Jin Rou wanted power, glory, and physical dominance. Too bad he died. Inhabiting his body now? A simple farmer who wants a peaceful life. One of the most popular books in the genre, it combines the daily peace of puttering around the farm with the constant conflict of a former warrior.

Academic wunderkind Emily Wilde has almost completed her encyclopedia on Dryadology. But her Scandinavian assignment may be more dangerous than she realized. This book made it to my list of 2023 favorites, and the series installments are auto-buys for me! They writing has a highbrow, academic edge with lots of fun words, without feeling intimidating or overdone.

He was a boy cursed to protect the wielder of an ancient sword, she was a girl who inherited an estate under constant peril from thieving relatives, can I make it any more obvious? While it revolves around the romance, this book has tons of adventure on the side for the fantasy lover! Make sure you investigate each Kingfisher book before you read it. I love ALL her works, but she also writes YA and horror, which some of you may not be into!

The Stariel estate does not follow typical probate laws. Its lord does not come from a written will – but by choice from the estate itself. Whoever inherits now that the lord is dead will have more than jealous relatives on their hands, now that the high fae have come back. A lovely twist on the typically fairy romantasy, this book has “improbably quantities of attractive people” and lots of zippy intrigue.

Living an itinerant life as a traveling fortune teller means Tao is often by herself. She likes it that way, as she wants as little attention as possible. But when a burly warrior needs help finding his daughter, Tao finds her circle expanding in a beautiful way. With a slightly more intense plot than your typical cozy, the found family aspect (and the focus on tea) has made Small Fortunes a big favorite among cozy fantasy readers.

Evie Sage will do whatever she has to in order to support her family. Who cares if that means tolerating severed limbs as decor? As the assistant to the (admittedly handsome) evil villain in Rennedawn, she feels her allegiances shift. Like a more soundly executed version of Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots, it’s a tongue-in-cheek series that asks, “who’s actually the bad guy?”

With an evil stepsister gossiping about her and her estate at the point of ruin, Lady Theodosia’s best choice seems to be a wedding to an elderly man. In desperation, she decides to try her hand and shaping her own future with the help of a fairy godmother. Too bad this godmother has very little interest in help. The stakes are higher, the characters more layered, and the sense of humor drops off of every page in this sassy Cinderella retelling.

Tress has lived a mostly quiet life on a rocky island surrounded by a sea of bright green spores. But when her childhood sweetheart is kidnapped by an evil witch, Tress must gather all her courage (and her beloved cup collection) to save him. A magic rat, a pirate ship, and seven colored seas add swashbuckling fun to this adventure. Sanderson has mastered creative and unique world-building, but the full force of his literary creativity shines in this book.

Serin’s life is steeped in misery. Things only got worse when her sister left. Lonely, poor, and despondent, Serin writes a desperate letter to the Rainfall Market, hoping for a chance at a better life. Little does she know that her golden ticket grants her exclusive access – and a target on her back. With lots of clever callbacks, and a rich, imaginative world, I really enjoyed the experience of making my way through the market via Serin.

Ambrose and Eli are locked in a vicious turf battle over their potions shops. Things nearly come to blows, until the mayor asks them to brew a potion – one they can only pull off if they work together. A begrudging truce turns into something more, as they realize how much they have in common. A fun enemies-to-lovers tale in a charming magical village, this book bubbles over with lighthearted love.

I could’ve put this with Food & Beverage – since it’s about a warrior orc opening a coffee shop – but the romance has a lovely place at the center of the book, so I kept it here. Legends is the book that started it all. Widely considered the beginning of the cozy fantasy genre as we know it, this book follows a former warrior orc, Viv, as she navigates opening her very own shop, and falling in love with a succubus.

Leo keeps to himself, focusing primarily on small spells, too afraid of the possible risks of more powerful magic. When a series of mishaps bind him to the insufferably talented Sebastian, the pair must find a way to break the curse stymying them both. Only, as they enter the treacherous Unquiet Wood, they realize they may need each other more than they thought. Opposites attract in this adventurous queer romance.

Aila has scrimped and sacrificed her entire life to get her dream job: as a phoenix conservationist in a magical zoo. But her task is larger than she realizes, as problems and intrigue plague the zoo that threaten her phoenix programs. In order to save her beloved birds, she’ll have to team up with her academic rival, the insufferably brilliant Luciana. A fun twist that manages to cram in lots of magical animal lore (my favorite), this book provides a wonderful backdrop for a sizzling romance.

Rhoren Bloodbane was one of the most celebrated warriors in the north. Fierce and powerful, feared by many. But now that he’s earned his retirement, he wants to leave it all behind in a more temperate climate. Armed with his father’s cocktail recipes, he moves to a seaside town and opens a tavern in an undesirable neighborhood, ready to spend his days slinging booze. A fun twist on the now-classic premise, these books will have any cocktail lover drooling.

Tobias is content with his solitary life in the woods among the plants, animals, and magical guardians. But when the local estate passes into the hands of a more inquisitive owner, Henry, Tobias is forced to unearth parts of his past he tried to bury. Full of a deliciously loamy, earthy atmosphere, this romance has a lonely edge that blossoms into something hopeful.

As a royal guard and an influential mage, Reyna and Kianthe have the kind of access to the kind of power most people only dream about. Too bad their dream is to open a tea shop. The pair finally go for their goals in the quiet village of Tawney. Despite their pastoral new setting, mischief (and a pissed-off queen) aren’t far behind. Full of magic and just enough political intrigue to keep the reader on their toes, make sure to take this one with a huge mug of tea.

When a violent government coup comes for her beloved library, Kiela is forced to flee with only her talking spider plant named Caz, and a dozen or so crates of purloined spellbooks. Desperate and literally at sea, Kiela makes her way to the only safe place she can think of – the beautiful island where she grew up. You’ll love the depictions of the island, and the people who inhabit it, with all your heart.

Evelyn Rosewood needs to lay low. As a witch in the king’s service, she technically can’t refuse any of his requests. Only, he’s asked her for a potion to kill a political rival; something Evelyn won’t do. Another witch saves her life by sending her to a remote seaside village under the pretense of solving the mystery of their failing crops. But can she keep her promise (and her neck)? With a lovely cast and a super sweet protagonist, I’m excited to read the next installments in the series!

New arrival to the imperial court, Finlay Ashowan is content to cook in relative anonymity. No one knows the extent of his powers, and he likes it that way. Unfortunately, Fin can’t keep his powers to himself for long. Soon, his meddling gets him noticed (by more than just the king & queen). In the midst of all this, Fin’s past begins to catch up with him. Male witches are rare in fantasy, but that fact does nothing to detract from this story’s comforting presence.

Since her sister’s death two years ago, Saika hasn’t had access to her magic. Now, she’s ready to honor her sister’s wishes and plant her remains in the Ash Gardens, under the care of a gentle beast named Frank. As she spends more time in the house, trying to reclaim her magic, she realizes how hope can be found in the darkest times. This gentle tale of grief and found family is as profound as it is cozy.

Mika Moon’s life has been guided by three very simple truths: she is a witch, all witches are orphans, and she must only convene with other witches once every three months. One day, she gets a mysterious DM from an elderly man named Ian, one that goes against everything she knows…but which she somehow feels may change her life for the better. This sweet romance has amazing chemistry – and a sincerely heartwarming plot.

Sasha Pierce can’t wait to start her new teaching job in the charming village of Old Middleton. When she has her first dream in 25 years, Sasha realizes her subconscious has stumbled onto the link between her realm and a magical one. Before she can say “abracadabra” Sasha stumbles into a betrothal in Between – and a pickle that threatens both worlds. Can you call it an urban fantasy if it takes place in a village? If so, this book is perfect.

Belle is too busy struggling with her toxic boss while keeping her beloved bookshop afloat to thing much about her magic powers. But when she receives a mysterious summons from her local coven on her 30th birthday, Belle realizes she’s been seriously neglecting her magic. Will she be able to salvage her powers AND Lunar books? Those looking for a slice-of-life book with a magical edge should look no farther than this!

As the fourth princess, everyone expects Miyara to serve the crown as a loyal sister. Miyara has other plans. She leaves in the night to escape her duties, and goes the one place no one will look for her – a tea shop in a magically-devastated town. Inherently comforting and cozy, this tea-centric story also comes with a big dollop of found family.

Once he adjusted to the idea of hell, turns out Arthur likes it. Reincarnated in a world full of demons, Arthur realizes his life in a surface-level terrifying world actually contains dozens of people ready to form a community with him. This is one of the most highly recommended cozy fantasy books by fans – for good reason! It’s a kind-hearted (and genuinely funny) tale.

This delightful book follows a tea monk who’s absconded to the woods to reflect on the direction of their life. In this futuristic society, no one has seen a robot since they peacefully retreated to the woods 200 years ago…until Sibling Dex stumbles on one while trying to find an abandoned temple. The robot has one question: “what do you need?” The probe of this question is both gentle and powerful. I recommend this to anyone who feels adrift.

What Arleta lacks in magic she makes up in passion. As a local baker, she revels in perfecting her craft. When a friend enters Arleta’s creations in a prestigious baking competition, she finds herself an immediate underdog, without the prestige of wizardry to aid her. This charming underdog story will win you over (and make you hungry).

If you’re kind to the right cat, you might be blessed with an invitation to a cat-run cafe in Kyoto. Welcome to the full moon coffee shop, where the hours and offerings are as capricious as the feline proprietors, but where you just might find your fortune. If you liked Before the Coffee Gets Cold but don’t care to cry your eyes out today, try this book!

Intrepid fox reporter Vera Vixen jumps on the case when the town curmudgeon and hermit is discovered dead. Thanks to a lethargic police chief and a mind that won’t rest, Vera takes it upon herself to unravel who would want to kill the toad – and why. Each book in this anthropomorphic series contains a vast multitude of charm, replete with many scenes in cozy cafes and woodland glades.

As the proprietor of the eponymous Weary Dragon Inn, Bev has built a lovely life for herself, and a reputation for delicious rosemary bread. However, when mysterious sinkholes appear all over Pigsend, Bev makes it her business to find the culprit, or lose her business. The warm inn invites readers in with its close coziness, and you can relax knowing the series has low stakes but high warmth.

After ten years of training as a bard, Jack has been summoned back to his homeland. Despite their differences, his childhood nemesis (and the clan’s next leader) believes only Jack can find and save the girls who have gone missing. More lush than relaxing, and lacking some slice of life details, this rich fantasy nonetheless submerges the reader in beauty.

Sherry Pinkwhistle plods along in her small town life, finding bodies and solving murders in between attending to her duties at the library. But when her boyfriend ends up the next corpse, Sherry starts to unravel the odd inconsistencies that seem to plague her life. The title has very little to do with the plot, but if you read a lot of cozy mysteries, you’ll enjoy the way this book pokes gentle fun at the inconsistencies in the genre.

On the outside, Toot Hansell Women’s Institute appears banal. Until it falls under the suspicion of DI Adams in the wake of his criminal investigation. Though Alice Martin knows her women aren’t murderers, she has much more at stake than a nosy detective. Specifically, a large, dragon-shaped stake… With truly unique characters and a bit of slapstick silliness, this cozy mystery breathes fresh life into the classic genre.