The Mudpuddle Manual of Natural Magic

Natural Magic, Book 1

De: Ciara Blume

Narrado por: Ryan H. Reid, Jessica Threet, Andrea Parsneau, Travis Baldree

A murder, a mystery, and a not-so-overactive imagination...

Eccentric heiress Maida Westabrook treasures her peaceful, "ordinary" life in California—morning strolls along the beach, warm evenings by the fire, and losing herself in her beloved library of myths and legends. Yet Maida can’t shake the nagging feeling that there’s more to her story than she’s been led to believe. Strange and inexplicable occurrences have always surrounded her, dismissed as nothing more than her overactive imagination.

When a distant relative mysteriously vanishes, a body is discovered, and Maida’s lifelong dream of owning an enchanted bookshop suddenly comes true she realizes her "wild" imagination might not have been so far-fetched after all.

There’s just one hitch: the sentient bookshop has gone into hiding and it’s up to Maida to coax it back. To claim her inheritance, she must step out of her safe, predictable world and embrace a reality where magic is not only real—it’s woven into the very fabric of everyday life. That handsome neighbor? He might be a shapeshifter. And the barista who runs the local café? She’s likely brewing more than coffee.

As Maida unravels the secrets of her past, she’s forced to rethink everything she once held true. Saving the bookshop—and protecting her newfound magical family—will require more courage than she ever thought possible, including risking her heart.

©2024 Dolce Villa Press (P)2025 Soundbooth Theater

A grown-up magic book

If you are someone who wishes adult fantasy books were as whimsical as children’s stories, this book is for you. If you like well-rounded characters, lovely writing, and a plot that nods to many tropes while overusing none of them and breaking several in very clever ways, this book is for you. If you like sentient buildings… yep, it’s got those, too! It has cozy, specific details to delight bookworms, miniaturists, naturalists, fashionistas, and foodies. And most importantly of all, it’s full to bursting with heart and hope.

The critical part of my brain wishes I had the ability to dock a half star in the story section for a few tiiiiiiiiiny plot holes and the main romance, which I felt was a bit a bit superfluous to the plot—but I loved the Mudpuddle far too much to rate it anything less than top marks and found every other relationship deeply satisfying!

This story found a heart that was very tired and desperate for whimsy. It cradled it lovingly in enchanted afghans, found family vibes and multidimensional softness for almost every minute of its 12.5 hours, alongside a cast that portrayed every character incredibly well, from skin-crawling to snarky to sweet. Bonus points for the gorgeous touches of music throughout the story that really brought the words to life and constantly heaped on extra fairy tale vibes! If you’re at all on the fence, I highly suggest giving this one a listen—may it give you joy as bright as butterfly wings, and remind you of the magics of every day, both small and large. Don't forget a cup of tea and plate of cookies should you choose to take this journey—trust me, you'll want both before very long!

Who DOESN’T want to live in a magical bookstore/cafe/cheese shop?

The story was full of cozy magic, and how can you not enjoy a book read by the great Andrea Parsneau? The b story of Maida and Arthur felt a little shoehorned in where it wasn’t needed, and barely detracted enough to lose a star. Wish we could do half stars!

Superb in every way!

this was the most enjoyable book I have read in several years. it's not your typical lit RPG but it out shines them all.

An absolute must-buy

First of all, I cannot get past the insane talent of the narration team!! But more on that in a sec. The story is just delightful through and through. From the first moment to the last, there is a through line that transports you so perfectly into the world of Natural Magic. And once there, you’re never let down. The characters are so well developed and all have their own unique and well-crafted journeys.

Then when you add this INCREDIBLE voice cast, you get the perfect match. Ryan H Reid leads this impressive cast, which considering you have Baldree, Parsneau, and Threet, it’s very impressive how beautifully he lead them. The acting is absolutely top tier and really immersed me into the story.

Then you add the gorgeous music on top of it all, so artfully placed and well balanced, then this is one you HAVE TO GET.

Perfect Cozy Fantasy

Not really my genre, but this was executed brilliantly. Top-notch voice work from the Soundbooth Theater cast, and an entertaining, lighthearted story.