Cinnamon Soul is a vibrant fantasy mystery that follows the quirky and sharp duo of Hokuren, a former City Watch captain turned private investigator, and her barefoot, bolt-catching assistant, Cinna. Set in the magical, lively city of Velles, the story kicks off with the thrilling capture of the infamous Master Thief, Maxwell Barnaby, and quickly pivots into a high-stakes search for a missing princess. What follows is an investigation tangled with royal secrets, ominous knights, and lots of banter. It’s part buddy-cop, part classic whodunit, and it’s got a cinnamon-sweet heart running through all the grit.

Quinn Lawrence knows how to make dialogue pop, and the chemistry between Cinna and Hokuren is honestly the soul of the book. That first scene where Cinna casually catches a crossbow bolt mid-air? I was hooked right then. She’s scrappy, hilarious, and kind of terrifying in the best way. Meanwhile, Hokuren’s got this tired but determined energy that makes her both lovable and sharp. It’s impressive how Hokuren maintains her composure and sharpness, even while managing her assistant during tense moments, such as when she calmly redirects Cinna amid the emotional breakdown of a key witness and still extracts vital information. Their dynamic adds energy and warmth to the narrative, elevating even the story’s quieter moments.

But it’s not all jokes and clever quips. There’s some genuinely unsettling mystery stuff here, especially around Julien Davenport, the Captain of the Guard. The man might be a myth; he never takes off his armor, there’s no underwear in his wardrobe, and his voice is always “next to you”? Creepy. The whole palace has this weird vibe, like something’s off and no one’s saying it out loud. Hokuren and Cinna navigating all that with such different energy , the calm investigator and the chaotic brawler, makes the palace scenes tense in a great way.

The pacing dips here and there, especially in the middle when they’re gathering intel and poking through rooms, but honestly, I didn’t mind too much because the characters carry the story. Anne, the lady-in-waiting, ends up being more complex than expected, and her breakdown when she spills secrets about Nyana and the prince? Heavy stuff. You start to feel like something darker’s going on under the surface, and even when the book plays it light, the edges are sharp.

Cinnamon Soul is for anyone who loves smart, character-driven fantasy with a strong mystery at its core. If you liked The Dresden Files, Veronica Mars, or even The Witcher but wish it came with more charm and less grimdark, this one’s for you. I’m absolutely picking up the next book in the series. I want more of Cinna’s antics, more of Hokuren’s stubborn brilliance, and definitely more of whatever weird secrets are lurking in Velles.

Pages: 310 | ASIN : B0DVRT19T9