Sweet and Wild is a cozy adjacent, MM fantasy romance by Alex Larkspur. Micah moves to a new town to escape his difficult past and finds a new home, friends, and love in Roseyard and its bordering forest.*I received this book as an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review*
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Opening thoughts: I first learned about Sweet and Wild during a pitch event on Bluesky and have been excitedly waiting for its release ever since. Larkspur describes it as cozy adjacent which I think is the perfect descriptor. Sweet and Wild is warm, sweet, and cozy, but it delves into some darker corners at times that will leave you going "Woah. Oh my god! No!" and probably crying at times. At least that was my reaction.
Worldbuilding: This is by no means an epic fantasy, but Larkspur expertly weaves in so much carefully thought out worldbuilding you can really get an idea of the larger world that Micah and Terran's story is set in. I love how the magic is very much tied to intention, nature, and caring for others. I also LOVE the lore for the forest guardians (I won't go into detail here to save you from spoilers, but trust me, it's very good lore).
Emotions: Now, I'm a very emotional reader, it's not particularly hard to make me cry, but when I tell you I was SOBBING during a particular scene (once you read it, you'll know what I mean) I am not exaggerating. But aside from making me cry like a little baby, Sweet and Wild is a very sweet (look I know I've already used sweet to describe it and it's in the name but that's just what it is) and heartfelt book that left me giggling, smiling like a fool, and generally just feeling very warm and fuzzy inside.
Intrigue: For me I think the most unique think about Sweet and Wild was just how human the story was. I think a lot of time in fantasy, even when the characters are human, things just feel so fantastical and out there that it doesn't feel grounded (which I also love, don't get me wrong). But the characters in Sweet and Wild just felt so real to me with very real struggles and very real emotions. And again, I just love the magic in this book. There is something very simple about it (not to say that it isn't fleshed out, it's clear that quite a bit of thought has been put into it) that makes it feel like it could exist in our own world. And who doesn't love magic accidentally baked into cookies. Also, a trope I wasn't aware that I liked but that Larkspur absolutely made me love is in this book (Who hurt you).
Relationships: At its core, Sweet and Wild is about relationships. Not only the romantic relationship between Micah and the forest guardian Terran, but also Micah's relationship with the town and people of Roseyard, his mother and her magic, the animals he cares for, the forest, and himself. It's a relatively short book, but each relationship develops so naturally and you can really feel the love every character has for Micah, and vice versa, by the end. Now, as for Micah and Terran's relationship, it's incredibly sweet (I know, I know, sue me, this won't be the last time I use that word in this review). It's clear from the very beginning that Micah is going through it and still hasn't fully processed some trauma from his past, and to contrast that with the unending kindness and love that Terran offers him almost immediately is just the perfect recipe for tugging on my heartstrings.
(I would be remiss to mention that if you're a fan of romance books without any on page spice, then this is the book for you)
Descriptions: Larkspur paints a vivid picture of the forest, characters, and the town of Roseyard without using extremely flowery or purple prose. I'm a simple person, I like simple prose that tells me what the author wants me to see. I'm a sucker for books set in natural environments, and Sweet and Wild is rife with wonderful descriptions of the forest near Roseyard.
Engagement: I absolutely tore through this book. I think I read it in about three sittings, and I only ever put it down because I had to go to work (a job? in this economy? It's more likely than you'd think, unfortunately). It's a relatively fast paced book (though quite a bit of time does pass throughout the story), and reading it honestly felt like a casual stroll through the park. It was the perfect sweet treat (okay, okay, I'm done) to jostle me out of my reading slump.
Final thoughts: If you love sunshiney main characters, a dash of trauma, characters processing, healing from, and growing with that trauma, nature, and one of the sweetest (I lied, I'm not sorry) and most caring relationships I've ever read, then I'm sure you'll love Sweet and Wild.
