#cosy YA

[francescaswords]

Wintery Book Recommendations!

As I recall, most of the regulars to this space live in the Northern Hemisphere and are, presumably, currently quite cold. So I thought I would put together a list of cosy books to distract you as your nose runs and your glasses steam up every time you go from outdoors to indoors. Don’t need glasses yet? Just wait. Carmilla The vampire novel that came before Dracula, I have a very specific…

[inthegoodbooks]

Recent book purchases:

This week, I have treated myself to several new books. In celebration of Independent Bookshops Week, I decided to break my book-buying ban and get my hands on some titles I’ve been after for ages.

The Priory of the Orange Tree - ok, I have to admit that I have tried to read this before. I was in a terrible mood and didn’t even finish it. Then, like an idiot, I sold it instead of giving it another go. With all of the reviews mentioning it as a sapphic fantasy fave, I know I need to give it another shot and that’s exactly what I intend to do.

In the Lives of Puppets - Having just finished (and loved) The House in the Cerulean Sea, I just had to get my hands on this fairly recent title from TJ Klune. I have no doubt that this will also give me all the cosy feels I need and help to split up my reading of the very lengthy list of books by Robin Hobb that I plan to get through in the coming year…

Godkiller - I have seen nothing but amazing reviews for this debut fantasy read and I can’t wait to try it out. I know it is yet another series but I just can’t help it…

As for the others, they have all either been recommended to me by other people, YouTube channels or just looked lovely when I picked them up. Can’t wait to read them all soon.

[annafromuni]

Historical Romance and Magical Birds in India Holton's The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love

India Holton has such a likeable writing style, and her new release, The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love has breathed fresh life into my reading. With such lovely landscape description, loveable characters, gorgeous birds and no small amount of innuendos and bantering, The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love is the kind of read you need to liven up your week. This is such a light, easy-going…

[pollyssecretlibrary]

"The Spellshop", by Sarah Beth Durst

𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 (𝐔𝐊) - 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟏𝟏𝐭𝐡 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The subgenre cosy fantasy is here to stay. It was popularized by authors such as Travis Baldree, Sangu Mandanna or TJ Klune, and now we must add Sarah Beth Durst to the list, not doing so would be a disservice to this genre that has created a welcoming safe place for many readers.

“The Spellshop” is a slice of life rather than pure action based fantasy. Its main character, Kiela and her spider plant companion Caz arrive into the island after fleeing the revolution that ended with the assasination of the emperor. Kiela and Cath lived in the library of sorcerers at the high capital, and they managed to take a few crates full of books with them. Now they’re living in Caltrey, in the little cottage by the sea and the forest where Kiela was born and raised. At the village where she grew up Kiela witnesses hunger and decay and desperation caused, according to the villages, for the lack of help from the sorceres whose magic made life possible there. The emperor took the sorcerers a few years ago and the place is dying. Kiela can’t tell her secrets, of course, but she and Caz start a shop that apparently only sells raspberry jam but behind the scenes they sell spells to heal trees, help the fields grow with produce, help the forest come back to life and heal magical creatures.

This book is full of wonders. Kiela and Caz are fantastic main characters, a bit reluctant to mingle with the locals but getting close to them and making friends eventually, one step at a time. There’s all kids of people here. Caz herself is blue skinned and blue haired, she makes friends with a centaur, there are cats with wings, there’s a bakery where the patros are shaped in all the ways you could imagine, and there’s Larran, Kiela’s closest neighbor, a man who trains and looks after merhorses, half horse, half dolphin… there are mermaids and people with several arms… this book is overflowing with imagination.

The pages are wonderfully written and the reader will enjoy the slow paced story even if nothing seems to happen. And I must remark that there are books everywhere, talk of books, love for books, for both Kiela and Caz are bookworms, librarians, book scientists, dreamers.

This is a book without age target. It can be enjoyed by young children and old people equally. It’s perfect for cuddling up with a nice mug of cocoa, or cofee, or anything comforting. You won’t be disappointed by this book, it’s compelling and heartwarming yet it doesn’t come with its dose of adventure, risks, a little bit of darkness, but also love and found family. It is magical.

This is a love song to books, to imagination, to magic, to exploring different worlds encapsulated in words, sentences, paragraphs, this is a love song about sailing the universe on a ship made of books.

[nerdie-faerie]

Anytime I buy anything pink I think of all the pink girlies who make pink their personality and wonder if just a lil purchase being in their favourite colour brings them a small amount of happiness. Like what a wonderful thing that most be just to feel joy because of something so small that you might not otherwise notice

[livinginsideabookshelf]

Humanity is innocence; humanity is guilty, and both states are undeniably true.

- from the gleaming journal of H.S. Curie

[duckiebubbles]

Victor and the Bully | Automatic Hearts

"Automatic Hearts don't feel a thing."

[brightwitchbrews]

Have you ever felt so heartsick..?

She ached for her father’s smile, his midnight skin rich and warm. She longed to smell his cologne of spice and sage and mint as he held her tight and told her she was safe.

Furious with heartache and regret, Penelope crouched low amongst the twiggy branches. Coiling her courage within her like a spring, she kicked herself into the sky, her howling cry lost in the first crack of rolling thunder.

~~~

📚 Marmalade's Love Potion ~ Excerpt from Prologue (read)

[gooseberry-n-lilac]

Quick question/poll bc I need advice regarding my cosy fantasy novel

[ssmokyquartz]

what am i even going to read once i finish the ballad of songbirds and snakes?

[cosmicwhoresimpingismyliving]

[dogwisdoms]

I woke up at 5am this morning because **d e p p r e s s i o n** but now I’m bundled up with blankets on the sofa and the dog is flopped on me asleep and I can hear the rain on the windows but it’s still dark and everything is ok actually.

[robyn-weightman]

New Book Review.

They have a Corgi!

[mangosmoothiepussyv3]

i had an idea for a photoset but i jeed a plain black sports bra....i threw away my other one bcus it had a massive hole in it

so anyways who wants to send money-

[murderboisblog]

It was GREAT but I am SO FUCKING TIRED WAAAAAAAAAUGH!!!!! Gotta get used to things like "phone alarms" and "checking the time" and "using indoor people bathrooms" again. Very hard for puppies :(((

That's so cool, I'm glad you had fun!

Awww, it's okay, I know puppy likes to hibernate for a bit after big trips, you can take your time getting use to being an indoor dog again

[malusokay]

10 tips for casual elegance ⋆｡𖦹 °✩

Reading. Reading. Reading. Being well-read is so valuable!! Get cosy, pick up a Jane Austen, Emily Brontë, or maybe a Charles Dickens and spend some of your free time indulging in literature. <3

Soft-spoken and kind expressions. No one likes being around rude people. Being a bitch doesn’t make you look confident. Instead, be kind, make conversation, pay attention, engage, etc… trust me.

Dainty jewellery. Find some high-quality signature pieces.

Think before you speak. Take a moment to reflect on your thoughts so you can speak confidently and with intent without stumbling over your words!! <3 

Quality over quantity. Stop buying large amounts of cheap clothing; instead, save up and invest in higher-quality pieces that will actually last you. :)

Practice your handwriting. Having pretty and neat handwriting is a lovely little detail; extra points if you write in cursive. ;)

Drop the tiktok slag. “sticking out your gyat for the rizzler”… just stop, please.

Keep to yourself. Small circle, no bragging, gossips only with the closest, keep your plans to yourself.

Watch your posture. Straighten that back, honey. I see you. :))

Manicured nails. I do mine every two weeks. Almond-shaped, always dark red. <3

As always, Please feel free to add your own suggestions and tips in the comments!! ♡ ₊ ⊹

✩‧₊*:・love ya ･:*₊‧✩