I think "Legends and Lattes" is considered a cozy fantasy - I liked that one. It was a good light read and fun. I actually just got my copy of Bookshops and Bonedust in the mail from the Broken Binding so that's in my TBR pile now too!
I am a huge fan of cozy fantasy (and "cozies" in general -- and not just cozy fantasy but cozy mysteries and cozy science fiction). I won't discuss the mysteries unless people are interested, but I might sneak in a rec for a cozy sf author since (for me) fantasy and sf are overlapping genres.
One of my favorite cozy fantasy series is by Celia Lake: she describes her interwoven series as "cosy historical romances," but they are very firmly in the fantasy genre because her characters and stories are in an alternate fantasy version of Britain where magic exists. But also historical in part because they are set in the first half of the 20th century, between, during, and after WWI although recent ones are set during WWII. They are also alternate history (a major event in the past is the foundation of how Albion was established (sort of hidden in the U.K.). Her work meets my definition of cozy because they have happy endings and no graphic violence (though a number of the characters are dealing with the trauma of having fought in WWI), and generally no violence/action elements in the narrative. Romances because, well, people get together (straight and same-sex relationships). I love Lake's world-building and enjoy the multiple overlaps between series, with characters who are protagonists in several books showing up in others as minor characters. Although she's published quite a few books (novels and novellas), the majority can be picked up and read without having read others (and when that's not the case, as it is very occasionally), she is clear about that (in her newsletter, and in the stories themselves). Here's a link to her website: https://www.celialake.com/
I also consider "cozies" to be comfort reads (increasingly important these days), and I read and re-read and re-re-read my favorites a number of times. And I re-read my favorite Lakes quite often!
Wait, wait...cozy SF? I've never heard of that before! I've also never heard of Celia Lake before (I may live under a rock), but I'm definitely going to look her up now!
Thank you so much for the recommendation and her url.
(Edited to add: I've picked up one of her books. "Complimentary" Hopefully it's good!)
I suspect there is more cozy fantasy than cozy sf, or perhaps the fantasy cozies are more well known. The first sf author whose work I saw described as definitely cozy was Becky Chambers, from her first novel: The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet (which is part of a series). Here's her website: https://www.otherscribbles.com/
The discussion about the value of "cozy" stories was a counterpoint to the focus a few years ago on dystopian and/or grimdark fiction (which has its place--and I love some dystopian and darker works though I don't re-read them quite as much). Some of my favorite sff pre-dated the coining of the term (which is now used as a marketing category but then what isn't these days). Off the top of my head: Diane Duane, Sheri Tepper (mostly; she has a few dystopias that are more grim/dark); Janet Kagan; Vonda McIntyre. A number of those writers were among the 1970/80s women in sff who were blamed by some of the fanbois for getting girl cooties all over their sf (and at least in my experience, a significant majority of cozies are by women). The same debate occurred in the mystery genre: cozy vs. hard-boiled. The gendered term used back in the day was "soft" sf vs. "hard" sf (not at all subtle were they!).
I think "Legends and Lattes" is considered a cozy fantasy - I liked that one. It was a good light read and fun. I actually just got my copy of Bookshops and Bonedust in the mail from the Broken Binding so that's in my TBR pile now too!
I am a huge fan of cozy fantasy (and "cozies" in general -- and not just cozy fantasy but cozy mysteries and cozy science fiction). I won't discuss the mysteries unless people are interested, but I might sneak in a rec for a cozy sf author since (for me) fantasy and sf are overlapping genres.
One of my favorite cozy fantasy series is by Celia Lake: she describes her interwoven series as "cosy historical romances," but they are very firmly in the fantasy genre because her characters and stories are in an alternate fantasy version of Britain where magic exists. But also historical in part because they are set in the first half of the 20th century, between, during, and after WWI although recent ones are set during WWII. They are also alternate history (a major event in the past is the foundation of how Albion was established (sort of hidden in the U.K.). Her work meets my definition of cozy because they have happy endings and no graphic violence (though a number of the characters are dealing with the trauma of having fought in WWI), and generally no violence/action elements in the narrative. Romances because, well, people get together (straight and same-sex relationships). I love Lake's world-building and enjoy the multiple overlaps between series, with characters who are protagonists in several books showing up in others as minor characters. Although she's published quite a few books (novels and novellas), the majority can be picked up and read without having read others (and when that's not the case, as it is very occasionally), she is clear about that (in her newsletter, and in the stories themselves). Here's a link to her website: https://www.celialake.com/
I also consider "cozies" to be comfort reads (increasingly important these days), and I read and re-read and re-re-read my favorites a number of times. And I re-read my favorite Lakes quite often!
Wait, wait...cozy SF? I've never heard of that before! I've also never heard of Celia Lake before (I may live under a rock), but I'm definitely going to look her up now!
Thank you so much for the recommendation and her url.
(Edited to add: I've picked up one of her books. "Complimentary" Hopefully it's good!)
I suspect there is more cozy fantasy than cozy sf, or perhaps the fantasy cozies are more well known. The first sf author whose work I saw described as definitely cozy was Becky Chambers, from her first novel: The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet (which is part of a series). Here's her website: https://www.otherscribbles.com/
The discussion about the value of "cozy" stories was a counterpoint to the focus a few years ago on dystopian and/or grimdark fiction (which has its place--and I love some dystopian and darker works though I don't re-read them quite as much). Some of my favorite sff pre-dated the coining of the term (which is now used as a marketing category but then what isn't these days). Off the top of my head: Diane Duane, Sheri Tepper (mostly; she has a few dystopias that are more grim/dark); Janet Kagan; Vonda McIntyre. A number of those writers were among the 1970/80s women in sff who were blamed by some of the fanbois for getting girl cooties all over their sf (and at least in my experience, a significant majority of cozies are by women). The same debate occurred in the mystery genre: cozy vs. hard-boiled. The gendered term used back in the day was "soft" sf vs. "hard" sf (not at all subtle were they!).
That's one of my favorites! Hope you enjoy it!
Having now spent over a half hour on Becky Chamber's website, I see what you mean. Definitely Cozy SF.
I have to say though, I nearly lost my tea when I read "getting girl cooties all over their sf"! Accurate AND hilarious!
Thanks for that!