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Side Quest Row #1
A Rival Most Vial: Potioneering for Love and Profit
Two potion shops, one heated rivalry…until hate bubbles over into something else.
Any adventurer worth their sword knows about Ambrose Beake. The proud, quiet half-elf sells the best, and only, potions in the city—until a handsome new shopkeeper named Eli opens another potion shop across the street, throwing Ambrose’s peace and ledgers far off balance.
Within weeks, they’re locked in a war of price tags and products—Ambrose’s expertise against Eli’s effortless charm. Toil leads to trouble, the safety gloves come off, and right as their rivalry reaches a boiling point…
The mayor commissions them to brew a potion together.
The task is as complex as it is lucrative, pushing both men to the limits of their abilities and patience. Yet as the fires burn and cauldrons bubble…they find a different sort of chemistry brewing.
Any adventurer worth their sword knows about Ambrose Beake. The proud, quiet half-elf sells the best, and only, potions in the city—until a handsome new shopkeeper named Eli opens another potion shop across the street, throwing Ambrose’s peace and ledgers far off balance.
Within weeks, they’re locked in a war of price tags and products—Ambrose’s expertise against Eli’s effortless charm. Toil leads to trouble, the safety gloves come off, and right as their rivalry reaches a boiling point…
The mayor commissions them to brew a potion together.
The task is as complex as it is lucrative, pushing both men to the limits of their abilities and patience. Yet as the fires burn and cauldrons bubble…they find a different sort of chemistry brewing.
340 pages, Paperback
First published January 25, 2023
About the author
R.K. Ashwick
8 books130 followersBy day, R.K. Ashwick herds cats in the animation industry. By night, she writes, bakes, and herds her literal cat around her living room. She lives with her husband (and said cat) in California.
Get free stories, art, and release updates here:
rkashwick.com
Q&A
Where do you get your ideas for your books?
The idea for Stray Spirit came from an active brainstorming session- I knew I wanted to write something for Nanowrimo, but I didn't know what. So I threw together three things I was interested in- bards, caves, and spirit possession- and went from there.
A Rival Most Vial came to me when the phrase "rival potion shops" fell into my head. (And subsequently never left.)
Why did you add drawings to The Stray Spirit?
I wanted to give the book a fairy tale vibe, and because I self-published, I had the freedom to select the artist and the scenes that were drawn. Was it more expensive? Sure. Was it worth it? Yes.
For A Rival Most Vial: why potion shops?
Because my nerdy little D&D heart loves them. I'm obsessed with the hidden lives of NPCs in D&D campaigns, and A Rival Most Vial is absolutely a tribute to that.
And finally: what's next?
Keep an eye out for two more books in the Lutesong Series, three books and two novellas in the Side Quest Row series, and a stand-alone tentatively titled The Bread Witch!
Get free stories, art, and release updates here:
rkashwick.com
Q&A
Where do you get your ideas for your books?
The idea for Stray Spirit came from an active brainstorming session- I knew I wanted to write something for Nanowrimo, but I didn't know what. So I threw together three things I was interested in- bards, caves, and spirit possession- and went from there.
A Rival Most Vial came to me when the phrase "rival potion shops" fell into my head. (And subsequently never left.)
Why did you add drawings to The Stray Spirit?
I wanted to give the book a fairy tale vibe, and because I self-published, I had the freedom to select the artist and the scenes that were drawn. Was it more expensive? Sure. Was it worth it? Yes.
For A Rival Most Vial: why potion shops?
Because my nerdy little D&D heart loves them. I'm obsessed with the hidden lives of NPCs in D&D campaigns, and A Rival Most Vial is absolutely a tribute to that.
And finally: what's next?
Keep an eye out for two more books in the Lutesong Series, three books and two novellas in the Side Quest Row series, and a stand-alone tentatively titled The Bread Witch!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 421 reviews
February 17, 2024
I am slow to anger / But I toe the line / As I reckon with the effects of your life on mine (Your Obedient Servant – Hamilton). Forgive the Hamilton lyric, I just really like Leslie Odom, Jr., he’s great. Anyway… oh, this was wonderful! To me, there’s something really charming about a fantasy story that centers around the kinds of fantasy characters that aren’t normally talked about. A pulling back of the curtain to reveal the unsung heroes, if you will. Who are the ones supplying all the great heroes with their healing potions? Well, it’s these guys. Turns out they can carry a novel just as well. The basic story is that proud and petty Ambrose, the owner of a potion shop, has a problem arise when a rival potion maker moves across the street. Unfortunately that’s just the beginning, because another, more urgent problem arises when he realizes that the guy is hot enough make a dragon want to retire, man. This book is the kind of rival romance that I like. It just does so much right! First and foremost, the rivalry was written like a real rivalry. It sounds redundant, seeing it written out like that, but most books that I read with this kind of premise never have enough bite. These dudes (this book loves the word "dude," might be a turn off for some people) literally hated each other for real! At least for a while, and you know, it was really hilarious! They’d do things to sabotage each other’s shops and their near constant arguing with each other was really fun to read along with! But wacky hijinks aside, I just think there's something inherently funny about having a nemesis. It's a little like Jingle All the Way, only with the added benefit of being gay as hell. Because, if you really thing about it… what’s gayer than having a rival? Another man that you’re constantly thinking about? All-consuming and taking up all the free spaces in your mind? There’s a little something, something there, I just know it. I’m glad that someone finally took the final step and wrote a book about it!
I also loved how Ambrose and the other guy (the one who has the same name as my brother) don’t find each other attractive until they actually become friends. That “oh” moment comes later, and I think the book is all the better for it. In almost all the hate-to-romance things that I read; every insult that’s given is annoyingly undercut with descriptions of how hot the jerk is. Like the writer is too scared to let us come to our own conclusions about the character. The protagonist is always like, “Damn, this guy sucks ass… but he has an eighteen-pack so~oo…” and it drives me crazy! I don’t know, maybe that’s how other folks operate, but personally, I’ve never found someone I hate attractive. This story wins all the awards just for not having all that bullshit. It sounds silly, but it felt like this book gets me, you know? Also, the author did a fantastic job of making me sympathetic to each character. Seriously, I felt fake as fuck, switching sides with each new pov chapter. Like some kind of referee at a debate club; one point to Ambrose, one point to the other guy. And it was great how there wasn���t a third-act beak-up between the main couple… because there was a third-act break-up between Ambrose and his friend! Considering I pretty much exclusively read romance books, it was a nice change of pace for me. Sure, I wasn’t too sympathetic towards Ambrose’s friend, Dawn, but it was so low stakes that it was hard to have any lasting negative emotions towards their “fight.” I mean, if my buddy left me hanging while we were on the fantasy equivalent of a road-trip, the friendship would be over. It just would. Like, snip snip, gone. But then again, it’s not like I went through the same character development that Ambrose did, so maybe that’s just my problem. Yeah, so this book was lovely! R.K. Ashwick really concocted a fun, charming, and surprisingly subversive potion this time around!
“I should admit, I’ve never had a…” Ambrose cleared his throat. He didn’t know the right word to use on a first date, either. Partner felt too professional, lover too formal. Boyfriend—no, no. Far too weighty. “A, um…a person…before?”
“I’d be honored to be your person”
I also loved how Ambrose and the other guy (the one who has the same name as my brother) don’t find each other attractive until they actually become friends. That “oh” moment comes later, and I think the book is all the better for it. In almost all the hate-to-romance things that I read; every insult that’s given is annoyingly undercut with descriptions of how hot the jerk is. Like the writer is too scared to let us come to our own conclusions about the character. The protagonist is always like, “Damn, this guy sucks ass… but he has an eighteen-pack so~oo…” and it drives me crazy! I don’t know, maybe that’s how other folks operate, but personally, I’ve never found someone I hate attractive. This story wins all the awards just for not having all that bullshit. It sounds silly, but it felt like this book gets me, you know? Also, the author did a fantastic job of making me sympathetic to each character. Seriously, I felt fake as fuck, switching sides with each new pov chapter. Like some kind of referee at a debate club; one point to Ambrose, one point to the other guy. And it was great how there wasn���t a third-act beak-up between the main couple… because there was a third-act break-up between Ambrose and his friend! Considering I pretty much exclusively read romance books, it was a nice change of pace for me. Sure, I wasn’t too sympathetic towards Ambrose’s friend, Dawn, but it was so low stakes that it was hard to have any lasting negative emotions towards their “fight.” I mean, if my buddy left me hanging while we were on the fantasy equivalent of a road-trip, the friendship would be over. It just would. Like, snip snip, gone. But then again, it’s not like I went through the same character development that Ambrose did, so maybe that’s just my problem. Yeah, so this book was lovely! R.K. Ashwick really concocted a fun, charming, and surprisingly subversive potion this time around!
“I should admit, I’ve never had a…” Ambrose cleared his throat. He didn’t know the right word to use on a first date, either. Partner felt too professional, lover too formal. Boyfriend—no, no. Far too weighty. “A, um…a person…before?”
“I’d be honored to be your person”
July 6, 2023
2.5 stars, maybe? I don’t know that there’s anything egregiously wrong with this book, but it’s really boring. So much so that a 3 feels just a bit too high. Silly and cozy for the first half and then it just…doesn’t do anything. The plot and the characters are both just meh.
I never start a new book before I finish my current one, but I had to put this down at 80% to read something else because I didn’t want to waste my vacation reading time on something I was that bored with. I honestly could have just not finished it and been fine but I decided to go for the last 20% because I may as well 🤷🏻♀️ but the last 20% didn’t change my opinion.
I never start a new book before I finish my current one, but I had to put this down at 80% to read something else because I didn’t want to waste my vacation reading time on something I was that bored with. I honestly could have just not finished it and been fine but I decided to go for the last 20% because I may as well 🤷🏻♀️ but the last 20% didn’t change my opinion.
Read
November 1, 2023I've not read this yet, but it's the tenth and last finalist for SPFBO 9, one of 10 finalists to be chosen from the 300 entries this year.
That's got to mean it's good - so give it a go.
The contest is now moving into phase 2 where the blogs pick an over all champion.
Check out this year's contest here:
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
See this year's finalist table here:
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Read up on the SPFBO in general here:
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
,
That's got to mean it's good - so give it a go.
The contest is now moving into phase 2 where the blogs pick an over all champion.
Check out this year's contest here:
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
See this year's finalist table here:
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Read up on the SPFBO in general here:
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
,
April 17, 2024
My SPFBO9 finalist review of A Rival Most Vial is published at Before We Go Blog.
“Eli’s Elixirs, or whatever it was, wouldn’t last more than a month on Rosemund Street.”
A Rival Most Vial is R.K. Ashwick’s cozy romantic fantasy featuring two potion shop owners who begin as rivals but inevitably fall in love.
Ambrose is a longtime potioneer who has built a loyal customer base through many years of quality work. He is shocked to discover that newcomer Eli has set up a flashy potion shop across the street, advertising huge discounts and luring customers with his bright smile and personable demeanor.
The story takes place in very close quarters in a narrow chasm known as the Scar:
“Rosemund Street was one of many avenues nestled at the bottom of the Scar, a deep chasm once inhabited by dragons and giant spiders.”
The small-scale setting suits the tale well, making it difficult for the lead characters to escape each other.
A Rival Most Vial alternates perspectives between the brooding Ambrose and energetic Eli. The book follows a standard enemies-to-lovers story arc with associated low-stakes drama. The romance is slow burn and decidedly PG-rated, with lots of pining and kisses on the forehead.
A Rival Most Vial is a light and easy read, but it left me wanting more—more action, more drama, more suspense, more surprises, more humor—really more of anything to deepen the experience. Still, readers specifically looking for a light romantasy may want to pick this up.
“Eli’s Elixirs, or whatever it was, wouldn’t last more than a month on Rosemund Street.”
A Rival Most Vial is R.K. Ashwick’s cozy romantic fantasy featuring two potion shop owners who begin as rivals but inevitably fall in love.
Ambrose is a longtime potioneer who has built a loyal customer base through many years of quality work. He is shocked to discover that newcomer Eli has set up a flashy potion shop across the street, advertising huge discounts and luring customers with his bright smile and personable demeanor.
The story takes place in very close quarters in a narrow chasm known as the Scar:
“Rosemund Street was one of many avenues nestled at the bottom of the Scar, a deep chasm once inhabited by dragons and giant spiders.”
The small-scale setting suits the tale well, making it difficult for the lead characters to escape each other.
A Rival Most Vial alternates perspectives between the brooding Ambrose and energetic Eli. The book follows a standard enemies-to-lovers story arc with associated low-stakes drama. The romance is slow burn and decidedly PG-rated, with lots of pining and kisses on the forehead.
A Rival Most Vial is a light and easy read, but it left me wanting more—more action, more drama, more suspense, more surprises, more humor—really more of anything to deepen the experience. Still, readers specifically looking for a light romantasy may want to pick this up.
April 11, 2024
What a GEM this is!!
I was just looking for something cute, but I got so much more than expected. A Rival Most Vial is everything I could want in a book: distinct characters, a unique setting, found family, a romance built on more than just attraction, and writing that makes everything feel magical and whimsy. I laughed, I teared up, I fell in love. I can't recommend this enough!!
P.S. If you're like me and you prefer books with very little spice or sex scenes that are fade-to-black, this will be right up your alley.
I was just looking for something cute, but I got so much more than expected. A Rival Most Vial is everything I could want in a book: distinct characters, a unique setting, found family, a romance built on more than just attraction, and writing that makes everything feel magical and whimsy. I laughed, I teared up, I fell in love. I can't recommend this enough!!
P.S. If you're like me and you prefer books with very little spice or sex scenes that are fade-to-black, this will be right up your alley.
June 29, 2024
2nd read: audio
If you haven’t listened to this yet, YOU NEED TO. Omg the voices are perfect and so cozy and it just reminds me how much ARMV is my favorite queer fantasy book ever in existence.
✨✨✨
STOP IT WITH THIS PERFECT COZY
As if I wasn’t already going to go bonkers over the chapter titles being potion instructions or the gorgeous graphics. As if I wasn’t going to squeal in delight with the potion diagrams and illustrations. As if I wasn’t going to cry at how precious these two MCs are.
ARMV is a book that you want to showcase on your shelves and brag about it to your friends like Ambrose brags to his customers about Eli. You want to hold hands with it and have tea and curl up with your automaton to read to it. You want to clutch it to your chest and never, ever let go.
I want to crawl into this book and live forever in Rosemond street with these shops and lovely friends. I thought Ambrose was going to be my favorite grumpy boy and then my sweet, sweet boy Eli just had to exist and had to be so perfect for Ames. Oh, to be courted by Eli Valenz… is there anything more romantic?!?
Smooshing these two rivals together for a potion commission was the perfect plot to highlight their joking and absolutely swoon-worthy enemy to friend to love relationship. I cannot handle how freaking precious their growth was, and UGH that ending just had me screaming and shaking and desperately wanting to climb into the pages and hug my new favorite characters. These two are made for each other, and their love is so pure that I had to stop reading so I could take a deep breath. I almost forgot they were fictional.
Not only do we have excellent MCs, we have a cast of absolute perfection (and representation). The shopkeepers are not only diverse and unique, they are genuine and well-written and make this such a well rounded story. They add so much to an already rich plot and provide such heartwarming friendships that this little found family is my new favorite and I could just sit on a bench on Rosemond and watch them forever doing the most mundane tasks like sweeping.
First off, I need a little side story of Tom getting into trouble and going on her own adventure. Second, I need an entire novel of Lily going around and being absolutely iconic. Third, can we please have an epilogue where Eli punches Pearce to defend Ambrose’s honor?
Do you want to know the worst part? That I can’t read it for the first time ever again. Do you know how offensive that is? This book has no right to be so cozy and warm and comforting. How dare this be so utterly incredible that it ruins me so thoroughly.
Anyway, I’m off to beg Ashwick to write her own fanfiction so I can have more Ambrose being grumpy and Eli slaying dragons in Ambrose’s name.
This is an arc read and I’m leaving a review voluntarily, but let me tell you, none of this review is exaggerated in any way.
If you haven’t listened to this yet, YOU NEED TO. Omg the voices are perfect and so cozy and it just reminds me how much ARMV is my favorite queer fantasy book ever in existence.
✨✨✨
STOP IT WITH THIS PERFECT COZY
As if I wasn’t already going to go bonkers over the chapter titles being potion instructions or the gorgeous graphics. As if I wasn’t going to squeal in delight with the potion diagrams and illustrations. As if I wasn’t going to cry at how precious these two MCs are.
ARMV is a book that you want to showcase on your shelves and brag about it to your friends like Ambrose brags to his customers about Eli. You want to hold hands with it and have tea and curl up with your automaton to read to it. You want to clutch it to your chest and never, ever let go.
I want to crawl into this book and live forever in Rosemond street with these shops and lovely friends. I thought Ambrose was going to be my favorite grumpy boy and then my sweet, sweet boy Eli just had to exist and had to be so perfect for Ames. Oh, to be courted by Eli Valenz… is there anything more romantic?!?
Smooshing these two rivals together for a potion commission was the perfect plot to highlight their joking and absolutely swoon-worthy enemy to friend to love relationship. I cannot handle how freaking precious their growth was, and UGH that ending just had me screaming and shaking and desperately wanting to climb into the pages and hug my new favorite characters. These two are made for each other, and their love is so pure that I had to stop reading so I could take a deep breath. I almost forgot they were fictional.
Not only do we have excellent MCs, we have a cast of absolute perfection (and representation). The shopkeepers are not only diverse and unique, they are genuine and well-written and make this such a well rounded story. They add so much to an already rich plot and provide such heartwarming friendships that this little found family is my new favorite and I could just sit on a bench on Rosemond and watch them forever doing the most mundane tasks like sweeping.
First off, I need a little side story of Tom getting into trouble and going on her own adventure. Second, I need an entire novel of Lily going around and being absolutely iconic. Third, can we please have an epilogue where Eli punches Pearce to defend Ambrose’s honor?
Do you want to know the worst part? That I can’t read it for the first time ever again. Do you know how offensive that is? This book has no right to be so cozy and warm and comforting. How dare this be so utterly incredible that it ruins me so thoroughly.
Anyway, I’m off to beg Ashwick to write her own fanfiction so I can have more Ambrose being grumpy and Eli slaying dragons in Ambrose’s name.
This is an arc read and I’m leaving a review voluntarily, but let me tell you, none of this review is exaggerated in any way.
April 25, 2024
✨I am convinced that this book is laced with level 8 levitating potion because I’m floating in love and I am never coming down✨
I was in the mood for a cozy fantasy romance and this book was exactly what I needed and more. It’s comforting. It’s fun. It’s hilarious. And it has sooo much heart 💗
The rivals-to-lovers trope was done so well and perfectly paced. It felt like it was a totally natural progression of their relationship. From brawling on the street, to reluctant partnership, to mutual attractiveness, to the loveliest budding romance 💕 one is a grumpy cutiepie and the other is a sunshine cutiepie but they are both CUTIEPIES, of course they’re going to smash eventually 🤭💕
While both Eli and Ambrose personalities were charming by themselves, the side characters, the found family and the unique setting were the ones to bring this book to life! I could picture the lively chasm and all the colourful characters in my head cinema, and I want to move to Rosemund Street immediately 🥺💗
This book is just so joyful and lovely! Like if you don’t like this book, it’s okay but you’re wrong and maybe allergic to happiness?? 🫢😁
I was in the mood for a cozy fantasy romance and this book was exactly what I needed and more. It’s comforting. It’s fun. It’s hilarious. And it has sooo much heart 💗
The rivals-to-lovers trope was done so well and perfectly paced. It felt like it was a totally natural progression of their relationship. From brawling on the street, to reluctant partnership, to mutual attractiveness, to the loveliest budding romance 💕 one is a grumpy cutiepie and the other is a sunshine cutiepie but they are both CUTIEPIES, of course they’re going to smash eventually 🤭💕
While both Eli and Ambrose personalities were charming by themselves, the side characters, the found family and the unique setting were the ones to bring this book to life! I could picture the lively chasm and all the colourful characters in my head cinema, and I want to move to Rosemund Street immediately 🥺💗
This book is just so joyful and lovely! Like if you don’t like this book, it’s okay but you’re wrong and maybe allergic to happiness?? 🫢😁
January 30, 2023
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I sat on it for a while, and I'm honestly still stumped as to what to rate this book because there's nothing that wrong with it, but there's also very little I truly liked. So I'm gonna go with 2.5 stars.
I'll start with the good - I liked Ambrose, I like his character drama, for the most part. I liked the little graphics and illustrations, those are always fun. I also like the idea of all the potion making, I just wish it went deeper because what it boils down to (pun not intended) is basically just saying ingredient names and effects without giving any frame of reference at all. But still, there was clearly some thought put into it, so cool. And I like Eli's struggle with what he wants to do in life, even though it seemed like an afterthought a bit. And finally, even though I wasn't having that much fun, I got through the book in two days, it's very easy to read, just like the Stray Spirit, so props for that. And there's some queer rep even outside the two MCs which is good on principle, even if I found our ace rep (which is a very rare thing) to be an incredibly annoying character. And unfortunately I think that's everything.
The meh - the worldbuilding feels very barebones to me. For example, there seems to be every classic fantasy race in this book, but there's nothing actually about them. Which I guess is fine, I don't think this is meant to be some epic to rival Tolkien, but the drawback with this was that it felt like it was cramming everything in without a thought. I don't think that's what actually happened, but that is what it feels like. We don't see much of how this world works, nor do we get much explanation for anything, and while it makes sense in the context of this being a very personal story of characters just living in this world, it also kept making me feel like I was reading a fanfic of a book that had all of that worldbuilding that the readers of this would be familiar with, and I was just missing that context.
The whole of Eli is also on the meh list. I kept flip flopping on whether I like him or not, and I think the reason for that is that he seems to act however the scene needs him to rather than having a strongly defined character like Ambrose. Aside from one instance Even the side characters seemed more defined than Eli, and they have like a single trait each. But at least it's consistent. I didn't even understand why Eli immediately hates Ambrose at first. Like, you're the one who set up a shop selling the same thing right across the street, buddy, you don't have the right to be mad when the original shop owner is pissed at you. And yeah, Eli didn't know, but still. And no one gives Ambrose much more than "that sucks buddy". Like poor Ambrose, man.
(As a side note, I've seen other people mention mental health rep in their reviews, and I'll be honest, I didn't notice that while reading, and I still don't see it. I did notice Ambrose's self-esteem issues and I guess that's depression induced? But it's never really addressed. And I guess also the whole thing with Dawn, but that didn't feel addressed either. She just got the thing that was making her act that way, and that's it, which just seems like ignoring the problem to me)
The bad - The opening scene is sensory overload. The book calms down right after, but the amount of characters and concepts introduced in that relatively short opener was just way too much for me, which is extra weird because the first page or two are very peaceful. I was determined to read this book because I was very curious about it so I didn't let it deter me, but it's not a great first impression, and I imagine it will turn some people off
Another point is Dawn. I just really don't like Dawn, which is a shame because I liked her well enough until that one thing.
That sex scene. If I can call it that. It's so barely there that I have to wonder why it was even included. Good for Ambrose and Eli I guess, but it felt like a strange middle ground between an actual sex scene and a proper "fade to black" and it doesn't work for me at all. Like it could have happened off screen, and we would get the same amount of information and enjoyment.
The titular rivalry - I can't believe I'm listing this because the whole book is supposed to be about this, but the enemies to lovers things was disappointing. It wasn't enemies to lovers as much as it was "they're mad at each other for a few chapters to awkwardly acting civil to each other to lovers". The whole progression of the relationship was too abrupt for me, and is basically begins to turn romantic when both of them realize they find each other physically attractive, which I don't love. I feel like if that was maybe a thing from the start, and they were mad about that too because they hate each other, it would have worked better, but eh.
There's possibly a found family thing, and if that's the intent it's poorly handled in my opinion. I'm assuming that's what was happening because I didn't even realize it until one of the side characters straight up said it. If this is a family, they need to care a whole lot more because my god.
And my final point in this section is the plot itself. At least kind of. It starts fine, the potion commission things comes up later than I thought it would, but it's fine, it didn't feel too late or too early. The big problem for me is that roughly at the 70% mark, it feels like the book is over, we reached a climax, and it's just falling action from there and the book just kind of keeps going.
Even the potion commission itself feels like an afterthought after a while. I kept wondering what was going to happen to fill the space, and I can't say I liked the answer to that question because it's very random. It's not completely out of nowhere in terms of set up, but still.
I was intially pleased with the plot progression because a seemingly random side quest from the start ties well into itself and character arcs. But then the last third ruined that in my eyes.
So yeah, in summary, I have no idea what to rate this book at all. It's easy to read, the writing flows nicely, and I wasn't bored, that's for sure. I didn't actually outright hate anything about it either, but on the other hand there are a lot of things I had issues with, and also a bunch of stuff that didn't work for me. So middle of the ground it is, minus a bit off the top for my frustration with most of the side characters' relationships with Ambrose.
I sat on it for a while, and I'm honestly still stumped as to what to rate this book because there's nothing that wrong with it, but there's also very little I truly liked. So I'm gonna go with 2.5 stars.
I'll start with the good - I liked Ambrose, I like his character drama, for the most part. I liked the little graphics and illustrations, those are always fun. I also like the idea of all the potion making, I just wish it went deeper because what it boils down to (pun not intended) is basically just saying ingredient names and effects without giving any frame of reference at all. But still, there was clearly some thought put into it, so cool. And I like Eli's struggle with what he wants to do in life, even though it seemed like an afterthought a bit. And finally, even though I wasn't having that much fun, I got through the book in two days, it's very easy to read, just like the Stray Spirit, so props for that. And there's some queer rep even outside the two MCs which is good on principle, even if I found our ace rep (which is a very rare thing) to be an incredibly annoying character. And unfortunately I think that's everything.
The meh - the worldbuilding feels very barebones to me. For example, there seems to be every classic fantasy race in this book, but there's nothing actually about them. Which I guess is fine, I don't think this is meant to be some epic to rival Tolkien, but the drawback with this was that it felt like it was cramming everything in without a thought. I don't think that's what actually happened, but that is what it feels like. We don't see much of how this world works, nor do we get much explanation for anything, and while it makes sense in the context of this being a very personal story of characters just living in this world, it also kept making me feel like I was reading a fanfic of a book that had all of that worldbuilding that the readers of this would be familiar with, and I was just missing that context.
The whole of Eli is also on the meh list. I kept flip flopping on whether I like him or not, and I think the reason for that is that he seems to act however the scene needs him to rather than having a strongly defined character like Ambrose. Aside from one instance Even the side characters seemed more defined than Eli, and they have like a single trait each. But at least it's consistent. I didn't even understand why Eli immediately hates Ambrose at first. Like, you're the one who set up a shop selling the same thing right across the street, buddy, you don't have the right to be mad when the original shop owner is pissed at you. And yeah, Eli didn't know, but still. And no one gives Ambrose much more than "that sucks buddy". Like poor Ambrose, man.
(As a side note, I've seen other people mention mental health rep in their reviews, and I'll be honest, I didn't notice that while reading, and I still don't see it. I did notice Ambrose's self-esteem issues and I guess that's depression induced? But it's never really addressed. And I guess also the whole thing with Dawn, but that didn't feel addressed either. She just got the thing that was making her act that way, and that's it, which just seems like ignoring the problem to me)
The bad - The opening scene is sensory overload. The book calms down right after, but the amount of characters and concepts introduced in that relatively short opener was just way too much for me, which is extra weird because the first page or two are very peaceful. I was determined to read this book because I was very curious about it so I didn't let it deter me, but it's not a great first impression, and I imagine it will turn some people off
Another point is Dawn. I just really don't like Dawn, which is a shame because I liked her well enough until that one thing.
That sex scene. If I can call it that. It's so barely there that I have to wonder why it was even included. Good for Ambrose and Eli I guess, but it felt like a strange middle ground between an actual sex scene and a proper "fade to black" and it doesn't work for me at all. Like it could have happened off screen, and we would get the same amount of information and enjoyment.
The titular rivalry - I can't believe I'm listing this because the whole book is supposed to be about this, but the enemies to lovers things was disappointing. It wasn't enemies to lovers as much as it was "they're mad at each other for a few chapters to awkwardly acting civil to each other to lovers". The whole progression of the relationship was too abrupt for me, and is basically begins to turn romantic when both of them realize they find each other physically attractive, which I don't love. I feel like if that was maybe a thing from the start, and they were mad about that too because they hate each other, it would have worked better, but eh.
There's possibly a found family thing, and if that's the intent it's poorly handled in my opinion. I'm assuming that's what was happening because I didn't even realize it until one of the side characters straight up said it. If this is a family, they need to care a whole lot more because my god.
And my final point in this section is the plot itself. At least kind of. It starts fine, the potion commission things comes up later than I thought it would, but it's fine, it didn't feel too late or too early. The big problem for me is that roughly at the 70% mark, it feels like the book is over, we reached a climax, and it's just falling action from there and the book just kind of keeps going.
Even the potion commission itself feels like an afterthought after a while. I kept wondering what was going to happen to fill the space, and I can't say I liked the answer to that question because it's very random. It's not completely out of nowhere in terms of set up, but still.
I was intially pleased with the plot progression because a seemingly random side quest from the start ties well into itself and character arcs. But then the last third ruined that in my eyes.
So yeah, in summary, I have no idea what to rate this book at all. It's easy to read, the writing flows nicely, and I wasn't bored, that's for sure. I didn't actually outright hate anything about it either, but on the other hand there are a lot of things I had issues with, and also a bunch of stuff that didn't work for me. So middle of the ground it is, minus a bit off the top for my frustration with most of the side characters' relationships with Ambrose.
April 7, 2024
3.5 but I'll round it up for concise writing and uplifting vibes.
I'm not really into cozy books. I prefer my reads to be light on romance and I lean more towards the dark and existential. And yet, I can’t help but admire the lightness of writing, the skillful scene-setting, and the whimsical atmosphere created by K.R. Ashwick in A Rival Most Vial is fun. This book is simply fun.
It takes a look into the lives of street merchants, highlighting their friendships, struggles, and mischievous escapades. The plot is simple. Two men, one grumpy and the other one outgoing start off as competitors but eventually develop a deep friendship, and later, romance. There are no surprises here; it's evident from the beginning how things will develop, with the twists being quite predictable.
Logically, I should feel indifferent about it. But I can’t because it’s all very well done and written. It contains no wasted scenes or bloated descriptions. The timing is impeccable, and the pacing is just right. The found family dynamic between Ambrose and Eli and their friends is fantastic and quirky.
While this world lacks “classic” magic, there's an intriguing system of potioneering based on magical artificing. Magical ingredients are all derived from natural materials in the world, and can create magical effects when mixed well.
R.K. Ashwick's prose is engaging, easy to follow and understand, and creates a vibrant atmosphere able to draw readers into the enchanting small-scale world of Rosemond Street. The characters are well-crafted and engaging, they all have distinct personalities and quirks. The dynamic between the various shopkeepers, such as Banneker, Sherry, and Dawn, adds a touch of humor and camaraderie to the story and makes everything work.
Possible issues with the story come from the fact it's light on plot, the stakes are almost non-existent, and some readers will find it too sweet :)
Fans of queer cozy fantasy - don’t miss this one. You’ll love it.
I'm not really into cozy books. I prefer my reads to be light on romance and I lean more towards the dark and existential. And yet, I can’t help but admire the lightness of writing, the skillful scene-setting, and the whimsical atmosphere created by K.R. Ashwick in A Rival Most Vial is fun. This book is simply fun.
It takes a look into the lives of street merchants, highlighting their friendships, struggles, and mischievous escapades. The plot is simple. Two men, one grumpy and the other one outgoing start off as competitors but eventually develop a deep friendship, and later, romance. There are no surprises here; it's evident from the beginning how things will develop, with the twists being quite predictable.
Logically, I should feel indifferent about it. But I can’t because it’s all very well done and written. It contains no wasted scenes or bloated descriptions. The timing is impeccable, and the pacing is just right. The found family dynamic between Ambrose and Eli and their friends is fantastic and quirky.
While this world lacks “classic” magic, there's an intriguing system of potioneering based on magical artificing. Magical ingredients are all derived from natural materials in the world, and can create magical effects when mixed well.
R.K. Ashwick's prose is engaging, easy to follow and understand, and creates a vibrant atmosphere able to draw readers into the enchanting small-scale world of Rosemond Street. The characters are well-crafted and engaging, they all have distinct personalities and quirks. The dynamic between the various shopkeepers, such as Banneker, Sherry, and Dawn, adds a touch of humor and camaraderie to the story and makes everything work.
Possible issues with the story come from the fact it's light on plot, the stakes are almost non-existent, and some readers will find it too sweet :)
Fans of queer cozy fantasy - don’t miss this one. You’ll love it.
March 26, 2024
Read for SPFBO9 as part of team Fantasy Book Critic. This is just my personal opinion, group verdict may differ widely.
7.5/10
Bubbling over with charm, wit, and love, A Rival Most Vial is a delightfully cosy queer fantasy romance that will warm even the coldest of hearts.
Nothing in life brings the quiet half-elf Ambrose Beake more joy and pride than his successful potion-making business. That is, until a new potion shop opens right across the street from him, causing a heated rivalry to start brewing. And if that wasn’t awful enough, they are begrudgingly forced into a collaboration on a nearly impossible commission by the mayor. Though as they start working together, they soon start to appreciate each other’s brilliance, and their reluctant alliance might just start to bubble over into something more after all.
Now, A Rival Most Vial was a bit of a tale of two halves for me. For the first 50%, I was having a fine enough time, but truly nothing was particularly standing out to me. The world building felt a bit flimsy, the characters and their relationships felt somewhat shallow, and the rivalry plotline very quickly got tiresome to me.
However, I thought the second half improved on everything in every single way imaginable, and it almost felt like I’d consumed some magic potion that had suddenly made me fall in love with the story. Honestly, as soon as Ambrose and Eli started to work together, I just got completely enchanted by the irresistible charm of these characters, and it really was smooth sailing from there.
I am very much in a cozy mood at the moment, so I really enjoyed how quiet and chill the plot of A Rival Most Vial was. That is not to say that there are no stakes, but as we are essentially following the NPCs in this world, the stakes are just a lot more personal and intimate than in your regular epic fantasy adventures, and I loved that. The interpersonal drama, the confusing heightened emotions, the scary budding romance, the interesting potion brewing lore, and the delightful found family vibes; I just ate it all up.
There’s also a surprisingly emotional undercurrent to this story, which comes more to the forefront in the second half of the book as we dive deeper into these characters’ pasts. Whether it was Ambrose’s traumatic and lonely upbringing or Eli’s struggle to find his true calling in life, I really enjoyed seeing them slowly start to heal and grow together.
And not only do they find support and comfort in each other, but they also have a wonderful group of oddball friends who will stop at nothing to keep them safe, giving this story only more heart than it already had.
Even though this book stands perfectly on its own and wrapped up in an utterly satisfying and heartwarming way, I would honestly sell my soul to Rosemund Street in the future and see what everyone in this delightfully chaotic found family is up to next. If you are looking for a very cute and cozy rivals-to-reluctant allies-to-lovers queer fantasy romance, then you have to check out A Rival Most Vial!
7.5/10
Bubbling over with charm, wit, and love, A Rival Most Vial is a delightfully cosy queer fantasy romance that will warm even the coldest of hearts.
Nothing in life brings the quiet half-elf Ambrose Beake more joy and pride than his successful potion-making business. That is, until a new potion shop opens right across the street from him, causing a heated rivalry to start brewing. And if that wasn’t awful enough, they are begrudgingly forced into a collaboration on a nearly impossible commission by the mayor. Though as they start working together, they soon start to appreciate each other’s brilliance, and their reluctant alliance might just start to bubble over into something more after all.
Now, A Rival Most Vial was a bit of a tale of two halves for me. For the first 50%, I was having a fine enough time, but truly nothing was particularly standing out to me. The world building felt a bit flimsy, the characters and their relationships felt somewhat shallow, and the rivalry plotline very quickly got tiresome to me.
However, I thought the second half improved on everything in every single way imaginable, and it almost felt like I’d consumed some magic potion that had suddenly made me fall in love with the story. Honestly, as soon as Ambrose and Eli started to work together, I just got completely enchanted by the irresistible charm of these characters, and it really was smooth sailing from there.
I am very much in a cozy mood at the moment, so I really enjoyed how quiet and chill the plot of A Rival Most Vial was. That is not to say that there are no stakes, but as we are essentially following the NPCs in this world, the stakes are just a lot more personal and intimate than in your regular epic fantasy adventures, and I loved that. The interpersonal drama, the confusing heightened emotions, the scary budding romance, the interesting potion brewing lore, and the delightful found family vibes; I just ate it all up.
There’s also a surprisingly emotional undercurrent to this story, which comes more to the forefront in the second half of the book as we dive deeper into these characters’ pasts. Whether it was Ambrose’s traumatic and lonely upbringing or Eli’s struggle to find his true calling in life, I really enjoyed seeing them slowly start to heal and grow together.
And not only do they find support and comfort in each other, but they also have a wonderful group of oddball friends who will stop at nothing to keep them safe, giving this story only more heart than it already had.
Even though this book stands perfectly on its own and wrapped up in an utterly satisfying and heartwarming way, I would honestly sell my soul to Rosemund Street in the future and see what everyone in this delightfully chaotic found family is up to next. If you are looking for a very cute and cozy rivals-to-reluctant allies-to-lovers queer fantasy romance, then you have to check out A Rival Most Vial!
April 22, 2024
Going into this book, I knew I was not going to be its target audience. Cozy romance isn't typically something that I gravitate towards for a multitude of reasons, but I was on a quest to finish all ten of the SPFBO9 finalists.
I found this story pretty bingeable. The prose was accessible and pleasant, and I found that my favorite sections of the book were the descriptions of Ambrose' potions shop. The potion-making aspect of the story intrigued me from the beginning and I thoroughly enjoyed the nostalgic atmosphere of the shop. I found Ambrose a sympathetic protagonist, and I always have a soft spot for characters who have a hard time expressing their emotions, the closed off exterior hiding a big heart beneath.
Overall, though, I struggled to find the depth and investment that I look for in order to fall in love with a story. As the romantic tension of the story amped up, my interest in the individual characters began to wane. I found myself more drawn to the worldbuilding aspects and the nostalgic fantasy atmosphere than the characters or the plotline.
I found this story pretty bingeable. The prose was accessible and pleasant, and I found that my favorite sections of the book were the descriptions of Ambrose' potions shop. The potion-making aspect of the story intrigued me from the beginning and I thoroughly enjoyed the nostalgic atmosphere of the shop. I found Ambrose a sympathetic protagonist, and I always have a soft spot for characters who have a hard time expressing their emotions, the closed off exterior hiding a big heart beneath.
Overall, though, I struggled to find the depth and investment that I look for in order to fall in love with a story. As the romantic tension of the story amped up, my interest in the individual characters began to wane. I found myself more drawn to the worldbuilding aspects and the nostalgic fantasy atmosphere than the characters or the plotline.
April 8, 2024
A Rival Most Vial is one of the SPFBO 9 finalists, which I read as a judge! Our group review can be read on Queen's Book Asylum. Our overall rating was 8.5/10, my personal rating is 9.5/10. In stars, I would give this 5*
Not going to lie, I had expectations for A Rival Most Vial, which got bigger and bigger as time went on and I wasn’t able to fall in love with any of the books SPFBO 9 threw my way. The pressure was on, and that’s always a double-edged sword. I needed a book to fall in love with. This is an accurate portrayal of me (keep it in mind, we’ll be back to it):
But the fact that these days I read more cosy fantasy than dark, and that I read 3 M/M romance novels in a week back in March suggested that A Rival Most Vial could be my favorite SPFBO book of the season. After reading it, I can say that it might even make it to my top 10 list at the end of the year. To say I loved this book would be an understatement. If I could, I’d pack my things and would move to the Scar, thank you very much. Despite the lack of internet and music venues. But hey, I could be a music venue owner! I’m sure all those adventurers need to let their hair down every once in a while. Taverns are good and all, but nothing beats a night of jumping around, and singing your heart out with your favorite band. Trust me, I know.
After reading the first page I knew I was going to love this book, and my instincts once again proved right. For me, the characters’ personalities shone through and I got excited to get to know them. I knew they would be fun. I think this shows how well-written A Rival Most Vial is. Plus, I’m a sucker for the found family trope and as the story went on, I kept wishing I was part of this family.
I loved Eli from the beginning (those earrings!! and bubbly personality!!) and I believe everyone needs an Eli in their life. But it took me a while to warm up to Ambrose. Turns out, he was the character I could relate to the most. He is basically me without the awesome found family and a passion for potioneering. He built so many walls around himself that he completely forgot they were there. He keeps everyone at arms’ length and even though he is lonely and wants to belong he finds excuses why he doesn’t. It’s easier to hide at home than making the effort to open up. And it’s easier to believe you are a burden for everyone and that you have to do everything by yourself than ask for help. Again, trust me, I know.
I loved how the enemies-to-lovers trope was executed here. And yes, some of it was predictable, but I enjoyed myself so much that I didn’t care. I don’t think things moved too fast, personally, the pace worked for me. I just wanted more of the whole book in general. There was enough development for the romance to be plausible but also allow the plot to move fluidly. I also loved that there were no high stakes, the world wasn’t a disaster, it’s a place where all kinds of people live together in peace. There is magic, there are adventurers, and a multilevel town with clever ideas and a lot of personality squeezed into every shop.
That’s not to say there aren’t any dangers – monsters roam free and our MCs get into all kinds of trouble, some of them life-threatening. Ashwick found the perfect balance between cozy moments and tense ones, where you can’t help but keep turning the pages. I wanted to savour this book by reading on my Kindle, but I pretty much devoured it through the audiobook. I’m not even sorry.
I probably could find something to pick on if I tried hard enough, but I’m putting the evil bitch Queen to rest for now and will join Bjørn in begging for books 2, 3 and however many there will be in this series. See the gif above. A Rival Most Vial grabbed my heart, squeezed it and left me wishing for more.
Not going to lie, I had expectations for A Rival Most Vial, which got bigger and bigger as time went on and I wasn’t able to fall in love with any of the books SPFBO 9 threw my way. The pressure was on, and that’s always a double-edged sword. I needed a book to fall in love with. This is an accurate portrayal of me (keep it in mind, we’ll be back to it):
But the fact that these days I read more cosy fantasy than dark, and that I read 3 M/M romance novels in a week back in March suggested that A Rival Most Vial could be my favorite SPFBO book of the season. After reading it, I can say that it might even make it to my top 10 list at the end of the year. To say I loved this book would be an understatement. If I could, I’d pack my things and would move to the Scar, thank you very much. Despite the lack of internet and music venues. But hey, I could be a music venue owner! I’m sure all those adventurers need to let their hair down every once in a while. Taverns are good and all, but nothing beats a night of jumping around, and singing your heart out with your favorite band. Trust me, I know.
After reading the first page I knew I was going to love this book, and my instincts once again proved right. For me, the characters’ personalities shone through and I got excited to get to know them. I knew they would be fun. I think this shows how well-written A Rival Most Vial is. Plus, I’m a sucker for the found family trope and as the story went on, I kept wishing I was part of this family.
I loved Eli from the beginning (those earrings!! and bubbly personality!!) and I believe everyone needs an Eli in their life. But it took me a while to warm up to Ambrose. Turns out, he was the character I could relate to the most. He is basically me without the awesome found family and a passion for potioneering. He built so many walls around himself that he completely forgot they were there. He keeps everyone at arms’ length and even though he is lonely and wants to belong he finds excuses why he doesn’t. It’s easier to hide at home than making the effort to open up. And it’s easier to believe you are a burden for everyone and that you have to do everything by yourself than ask for help. Again, trust me, I know.
I loved how the enemies-to-lovers trope was executed here. And yes, some of it was predictable, but I enjoyed myself so much that I didn’t care. I don’t think things moved too fast, personally, the pace worked for me. I just wanted more of the whole book in general. There was enough development for the romance to be plausible but also allow the plot to move fluidly. I also loved that there were no high stakes, the world wasn’t a disaster, it’s a place where all kinds of people live together in peace. There is magic, there are adventurers, and a multilevel town with clever ideas and a lot of personality squeezed into every shop.
That’s not to say there aren’t any dangers – monsters roam free and our MCs get into all kinds of trouble, some of them life-threatening. Ashwick found the perfect balance between cozy moments and tense ones, where you can’t help but keep turning the pages. I wanted to savour this book by reading on my Kindle, but I pretty much devoured it through the audiobook. I’m not even sorry.
I probably could find something to pick on if I tried hard enough, but I’m putting the evil bitch Queen to rest for now and will join Bjørn in begging for books 2, 3 and however many there will be in this series. See the gif above. A Rival Most Vial grabbed my heart, squeezed it and left me wishing for more.
May 13, 2024
An absolute hidden GEM of the cozy fantasy variety!
I stumbled upon this book by pure chance and I cannot conceive why it is not more popular in it's genre. If you are a fan of any of FT Lukens works such as So This Is Ever AfterSo This Is Ever After or loved Legends & Lattes then THIS is the book for you!
I stumbled upon this book by pure chance and I cannot conceive why it is not more popular in it's genre. If you are a fan of any of FT Lukens works such as So This Is Ever AfterSo This Is Ever After or loved Legends & Lattes then THIS is the book for you!
June 6, 2023
Thank you SO much to the author for an ARC! All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
I’m not being dramatic when I say A Rival Most Vial is my idea of the perfect cosy fantasy. Heartwarming, funny, and meaningful, I absolutely devoured this and was smiling the entire time.
ARMV follows the story of rival potioneers Ambrose and Eli as they’re forced to team up to create a potion for the mayor despite the boiling competition between them. It’s a grumpy/sunshine, rivals to lovers queer romance, and the dynamic between the two MCs was absolutely perfect! Ambrose is a half-elf and has spent nearly his entire life training to take over a historic potion shop, which he has recently achieved. He’s confident in his abilities, studious to a fault and prefers to keep to himself. He views himself as a bit of a lone wolf, despite how much his neighbours love and care for him. I loved seeing him come out of his shell and accept the friendship offered to him, as well as slowly start to warm to the gregarious, charming Eli.
In contrast to Ambrose, Eli has spent his whole life searching for purpose. At the moment, he fancies potioneering could be the answer. He moved to town and promptly opened up a shop across for Ambrose and starts poaching his clients, despite his lacklustre potions (in Ambrose’s humble opinion).
The rivalry between these two was positively wonderful! I loved the animosity that coloured their earlier interactions, and the way it shifted to affection the more they got to know each other. It felt very realistic and their eventual get together felt natural and well earned. Overall, it was a wonderful story and I’d highly recommend it for anyone who is looking for a heartwarming, enjoyable cosy fantasy!
I’m not being dramatic when I say A Rival Most Vial is my idea of the perfect cosy fantasy. Heartwarming, funny, and meaningful, I absolutely devoured this and was smiling the entire time.
ARMV follows the story of rival potioneers Ambrose and Eli as they’re forced to team up to create a potion for the mayor despite the boiling competition between them. It’s a grumpy/sunshine, rivals to lovers queer romance, and the dynamic between the two MCs was absolutely perfect! Ambrose is a half-elf and has spent nearly his entire life training to take over a historic potion shop, which he has recently achieved. He’s confident in his abilities, studious to a fault and prefers to keep to himself. He views himself as a bit of a lone wolf, despite how much his neighbours love and care for him. I loved seeing him come out of his shell and accept the friendship offered to him, as well as slowly start to warm to the gregarious, charming Eli.
In contrast to Ambrose, Eli has spent his whole life searching for purpose. At the moment, he fancies potioneering could be the answer. He moved to town and promptly opened up a shop across for Ambrose and starts poaching his clients, despite his lacklustre potions (in Ambrose’s humble opinion).
The rivalry between these two was positively wonderful! I loved the animosity that coloured their earlier interactions, and the way it shifted to affection the more they got to know each other. It felt very realistic and their eventual get together felt natural and well earned. Overall, it was a wonderful story and I’d highly recommend it for anyone who is looking for a heartwarming, enjoyable cosy fantasy!
September 24, 2023
Delightful, just delightful. The MCs were loveable, the fantasy world-building interesting, a whole lot of strongly developed (and likeable) secondary characters ... I'm truly looking forward to the next book now. Almost but not quite 5 stars.
May 7, 2024
4.75
A Rival Most Vial – the book I was looking the LEAST forward to as part of SPFBO9. I groaned when I saw this fantasy romance make a finalist because please don’t make me sit through some fluffy feelings, I beg! And there better not be a love potion, grumble-grumble.
And well, I joked about it to the team, that if I did end up liking it, I would have to ‘man up’ and admit it. So here I am, admitting the fact that I LOVED this book so hard! It was cute, fun, the right amount of quirky, and not over-the-top graphic with the intimate scenes. It was perfectly balanced, like Ambrose’s potions!
A Rival Most Vial is an ‘opposites attract’ kind of story. I wouldn’t say it’s ‘enemies to lovers’ because I wouldn’t call the opposing sides of a healthy business rivalry enemies. Besides, Eli really doesn’t have it in him to hate anyone, I think. He has a very warm, open personality, he is bubbly and one of those people that just adventure through life, restlessly, day at a time, only planning for a short time and hoping they’ll make it. Ambrose, on the other hand, is exactly the kind of eagle-eyed perfectionist that can drive a non-perfectionist simple in the head. Ambrose is the opposite of fun. He does not allow himself to feel joy.
Ambrose and Eli both have quite the development arc during this story. Their respective ‘figuring it out’ moments were one of the reasons I loved this book. It was so pleasantly human. We all have internal conflicts that hold us back from any number of things and to witness both Ambrose and Eli having to take a hard look at their ‘default settings’ to then make a step towards an improvement added that layer of emotional depth for me.
In addition to the main plot and main characters, there were two things that made this book an absolute joy to read… The writing and the setting.
Sometimes it happens that the idea in a book is good, but I just seem to stumble over words to get to the end. It’s like skipping along a riverbank on rocks of different sizes. Enjoyable and fun, but oh, so much work. A Rival Most Vial was a smooth sandy beach as far as the eye can see. When reading simply happens automatically, because the connection in between the words, your eyes and your brain is seamless. I don’t know how else to describe it. A Rival Most Vial is a polished piece of work, and it deserves the acknowledgement. It also deserves to be one of the SPFBO9 finalists!
Regarding the setting, I adored the atmosphere in this book. The secondary set of characters is made up of merchants, each as unique as you can imagine. If I was to describe the feeling I got from the wholesome friendships on the ‘shopping street’ then I would compare it to the camaraderie one can feel in A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. The warm feeling of found family and lifelong friends. And when this emotion is done well, there truly is no need for anything overly dramatic to happen. Someone doesn’t have to die a death, someone doesn’t have to be sacrificed, someone doesn’t have to escape mercenaries or save a country from war… None of that awful, grim stuff. Sometimes there is beauty in simplicity. For me, A Rival Most Vial is a ‘stop and smell the roses’ kind of read, and it is purely about people – human and non-human. The glorious synchronicity of living together in a close-knit community, helping each other, celebrating each other’s successes, and helping each other in difficult times. I would recommend this for anyone looking for a book to take them away from the harsh realities, because A Rival Most Vial will wrap you in a comfy hug and make you smile.
Oh! PS! I LOVED the chapter headings! Brilliant little touch that made the essence of this book complete.
PPS! There’s no love potion! Yay!
A Rival Most Vial – the book I was looking the LEAST forward to as part of SPFBO9. I groaned when I saw this fantasy romance make a finalist because please don’t make me sit through some fluffy feelings, I beg! And there better not be a love potion, grumble-grumble.
And well, I joked about it to the team, that if I did end up liking it, I would have to ‘man up’ and admit it. So here I am, admitting the fact that I LOVED this book so hard! It was cute, fun, the right amount of quirky, and not over-the-top graphic with the intimate scenes. It was perfectly balanced, like Ambrose’s potions!
A Rival Most Vial is an ‘opposites attract’ kind of story. I wouldn’t say it’s ‘enemies to lovers’ because I wouldn’t call the opposing sides of a healthy business rivalry enemies. Besides, Eli really doesn’t have it in him to hate anyone, I think. He has a very warm, open personality, he is bubbly and one of those people that just adventure through life, restlessly, day at a time, only planning for a short time and hoping they’ll make it. Ambrose, on the other hand, is exactly the kind of eagle-eyed perfectionist that can drive a non-perfectionist simple in the head. Ambrose is the opposite of fun. He does not allow himself to feel joy.
Ambrose and Eli both have quite the development arc during this story. Their respective ‘figuring it out’ moments were one of the reasons I loved this book. It was so pleasantly human. We all have internal conflicts that hold us back from any number of things and to witness both Ambrose and Eli having to take a hard look at their ‘default settings’ to then make a step towards an improvement added that layer of emotional depth for me.
In addition to the main plot and main characters, there were two things that made this book an absolute joy to read… The writing and the setting.
Sometimes it happens that the idea in a book is good, but I just seem to stumble over words to get to the end. It’s like skipping along a riverbank on rocks of different sizes. Enjoyable and fun, but oh, so much work. A Rival Most Vial was a smooth sandy beach as far as the eye can see. When reading simply happens automatically, because the connection in between the words, your eyes and your brain is seamless. I don’t know how else to describe it. A Rival Most Vial is a polished piece of work, and it deserves the acknowledgement. It also deserves to be one of the SPFBO9 finalists!
Regarding the setting, I adored the atmosphere in this book. The secondary set of characters is made up of merchants, each as unique as you can imagine. If I was to describe the feeling I got from the wholesome friendships on the ‘shopping street’ then I would compare it to the camaraderie one can feel in A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. The warm feeling of found family and lifelong friends. And when this emotion is done well, there truly is no need for anything overly dramatic to happen. Someone doesn’t have to die a death, someone doesn’t have to be sacrificed, someone doesn’t have to escape mercenaries or save a country from war… None of that awful, grim stuff. Sometimes there is beauty in simplicity. For me, A Rival Most Vial is a ‘stop and smell the roses’ kind of read, and it is purely about people – human and non-human. The glorious synchronicity of living together in a close-knit community, helping each other, celebrating each other’s successes, and helping each other in difficult times. I would recommend this for anyone looking for a book to take them away from the harsh realities, because A Rival Most Vial will wrap you in a comfy hug and make you smile.
Oh! PS! I LOVED the chapter headings! Brilliant little touch that made the essence of this book complete.
PPS! There’s no love potion! Yay!
March 24, 2024
A warm, tender story of a stuffy master potioneer and a brash and charismatic new neighbor who opens a competitive store directly across the street. Tempers fly, misunderstandings are exacerbated l, and they’re content to never speak to each other again - until they’re forced to work together.
This is a cozy romantasy that’s highlighted with themes of found family, perseverance, and a few chapters of adventure. Overall it’s a low-key, feel-good story that’s engaging and well-paced. The two leads are well-characterized and there were some sneaky-good lines that have stuck with me (“But I want that stupid farmer” 😆).
While there are several supporting characters — mostly local business owners — only one of them is given a true arc. I wish the side characters got a little more face time as they felt a bit thin by book’s end.
Still, this is an easy rec for someone looking to curl up and grin. A well-deserved SPFBO9 finalist.
This is a cozy romantasy that’s highlighted with themes of found family, perseverance, and a few chapters of adventure. Overall it’s a low-key, feel-good story that’s engaging and well-paced. The two leads are well-characterized and there were some sneaky-good lines that have stuck with me (“But I want that stupid farmer” 😆).
While there are several supporting characters — mostly local business owners — only one of them is given a true arc. I wish the side characters got a little more face time as they felt a bit thin by book’s end.
Still, this is an easy rec for someone looking to curl up and grin. A well-deserved SPFBO9 finalist.
January 21, 2024
I think if you're a fan of Legends and Lattes, you're really going to love this. It's cozy, it's queer, it's got angst.
The strength of this book is the world building. There's so much explanation of the buildings around them, the smells of the potion shop and the food that they made. It was really cute and fun. The characters balance well off each other and the situations they're found in create a fun dynamic.
My issue with this book was the plot and the pacing. The main conflict of this book was the rivalry that these two potion masters have, and then having to work together. But once that issue is resolved the book was boring. There was no stakes. And the book felt like it ended 5 times.
If cozy fantasy is a buzzword for you though, this is a book you should definitely pick up!
The strength of this book is the world building. There's so much explanation of the buildings around them, the smells of the potion shop and the food that they made. It was really cute and fun. The characters balance well off each other and the situations they're found in create a fun dynamic.
My issue with this book was the plot and the pacing. The main conflict of this book was the rivalry that these two potion masters have, and then having to work together. But once that issue is resolved the book was boring. There was no stakes. And the book felt like it ended 5 times.
If cozy fantasy is a buzzword for you though, this is a book you should definitely pick up!
September 14, 2023
What the fu...?! This is a romance book?!?!
Ahem, clearly I didn't read the blurb all the way through. Nor did i realise there was a second part to the title... 🙄
I was really enjoying the rivalry and then bam! They start falling in love. And then it got romancey and super sweet. I think I might have developed diabetes towards the end of the book.
Ahem, clearly I didn't read the blurb all the way through. Nor did i realise there was a second part to the title... 🙄
I was really enjoying the rivalry and then bam! They start falling in love. And then it got romancey and super sweet. I think I might have developed diabetes towards the end of the book.
September 27, 2024
3.5 stars
More fantasy than a romance, this was approximately no-mance up til about 70%.
I do think the MC's backstories were quite well-fleshed out, and were well-exposed, rather than being infodumped either in a conversation or through the MC thinking woefully about his tragic past, elements of their pasts revealed themselves in a way that felt natural.
I especially enjoyed Ambrose's character arc, where he learns that being so independent as to be alone is maybe not the best thing ever, and that in fact he does have a family in their little street, if only he can open his heart to them.
It was overall enjoyable but I think the genre was a bit confused and it's torn between being a cosy rival story and an adventure tale, the second element was not what I was expecting so I was somewhat thrown and found the pacing a bit erratic.
Tropes: rivals to lovers, dislike to lovers, reluctant allies, new in town, grumpy/sunshine, slowburn, never been kissed, found family, introvert/extravert
More fantasy than a romance, this was approximately no-mance up til about 70%.
I do think the MC's backstories were quite well-fleshed out, and were well-exposed, rather than being infodumped either in a conversation or through the MC thinking woefully about his tragic past, elements of their pasts revealed themselves in a way that felt natural.
I especially enjoyed Ambrose's character arc, where he learns that being so independent as to be alone is maybe not the best thing ever, and that in fact he does have a family in their little street, if only he can open his heart to them.
It was overall enjoyable but I think the genre was a bit confused and it's torn between being a cosy rival story and an adventure tale, the second element was not what I was expecting so I was somewhat thrown and found the pacing a bit erratic.
Tropes: rivals to lovers, dislike to lovers, reluctant allies, new in town, grumpy/sunshine, slowburn, never been kissed, found family, introvert/extravert
May 6, 2024
This was very cute. Super low angst and sweet. If you enjoyed Legends & Lattes or So This Is Ever After, you’ll probably enjoy this as well. Great for when you want something comforting and a bit meandering in a cozy way. Also, no on page sex scenes, which is a nice option for some readers, including me, depending on my mood.
March 8, 2024
I would fold so fast if Eli ever flirted with me
February 7, 2024
Read for SPFBO, this is only my personal opinion, group verdict might differ widely!
I really enjoyed A Rival Most Vial by R.K. Ashwick a lot!
Especially the first half was my cup of tea, or rather my cauldron full of potions!
This is a cosy fantasy, with found family, banter, charming small street shops and a slice of life feel to it.
I really adored the slow and harmonic feel to this! Exploring the life of our main character and his friends, and getting a glimpse of this new world that feels familiar and fresh at the same time. I love the heroes coming through, shopping for their next quest, and also the magic and alchemy at hand.
There's some adventures and suspenseful scenes, but overall it's more of a calm and quiet read. The few quicker scenes definitely struck a good balance for me!
The romance was a bit heavy for me in the second half. It was cute, but I could have done with less "I'd wanted to take him into the supply closet" thoughts - I understood it after the first few times... Overall it was nice to see these two slowly getting closer, and if even I, who usually detest romance in my fantasy, doesn't mind, that speaks for the book surely!
I really enjoyed A Rival Most Vial by R.K. Ashwick a lot!
Especially the first half was my cup of tea, or rather my cauldron full of potions!
This is a cosy fantasy, with found family, banter, charming small street shops and a slice of life feel to it.
I really adored the slow and harmonic feel to this! Exploring the life of our main character and his friends, and getting a glimpse of this new world that feels familiar and fresh at the same time. I love the heroes coming through, shopping for their next quest, and also the magic and alchemy at hand.
There's some adventures and suspenseful scenes, but overall it's more of a calm and quiet read. The few quicker scenes definitely struck a good balance for me!
The romance was a bit heavy for me in the second half. It was cute, but I could have done with less "I'd wanted to take him into the supply closet" thoughts - I understood it after the first few times... Overall it was nice to see these two slowly getting closer, and if even I, who usually detest romance in my fantasy, doesn't mind, that speaks for the book surely!
July 17, 2023
Ambrose Beake CPM (Certified Potion Maker), a half elf with blue hair, is content running his potion shop. He is an exemplary potion maker and his customers love and trust his product. Then his world is flipped upside down when a new (and incredibly handsome) potion maker named Eli Valenz moves in directly across the street. Obviously both Ames and Eli are stressed out with each other as competition and their relationship is anything but civil. Ames is trying to afford some upgrades for the shop's 200th anniversary while Eli is trying to get his shop to be even a bit profitable. While tempers rise, the pair are given a commission from the mayor to brew a highly complex potion, together, for his daughter's birthday party in four months.
Needless to say the pair find more and more in common and start to look forward to the time the spend together and the cauldron bubbles over into something more sweet.
Gosh this book was cute as hell. Its cozy and the setting feels fun. Very generic "fantasy town" but still an interesting setting that I wish was explored a bit more. Some of the side characters on Rosemond street felt a bit one-note and indistinct when they were first introduced. I kept getting them confused. But as the book progresses their individual personalities became much more evident.
The romance between Eli and Ames was adorable to watch develop though, at first, it felt very much like their rivalry was a bit insurmountable. I would've liked it to be maybe just a dash less antagonistic between the two to be a bit more believable.
So you say "Nick! Negatives! Why 5 stars?" and I reply "girl I couldn't stop smiling". This book made me grin like an idiot throughout. I had a really good time reading it. The chapter titles (something we desperately need to bring back) added a touch of silly flare, and the fun illustrations in the middle was something I could've used even more of. I'm really looking forward to reading more books in this series: either with other members of Rosemond street as the focus or more of Ames and Eli as their relationship progresses. Also the entire existence of Tom the automaton is perfection.
Needless to say the pair find more and more in common and start to look forward to the time the spend together and the cauldron bubbles over into something more sweet.
Gosh this book was cute as hell. Its cozy and the setting feels fun. Very generic "fantasy town" but still an interesting setting that I wish was explored a bit more. Some of the side characters on Rosemond street felt a bit one-note and indistinct when they were first introduced. I kept getting them confused. But as the book progresses their individual personalities became much more evident.
The romance between Eli and Ames was adorable to watch develop though, at first, it felt very much like their rivalry was a bit insurmountable. I would've liked it to be maybe just a dash less antagonistic between the two to be a bit more believable.
So you say "Nick! Negatives! Why 5 stars?" and I reply "girl I couldn't stop smiling". This book made me grin like an idiot throughout. I had a really good time reading it. The chapter titles (something we desperately need to bring back) added a touch of silly flare, and the fun illustrations in the middle was something I could've used even more of. I'm really looking forward to reading more books in this series: either with other members of Rosemond street as the focus or more of Ames and Eli as their relationship progresses. Also the entire existence of Tom the automaton is perfection.
January 27, 2024
5/10. Alright well I feel bad about this and I hate leaving negative reviews but I would have DNF’d this one at 25% if I hadn’t been set on doing a review of all SPFBO 9 books. I would have still DNF’d it at 50% so it didn’t get better for me.
It is well written so it wasn’t hard to read and I did get into the movie in my mind but I was just extremely bored. It’s a cozy read like several other of the finalist this year but unlike them there was no adventure to go along with it.
Eli and Ambrose are two potioners who start off as rivals and then end up with a romance but if you’re looking for that romantic element it doesn’t come about until close to 70% of the way through.
This book wasn’t meant for me but neither have the other cozy reads but at least with the other finalists there was still some adventure that I just didn’t find here.
It is well written so it wasn’t hard to read and I did get into the movie in my mind but I was just extremely bored. It’s a cozy read like several other of the finalist this year but unlike them there was no adventure to go along with it.
Eli and Ambrose are two potioners who start off as rivals and then end up with a romance but if you’re looking for that romantic element it doesn’t come about until close to 70% of the way through.
This book wasn’t meant for me but neither have the other cozy reads but at least with the other finalists there was still some adventure that I just didn’t find here.
July 17, 2023
4.5/5 stars
A Rival Most Vial is a cozy gay fantasy romance between rival potioneers. Ambrose has owned and operated a reputable potion shop for years when an upstart new shopkeeper Eli opens a potion shop right across the street. A heated rivalry of discounts, networking events, marketing ploys, and specialty products ensues until they are forced to work together on a lucrative commission by the mayor to brew a novel and complex potion. Over cauldrons and meticulous multistep instructions, their icy relationship turns into chemistry that they cannot ignore.
This book was absolutely cozy and adorable and a warm hug of a read. I really enjoyed the low stakes fantasy, the friendships between the shopkeepers along their street, and charm that oozed out of the pages. I loved the grumpy but brilliant Ambrose with his stoicism and inability to form attachment with others after a less than ideal childhood. He just grew on me immediately. In contrast, Eli is his sunshiny and flighty counterpart who is fun but restless. Ambrose and Eli’s interactions were just a lot of fun (and brought a lot of laughs), and as they grew to love each other, I could not help but fall in love with them too. Special mention too to the supporting cast of characters that made up the rest of the shopkeepers that brought a lot of joy to the story with their own brand of found family (think the “cul-de-sac crew” from TV’s Cougar Town).
Bringing a fantastical touch to a grumpy+sunshine/rivals-to-lovers romance, A Rival Most Vial is a heartwarming and charming queer cozy fantasy romance.
A Rival Most Vial is a cozy gay fantasy romance between rival potioneers. Ambrose has owned and operated a reputable potion shop for years when an upstart new shopkeeper Eli opens a potion shop right across the street. A heated rivalry of discounts, networking events, marketing ploys, and specialty products ensues until they are forced to work together on a lucrative commission by the mayor to brew a novel and complex potion. Over cauldrons and meticulous multistep instructions, their icy relationship turns into chemistry that they cannot ignore.
This book was absolutely cozy and adorable and a warm hug of a read. I really enjoyed the low stakes fantasy, the friendships between the shopkeepers along their street, and charm that oozed out of the pages. I loved the grumpy but brilliant Ambrose with his stoicism and inability to form attachment with others after a less than ideal childhood. He just grew on me immediately. In contrast, Eli is his sunshiny and flighty counterpart who is fun but restless. Ambrose and Eli’s interactions were just a lot of fun (and brought a lot of laughs), and as they grew to love each other, I could not help but fall in love with them too. Special mention too to the supporting cast of characters that made up the rest of the shopkeepers that brought a lot of joy to the story with their own brand of found family (think the “cul-de-sac crew” from TV’s Cougar Town).
Bringing a fantastical touch to a grumpy+sunshine/rivals-to-lovers romance, A Rival Most Vial is a heartwarming and charming queer cozy fantasy romance.
November 10, 2023
What a sweet and fun book! If you liked Legends and Lattes, A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking, or The House in the Cerulean Sea this book is definitely for you.
✔️Charming low stakes (cozy) fantasy
✔️Lovable characters
✔️Sweet m/m enemies to lovers romance
✔️Grumpy/sunshine
✔️Endearing found family
✔️Charming low stakes (cozy) fantasy
✔️Lovable characters
✔️Sweet m/m enemies to lovers romance
✔️Grumpy/sunshine
✔️Endearing found family
April 8, 2024
I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below
A Rival Most Vial is a nice little low stakes romantasy. It feels a little like a contemporary romance in a d&d setting. It was sweet. It was funny. And it was cute (I mean look at that title for a clue). It had a great cast of characters surrounding our leads and a world full of everything from orcs to elves.
Ambrose is a bit of a stuffed shirt. He likes his shop quiet and orderly. He’s that uptight prickly character that’s burying a lot of hurt…and my favourite type, I might add.
Elias is a friendlier, messier personality, and it’s reflected in is shop. What I loved about Elias was that he also had concerns and worries but just copes differently than someone like Ambrose does.
He’s not just there to be that person who brings Ambrose out of the darkness and shows him that he is worthy. Ambrose also does this for Elias. So, each of them has that something special that helps make the other feel whole- if that makes sense.
A Rival Most Vial’s story revolves around them trying to outdo each other to gain customers to their potion shops, and eventually, for reasons they need to work together- allowing them to appreciate each other strengths, and use them to achieve their goals. In the meantime, loves happens. This pretty much follows romance formula and I ate it up with a spoon…I have an undying love for the enemies to lover’s trope. This was that, but more to the sweet side. I enjoyed it for it’s light humour and warmth, and that all -around easy feeling that just allows you to sit back and enjoy the story.
Other thoughts:
I am not quite sure if I could wrap my head around Tom, I had a mental picture of a robotized ET crossed with something out of Inspector Gadget which is probably not what the author was going for but whatever she’s supposed to be, she was cute.
spfbo score 7.5 or 4
Learn more about the contest here-
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Finalist board is here
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
A Rival Most Vial is a nice little low stakes romantasy. It feels a little like a contemporary romance in a d&d setting. It was sweet. It was funny. And it was cute (I mean look at that title for a clue). It had a great cast of characters surrounding our leads and a world full of everything from orcs to elves.
Ambrose is a bit of a stuffed shirt. He likes his shop quiet and orderly. He’s that uptight prickly character that’s burying a lot of hurt…and my favourite type, I might add.
Elias is a friendlier, messier personality, and it’s reflected in is shop. What I loved about Elias was that he also had concerns and worries but just copes differently than someone like Ambrose does.
He’s not just there to be that person who brings Ambrose out of the darkness and shows him that he is worthy. Ambrose also does this for Elias. So, each of them has that something special that helps make the other feel whole- if that makes sense.
A Rival Most Vial’s story revolves around them trying to outdo each other to gain customers to their potion shops, and eventually, for reasons they need to work together- allowing them to appreciate each other strengths, and use them to achieve their goals. In the meantime, loves happens. This pretty much follows romance formula and I ate it up with a spoon…I have an undying love for the enemies to lover’s trope. This was that, but more to the sweet side. I enjoyed it for it’s light humour and warmth, and that all -around easy feeling that just allows you to sit back and enjoy the story.
Other thoughts:
I am not quite sure if I could wrap my head around Tom, I had a mental picture of a robotized ET crossed with something out of Inspector Gadget which is probably not what the author was going for but whatever she’s supposed to be, she was cute.
spfbo score 7.5 or 4
Learn more about the contest here-
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Finalist board is here
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
December 2, 2023
Delightfully wholesome!
I've never been a cosy fantasy reader but when I saw this named as an #SPFBO9 Finalist, I was certainly keen to give it a try.
A Rival Most Vial is a heart-warming enemies-to-lovers queer romantasy with a found family as warm and endearing as a great big hug. A little bit humourous, a little bit thrilling, and entirely wholesome, it's the perfect light read to cuddle down to bed with.
As a reader of dark fantasy who lives for high stakes, high action and high body counts, this didn't quite scratch the itch for me; however A Rival Most Vial is delightful story that cosy fantasy lovers are sure to devour - particularly with a cup of tea.
I've never been a cosy fantasy reader but when I saw this named as an #SPFBO9 Finalist, I was certainly keen to give it a try.
A Rival Most Vial is a heart-warming enemies-to-lovers queer romantasy with a found family as warm and endearing as a great big hug. A little bit humourous, a little bit thrilling, and entirely wholesome, it's the perfect light read to cuddle down to bed with.
As a reader of dark fantasy who lives for high stakes, high action and high body counts, this didn't quite scratch the itch for me; however A Rival Most Vial is delightful story that cosy fantasy lovers are sure to devour - particularly with a cup of tea.
Read
April 8, 2024SPFBO9 reviews here: https://youtu.be/c5SBlsRYU4Y
Aaaa! This was so enjoyable. I loved our two main characters and the set up to the story. It was hilarious and heart warming. I really enjoyed the writing, the world and how everything came together. My only problem was that I felt some parts were a bit surface level and I wish we could have dwelt even deeper into our characters, because I felt that some choices etc. could have been explored even more to make it feel completely believable to me! But I honestly had an amazing time and would very much recommend!
Aaaa! This was so enjoyable. I loved our two main characters and the set up to the story. It was hilarious and heart warming. I really enjoyed the writing, the world and how everything came together. My only problem was that I felt some parts were a bit surface level and I wish we could have dwelt even deeper into our characters, because I felt that some choices etc. could have been explored even more to make it feel completely believable to me! But I honestly had an amazing time and would very much recommend!
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