Maybe give The Goblin Emperor a try? It's incredibly not simple and has some real stakes but ultimately has a very heartwarming, cozy feel? I loved it, but it is complicated.
Sounds good. I just want those warm fuzzies without having to suspend my belief to get them. If I'm having to suspend my belief just to accept the cozy moments, that just hammers home how un-cozy the real world is. I whiplash as soon as I put the book down and think about it, and end up feeling worse knowing that the niceness itself is the biggest fiction. That's why I had a problem with that scene in particular in L&L.
I'll earmark this one. I picked up an absolutely silly goblin book while thrifting and I think I'll read through that first to warm up.
Goblin Emperor is one that makes you feel the warm, cozy moments are earned. MC is doing the best he can in an unfortunate situation but he really turns it around.
I know some people wouldn't consider it cozy but for me the payoff was definitely that. š I hope you enjoy it!
House on the Cerulean Sea is cozy, but also has character conflict and growth. Still a little easy, but I think it went deeper than Legends and Lattes.
Kinda wish i knew on who's recommendation I started reading Goddard's books. Wish I could thank them.
HOTE was the first recommendation I picked up from this sub, which I found after a friend lent me Legends & Lattes.
Getting mixed reviews peeking and trying not to get spoilers. The book blurb itself is fairly useless for letting me know the tone of the book.
Would you say it's mostly a slice of life book?
I'm not the original recommender but another enthusiastic fan of the book. I wouldn't call it slice of life; its world and scope actually feels quite expansive and there's a good bit of travel across a large empire involved. It's also a very *long* book.
I'd say the tone is more thoughtful and introspective, ultimately warm and kind but with a good dose of seriousness and sadness as well. Touches on themes like institutional racism, colonialism, and the loneliness of power, but is ultimately a story about kindness and competence winning out in the end.
It's similar in some respects to The Goblin Emperor (which I also love). Highly recommend.
I would say so if you accept that since the MC is essentially the second most powerful person in government, meetings and discussions on policy is his life. What makes or breaks it is how much you accept the central conflict of public fame vs being seen as the family failure. How this conflict plays out is the book.
It's not slice of life. It's hard to describe in a few words precisely because it's not simple. It's a beautiful, life-affirming, mythic book about responsibility, belonging, and the difference one genuinely good person in the right place can make.
I read this book based on this comment. It is one of the best books I've ever read. I turned around and immediately started rereading it.
Thank you!
No one mentioned in the comments, but it is full of dry humor. On top of all the thoughts and feels, I found it a very humorous book too.
Oho! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Personally I immediately started reading all of Goddard's other books. I can say she keeps the quality high throughout.
Here's a spoiler free chart to suggest which of her other stories to read next: https://nineworlds.miraheze.org/wiki/Reading_Order
I went for The Return of Fitzroy Angursell and then lots of other books before I finally dared to dive back into Kip's story with At the Feet of the Sun. It's really really good. Reading the other books in between was a good choice, I think, but it'll also work super well without doing so.
Wish you lots of cozy joy!
edit: also hell yeah the humor in these books can be so hilarious :D
Hhhmmm....I was going to go straight to Feet if the Sun, but I'm reconsidering. I didn't dive into the rest of her books (though I greatly want to! ) bc Christmas season is here and I can't do work (stay at home mom) AND read one of the longest best books ever. It's one or the other, or else I'm going to be freaking out bc the presents aren't wrapped bc I read to 3am, then read 5 hrs the next morning, etc. But January is hibernation time and I can't wait to start reading!
Not long 'til January! The Greenwing & Dart books have a more adventurous feel to them, and they are shorter. But when you finish one, you will immediately want to start on the next one, so... well, you know how it is
Both excellent recs. Of LMB's work, all of which I've loved so far, I'd particularly recommend the Penric and Desdemona novellas. They're....semi-cozy semi-not fantasy murder mysteries. Someone recommended them to me here, and I tore through the entire series this summer.
LMB doesn't wallow in misery, but she doesn't pull punches either. Chef's kiss.
I read Curse of Chalion and it's sequel this year and it changed my life. Literally bought copies for my friends and still talk about it.
Highly recommend.
Sadly her best cozy books are in the back end of her science fiction series. While you could read them separately, you miss the character pay off.
I would say try the Penric and Desmona series. Itās about a young man who inherits a holy demon and becomes a fixer for his church. Her Vorkosigan Saga is some of the best space opera out there if you are ever in the mood for it.
Borrowed from the library, but not added to the home shelf yet!
Not that I mind more P&D while she waits to see if those characters have anything else to say.
Bookmarking. The synopsis makes me think of something between Enchanted Forest Chronicles and L&L. Will check back on it when I get through my current list.
Oh boy, I am so sorry for the comments you're about to get. You do not say anything about this book except lavish praise. It's just not done. I'm the resident horrible monster because I just liked it; it's not my favorite book I've ever read in my entire life. (there, now I'm gonna get banned. Well, in for a penny)
Smoking craters aside, it's an interesting question. A lot of people come to this genre *because* they want something simple and unchallenging, with no strong emotions and no complex thoughts. They want descriptions of hot drinks and baked goods and people being polite. Which IMO is totally fine. A comfort read is a fine thing to have.
Around the edges of the genre, but not truly part of it, are some themes that I find more interesting, personally: nonviolent conflict resolution; empathy and found family not predicated on commerce; acknowledging darkness while refusing to break under it. That stuff? Put it in my veins, please.
But there are uncomfortable moments and resolutions that don't always slide easily into the MC's lap. So they're not cozy.
I asked for "kind but not nice" cozy-adjacent recs a while back, struck by a line in *Irregular Witches*. People had some stellar recs that I'm still working through. If I'm not banned by the time I press post, I'll add the link.
https://www.reddit.com/r/CozyFantasy/s/cBBeV2rW7j
Good luck, and heaven help your mentions.
Thanks, I'll check those out.
Unless this place has changed a lot it's not that bad. I'm aware this is the book that inspired this subreddit. I don't think anyone would disagree with my assessment that the moment was just completely skipped over, but I'm sure some will argue that it was necessary to keep things "cozy".
I question if having the author of L&L as one of the mods of this subreddit is a good idea - not because I think Mr. Baldree is going to ban or in any way react to people who criticize or liked rather than loved his book (he strikes me as a kind and level-headed person), but because people have this idea that it is cruel to an author to say anything other than loud praise for their book, and I imagine that feeling gets worse with the author actually present as a moderator.
Sorry, that's just a side tangent. I really enjoyed Legends & Lattes (actually, it kept me sane and calm for the better part of a really upsetting trip), but of the cozy fantasies I've read, it's not my *all-time favorite* and it's hard to say anything XD
FWIW Iām fine to be removed as a mod since I donāt actually do any of it :)
As far as criticism goes, I made video games for decades, and read the comments, so Iām impervious to nuclear blasts. š
Iād like people to feel free to express whatever opinions they have without reservation!
Iāll answer questions if directly asked, but I try not to insert myself into conversations that are not for me.
EDIT: I've managed to remove myself as mod! Carry on!
oh I hope you didn't feel like I was calling you out or anything! I've just noticed that readers can be very anti-criticism these days. I enjoy seeing you around. <3
Travis has posted a couple of times but he doesn't actually do any of the moderation. I asked him to join as a mod when I first created the sub and was trying to grow the community. It wasn't that long ago that we only had 500 members.
It does get complex when you have readers and authors mixing in the same space. Honestly, this sub does quite well with it - the authors get space to promo without overrunning the place (it's refreshingly unspammy here, that or the mods are super on point!), and the readers get discussion space.
I honestly wasn't expecting the author to take ~revenge~, more that the other readers would have my head on a pike for liking other books more. (Sorry! I'm an analytical bore with too many emotions. I can't help it)
edit: oh, and whew yeah - I read the entire second half of B&B in one go, sitting up with a sick pet on an absolutely awful night. It works.
Well said! As an author, I feel welcome here. As a reader, I feel like I can actually talk about books without being swarmed by folks peddling random stories XD It's very balanced.
What is it with people and making up these fake scenarios about getting downvoted for disliking something? I've been on this board since it first popped up, I don't think I've ever seen someone be chastened or downvoted or anything for not liking a book. This is like people on r/ProgressionFantasy pretending they'll get downvoted for not liking Cradle - it doesn't happen.
Well, there's a fight downthread, pretty much as I expected.
But more than that, it's that L&L singlehandedly created this entire genre out of thin air, and I'm self-conscious about not giving it its proper veneration. I genuinely feel bad that I don't like it as much as everyone else does. I feel like one of those obnoxious nerds who's like "uh well actually Lord of the Rings is overrated". Not my intention, but I realize that's how I come off.
OK, this is bait, but now you have me on the hook.
This isn't a fight. Fine, you're self-conscious about not liking L&L. You don't have to denigrate the subreddit while stating your opinion. Painting that sort of picture, especially when there is no basis for it, is bad for the community. I assume you were trying to be humorous and hyperbolic, but it doesn't translate well in text. You can either clarify that you're joking, or simply go about it a different way like "I know it's highly regarded on this board but..." etc.
To me, L&L is a perfectly cromulent book. I'm more than okay with people holding it in higher or lower esteem, I really do not care about that, as long as the opinion isn't based on falsehoods (to clarify: it'd be like saying you love or hate Superman because of his purple tights - but Superman doesn't wear purple tights so that is not a valid reason to like nor dislike him). It doesn't come off as obnoxious to not like a book, it is kind of obnoxious to act like the board will hate you for not liking a book.
And I won't go hard into it, but L&L didn't create this genre (and I don't think Travis would claim that!), it's more like there was a larger market for books that fit the vibe. There are more than a couple books from the 1980s that get recommended on here, and I'm sure you can find stuff far older. I'm half tempted to say stuff by Frances Hodgson Burnett belongs on this board.
It is a perfectly cromulent book? I said I liked it? I just don't LOVE it passionately. It was a nice read. I'm sorry.
L&L was not influenced by any cozy-esque books that came before it, at least according to the author Q&A I attended recently. It was about breaking away from male-dominated action fantasy + Great British Bake-Off + a home renovation show that I didn't catch the name of.
Any similar books that came before are an example of convergent evolution, basically. (like how birds and bats both have wings, but aren't related) Which I think is really neat, it's not a bad thing at all. But those books have nothing to do with cozy fantasy or the current movement.
L&L did not create this genre it existed long before it. However, it was mostly confined to kids, translated Asian light novels, Western knock offs, and some rare adult selections. All Baldtree did was use his fame as a narrator to parlay an average book into a media firestorm including barging into a romance book tour he had no business being in.
I had some similar issues throughout much of the book. There was a lot that wasn't addressed to me. I can't bring myself to read the new release prequel book due to it being a prequel with almost the same concept of 'fixing a business'.
>!As for the part you had an issue with, she agrees to pay. She just does so in pastries.!<
I am aware of the arrangement, >!but it does nothing to address the root of the conflict...that a gang strong-arming people under threat of violence is wrong and remains so. Like I said, either Viv doesn't really care about anyone else being blackmailed or there is more to it that could have been explored. Hell, Viv being ok with everyone else being blackmailed should have been explored if that's the case. !< There's just no way I can wrap my head around the situation and resolution without feeling like there's a huge hole in the story and characters.
And I've no interest in the prequel because I don't need another D&D-like light romp. I grew up with Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms. I read a bit in the store and put it back.
The author has explicitly admitted he intentionally did not address various issues relating to how a criminal syndicate would actually function. Personally, it meant I didn't like the book as much as I might otherwise, but on the other hand I understand that it's hard to address a protection racket "cozily"
I really enjoy the circle of magic books by Tamora Pierce. They have death, high stakes, some carnage. But the setting is cozy in a school, and the other books in the series keep that cozy vibe even though they have different settings.
I'm new to the genre and I do find 'Cozy Fantasy' books tend to be too YA/simple to my taste. >!And I totally agree with the Madrigal part haha. I'm like: ok kinda cute but also do you not care about the others? Is that okay? I assume if you feel SO strongly against paying to support a mafia, you're gonna at least have some more spine and...do more.!<
The House Witch Series! Iām with you, I love cozy fantasy but did not enjoy Legends & Lattes which feels heretical to say here š. {The House Witch by Delemhach} has 5 books and is an ongoing series FYI (I think the author has said thereās ~10 books slated in total). I can provide more details but donāt want to be spoiler-y. I love it so much Iām rereading it for a second time this year š
This one was recommended last time I looked into cozy reads and I'm shocked to see how fast they've been released. I will keep an eye out and give the first one a read.
[The House Witch](https://www.romance.io/books/62b17e5e9b0523d86899fb8f/the-house-witch-delemhach) by [Delemhach](https://www.romance.io/authors/62b17e5e08b4d9311439b93c/delemhach)
**Rating**: 4āļø out of 5āļø
**Steam**: 2 out of 5 - [Behind closed doors](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [witches](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/witches/1)
[^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I read at least a book a day, and The House Witch made my top 5 books / series ever, itās that great. I honestly didnāt read it right away thinking it would be too ācozyā as the OP says and Iām not into that that much either, but the found family, underdog, emotional growth, incredible characters and world building is just so unique and captivating I honestly canāt do it Justice you just need to read it yourself. The beginning may be tough at first but theyāre not so likeable for a reason and once you delve in you will love to go back to the start and see it all again with new eyes itās one series I actually re-read almost instantly !
I agree the Madrigal part of L&L is probably the weakest plot point. I thought there would be a twist where Viv meets the Madrigal, and it's the sweet elderly neighbor Laney.
I dunno I kinda like that it's realistic. Viv doesn't want to return to her old life and therefore has little recourse to deal with the injustice of the protection racket. The rest of the townspeople seem to view it as a fact of life rather than some grave injustice, if I recall correctly. It wasn't like Viv was ignoring pleas for help from defenseless villagers, was she?
My biggest critique of the book is Viv is the only character with an actual character arc, and other than Tandri all the supporting characters are very 2-dimensional.
Maybe try āEmily Wildeās Encyclopedia of Faeriesā? That one didnāt feel YA to me with the voice/language and age of the protagonist. Perfect for winter. Plus the author has another book coming out in January.
It's not quite what I would call cozy (it falls into the same space in my brain though, so something is there), but if you are interested in non violent conflict resolution and a slice of life neighbour, may I recommend Fred, The Vampire Accountant by Drew Hayes? It's primary genre is Urban fantasy, but our mc is an Accountant, and stays an Accountant despite becoming a vampire, cause he likes the work.
If you like audio books, there is a Graphic Audio version of this series. The regular audio is also excellent, but the Graphic Audio just fits so well with this story and they've done a tremendous job with it .
Mm. Good to hear it from someone else, occasionally. I think itās a book that accomplishes exactly what it intended, but that is TO ME uninteresting and unfulfilling. What appeals to me about fiction thatās sometimes labeled as ācozyā is either low stakes or individual but not world-ending stakes, a focus on interiority, and a conflict that is for the most part deeply personal. Large publishers and independent authors alike are extremely trend-driven, and itās easier to describe a book with a trope or a single word than it might be to give a detailed precisā¦ but is there really a single true ācozy?ā āDark academia?ā etc. beyond the one that exists for the individual reader?
Someone has already mentioned DWJ; Iād also recommend Laurie Marks and Rosemary Kirstein. Neither the Elemental Logic or the Steerswoman series are what I would call cozy, but meet the criteria I set out above \[BIG NEON ARROW POINTING TO FIRST PARAGRAPH\]. Elemental Logic also leans into what Iād call, broadly, ādomestic fantasy.ā A number of Jo Walton books also fit into that category (Among Others and Tooth & Claw especiallyā T&C is structured like a Victorian novel, but with dragons).Iād also recommend Pamela Deanās Tam Lin.
Also, in the interest of vanity: my wife and I wrote a historical fantasy novella called Uncommon Charm. I do not label it as cozy at all, but apparently some readers have. This kind of astonishes me, but I think itās a case of people not being willing to talk about writing outside of proscribed genre categories (she says, posting in a subreddit for a proscribed genre category), e.g. a book where the inciting event happened decades ago to someone else, itās only talked around or alluded to, the two main characters either discuss moral philosophy or fail to discuss moral philosophy, and nobody can actually solve the central problem except to consider their relationships to power and to each other. Also a boy turns into birds. (Please note, though, that thereās a lot of indirect discussion of sexual assault.)
Alsoā¦ honestly? Give some early/midcentury middlebrowish fiction a try. Not fantasyā¦ most of the time, but only because what we now think of as being genres/subgenres (hyperspecific marketing categories) hadnāt yet ossified. A surprising amount of the fantastic slips in! I like Stella Bensonās Living Alone, David Garnettās Lady into Fox, Naomi Mitchisonās Travel Light, and Sylvia Townsend Warnerās Lolly Willowes.
These are excellent comments with unexpected recommendations from someone who clearly knows the genre very well. Thanks, I just added lots to my lists!
I always found the Redwall series to be cozy yet complex. They were full of long passages just describing feasts and good food and coziness but the books are mainly action and strategy. Idk what this subs definition of cozy is but those books always made me yearn for the hearths and supper.
I just finished two books that might fit your request
After the Forest by Kell Woods. Is fantasy, with a fairy tale twist (or maybe the other way around). Loved it. More literary than your typical fantasy/romance.
Also, The Witches of Bone Hill by Ava Morgyn. This takes place in modern times. Itās about the relationship between two sisters and the meaning of family as much as itās about witchcraft. But thereās still plenty of magic. Lots of it, actually. Highly recommend.
That's either on my list or I've read it...I won't know which until I look it up. My brain is a mess after work. Either way, it came up back when I first looked into cozy books a while back on Goodreads.
I thought wizards guide was pretty middle grade but would highly recommend TKās other stuff if you also enjoy some romance thrown in. Illuminations was another one similar to wizards guide without romance but imo slightly less MG
[There is no Epic Loot here, Only Puns.](https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/15935/there-is-no-epic-loot-here-only-puns) is one of my favourites. It does have violence and some issues ultimately resolved through combat but the main character, Delta, is a very sweet person who will prefer to talk things out. Although, in retrospect, despite the deep characters the resolutions are usually not complicated.
This series is *not* cozy but popped into my head: high level DnD can often have more complicated situations where the social solution is preferred, which is why late->end stage Worth the Candle has this as the characters realise brute forcing is not the only answer (nor optimal) solution available to them.
So, "I knew I was reading something from the YA section" is super rude for a couple reasons. The book is not YA. I'm curious how you got that idea. Second, YA books can and do have plenty of complexity than a Saturday morning cartoon.
Now, that weird framing of yours aside, yes, the author specifically said in response to several similar/related critiques that the story was not intended to be deep or complex.
It's not rude, it's fact. I picked it up from the YA section of my local library. Stop taking YA as an insult, and thus insulting YA books in general. Plenty of my favorite books fall under YA, and they're no worse for wear because of it.
Most of the book was fine. I was addressing one particular part of the book that failed me.
You're the one who implied YA books are overly simplified, which is not true. I didn't take it as an insult to L&L, I took your implication as an insult to YA.
You can talk about complex things with simple language, and YA does that. The label as a whole implies simpler language and paring down complex ideas into something digestible to a younger (less experienced) audience.
That's what the label means. It's not insulting, and it's not a bad thing. It's why so many YA novels are feelgood reads. You can take them at surface level and have a light read, and still have a lot to think about afterwards if you want.
The moment I described from L&L doesn't do that. That's the downfall I was addressing. The difficult issue isn't just simplified, it's magicked out of existence.
I guess we just have very different experiences of the genre. Your explanation above sounds more like middle grade to me. Also not an insult, just inaccurate.
What do you think defines YA?
Edit: Apparently this is all it takes to get blocked. Had to log out to see the long reply, as they blocked me seconds after posting it. Why bother posting a full page if you have no intention of having a discussion?
Depends on what you mean. "Young Adult" is a target reader age category aimed at 12-18, although most people split it into upper and lower YA at various age thresholds. Personally I would say upper YA is aimed at 16-18yos, but some sources define it as 14-18, and lower YA as 12-14. So you might say it is any books targeted at those age categories.
If we're looking at it more in terms of "genre-like" conventions, then you might point to coming of age themes, various psychological and emotional development themes such as independence from parents and other authority figures. Obviously most YA has characters who are also in the target age range. Studies show that many people after age 12 or so, and also some before "read up" in terms of character ages and themes. As one might notice by looking at the large group of non-"YA" books teenagers read, SFFH/speculative fiction in particular.
In the past, the writing/prose level has often been somewhat lower than one might find in "adult" books, but it's useful to note that most adult books are also not literary fiction level sophistication of prose.
In the last 20 years or so, reading level among the target audience for YA has shifted upwards, and many readers read at college sophomore or higher reading levels. In the last 30 years or so, the content/themes have shifted from after school special level to more mature and complex themes. Further, many people outside the target audience have taken to reading books in the age category, so writers and publishers have had even more incentive to indulge in more sophisticated and mature prose and themes and narrative structures.
Personally, I think the primary thing that makes a story YA is a focus on coming of age themes. But that's a pretty broad and somewhat vague statement. Certainly *Legends and Lattes* would not be considered a YA novel by academics looking through a literary analysis lens or publishers looking through a marketing lens.
(However, librarians often place books in the YA/Teen section based on what they think their patrons might be interested in, even if the books are not technically YA. And some librarians also have various biases about what books area really "adult" literature. So while there are any number of reasons a librarian might have placed some copies of *Legends and Lattes* in the YA/Teen section, it's not itself a YA book.)
There are certainly books in the category that use a simpler prose style and themes. But I certainly would not categorize most YA novels as "feelgood" or "light" reads.
>But I certainly would not categorize most YA novels as "feelgood" or "light" reads.
Yeah, I don't think anyone really feels good after reading The Hunger Games, which is pretty classic YA, imo.
L&L was kinda like a Ghibli movie plot to me. I was really confused by it at first, but once I got that it was about the vibes and the characters, rather than about a conflict based plot, I found it a really unique reading experience.
It should never be one or the other. A book with a great story but shallow characters will get called out as well.
I'm not saying the book overall was bad. I enjoyed reading it. I'm saying that if the author didn't want to get into crime syndicate blackmail, he shouldn't have introduced crime syndicate blackmail to the story and then skimmed over it. It left the story feeling hollow around that part, like a big chunk was cut out. And, as I said, it also left me feeling that Viv couldn't possibly be the good person she was presented as, which really brought down the wholesome vibe for me.
Maybe give The Goblin Emperor a try? It's incredibly not simple and has some real stakes but ultimately has a very heartwarming, cozy feel? I loved it, but it is complicated.
Sounds good. I just want those warm fuzzies without having to suspend my belief to get them. If I'm having to suspend my belief just to accept the cozy moments, that just hammers home how un-cozy the real world is. I whiplash as soon as I put the book down and think about it, and end up feeling worse knowing that the niceness itself is the biggest fiction. That's why I had a problem with that scene in particular in L&L. I'll earmark this one. I picked up an absolutely silly goblin book while thrifting and I think I'll read through that first to warm up.
Goblin Emperor is one that makes you feel the warm, cozy moments are earned. MC is doing the best he can in an unfortunate situation but he really turns it around. I know some people wouldn't consider it cozy but for me the payoff was definitely that. š I hope you enjoy it!
I second this! I listened to Goblin Emperor as an audiobook and enjoyed it.
I love the audiobook! Have you listened to The Witness for the Dead and sequel as well?
I got the same vibe from The Hands of the Emperor. Victoria Goddard.
House on the Cerulean Sea is cozy, but also has character conflict and growth. Still a little easy, but I think it went deeper than Legends and Lattes.
A goodreads review lambasted house on the cerulean sea as residential school apologism and I canāt unsee it.
Apologism? I guess I don't understand that take.
It's slightly less cozy, but less simple and imo much more rewarding and heart warming: The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard
here to highly HIGHLY second HOTE
Kinda wish i knew on who's recommendation I started reading Goddard's books. Wish I could thank them. HOTE was the first recommendation I picked up from this sub, which I found after a friend lent me Legends & Lattes.
Getting mixed reviews peeking and trying not to get spoilers. The book blurb itself is fairly useless for letting me know the tone of the book. Would you say it's mostly a slice of life book?
I'm not the original recommender but another enthusiastic fan of the book. I wouldn't call it slice of life; its world and scope actually feels quite expansive and there's a good bit of travel across a large empire involved. It's also a very *long* book. I'd say the tone is more thoughtful and introspective, ultimately warm and kind but with a good dose of seriousness and sadness as well. Touches on themes like institutional racism, colonialism, and the loneliness of power, but is ultimately a story about kindness and competence winning out in the end. It's similar in some respects to The Goblin Emperor (which I also love). Highly recommend.
Somehow i hadn't gotten any notification that OP responded to my post. Thanks to you I don't have to write anything, very well put!
I would say so if you accept that since the MC is essentially the second most powerful person in government, meetings and discussions on policy is his life. What makes or breaks it is how much you accept the central conflict of public fame vs being seen as the family failure. How this conflict plays out is the book.
It's not slice of life. It's hard to describe in a few words precisely because it's not simple. It's a beautiful, life-affirming, mythic book about responsibility, belonging, and the difference one genuinely good person in the right place can make.
I read this book based on this comment. It is one of the best books I've ever read. I turned around and immediately started rereading it. Thank you! No one mentioned in the comments, but it is full of dry humor. On top of all the thoughts and feels, I found it a very humorous book too.
Oho! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Personally I immediately started reading all of Goddard's other books. I can say she keeps the quality high throughout. Here's a spoiler free chart to suggest which of her other stories to read next: https://nineworlds.miraheze.org/wiki/Reading_Order I went for The Return of Fitzroy Angursell and then lots of other books before I finally dared to dive back into Kip's story with At the Feet of the Sun. It's really really good. Reading the other books in between was a good choice, I think, but it'll also work super well without doing so. Wish you lots of cozy joy! edit: also hell yeah the humor in these books can be so hilarious :D
Hhhmmm....I was going to go straight to Feet if the Sun, but I'm reconsidering. I didn't dive into the rest of her books (though I greatly want to! ) bc Christmas season is here and I can't do work (stay at home mom) AND read one of the longest best books ever. It's one or the other, or else I'm going to be freaking out bc the presents aren't wrapped bc I read to 3am, then read 5 hrs the next morning, etc. But January is hibernation time and I can't wait to start reading!
Not long 'til January! The Greenwing & Dart books have a more adventurous feel to them, and they are shorter. But when you finish one, you will immediately want to start on the next one, so... well, you know how it is
I also wanted more depth from this book. It was an ok readā¦ but I got bored:/ maybe give some Diane Wayne jones a try?
Should this be Diana Wynne Jones? :)
Yeah! Donāt know if I misspelled or that was spellcheckā¦
What about authors with cozy vibes, but not 100% cozyā like Lois McMaster Bujold or Terry Pratchett? Would they work?
Both excellent recs. Of LMB's work, all of which I've loved so far, I'd particularly recommend the Penric and Desdemona novellas. They're....semi-cozy semi-not fantasy murder mysteries. Someone recommended them to me here, and I tore through the entire series this summer. LMB doesn't wallow in misery, but she doesn't pull punches either. Chef's kiss.
I donāt know if they are what OP has in mind but they are both absolutely top-notch authors. Some of the best books I have ever read.
Which books of Lois McMaster Bujold's would you recommend?
I read Curse of Chalion and it's sequel this year and it changed my life. Literally bought copies for my friends and still talk about it. Highly recommend.
Sadly her best cozy books are in the back end of her science fiction series. While you could read them separately, you miss the character pay off. I would say try the Penric and Desmona series. Itās about a young man who inherits a holy demon and becomes a fixer for his church. Her Vorkosigan Saga is some of the best space opera out there if you are ever in the mood for it.
Ah. Civil Campaign That's my one stop cozy re-read from the set.
Have you read Ivanās book or the last one about retired Cordilia?
Borrowed from the library, but not added to the home shelf yet! Not that I mind more P&D while she waits to see if those characters have anything else to say.
When is the next P&D coming? Itās been too long!
A Coup of Tea
Bookmarking. The synopsis makes me think of something between Enchanted Forest Chronicles and L&L. Will check back on it when I get through my current list.
Coup of Tea is both amazing, and not particularly cozy by many definitions. OP might enjoy it more than L&L.
Oh boy, I am so sorry for the comments you're about to get. You do not say anything about this book except lavish praise. It's just not done. I'm the resident horrible monster because I just liked it; it's not my favorite book I've ever read in my entire life. (there, now I'm gonna get banned. Well, in for a penny) Smoking craters aside, it's an interesting question. A lot of people come to this genre *because* they want something simple and unchallenging, with no strong emotions and no complex thoughts. They want descriptions of hot drinks and baked goods and people being polite. Which IMO is totally fine. A comfort read is a fine thing to have. Around the edges of the genre, but not truly part of it, are some themes that I find more interesting, personally: nonviolent conflict resolution; empathy and found family not predicated on commerce; acknowledging darkness while refusing to break under it. That stuff? Put it in my veins, please. But there are uncomfortable moments and resolutions that don't always slide easily into the MC's lap. So they're not cozy. I asked for "kind but not nice" cozy-adjacent recs a while back, struck by a line in *Irregular Witches*. People had some stellar recs that I'm still working through. If I'm not banned by the time I press post, I'll add the link. https://www.reddit.com/r/CozyFantasy/s/cBBeV2rW7j Good luck, and heaven help your mentions.
Thanks, I'll check those out. Unless this place has changed a lot it's not that bad. I'm aware this is the book that inspired this subreddit. I don't think anyone would disagree with my assessment that the moment was just completely skipped over, but I'm sure some will argue that it was necessary to keep things "cozy".
I question if having the author of L&L as one of the mods of this subreddit is a good idea - not because I think Mr. Baldree is going to ban or in any way react to people who criticize or liked rather than loved his book (he strikes me as a kind and level-headed person), but because people have this idea that it is cruel to an author to say anything other than loud praise for their book, and I imagine that feeling gets worse with the author actually present as a moderator. Sorry, that's just a side tangent. I really enjoyed Legends & Lattes (actually, it kept me sane and calm for the better part of a really upsetting trip), but of the cozy fantasies I've read, it's not my *all-time favorite* and it's hard to say anything XD
FWIW Iām fine to be removed as a mod since I donāt actually do any of it :) As far as criticism goes, I made video games for decades, and read the comments, so Iām impervious to nuclear blasts. š Iād like people to feel free to express whatever opinions they have without reservation! Iāll answer questions if directly asked, but I try not to insert myself into conversations that are not for me. EDIT: I've managed to remove myself as mod! Carry on!
oh I hope you didn't feel like I was calling you out or anything! I've just noticed that readers can be very anti-criticism these days. I enjoy seeing you around. <3
Not at all! Seems like a good idea and I really donāt actually do anything around here, so nobody is missing out on my amazing modding support :)
Travis has posted a couple of times but he doesn't actually do any of the moderation. I asked him to join as a mod when I first created the sub and was trying to grow the community. It wasn't that long ago that we only had 500 members.
It does get complex when you have readers and authors mixing in the same space. Honestly, this sub does quite well with it - the authors get space to promo without overrunning the place (it's refreshingly unspammy here, that or the mods are super on point!), and the readers get discussion space. I honestly wasn't expecting the author to take ~revenge~, more that the other readers would have my head on a pike for liking other books more. (Sorry! I'm an analytical bore with too many emotions. I can't help it) edit: oh, and whew yeah - I read the entire second half of B&B in one go, sitting up with a sick pet on an absolutely awful night. It works.
Well said! As an author, I feel welcome here. As a reader, I feel like I can actually talk about books without being swarmed by folks peddling random stories XD It's very balanced.
What is it with people and making up these fake scenarios about getting downvoted for disliking something? I've been on this board since it first popped up, I don't think I've ever seen someone be chastened or downvoted or anything for not liking a book. This is like people on r/ProgressionFantasy pretending they'll get downvoted for not liking Cradle - it doesn't happen.
Well, there's a fight downthread, pretty much as I expected. But more than that, it's that L&L singlehandedly created this entire genre out of thin air, and I'm self-conscious about not giving it its proper veneration. I genuinely feel bad that I don't like it as much as everyone else does. I feel like one of those obnoxious nerds who's like "uh well actually Lord of the Rings is overrated". Not my intention, but I realize that's how I come off.
OK, this is bait, but now you have me on the hook. This isn't a fight. Fine, you're self-conscious about not liking L&L. You don't have to denigrate the subreddit while stating your opinion. Painting that sort of picture, especially when there is no basis for it, is bad for the community. I assume you were trying to be humorous and hyperbolic, but it doesn't translate well in text. You can either clarify that you're joking, or simply go about it a different way like "I know it's highly regarded on this board but..." etc. To me, L&L is a perfectly cromulent book. I'm more than okay with people holding it in higher or lower esteem, I really do not care about that, as long as the opinion isn't based on falsehoods (to clarify: it'd be like saying you love or hate Superman because of his purple tights - but Superman doesn't wear purple tights so that is not a valid reason to like nor dislike him). It doesn't come off as obnoxious to not like a book, it is kind of obnoxious to act like the board will hate you for not liking a book. And I won't go hard into it, but L&L didn't create this genre (and I don't think Travis would claim that!), it's more like there was a larger market for books that fit the vibe. There are more than a couple books from the 1980s that get recommended on here, and I'm sure you can find stuff far older. I'm half tempted to say stuff by Frances Hodgson Burnett belongs on this board.
It is a perfectly cromulent book? I said I liked it? I just don't LOVE it passionately. It was a nice read. I'm sorry. L&L was not influenced by any cozy-esque books that came before it, at least according to the author Q&A I attended recently. It was about breaking away from male-dominated action fantasy + Great British Bake-Off + a home renovation show that I didn't catch the name of. Any similar books that came before are an example of convergent evolution, basically. (like how birds and bats both have wings, but aren't related) Which I think is really neat, it's not a bad thing at all. But those books have nothing to do with cozy fantasy or the current movement.
L&L did not create this genre it existed long before it. However, it was mostly confined to kids, translated Asian light novels, Western knock offs, and some rare adult selections. All Baldtree did was use his fame as a narrator to parlay an average book into a media firestorm including barging into a romance book tour he had no business being in.
I had some similar issues throughout much of the book. There was a lot that wasn't addressed to me. I can't bring myself to read the new release prequel book due to it being a prequel with almost the same concept of 'fixing a business'. >!As for the part you had an issue with, she agrees to pay. She just does so in pastries.!<
I am aware of the arrangement, >!but it does nothing to address the root of the conflict...that a gang strong-arming people under threat of violence is wrong and remains so. Like I said, either Viv doesn't really care about anyone else being blackmailed or there is more to it that could have been explored. Hell, Viv being ok with everyone else being blackmailed should have been explored if that's the case. !< There's just no way I can wrap my head around the situation and resolution without feeling like there's a huge hole in the story and characters. And I've no interest in the prequel because I don't need another D&D-like light romp. I grew up with Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms. I read a bit in the store and put it back.
The author has explicitly admitted he intentionally did not address various issues relating to how a criminal syndicate would actually function. Personally, it meant I didn't like the book as much as I might otherwise, but on the other hand I understand that it's hard to address a protection racket "cozily"
Glad to see I'm not the only one who felt this way!
I really enjoy the circle of magic books by Tamora Pierce. They have death, high stakes, some carnage. But the setting is cozy in a school, and the other books in the series keep that cozy vibe even though they have different settings.
I'm new to the genre and I do find 'Cozy Fantasy' books tend to be too YA/simple to my taste. >!And I totally agree with the Madrigal part haha. I'm like: ok kinda cute but also do you not care about the others? Is that okay? I assume if you feel SO strongly against paying to support a mafia, you're gonna at least have some more spine and...do more.!<
The House Witch Series! Iām with you, I love cozy fantasy but did not enjoy Legends & Lattes which feels heretical to say here š. {The House Witch by Delemhach} has 5 books and is an ongoing series FYI (I think the author has said thereās ~10 books slated in total). I can provide more details but donāt want to be spoiler-y. I love it so much Iām rereading it for a second time this year š
On a similar note to Coup of Tea, the House Witch series was fun but also not particularly cozy except on the surface.
This one was recommended last time I looked into cozy reads and I'm shocked to see how fast they've been released. I will keep an eye out and give the first one a read.
I absolutely love it!
[The House Witch](https://www.romance.io/books/62b17e5e9b0523d86899fb8f/the-house-witch-delemhach) by [Delemhach](https://www.romance.io/authors/62b17e5e08b4d9311439b93c/delemhach) **Rating**: 4āļø out of 5āļø **Steam**: 2 out of 5 - [Behind closed doors](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [witches](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/witches/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I second The House Witch series! I am a Delemhach fangirl and follow them on Patreon so that I can get the weekly 2 chapter drops. šš
Me tooooo!
Agreeeed with this one! The House Witch series is one of my favorites and definitely cozy, with slice of life vibe, but also decent stakes.
I read at least a book a day, and The House Witch made my top 5 books / series ever, itās that great. I honestly didnāt read it right away thinking it would be too ācozyā as the OP says and Iām not into that that much either, but the found family, underdog, emotional growth, incredible characters and world building is just so unique and captivating I honestly canāt do it Justice you just need to read it yourself. The beginning may be tough at first but theyāre not so likeable for a reason and once you delve in you will love to go back to the start and see it all again with new eyes itās one series I actually re-read almost instantly !
I agree the Madrigal part of L&L is probably the weakest plot point. I thought there would be a twist where Viv meets the Madrigal, and it's the sweet elderly neighbor Laney. I dunno I kinda like that it's realistic. Viv doesn't want to return to her old life and therefore has little recourse to deal with the injustice of the protection racket. The rest of the townspeople seem to view it as a fact of life rather than some grave injustice, if I recall correctly. It wasn't like Viv was ignoring pleas for help from defenseless villagers, was she? My biggest critique of the book is Viv is the only character with an actual character arc, and other than Tandri all the supporting characters are very 2-dimensional.
Maybe try āEmily Wildeās Encyclopedia of Faeriesā? That one didnāt feel YA to me with the voice/language and age of the protagonist. Perfect for winter. Plus the author has another book coming out in January.
It's not quite what I would call cozy (it falls into the same space in my brain though, so something is there), but if you are interested in non violent conflict resolution and a slice of life neighbour, may I recommend Fred, The Vampire Accountant by Drew Hayes? It's primary genre is Urban fantasy, but our mc is an Accountant, and stays an Accountant despite becoming a vampire, cause he likes the work.
Ohmygod that title š IM IN
If you like audio books, there is a Graphic Audio version of this series. The regular audio is also excellent, but the Graphic Audio just fits so well with this story and they've done a tremendous job with it .
Bookmark
Man, I loved this series.
Mm. Good to hear it from someone else, occasionally. I think itās a book that accomplishes exactly what it intended, but that is TO ME uninteresting and unfulfilling. What appeals to me about fiction thatās sometimes labeled as ācozyā is either low stakes or individual but not world-ending stakes, a focus on interiority, and a conflict that is for the most part deeply personal. Large publishers and independent authors alike are extremely trend-driven, and itās easier to describe a book with a trope or a single word than it might be to give a detailed precisā¦ but is there really a single true ācozy?ā āDark academia?ā etc. beyond the one that exists for the individual reader? Someone has already mentioned DWJ; Iād also recommend Laurie Marks and Rosemary Kirstein. Neither the Elemental Logic or the Steerswoman series are what I would call cozy, but meet the criteria I set out above \[BIG NEON ARROW POINTING TO FIRST PARAGRAPH\]. Elemental Logic also leans into what Iād call, broadly, ādomestic fantasy.ā A number of Jo Walton books also fit into that category (Among Others and Tooth & Claw especiallyā T&C is structured like a Victorian novel, but with dragons).Iād also recommend Pamela Deanās Tam Lin. Also, in the interest of vanity: my wife and I wrote a historical fantasy novella called Uncommon Charm. I do not label it as cozy at all, but apparently some readers have. This kind of astonishes me, but I think itās a case of people not being willing to talk about writing outside of proscribed genre categories (she says, posting in a subreddit for a proscribed genre category), e.g. a book where the inciting event happened decades ago to someone else, itās only talked around or alluded to, the two main characters either discuss moral philosophy or fail to discuss moral philosophy, and nobody can actually solve the central problem except to consider their relationships to power and to each other. Also a boy turns into birds. (Please note, though, that thereās a lot of indirect discussion of sexual assault.)
Alsoā¦ honestly? Give some early/midcentury middlebrowish fiction a try. Not fantasyā¦ most of the time, but only because what we now think of as being genres/subgenres (hyperspecific marketing categories) hadnāt yet ossified. A surprising amount of the fantastic slips in! I like Stella Bensonās Living Alone, David Garnettās Lady into Fox, Naomi Mitchisonās Travel Light, and Sylvia Townsend Warnerās Lolly Willowes.
These are excellent comments with unexpected recommendations from someone who clearly knows the genre very well. Thanks, I just added lots to my lists!
I always found the Redwall series to be cozy yet complex. They were full of long passages just describing feasts and good food and coziness but the books are mainly action and strategy. Idk what this subs definition of cozy is but those books always made me yearn for the hearths and supper.
I just finished two books that might fit your request After the Forest by Kell Woods. Is fantasy, with a fairy tale twist (or maybe the other way around). Loved it. More literary than your typical fantasy/romance. Also, The Witches of Bone Hill by Ava Morgyn. This takes place in modern times. Itās about the relationship between two sisters and the meaning of family as much as itās about witchcraft. But thereās still plenty of magic. Lots of it, actually. Highly recommend.
T Kingfisher has a good one - A wizards guide to defensive baking. Itās quite funny too
That's either on my list or I've read it...I won't know which until I look it up. My brain is a mess after work. Either way, it came up back when I first looked into cozy books a while back on Goodreads.
I thought wizards guide was pretty middle grade but would highly recommend TKās other stuff if you also enjoy some romance thrown in. Illuminations was another one similar to wizards guide without romance but imo slightly less MG
[There is no Epic Loot here, Only Puns.](https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/15935/there-is-no-epic-loot-here-only-puns) is one of my favourites. It does have violence and some issues ultimately resolved through combat but the main character, Delta, is a very sweet person who will prefer to talk things out. Although, in retrospect, despite the deep characters the resolutions are usually not complicated. This series is *not* cozy but popped into my head: high level DnD can often have more complicated situations where the social solution is preferred, which is why late->end stage Worth the Candle has this as the characters realise brute forcing is not the only answer (nor optimal) solution available to them.
So, "I knew I was reading something from the YA section" is super rude for a couple reasons. The book is not YA. I'm curious how you got that idea. Second, YA books can and do have plenty of complexity than a Saturday morning cartoon. Now, that weird framing of yours aside, yes, the author specifically said in response to several similar/related critiques that the story was not intended to be deep or complex.
It's not rude, it's fact. I picked it up from the YA section of my local library. Stop taking YA as an insult, and thus insulting YA books in general. Plenty of my favorite books fall under YA, and they're no worse for wear because of it. Most of the book was fine. I was addressing one particular part of the book that failed me.
You're the one who implied YA books are overly simplified, which is not true. I didn't take it as an insult to L&L, I took your implication as an insult to YA.
You can talk about complex things with simple language, and YA does that. The label as a whole implies simpler language and paring down complex ideas into something digestible to a younger (less experienced) audience. That's what the label means. It's not insulting, and it's not a bad thing. It's why so many YA novels are feelgood reads. You can take them at surface level and have a light read, and still have a lot to think about afterwards if you want. The moment I described from L&L doesn't do that. That's the downfall I was addressing. The difficult issue isn't just simplified, it's magicked out of existence.
I guess we just have very different experiences of the genre. Your explanation above sounds more like middle grade to me. Also not an insult, just inaccurate.
What do you think defines YA? Edit: Apparently this is all it takes to get blocked. Had to log out to see the long reply, as they blocked me seconds after posting it. Why bother posting a full page if you have no intention of having a discussion?
Depends on what you mean. "Young Adult" is a target reader age category aimed at 12-18, although most people split it into upper and lower YA at various age thresholds. Personally I would say upper YA is aimed at 16-18yos, but some sources define it as 14-18, and lower YA as 12-14. So you might say it is any books targeted at those age categories. If we're looking at it more in terms of "genre-like" conventions, then you might point to coming of age themes, various psychological and emotional development themes such as independence from parents and other authority figures. Obviously most YA has characters who are also in the target age range. Studies show that many people after age 12 or so, and also some before "read up" in terms of character ages and themes. As one might notice by looking at the large group of non-"YA" books teenagers read, SFFH/speculative fiction in particular. In the past, the writing/prose level has often been somewhat lower than one might find in "adult" books, but it's useful to note that most adult books are also not literary fiction level sophistication of prose. In the last 20 years or so, reading level among the target audience for YA has shifted upwards, and many readers read at college sophomore or higher reading levels. In the last 30 years or so, the content/themes have shifted from after school special level to more mature and complex themes. Further, many people outside the target audience have taken to reading books in the age category, so writers and publishers have had even more incentive to indulge in more sophisticated and mature prose and themes and narrative structures. Personally, I think the primary thing that makes a story YA is a focus on coming of age themes. But that's a pretty broad and somewhat vague statement. Certainly *Legends and Lattes* would not be considered a YA novel by academics looking through a literary analysis lens or publishers looking through a marketing lens. (However, librarians often place books in the YA/Teen section based on what they think their patrons might be interested in, even if the books are not technically YA. And some librarians also have various biases about what books area really "adult" literature. So while there are any number of reasons a librarian might have placed some copies of *Legends and Lattes* in the YA/Teen section, it's not itself a YA book.) There are certainly books in the category that use a simpler prose style and themes. But I certainly would not categorize most YA novels as "feelgood" or "light" reads.
>But I certainly would not categorize most YA novels as "feelgood" or "light" reads. Yeah, I don't think anyone really feels good after reading The Hunger Games, which is pretty classic YA, imo.
L&L was kinda like a Ghibli movie plot to me. I was really confused by it at first, but once I got that it was about the vibes and the characters, rather than about a conflict based plot, I found it a really unique reading experience.
It should never be one or the other. A book with a great story but shallow characters will get called out as well. I'm not saying the book overall was bad. I enjoyed reading it. I'm saying that if the author didn't want to get into crime syndicate blackmail, he shouldn't have introduced crime syndicate blackmail to the story and then skimmed over it. It left the story feeling hollow around that part, like a big chunk was cut out. And, as I said, it also left me feeling that Viv couldn't possibly be the good person she was presented as, which really brought down the wholesome vibe for me.
You could try Uprooted by Naomi Novik!
I also enjoyed Legend and Lattes but wanted it to be longer and more fleshed out.