Fantasy books to read if you just need an escape

For as long as I can remember, I have loved sitting back and reading a nice, cozy book. However, with classes taking up every waking moment, I haven’t been able to read as much as I would prefer. So, I have made it my mission to actually read something other than theories on sociology.

As I got back into reading more for myself, I figured that many people may feel the same way.

Or, maybe, they need a place to start.

Luckily for everyone, I have compiled a list of cozy, easy-to-read fantasy books that will let you escape into a world where finals are not just around the corner.

“Before the Coffee Gets Cold” — Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Kawaguchi’s novel is a compelling collection of four stories centered around a café in the backstreets of Tokyo that has been serving coffee for more than 100 years. However, this is not just any café – this one serves its customers one chance to go back in time.

“Before the Coffee Gets Cold” is an excellent examination of grief and closure when you can no longer speak with loved ones. The book, while hitting on important topics, reads like you’re talking to an old friend. The setting and characters feel familiar and comforting from the very first page.

“The Night Circus” — Erin Morgenstern

I was very surprised by how much I loved this book when I read it. In Morgenstern’s story, a circus has arrived seemingly out of nowhere. There is no warning for when it will come, but that is not the only thing odd about it – there is a magic that surrounds this circus, too.

Behind the scenes, two magicians are chosen from childhood to compete in a fierce competition. The story spans the magicians’ lives as they grow, find love and discover that no matter what they do, their fates cannot be changed.

“Uprooted” — Naomi Novik

Have you ever found yourself in the mood to read a fantasy novel that gives you the cozy feel of a fairytale? Well, if you have, this is the perfect story for you!

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This story has everything from a mysterious wizard in a tower, a village girl who does not realize the power she is able to hold and an evil magic that takes the form of a forest and destroys anything that is in its path.

Novik is known for her ability to write a good fairytale. One of her other stories, “Spinning Silver,” also embodies this fairytale-like atmosphere. However, “Uprooted” invokes a nostalgic feeling like no other book has been able to match.

“Sorcery of Thorns” — Margaret Rogerson

While the other books on this list leave you with something to ponder, this one is just for good vibes – and that’s OK! This does not make it any worse than the other books shown above. In fact, I had such a fun time reading this one.

In the world of “Sorcery of Thorns,” sorcerers are seen as evil beings, born to harm those around them. However, our main character, Elisabeth, while not a sorcerer, grows up surrounded by their tools — magical grimoires. They whisper and shake and need to be calmed if provoked, and that’s precisely what Elisabeth is trained to do. She plans to do this for the rest of her life until she is implicated in a crime, which brings her plans to a halt.

Throughout the rest of the story, we are introduced to other characters that bring so much life to the story, which would not be the same without them.

All of these stories have allowed my love of fantasy to grow, and unlike many other fantasy books, these do not leave you feeling confused throughout the first chapter. I cannot recommend these books enough.

pedenae@miamioh.edu

Ayla Peden—Goodreads