Mosswood Apothecary

A struggling alchemist. A small town with ancient secrets. And... a mysterious shadow ferret? Botanical alchemist Rowan Mosswood didn't expect much when he finally graduated, so a remote research assignment in Frostfern Valley seemed fitting. With his reputation in tatters after a public alchemical mishap, and his discipline of magic considered antiquated, Rowan agrees to the university's terms: fix up an old greenhouse, study the mysterious loss of magic, and send regular reports. If he can manage all that, his student debts will disappear. The assignment sounded mundane enough, a wrist slap to be endured, until Rowan discovers the greenhouse is falling apart, the crops refuse to grow, and a wily shadow creature has taken up residence in his new home. As if that weren't complicated enough, there's Jimson: a too-handsome-for-his-own-good carpenter who seems determined to help... and fluster... Rowan. With strange magic stirring in the forest, stubborn townsfolk to win over, and a year-long deadline ticking down, Rowan must decide whether to focus on the assignment or the life he's beginning to build in Frostfern. Mosswood Apothecary is a cozy queer fantasy about botanical alchemy, slow-burn MM romance, and found family in a small town with big secrets. Perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree and The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, with a Studio Ghibli feel to the world. Book 1 of the Tales of Valdaes series. 2025 American Writing Awards Finalist, LGBTQ Fiction. Literary Titan 5-star review. This edition contains a map and three black and white illustrations.