For Readers: Blog

Enter the world of cozy fantasy

You don’t have to be a lover of fantasy to enjoy cozy fantasy books. The mix of comforting characters, low stakes, and a unique fantasy setting is the perfect book to reach for in December. 

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is the first book in a cozy space opera series by Becky Chambers. Rosemary Harper joins the Wayfarer as a crew member. Her plan to lay low is thwarted as the Wayfarer goes on lucrative but dangerous missions. Rosemary has to learn how to trust the crew if she is going to remain alive. Readers who enjoy reading books by TJ Klune, Emily Hamilton, and Valerie Valdes will love this charming series. [e-book | print | audiobook]

Julie Leong’s debut novel The Teller of Small Fortunes follows Tao, a fortune teller, who avoids sharing fortunes about important things. Instead, she focuses on small, trivial fortunes to avoid the dangerous consequences that come with revealing big fortunes. Tao’s solitary life is interrupted when she is approached by an electric group—a magical cat, a thief, a baker, and an ex-mercenary—and asked to help locate a missing child. In this heartwarming story, Tao has to allow herself to be vulnerable in order to help her chosen family. Fans of A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers will love Leong’s book. [e-book | print | audiobook]

Neil Gaiman’s fantasy novel Stardust is a whimsical tale that is perfect for all ages. Stardust follows Tristan Thorn on a quest to bring a falling star to his crush. In his attempt to find the star, he crosses the Wall and unknowingly enters the world of Faerie. Once in Faerie, Tristan must compete with dangerous otherworldly powers who are also looking for the star. Stardust is a humorous coming-of-age story with rich worldbuilding and spellbinding characters. [e-book | print | audiobook]

Heather Fawcett creates a magical world in Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries. Emily Wilde is a Cambridge professor who is working on an encyclopedia of faerie folklore. She travels to a small town, Hransvik, to conduct research. Emily prefers to work alone, but her work is disrupted by a new member of the town–Wendell Bambleby. Will Emily be able to uncover the secrets of the Hidden Ones and Wendell? Readers will love the small town atmosphere and detailed faerie lore in the first book of the Emily Wilde series. [e-book | print | audiobook]

Bookshops & Bonedust is the prequel to Travis Baldree’s bestselling Legends & Lattes book. Viv is a member of Rackam’s Ravens, a dangerous mercenary group. When she is injured on a job, she is sent to a small town called Murk to recover. Viv wanders into the local bookstore and grows close to Fern, the owner of the bookshop. She finds joy in taking care of the bookshop, but things in Murk are not as peaceful as they appear. If you enjoy the world of Dungeons & Dragons, you won’t want to miss Bookshops & Bonedust. [e-book | print | audiobook]

In The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna, Mika Moon has to hide the fact that she is a witch for her safety. She creates social media content where she pretends to be a witch. When Mika gets a message from someone asking her to help train three witches, she travels to Nowhere House to work as a teacher. She begins to grow close to the witches, the librarian of Nowhere House, and the two caretakers. Mika has to convince the librarian, Jamie, that she is not dangerous. Readers who liked The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune will appreciate this cozy fantasy with a romance. [e-book | print | audiobook]

⏤Jessica