One night, the recluse and frightening Master Abrax’s life changes when an unknown woman begins a tale that will entwine his life with many others.

This is the author's debut book, involving found families. It has several quirky, diverse characters. The author gives good descriptions of who these people are and how they are feeling. I gave this book 4.5 stars and would love to continue this series.

Thank you to NetGalley for this free copy of this audiobook, also thanks to the author, Mel Parrish, I enjoyed listening to your tale.

A Heartwarming Tale of Accidental Parenting and Inconveniently Timed Magic

Nothing says "life-changing moment" like a surprise baby delivery at your front door—especially when you're the kind of grump who considers small talk a form of torture. Meet Abrax, a man so committed to his hermit lifestyle that he's probably never met a family gathering he couldn't avoid. Then boom: instant uncle duties, complete with a magically gifted niece and enough family baggage to fill a U-Haul.

What follows is part childcare manual, part grief counseling session, and part "wait, did that merperson just give parenting advice?" It's like someone took a Hallmark movie, dunked it in fairy tale logic, and decided that what it really needed was more emotional processing.
Parrish has crafted something genuinely warm here—the kind of book that sneaks up on you with feelings while you're busy trying to keep track of whether that character was named Theron or Therion or possibly just Steve. (Seriously, I needed a spreadsheet for some of these names. Fantasy authors: a little variety in your consonant-to-vowel ratios wouldn't kill you.)

The magical elements feel delightfully lived-in rather than flashy. This isn't Harry Potter's "look at my sparkly magic system"—it's more like "oh, by the way, your family tree includes some scales and gills, deal with it." The creatures could use a bit more description though; I'm still not entirely sure what a few of them actually looked like, but honestly, that might have been me reading past my bedtime.

Where this book truly shines is in its unflinching look at grief and the messy business of healing. Abrax's journey from "professional avoider of human connection" to "reluctant but devoted caretaker" feels earned rather than rushed. The found family elements hit all the right notes without veering into saccharine territory.

Fair warning: keep tissues handy for the final act. Parrish knows exactly when to deploy the emotional gut punches, and they're devastatingly effective. You'll go from chuckling at Abrax's parenting mishaps to ugly-crying about forgiveness and redemption faster than you can say "character development."

Perfect for: cozy reading nights, people who like their fantasy grounded in real emotions, anyone who's ever had to suddenly become responsible for a tiny human, readers who don't mind consulting a character name glossary

Minor deductions for: the occasional name confusion and some underexplained magical creatures that left me squinting at the page

This is a book about Master Abrax who lives in a mansion and is a reclusive person. Master Abrax ends up leaving the mansion and you go on a found family journey from there with them. I had the privilege of listening to the audiobook narrated by Tom Fairfoot from NetGalley. I loved the narration of this book and with a 6 hour and 8 minute run time, it just flies by because the narrator brings the story to life. This book is a New Adult, Sci-fi Fantasy and YA book based upon it's content. It is the first in a series by Mel Parrish with book 2 already released. This series is perfect for you if you are looking for a found family story along with a magical atmosphere. I loved this book and will be continuing the series.

The magic system and the characters in the book intrigued me a lot, and I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series. There were so many characters that I feel like I only know them on a superficial level.

4/5 ⭐️ and 0 🌶

*I received a free audio copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.*

I really enjoyed this book! The narrator (Tom Fairfoot) did a great job voicing the differnet characters! His "feminine" voice didn't get on my nerves how some other male narrators have. The story was well written. Definitely feels like it was trying to give you all the info about the characters and world building, but flows nicely.

I recommend this story to anyone who likes young adult fantasy, world building, found family, mythical creatures, a family curse, and healing from the loss of loved ones.

- YA Fantasy
- World Building
- Found Family
- Mythical Creatures
- Magic
- Dark Enemies
- Multiple POVs
- Grief
- Healing
- Part of series (Book 1 of the "Lives - Entwined in Kind")
- Book 2 is called "Emerge" and is out now.
- Book 3 is called "Cataclysm" and will be out Fall of 2025
- Books 1 and 2 are available in paperback, hardback, ebook, and audiobook.

This is not the typical type of read for me, but I enjoyed this audiobook. I listened to it at night almost as a bedtime story. Listened to in this way, the pacing of the book was perfect, while the narration was calming and extremely well done. The length is a little on the shorter side, but that didn’t really matter as I broke the book into chunks each night to listen to. The author created a vivid world to explore with interesting characters.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an audio ARC.

I'm not really sure how I feel about this book. The writing flows well, but it is slow paced. The characters are well written and the characters do change over time. However I'm not really sure what the story was about and I had difficulty following along with the two storylines. The narrator was enjoyable to listen to and added a lot to the setting of the book.

This book was such a welcome surprise! Initially I thought it would probably be a solid 3 ⭐️, but now I can honestly say it's a solid 4 ⭐️ and I cannot wait to get my hands on book 2!!

I would describe this book as a cosy , heartwarming, adventure fantasy, aimed towards teen/young adult readers - but as an older reader, I still found it intreguing and whimsical! The theme of found family throughout this book is everything! 🥰

I found all of the characters lovable in their own right and genuinely want to find out what happens to them all!

As for the audiobook in general; the Narrator was brilliant! They compliment the story so well, really bringing each character to life!

Thank you Net Galley, the Publisher and the Author Mel Parrish for the arc copy in exchange for a review.

(Review posted on Goodreads through the app).

I really was engrossed in this book and so sad that it wasn't finished, I'm on my way to see if the next book is out because a lot of things were left untold. I liked the characters and the back story to each group of people, I did tear up at one point in the book but it was happy tears.

The narrator of this novel was excellent - I enjoyed the tone of his voice and the slight accents that indicating who was talking without being silly, I am someone who can be put off audiobooks by the narrator and would definitely be happy to hear this narrator again.

The novel was not what I expected. It created an interesting world which has potential but there seemed large sections were nothing was really happening. I think it’s a trilogy so perhaps it’s a slow burn and I am happy with that- sometimes building a world gradually and smoothly is more important than lots of action and co located explanations of a fictional universe but the jury is still out on that one.

Unfortunately I had a hard time following the different POVs. It wasn't clear enough and the third person made it even harder.
This book is probably better if you read instead of listen.

3.5 – I round up.
This made my heart feel good. I was slightly confused initially; a bit lost on the characters and who was related to who (hence the 3.5), but did end up catching on. Fantasy isn’t normally a favorite of mine, but it’s slowly growing on me.
A cozy fantasy read. I think it hit on grief, and heartache. However, I loved that this beautiful innocent baby really softened the cranky grump of our story. The narrator was listed as Tom Fairfoot. I very much enjoyed this narrator. He had a smooth and easy voice. Great for this book.
Thank you NetGalley for the read!

Tucked away is a debut novel by Mel Parish and the first in the lives Entwined in Kind series.

It start with the reclusive Master Abrax’s who has been tucked away from the world having to renter it, when his Orpheus baby niece Sancia is left in his care.

This is the catalyst that enables the reader to enter in to this fantastical world where characters, stories, history’s and curses interweave.

There is a very strong feeling of family and what that means running through the book which I liked very much.

Being of mix race I also identified with the character who had mixed magical heritage and how they coalesced these two parts of themselves becoming strong characters comfortable in their own skin and identity.

I loved my time with this ALC ( Advanced Listeners Copy) provided by NetGalley and gave it 4 ⭐️. I thought Tom Fairfoot’s narration was great and really, enhanced the story. I did partway through start to listen in tandem with the ebook from Kindleunlimited because there were a lot of similar names and just listening to the audio I did get a little mixed up at times. Also being dyslexic this tandem method of reading and listening is my preferred way to read whenever I am able to do so.

I would recommend this young adult novel to anyone who just wants to tuck themselves away into a fairytale world for a little time. I will definitely be continuing the series as I am eager to see what paths and adventures the characters we were introduce to in Tucked away will take as their journeys continue.

A beautifully lyrical, emotionally rich fantasy journey. Tucked Away is an absolutely enchanting read. From the first chapter, the prose pulls you into a quiet but deeply immersive world full of mystery, memory, and emotion. The story is more character-driven than plot-heavy, but that’s what made it stand out for me. It’s reflective, warm, and full of gentle depth. I fell in love with Master Abrax as a main character—flawed, haunted, and real. His transformation felt organic and earned. The themes of grief, identity, and found family are written with care and sincerity, making the story feel both magical and human at the same time. What I appreciated most is how Mel Parrish builds the world and its magic through subtle details rather than long explanations. The writing feels almost like poetry at times—soothing, rich, and rewarding for a patient reader. It’s the kind of fantasy that takes its time, but every moment is worth it. If you’re looking for a cozy yet mysterious fantasy that explores emotional healing, this book is a gem. It left me with a full heart and lots of questions I can’t wait to see answered in the next book.
-Audiobook note: The narration was a perfect match—calm, expressive, and easy to follow. It added a whole extra layer of comfort to the story.
-For readers who like: T. Kingfisher, slow-burn fantasy, lyrical prose, and emotional journeys with a touch of magical realism.
-Heads up: The pacing is gentle, so if you love fast action, this might feel slower—but it’s 100% worth the journey.

Tucked Away is a quiet, lyrical story that moves with the hush of old secrets and the soft bloom of second chances. Mel Parrish crafts a tender, introspective fantasy that feels like being gently led out of the dark.

Tom Fairfoot’s narration is warm and steady, perfectly matching the tone of the story. While I personally prefer multiple narrators for character-heavy books, that’s just my own taste and Fairfoot brings heart and clarity to every voice.

A beautifully cozy start to a world I’d gladly return to

"But to create beauty you must first have beauty within you."

Master Abrax was for all intent and purpose a grumpy irritable hermit of a man. Most think of him as unkind and mysterious, there for most were rather scared of him. He lived in a grand mansion tucked away far from others, only few knew him and even those that did know him, still saw him as an enigma. He decided to live away from his family, away from people, away from the world as he knew it, and it appears he may know it quite a bit better than most. One day an old woman, one who was far older than he was, showed up at his door, holding a baby far to young to be away from home, changes the life of Mr. Abrax forever. This man who has Tucked him self away, is about to be thrust back into the world.

This book is so much more than the cover leads you to believe. The magic and fantasy are so unique and yet feel so at home all at the same time. The audio book is absolutely wonderful., The narrator made it feel like he was sitting there telling you a life story solely for you to hear and learn from. This had the same feeling as reading Artemis Fowl and the Golden Compass for the first time in all the best ways.

The magical characters weren't just important just because of a long life, skills or magic. They were important because they were uniquely them and they were more than what they were born into. That's such an important message through the story, not just bluntly thrown in your face but a message strung though out from the story that resonates even when your done.

The species of magical beings you meet are vast, however there is a bit left up to the imagination if you don't often read fantasy books or take in context clues easily , and it being a book that is for a younger audience that may be new to the fantasy realms they may have a harder time figuring out who is who. However, with that being said this is the first book, and id be interested in seeing if we get more details in the books to come. As with the Mer, when they told their story at the beginning we got a lot of details.

The book as a bit on the "cozy" side of fantasy, not to much in the way of big conflict. There was tension and there is set up for conflict as well as over all plot movement. The cliffhanger at the end will keep you wanting more.

The story as a whole is whimsical and magical. This is a new brand of story telling that I cant wait to get more of and share with others!

Thank you NetGalley and Initium Books for the ALC.

#LivesEntwinedinKind #NetGalley #TuckedAway

I really loved the fairy tale feel this book gave me. The whole story is very calming but in no way boring. There are themes of grief and relationships (romantic and platonic) that are well-written and comforting. I don't think the character names are confusing as other reviews state, I could easily tell everyone apart. The writing is just beautiful, it flowed so well and it was flowery without being hard to follow and understand.
I'm not sure if this is classified as such but I would call this the perfect cozy fantasy. Yes, there was some plot but it was much more about the characters and throughout the whole book I had a feeling it would all end well.
The audiobook itself was also exquisite. The soothing voice of the narrator combined with the fantastical yet relaxing story was like a hug for my soul. It was also helpful that the narrator differentiated between the characters slightly. I would say the audiobook format is perfect for this story and the narrator fit so well.
I'm looking forward to the next book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Mel Parrish for providing me with this audio ARC.

It's an odd feeling to finish a story and not be able to say what it's about. However, the writing was beautiful, the magical world is intriguing, and I'm interested in knowing more about everyone. This feels more like an introduction, though, and it feels as though the author has more to tell. I'll definitely pick up the next one. The narrator was perfect for this, creating a mood that was both serious and nostalgic. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook

I went in blind into this audiobook. The narration was good, easy to understand and the switching between characters was great. It’s a nice short audiobook which is always a bonus.

This book is a YA fantasy genre. I found the world building enjoyable and the writing style wasn’t hard to follow. Some chapters did feel like a drag though.

The characters were interesting and at one point I was quite invested to knowing each of them more. I did note that I started to get confused with the names and who’s who because there were a few characters with a name starting with ‘A’ but I eventually caught up.

Overall, the listening experience was enjoyable. Thank you to NetGalley and the author, Mel Parrish, for a copy of this audiobook.

I give this book a 3.5 but I rounded up.
I was drawn in with the characters and how they were developing. I enjoyed the world building and the writing style.
There were a couple problems I had with the book.
-There were several characters with an 'A' name and it took extra effort to figure out who they were.
-There were several creatures/species that were unfamiliar to me and I would have loved more of an explanation on them.
-The biggest issue I noticed was there was no major plot problem. It felt like this book was the setup for the next book. There were several problems presented by the secondary characters. However, I couldn't identify the main one.

With that being said, I tore through this fast. I really enjoyed the world and want to know more. The writing was beautiful and I am invested in the characters. I will absolutely be reading the 2nd book.