Homeward for a Spell

"A delicious, beautifully written sapphic fantasy full of music, adventure, and tension so thick you could cut it with a longsword . . . top-notch worldbuilding, first-class flirting, and spice that sizzles on the page."--Autumn K. England, author of Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous

In this cozy queer romantic fantasy from the award-winning authors of Homegrown Magic, two members of a motley crew of adventurers must confront monsters, hostile landscapes--and their growing attraction to each other.

Sage has made her living as a ranger, moving constantly between adventuring parties, but she's never had the chance to lead one. So when she's offered the opportunity to hire a crew of her own in pursuit of a rare magical artifact, it seems a dream come true--until she learns that they're headed into the most inhospitable part of the kingdom with winter looming. Still, it's a way to finally put her name on the map . . . and how bad could it really be?

Araphi has always loved music, in defiance of her powerful family's priorities. All she wants is one last occasion to perform before she marries a man she does not love for the good of the family. So when she sees a poster seeking a bard for a party, she eagerly sneaks away to audition, only to discover that the party in question is no festival but an adventuring party, led by a woman she's been fascinated with since she first laid eyes on her. It's an unexpected twist, but if she takes the job, she'll still be back in time for her own wedding . . . and how bad could it really be?

What follows is a life-altering journey for them both, filled with danger and misfortune as their ragtag band of adventurers--most of whom have just met--must learn to work together to overcome the many obstacles before them, not least the explosive chemistry between the rugged party leader used to watching her own back and the pampered city-girl bard, who may be far out of her element but is beginning to feel at home for the very first time.

"A delight! Adventurous, charming, and full of heart."--Kalie Reid, author of The Sacred Space Between

Author: Jamie Pacton,Rebecca Podos
Publisher: Del Rey Books
Published: 08/18/2026
Pages: 368
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.64lbs
Size: 8.47h x 5.25w x 0.82d
ISBN: 9780593873670

About the Author
Jamie Pacton is a bestselling, award-winning young adult and adult author who lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family. Her most recent YA fantasy novels include The Hyacinth Labyrinth, The Absinthe Underground, and The Vermilion Emporium. When she's not writing, she's likely in an art museum, walking in the woods, or dreaming up new stories by the sea.

Rebecca Podos is the Lambda Literary Award-winning author of YA and Adult novels. What If...Kitty Pryde Stole the Phoenix Force? is her latest. By day, Rebecca is a Senior Agent at Neighborhood Literary. She serves as a co-director of the Communications and Fundraising Committee for Literary Agents of Change, and on the Board of Directors for QT Library, a nonprofit, queer and trans lending library based in Boston.