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A Mythical Pet Sitting Mystery #1
A Mythical Case of Arson
Just when she thinks her day can’t get any weirder, she finds a baby dragon …
Deandra Hendricks works her fingers to the bone at two jobs to keep her Los Angeles apartment. With a rapidly dwindling savings account, the prospects for her future are bleak. So when her cousin invites her to visit Axia—the hidden magical hub their grandparents retired to—she agrees. Deandra doesn’t possess a stitch of magic herself, but a long weekend vacation in a strange new town might be just what she needs.
Her first day in Axia is so bizarre, though, she wonders if her bleak life in Los Angeles hasn’t been so bad after all. And just when she thinks her day can’t get any stranger, she finds a baby dragon trapped in a dumpster. At a loss, she takes a trip to the vet, hoping they can help find the little guy’s owner.
The dragon, it turns out, only appears in its true form to her, while everyone else sees a dire wolf puppy. She and the vet discover that, as long as the dragon wears his bespelled collar, his true identity is hidden. Someone went to great lengths to keep this supposed-to-be-extinct animal a secret.
Then the “dog” is accused of arson and is seized by authorities. Determined to help him, Deandra searches for the real arsonist. She catches wind of a thriving black market that’s populated by those who would stop at nothing to claim an animal this rare. She must work quickly to clear her dragon’s name, because if he falls into the wrong hands, she could lose him forever.
Deandra Hendricks works her fingers to the bone at two jobs to keep her Los Angeles apartment. With a rapidly dwindling savings account, the prospects for her future are bleak. So when her cousin invites her to visit Axia—the hidden magical hub their grandparents retired to—she agrees. Deandra doesn’t possess a stitch of magic herself, but a long weekend vacation in a strange new town might be just what she needs.
Her first day in Axia is so bizarre, though, she wonders if her bleak life in Los Angeles hasn’t been so bad after all. And just when she thinks her day can’t get any stranger, she finds a baby dragon trapped in a dumpster. At a loss, she takes a trip to the vet, hoping they can help find the little guy’s owner.
The dragon, it turns out, only appears in its true form to her, while everyone else sees a dire wolf puppy. She and the vet discover that, as long as the dragon wears his bespelled collar, his true identity is hidden. Someone went to great lengths to keep this supposed-to-be-extinct animal a secret.
Then the “dog” is accused of arson and is seized by authorities. Determined to help him, Deandra searches for the real arsonist. She catches wind of a thriving black market that’s populated by those who would stop at nothing to claim an animal this rare. She must work quickly to clear her dragon’s name, because if he falls into the wrong hands, she could lose him forever.
242 pages, Paperback
Published May 10, 2024
29 people are currently reading
3482 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Erin Jackson
27 books532 followersMelissa is a professional pet sitter and an author of paranormal mysteries. There are two books out in her Riley Thomas mystery series--The Forgotten Child and Shuttered Secrets. Her Witch of Edgehill cozy paranormal mystery series is complete at five books. The first two books in her urban fantasy series, The Charm Collector, are out now. Unholy Magic and A Mythical Case of Arson are up next! She owns too many pets and lives in Northern California with her equally pet-obsessed boyfriend. For information about her books, you can join her newsletter at melissajacksonbooks.com
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February 5, 2026Ebook --> https://geni.us/ozUSgau
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May 21, 2024
✨ Magically Mysterious & Pawsitively Adorable ✨
The minute that I saw Melissa Erin Jackson was coming out with a brand new series I knew I had to read it right away! I am a huge fan of her Witch of Edgehill series and couldn’t wait to dive into this new magical world! A Mythical Case of Arson is the first book in the Mythical Pet Sitting Mystery series and it is so darn cute!! It’s full of magic, mythical pets, supernatural townspeople, a hidden world, mystery and all the coziness Melissa Erin Jackson’s books are known for!
📚 First in a New Series
🐾 Mythical Pets
🔮 Hidden World
🔍 Cozy Mystery
✨ Magic
🐉 Baby Dragon
🫶 Family
🏡 Small Town
I absolutely loved this series debut and can’t wait to see what happens next!! Counting down the days until we can return to the magical town of Axia and see what mythical pets await us in book 2!!
Thank you so much to Ringtail Press for the gifted copy!
August 29, 2024
This was such a cute cozy fantasy. I wish a baby dragon would adopt me!
June 17, 2024
A cute start to a new series. The world-building was well done and I loved learning about the different residents of Axia. The story itself moved a little slowly for me but that’s to be expected in the first of a series. The mystery was also a little slow but the second half of the book was completely focused on it so it picked up nicely. I will continue with the series to see where it goes.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
February 28, 2025
✨ Cozy Mystery + Baby Dragon? Yes, Please! ✨
This was such an adorable cozy mystery! Deandra was so fun and I loved exploring the magical town of Axia through her eyes. She did not hold back on her opinions 😂
I’m already excited to see where the series goes next.
🐉 Baby dragon: 10/10 would pet.
This was such an adorable cozy mystery! Deandra was so fun and I loved exploring the magical town of Axia through her eyes. She did not hold back on her opinions 😂
I’m already excited to see where the series goes next.
🐉 Baby dragon: 10/10 would pet.
May 7, 2024
What a fun read and the perfect intro book to a series! The story takes place in a magical city called Axia, where we have almost every fantasy creature you could imagine. So fun and enjoyable!
Adulting is kicking Deandra Hendricks's butt over in LA, where she works two jobs just to make ends meet. Her cousin, Wendy, invites her to Axia, where she has been living for the past 8 months. Wendy seems to be enjoying her time over there, so Dee decides that taking a trip should be harmless. That, and she gets to see her grandparents who, unlike Dee and Wendy, actually have magical powers.
During her time in Axia, Dee finds a dragon trapped in the dumpster. She rescues the dragon and takes him to the vet, only to find out she is the only one who can see this creature as a dragon. Everyone else sees a dire wolf, which is equivalent to a dog over in Axia. This is because the dragon is under a glamour spell to help conceal its true identity.
Unfortunately, Dee has found this dragon right around the time a fire has burned down a building, assumed to be an act of arson. Did this sweet baby dragon commit this crime? Dee and Wendy are on a mission to get answers and get their new pet dragon back from jail after being arrested by the park police.
This was such a fun magical mystery. I enjoyed reading this book and I'm already anticipating the next book to this series!
Thank you NetGalley, Xpresso Book Tours, and Melissa Erin Jackson for this ARC!
Adulting is kicking Deandra Hendricks's butt over in LA, where she works two jobs just to make ends meet. Her cousin, Wendy, invites her to Axia, where she has been living for the past 8 months. Wendy seems to be enjoying her time over there, so Dee decides that taking a trip should be harmless. That, and she gets to see her grandparents who, unlike Dee and Wendy, actually have magical powers.
During her time in Axia, Dee finds a dragon trapped in the dumpster. She rescues the dragon and takes him to the vet, only to find out she is the only one who can see this creature as a dragon. Everyone else sees a dire wolf, which is equivalent to a dog over in Axia. This is because the dragon is under a glamour spell to help conceal its true identity.
Unfortunately, Dee has found this dragon right around the time a fire has burned down a building, assumed to be an act of arson. Did this sweet baby dragon commit this crime? Dee and Wendy are on a mission to get answers and get their new pet dragon back from jail after being arrested by the park police.
This was such a fun magical mystery. I enjoyed reading this book and I'm already anticipating the next book to this series!
Thank you NetGalley, Xpresso Book Tours, and Melissa Erin Jackson for this ARC!
April 4, 2024
Such a fun read! A great start to the new series.
May 23, 2024
This is book one of A Magical Pet Sitting Mystery series and the main character is Dee (Deandra) Hendricks, who lives in the mundane world, struggling with two jobs to keep her head out of the water, after splitting with her doctor boyfriend of three years, and now having to pay for their apartment all alone. Her grandparents get to hear of her split and offer her the chance to come out to visit them and her cousin Wendy, who live in a magical hub called Axia. Both her grandparents have wind magic, but only their eldest son inherited any magic. Her mother is completely without magic, as are Wendy and Dee. Dee’s mother was raise in one of these magic hub towns and couldn’t wait to leave it, living and raising Dee in the mundane world. Dee has never visited one of these hubs and is a bit wary when Wendy sends her a necklace talisman, to allow her to enter Axia. It is hidden from normal human eyes by powerful sorcerers and she will need this talisman to enter, or even to see the entrance.
Wendy was supposed to meet her at the town’s welcome centre, but got delayed by a grumpy customer, leaving her in the hand of an avian shifter called Allegra. Dee is completely freaked out by everything she sees as soon as she gets into town and the swan shifter doesn’t help! Wendy eventually meets up with her, but gets called back into work, leaving Dee to explore the town until she gets back. Shortly after, Dee spots a crowd of people in front of a shop and joins them to see what is happening. It should have been the grand opening of a new shop, but the owner hasn’t turned up yet. A nearby fire soon has everyone distracted and going to see what has happened. A building has burnt down, but not affected either building at its sides and the local police force are there to keep everyone away. Dee got talking to a woman outside the new shop, called Callie, who said it was her uncle’s new shop. She suggested somewhere they could get a bite to eat, it before long, the police come for her with some bad news and she has to go to the station.
Dee is left on her own again and curiosity gets to her and she goes back to the site of the fire and looks around, ending up around the back, where she hears the sounds of what seems like a dog barking from a dumpster! She looks inside and eventually finds what she first thought was a puppy, but turns out to be a small dragon and it jumps out at her as soon as she frees it from under a broken table in the dumpster. It seems like it has bonded with her and follows her as she walks back into town, looking for a vet, in case it is injured, or if anyone has noted it as missing. She gets lots of strange looks, as everyone else can see a dire wolf that is up to her hips in height, while to her it is a small dragon not even up to her knees. The receptionist at the vets thinks it is a large bred of dog or a dire wolf and she goes by what she says, until the vet examines him and takes off his collar, suddenly finding a dragon in its stead! He is shocked, as dragons were thought extinct in this realm over a century ago. He figures out the collar has runes on it to glamour the dragon and keeps its identity safe. Far too many unscrupulous people would want the dragon for its rarity!
Cruz, the vet, does some tests to check the dragon is okay and also says he will do some research about it to help figure out what she might need to feed it. The dragon happily trots along beside her back to her car and then up to Wendy’s flat and causes only a little bit of mischief, when they find out he can also produce fire! An overly zealous park warden ruins the next day for Dee, as he takes the dragon from her, saying dire wolves are dangerous and this one is thought to be behind the fire that burned down the site of an empty restaurant! Her wee dragon is forcibly removed from her and sedated, to be locked up in a secure location all weekend, before she can prove her ownership and registration of it on the Monday, before she leaves! She and Wendy come with ideas on how to rescue the dragon before anyone else can discover its true identity, with the help of Cruz. They draw up a list of suspects and try to discover why the site was burnt down with Callie’s uncle inside it! Various leads take them to visit certain suspects and try to question them, but neither are very good at hiding their true intentions and get some angry at their attempts. They find themselves in a dangerous situation when they get too close to the real suspect and end up trapped. Her dragon however, knew something was wrong and pulled Cruz close to where she and Wendy were being held, after proving her dragons’ innocence and telling the police.
Dee shows a talent for training supernatural pets and Wendy thinks she should start a business in Axia doing this after a woman asked her for help with her own magical pet. A new job might be in the offing for Dee and she needs to move out of her apartment she can no longer afford in LA, so this is the perfect time to try something else. It’s not like she can take her dragon back to her life in the mundane world. So much more to come from Dee and her dragon, Havoc, as they settle into a new life together, and I look forward to seeing what they might get up to next. A fresh look into a town full of magic and the supernatural, a retirement home for elderly magic users as their magic gets less reliable, which must led to quite a few strange events, some even comical like her grandfather’s wind tunnel! I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Wendy was supposed to meet her at the town’s welcome centre, but got delayed by a grumpy customer, leaving her in the hand of an avian shifter called Allegra. Dee is completely freaked out by everything she sees as soon as she gets into town and the swan shifter doesn’t help! Wendy eventually meets up with her, but gets called back into work, leaving Dee to explore the town until she gets back. Shortly after, Dee spots a crowd of people in front of a shop and joins them to see what is happening. It should have been the grand opening of a new shop, but the owner hasn’t turned up yet. A nearby fire soon has everyone distracted and going to see what has happened. A building has burnt down, but not affected either building at its sides and the local police force are there to keep everyone away. Dee got talking to a woman outside the new shop, called Callie, who said it was her uncle’s new shop. She suggested somewhere they could get a bite to eat, it before long, the police come for her with some bad news and she has to go to the station.
Dee is left on her own again and curiosity gets to her and she goes back to the site of the fire and looks around, ending up around the back, where she hears the sounds of what seems like a dog barking from a dumpster! She looks inside and eventually finds what she first thought was a puppy, but turns out to be a small dragon and it jumps out at her as soon as she frees it from under a broken table in the dumpster. It seems like it has bonded with her and follows her as she walks back into town, looking for a vet, in case it is injured, or if anyone has noted it as missing. She gets lots of strange looks, as everyone else can see a dire wolf that is up to her hips in height, while to her it is a small dragon not even up to her knees. The receptionist at the vets thinks it is a large bred of dog or a dire wolf and she goes by what she says, until the vet examines him and takes off his collar, suddenly finding a dragon in its stead! He is shocked, as dragons were thought extinct in this realm over a century ago. He figures out the collar has runes on it to glamour the dragon and keeps its identity safe. Far too many unscrupulous people would want the dragon for its rarity!
Cruz, the vet, does some tests to check the dragon is okay and also says he will do some research about it to help figure out what she might need to feed it. The dragon happily trots along beside her back to her car and then up to Wendy’s flat and causes only a little bit of mischief, when they find out he can also produce fire! An overly zealous park warden ruins the next day for Dee, as he takes the dragon from her, saying dire wolves are dangerous and this one is thought to be behind the fire that burned down the site of an empty restaurant! Her wee dragon is forcibly removed from her and sedated, to be locked up in a secure location all weekend, before she can prove her ownership and registration of it on the Monday, before she leaves! She and Wendy come with ideas on how to rescue the dragon before anyone else can discover its true identity, with the help of Cruz. They draw up a list of suspects and try to discover why the site was burnt down with Callie’s uncle inside it! Various leads take them to visit certain suspects and try to question them, but neither are very good at hiding their true intentions and get some angry at their attempts. They find themselves in a dangerous situation when they get too close to the real suspect and end up trapped. Her dragon however, knew something was wrong and pulled Cruz close to where she and Wendy were being held, after proving her dragons’ innocence and telling the police.
Dee shows a talent for training supernatural pets and Wendy thinks she should start a business in Axia doing this after a woman asked her for help with her own magical pet. A new job might be in the offing for Dee and she needs to move out of her apartment she can no longer afford in LA, so this is the perfect time to try something else. It’s not like she can take her dragon back to her life in the mundane world. So much more to come from Dee and her dragon, Havoc, as they settle into a new life together, and I look forward to seeing what they might get up to next. A fresh look into a town full of magic and the supernatural, a retirement home for elderly magic users as their magic gets less reliable, which must led to quite a few strange events, some even comical like her grandfather’s wind tunnel! I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
September 25, 2024
So much fun! I'm hooked now!
February 28, 2024
I love that this is set in the same universe as Diabolical Sword! Perfect cozy fantasy vibes.
May 10, 2024
I received a free copy from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.
I've read one of this author's other books and was really excited about this new series. A Mythical Case of Arson is a great start to this new series, it follows Deandra as she visits her cousin who lives in a magical hub. This was such a fun read! I really enjoyed reading about Deandra and experiencing alongside her what the magical hub is like.
The mystery takes a while to really get going, but I didn't mind. This is the first book in the series so there is some set up with getting to know Deandra and what her life is like and then seeing her arrive at the magical hub, which was fun. Once she's been there for a bit there's a magical arson that sets fire to a building and a guy dies. Her new dragon pet gets accused of the crime and so she gets involved. I like how she had a clear motive to get involved and it made sense why she wnated to solve this mystery. The mystery isn't too complicated, but I still enjoyed seeing Deandra and her cousin figure things out and talk with the people who are involved. I liked the reveal and it made sense why the murderer did this. I also liked how magic is a part of the mystery.
I liked reading about Deandra and especially seeing her experience the magical hub for the first time. It's quite the culture shock, but it was so fun to see all the magical stuff and how she reacted to it. I liked how this city comes alive and I liked getting a glimpse of what supernatural stuff is possible in this world. The dragon was so cute and I liked reading about him and seeing him interact with Deandra. I liked Deandra's cousin Wendy and the vet Deandra goes to was a nice guy too.
To summarize: This was a fun start to this series and I enjoyed reading about Deandra and seeing her visit a magical hub for the first time. The mystery takes a bit of time to get going, but I didn't mind. I thought it was a solid mystery with an interesting twist toward the end, the motive made sense and I liked seeing how it all got resolved. Deandra is a likable character and I enjoyed reading about her. The dragon she finds is so cute and I liked reading about him and seeing him interact with Deandra. There are some likable and interesting side characters and the magical hub really comes to life. I really enjoyed this first book and look forward the next one!
I've read one of this author's other books and was really excited about this new series. A Mythical Case of Arson is a great start to this new series, it follows Deandra as she visits her cousin who lives in a magical hub. This was such a fun read! I really enjoyed reading about Deandra and experiencing alongside her what the magical hub is like.
The mystery takes a while to really get going, but I didn't mind. This is the first book in the series so there is some set up with getting to know Deandra and what her life is like and then seeing her arrive at the magical hub, which was fun. Once she's been there for a bit there's a magical arson that sets fire to a building and a guy dies. Her new dragon pet gets accused of the crime and so she gets involved. I like how she had a clear motive to get involved and it made sense why she wnated to solve this mystery. The mystery isn't too complicated, but I still enjoyed seeing Deandra and her cousin figure things out and talk with the people who are involved. I liked the reveal and it made sense why the murderer did this. I also liked how magic is a part of the mystery.
I liked reading about Deandra and especially seeing her experience the magical hub for the first time. It's quite the culture shock, but it was so fun to see all the magical stuff and how she reacted to it. I liked how this city comes alive and I liked getting a glimpse of what supernatural stuff is possible in this world. The dragon was so cute and I liked reading about him and seeing him interact with Deandra. I liked Deandra's cousin Wendy and the vet Deandra goes to was a nice guy too.
To summarize: This was a fun start to this series and I enjoyed reading about Deandra and seeing her visit a magical hub for the first time. The mystery takes a bit of time to get going, but I didn't mind. I thought it was a solid mystery with an interesting twist toward the end, the motive made sense and I liked seeing how it all got resolved. Deandra is a likable character and I enjoyed reading about her. The dragon she finds is so cute and I liked reading about him and seeing him interact with Deandra. There are some likable and interesting side characters and the magical hub really comes to life. I really enjoyed this first book and look forward the next one!
May 2, 2024
This was a cute, cozy fantasy/mystery. Deandra Hendricks decides to take a break from her long work hours, and what seems to be a lacking social life, to visit family in Axia. The book is set on earth as we know it, except that there are a number of magical communities called hubs in this world where magical people and mythical creatures can live, and Axia is the small hub that Deandra's magical grandparents have retired to. Deandra has no magical abilities herself and has never visited a hub, and her reaction when she arrives is really entertaining as she kind of emotionally, and to some extent physically, flails about in reaction to seeing shape shifters, centaurs, etc.
Deandra comes across a baby dragon that is seized from her because it is suspected of arson, so Deandra and her cousin Wendy become amateur detectives to try to find the real culprit so they can get the dragon back. I enjoyed the dynamic between Deandra and Wendy. They are close friends in addition to being cousins, which comes through clearly in their dialogue and behavior as they put their amateur sleuthing skills to work. There were some interesting side characters, as well, and cool magical incidents, like a pair of cafe owners, one an empath and one a witch, whose abilities allow them to especially cater to their customers' wants and needs.
The novel is pretty lighthearted, though there are some tense moments as one might expect in a mystery involving arson and a seized dragon that Deandra has become attached to. The dragon is so cute. How can anyone resist a description like this? "The dragon wiggled his butt, then pounced, missing the butterfly by a mile, partly because he'd gotten distracted by the bright pink spade at the end of his own tail and was now chasing it." I also loved that a lot of the chapters start with a little picture of the dragon.
I enjoyed this book. It's a fun, quick read. It looks like it's the first in a series, and I expect I'll read the other books when they are released, as well.
I received this e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review, but my opinions are my own.
Deandra comes across a baby dragon that is seized from her because it is suspected of arson, so Deandra and her cousin Wendy become amateur detectives to try to find the real culprit so they can get the dragon back. I enjoyed the dynamic between Deandra and Wendy. They are close friends in addition to being cousins, which comes through clearly in their dialogue and behavior as they put their amateur sleuthing skills to work. There were some interesting side characters, as well, and cool magical incidents, like a pair of cafe owners, one an empath and one a witch, whose abilities allow them to especially cater to their customers' wants and needs.
The novel is pretty lighthearted, though there are some tense moments as one might expect in a mystery involving arson and a seized dragon that Deandra has become attached to. The dragon is so cute. How can anyone resist a description like this? "The dragon wiggled his butt, then pounced, missing the butterfly by a mile, partly because he'd gotten distracted by the bright pink spade at the end of his own tail and was now chasing it." I also loved that a lot of the chapters start with a little picture of the dragon.
I enjoyed this book. It's a fun, quick read. It looks like it's the first in a series, and I expect I'll read the other books when they are released, as well.
I received this e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review, but my opinions are my own.
May 12, 2024
If you crave the whimsical and magical atmosphere of Disney Channel Original movie Halloweentown, then this cozy mystery is for you!
A Mythical Case of Arson follows Deandra (Dee) Hendricks. After calling it quits with her long term boyfriend Dee visits her cousin Wendy in Axia, a hidden small town in California that is home to all sorts of magical beings. It's not long after Dee arrives to Axia that things start going bottoms up. Between the culture shock of watching a woman turn into a swan and then back to a woman, getting chased by a fire newt, and a dwarf causing problems all over town, Dee's new friend Callie suffers a horrible tragedy when her uncle is found dead in a burned down building. When curiosity gets the best of Dee and she decides to take a look at the burned down building she finds a lot more than she bargained for. Now Dee must unravel a town wide conspiracy and save a new four legged friend.
The atmosphere and world building of Axia was fantastic, I can't wait to read more about this world in up coming books. I really like Dee as a character. I felt her struggle of what next after a large shift in her life was done really well. I think what this book needed a little help on was pacing. I know it's the first book in the series and it's a magical world so there is going to be more worlding building up front but there wasn't a crime in this book until almost the halfway point. After that the investigation was a mad dash to the end. I did enjoy the investigation for the most part but I did feel like the piecing together of the clues was really rushed and that the culprit reveal wasn't earned. Again this is the first in a magical cozy series so I know certain groundwork has to be put in first. I can't wait for the next book!
A Mythical Case of Arson follows Deandra (Dee) Hendricks. After calling it quits with her long term boyfriend Dee visits her cousin Wendy in Axia, a hidden small town in California that is home to all sorts of magical beings. It's not long after Dee arrives to Axia that things start going bottoms up. Between the culture shock of watching a woman turn into a swan and then back to a woman, getting chased by a fire newt, and a dwarf causing problems all over town, Dee's new friend Callie suffers a horrible tragedy when her uncle is found dead in a burned down building. When curiosity gets the best of Dee and she decides to take a look at the burned down building she finds a lot more than she bargained for. Now Dee must unravel a town wide conspiracy and save a new four legged friend.
The atmosphere and world building of Axia was fantastic, I can't wait to read more about this world in up coming books. I really like Dee as a character. I felt her struggle of what next after a large shift in her life was done really well. I think what this book needed a little help on was pacing. I know it's the first book in the series and it's a magical world so there is going to be more worlding building up front but there wasn't a crime in this book until almost the halfway point. After that the investigation was a mad dash to the end. I did enjoy the investigation for the most part but I did feel like the piecing together of the clues was really rushed and that the culprit reveal wasn't earned. Again this is the first in a magical cozy series so I know certain groundwork has to be put in first. I can't wait for the next book!
May 20, 2024
4.5 stars. Very good paranormal/fantasy cozy.
Deandra works two jobs to pay for her apartment in LA. She's stressed out and needs a vacation when she gets a package from her cousin Wendy inviting her to come for a visit. Wendy lives with their grandparents in Axia, a magical town - or hub- that caters to magically gifted retired people. Well, Deandra goes.
Axia is like a typical small town except that almost everyone there has something non-human about them. There are centaurs, witches, pixies, goblins, shifters, etc. It's a fantastic town. And beautifully described.
I should point out that even though this is a cozy mystery, the mystery part doesn't begin to happen until roughly a third of the way through the novel. That's when Deandra finds a dragon - right after there's been a massive fire that caused someone to die. It doesn't take long before the police begin assuming it's arson.
The dragon is only obviously a dragon to Deandra, which is itself part of the story. The reason is that someone put a spell on the baby dragon to make it look like a dog, but residents argue about what kind of a dog it is. Is it a shaggy dog or a dire wolf?
Rangers assume that the dog/dragon/dire wolf caused the fire, but at this point, Deandra is attached to the little guy and so is her cousin, Wendy. That means, it's up to the two of them to find out who started the fire.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters, the unique idea of it, and the town of Axia. It's a great start to a series.
Deandra works two jobs to pay for her apartment in LA. She's stressed out and needs a vacation when she gets a package from her cousin Wendy inviting her to come for a visit. Wendy lives with their grandparents in Axia, a magical town - or hub- that caters to magically gifted retired people. Well, Deandra goes.
Axia is like a typical small town except that almost everyone there has something non-human about them. There are centaurs, witches, pixies, goblins, shifters, etc. It's a fantastic town. And beautifully described.
I should point out that even though this is a cozy mystery, the mystery part doesn't begin to happen until roughly a third of the way through the novel. That's when Deandra finds a dragon - right after there's been a massive fire that caused someone to die. It doesn't take long before the police begin assuming it's arson.
The dragon is only obviously a dragon to Deandra, which is itself part of the story. The reason is that someone put a spell on the baby dragon to make it look like a dog, but residents argue about what kind of a dog it is. Is it a shaggy dog or a dire wolf?
Rangers assume that the dog/dragon/dire wolf caused the fire, but at this point, Deandra is attached to the little guy and so is her cousin, Wendy. That means, it's up to the two of them to find out who started the fire.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters, the unique idea of it, and the town of Axia. It's a great start to a series.
May 11, 2024
Dee Hendricks is invited to the magical hub city of Axia by her cousin, Wendy. Life in LA has been difficult, with a recent breakup and working 2 jobs to make ends meet. Surely a few days away should be fun. Plus she’ll see her grandparents who retired there when their magic started to fritz. Dee has no Magic and experiences culture shock with the residents of the hub. When Wendy has to return to work, Dee starts exploring on her own. A Chance meeting with an empath named Callie, leads to a possible new friendship. But is she who she appears to be? Dee also finds a baby dragon trapped in a dumpster. She frees him and takes him to the vet. She’s puzzled by everyone’s reaction to him until his collar is removed. To everyone but Dee, he appears to be a dangerous fire breathing dire wolf puppy. Later at the park, an overzealous park police officer seizes the dragon on suspicion of starting a magical fire that left a local businessman dead. Dee and Wendy are determined to find the real arsonist and free her dragon. But following the clues leads them straight into danger.
A Mythical Case of Arson is the delightful start to a new series by Melissa Erin Jackson. Dee and Wendy are both relatable characters navigating a fully realized magical world. Where Dee is hesitant, Wendy is enthusiastic and eagerly works to convince Dee to move to Axia. The mystery is well plotted and involves sabotage and conspiracies and several viable suspects. The dragon is adorable and his bond with Dee is sweet. I can’t wait to read more from this world.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A Mythical Case of Arson is the delightful start to a new series by Melissa Erin Jackson. Dee and Wendy are both relatable characters navigating a fully realized magical world. Where Dee is hesitant, Wendy is enthusiastic and eagerly works to convince Dee to move to Axia. The mystery is well plotted and involves sabotage and conspiracies and several viable suspects. The dragon is adorable and his bond with Dee is sweet. I can’t wait to read more from this world.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 11, 2024
Deandra is visiting her cousin and grandparents in a magical hub. She is totally gobsmacked when she uses the travel talisman to enter the magical realm. Her introduction to the hub is the avian who runs the travel center. (!!!!) Then her cousin Wendy shows up. They spend some time together before Wendy gets called back to work. So Deandra decides to walk around the town like a regular tourist. She meets Callie who's an empath and they spend time together until she's called away. So Deandra continues her walk and as she's passing an alley she hears a whine. Going into the alley she comes upon a dumpster where the sounds are coming. She opens it and helps out the "puppy" trapped in there. But to her utter total stupification it's a baby dragon!!!! After it sneezes she decides to take him to a vet. Things are going good. Her dragon is cute and fun and clumsy. She introduces him to her cousin. The next day they go get some things for him but she's accosted by animal control who takes her dragon away. To get her dragon back she and her cousin are going to find out who set the fire and murdered someone. Will they achieve their goal without getting into trouble themselves? Will Dee leave to head back to her regular life? What will happen to her dragon????
A cute comical at times story of a human and her dragon. As a reader I hope for more adventures with the baby dragon!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A cute comical at times story of a human and her dragon. As a reader I hope for more adventures with the baby dragon!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 8, 2024
Deandra Hendricks is a "mundane"; she has no magic in a world where magic exists. Her cousin invites her to visit Axia—the hidden, magical hub their grandparents retired to—and Deandra thinks a trip to the magical town is just what she needs. Shortly after she arrives, she finds a baby dragon and gets roped into solving a mystery involving arson and magic in a world completely different than her own.
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. Deandra and her cousin Wendy were great main characters, and who couldn't love Chaos the Dragon? The magical beings in Axia were fun to learn about, and I loved that Deandra's reactions to shifters, sprites, and fire-breathing newts were pretty realistic. This is a lighthearted and fast-paced mystery with just enough suspense to keep the plot moving forward. Chaos was too cute and I'm so curious to know his backstory. This is a great cozy mystery for anyone looking to get into the subgenre.
My one criticism is that I think the "final reveal" monologue was a bit clunky. I know we need all the details of what happened, but I don't think the culprit would explain things in that manner. Overall this book is great. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy.
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. Deandra and her cousin Wendy were great main characters, and who couldn't love Chaos the Dragon? The magical beings in Axia were fun to learn about, and I loved that Deandra's reactions to shifters, sprites, and fire-breathing newts were pretty realistic. This is a lighthearted and fast-paced mystery with just enough suspense to keep the plot moving forward. Chaos was too cute and I'm so curious to know his backstory. This is a great cozy mystery for anyone looking to get into the subgenre.
My one criticism is that I think the "final reveal" monologue was a bit clunky. I know we need all the details of what happened, but I don't think the culprit would explain things in that manner. Overall this book is great. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy.
May 11, 2024
The cover is what pulled me to this story first. It sounded so interesting I couldn't pass it up.
I loved the story. It was cozy like curling up with a soft blanket and kept me entertained and engaged until the very last page. I was surprised how the story got me choked up. Was not expecting that level of emotion.
I loved the fish out of water element of Deandra visiting the magical city for the first time. It is handled with humor.
I appreciated being able to solve the mystery along side the characters. They take a practical approach to solving the case and it also has them explore more of the city as well. The solution clicked for me just as it did for the characters.
My favorite part was the pictures of the dragon that started each chapter. He is so adorable!
This was a new author for me and I was enthralled. I didn't want to put the story down and would welcome reading it again. I cannot wait to see what is up next in book 2.
I received an advanced copy of this story for free and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
I loved the story. It was cozy like curling up with a soft blanket and kept me entertained and engaged until the very last page. I was surprised how the story got me choked up. Was not expecting that level of emotion.
I loved the fish out of water element of Deandra visiting the magical city for the first time. It is handled with humor.
I appreciated being able to solve the mystery along side the characters. They take a practical approach to solving the case and it also has them explore more of the city as well. The solution clicked for me just as it did for the characters.
My favorite part was the pictures of the dragon that started each chapter. He is so adorable!
This was a new author for me and I was enthralled. I didn't want to put the story down and would welcome reading it again. I cannot wait to see what is up next in book 2.
I received an advanced copy of this story for free and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
June 3, 2024
That baby dragon! Adorable! What an amazing book!
The book description sounds so so so exciting! Wow, this is going to be exactly what I love. And I started the book, and… yes! So good! I connected to Deandra right away, and that’s what I always crave, that connection. Dee is kind and compassionate, and I love that. A really well written story, with a fluency and an ease that made me love it immediately. A smooth flow, drawing me in, and keeping me there firmly. The descriptions just long enough to spark my imagination. The humorous tone made me chuckle often.
But the star was the oh-so-cute baby dragon. I fell in love with him! Head over heels! Sooo cute! He made me smile! To the rest of the world he looks like a dire wolf puppy, because dragons, thought to be extinct, are worth a lot of money on the black market, and that has got to be prevented!
I found myself caring SO much!
It’s been a few days since I finished the book, and it has stayed with me ever since. I miss that cute baby dragon still!
Go read this and prepare to be moved!
The book description sounds so so so exciting! Wow, this is going to be exactly what I love. And I started the book, and… yes! So good! I connected to Deandra right away, and that’s what I always crave, that connection. Dee is kind and compassionate, and I love that. A really well written story, with a fluency and an ease that made me love it immediately. A smooth flow, drawing me in, and keeping me there firmly. The descriptions just long enough to spark my imagination. The humorous tone made me chuckle often.
But the star was the oh-so-cute baby dragon. I fell in love with him! Head over heels! Sooo cute! He made me smile! To the rest of the world he looks like a dire wolf puppy, because dragons, thought to be extinct, are worth a lot of money on the black market, and that has got to be prevented!
I found myself caring SO much!
It’s been a few days since I finished the book, and it has stayed with me ever since. I miss that cute baby dragon still!
Go read this and prepare to be moved!
September 4, 2024
Thank you Melissa Erin Jackson for writing a book something beside a murder.. I love the Arson mystery and what a adorable dragon that looks like a cute dog.
Deandra has her hands full working 2 jobs, fighting to keep a roof over her head. When her cousin begged her to come with her to see her grandparents and other family members she decides why not. A change might do her some good. As the saying goes the grass is not always greener on the other side. Is this what she is running into. Should she just go back home.
You never know what you can find in a dumpster, in this case a cute dragon who needs help. It wasn't until she took him to the vet, when she realizes only she can see the true essence of the dragon, where everyone else sees a dog. She thinks she is doing the correct thing, until the police take him into custody, for starting fires. Will she be able to clear his name before it is to late.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Deandra has her hands full working 2 jobs, fighting to keep a roof over her head. When her cousin begged her to come with her to see her grandparents and other family members she decides why not. A change might do her some good. As the saying goes the grass is not always greener on the other side. Is this what she is running into. Should she just go back home.
You never know what you can find in a dumpster, in this case a cute dragon who needs help. It wasn't until she took him to the vet, when she realizes only she can see the true essence of the dragon, where everyone else sees a dog. She thinks she is doing the correct thing, until the police take him into custody, for starting fires. Will she be able to clear his name before it is to late.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 15, 2024
Super cute series starter to a cozy paranormal mystery series. Jackson does a great job with the setup, providing just enough information to keep the setting engaging while not feeling like infodumps. The characterizations are bright and lively and the mystery has just enough grip to stay interesting throughout the book. I binged the whole book in one sitting. That said, it does very much feel like a series starter with its emphasis on introductions and world-building, and a relatively short time-frame. I generally prefer to read series like these when I can kind of glom a pile of them at once. Either way, I am very much looking forward to the sequel(s) whenever they come out (although I'm also hoping for Jackson's next urban fantasy book so...).
I received an ARC for free but opinions are my own.
I received an ARC for free but opinions are my own.
June 5, 2024
Our heroine looking for a break, but the change of scenery might just be a bit more than she bargained for. Nevertheless, in for a penny, in for a pound. Now our heroine has to find an mysterious arsonist, as well as taking care of a stray dragon.
This is a cozy mystery story with a strong dose of the mystical. The story is well written and easy to read with a very fun setting. I definitely look forward to exploring more of it in future books. The characters are also well done and I really liked our heroine who is definitely on the job. The story moves at a good pace and the mystery is a good one. The result is a very entertaining story and I look forward to more in the series.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a cozy mystery story with a strong dose of the mystical. The story is well written and easy to read with a very fun setting. I definitely look forward to exploring more of it in future books. The characters are also well done and I really liked our heroine who is definitely on the job. The story moves at a good pace and the mystery is a good one. The result is a very entertaining story and I look forward to more in the series.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 15, 2025
This book begins with out MC Deandra visiting her cousin in a hidden magical city in California, called Axia, where various magical people and creatures live in "hubs" away from the mundane humans. Deandra is mundane and with her life in LA sucking, her cousin, Wendy invites her to Axia and so begins the adventures of non-magical Deandra's first visit to one of these towns. Of course there's culture shock, childlike wonder, and a little fear.
This book ticked all my favorite boxes: Cozy Mystery, Mythical Familiar like Pet, Hidden World, Magic, Baby Dragon
I really enjoyed the way the story and mystery unfolded. This was a delightfully light, and fun, cozy mystery series debut with an entertaining cast of characters. I'm really looking forward to reading the next in the series.
#Fantasy #CozyMystery #Diverse #Indie #AmateurSleuth, #AnimalSidekick
This book ticked all my favorite boxes: Cozy Mystery, Mythical Familiar like Pet, Hidden World, Magic, Baby Dragon
I really enjoyed the way the story and mystery unfolded. This was a delightfully light, and fun, cozy mystery series debut with an entertaining cast of characters. I'm really looking forward to reading the next in the series.
#Fantasy #CozyMystery #Diverse #Indie #AmateurSleuth, #AnimalSidekick
April 17, 2024
What a cute cozy! This tale is set in a larger magical world from the author's Charm Collector series.
I enjoyed this. Deandra visiting her cousin Wendy in the magical town of Axia for sure didn't go as planned. Because she wasn't used to the magical world to such an extent, Dee's reactions felt natural and were amusing. She was trying. Then, suddenly, Dee and Wendy become amateur detectives when everything goes crazy with a baby dragon, murder and mayhem.
Solving the crime when people and situations aren't what they seem in a world Dee doesn't really know or understand became a real test for her. But with a little bit of common sense, good listening skills, and help from some new friends, they get to the bottom of things.
A cute series setup I'm looking forward to.
I enjoyed this. Deandra visiting her cousin Wendy in the magical town of Axia for sure didn't go as planned. Because she wasn't used to the magical world to such an extent, Dee's reactions felt natural and were amusing. She was trying. Then, suddenly, Dee and Wendy become amateur detectives when everything goes crazy with a baby dragon, murder and mayhem.
Solving the crime when people and situations aren't what they seem in a world Dee doesn't really know or understand became a real test for her. But with a little bit of common sense, good listening skills, and help from some new friends, they get to the bottom of things.
A cute series setup I'm looking forward to.
May 9, 2024
I loved the characters, magical and mundane, in this book. It takes place in the magical hub, Axia, a quiet retirement community for people whose magic is starting to fade. Deandra's first day in Axia has been pretty exhausting...she's flirted with centaur, met shifters, empaths and pixies, rescued a baby dragon, and found a magical pastry shop. It turns out she's the only one that can see her new pet is a dragon and that she has to clear him of arson and murder. The book is fast paced and entertaining. The whodunit had enough twists to make you keep guessing. I can't wait to come back and visit Axia with all it's magical inhabitants.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2024
Do you enjoy a well written quirky cozy mystery , vibrant color and zany characters, plots that keep you enchanted with magical blips and out and out poofs Well then I guess you're where you're supposed be and purchasing a quirky para cozy that's been written for someone just like you. OK and me because I truly enjoyed it emencely and was carried away into the world of Avia forgetting this world of mundanes. Yep I know we all have to arrive back here but Boy OH Boy it sure was fun while I was there. I can hardly wait to visit again. Acquire " A Mythical Case of Arson " today so you yourself can enjoy a visit to this magical cozy land. Kat.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 19, 2024
I’ve been really loving cozy paranormals as much as urban fantasy lately, so I was excited to see a new cozy series by an author I really like. This is so much darn fun. Deandra is a little bit down on her luck, so she decides to visit family in a magical hub. From there, nothing goes right for her. From the moment she sets foot in the town. I just loved this hub, the people, and the interesting characters that inhabited the hub. I just found out after I read this that is takes place in another of the author’s series universe, but I haven’t read that series and that didn’t impact my enjoyment at all. If you love cozy paranormals, definitely give this one a try. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
April 28, 2024
Such a fun book! I've loved everything I've read by Jackson, and this was no different. The mystery here was pretty simple to solve once the clues were all introduced, but I think I prefer that for the first in a new cozy series as you're getting introduced to new places and characters.
Speaking of places, I thought that some of the town names were familiar and apparently this shares a world with her UF series The Charm Collector, so I'm looking forward to some characters showing up for a litter Easter egg every so often.
And extra points to the author for making the potential love interest for a cozy mystery FMC *not* a police officer.
Speaking of places, I thought that some of the town names were familiar and apparently this shares a world with her UF series The Charm Collector, so I'm looking forward to some characters showing up for a litter Easter egg every so often.
And extra points to the author for making the potential love interest for a cozy mystery FMC *not* a police officer.
May 10, 2024
This was a delightful cute paranormal cozy mystery to read. I liked our leading character. Deandra who's "barely making ends meet" decides to visit her cousin for a weekend vacation at Axia was interesting and engaging. The troubles she encounters in the magical retirement community after she discovers a baby dragon was a well written and well-paced intriguing story that kept me entertained. I could picture this quaint area and the people as our Deandra gets more involved into the community as this series progresses. I enjoyed reading this pleasurable magical mystery copy that I'd received and volunteer to read and review.
May 24, 2024
This book was super cute and an easy, but pleasant read.
I think it's the perfect book to read as a palate cleanser. It's light, filled with magical beings, but it still has it's fair share of mystery and a bit of tragedy even. I have to say, at some point I was really scared, not knowing what;s gonna happen.
All in all, there isn't much to say, I simply loved the whole magic pets idea and I would have liked the book to be more about that, but it's actually focused on solving the mystery of the "cursed" building.
Disclaimer: I received a free virtual copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion
I think it's the perfect book to read as a palate cleanser. It's light, filled with magical beings, but it still has it's fair share of mystery and a bit of tragedy even. I have to say, at some point I was really scared, not knowing what;s gonna happen.
All in all, there isn't much to say, I simply loved the whole magic pets idea and I would have liked the book to be more about that, but it's actually focused on solving the mystery of the "cursed" building.
Disclaimer: I received a free virtual copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion
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