cozy fantasy

A Pair of Cozy Fantasy Novels

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Bread and Burglary by Shanna Swendson (Tales of Rydding Village, Book 2)

This is a lovely cozy fantasy novel set in a half-abandoned village. Baker Lucina loves her work and the small village of Rydding, but becomes anxious when the the new smith’s apprentice speaks to her in Tufanan, her native language. Also, Nico was a duke’s guard, and a past relationship with a guard led to Lucina’s fleeing Tufana after an uprising. Wyn makes her tea to help prevent nightmares.

Lucina is hoping to save enough money to send for her Nonna, who raised her and taught her to bake. Some recent thefts in the village have people suspecting Nico, the newest resident. Lucina and the smiths are the only ones not to have been targeted. Does the bread and cream Lucina leaves on her back doorstep every evening help protect her from theft? Her Nonna did the same back in Tufana, as thanks for the magic that makes the bread rise. In this sequel to Tea and Empathy, it’s nice to see the village growing slowly, and for a couple of romance to begin. I look forward to the next Rydding Village tale.

The Baker and the Bard by Fern Haught

This is a graphic novel with colorful and charming illustrations. Juniper works at Mira’s bakery. Hadley plays the flute, makes deliveries for the bakery, has a pink pet snake, and longs for adventure. Neither teen look quite human.

A large rush order for tarts made with glowing mushrooms come in to the bakery. Mira asks Juniper and Hadley to travel to the woods to gether the fungi. Of course, their quest does not go smoothly, but they make friends along the way. This includes a fey named Thistle, who has giant caterpillar friends. This is a sweet and cozy queer fantasy.

Brenda

The Spellshop

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The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

If cozy fantasy is your jam, you’re sure to enjoy this book. Lots of jam is made and consumed in this novel, mostly raspberry jam. Librarian Kiela and her assistant Caz flee Alyssium during a rebellion when fire reaches the library. They take five crates of spellbooks down the lift to a sailboat and head for the islands.

Caz is an enchanted spider plant with great penmanship. Kiela sails to a remote island where she was born, and finds that her parents’ clifftop cottage is still vacant. Introverted Kiela soon meets baker Bryn and her friendly neighbor Larran, who tends the merhorses who help the local fishermen. There are also mermaids, winged cats, a harpist with four arms, and a cactus. Kiela has blue skin, blue hair, and magenta freckles. This is lovely cottagecore, but with lots of drama, including some suspicious islanders, dangerous storms, an imperial inspector, and the uncertainty of trying new spells. Kiela and Caz would love to stay in her cottage, now with multi-colored custom shelves for the jam and spellbooks thanks to Larran, but can they? This is a compelling and entertaining read. Readalikes include Shanna Swendson’s Tea and Empathy or Bread and Burglary in her Tales of Rydding Village series.

Brenda

Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch

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Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch by Julie Abe

I really enjoyed this cozy fantasy marketed for ages 8-12. Eva (short for Evalithimus) Evergreen, 12, is an apprentice witch, taught by her mother, a grand-master. Eva doesn’t have much magic; casting a couple of spells makes her sleepy. She has one month to help a town, have the town mayor approve her work, and fly back to the city on her broom.

On the train to the coast, Eva acquires a magical pet flamefox named Ember. Mischievous Ember chews on Eva’s broom, causing Eva lots of stress, but this scene is funny for the reader who’s seen the book jacket where Eva is flying on the broom. Eva’s Semi-Magical Repair booth in Auteri shows her skill at combining a little magic with creative and practical skill to solve small problems and delight the young children at a nearby orphanage. Eva’s dad, who’s non-magical, often sends care packages with Japanese sweets, which Ember also enjoys.

Late in the month, a terrible storm approaches Auteri from the sea. Eva’s mom isn’t allowed to come and help until the month is up. Can Eva and her newly repaired broom save the town with the help of a few new friends? This is an absolutely charming cozy fantasy. Happily, there is a sequel, Eva Evergreen and the Cursed Witch. Readalikes include Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono (and I just learned there’s an animated film adaptation by Hayao Miyazaki), and The Tea Dragon Society by Kay O’Neil. An older children’s fantasy novel I’ve also enjoyed is The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart.

Brenda