In the world of science fiction and fantasy it’s easy to find breathtaking adventure and heart-pounding battles. But there are also stories filled with magic and wonder. Novels that capture the way we once felt when imagining dragons and unicorns existed and that maybe another world existed in the back of a closet.
The first time I read TJ Klune, I believed in magic all over again. His characters felt like friends I’ve known all my life and his stories were like being wrapped in a warm blanket with a cup of cocoa. They’re not just heartwarming, they’re hopeful. They made me believe in the possibility of a happily-ever-after. And it’s a feeling I’ve been chasing ever since.
Thankfully, there are more authors who can do exactly that. Here are cozy SFF books for fans who appreciate the works of TJ Klune.
In the Lives of Puppets
If you haven't yet read any of TJ Klune's books and are looking for a place to begin, why not start with his newest? In the Lives of Puppets, which published in the spring of 2023, is a queer/sci-fi retelling of Pinocchio. The story follows the inhabitants of a little home built into a grove of trees. Most of them are androids, except for Victor Lawson.
When dark secrets resurface, Vic and his android companions must journey across an unforgiving landscape to reunite their found family in a book that Seanan McGuire called "very close to perfect.”
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More Cozy Titles for TJ Klune Fans
Guards! Guards!
What says cozy better than Discworld? Pop in and out of the vast world that Terry Pratchett made at your will when you need a breather from the heavier grimdark and epic fantasy tales. Guards! Guards! is the first book in the City Watch collection and the eigth Discworld book. The cheeky novel of dragons, mischief, and mayhem follows Captain Sam Vimes of the city's Night Watch as he attempts to find order in a city that seems to have lost its mind.
Howl's Moving Castle
What is Howl's Moving Castle but a great, fantastical trip in style through the countryside? If you grew up loving the book or the Academy Award-nominated animated film, the nostalgia only intensifies the coziness of this classic by Diana Wynne Jones.
The novel follows Sophie, who accidentally finds herself turned into an old lady through a series of events. In this twist on the classic story of Beauty and the Beast, her only chance at unmaking the curse and returning to her normal form lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills … and the seemingly heartless wizard who lives there.
War Bunny
You wouldn't typically think of a post-apocalyptic story as being cozy, but author Christopher St. John managees to thread that needle with this fierce, bunny-centric adventure you can snuggle into. While Indie Reader's review of the book framed War Bunny as “George Orwell's Animal Farm for a new generation,” the story is undoubtedly one of hope.
When one bunny dares to question why she must always be an animal of prey—nothing more than a link in the chain of the circle of life—she finds herself outcast. Though she starts alone, this brave bunny will find purpose and a family of her own so lng as she has the courage to keep going.
Miss Blaine's Prefect and the Weird Sisters
Miss Blaine's Prefect and the Weird Sisters is a whimsical journey about a librarian sent back in time to save a King. The only problem is she doesn’t know which timeline she’s in. She has to figure out which version of history she’s in so she knows who she’s supposed to save. This one is packed with humor, making it a quick and light-hearted read.
The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen
Avid Jane Austen fan Rose Wallace never dreamed she’d get to meet Jane herself in modern-day Britain. But that’s exactly what happens when time-travelling Austen gets stuck in Rose’s time after being sabotaged by a pesky dog. This charming novel explores what life might look like if certain books were never written as the characters make their way to their perfect happily ever after.
Legends & Lattes
Viv is a battle-weary orc ready to hang up her sword. She hopes opening the first coffee shop in Thune will be a fresh start. Unfortunately, no one knows what coffee is, and she has plenty of rivals who don’t want to see her succeed. Legends & Lattes is a heartwarming story about making connections and pursuing your dreams that feels as cozy as the coffee shop it’s set in.
A Psalm for the Wild-Built
Long ago, robots became self-aware. They went into the wilds and were never seen again until one robot appears on the doorstep of a tea monk. He won’t leave until he understands what people need. If you already have everything you want, does having more make a difference? Becky Chambers is the queen of cozy science fiction and fantasy. Her novels wrap you in hugs and her characters become the friends you never knew you needed.
Howl's Moving Castle
When Sophie finds herself transformed into an old woman after accidentally crossing the Witch of the Waste, her only chance at reversing the spell lies in Wizard Howl’s castle. That’s just the start of her problems in this touching journey about a headstrong girl who learns that there’s often more to people than meets the eye.
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A Wizard's Guide To Defensive Baking
Mona will never use her magic to defend the city. She can wield magic on bread with the help of her familiar—a sourdough starter. But when she finds a dead body in her bakery, she realizes two things: There’s an assassin on the loose and she might be next. Kingfisher does more than simply bring her character’s to life—they bounce off the page. You can’t help but fall in love with Mona and Bob.
Miss Percy's Pocket Guide to the Care & Feeding of British Dragons
Miss Percy does not live a life of adventure. At least, she didn’t … until her uncle gives her a dragon egg as part of her inheritance. Then the egg hatches. Now, she has to raise a dragon, possibly kindle a romance, and participate in an adventure she never believed was possible. This delightful cozy mystery will have you cheering for Miss Percy as she discovers who she is and goes after what she wants.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold
What would you do if you could go back in time for just a moment? What rights would you wrong? What goodbyes would you say? That’s what this quiet Tokyo café offers its patrons. You have to sit in a specific seat, you cannot leave the café, and you have to come back before the coffee gets cold. This is a beautiful story of four people, each with their own ghosts and regrets, and their journey back in time.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic. She knows to keep her head down, stay out of trouble, and follow the rules. And she does. Mostly. But when her online account of her pretending to be a witch catches someone’s attention, she finds herself teaching three young children magic and breaking all the rules. If you loved the found family and emotional journey of Klune's The House in the Cerulean Sea or In the Lives of Puppets, you won’t want to miss getting to know Mika, her three young charges, and the prickly librarian who will do anything to protect the children from anyone who tries to hurt them.
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