M. J. Gillbright

Chivalry & Chocolate Companion

Dassia & Etchling's Chocolate Shop Playlist

Put this on, open the book, and let Dassia, Etchling, and a certain bookshop mage pull you into their world.

30 songsAbout 2 hoursBest with hot chocolate
Play Full Playlist on YouTube Visit the Book Page
A glowing fantasy chocolate shop counter filled with truffles

The Reading Mix

Follow the story beat by beat.

Each section maps to a feeling in the book, from first light in the shop to the small, brave quiet of finding home.

Set 01

Opening the Shop

Warm morning light through the windows. The smell of cocoa. A new chapter begins.

01Merry-Go-Round of LifeJoe HisaishiPure Ghibli magic - the warmth of opening a door to a world you didn't know you needed.02Ho HeyThe LumineersSimple, sun-warmed folk joy - the sound of unlocking the shop for the first time.03BloomThe Paper KitesGentle acoustic daybreak, like sunlight landing on rows of fresh chocolates.04New SoulYael NaimWhimsical fresh-start energy - Dassia discovering she can be more than a knight.05HomeEdward Sharpe & The Magnetic ZerosFinding your place in the world, even if it's a tiny chocolate shop in a quiet village.

Set 02

Chocolate & Conversation

Regulars at the counter. Laughter between bites. The kind of warmth cocoa alone can't explain.

06RiptideVance JoyPlayful, bouncy energy - stirring chocolate and swapping village gossip.07Little TalksOf Monsters and MenFriendly banter between two very different people who somehow just click.08Stubborn LoveThe LumineersHonest warmth - the kind of truths you share over a steaming cup.09Dog Days Are OverFlorence + The MachineJoyful, spirited celebration - chocolate-fueled happiness is its own kind of magic.10Sweet DispositionThe Temper TrapThe slow, building warmth of friendships that sneak up on you.

Set 03

Etchling's Corner

Dramatic entrances. Chocolate demands. A dragon who fancies himself the protagonist of every story.

11Dirty PawsOf Monsters and MenFantastical creature storytelling - the only song dramatic enough for Etchling's origin story.12Soldier, Poet, KingThe Oh HellosMythical, layered, grand - Etchling absolutely believes he is all three.13Mountain SoundOf Monsters and MenExuberant adventuring energy for a dragon who treats a chocolate run like a quest.14Shake It OutFlorence + The MachineTheatrical drama and liberation - shedding old scales, embracing who you are.15King and LionheartOf Monsters and MenFantasy loyalty between unlikely companions - the knight and her dragon.

Set 04

The Bookshop Mage

Enchanted bookmarks. Quiet glances across the counter. The terrifying magic of being truly seen.

16Like Real People DoHozierTender first connection - two strange souls recognizing each other.17Flightless Bird, American MouthIron & WineDreamy, half-whispered enchantment - love arriving like a spell you didn't cast.18Turning PageSleeping At LastSurrendering to new love the way you surrender to a story - completely.19Work SongHozierDeep, quiet devotion - love as steady and warm as candlelight in a bookshop.20Skinny LoveBon IverRaw vulnerability - the moment armor cracks and someone sees you underneath.

Set 05

Found Family

A dragon, a knight, a mage, and a village that became home. The family you choose is the one that stays.

21Hello My Old HeartThe Oh HellosA guarded heart learning to open - literally Dassia's entire arc.22Welcome Home, SonRadical FaceThe homecoming you didn't know you needed, in a place you've never been.23I Will WaitMumford & SonsFierce, stomping loyalty - choosing your people and refusing to let go.24To Build a HomeThe Cinematic OrchestraBuilding something fragile and beautiful, brick by brick, person by person.25White Winter HymnalFleet FoxesLayered voices in perfect harmony - the sound of belonging.

Set 06

Closing Time

Candles burning low. Dishes washed. The quiet joy of knowing you'll do it all again tomorrow.

26SaturnSleeping At LastQuiet wonder at the rare, impossible life you've somehow built.27HoloceneBon IverVast and peaceful - finally at home in your own small corner of the world.28Helplessness BluesFleet FoxesReflective searching that finally, gently, finds its answer.29After the StormMumford & SonsHope on the other side of everything - there will come a time, you'll see.30Re: StacksBon IverThe gentlest possible ending - peace, gratitude, and a door left open.

Pairing Notes

Where to press play.

The playlist is built to move with the emotional weather of the book, but it also works beautifully as a cozy shop soundtrack.

Open on YouTube
Opening the ShopChapters 1-5New beginnings
Chocolate & ConversationChapters 6-12Friendships forming
Etchling's CornerAny Etchling sceneYou'll know
The Bookshop MageChapters 13-20Romance kindling
Found FamilyChapters 21-28Emotional core
Closing TimeFinal chaptersResolution & hope
Etchling the tiny dragon surrounded by chocolate truffles

Ready to Step Inside?

The shop is warm, and the first song is waiting.

For readers who believe dragons deserve the finest chocolate and knights deserve to have soft centers past all that armor.

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