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.