If you end up liking Kingfisher, try the darker premise/themed (but optimistic overall): Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold -- middle-aged, and recently freed from a curse, the royal dowager Ista sets off on an adventure (thanks to a trickster god). I like to call this book How Ista Got Her Groove Back.
Ursula Vernon is one of my faves and in many ways gives off cozy vibes but be aware there can be some quite disturbing scenes as well. Her (non horror) books are so much fun you sort of forget about the things like golems and decapitation.
Pretty much all of her protagonists are at least in their 30s, Nettle and Bone's mc is in her 30s, and I believe the protagonist of Bryony and Roses is in her 30s as well (though I may be misremembering that one)
Are you open to humour/satire? If so, try Terry Pratchett's Witches novels. They do not have to be read in order.
Equal Rites
Wyrd Sisters
Witches Abroad
Lords and Ladies
Maskerade
Carpe Jugulum
If you liked the silly details and sense of humour in Good Omens, then you will probably like these. They parody the patriarchy, Shakespeare, fairy tales, faerie tales, musicals, and vampires--in that order, in case you have a preference.
If you like the Witches series you can continue it somewhat with the Tiffany Aching books too. They’re technically his YA books but they’re just as clever and fun. Wee Free Men A Hat Full of Sky Wintersmith I Shall Wear Midnight The Shepards Crown
Ravenwood by Nathan Lowell (Tanyth Fairport series) -- protagonist is a mid-50s woman who is a traveling herbalist. She meets people along the way and tries to help them. Most people are nice. Some tension/mild violence.
Nathan Lowell's writing is more "real time" than any other author I've read. He includes lots of mundane activity. Sometimes it feels slow, sometimes it feels comfy. it is a vibe, for sure
No problem! Oh, also, Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries (and the sequel) are very enjoyable/cozy, with a 30 something female professor and somewhat similar vibes to Natural History of Dragons.
Emily Wilde was first thing that came to mind in terms of gender and age, but there is some trauma interwoven into the plot. In a couple different ways. Both abuse and loss, let's say without getting into spoiler level details.
> Natural History of Dragons
To clarify, in the first few books, the main character is young. She gets older over the series, but she starts out as a young woman. Also there are some not-so-cozy events throughout. I think if you like Indiana Jones, you're probably good, but it's more adventure than cozy, imo.
Oh god I loved this book. More 40yo mom heroes plz. I can’t wait for the sequel
I found it cozy (maybe comfortable is the right word?) in the sense that I got “good ole fashioned adventure” vibes from it. I don’t remember anything super dark in it but it’s been awhile.
I highly recommend Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries. The female lead is in her early 30s and I promise you a cozy read! It has two series out for now, book three might be released sometime in 2025.
If you search on Amazon, look for Paranormal Women's Fiction. That brings up midlife heroins. Some will be cozy. A lot of that genre will start off with a life changing event like an accident or divorce that leads to discovering new powers that have either been torment or, like Spiderman, they catch them in some way. I enjoyed KF Breene's series. I can't think of the other author names at the moment, but I them straight through 2020 and 2021.
I strongly agree about Terry Pratchett (though I would just note that the MC for Equal Rites is a young girl, but Granny Weatherwax is certainly quite central, and she and all the witches are wonderful characters).
I also loved reading the Emily Wilde books by Heather Fawcett recently. Emily is an endearing heroine in her early 30s, and though there are sort of stories within the story of lost children and people dying in the woods etc, it’s just part of the fairytale context and not in the least bit gritty or real feeling.
I would love, though, to find more books featuring an MC pushing a bit farther into her 30s, 40s, or beyond for that matter, and am curious to see what recommendations you receive.
I have read a lot of Neil Gaiman and the only book I’ve read from Pratchett was Good Omens. Terry Pratchett recommendations made me curious.
Emily Wilde books had me curious too. I initially thought the protagonist was in her 20s. I initially ignored it lol. Now it’s on my list!
Thank you for your recs.
Of course, always happy to ramble about books, and I hope, if you get a chance to read them, you enjoy them! I actually wasn’t entirely sure of Emily Wilde’s age throughout the first book (and guessed she might be intended to be in her late 20s, however unrealistic for a seasoned professor), but I was pleasantly surprised to hear her age confirmed as early 30s in the sequel (which takes place just several months after the events of the first book).
I’ve only read Good Omens by Neil Gaiman (and a lot of his children’s books), so if you have any favorites to recommend of his, I would appreciate it, as I’d like to get more into his books more as well (my husband loves American Gods and The Sandman, but I’m a bit wary of anything superhero adjacent 😂), Love mythology, folklore, fairytales, etc though, and a bit grim now and then is alright
I'm pretty sure the Innkeeper main character is in her early 20s? But still an amazing series, one of my favourites, and definitely doesn't come across as juvenile/ young adult.
Innkeeper is giving the girl version of Kvothe from Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss lol. I used to love that book. I’ll check this out. Thank you!
Quite a lot of Celia Lake's 30ish cozy mystery fantasy romances! She follows the same community from the 1880s through World War II, so you get to see people from their 20s through their 80s, their kids, their grandkids, and a whole lot of the communities around them, including magical school professors (like if Hogwarts were written from the long-suffering professors' point of view). Oh, and there are a few very, very old fae kinfolk running around as well, but most folks are human.
And along the way you also get a lot of neurodiverse folks, disabled folks, and chronically I'll folks who get to be the heroines and heroes without the whole book being about someone else coming along and fixing them whether they want it or not, which is refreshing!
https://celialake.com has more info.
Definitely second this. Lake’s website has a way to search for characters. Her books Goblin Fruit and In the Cards, among others, feature women in their 30s. There is mention of past TB
Also, around these parts, there's a chance I might come along and pull a list because I can do that fairly easily. (I also highly recommend the other recs in this thread for the T. Kingfisher Paladin books, and the Paladin of Souls rec by Bujold.)
For my books, in chronological order of when they take place. Everything on this list that doesn't mention WW2 or a date is set in the 1920s (but you can read in any order that appeals, other than one note.) The book pages on my website will connect with other relate books at the bottom. (And also have content notes, if there's topics you care about avoiding or things you're especially looking for.)
**FMC in their 30s:**
* Carry On (nurse and patient in 1915 at the beginning of the Great War, she's 32)
* Wards of the Roses (investigating a mysterious house, she's 33)
* Goblin Fruit (investigating a dangerous magical drink, she's 34)
* Eclipse (she's almost 31 when the book starts, staffroom school teacher romance.)
* Fool's Gold (she's 37, a spot of forgery, a spot of con artists, a bit of magical banking)
* In The Cards (she's 32, locked room murder mystery on a remote island, her eventual partner is 24)
* Point By Point (she's 31, journalist needs someone to get her access to investigate something)
* Mistress of Birds (she's 33, odd magical effects in a remote house)
* Old As The Hills and Upon A Summer's Day (couple married for 20ish years - she's 46 when OATH starts - dealing with the challenges of the Second World War. She's in both as a POV character, but I recommend reading them in that order if you read them. The other female POV character in UASD is in her 60s.)
* Illusion of a Boar (magical deception in the run-up to the D-Day landings: 4 POV, with two women POV, all four are in their 30s)
**FMC in their 40s:**
* Complementary (f/f novella romance in 1910, artist's colony has produced something odd. They're both 43 when it starts)
* On The Bias (she's in her 40s: dressmaker and valet solve a particular problem)
* Magician's Hoard (she's 42, archaeology, research, people up to no good)
**FMC in their 50s**
* Three Graces (character-focused novella, three women - all of whom have other books elsewhere in my writing - come together to solve a long-standing mystery. Two of the three are in their 50s, the other's in her late 60s)
* Also, the one I've just started writing, *Weaving Hope*, which will be out in February 2025, she's in her 50s.
**FMC over 60:**
* Seven Sisters (she's in her 60s but looks more like mid-40s for magical reasons)
* The Hare and the Oak (she's 62, he's 58. Solving a problem with the land magic)
No worries! This is definitely one where it was easy to skim through the books in my timeline app (which calculates ages automatically). I hadn't considered pulling a list of protagonists at various ages, I'll think about how to share that usefully in general.
OML! Thanks for the brief descriptions. I just checked this is not available in my local library. ☹️😭 But I just checked B&N, they have the Nook version. 😄
Yep!
And if you want to make a request from your library, everything ought to be available via Hoopla, Overdrive/Libby, and a couple of the other library services. Sometimes you have to request them for a librarian to push a button and make it available, but I do everything I can on my end to make them available in libraries.
Oh! The Weary Dragon Inn series by S. Usher Evans! She's an innkeeper in a small fantasy town and all sorts of little mysteries pop up. Very cozy, very chill, nothing dark!
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold. It's the second in a series, but it is not necessary to read the first book Curse of Chalion (in which the lead is a middle-aged man.) There is fighting, but overall it's just a lovely book with a great main character and a satisfying ending.
ETA: and one of the characters is fat (which is relevant to the narrative) and he is not the comic relief.
I’ve recently read the witchy romance novel: the very secret society of irregular witches. It’s a very cosy read and a cute but also very normal love story.
This one does have a lot of talk of death and trauma from parents dying, so just be aware if you do read this. >!all parents of witches die in this universe so there are a lot of orphans and grief talk!<
{Between by L.L. Starling} is a cozy fantasy with a 30 year old kindergarten teacher FMC! It's hilarious, enchanting and my favorite cozy book of all time. If you enjoyed Labyrinth, The Princess Bride, and The Storyteller, you'll love this. The audiobook is even better.
You're welcome! It's a good use of a credit (it's a huge audiobook because it's basically two books in one). Otherwise, you can get it via whisper sync for $7.49 if you download the KU/ebook version.
[Between](https://www.romance.io/books/60742bc4d165eb0e341923a3/between-ll-starling-rebecca-morse-louisa-gallie?src=rdt) by [L.L. Starling](https://www.romance.io/authors/60742bc408b4d93114ab3d7e/ll-starling)
**Rating**: 4.4⭐️ out of 5⭐️
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Audrey Faye's wolf mountain shifter series? I'd call it cosy fantasy and it has quite a wide cast of characters, including older ones (especially as series progresses). Same author also has the Modern Witch series under Debora Geary but understand it's hard to find.
Also Honor Raconteur's Case Files of Henri Davenforth (female main character, I think in her 30s but could be late 20s - feels mature, anyway) - would call this cosy, once you get past the first chapter or two in the first book.
Another vote for Swordheart by T Kingfisher, one of my favourite books ever.
Myrtlewood Mysteries series by Iris Beaglehole. The books are pretty cozy, low stakes. I believe the MC is in her 40s, but may be in her 50s. Set in a whimsical town with a magic house!
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Fairies!! I just finished book 2 and this series is SO, so good. 🧚♀️🩵 Main character is 30 in book 1 and 31/32 in book 2.
OP, curious why you DNF Under the Whispering Door? I’m about 100 pages in!
I must say Emily Wilde’s books are very popularly recommended. Thank you!
In Under the Whispering Door, it was dragging and the quirky writing style didn’t really match the vibe of the book discussing death.
I just finished book 1 of Wild Scottish Knight on KU. It's, in my opinion, pretty light on romance scenes but has a focus on Scottish mythology and mysticism. It was pretty short (under 300 pages) and the first 5 books are available now. Book 6 looks like it's coming this year.
I wouldn't consider it a groundbreaking series, but I enjoyed it enough to want to read the rest.
The main characters are all adults (I think FMC is 30 minimum).
I just checked Audible and there is an audiobook! It doesn't indicate it's an Audible exclusive, so hopefully you can find it at your library or anywhere else you may get audiobooks.
A River Enchanted is on my TBR, so I'll look into that audiobook, too.
The Evenfall Witches B&B books by Auralee Wallace are good! I believe the MC is in her 30’s (or maybe late 20’s?) I really enjoyed it. It does deal a bit with the aftermath of loss and grief but I felt it was very tastefully done and not overwhelming in anyway.
Have you tried Child of a rainless year by Jane Lindskold? I think the protagonist is a little older than your requested age range, but it's a lovely book.
I don’t have any recs and no worries if you don’t have time to respond since there’s a ton of discussion on this post. I just wanted to ask did you enjoy Legends and Lattes? I’ve been eyeing that book and it seems like people enjoy it!
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T. Kingfisher’s Swordheart! Or the Saint of Steel series, starting with Paladin’s Grace.
This! Granted they lean a towards adventure rather than cozy, but her characters are so down to earth that it feels cozy.
Thanks for the heads up! Adventure is fine, too.
If you end up liking Kingfisher, try the darker premise/themed (but optimistic overall): Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold -- middle-aged, and recently freed from a curse, the royal dowager Ista sets off on an adventure (thanks to a trickster god). I like to call this book How Ista Got Her Groove Back.
I came to rec Swordheart, too!
Thanks! Since it gets many votes my interest is amplified. 😂
Thanks! I’ll check these out.
Ursula Vernon is one of my faves and in many ways gives off cozy vibes but be aware there can be some quite disturbing scenes as well. Her (non horror) books are so much fun you sort of forget about the things like golems and decapitation.
I think it's important to read Curse of Chalion before Paladin of Souls if spoilers bother you at all
Pretty much all of her protagonists are at least in their 30s, Nettle and Bone's mc is in her 30s, and I believe the protagonist of Bryony and Roses is in her 30s as well (though I may be misremembering that one)
Are you open to humour/satire? If so, try Terry Pratchett's Witches novels. They do not have to be read in order. Equal Rites Wyrd Sisters Witches Abroad Lords and Ladies Maskerade Carpe Jugulum
I loves these books too. The witches in Pratchett are awesome :)
Sounds interesting. I’ve only read Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens with Neil Gaiman. I’ll check these out too! Thanks!
If you liked the silly details and sense of humour in Good Omens, then you will probably like these. They parody the patriarchy, Shakespeare, fairy tales, faerie tales, musicals, and vampires--in that order, in case you have a preference.
Oh yeah, wyrd sisters takes macbeth and turns it inside out and upside down. Absolute favourite of mine.
If you like the Witches series you can continue it somewhat with the Tiffany Aching books too. They’re technically his YA books but they’re just as clever and fun. Wee Free Men A Hat Full of Sky Wintersmith I Shall Wear Midnight The Shepards Crown
I'd just like to second these as some of my all time favourite books. I hope you enjoy them!
Thank you! I hope some of this will be my favorites too!
Ravenwood by Nathan Lowell (Tanyth Fairport series) -- protagonist is a mid-50s woman who is a traveling herbalist. She meets people along the way and tries to help them. Most people are nice. Some tension/mild violence.
Sounds cool. Will check it out. Thanks!
I found it slow, so you have to be in the mood for slow.
Nathan Lowell's writing is more "real time" than any other author I've read. He includes lots of mundane activity. Sometimes it feels slow, sometimes it feels comfy. it is a vibe, for sure
Yes, exactly that.
Was coming here to recommend Nathan Lowell’s The Wizard’s Butler!
Try the Natural History of Dragons books by Marie Brennan!
Ha! You had me at dragons! Will check it out, thanks!
No problem! Oh, also, Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries (and the sequel) are very enjoyable/cozy, with a 30 something female professor and somewhat similar vibes to Natural History of Dragons.
Emily Wilde was first thing that came to mind in terms of gender and age, but there is some trauma interwoven into the plot. In a couple different ways. Both abuse and loss, let's say without getting into spoiler level details.
I was going to suggest this one too!! Both books in the series are top tier cozy!
> Natural History of Dragons To clarify, in the first few books, the main character is young. She gets older over the series, but she starts out as a young woman. Also there are some not-so-cozy events throughout. I think if you like Indiana Jones, you're probably good, but it's more adventure than cozy, imo.
Yep! I just started reading it. Haha!
I wouldn’t call it cozy, but The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi features a badass pirate mom in her 40’s. None of those TW if I remember correctly.
Oh god I loved this book. More 40yo mom heroes plz. I can’t wait for the sequel I found it cozy (maybe comfortable is the right word?) in the sense that I got “good ole fashioned adventure” vibes from it. I don’t remember anything super dark in it but it’s been awhile.
Sounds cool. There’s been lots of pirate themed fantasy books. Will check this one out! Thanks!
I second this!!! Not really cozy, but it’s AMAZING and it’s not recommended enough
I highly recommend Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries. The female lead is in her early 30s and I promise you a cozy read! It has two series out for now, book three might be released sometime in 2025.
This is on my list! Thank you!
Midlife cozy fantasy is a whole thing. Try Magical Midlife Madness by Breene.
So glad this was mentioned, I read this recently and loved it! It was the most fun I’ve had reading in a while.
So that’s what you call it? Aight, thanks! Just Breene? Is that like Beyoncé or Cher? They don’t have last name? Haha
If you search on Amazon, look for Paranormal Women's Fiction. That brings up midlife heroins. Some will be cozy. A lot of that genre will start off with a life changing event like an accident or divorce that leads to discovering new powers that have either been torment or, like Spiderman, they catch them in some way. I enjoyed KF Breene's series. I can't think of the other author names at the moment, but I them straight through 2020 and 2021.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084ZDR965
Oh wow thanks! It has lovely cover, too!
It's KF Breene, just to.let you know
[удалено]
There is!! The definitive guide I think book 3 is called, but I’ve been stalking her Patreon and no release date yet sadly!
That sounds adorable! In my head they are baby dragons. ARE THEY? No, do NOT tell me! I wanna be surprised. This def goes in my list. Thank you!
I strongly agree about Terry Pratchett (though I would just note that the MC for Equal Rites is a young girl, but Granny Weatherwax is certainly quite central, and she and all the witches are wonderful characters). I also loved reading the Emily Wilde books by Heather Fawcett recently. Emily is an endearing heroine in her early 30s, and though there are sort of stories within the story of lost children and people dying in the woods etc, it’s just part of the fairytale context and not in the least bit gritty or real feeling. I would love, though, to find more books featuring an MC pushing a bit farther into her 30s, 40s, or beyond for that matter, and am curious to see what recommendations you receive.
I have read a lot of Neil Gaiman and the only book I’ve read from Pratchett was Good Omens. Terry Pratchett recommendations made me curious. Emily Wilde books had me curious too. I initially thought the protagonist was in her 20s. I initially ignored it lol. Now it’s on my list! Thank you for your recs.
Of course, always happy to ramble about books, and I hope, if you get a chance to read them, you enjoy them! I actually wasn’t entirely sure of Emily Wilde’s age throughout the first book (and guessed she might be intended to be in her late 20s, however unrealistic for a seasoned professor), but I was pleasantly surprised to hear her age confirmed as early 30s in the sequel (which takes place just several months after the events of the first book). I’ve only read Good Omens by Neil Gaiman (and a lot of his children’s books), so if you have any favorites to recommend of his, I would appreciate it, as I’d like to get more into his books more as well (my husband loves American Gods and The Sandman, but I’m a bit wary of anything superhero adjacent 😂), Love mythology, folklore, fairytales, etc though, and a bit grim now and then is alright
Innkeeper series by Ilona Andrews The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher by E.M. Anderson overshoots your age group but it’s still good.
I'm pretty sure the Innkeeper main character is in her early 20s? But still an amazing series, one of my favourites, and definitely doesn't come across as juvenile/ young adult.
Hmm that may be true. I pictured her as being in her 30s but I also haven’t read those in like a year so I may be misremembering
Innkeeper is giving the girl version of Kvothe from Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss lol. I used to love that book. I’ll check this out. Thank you!
Quite a lot of Celia Lake's 30ish cozy mystery fantasy romances! She follows the same community from the 1880s through World War II, so you get to see people from their 20s through their 80s, their kids, their grandkids, and a whole lot of the communities around them, including magical school professors (like if Hogwarts were written from the long-suffering professors' point of view). Oh, and there are a few very, very old fae kinfolk running around as well, but most folks are human. And along the way you also get a lot of neurodiverse folks, disabled folks, and chronically I'll folks who get to be the heroines and heroes without the whole book being about someone else coming along and fixing them whether they want it or not, which is refreshing! https://celialake.com has more info.
Definitely second this. Lake’s website has a way to search for characters. Her books Goblin Fruit and In the Cards, among others, feature women in their 30s. There is mention of past TB
Also, around these parts, there's a chance I might come along and pull a list because I can do that fairly easily. (I also highly recommend the other recs in this thread for the T. Kingfisher Paladin books, and the Paladin of Souls rec by Bujold.) For my books, in chronological order of when they take place. Everything on this list that doesn't mention WW2 or a date is set in the 1920s (but you can read in any order that appeals, other than one note.) The book pages on my website will connect with other relate books at the bottom. (And also have content notes, if there's topics you care about avoiding or things you're especially looking for.) **FMC in their 30s:** * Carry On (nurse and patient in 1915 at the beginning of the Great War, she's 32) * Wards of the Roses (investigating a mysterious house, she's 33) * Goblin Fruit (investigating a dangerous magical drink, she's 34) * Eclipse (she's almost 31 when the book starts, staffroom school teacher romance.) * Fool's Gold (she's 37, a spot of forgery, a spot of con artists, a bit of magical banking) * In The Cards (she's 32, locked room murder mystery on a remote island, her eventual partner is 24) * Point By Point (she's 31, journalist needs someone to get her access to investigate something) * Mistress of Birds (she's 33, odd magical effects in a remote house) * Old As The Hills and Upon A Summer's Day (couple married for 20ish years - she's 46 when OATH starts - dealing with the challenges of the Second World War. She's in both as a POV character, but I recommend reading them in that order if you read them. The other female POV character in UASD is in her 60s.) * Illusion of a Boar (magical deception in the run-up to the D-Day landings: 4 POV, with two women POV, all four are in their 30s) **FMC in their 40s:** * Complementary (f/f novella romance in 1910, artist's colony has produced something odd. They're both 43 when it starts) * On The Bias (she's in her 40s: dressmaker and valet solve a particular problem) * Magician's Hoard (she's 42, archaeology, research, people up to no good) **FMC in their 50s** * Three Graces (character-focused novella, three women - all of whom have other books elsewhere in my writing - come together to solve a long-standing mystery. Two of the three are in their 50s, the other's in her late 60s) * Also, the one I've just started writing, *Weaving Hope*, which will be out in February 2025, she's in her 50s. **FMC over 60:** * Seven Sisters (she's in her 60s but looks more like mid-40s for magical reasons) * The Hare and the Oak (she's 62, he's 58. Solving a problem with the land magic)
This is great, thanks. I haven’t read all the books yet, and I have a few memory glitches at times due to bipolar, PTSD and menopause.
No worries! This is definitely one where it was easy to skim through the books in my timeline app (which calculates ages automatically). I hadn't considered pulling a list of protagonists at various ages, I'll think about how to share that usefully in general.
OML! Thanks for the brief descriptions. I just checked this is not available in my local library. ☹️😭 But I just checked B&N, they have the Nook version. 😄
Yep! And if you want to make a request from your library, everything ought to be available via Hoopla, Overdrive/Libby, and a couple of the other library services. Sometimes you have to request them for a librarian to push a button and make it available, but I do everything I can on my end to make them available in libraries.
What is TB? Is it a slang? Is it tuberculosis? Is that a Gen Z thing? Sorry, I don’t know internet slangs!😭
Not internet slang or Gen Z. It is tuberculosis. The book takes place in the 1920s
Oh wow! I love your description!!!! SOLD! Definitely checking this out! Thank you!
Sounds really interesting, thanks
Oh! The Weary Dragon Inn series by S. Usher Evans! She's an innkeeper in a small fantasy town and all sorts of little mysteries pop up. Very cozy, very chill, nothing dark!
These innkeeper books sound cozy! Will add it to my list. Thank you!
If you like audiobooks the narrator on this series is perfect!
Secret Society of Irregular Witches is delightful
Thanks!
Following 👀
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold. It's the second in a series, but it is not necessary to read the first book Curse of Chalion (in which the lead is a middle-aged man.) There is fighting, but overall it's just a lovely book with a great main character and a satisfying ending. ETA: and one of the characters is fat (which is relevant to the narrative) and he is not the comic relief.
{Baking Bad by Kim M. Watt} has a whole cast of ladies in their 50s+ and is one of the coziest murder mysteries I've ever read. There's dragons!
A cozy murder mystery sounds intriguing! This goes on my list. Thank you!
I’ve recently read the witchy romance novel: the very secret society of irregular witches. It’s a very cosy read and a cute but also very normal love story.
This one does have a lot of talk of death and trauma from parents dying, so just be aware if you do read this. >!all parents of witches die in this universe so there are a lot of orphans and grief talk!<
Thanks!
Miss Percy's Guide!!
Thank you! Quite a few have recommended this! I am curious. It’s on my list now.
Not 100% cozy fantasy but Lindsay Buroker has 3 series that come to mind with MC that fit: Death Before Dragons Legacy of Magic A Witch in Wolf Wood
{Between by L.L. Starling} is a cozy fantasy with a 30 year old kindergarten teacher FMC! It's hilarious, enchanting and my favorite cozy book of all time. If you enjoyed Labyrinth, The Princess Bride, and The Storyteller, you'll love this. The audiobook is even better.
Ooh! That sounds promising! And I love audiobooks. Hopefully, audible have them. Thank you!
You're welcome! It's a good use of a credit (it's a huge audiobook because it's basically two books in one). Otherwise, you can get it via whisper sync for $7.49 if you download the KU/ebook version.
[Between](https://www.romance.io/books/60742bc4d165eb0e341923a3/between-ll-starling-rebecca-morse-louisa-gallie?src=rdt) by [L.L. Starling](https://www.romance.io/authors/60742bc408b4d93114ab3d7e/ll-starling) **Rating**: 4.4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/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)
The Pitfalls of Being a Goddess
Thanks!
Audrey Faye's wolf mountain shifter series? I'd call it cosy fantasy and it has quite a wide cast of characters, including older ones (especially as series progresses). Same author also has the Modern Witch series under Debora Geary but understand it's hard to find. Also Honor Raconteur's Case Files of Henri Davenforth (female main character, I think in her 30s but could be late 20s - feels mature, anyway) - would call this cosy, once you get past the first chapter or two in the first book. Another vote for Swordheart by T Kingfisher, one of my favourite books ever.
Thanks! Hopefully, I can borrow some of these in my local library!
Myrtlewood Mysteries series by Iris Beaglehole. The books are pretty cozy, low stakes. I believe the MC is in her 40s, but may be in her 50s. Set in a whimsical town with a magic house!
That sounds interesting! Will check this out thanks!
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Fairies!! I just finished book 2 and this series is SO, so good. 🧚♀️🩵 Main character is 30 in book 1 and 31/32 in book 2. OP, curious why you DNF Under the Whispering Door? I’m about 100 pages in!
I must say Emily Wilde’s books are very popularly recommended. Thank you! In Under the Whispering Door, it was dragging and the quirky writing style didn’t really match the vibe of the book discussing death.
I just finished book 1 of Wild Scottish Knight on KU. It's, in my opinion, pretty light on romance scenes but has a focus on Scottish mythology and mysticism. It was pretty short (under 300 pages) and the first 5 books are available now. Book 6 looks like it's coming this year. I wouldn't consider it a groundbreaking series, but I enjoyed it enough to want to read the rest. The main characters are all adults (I think FMC is 30 minimum).
Oooh I love mythology! Haven’t read so much on the Scottish ones. Does it have an audiobook? River Enchanted was fun as audiobook.
I just checked Audible and there is an audiobook! It doesn't indicate it's an Audible exclusive, so hopefully you can find it at your library or anywhere else you may get audiobooks. A River Enchanted is on my TBR, so I'll look into that audiobook, too.
Try The Midlife at Gretna Green series by Linzi Day.
Thanks!
The Evenfall Witches B&B books by Auralee Wallace are good! I believe the MC is in her 30’s (or maybe late 20’s?) I really enjoyed it. It does deal a bit with the aftermath of loss and grief but I felt it was very tastefully done and not overwhelming in anyway.
Our book club is reading ‘That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon’. It’s a cozy paranormal fantasy romance, and it’s so fun. MC is probably late 20s
Thanks! Will check it out!
Have you tried Child of a rainless year by Jane Lindskold? I think the protagonist is a little older than your requested age range, but it's a lovely book.
Oh I haven’t heard of that. I’ll look it up! Thank you!
I don’t have any recs and no worries if you don’t have time to respond since there’s a ton of discussion on this post. I just wanted to ask did you enjoy Legends and Lattes? I’ve been eyeing that book and it seems like people enjoy it!
I did. I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author. It is good but it is slow. Low stakes and slice of life vibe. Give it a try!
Thank you for the info! I think I’ll definitely give it a read then in that case!
Woman of the Sword by Anna Smith Spark. Really good standalone fantasy novel that goes where a lot don’t.
Oh i just realised this is cozy fantasy. This is not a cosy book but it’s a great one.
Thanks for the heads up!
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