So you're searching for the cozy fantasy books. But you also want LGBTQ+ representation. And you're not sure which lgbtq+ fantasy books are light-hearted and low stakes. This post is all about the best queer cozy fantasy books.
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Maybe it’s the focus on tea. Maybe it’s the low stakes plot. Or maybe it was my obsession with Lord of the Rings growing up.
But Cozy Fantasy books are my latest obsession.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a high fantasy book with an epic battle or a high stakes quest. However, sometimes I want to curl up with a comforting, low stakes fantasy book.
The problem is. It’s hard enough finding out which books are low stakes cozy fantasy books. Let alone, which books have lgbtq+ representation.
That’s why I’ve compiled a list of the absolute best queer cozy fantasy books.
For each book I've included the GoodReads rating, content warnings, positives & negatives and my thoughts.
Read on for the best queer cozy fantasy books
The Best Queer Cozy Fantasy Books
1. Mooncakes by Wendy Xu and Suzanne Walker
This is such a cosy read! If you're looking for queer cozy fantasy books then this is a great choice. It's a LGBTQ+ YA graphic novel with a lighthearted romance between a witch and a non-binary werewolf.
It follows teen witch Nova. She works at her Nana's magical bookshop. And she helps them loan out spell books. But she also investigates supernatural occurrences in her local town.
One day, she is tasked to investigate reports of a white wolf in a nearby forest. She then discovers her childhood best friend, Tam, fighting a demon werewolf. Together they investigate the demon and rekindle their feelings towards each other.
This is such a comfort read. The artwork is insanely beautiful. I really loved the illustrations of the magic and magical creatures living in the forest. The romance is also really adorable.
The story isn't fast-paced and action packed. We also don't find out much about the characters background. But it's such a quick, cute and light-hearted read that I don't think it matters. The graphic novel format is perfect for anyone trying to get back into reading. Or if you're recovering from a reading slump.
Mooncakes would be the perfect cozy fantasy book to read for Halloween. Check out my article for more LGBTQ+ Fantasy books for Halloween.
2. The Tea Dragon Society by Kay O’Neill
If you're looking for queer cozy fantasy books or graphic novels then you need to read some of Kay O'Neill's work. They are insanely cosy and heartwarming. And the artwork is absolutely stunning.
The Tea Dragon Society is about dragons who grow leaves you can make tea from. But the tea is infused with memories.
We follow Greta a blacksmith apprentice. One day she finds a lost tea dragon in the marketplace. Greta learns about the dying art form of tea dragon care-taking from the kind tea shop owners.
This book is adorable, impossibly cute and heart-warming. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and painfully adorable.
Not only is it a beautiful book with a lovely message. But it stars people of color, people with disabilities and LGBTQIA+ characters. (For more of Kay O'Neill's work you could try Princess Princess Ever After, Aquicorn Cove or The Tea Dragon Tapestry)
3. Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh
If you're looking for fantasy books with mlm romance - then you should definitely read Silver in the Wood. It's a fantasy book set in a magical forest. And it has an insanely cute grumpy/sunshine friends to lovers mlm romance. Plus it references mythological creatures such as dryads and faeries.
It follows Tobias who is a forest guardian. He is tasked to look after the forest. One day Henry Silver moves into Greenhollow Hall and everything changes. Silver starts to dig up old secrets that are best left forgotten. Plus they have an adorable mlm romance.
If you like the cottagecore aesthetic then you'll enjoy this book. The forest imagery is absolute gorgeous. It was filled with imagery about mythical creatures such as dryads in the forest. And definitely made me want to live in a cottage in the woods. It's really whimsical and enchanting.
This is also such a short and easy read. I listened to the audiobook. And the whole duology is only 5 hours. So you can easily binge read this in one setting. If you have a long journey this would also be the perfect audiobook to listen to because you can finish it in 5 hours. You can listen to the audiobook on Audible
4. Under the whispering door by T.J. Klune
If you're looking for cosy fantasy books then I highly recommend T.J Klune's work. The writing is easy to read. While it includes fantasy elements, it reads as more of a YA Contemporary. It also heavily features tea which made it feel really warm and comforting.
It follows Wallace Price. A reaper comes to collect him from his own funeral. But instead of taking him directly to the afterlife, leads him to a tea shop in a small village.
Hugo runs the teashop but is also the ferryman to souls who need to cross over. But Wallace isn't ready to abandon the life he barely lived.
This book deals with so many heavy topics such as death, grief and loss. But despite such heavy topics this is such a light-hearted, comforting read. T.J. Klune uses laughter, emotions and romance to it.
If you're looking for fantasy books for beginners, you should definitely pick up some of T.J Klune's work. His writing is fantastic - easy to follow and simplistic with no purple prose.
5. This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron
Kalynn Bayron writes some of the best contemporary fantasy books out there! This Poison Heart is an Urban Fantasy book. It opens in the city before the main characters move to a small town. There is also strong plant and cottagecore imagery throughout.
This Poison Heart follows Briseis. She has a magic gift where she can magic tiny seeds grow into rich blooms with a single touch.
Her aunt dies and wills her a dilapidated estate in rural New York. And it’s there she must uncover her family’s heritage and secrets.
This is a quick, fast-paced and easy read. You could easily pick this up and binge read it in one setting. Kalynn Bayron writes plant imagery beautifully. And I absolutely adored the plant and forest imagery.
My only complaint with this book is that the romance was very insta-lovey. And I found it difficult to be invested in the romance.
If you're searching for cozy fantasy books then you HAVE to read this. The cottagecore imagery makes this so cozy. It also features a Black heroine, supportive same-sex parents and elemental magic.
6. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldtree
Legends & Lattes is the most perfect cosy fantasy book. And it also features an adorable wlw romance.
This is the cosiest low stakes, slice of life fantasy book. And you can't beat an LGBTQ+ book with a happy ending.
Legends & Lattes follows Viv - an orc barbarian. She leaves her life as a warrior and opens the first coffee shop in Thune.
Cosy imagery, a wlw romance and the found family trope. Everything I love in a book. And as if that's not enough, Legends and Latte's has a compelling mystery to solve.
The hype for this book recently is insane. And for good reason. It's the bookish equivalent of a steaming hot mug of coffee. The perfect book to curl up on the sofa with in Autumn or Winter.
The way it depicts a slower lifestyle is captivating. The main character escapes a warrior life to live a slow life doing what she loves. Something I think many adults will relate to this book.
If you're a fan of a low stakes, cosy fantasy book then you will love this book.
If you enjoy cosy fantasy books - I have a whole article full of recommendations. You can check out my post on cosy fantasy books here.
7. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
A fantasy graphic novel recommendation now. This is a quick read that is perfect if you're in a reading slump. It's an adorable LGBTQ+ graphic novels with dragons, shape-shifters and brilliant characters.
It follows Nimona and Lord Ballister Blackheart. Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter who becomes a sidekick to Lord Blackheart. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. Their mission is to prove that Sir Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are.
There is so much to love about this! The storyline kept me hooked and I binge read this in one sitting. The plot is action-packed and full of twists. The humour was excellent. And the banter between the characters is genuinely very funny.
If you enjoy reading books about villains or morally grey characters then you need to pick this up. Nimona is so delightfully evil in such a charming way. The artwork is beautiful and makes this easy to read in one sitting.
I'm a huge fan of graphic novels! They're easy to read and you can often binge read them in one sitting. The graphics also makes reading them a completely different format. If you're looking for more lgbtq+ graphic novels then I have a whole book list for you. You can check out my article on lgbtq graphic novels here.
8. Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
Long Way to a Small Angry Planet is a feel-good wlw sci-fi book.
It features incredible world-building, amazing characters and excellent writing. Plus it has diverse characters and it's set in a world where non-straight relationships aren't a big deal.
It follows Rosemary Harper. She joins the crew of the aging Wayfarer.
The ship has seen better days.
But it offers her a bed, a chance to explore the far-off corners of the galaxy, and most importantly, some distance from her past.
She's never met anyone remotely like the ship's diverse crew. And life aboard the Wayfarer is chaotic and crazy.
But it's about to get extremely dangerous when the crew is offered the job of a lifetime.
9. Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne
If you're looking for a cozy fantasy with a wlw romance and a mystery to solve - you need to read Can't Spell Treason Without Tea.
It follows Reyna and Kianthe. All they want is to open a bookshop that serves tea. Think wooden floors, plants and firelight drifting between the rafters… all complemented by love and good company.
But Reyna works as one of the Queen's private guards and Kianthe is a powerful mage. And leaving their lives isn't easy.
But then an assasin takes Reyna hostage. And she decides she's done risking her life. Together, they settle in Tawney and open the shop of their dreams.
What follows is a cozy tale of mishaps, mysteries, and a murderous queen throwing the realm’s biggest temper tantrum.
If you're after a cozy slice of life books with a wlw romance, this is the book for you. Perfect if you're after books like Legends and Lattes.
10. So This Is Ever After by F.T Lukens
If you like Carry On, Out of the Blue or The Sunbearer Trials, then I highly recommend So This Is Ever After. It's a ya fantasy about Arthurian legends.
It follows Arek. He's completed a prophecy that said he was destined to save the Kingdom of Ere from its evil ruler. So now he's behaded the evil king, he's at a bit of a loss for what to do next.
As a temporary safeguard, Arek’s best friend and mage, Matt, convinces him to assume the throneuntil the true heir can be rescued from her tower. Except that she’s dead.
Now Arek is stuck as king.
The problem is, the role comes with a magical catch: choose a spouse by your eighteenth birthday, or wither away into nothing.
11. The LumberJanes by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Brooklyn A. Allen and Noelle Stevenson
The Lumberjanes series is an adorable lgbtq middle grade graphic novel. It features a diverse lgbtq cast of characters. And it's set at a summer camp and is filled with beautiful forest imagery.
The graphic comic book series follows five pals at a summer camp. They are determined to have an incredible summer and not let supernatural critters or quests get in their way.
The incredible drawings instantly gave me an emotional connection to the characters in the books. The story is well paced and I love the adventure story.
The first novel opens with a bang and the plot really engaged me. The graphic novel format and short length make them really easy to read. If you’re looking for light-hearted lgbtq books for tweens then you should pick this up. (For more incredible lgbtq middle grade graphic novels try The Backstagers or Mooncakes.)
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This post was all about queer cozy fantasy books
