Cozy fantasy Archives

Before the Coffee Gets Cold

by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Although it takes place in the summertime, this charming Japanese novel in translation makes for a charming, cozy winter listening experience. At a small Tokyo café, patrons sip coffee and travel through time. Yes, this is a time travel book—but not your typical action-packed science fiction. Heartwarming and quirky, the story follows four customers who enter the café in search of time travel. The most important rule they learn: your trip through time only lasts as long as your coffee stays warm. A quick listen, under 7 hours with delightful narration by Arina Ii.

Legends & Lattes

by Travis Baldree

What’s an orc to do after they retire from the mercenary life? Why, open up the very first coffee shop in Thune, of course. Viv is ready for a fresh start but she’s going to need help from new friends, whether that’s introducing people to coffee for the first time or handling rivals. This is high fantasy with low stakes and an interesting combination of fantastical characters with coffee shops, cinnamon rolls, and lattes, making for a cozy read.

The Lost Story

by Meg Shaffer

If you’ve ever knocked on the back of a wardrobe in hopes of finding Narnia, this novel is for you. Best friends Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell went missing for six months as children before reappearing without explanation. Fifteen years later, investigator Jeremy is tasked to help Emilie Wendell find her sister who disappeared in the same Virginia forest as Jeremy and Rafe. Rafe has no memory of those missing months but Jeremy remembers their time in a magical realm and he believes that’s where they’ll find Emilie’s sister. But first he and Rafe will have to confront their past and risk reentering that magical world.

Something Close to Magic

by Emma Mills

A delightful cozy YA fantasy about 17-year-old baker’s apprentice Aurelie who gets caught up in a quest with bounty hunter Iliana, troll Quad, and Prince Hapless. Aurelie doesn’t know what to make of her new companions, nor does she expect all the adventure, palace intrigue, and magic that awaits them. Perfect for anyone who enjoys good banter and seeing how an unlikely crew becomes a found family.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

by Sangu Mandanna

A warm hug of a fantasy novel with a strong romance arc. Mika Moon is used to being alone; as an orphan and a witch, she has to hide her magic and avoid other witches, lest they draw unwanted attention. When she receives a message asking her to teach three young witches to control their magic, she heads to the remote Nowhere House, even though it breaks all the rules. She quickly falls for her charges and the other employees…except for grumpy librarian Jamie, that is. A story of belonging, found family, and believing you matter. (Open door.)

The Teller of Small Fortunes

by Julie Leong

In this warm debut fantasy, Tao, an immigrant, travels from village to village telling “small” fortunes. Big fortunes have consequences so she sticks to sharing about things like next week’s weather. Her life is upended when ex-mercenary Mash and reformed thief Silt ask her to help them find Mash’s lost son. Along the way, they’re joined by Kina the baker and a slightly magical cat. Tao’s lonely world expands thanks to these new friends, even as secrets from her past threaten to catch up. (This title was included in our 2024 Fall Book Preview.)

We’ll Prescribe You a Cat

by Syou Ishida

A mysterious clinic prescribes cats as the cure for whatever ails their patients in this interconnected short story collection. The Nakagyō Kokoro Clinic for the Soul is not open to just anyone; only people who genuinely need their help. They may not expect to be prescribed a cat but these cats wind up transforming their lives in unexpected ways. A novel of healing, hope, and magical realism. Translated from the Japanese by E. Madison Shimoda. (This title was included in our 2024 Fall Book Preview.)

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