The Bartender Between Worlds

Emma is a Hunter. She's extremely good at what she does – hunting the Cursed and bringing them in so that everyone remains safe. Anyone with magic, anyone who suddenly develops magic, are cursed.

Of course, life becomes a little bit more complicated when she suddenly develops magic herself.

The Bartender Between Worlds is a cozy fantasy, set in an England that, as the title suggests, is part of a multiverse.

True to the genre, there's nothing world-shattering – the story hinges on these people.

The core cast of Emma, Professor Aldrich and Vespa all have personal stakes that propel the story forwards – not least of which is making sure that the world they start in, doesn't hunt them down.

Emma wants somewhere quiet to be safe, where she can learn about bartending. Professor Aldrich is a man away from his world, and wants to return, but also to continue his research. Vespa has a desperate need to help people, but also needs to acknowledge what she wants in life.

The character interactions are what really make this story shine, and in following them all through, you really get a strong sense of who these individuals are. By the end of it, it's heartwarming to see how they've all found each other as family.

Sprinkled throughout are recipes for various drinks that Emma encounters, which adds not only an element of believability to it, but also a fun way for readers to engage in the world.

This is a fun, light easy read. If you're looking for something that doesn't require you to know the 7 centuries history of an ice kingdom's beef with a neighbouring desert tribe, or to have memorised an entire magical grimoire and it's companion encyclopedias, then this could be the book for you to curl up with.

The Bartender Between Worlds, by Herman Steuernagel, is available now.