Cozy Fantasy Reads
Since I’ve been on a cozy fantasy kick, I thought I’d share my favorite reads (so far) with you. Not only will these delicious books make you smile, there’s surely something for every fantasy lover on the list!
Each of the novels I’ve included below offers a low stakes, heart-warming story. Like always, the affiliate links cost nothing extra, but support my writing.
Cozy Fantasy Offering Diverse Characters
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
The beautiful cover of this book caught my eye first, but within paragraphs, I was utterly charmed. Featuring a diverse cast, this novel delivered the perfect amount of humor, magic, and romance.
The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa
There are a number of Japanese authors writing cozy fantasy. I’ve added more than 20 novels to my TBR! This is the first one I’ve read, and it absolutely belongs in this booklist. If you enjoy Japanese story telling, a talking cat, and cozy vibes, check it out.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Klune has quickly become one of my auto-buy authors. Not only does this novel celebrate “otherness”, it also weaves in a beautiful queer romance.
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
What could be more cozy than a tea shop, a wise-cracking grandfather, queer romance, and death? Wait, what? For real. Klune weaves another magical tale that maintains its cozy vibes even while tackling the subjects of death and loss.
Oil and Dust by Jami Fairleigh
Join Matthew Sugiyama and his companions as he travels through a friendly, post-apocalyptic future in search of his birth family.
Amazon | Bookshop.org | Buy Direct
Contemporary Cozy Fantasy
The Wizard’s Butler by Nathan Lowell
In The Wizard’s Butler, ex-soldier Roger Mulligan is hired into an unusual situation. But he soon learns he loves nurturing others. This is another fantastic indie-published novel. Unlike many on this list, it is not centered around a romance, but still delivers cozy, heartwarming vibes in a modern setting.
Amazon | (Not available on Bookshop.org)
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
Like any Hoffman story, this novel is complex. Hoffman delivers a beautiful story which weaves together complicated characters, love, family, and magic. Although written first, Practical Magic is the third book (out of four) in the chronology of the Owens women. But prepare yourself; the novel is not as light and fluffy as the movie!
Other World and Historical Cozy Fantasy
Legends & Lattes: A Novel of High Fantasy and Low Stakes by Travis Baldree
This charming novel blew up within months of publication. It’s a cozy, slice-of-life fantasy I loved and features humor, queer romance, and a fun, second-world fantasy town. Although it got picked up by Tor Books (an imprint of Macmillan Publishers), it started as an indie published book and provides a great example to what indie authors have to offer!
A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher
This novel has been sweeping up all the awards available for children’s fiction (middle grade and young adult categories) and I utterly adored it. But what’s not to love about a young wizard tasked with defending her city with baked goods?
Miss Percy’s Pocket Guide (to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons) by Quenby Olson
I loved the characters and cozy vibe of this indie-published, regency-era book. As a middle-aged spinster, Miss Percy has resigned herself to a life without adventures or love. Happily, nothing could be further from the truth.
Miss Percy’s Travel Guide (to Welsh Moors and Feral Dragons) by Quenby Olson
All your favorite (and some of your not-so-favorite) characters return in this sequel. Even though Miss Percy and her friends face some daunting challenges, Olson manages to infuse the novel with the same cozy deliciousness as the first.
More to Come
I hope you enjoyed this book list. I have a huge number of cozy fantasy novels on my TBR, so I’m sure there will be a Cozy Fantasy Reads, Volume 2 in our future.
What are your cozy fantasy favorites?
Header Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash
Have you read “The Tales of Zren Janin?” It’s another cozy read series about found family. It came out about the same time as your “Oil and Dust”. It has been very popular at our library and we cross promote it often with your books.
I haven’t, but the reviews are great, so I’m adding it to my TBR. Thanks for the recommendation Marci!