The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance

An ambitious young scholar is sent to research the mysteries of an adventurer's inn—only to uncover a centuries-old secret while finding true friendship and a new home in this heartwarming cozy fantasy.

Mount Vengeance is legendary. For most, it’s an adventure, or a quest to prove themselves worthy of fame and glory. For Ainsworth Gladsly, it’s the perfect thesis material.

Ainsworth is an ambitious research fellow and up-and-coming historian, finally ready to make his mark on the world. When his supervisor learns of the rumored Misnich Inn at the foot of Mount Vengeance, she sends Ainsworth to be the first to document the exploits of the bold adventurers who seek to face the perils of the mountain and the dragon said to inhabit it.

The inn is far from the sophisticated city life he’s grown to love, but even as he grudgingly warms to its rustic charm—and its lovely innkeeper, Honey—the mystery of the mountain refuses to reveal itself. Worse, Ainsworth can’t find evidence that anyone has ever undertaken the climb. Even the bravest warriors who stay at the inn turn away from Mount Vengeance the next day.

With Ainsworth’s reputation as an academic on the line, it’s a mystery he can’t allow to remain unsolved—even if he has to push the adventurers up the mountain himself.“What if a life’s ambition could never fulfill a heart’s desire? Set on the cozy side of a D&D-style high fantasy world, The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance will have readers questioning the true meaning of life and their definitions of happiness. This book pairs a languid, sweet tale that will warm the hearts of cozy fantasy readers along with a lovable cast of characters. There is no doubt that everyone who reads it will want to linger for another night’s stay.”—J. Penner, author of A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic

“Wrap yourself up in a blanket and have a warm cup of tea close at hand! This may be the coziest fantasy I’ve ever read.”—Ry Herman, author of This Princess Kills Monsters

“The perfect blend of magical academia and whimsical D&D flair, Bullen’s debut brims with tender longing and heartfelt comfort. I will read anything she writes!”—Nadia El-Fassi, author of Love at First Fright

“A book that feels like a don’t-leave-the-tavern D&D session . . . With a cast of fascinating, heart-warming characters and a mystery fueled by the curiosity of an overstretched academic, The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance is a beautifully written, thoughtful tale that wraps you in a warm blanket, gives you a hot drink, and then asks if you’re ready to talk about academic corruption (always). . . . Depth, warmth, and impeccable world-building all at once.”—Bea Fitzgerald, author of Girl, Goddess, Queen


Chiara Bullen is a Scottish writer and academic living in Glasgow. She spends most of her days researching literature and her evenings writing novels. When she isn’t exploring hills across Scotland, she can be found wandering the fictional mountains of D&D with her party.