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As someone neurodivergent who gravitates toward cozy things like a moth to a flame, I could tell after seeing the cover and reading the first few pages that I would enjoy Magic, Maps, and Mischief. I know this sounds bad being a person who reviews books semi-profesionally, but often I struggle to get into books. My brain does this thing where it takes chapters before I’m in the story, before the world stops being words on a page. But this is the rare book I got immersed in really quickly. It’s the kind of story that I can easily imagine taking it from the school library as a kid and devouring it.
The plot is both pretty simple and slightly elaborate. It’s about an elderly but endearingly eccentric mage named Greton, whose life as a scholar and cartographer is upended one day. Greton lives in Haltveldt, a powerful island nation ruled by humans who enslave and persecute elves. Though born into the Order of Sparkers, a guild of mages, Greton loathes cruelty, conflict and the discrimination of elves, “Greton tilted his head to the side. “I do not hate you. To be honest, and I always strive to be, I have always rather enjoyed elven company.”
During a night raid in the port city of Prosper, he discovers an elven mother, Lura, and her children hiding from the Sparkers. Rather than turn them in, Greton helps them escape, using his wit and his knowledge of maps to lead them safely to the docks. This single act of mercy brands him a traitor and forces him into exile. Fleeing Haltveldt, Greton settles in Barrow’s Hill, a foreign coastal city where he opens a quaint shop called Greton’s Marvellous Maps. Will he manage to escape his past and his enemies in Haltveldt? Will he finally find his heart’s desire? These are questions you’ll have to read to find out.
There’s something about Green’s writing that has a hint of Douglas Adams to it, if Douglas Adams wrote fantasy rather than science fiction, of course. Douglas Adams actually went to my school, and is one of my favourite writers. I also noticed there’s a touch of Roald Dahl in the story, namely when Greton opens his shop called Greton’s Marvellous Maps. One can’t help but think of George’s Marvellous Medicine, and that childlike wonder permeates the entire story. The book opens with what I can only describe as a classic opening line, “In all of Greton’s one hundred and eleven years, a single question had never quite gripped him like the one currently making a racket between his ears.” It’s the kind of opener you can easily imagine reading on one of those “100 Best Opening Lines” lists.
I’ve always found books with older protagonists pretty fun, such as The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, and this is no exception. Greton is indeed 111 years old, but in a world where magic extends life, he’s more like a spry, slightly eccentric man in his late fifties or sixties (at least I imagined him), with plenty of intellect and energy left in him. He’s that archetype of the kindly, scatterbrained wizard-scholar. Still capable, still idealistic, but just worn enough to have seen the world’s cruelty. As alluded to, the book is probably aimed at a younger audience, or just adults seeking an escape as there’s not much mature content. I personally appreciate that the writer didn’t feel the need to throw in excessive swear words or graphic imagery to prove the story is “serious.”
What I really loved about this book is the choice to make Greton neurodivergent/autistic. We need more of this in literature. Greton’s neurodivergence isn’t a plot point or something to be overcome. It’s simply who he is, woven into every aspect of his character. He takes idioms literally, gets confused by abstract language, asks many questions (which vexes people), speaks his thoughts aloud because he finds it strange that others don’t, and finds social situations bewildering even as he navigates magical disasters with ease. Reading this, I felt seen.
Obviously it’s not really the main point of a book review, but I really like the formatting art choices, such as the owls, the ink, the parchment, and the maps in the book. Basically, the entire aesthetic is my vibe. It’s also not often you get a book about mapmaking. They’re Greton’s favorite thing, his way of making sense of chaos. And when he invents his magical ink that can reveal heart’s desires, it’s the perfect fusion of his special interests with his consuming question.
The question “What is your heart’s desire?” drives the entire plot. When Greton asks this of Lura, she answers immediately: freedom for her children. But when he turns the question on himself, he finds no easy answer. Throughout the book, Greton wrestles with this in a way that I bet many people will find relatable. He can solve complex magical problems and memorize entire maps after seeing them once, but understanding his own heart? That’s the puzzle.
The supporting cast is also wonderfully rendered. Aria, the tea shop owner (and potential love interest), is warm and perceptive, with ADHD traits that complement Greton’s autism beautifully. Petra, the bookseller, provides wit and grounding cynicism. Atlas, the tawny owl, can’t actually talk despite Greton’s best efforts, but his cute presence is nonetheless appreciated.
Lastly, it has to be said the book is full of simple but great messages. Lines like, “I already know what lies in my heart. And I met my desire without even realising it, because I was so focused on trying to decipher what it was, instead of understanding myself in the moment,” are something I think we could all learn from. I’m aware I didn’t really give much constructive criticism, but I really liked this book and definitely recommend it to nearly anyone. The epilogue wraps things up nicely, but having looked at the Amazon page this is only book one of a series, so it will be interesting to see if a sequel ever arises.
Final verdict: If you’re looking for a cozy fantasy with an autistic hero, and a exploration of what it means to find your place in the world, this is absolutely the book for you. A heartwarming, beautifully crafted cozy fantasy that celebrates neurodivergence and found family. It’s a perfect read for fans of Legends and Lattes, The House in the Cerulean Sea, or anything by Terry Pratchett.
You can get your copy of Magic, Maps, and Mischief: A Cozy Neurodivergent Adventure by David Green or read for free on Kindle Unlimited here!
