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Discover a new cozy LitRPG fantasy series about a young man, a magical inn, and a story that levels up with every chapter.
Fourteen-year-old Wren Alder never planned to be an adventurer. He just wanted a place to tinker in peace. But when his great-aunt hands him the key to a forgotten supply room at the Crossroads-a sleepy outpost perched between dungeons, cities, and the deep wild-Wren inherits more than a dusty shop.
Because this shop… levels up.
Each sale unlocks new features. Each discovery stirs old magic. A ledger learns to write back. A dungeon wakes beneath the roots. And a boy who thought he wanted quiet finds purpose in the chaos of travelers, quests, and growing friendships.
Heartfelt, clever, and brimming with quiet wonder, The Inn Side Shop blends cozy fantasy with the satisfying progression of a LitRPG-perfect for readers who love slow-burn worldbuilding, endearing characters, and magic that feels just within reach. Gil Hess writes cozy, character-driven fantasy adventures about quiet courage, found family, and the strange beauty of magic hidden in ordinary places. He is the author of The Inn Side Shop and its sequel, Cinder's Edge, part of a larger series exploring the Crossroads and the world beyond.
When he isn't writing, Gil works in radiation oncology, helping patients navigate some of life's hardest chapters. Outside of work, he can usually be found somewhere along a California trail-hiking, thinking through storylines, or just chasing a bit of quiet. He lives with his family, an overcurious cat, a ball-chasing dog and more notebooks than he could ever fill.
Fourteen-year-old Wren Alder never planned to be an adventurer. He just wanted a place to tinker in peace. But when his great-aunt hands him the key to a forgotten supply room at the Crossroads-a sleepy outpost perched between dungeons, cities, and the deep wild-Wren inherits more than a dusty shop.
Because this shop… levels up.
Each sale unlocks new features. Each discovery stirs old magic. A ledger learns to write back. A dungeon wakes beneath the roots. And a boy who thought he wanted quiet finds purpose in the chaos of travelers, quests, and growing friendships.
Heartfelt, clever, and brimming with quiet wonder, The Inn Side Shop blends cozy fantasy with the satisfying progression of a LitRPG-perfect for readers who love slow-burn worldbuilding, endearing characters, and magic that feels just within reach. Gil Hess writes cozy, character-driven fantasy adventures about quiet courage, found family, and the strange beauty of magic hidden in ordinary places. He is the author of The Inn Side Shop and its sequel, Cinder's Edge, part of a larger series exploring the Crossroads and the world beyond.
When he isn't writing, Gil works in radiation oncology, helping patients navigate some of life's hardest chapters. Outside of work, he can usually be found somewhere along a California trail-hiking, thinking through storylines, or just chasing a bit of quiet. He lives with his family, an overcurious cat, a ball-chasing dog and more notebooks than he could ever fill.
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- SeriesInn Side Shop #1