga for him. Forget that they've just met, forget that she's only trial for murder, forget that he's one of those assholes who negs a girl when he likes her... this bloke is super hot! He has bronze abs! When he teases her it's so annoying but also sexy! He his gorgeous long golden locks and a sharp jawline! He's godlike! It doesn't stop. She has just met this guy, and already she slobbers over him like a puppy over a bowl of kibble.
Also Wren, the girl with auburn hair, utters this line: "No doubt [the Douchebag] had sampled choicer morsels than she". Just... what the frack?
THEN we get love interest number 2, the Inspector. He's stoic, dark, but gentle and helpful and four (?) years her senior. The age gap is iffy at best, gross at worst, and Wren also fawns over his lavish locks and his chiselled jaw that she "suddenly wanted to run her fingers over"... because that makes sense. This person is also the inspector helping her murder case, btw, if there wasn't anything else to add to the frustrated cringe of the budding romance already. Isn't that illegal? She even hugs him and they share a moment... because of course (keep in mind it's not even a quarter of the way through yet...).
The Douchebag and the Inspector even have a hostile meet-up and get their nuts in a twist of jealousy, Inspector getting overprotective over Wren and the Douchebag riling the Inspector over it. The Inspector warns Wren off the Douchebag because "he's just that type of guy and you don't want to be with him".
Utterly infuriating.
My hunch is that the Douchebag is the real murderer, but Wren is going to fall for his charms, realise it too late, then come crawling back to the Inspector. Obviously this whole love chevron is done just so we can splooge over these two handsome men that are hot for this self-insert for me— er, I mean, vanilla protagonist that is totally not meant to be a reader stand-in. Hah.
Auburn-haired Wren also laments that people have called her "skinny thing" as if this is supposed to be unflattering. She's thin but hates being called thin! Woe is her! (Note: she specifically uses the phrase 'skinny thing', rather than something that does actually have cause for concern, such as underfed, malnourished, or anorexic.)
Aside from that, you also have the generic Best Friend, Evil Mentor and Bitchy Rival. There's probably more, but then I'd have to read on, and I'd rather not.
Btw, did I mention that Wren has auburn hair? Because it's auburn. In case you didn't know. Auburn.
WILL I READ ON? Frankly, I'd rather drink that poison.
eARC received from Live Edge Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This title releases 28th October 2018.
LAST REVIEW
March 17, 2020
My first impressions were very good, I was enthusiastic and ready for a very good read. The ebook I received is lovely, with two beautiful maps and very soigné chapters' font. Alas I became quickly disillusioned...
The good points were plentiful: a classic setting but an original and fascinating magic. This aspect I loved. The whole pseudo Harry Potter situation was nice, too: a young girl discovering that she has some incredible magic, a best kept secret between some happy few, a young girl who makes friends, enemies, learns about a world she had never dreamed off... Quite undearing.
But I couldn't cope with all the improbability and stopped reading at the half.
You can't (or shouldn't be able to) write a pleasant story of a girl living a brand new life, with all its niceties and little pleasures (testing delicious food, bantering with a spirited affectionate sexy young male, being flustered by another one, wearing brand new dresses, chatting with a bestie) if the girl is about to be torture to death in two weeks for a crime she hasn't commited. And it's not as she doesn't think about it. She actually thinks about it all the time. But like one would think about missing an important exam, or being expelled, or being exiled. I don't believe one minute that someone could lead such a normal existence with such a horrific possible end hanging above their head. She shouldn't be able to sleep, to eat, to live properly. She should be scare to death all the time !
Well, it's the so classic error of Young Adult's books, which want to mix some tragic and dark fate with some modern (high school caricature) story. And the reason I appreciate less and less last YA publications...
The heroine's psychology is all around improbable, she doesn't exist as a person, restricted to a two dimensional character. Born very poor, has lived on a streets as a child before being rescued by a confectioner who has kept her working like a well-kept slave, she still behaves like a modernish sixteen-year-old. It's supposed to be comfortable for the reader, I guess, but for me it seemed very silly and keeps me from enjoying the story...
An another point is dramatically stupid, I'm sorry to say: since the beginning of the book the heroine is helped by a nice police officer who understands that she's accused of a murder without any proof or even common sense. He has all the reasons to find the murderer. He asks her to take pains to find any clue useful for the investigation. Unusual but why not. But nothing is ever done properly! The heroine, some days later, suddenly think to go and ask who has purchased the fatal cupcakes. Yes, because seemingly the police officer hadn't think about that himself!! It's not the only example but the most offensive.
It's shame because this story had many qualities and could have been a nice if not unforgettable read.
Still, if I you don't mind logical flaws in a book, as much for characters' psychologies as for plot devices, and if the book's presentation appeals to you, you'll probably enjoyed this book, which isn't lacking in personality for all its classical YA themes.
The good points were plentiful: a classic setting but an original and fascinating magic. This aspect I loved. The whole pseudo Harry Potter situation was nice, too: a young girl discovering that she has some incredible magic, a best kept secret between some happy few, a young girl who makes friends, enemies, learns about a world she had never dreamed off... Quite undearing.
But I couldn't cope with all the improbability and stopped reading at the half.
You can't (or shouldn't be able to) write a pleasant story of a girl living a brand new life, with all its niceties and little pleasures (testing delicious food, bantering with a spirited affectionate sexy young male, being flustered by another one, wearing brand new dresses, chatting with a bestie) if the girl is about to be torture to death in two weeks for a crime she hasn't commited. And it's not as she doesn't think about it. She actually thinks about it all the time. But like one would think about missing an important exam, or being expelled, or being exiled. I don't believe one minute that someone could lead such a normal existence with such a horrific possible end hanging above their head. She shouldn't be able to sleep, to eat, to live properly. She should be scare to death all the time !
Well, it's the so classic error of Young Adult's books, which want to mix some tragic and dark fate with some modern (high school caricature) story. And the reason I appreciate less and less last YA publications...
The heroine's psychology is all around improbable, she doesn't exist as a person, restricted to a two dimensional character. Born very poor, has lived on a streets as a child before being rescued by a confectioner who has kept her working like a well-kept slave, she still behaves like a modernish sixteen-year-old. It's supposed to be comfortable for the reader, I guess, but for me it seemed very silly and keeps me from enjoying the story...
An another point is dramatically stupid, I'm sorry to say: since the beginning of the book the heroine is helped by a nice police officer who understands that she's accused of a murder without any proof or even common sense. He has all the reasons to find the murderer. He asks her to take pains to find any clue useful for the investigation. Unusual but why not. But nothing is ever done properly! The heroine, some days later, suddenly think to go and ask who has purchased the fatal cupcakes. Yes, because seemingly the police officer hadn't think about that himself!! It's not the only example but the most offensive.
It's shame because this story had many qualities and could have been a nice if not unforgettable read.
Still, if I you don't mind logical flaws in a book, as much for characters' psychologies as for plot devices, and if the book's presentation appeals to you, you'll probably enjoyed this book, which isn't lacking in personality for all its classical YA themes.
September 29, 2018
A fun, delicious story about Wren, a young woman who was "discovered" for her tantalizing--and magical--confections and brought to join the prestigious Confectioner's Guild. Except that as soon as she arrives, she becomes a murder suspect, with only a few weeks to help clear her good name. This was a fun, fantastical and food-filled read, a page-turner that will both satisfy and yet, leave you hungry for more. The good news? This is only the first in the series.
October 20, 2018
This book was so much fun to read. It was like a Harry Potter book with magical food! We get a fantastic and well-written story. It was very well paced. The world building was excellent. It had a mystery that kept me guessing until the end. A little romance. Some great friendships. A likable cast of characters (even if all of them acted a decade older than they were supposed to be). I enjoyed it a lot and can't wait to get my hands on the next book. This one gets two thumbs up from yours truly.
August 11, 2020
Thank you to Live Edge Publishing and Netgalley for sending me an ARC to review, although all opinions and comments are of my own.
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*All of my reviews are as spoiler-free as possible unless states otherwise*
I am a character-driven story kind of reader and is a huge factor that affects my reading experience. Which was a good thing in this case because I found the plot to be really cliche and it was something that I was able to predict at every twist. But this is coming from someone who has read her fair share of fantasy books.
The story started out really interesting for me and is the kind of world that I have always wondered "What if there was a world like. . . ". It could have easily become a high fantasy with elves and all that but I was really happy it did not take that turn. I enjoyed the character interactions and I have to say that it is what I lived for in this book. I enjoyed the writing style of the author which made the cliches less of a problem and made it easier for me to accept that that is just how the story goes.
It could have done with some more world-building and less cheesiness, nonetheless, it was a book that I found to be quite unique in terms of the idea of the world itself. It was far from being a bad book, and I actually enjoyed a part of it despite the cliche.
⟹ MY BLOG ⟸
⟹ SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI ⟸
*All of my reviews are as spoiler-free as possible unless states otherwise*
I am a character-driven story kind of reader and is a huge factor that affects my reading experience. Which was a good thing in this case because I found the plot to be really cliche and it was something that I was able to predict at every twist. But this is coming from someone who has read her fair share of fantasy books.
The story started out really interesting for me and is the kind of world that I have always wondered "What if there was a world like. . . ". It could have easily become a high fantasy with elves and all that but I was really happy it did not take that turn. I enjoyed the character interactions and I have to say that it is what I lived for in this book. I enjoyed the writing style of the author which made the cliches less of a problem and made it easier for me to accept that that is just how the story goes.
It could have done with some more world-building and less cheesiness, nonetheless, it was a book that I found to be quite unique in terms of the idea of the world itself. It was far from being a bad book, and I actually enjoyed a part of it despite the cliche.
October 3, 2020
What better way to start off October than with a murder mystery book!
The Confectioner's Guild was addicting to read. From the very first moment of meeting Wren, I was intrigued and wanted to know how this whole thing was going to go down. It also doesn't hurt that this book was jam-packed with so many things - sweets, murder, mystery, and endless twists and turns. This was a page turner for me and pretty enjoyable.
Throughout the book Wren is trying to prove that she's innocent. Of course, people don't always believe her and she definitely gets into some sticky situations. With only weeks to save herself from being murdered for something she didn't do, she puts her little investigator hat on and beings to work. Along the way, she meets some interesting characters that eventually help her out.
Lord the amount of delicious food being mentioned made me so hungry. I'm not even a big sweet person and I was like.. omg that sounds so good. Or I had moments where I was like.. oh that sounds familiar to something I've baked before. So, yeah, all of that just made me want to keep turning the pages.
Then there's the romance part. With all the potential guys she met throughout this book, I thought there was going to be more romance than I actually got. Don't get me wrong, I still love what I did get and might even ship her with him.. but I don't really know - I was expecting something a bit more?
In the end, the last chapter was pretty cute. I'm glad that we found out who betrayed who and that people are going to be protective of Wren just like she is of them. Might dive into the next book if it's free on KU.
The Confectioner's Guild was addicting to read. From the very first moment of meeting Wren, I was intrigued and wanted to know how this whole thing was going to go down. It also doesn't hurt that this book was jam-packed with so many things - sweets, murder, mystery, and endless twists and turns. This was a page turner for me and pretty enjoyable.
Throughout the book Wren is trying to prove that she's innocent. Of course, people don't always believe her and she definitely gets into some sticky situations. With only weeks to save herself from being murdered for something she didn't do, she puts her little investigator hat on and beings to work. Along the way, she meets some interesting characters that eventually help her out.
Lord the amount of delicious food being mentioned made me so hungry. I'm not even a big sweet person and I was like.. omg that sounds so good. Or I had moments where I was like.. oh that sounds familiar to something I've baked before. So, yeah, all of that just made me want to keep turning the pages.
Then there's the romance part. With all the potential guys she met throughout this book, I thought there was going to be more romance than I actually got. Don't get me wrong, I still love what I did get and might even ship her with him.. but I don't really know - I was expecting something a bit more?
In the end, the last chapter was pretty cute. I'm glad that we found out who betrayed who and that people are going to be protective of Wren just like she is of them. Might dive into the next book if it's free on KU.
Shelved as 'this-month'
September 21, 2018Karen recommends it
July 30, 2020
Good mystery with twists and turns! Free on Kindle.
September 21, 2018
i received this via netgalley in exchange for an honest review
on paper, the confectioner’s guild sounds like an awesome concept for a fantasy series - it’s literally filled with magic food. how cool is that?? the main character, wren, finds out she has been making magical cupcakes for years, and is taken to the confectioner’s guild to receive training. but in the process of explaining the magic to wren, the head of her guild is killed, and wren is blamed. the book follows her journey as she tries to clear her name, as well as learn all she can about the magic within the different guilds.
what i loved about this book was the magic system, and how there was enough mystery around it to make me want to read the other books in the trilogy. the world building was good and well paced. the descriptions of food made me so hungry, and i loved learning about the other guilds and their magic.
unfortunately, the way the book was written also negated a lot of the good things. for example, i loved the fact that there were wholesome characters and relationships. too often, in fantasy books, everything is dark and depressing and everyone is evil. but that was not the case in this book. everyone was kind (except for the villains i guess), and that was cool in the beginning, but when every single character is just completely good™, then it isn’t believable and just reads like a children’s book. but, towards the end of the story, some of the good™ characters end up doing horrible things, which i don’t think they can come back from (like strangling the main character for example), and it’s back to being a dark and depressing fantasy for 5 mins, until the mc decides to forgive them. a lot of the dialogue and wren’s thoughts felt childish, even though this is clearly a ya book.
the romance was honestly the worst, because it was insta love, and i cannot stand that. considering that this series is a trilogy, the romance could have slowed down a lot. in the beginning, it felt natural, but then it became so forced.
the murder investigation was interesting, but it made absolutely no sense to me that wren would have access to a crime scene and its evidence, even though lucas was helping her. lucas taking the one piece of evidence that could prove her innocence and keeping it in his house (where it later gets contaminated) is beyond stupid.
finally, i don’t believe that a girl who is on trial for murder, and most likely about to be hanged, can spend time making macarons, playing dress up and obsessing over boys. it just didn’t make any sense.
on paper, the confectioner’s guild sounds like an awesome concept for a fantasy series - it’s literally filled with magic food. how cool is that?? the main character, wren, finds out she has been making magical cupcakes for years, and is taken to the confectioner’s guild to receive training. but in the process of explaining the magic to wren, the head of her guild is killed, and wren is blamed. the book follows her journey as she tries to clear her name, as well as learn all she can about the magic within the different guilds.
what i loved about this book was the magic system, and how there was enough mystery around it to make me want to read the other books in the trilogy. the world building was good and well paced. the descriptions of food made me so hungry, and i loved learning about the other guilds and their magic.
unfortunately, the way the book was written also negated a lot of the good things. for example, i loved the fact that there were wholesome characters and relationships. too often, in fantasy books, everything is dark and depressing and everyone is evil. but that was not the case in this book. everyone was kind (except for the villains i guess), and that was cool in the beginning, but when every single character is just completely good™, then it isn’t believable and just reads like a children’s book. but, towards the end of the story, some of the good™ characters end up doing horrible things, which i don’t think they can come back from (like strangling the main character for example), and it’s back to being a dark and depressing fantasy for 5 mins, until the mc decides to forgive them. a lot of the dialogue and wren’s thoughts felt childish, even though this is clearly a ya book.
the romance was honestly the worst, because it was insta love, and i cannot stand that. considering that this series is a trilogy, the romance could have slowed down a lot. in the beginning, it felt natural, but then it became so forced.
the murder investigation was interesting, but it made absolutely no sense to me that wren would have access to a crime scene and its evidence, even though lucas was helping her. lucas taking the one piece of evidence that could prove her innocence and keeping it in his house (where it later gets contaminated) is beyond stupid.
finally, i don’t believe that a girl who is on trial for murder, and most likely about to be hanged, can spend time making macarons, playing dress up and obsessing over boys. it just didn’t make any sense.
October 28, 2018
I received this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
I give the Confectioner’s Guild a strong 3.5 stars as it is a light and fun look at magic and conspiracies and romance and murder. Yes I just said fun approach to murder. 😂 but it is! It’s cleverly done actually - a murder mystery but also lots of baking and light fantasy. See? Fun! 😂
It did take me a while to catch up to what was going on, much like Wren, but I think it’s an approach that works. The baking is fun, and made me want to break my diet lol. The magic system is inspired as well, as is it all being a big secret. I like the way that all played into the conspiracy and crime aspects of it.
Wren is a hard character to get to know - we learn very little about her, and she is a little easily distracted by boys (ugh romance), but she is determined and focussed on getting the evidence she needs. Hale I quite liked originally, just because he was fun and silly, but I didn’t like him treating Wren like a play thing when she’d said no, and I didn’t end up liking him overall. And we don’t really learn enough about Sable to say anything. I think that’s my biggest complaint (other than romance lol) - you don’t really learn enough about any of the characters. Similarly with Lucas, he’s okay, but I don’t really see why Wren likes him so much. I did like his actions throughout though. And Callidus was probably the most interesting, even if his actions in the first scene are completely unjustified and stupid.
Given all that, I liked the set up and the tone enough to plan on reading book 2 - and I am definitely hoping for more of the political intrigue.
I give the Confectioner’s Guild a strong 3.5 stars as it is a light and fun look at magic and conspiracies and romance and murder. Yes I just said fun approach to murder. 😂 but it is! It’s cleverly done actually - a murder mystery but also lots of baking and light fantasy. See? Fun! 😂
It did take me a while to catch up to what was going on, much like Wren, but I think it’s an approach that works. The baking is fun, and made me want to break my diet lol. The magic system is inspired as well, as is it all being a big secret. I like the way that all played into the conspiracy and crime aspects of it.
Wren is a hard character to get to know - we learn very little about her, and she is a little easily distracted by boys (ugh romance), but she is determined and focussed on getting the evidence she needs. Hale I quite liked originally, just because he was fun and silly, but I didn’t like him treating Wren like a play thing when she’d said no, and I didn’t end up liking him overall. And we don’t really learn enough about Sable to say anything. I think that’s my biggest complaint (other than romance lol) - you don’t really learn enough about any of the characters. Similarly with Lucas, he’s okay, but I don’t really see why Wren likes him so much. I did like his actions throughout though. And Callidus was probably the most interesting, even if his actions in the first scene are completely unjustified and stupid.
Given all that, I liked the set up and the tone enough to plan on reading book 2 - and I am definitely hoping for more of the political intrigue.
April 2, 2020
I was NOT prepared for the torture but this was a very good book; politics, found family, soap opera, drama, mystery, romance, and humor all mixed into a rich and sweet confection.
March 5, 2021
My star rating is a bit harsh - this was a clear 4*, maybe 4.5* until near the end when there was some needlessly graphic violence that just didn't really fit with the rest of the tone and really took me out of the story entirely.
I loved the set up of the world in the Confectioner's Chronicles, the Guilds are mysterious and I'd want to know more about them and about their powers; the murder mystery at the heart of the story is a satisfying one; the heroine was a bit inconsistent, sometimes hopelessly naive, other times confident and capable, but overall I liked her and the love interest.
I loved the set up of the world in the Confectioner's Chronicles, the Guilds are mysterious and I'd want to know more about them and about their powers; the murder mystery at the heart of the story is a satisfying one; the heroine was a bit inconsistent, sometimes hopelessly naive, other times confident and capable, but overall I liked her and the love interest.
Shelved as 'wishlist'
December 4, 2021Free right now!
September 30, 2018
I love food-based magic. Usually you see it most in middle grade, but The Confectioner’s Guild is a fantastic example of a YA book with excellent food magic, gorgeously tasty descriptions, and plenty of adventure.
Just to get this out of the way: one tiny point about this is that I’m really not convinced about the use of apostrophes in the text. Surely if it is a guild of confectioners, it is the Confectioners’ Guild? All the guilds have this singular possessive apostrophe and it’s a little weird. I had to tune it out…
The Confectioner’s Guild follows Wren, a young woman who, unbeknownst to her, is more than just a good baker. She’s actually a magic baker. When she is initiated into the titular guild and introduced to her powers, it looks as though a brand new life of opportunity has opened up to her – until she is framed for the murder of the Guildmaster. In order to save her life and her place at the Guild, Wren must prove her innocence, which leads to her uncovering the seedy side of guild politics.
I am fascinated by the workings of the different guilds and by the riotously colourful cast of the people who run them! While the world-building is extremely satisfying, I feel like there were so many threads raised in this book to explore in the sequels, and as Wren follows the rotten politics up to the top, I think there’s a lot more for us to discover with her. I love a bit of subterfuge, and there’s some wonderful sneaky moments of amateur espionage that had me grinning. The pacing is just right – putting a deadline on an investigation always keeps things moving – and every piece of information builds into a really exciting mystery.
Wren is great. I did, at the beginning, wonder how old she was (I don’t think it’s ever explicitly mentioned but I think you can peg her at about 17, since there is some romance, but it’s strictly in the sweet YA category). There’s no reason this wouldn’t be suitable for a younger reader if they had the reading skill for it. In some ways, she’s a typical witty, resilient YA heroine, but I found her very enjoyable to read about, and I loved watching her attempts at spying! She’s very easy to root for, if a little naive, and I was keen to see how she matures, especially in her powers.
I really liked the romance in this! I did think at the beginning that we were going to get a love triangle, which I’m always meh about, but I loved that one of the guys swiftly became a good friend rather than a love interest. It’s great to see a character in YA acknowledge that they find someone physically attractive without needing to go all gooey and insta-lovey over them – a slightly awkward crush, then realising that you’re better as friends, is so much more realistic! The romance itself is very sweet and cosy feeling, without being too dramatic. It’s really lovely to just read about people being good for each other! The very end of the book made me feel so warm and fuzzy.
Actually, this whole book feels like a hug. It’s a perfect autumnal read that made me feel like snuggling up under a blanket with a big cup of tea and a purring cat – it somehow has that hopeful, joyful feel of good middle grade storytelling, in a YA book. It’s so nice to read something nice for a change. Fans of Stephanie Burgis or Diana Wynne Jones should definitely get on this one, as it’s got a very similar comforting, home-y magical feel. Grab a cupcake before you sit down with this one, as it’ll make you hungry, but definitely make time for it! Five out of five stars!
Just to get this out of the way: one tiny point about this is that I’m really not convinced about the use of apostrophes in the text. Surely if it is a guild of confectioners, it is the Confectioners’ Guild? All the guilds have this singular possessive apostrophe and it’s a little weird. I had to tune it out…
The Confectioner’s Guild follows Wren, a young woman who, unbeknownst to her, is more than just a good baker. She’s actually a magic baker. When she is initiated into the titular guild and introduced to her powers, it looks as though a brand new life of opportunity has opened up to her – until she is framed for the murder of the Guildmaster. In order to save her life and her place at the Guild, Wren must prove her innocence, which leads to her uncovering the seedy side of guild politics.
I am fascinated by the workings of the different guilds and by the riotously colourful cast of the people who run them! While the world-building is extremely satisfying, I feel like there were so many threads raised in this book to explore in the sequels, and as Wren follows the rotten politics up to the top, I think there’s a lot more for us to discover with her. I love a bit of subterfuge, and there’s some wonderful sneaky moments of amateur espionage that had me grinning. The pacing is just right – putting a deadline on an investigation always keeps things moving – and every piece of information builds into a really exciting mystery.
Wren is great. I did, at the beginning, wonder how old she was (I don’t think it’s ever explicitly mentioned but I think you can peg her at about 17, since there is some romance, but it’s strictly in the sweet YA category). There’s no reason this wouldn’t be suitable for a younger reader if they had the reading skill for it. In some ways, she’s a typical witty, resilient YA heroine, but I found her very enjoyable to read about, and I loved watching her attempts at spying! She’s very easy to root for, if a little naive, and I was keen to see how she matures, especially in her powers.
I really liked the romance in this! I did think at the beginning that we were going to get a love triangle, which I’m always meh about, but I loved that one of the guys swiftly became a good friend rather than a love interest. It’s great to see a character in YA acknowledge that they find someone physically attractive without needing to go all gooey and insta-lovey over them – a slightly awkward crush, then realising that you’re better as friends, is so much more realistic! The romance itself is very sweet and cosy feeling, without being too dramatic. It’s really lovely to just read about people being good for each other! The very end of the book made me feel so warm and fuzzy.
Actually, this whole book feels like a hug. It’s a perfect autumnal read that made me feel like snuggling up under a blanket with a big cup of tea and a purring cat – it somehow has that hopeful, joyful feel of good middle grade storytelling, in a YA book. It’s so nice to read something nice for a change. Fans of Stephanie Burgis or Diana Wynne Jones should definitely get on this one, as it’s got a very similar comforting, home-y magical feel. Grab a cupcake before you sit down with this one, as it’ll make you hungry, but definitely make time for it! Five out of five stars!
November 13, 2018
The first in a new series by Claire Luana, The Confectioner’s Guild pulled me in very quickly with the concept of food based magic, which intrigued my interest as a hobbyist chef/baker. In this case, Wren, our protagonist, bakes luck into desserts. Though her luck doesn’t last long as she’s accused of murder and has little time to figure out who really did it.
I related with Wren and her plight as the story progressed; there’s quite a bit of depth to her character with a dark past that’s revealed to be worse each time I dove in. Yet she manages to have a sense of optimism and determination throughout, making her very endearing. I grew to like most of the other characters that enter her life in various ways, though there’s a running theme of trust I can relate to, and by the end, I’ve had different thoughts about most members of the cast than going in. All of them have interesting background that I got invested in, as well as their relations to each other. I especially liked Hale (who has a prequel novella, The Confectioner's Exile dedicated to him), Sable and Lucas the most.
The plot is great, and kept me engaged throughout with the mixture of fantasy, mystery and political intrigue to see if Wren would make it out alive and be cleared of her charges. The situation changes a lot quickly, keeping the pace quick and there’s quite a few twists that threw me for a loop, especially in the second half. The murder mystery aspect was done well, and while I was shocked to find out who did it, all the pieces fell into place if you paid enough attention and was easy to understand. The political subplot added another layer of depth that is setting up for the rest of the series. There’s a romance element introduced as well that didn’t feel shoehorned, but added to the story.
The world building is very vivid and paints of a fantasy world with inspirations of Seattle and the surrounding region (which is where Luana lives). The prose is clear and vivid and has a lot of analogies to food, which is a plus for a book that’s revolved around food magic. I loved the cooking sequences too.
At the end is the first chapter to the next book in the series, The Confectioner's Coup, which I’m looking forward to and has a good start. Overall, a great start to a new series and can’t wait to read more!
I related with Wren and her plight as the story progressed; there’s quite a bit of depth to her character with a dark past that’s revealed to be worse each time I dove in. Yet she manages to have a sense of optimism and determination throughout, making her very endearing. I grew to like most of the other characters that enter her life in various ways, though there’s a running theme of trust I can relate to, and by the end, I’ve had different thoughts about most members of the cast than going in. All of them have interesting background that I got invested in, as well as their relations to each other. I especially liked Hale (who has a prequel novella, The Confectioner's Exile dedicated to him), Sable and Lucas the most.
The plot is great, and kept me engaged throughout with the mixture of fantasy, mystery and political intrigue to see if Wren would make it out alive and be cleared of her charges. The situation changes a lot quickly, keeping the pace quick and there’s quite a few twists that threw me for a loop, especially in the second half. The murder mystery aspect was done well, and while I was shocked to find out who did it, all the pieces fell into place if you paid enough attention and was easy to understand. The political subplot added another layer of depth that is setting up for the rest of the series. There’s a romance element introduced as well that didn’t feel shoehorned, but added to the story.
The world building is very vivid and paints of a fantasy world with inspirations of Seattle and the surrounding region (which is where Luana lives). The prose is clear and vivid and has a lot of analogies to food, which is a plus for a book that’s revolved around food magic. I loved the cooking sequences too.
At the end is the first chapter to the next book in the series, The Confectioner's Coup, which I’m looking forward to and has a good start. Overall, a great start to a new series and can’t wait to read more!
October 23, 2018
5 Stars
The Confectioner’s Guild is the first book in The Confectioner’s Chronicles by Claire Luana. The Moonburner Cycle is one of my favourite fantasy series ever, so when I discovered that Ms. Luana was releasing a new series, I could not wait for it to be available. I began devouring it within minutes of it hitting my Kindle. Even though the premise is quite different from the Moonburner books, I still had really high expectations and I am really excited to say that Ms. Luana certainly delivered on all the promise that the synopsis held. I was spellbound right from the beginning and loved every minute of this interesting, intriguing and slightly quirky read. Ok, I admit that Ms. Luana pretty much had me sold just from the premise alone. I mean, what’s not to love about a YA fantasy mystery??? There were sweet treats, murder, mystery, suspense, magic, danger, action, adventure, friendship, self-discovery, hidden agendas, quirky characters, surprises, and twists. Oh yeah, I was completely hooked!!!!
As with the Moonburner series, Ms Luana has once again created a unique and wonderful world in which to set her story. Ms. Luana’s imagination seems to know no bounds as she brings so many creative and unique elements to her storyline. It’s a wonderfully written story full of visual texture, wonderful descriptions and intricate details. The story is complex- with many layers, all beautifully interwoven and stitched together quite seamlessly to produce this delightful read.
The characters are unique, interesting, well thought out and fully developed. They were so enchanting; the cast of characters added an extra element of appeal to the whole story.
This is definitely a story I won’t forget any time soon and I can’t wait for the rest of the series and have already pre-ordered them in advance!
Thank you Ms. Luana!
The Confectioner’s Guild is the first book in The Confectioner’s Chronicles by Claire Luana. The Moonburner Cycle is one of my favourite fantasy series ever, so when I discovered that Ms. Luana was releasing a new series, I could not wait for it to be available. I began devouring it within minutes of it hitting my Kindle. Even though the premise is quite different from the Moonburner books, I still had really high expectations and I am really excited to say that Ms. Luana certainly delivered on all the promise that the synopsis held. I was spellbound right from the beginning and loved every minute of this interesting, intriguing and slightly quirky read. Ok, I admit that Ms. Luana pretty much had me sold just from the premise alone. I mean, what’s not to love about a YA fantasy mystery??? There were sweet treats, murder, mystery, suspense, magic, danger, action, adventure, friendship, self-discovery, hidden agendas, quirky characters, surprises, and twists. Oh yeah, I was completely hooked!!!!
As with the Moonburner series, Ms Luana has once again created a unique and wonderful world in which to set her story. Ms. Luana’s imagination seems to know no bounds as she brings so many creative and unique elements to her storyline. It’s a wonderfully written story full of visual texture, wonderful descriptions and intricate details. The story is complex- with many layers, all beautifully interwoven and stitched together quite seamlessly to produce this delightful read.
The characters are unique, interesting, well thought out and fully developed. They were so enchanting; the cast of characters added an extra element of appeal to the whole story.
This is definitely a story I won’t forget any time soon and I can’t wait for the rest of the series and have already pre-ordered them in advance!
Thank you Ms. Luana!
October 11, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!
I knew aas soon as I read the blurb that this book and I would be a match in heaven! I mean, I completely adore murder mystery, and my second choice is YA, and then you add in magic and food and I was completely sold! There is everything I basically lived for right there. Magic cupcakes, people.
When Wren is accused of murder just after being granted the opportunity of a lifetime, she has only weeks to prove herself innocent, and save both her own life and protect the people she has come to care about. Wren isn't a savvy investigator; she's a street kid with some skill at confectionary but she's going to need skill and friends to make it through.
What i most loved about this book was the characters. Wren herself is a *little* bit of a Mary Sue, and she has the magic of being intriguing to every male she meets. I pegged so many of them just from initial meeting too, but so many of them are complex and deep and just...unexpected. Might I add I may have developed a curiousity about salt and pepper hair because of this novel? ;)
A really great start and I am looking forward to finding out more about this world and how the Gifts will affect things. Four stars!
I knew aas soon as I read the blurb that this book and I would be a match in heaven! I mean, I completely adore murder mystery, and my second choice is YA, and then you add in magic and food and I was completely sold! There is everything I basically lived for right there. Magic cupcakes, people.
When Wren is accused of murder just after being granted the opportunity of a lifetime, she has only weeks to prove herself innocent, and save both her own life and protect the people she has come to care about. Wren isn't a savvy investigator; she's a street kid with some skill at confectionary but she's going to need skill and friends to make it through.
What i most loved about this book was the characters. Wren herself is a *little* bit of a Mary Sue, and she has the magic of being intriguing to every male she meets. I pegged so many of them just from initial meeting too, but so many of them are complex and deep and just...unexpected. Might I add I may have developed a curiousity about salt and pepper hair because of this novel? ;)
A really great start and I am looking forward to finding out more about this world and how the Gifts will affect things. Four stars!
November 18, 2018
Karen recomended it. I ll surely read this Karen. Your recommendation is my pleasure .😆
September 27, 2018
*NetGalley Provided me with a complimentary eARC for review. All my opinions are my own*
The Confectioner’s Guild by Claire Luana. From Live Edge Publishing.
Summary of my thoughts: I was very intrigued by the setting and the world of this novel, but it turned out to be as unappealing as a poorly made, yet beautiful cupcake. DNF’d at 33%
Really, this novel had a lot going for it, in my mind. I love baking, I love magic, I love a heroine with the odds stacked against her. However, this novel just didn’t have any substance for me. The exciting set up introduced by the teaser is quickly poked full of holes, and weird conveniences.
1. Why is this girl accused of murder? She has never laid eyes on these people before today. She is forced to the join the guild through trickery, and she never could have foreseen being brought before the man she is accused of murdering. How could she have known he would get that cupcake?
2. Every guy wants this chick. She is a poor orphan from nowhere, why is she so attractive to them? This is one of my least favorite clichés! And she thinks about them constantly too! She will possible be tortured to death in a few short weeks and she is worried about kissing boys?! It just makes her very unsympathetic to me.
3. The Police Officer/Investigator Lucas is so inept, he has her helping with her own investigation! And she does better than him with it. He is just completely dumb. I get that we want Wren to show some agency and be trying to save herself, but why not just have that be the case? Lucas is not helping at all.
These are just a few of the things that bothered me the most. I was intrigued by the world and they system of how the Guild’s are set up. I think the world where each practitioner has a special gift they can hone through her or his craft is interesting.
And I would have liked Wren even more if she weren’t so boy crazy. She even muses about how the Inquisitor will probably torture her to death soon for answers she doesn’t have, but oh, what does Lucas think of me? Is he just being nice because he vouched for me? Does he want to kiss me? Ugh. No thanks.
In the end, I just had to step away. I may come back to this when the sequel comes out, but right now I am just too frustrated.
Final Review: 2 stars
The Confectioner’s Guild by Claire Luana. From Live Edge Publishing.
Summary of my thoughts: I was very intrigued by the setting and the world of this novel, but it turned out to be as unappealing as a poorly made, yet beautiful cupcake. DNF’d at 33%
Really, this novel had a lot going for it, in my mind. I love baking, I love magic, I love a heroine with the odds stacked against her. However, this novel just didn’t have any substance for me. The exciting set up introduced by the teaser is quickly poked full of holes, and weird conveniences.
1. Why is this girl accused of murder? She has never laid eyes on these people before today. She is forced to the join the guild through trickery, and she never could have foreseen being brought before the man she is accused of murdering. How could she have known he would get that cupcake?
2. Every guy wants this chick. She is a poor orphan from nowhere, why is she so attractive to them? This is one of my least favorite clichés! And she thinks about them constantly too! She will possible be tortured to death in a few short weeks and she is worried about kissing boys?! It just makes her very unsympathetic to me.
3. The Police Officer/Investigator Lucas is so inept, he has her helping with her own investigation! And she does better than him with it. He is just completely dumb. I get that we want Wren to show some agency and be trying to save herself, but why not just have that be the case? Lucas is not helping at all.
These are just a few of the things that bothered me the most. I was intrigued by the world and they system of how the Guild’s are set up. I think the world where each practitioner has a special gift they can hone through her or his craft is interesting.
And I would have liked Wren even more if she weren’t so boy crazy. She even muses about how the Inquisitor will probably torture her to death soon for answers she doesn’t have, but oh, what does Lucas think of me? Is he just being nice because he vouched for me? Does he want to kiss me? Ugh. No thanks.
In the end, I just had to step away. I may come back to this when the sequel comes out, but right now I am just too frustrated.
Final Review: 2 stars
September 12, 2018
Luana, Claire. The Confectioner's Guild. Live Edge Publishing, 2018.
Wren is an orphan who has been working in a bakery since the baker discovered her using a leftover piping bag to decorate a snowbank. She prefers her job over a life in the streets, until one day when a guild member whisks her away from her bakery and informs her that her bakery skills are actually imbuing her treats with magic and that she must be trained. Immediately after learning this, the head of her guild dies and Wren is accused of his murder. Now she has one month to find the actual murderer and clear her name.
This description made this book sound like it was right up my alley. I love fantasy stories and mysteries, and having recently read Changeling, thought this would be a great read-alike. Unfortunately, I was sadly disappointed. This book reads like a story for children or tweens, but multiple uses of the word "ass," as well as sexual encounters, make this a book for teens. Further, the main character spends most of her time ogling one of her fellow bakers, so there are long descriptions of his hair, his abs, what he looks like without a shirt, how sad she is when he puts a shirt on, etc. etc. And he's not the only character she pines after. All of this is to say that this book is best categorized as a teen romance novel, which is perfectly fine, but it is not a tween book nor a fantasy nor really a mystery at all, and readers looking for those things will be disappointed. I would recommend this book to fans of romance novels but not to those who prefer fantasy or mystery without a romantic subplot.
Recommended for: teens
Red Flags: multiple uses of the word "ass," underage alcohol consumption (although as this is a fantasy, I don't know that it's illegal per se), off-page sex
Overall Rating: 2/5 stars
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley for the purpose of review.
Wren is an orphan who has been working in a bakery since the baker discovered her using a leftover piping bag to decorate a snowbank. She prefers her job over a life in the streets, until one day when a guild member whisks her away from her bakery and informs her that her bakery skills are actually imbuing her treats with magic and that she must be trained. Immediately after learning this, the head of her guild dies and Wren is accused of his murder. Now she has one month to find the actual murderer and clear her name.
This description made this book sound like it was right up my alley. I love fantasy stories and mysteries, and having recently read Changeling, thought this would be a great read-alike. Unfortunately, I was sadly disappointed. This book reads like a story for children or tweens, but multiple uses of the word "ass," as well as sexual encounters, make this a book for teens. Further, the main character spends most of her time ogling one of her fellow bakers, so there are long descriptions of his hair, his abs, what he looks like without a shirt, how sad she is when he puts a shirt on, etc. etc. And he's not the only character she pines after. All of this is to say that this book is best categorized as a teen romance novel, which is perfectly fine, but it is not a tween book nor a fantasy nor really a mystery at all, and readers looking for those things will be disappointed. I would recommend this book to fans of romance novels but not to those who prefer fantasy or mystery without a romantic subplot.
Recommended for: teens
Red Flags: multiple uses of the word "ass," underage alcohol consumption (although as this is a fantasy, I don't know that it's illegal per se), off-page sex
Overall Rating: 2/5 stars
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley for the purpose of review.
January 12, 2024
Warning: While reading this book, be prepared to bake and cook, go to the grocery store to get new ingredients, and try new recipes. All of these things happened to me at least... My family approved!
I adored this book! Starting it, I thought it was a standalone, but I'm so glad it's not. This book was not all cupcakes and baking. It was murder-mystery, politics, and magic. The world building, politics, and conspiracies were so good. I really enjoyed the set of characters, and I'm looking forward to reading more about them. This book set up the trilogy perfectly, and I am so ready for a revolution!
I now must immediately go and buy the next two!! I absolutely recommend it!
I adored this book! Starting it, I thought it was a standalone, but I'm so glad it's not. This book was not all cupcakes and baking. It was murder-mystery, politics, and magic. The world building, politics, and conspiracies were so good. I really enjoyed the set of characters, and I'm looking forward to reading more about them. This book set up the trilogy perfectly, and I am so ready for a revolution!
I now must immediately go and buy the next two!! I absolutely recommend it!
September 20, 2024
This book holds a special place in my heart since I love to bake (and who wouldn’t want to be able to bake something magical) The author has such an eye for detail that I felt like I was there in the story right alongside Wren. This fantastical world of cupcakes and magic has so much to offer. Who knew that the world of Confectionery could be so dangerous? There were a lot of unexpected little twists and turns and a lot of heart. Overall an enjoyable read.
March 19, 2019
I'm not sure I was in the right mood for this. It definitely has lots of 'cute' potential and I think I'm in a more 'blood and destruction' mood.
I personally think that it may have been a bit too long as well but as I said it might be my mood dictating.
January 22, 2019
This is a DNF for me. The MC is too immature and I just can't get on board with what happens. That she would be allowed into the crime scene, etc, etc. Just no.
February 2, 2019
Magical food, but not everyone knows?! Love it, well written and an enjoyable read.
March 8, 2023
Rate: 4,7✨
This book was such an amazing surprise honestly.
I didn’t know what to read so I just choose something on my kobo and this was the one.
I needed to read something that would captivate me. A book that could make me feel a lot of emotions and perhaps make me read without stop.
Well it happened.
I loved the story, the characters, the plot, everything! And I have high expectations for the next book!
In this one, I loved the way they resolved the crime and how they cleared her name. I liked really much the romance too and the way Lucas want to be himself and not a title.
I adored the main character. She can be cute and maybe just a little naive but she can also be strong and independent. She doesn’t need others to save her ALL the time but sometimes she needs just a little help. I think she is a great girl, and I think she can be even better.
Well, she is not perfect!! I assure you. She did things that herself didn’t like at all but in the end she is amazing.
I loved other characters too but I prefer to not talk about them because I don’t want to give you any kind of spoilers.
But well, if you like magic, romance and crimes, this book is for you.
This book was such an amazing surprise honestly.
I didn’t know what to read so I just choose something on my kobo and this was the one.
I needed to read something that would captivate me. A book that could make me feel a lot of emotions and perhaps make me read without stop.
Well it happened.
I loved the story, the characters, the plot, everything! And I have high expectations for the next book!
In this one, I loved the way they resolved the crime and how they cleared her name. I liked really much the romance too and the way Lucas want to be himself and not a title.
I adored the main character. She can be cute and maybe just a little naive but she can also be strong and independent. She doesn’t need others to save her ALL the time but sometimes she needs just a little help. I think she is a great girl, and I think she can be even better.
Well, she is not perfect!! I assure you. She did things that herself didn’t like at all but in the end she is amazing.
I loved other characters too but I prefer to not talk about them because I don’t want to give you any kind of spoilers.
But well, if you like magic, romance and crimes, this book is for you.
October 10, 2020
The Confectioner's Guild has an exquisitely pretty cover, and the world inside is equally intriguing. Medieval-esque worlds are common in fantasy novels, and in this series, everything is controlled by the Guilds. The top group of guilds is comprised of the makers of food and drink (as if this medieval world was run by the Food Network). A small percentage of these artisans are "gifted" with the ability to infuse magic into their work, and Wren is one of them. The discovery of this at the beginning of the book leads to a murder mystery.
This book is definitely up my alley. Part fantasy, part mystery, part magical drama, it takes us into a unique world. The characters themselves are more familiar (the mean girl, the womanizer), though they rarely fit into stereotyped boxes. Wren is a wonderful character, and her journey is perilous but fun. I just wish this book didn't make me crave cupcakes and chocolates.
This book is definitely up my alley. Part fantasy, part mystery, part magical drama, it takes us into a unique world. The characters themselves are more familiar (the mean girl, the womanizer), though they rarely fit into stereotyped boxes. Wren is a wonderful character, and her journey is perilous but fun. I just wish this book didn't make me crave cupcakes and chocolates.
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