The debut novel from Chiara Bullen is a delightful tale about discovering what the important things in life really are.
The story of The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance follows scholar Ainsworth Gladsly as he seeks to document the history of the Misnich Inn, located at the foot of the imposing Mount Vengeance. It seems like it should be a straightforward assignment: document the history of the inn, gather stories from the adventurers who visit the place, and his reputation as a scholar is made. But from the start, nothing at the Misnich Inn is what Ainsworth expects it to be.
The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance
Written by: Chiara Bullen
Published by: Del Rey
Release Date: July 7, 2026
I’m always up for a good fantasy story with lots of layers in the narrative, and from the very beginning it’s clear there’s more going on in this tale than meets the eye. In many ways this is a story about keeping secrets, and how those secrets can cause harm; even if the one keeping the secret acted with the best of intentions.
Ainsworth is a fascinating main character. At first his backstory appears to be cut and dried: he’s a well-off scholar from a prestigious university who is way out of his depth in the countryside. And then the layers slowly start peeling away. The revelations come slowly: a comment here, a flashback there, but with each revelation it becomes more and more obvious that not only is Ainsworth not at all what he’s first presented as, he’s actually someone a lot of people can strongly identify with. Anyone who’s ever balanced multiple jobs while trying to maintain a certain appearance for the sake of a job/school will find something to connect with in Ainsworth’s story.
Honey, the owner of the titular Inn, is the perfect counterpoint to Ainsworth. Honey adores the little things in life and only seeks to provide a good experience for the guests who come to the Inn, as well as taking care of the Inn’s staff. She is the epitome of the type of person one would like to meet when going on an adventure. I found myself thinking of Honey as an older version of Jester Lavorre, the mischievous blue tiefling from Campaign 2 of Critical Role. Like Ainsworth, Honey has layers to her story as well, and the author takes such care in revealing them that the reader will truly not see the final reveal coming.
The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance is also a story about being true to oneself, whatever form that may take. In many fantasy stories, the tale might focus on adventurers seeking fame, money, power, or a combination of all three. These exist in this world too, but they’re not the main focus. Rather, the author crafts a tale that reminds the reader it’s okay to enjoy the little things in life. Things can be done just for the sake of enjoying them, without any thought of profit.
One of the great things about The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance is how fully developed the world is. While most of the story is set in the titular inn, the world beyond is described in such a way that you truly get a sense of how removed the Misnich Inn is from “civilization.” I appreciate how the author took the time to describe the area’s history, both recent and ancient. It really feels like the story is just scratching the surface of what this world has to offer, and I would love to revisit this world in future installments.
The other great thing about this novel are all the little details that the story covers. I live for books that thoroughly describe everything one could see, hear, taste, smell, etc. and The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance does all this and more. I particularly love how the author describes all the different types of food prepared at the inn. There were several times my mouth just started wondering imaging all these different dishes.
To conclude, The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance is a delightful foray into a world of adventure and magic that takes the time to focus on the little things in life, instead of the big overarching adventure that one might expect from a fantasy novel. It’s a delightful change of pace that I will happily revisit over and over again. Be sure to pick this book up when it comes out, you won’t be sorry.
