The nights are longer, and the days are chillier; what other excuse do you need to curl up with a gorgeous cosy read? If you're anything like us, it's become your top social plan until the spring, and you'll only want the best to keep you company. Well, don't worry! We’ve pulled together a list of our cosiest reads to help, so make some hot chocolate, grab your blanket, and cuddle up in a warm hug of a book.
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
The Teller of Small Fortunes is incredibly gentle, wryly funny, and ultimately about finding acceptance, love and family where you least expect.
Fleeing a troubled past, an immigrant fortune teller bands together with an ex-mercenary, a semi-formed thief and a baker. Travelling gently around in a beaten-up wagon, telling small fortunes, having small adventures, and finding themselves – and each other – along the way.
A wonderfully comforting cosy fantasy, The Teller of Small Fortunes has to be one of the heart-warming stories of the year.
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Til Death Do Us Bard by Rose Black
Til Death Do Us Bard is a gorgeously cosy, queer romantic fantasy that will truly warm your soul.
Logan ‘The Bear’ Theaker is enjoying retirement from his axe-wielding former life with his bard husband Pie. When Pie disappears, Logan realises he must return to his former self to rescue him. Enlisting the help of an old foe and a ghost, Logan starts his journey to find Pie. The further he journeys, Logan begins to uncover more secrets. On his way to saving his husband, will he also be able to save their marriage?
Charming and fluffy, Til Death Do Us Bard is a bear-hug in a book form.
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Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis
The Grand Budapest Hotel in space, Floating Hotel is a hopeful story of misfits, rebels and found family.
Welcome to the Grand Abeona Hotel: home of the finest food, the sweetest service, and the very best views the galaxy has to offer. Year round it moves from planet to planet, system to system, pampering guests across the furthest reaches of the milky way. The last word in sub-orbital luxury – and a magnet for intrigue.
At the centre of these mysteries stands Carl, one time stowaway, longtime manager, devoted caretaker to the hotel. It’s the love of his life and the only place he’s ever called home. But as forces beyond Carl’s comprehension converge on the Abeona, he has to face one final question: when is it time to let go?
Perfect for fans of Becky Chambers, Floating Hotel is a cosy and charming sci-fi read to escape with.
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The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
Looking for a heartwarming magical romance about found family, love, witches, otherness and belonging, look no further than The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.
Mika Moon is a lonely witch who tries to keep her head down and hide her powers. When she is invited to teach three young witches in the Nowhere House, Mika starts to imagine a different life. She quickly falls for the Nowhere House’s quirky characters – and finds herself falling for the testy but hunky librarian. For once, she feels like she really belongs, but with a mysterious threat looming, Mika must protect the family she has made, or risk losing them forever.
A charming, warm and uplifting novel, perfect for curling up and escaping the real world.
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The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers
Filled with magic, stardust, and a shockingly dark heart, this is one you don’t want to miss.
For centuries, Everlys have seen their brightest and best disappear, taken as punishment for a crime no one remembers, for a purpose no one understands. Their tormentor is a woman named Penelope, who never ages, never grows sick – and never forgives a debt.
When Violet Everly discovers that her family owes a blood debt to an immortal, she must venture into a hidden world of magic, gods and monsters to break the curse – no matter the cost.
A gorgeously gothic read to curl up with on a stormy night.
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Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
A magical, immersive and escapist YA fantasy, set in the world of Caraval, Once Upon a Broken Heart is a story of love, curses, and the lengths that people will go to for happily ever after.
For as long as she can remember, Evangeline Fox has believed in happily ever after. Until she learns that the love of her life is about to marry another, and her dreams are shattered.
Desperate to stop the wedding, and heal her wounded heart, Evangeline strikes a deal with the charismatic, but wicked, Prince of Hearts. In exchange for his help, he asks for three kisses bt after Evangeline's first promised kiss, she learns that bargaining with an immortal is a dangerous game - and that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she pledged.
The first book in the Once Upon a Broken Heart series, this book is the perfect when you need to escape the humdrum of daily life.
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The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
A hopeful, charming and cosy novel to escape into, The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet is fantastic sci-fi Space Opera.
When Rosemary Harper joins the crew of the Wayfarer, she was looking for a quiet spot to call home, to hide from her troubled past. The mishmash of species and personalities, from Sissix, the friendly reptillian pilot, to Kizzy and Jenks, the constantly sparring engineers, life is chaotic but more or less peaceful.
That is until the crew are offered the job of a lifetime. They'll earn enough money to live comfortably for years... if they survive the trip through war-torn interstellar space. But Rosemary isn't the only person on board with secrets to hide, and the crew will soon discover that space may be vast, but spaceships are very small indeed.
This beloved novel, first in the Wayfarers series will restore your faith in humanity.
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What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez
Like the sound of 19th century Egypt, a murder mystery, and an infuriating but handsome guy who thwarts our main character’s every move? Try What the River Knows.
Inez Olivera receives the news that her parents have passed away suddenly, last seen in Cairo. Inez is convinced that all is not what it seems and sets sail for Cairo, bringing along an ancient ring gifted to her for protection by her father. When she arrives in Egypt, the ring erupts into magic and she uncovers a treacherous plot involving her parents, her new guardian, and her new guardian’s annoying but handsome assistant…
Fans of Egyptology and slow-burn rivals-to-lovers will love What the River Knows.
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Spectacular by Stephanie Garber
Welcome, welcome back to the world of Caraval, in this cosy wintery tale, where even holidays are not as they seem.
It's Great Holiday Eve Eve. Scarlett Dragna is planning a spectacular Holiday celebration for the city. Donatella is searching for the perfect gift. Julian is looking ridiculously handsome in green. And Legend ...
Well, sadly Legend is not a fan of the Great Holiday. Tella is hoping her perfect gift will change his mind. Unfortunately, she hasn't found this perfect gift just yet. But it is Great Holiday Eve Eve ... surely there's some holiday magic swirling around.
Complete with gorgeous illustrations by Rosie Fowinkle, this is the perfect edition for collectors, readers, dreamers, and lovers of holiday magic.
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Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
A beautiful and immersive YA fantasy retelling of the Brothers Grimm, The Six Swans fairytale.
Princess Shiori’anma has magic, but magic is forbidden in Kiata. When she accidentally loses control and ruins her wedding, she is secretly glad she doesn’t have to go through with it. Her stepmother Raikama – also magical – banishes Shiori and curses her: Shiori’s beloved brothers have been turned into cranes, and if Shiori ever speaks again, her brothers will die. As Shiori tries to undo the spell that traps her and her brothers, she uncovers a dark plot to seize the throne of Kiata. To defeat the evil in the land, she must trust the boy she didn’t want to marry and embrace the strength of her magic.
Set in an East-Asian inspired world, Six Crimson Cranes is a twisty tale of magic and romance.
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Fated Winds and Promising Seas by Rose Black
Fated Winds and Promising Sea is a tender-hearted tale of forging fates, fantastic creatures, and found family.
Lucky is in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. In a strange occurrence he is freed from his prison and cast out to the ocean where he is rescued by magical ship The Dreamer. Aboard the ship is Gabriel, whom Lucky remembers, and starts to think there is more than fate drawing them together. They must traverse the ocean in a great adventure for Lucky’s quest to be proven innocent and finally gain his freedom.
This heartfelt queer romance is delightful – but watch out for the Leviathan!
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The House of Frost and Feathers by Lauren Wiesebron
Publishing in January, The House of Frost and Feathers is an utterly enchanting standalone fantasy, reimagining the legend of Baba Yaga.
Marisha's time is running out. She's already lost her family to the sleeping plague, and she fears she'll be next. Penniless and desperate for protection, Marisha is forced to accept a job as apprentice to the notorious koldunya, Baba Zima. Thrust into looking for a cure to the plague, the search grows increasingly dangerous and seemingly impossible. Uncovering connections between her own family history, the plague and her dreams, if Marisha can find the cure, she will finally be free.
With achingly beautiful writing, doors to other worlds, powerful folkloric magic, enchanted masked balls and magical bonfire gatherings, The House of Frost and Feathers is the perfect book to cosy up with.