Book: The Midwizard of Cosconia by Zach Schoppen
Reviewed by Weird | weird.reads.books
Rating: 5/5
I knew the moment I read the synopsis of this book that I had to read it. A fantasy centered on a healer—specifically a wizard midwife… er… midwizard—felt totally fresh. I’ve never seen a concept quite like it in the genre, and it grabbed me right away.
We follow Izzie, a wizard and midwife, as she travels across Cosconia to study the twelve races and master the art of delivering babies. She spends about six years with each, and we watch her grow into one of the realm’s most powerful healers. The maternity systems are steeped in magic yet grounded in believable detail. Schoppen (an OB-GYN by day) uses his medical expertise to build out how each race approaches pregnancy and birth, and he explains it in a way that’s clear even for non-medical readers.
As Izzie’s journey unfolds, infertility and infant mortality begin to rise. Those crises, combined with regional tensions, push the realm toward war. Through it all, Izzie clings to her healer’s oath, driven not only by compassion but by a deep, lingering guilt that gives her choices real weight.
There are plenty of delightful touches, too: D&D-ish-style changelings (which made me miss my own 5e changeling), a sentient bag named Baggie Smalls whose pop-culture quips bewilder everyone on the page but will make readers grin, and a satisfying second-chance romance thread.
The book ended with a cliffhanger, so I’m hoping for a second book. I’m looking forward to more adventures in this world, and—let’s be real—more commentary from Baggie Smalls.
I would 100% recommend this book for anyone looking for a fresh read in the fantasy genre. Take caution in looking at the triggers as it does deal with subjects with birthing difficulties such as eclampsia, infant mortality, infertility, etc.
Thank you to BookSirens and Zack Schoppen for the ARC. All opinions are my own.