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Dear Cozy Reader,

This month we’re celebrating cozy mysteries with pets. It’s one of the reasons I love writing about cozy lit. The tropes can be so fun and charming.

When I think about cozy mysteries with pets, the first one that comes to mind is Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery by James and Deborah Howe. I listen to the audiobook every Halloween, because it’s cozy with just a hint of spookiness.

You really can’t beat the premise: the story is narrated by the family dog, Harold, who watches as Chester the cat takes on the role of detective. Chester becomes convinced that the family’s new bunny, Bunnicula, is a vampire. Why? Because every evening Bunnicula escapes from his cage, and by morning the family discovers vegetables completely pale and drained of their juice.

I mean, how adorably spoopy is that? As a kid who loved her pets, you couldn’t design a better entry point into cozy mysteries.

That said, I went through a stretch of a few years where I didn’t read cozies at all. After college, I took literature very seriously, so I was focused almost entirely on classics and literary fiction.

But by the time I got into my thirties, that rigidity had started to soften. And then one fateful day at the library, I stumbled across The Puffin of Death by Betty Webb.

Here’s what you need to know about me: I love puffins. They’re my favorite bird. I can’t get enough of them. I’ve gone to see Atlantic puffins on Egg Rock in Maine and tufted puffins on the Farallon Islands off San Francisco.

So of course I had to take The Puffin of Death home immediately.

It’s the fourth book in the Gunn Zoo Mystery series, which follows Teddy Bentley, a zookeeper in California. In this installment, she travels to Iceland to help transport a polar bear back to the zoo, but when a man is found dead near a puffin colony, the sleuthing begins.

I loved it, and I’ve been happily reading cozy mysteries ever since. Once again, adorable animals pulled me into the genre.

There’s something about a pet in a cozy mystery that signals a particular kind of reading experience—gentle, a little whimsical, and not too self-serious, even when there’s a murder to solve.

💬 What cozy mysteries with pets have you read and loved?

—Emma

TBR Stack: Cozy Mysteries + Pets

Note: All book links are affiliate links to Bookshop.org

Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery by James & Deborah Howe

Told from the perspective of Harold the dog, this playful middle grade mystery follows Chester the cat’s growing suspicion that the Monroe family’s new rabbit, Bunnicula, is a vampire. When vegetables start turning up mysteriously drained of their juice overnight, Chester is determined to prove his theory—while Harold tries to keep the peace. Light, funny, and just a little spooky, it’s a cozy classic with a pet-centered twist.

📖💖 Read & Loved

The Anteater of Death by Betty Webb

The first in the Gunn Zoo Mystery series, this book introduces Teddy Bentley, a zookeeper at a California zoo who finds herself drawn into a murder investigation when a wealthy benefactor is killed during a zoo event. With her background in animal behavior and a cast of memorable creatures—including an anteater—Teddy uses both instinct and observation to start unraveling the truth behind the crime.

📖💖 Read & Loved

The Cat Who Saved Books by Sōsuke Natsukawa

This gentle, whimsical novel follows Rintaro, a withdrawn teenager who inherits his grandfather’s secondhand bookshop. When a talking cat named Tiger appears, the two embark on a series of surreal journeys to rescue mistreated books from those who would misuse or neglect them. Blending magical realism with a love of literature, it’s a quiet, reflective story about courage, connection, and the power of reading.

📚📝 On my TBR

Dog On It by Spencer Quinn

Narrated by Chet, a loyal and food-motivated dog, this mystery follows private investigator Bernie Little and his canine partner as they take on a case involving a missing girl. While Chet doesn’t always understand everything the humans are up to, his observations—and instincts—prove invaluable. The result is a warm, humorous detective story where the dog’s voice brings a fresh and endearing perspective.

📚📝 On my TBR

Lending a Paw by Laurie Cass

The first in the Bookmobile Cat Mystery series, this cozy introduces Minnie Hamilton, a librarian who runs a mobile library in a small Michigan town, along with her rescue cat, Eddie, who rides along. When Minnie discovers a dead body on her route, she’s pulled into a local murder investigation, with Eddie offering both companionship and subtle assistance. It’s a bookish, small-town cozy with plenty of charm and feline appeal.

📚📝 On my TBR

💬 Tell me about your favorite cozy mysteries with pets!

—Emma

Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens. When I’m not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me reading at the beach, wandering the tiled alleys of my new hometown in Portugal, or sipping a delicious cup of hot chocolate.

Other places to find me:

📝Follow me on Substack Notes.

🔮Subscribe to my other newsletter, Wondrous Liminal Dispatch, for women tired of high-effort, low-joy living, where I share small shifts, honest reflections, and ways to build a more joyful life. Read the latest post: Following the Call to Adventure Instead of the To-Do List

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Dear Cozy Reader,

I’m not feeling well this week, so instead of writing something new, I’m sharing a post from the archives.

When I started Sleuth Hero Alien, I wrote three posts defining what I meant by the genres we focus on here: cozy mystery, cozy fantasy, and charming science fiction.

Today, I’m sharing what I wrote back then about charming science fiction. I think the definition still holds up. What do you think? Would you change anything?

—Emma

What is a charming sci-fi novel?

When I originally conceived of Sleuth Hero Alien, I knew I wanted to write about cozy mysteries and cozy fantasies. These are my favorite kinds of books, and I have so much to say about them!

But as I dreamed and schemed about this blog, other books kept popping into my head. Like Becky Chambers’ amazing sci-fi Monk & Robot duology and Claudia Gray’s compelling Star Wars novel, Bloodline. I knew I wanted to talk about these books, too! So, I decided to include sci-fi on the list of books I would discuss here.

What I didn’t know was how to describe the kind of sci-fi novels I love. They aren’t exactly cozy, because they don’t always have the cozy vibe with small towns, soft fabrics, and tea. But they always leave me with a good, optimistic feeling.

I went down the thesaurus rabbit hole, and eventually I landed on the word I was looking for: charming.

One of the best examples of a charming sci-fi is The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. In this story, we follow a cast of mostly love-able characters as they travel to a distant part of the galaxy to do a job.

Along the way, they have both low and high stakes adventures, while dealing with technological, societal, and relational issues. This story will bring you to alien ports, distant outposts, and into the heart of communal living.

And that’s a charming sci-fi.

• It’s a story set in a world that is different from our real world, but the differences come from science & technology instead of magic.

• There are love-able, often charming characters who you root for along the way.

• There will be problems to solve and adventures to go on, but there won’t be graphic descriptions of horrible things.

• There is a foundation of optimism. As opposed to dystopian fiction, charming sci-fi is set in a world moving towards a brighter future.

Here are a few I love:

• The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis. Francie definitely does not believe in aliens, until she’s abducted by one in Roswell, NM. And then she’s taken on a bonkers road trip around the desert. I was charmed by fast-paced silliness, found-family vibes, RVs, weddings, and adorable aliens.

• Star Wars: Lost Stars by Claudia Gray. In this story, we follow two young imperial officers as they experience the highlights of Star Wars movies IV, V, and VI (the ones with young Mark Hamill). The characters eventually go their separate ways, and there are discussions about life, love, and fighting fascism. Though things get hard sometimes in this story, I was charmed by the long term friendship and behind-the-scenes view of these much loved movies.

• The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older. It’s the distant future, and Jupiter has been colonized by humanity. For the setting, imagine a sci-fi version of 1800’s London, with fog, tea, and scones. The story is a Holmesian mystery, where we follow a detective and her ex-girlfriend as they solve a murder. I was charmed by the moody vibes, quiet romance, and interesting technology.

• The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz. It’s 50,000 years from now, and Destry works on Sask-E, a planet in the middle of being terraformed. Everything is going as planned, until a secret is discovered she can’t ignore. This story tends towards harder ecological sci-fi, but it made it on the list because of the love-able characters and optimistic view of long-term activism. I was charmed by the talking moose, sentient train, and underground communities.

Have a charming sci-fi recommendation? Let us know in the comments!

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Cozy book recommendation: A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers

During the Pandemic, Becky Chambers released this quiet, beautiful novella. It’s about a monk on a distant planet, who realizes they’re done with their vocation, so they decide to leave the city to become a tea monk. Through a series of decisions and serendipities, the monk eventually encounters a robot in the wild, and the real adventure begins.

I love how this novel is set in a world with a culture who has thought through their impact on each other and the planet. And even in this seeming utopia, there is still so much to discuss about who we are, what we’re doing here, and what we need.

If you read this one, you can expect to be charmed by:

• A long walk in nature

• Philosophical discussions about life

• Tea

Present day note: In a fun and totally real coincidence, I recommended A Psalm for the Wild Built in this post from August 24, 2024, and I just started a new chapter-a-week book club where our first book is A Psalm for the Wild Built! I think this book will stand the test of time. :)

—Emma

Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens. When I’m not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me reading at the beach, wandering the tiled alleys of my new hometown in Portugal, or sipping a delicious cup of hot chocolate.

Other places to find me:

👉Follow me on Substack Notes.

👉Subscribe to my witchy, spiritual, and bookish newsletter, Dispatch from the Wondrous Liminal. Read the latest post: Why Stories Matter

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Dear Cozy Reader,

When I was in college, I took a class called Mars in the Imagination, which explored the history of how humanity has imagined the red planet through a syllabus of classic science fiction novels like The War of the Worlds, Out of the Silent Planet, The Martian Chronicles, and Red Mars.

One of the ideas from the class was that our imagination follows the edges of the unknown. First, it was the ocean. In the early days of science fiction, writers like Jules Verne imagined its depths in books like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Because science didn’t yet fully understand the ocean, it became a place for wonder and story.

As our knowledge of the ocean expanded, we turned our attention to the moon. And as the moon became more familiar, Mars became the next great frontier for the imagination.

And imagine we did. In the late 1800s, amateur astronomer and businessman Percival Lowell built a massive telescope, observed lines on the surface of Mars, and became convinced they were canals—evidence of intelligent life.

His theory wasn’t officially disproved until 1965, when Mariner 4 flew by Mars and revealed a cratered, moon-like surface with no canals and no life. Until then, it genuinely felt possible that Mars held life, and stories about the red planet flourished.

Even after Mariner 4, Mars held its place in our imagination as we began to consider the possibility of sending humanity there.

In the stories I read for Mars in the Imagination, it became clear that Mars wasn’t just a planet, but a question. A possibility. A place to imagine what might be waiting for us beyond Earth.

What I loved about this class was that it didn’t just teach me about Mars—it showed me how imagination shapes the way we see the world. Reading these books alongside real history, science, and cultural moments made Mars feel alive in a new way. Not just as a distant planet, but as a mirror for human curiosity, fear, hope, and possibility.

And that’s what I want to offer you here—not just a list of books, but a way to explore Mars as an idea.

This month, as we focus on classic science fiction, I thought it would be fun to share a TBR stack of four of my favorite books from that course, along with a simple way to build your own personal curriculum for understanding Mars’s place in our collective imagination.

—Emma

P.S. All links are affiliate links to bookshop.org.

4 Classic Science Fiction Novels About Mars

The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells (1898)

“Yet across the gulf of space, minds that are to our minds as ours are to those of the beasts that perish, intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic, regarded this earth with envious eyes…”

A sudden Martian invasion devastates England with terrifying heat rays, pushing humanity to the brink of extinction. In this story, Wells explores mortality, human vulnerability, and the dangers of technological power.

Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis (1938)

“He felt as if he were being carried out of the world he knew into something wholly strange.”

Dr. Ransom is abducted and taken to Mars, where he escapes his captors and encounters a strange, intelligent world. What begins as a fight for survival becomes a journey into an unfamiliar and deeply ordered universe.

The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury (1950)

“They had come from a world where things were thick and warm and alive, and here was a world that was thin and cold and dying.”

A series of linked stories follows humanity’s attempts to colonize Mars—where loneliness, illusion, and human desire reshape both the settlers and the planet they encounter.

Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson (1992)

“We came to Mars to build something new, but we brought everything with us.”

One hundred colonists set out to transform Mars into a livable world—but not everyone agrees it should be changed. As science, politics, and human desire collide, the question becomes not just can we reshape a planet, but should we.

Mars in the Imagination Personal Curriculum

A personal curriculum is a way of following your curiosity—choosing a topic that calls to you and exploring it through books, ideas, and lived experience. Here are a few ways you can explore how we imagine Mars.

• Read at least one—if not all—of the four classic novels in this TBR stack

• Learn about Orson Welles’s radio adaptation of The War of the Worlds and the mass panic it caused

• Watch a documentary about the Mars rovers

• Find a local star party and see Mars through a telescope

• Read a nonfiction book about traveling to Mars, like Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach

• Read a more recent novel with Mars at the center:

  • The Martian by Andy Weir

  • The Mars House by Natasha Pulley

  • The Lady Astronaut of Mars by Mary Robinette Kowal

• Expand your sense of imagining the future with N.K. Jemison’s How Long ’til Black Future Month?

💬 Which part of this “Imagining Mars” curriculum are you most excited to try?

—Emma

Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens. When I’m not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me reading at the beach, wandering the tiled alleys of my new hometown in Portugal, or sipping a delicious cup of hot chocolate.

Other places to find me:

👉Follow me on Substack Notes.

👉Subscribe to my witchy, spiritual, and bookish newsletter, Dispatch from the Wondrous Liminal. Read the latest post: Why Stories Matter

Subscribe now

Dear Cozy Reader,

The most dedicated I’ve ever been to a long-form piece of writing was my senior Honors thesis for my Bachelor’s degree, where I studied J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.

In that paper, I explored Tolkien’s vision of heroism, divine guidance, and the power of stories.

Of all those topics, the one that has stayed with me most is the power of stories. The concepts still roll around in my mind unbidden. They surface in conversation. They quietly guide my reading life, both consciously and unconsciously.

Tolkien read and wrote during deeply troubling times—both WWI and WWII. He knew the fear and devastation of those years. He also knew what it was to watch beauty be cut down and replaced with factories and smoke.

He spent his life contemplating the nature of story, and in his quintessential 1947 essay, On Fairy-Stories, he made a case against the idea that fairy tales are a shallow form of escapism—mere distraction from the real world so that we can ignore its troubles.

Instead, Tolkien argued that escapism is not only permissible, but deeply healing. He believed fairy-stories bring the reader what he called recovery, escape, and consolation.

And today, I thought it would be fun to give you a closer look at these concepts. Because as we celebrate fantastical stories here on Sleuth Hero Alien, we are often reading books that people can dismiss as escapist or not “highbrow” enough.

Cozy literature comforts. Yes. But it can also carry deeper themes. It can steady us. Restore us. Remind us of goodness.

Tolkien makes a beautiful, thoughtful case for why stepping into fantastical worlds matters. Not as avoidance. Not as denial. But as a way of strengthening the heart so that we can return to our own world with clearer eyes and steadier courage.

The Power of Recovery

In his essay, On Fairy-Stories, Tolkien writes that the best kind of magic in fairy tales comes from the nature of our own world. Golden autumn leaves. Towering craggy mountains. Lilting bird song.

Oftentimes, the reader comes to the fairy story in a state of disenchantment—no longer seeing the wonder of the world. Instead, it is like their vision has a gray cast, only noticing the most mundane of realities.

But a fairy tale can help the reader return to wonder and a clearer view of nature.

We see this in The Lord of the Rings when the Fellowship enters Lothlórien. At this point in the tale, the wanderers are grief-stricken and weary, and at first they must walk blindfolded through the elven land. But when the Elves remove their blindfolds, beauty strikes their hearts.

“Frodo stood awhile lost in wonder. It seemed to him that he had stepped through a high window that looked on a vanished world. A light was upon it for which his language had no name. All that he saw was shapely, but the shapes seemed at once clear cut, as if they had been first conceived and drawn at the uncovering of his eyes, and ancient as if they had endured for ever. He saw no colour but those he knew, gold and white and blue and green, but they were fresh and poignant, as if he had at that moment first perceived them and made for them names new and wonderful.”

—Tolkien, Fellowship of the Ring

This is recovery. There is no “magic” in this paragraph, at least not the kind you expect in a fantasy novel. Instead the magic comes from a new perspective on the nature of our own world, and as Frodo experiences the recovery of wonder, so does the reader.

The Power of Escape

Much of the essay, features Tolkien’s argument against critics of the day, who made a strong push to esteem factories and cities, which were seen as “real”, over natural places.

Some literary critics were completely against all escapist literature, because they felt we must stay in the real world. But Tolkien, over the course of many pages, rails against this.

“In using Escape in this way the critics have chosen the wrong word, and, what is more, they are confusing, not always by sincere error, the Escape of the Prisoner with the Flight of the Deserter.” —Tolkien, On Fairy-Stories

Tolkien compares escaping into fairy-story to a prisoner looking out a high window and glimpsing a blue sky. Why should we not imagine other worlds? Why should we not long for something beyond the walls that confine us? Not to desert our duty or to pretend our situation isn’t real, but to invite the wholeness of reality in.

“For my part, I cannot convince myself that the roof of Bletchley station is more ‘real’ than the clouds. And as an artefact I find it less inspiring than the legendary dome of heaven.” —Tolkien, On-Fairy-Stories

In Lord of the Rings, we see this on Weathertop, when the hobbits and Strider await the coming of the terrible Nazgûl. They have no where to go and no where to hide. They must just sit and wait. They huddle together by the fire and tell stories.

“The cold increased as darkness came on. Peering out from the edge of the dell they could see nothing but a grey land now vanishing quickly into shadow. The sky above had cleared again and was slowly filled with twinkling stars. Frodo and his companions huddled round the fire, wrapped in every garment and blanket they possessed; but Strider was content with a single cloak, and sat a little apart, drawing thoughtfully at his pipe. As night fell and the light of the fire began to shine out brightly he began to tell them tales to keep their minds from fear.”

—Tolkien, Fellowship of the Ring

They are not naive about their peril. Of course they aren’t. But the tale of Beren and Lúthien that Strider tells gives them a moment of imaginative escape—a vision of love and victory over darkness. It steadies them. It soothes their minds, if only for a little while. That is escape.

The Power of Consolation

For Tolkien, one of the most important parts of any fairy-story is the happy ending, which he called a “eucatastrophe.” This is the opposite of the catastrophic ending of a Drama. In his belief, this is where the consolation of fairy-stories shines.

“It is the mark of a good fairy-story, of the higher or more complete kind, that however wild its events, however fantastic or terrible the adventures, it can give to child or man that hears it, when the ‘turn’ comes, a catch of the breath, a beat and lifting of the heart, near to (indeed accompanied by) tears…” — Tolkien, On Fairy-Stories

The eucatastrophe is the sudden turn toward joy that breaks your heart open. It consoles you with the reminder that goodness and beauty are real, and that happy endings—however costly—do exist.

I won’t spoil the ending of Lord of the Rings here, but we see a taste of eucatastrophe in one scene towards the end of The Two Towers. Sam and Frodo are in Mordor, climbing a seemingly endless stair in a terrible land. Going from danger into danger, guided only by Gollum.

Exhausted, nearly defeated, Sam begins speaking to Frodo about stories and about heroes. About how they are in their own story now, and that perhaps they, too, will come through to the other side. And maybe their own tale will be told someday by a fire.

“And people will say: ‘Let’s hear about Frodo and the Ring!’ And they’ll say: ‘Yes, that’s one of my favourite stories. Frodo was very brave, wasn’t he, dad?’ ‘Yes, my boy, the famousest of the hobbits, and that’s saying a lot.’

‘It’s saying too much,’ said Frodo, and he laughed, a long clear laugh from his heart. Such a sound had not been heard in those places since Sauron came to Middle-earth. To Sam suddenly it seemed as if all the stones were listening and the tall rocks leaning over them. But Frodo did not heed them; he laughed again.”

—Tolkien, The Two Towers

Frodo’s laugh in that moment is a touch of the eucatastrophe. It is a momentary turning towards joy, which is so hard to imagine in that barren land. But what if, in the darkest of moments, you can imagine a happy ending? And for a moment, you can experience enough peace to carry you up the long stair?

I want to celebrate stories that help us see our world more clearly.

Stories that let us breathe.

Stories that remind us that light still breaks through.

This is why we read cozy stories here on Sleuth Hero Alien. Why we wander through mysteries, fantasies, and science fiction. We imagine otherwise so that we can recover a clearer perspective. We step into other worlds so we can return to our own with steadier hearts. We practice hope in fiction so that we can walk, little by little, toward the happy ending we crave.

—Emma

Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens. When I’m not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me reading at the beach, wandering the tiled alleys of my new hometown in Portugal, or sipping a delicious cup of hot chocolate.

Other places to find me:

📝You can follow me on Substack Notes.

🔮You can subscribe to my witchy, spiritual, and bookish newsletter, Dispatch from the Wondrous Liminal.

Subscribe now

Dear Cozy Reader,

Last month, I shared a TBR stack of classic cozy mysteries, and I had to admit then that I don’t read much in that space. So the list I compiled was of books that were going on my TBR as well.

But this month—oh, classic cozy fantasy is where my heart lives as a reader. Specifically, middle grade classic fantasy shaped me when I was younger and formed the foundation of the reader I am today.

Admittedly, nowadays I try to read much more diversely than this small group of books written by white authors from early 1900s British literature, but I still deeply appreciate the magic these stories wove into my life at a time when I really needed it.

💬 I’d love to know what fantasies you read and loved when you were young!

—Emma

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

As a child, on Christmas Eve, we were allowed to open one present from under the tree. And one year, my Christmas Eve gift was the boxed set of the Narnia books. That night, I climbed into bed and opened The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and I stayed up late into the night reading.

This remains one of my favorite reading memories, because it was the first time a book captured my attention so completely that I couldn’t fall asleep. I loved the entire series, but The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe has always been my favorite. And yes, I was absolutely scandalized when they changed the publication order!

The Magic Ingredients: Snow, siblings, a portal wardrobe, Mr. Tumnus, the White Witch, Aslan, talking animals, always winter and never Christmas, turkish delight!

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Do you remember the animated movie of The Hobbit from the 80s? I loved that movie. My cousins had it, and I loved going to their house just to watch it. It was eerie and a little spooky, but also wonderful. I remember the book being a hard read as a kid, but I loved Bilbo, so away I went into Middle-earth.

The Magic Ingredients: Bilbo, Gandalf, thag you very buch, giant spiders, trolls, going down the river in an empty wine cask, elves!

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

I was a Secret Garden girly. I loved my little pink mass market paperback copy. The waking of the garden set my heart on fire, and I had a huge crush on Dicken, especially after watching the movie adaptation in the 90s. I loved the movie so much that now my memories of it and the book are entwined, and it’s hard to tell what’s one and what’s the other.

The Magic Ingredients: spooky old mansion, the discovered key, the robin showing the way, it’s wick!, the eerie crying, roses, magic.

The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald

I actually read this story when I was in college for a course in children’s literature, but when I read it, oh, how I wished I had encountered it as a child. Luckily, I was still young enough to get completely lost in its enchantment. This is a lesser known fantasy, published in 1872, but both Tolkien and Lewis cite George MacDonald’s work as inspiration. That alone helped pave the way for my love.

The Magic Ingredients: a lonely princess in a castle, a young boy who wants to be her friend, an eerie great-great-grandmother living in the attic, a magic ring, an adventure in goblin mines.

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

I read this one much later, but it still has the feeling of a childhood favorite to me, because it touched my spirit in the same way. At the time I was in my 30s, working a dull gray cubicle job that was quietly killing my soul, and I randomly picked up Wind in the Willows one sad Sunday.

It begins with Mole catching a waft of spring air in his tunnel after a long winter. He should be spring cleaning, but he cannot ignore that beautiful scent of spring. And away he runs, out of his tunnel, and all the way to the river and adventure. And that was exactly what I needed at the time—a reminder of spring and hope.

The Magic Ingredients: the river, messing about in boats, wild Toad, Dolce Domum, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, wonder, beauty.

💬 Tell me about your childhood favorite books!

—Emma

Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens. When I’m not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me reading at the beach, wandering the tiled alleys of my new hometown in Portugal, or sipping a delicious cup of hot chocolate.

Other places to find me:

📝You can follow me on Substack Notes for weekday tarot to refill your well.

🔮You can subscribe to my other newsletter, Dispatch from the Wondrous Liminal.

Discount is available until January 31.

Special New Year Discount

Dear Cozy Reader,

This winter, we’re celebrating cozy classic mysteries. While I enjoy an Agatha Christie now and then, I tend not to read many classic mysteries. That’s because I love my cozy sleuths to be on emotional journeys while solving the case.

Characters like Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes are wonderfully clever—but they’re also deeply logical. And while I truly loved Lord Edgware Dies by Agatha Christie (and plan to read more of her work), I found myself missing the kind of character growth I get from more modern cozies.

That said, sometimes I still want the historical vibes—the feeling of being lost in a time and place that isn’t my own.

So today, I want to share two cozy mystery series that beautifully bridge the classic and the modern.

Both series are inspired by Jane Austen’s novels. Their tones and approaches are very different, but each offers a wonderful blend of historical setting, strong characters, and satisfying mystery plots.

Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney Mystery Series by Claudia Gray

Imagine attending a house party at a country estate in England—where seated at the table are your favorite characters from across Jane Austen’s novels.

Elizabeth and Darcy are there, now twenty or so years older. Colonel Brandon and Marianne Dashwood have just married. Fanny and Edward are present, as are Henry and Catherine Tilney. Emma and Knightley are the esteemed hosts. And joining them are a couple younger characters: Juliet Tilney, age seventeen, and Jonathan Darcy, age twenty-one.

But that evening, an unwelcome guest arrives—George Wickham, whom no one is happy to see. By morning, Wickham is dead, and no one is allowed to leave.

In the first book, The Murder of Mr. Wickham, you’re immediately immersed into Austen’s world. The language, setting, and atmosphere feel true to her novels. The story unfolds slowly through multiple perspectives, while Juliet and Jonathan team up to solve the mystery before the authorities accuse the wrong person.

There are currently four books in this series, each loosely inspired by a different Austen novel. Juliet and Jonathan always find themselves solving another murder—and perhaps, just maybe, falling in love along the way.

Jane Austen Murder Mystery Series by Tirzah Price

Now imagine something completely different.

Seventeen-year-old Lizzie Bennet spends her days assisting at her father’s law firm, Longbourn & Sons. She dreams of becoming a solicitor, but it’s the 1700s—and women don’t become solicitors. To make matters worse, Mr. Collins is set to inherit the firm and is more than happy to take credit for Lizzie’s work.

When Mr. Bingley is accused of murdering his brother-in-law, Lizzie secretly takes on the case to prove her abilities. The complication? Mr. Bingley already has a solicitor: Mr. Darcy of Pemberley & Sons.

Told in a modern narrative voice, this series reimagines Pride and Prejudice as a legal mystery. As Lizzie investigates, we meet familiar characters and explore the workings of their London neighborhood, Cheapside.

This series is a fun, clever retelling, and I especially enjoyed it on audio—Morag Sims brings the characters vividly to life. There are currently three books in the main series, which retell different Austen books, plus a spin-off focused on Lizzie and Darcy.

Emma Knightley Mystery Series by Vanessa Kelly

I’ve read and loved both series above, but while doing some light research for this post, I discovered another Austen-inspired mystery series that’s now on my TBR.

The Emma Knightley Mystery Series currently has two books, beginning with Murder in Highbury. In the first installment, Emma and Harriet team up to solve the murder of the local vicar’s wife—an Emma-focused mystery that sounds right up my alley.

💬Have you read any of these? Are there other Austen-inspired mysteries I’ve missed? I’d love to hear your favorites—let me know in the comments.

— Emma

Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens. When I’m not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me reading at the beach, wandering the tiled alleys of my new hometown in Portugal, or sipping a delicious cup of hot chocolate.

Other places to find me:

📝You can follow me on Substack Notes.

🔮You can subscribe to my other bookish newsletter, Mystics Reading Society!

Discount is available until January 31.

Special New Year Discount

Dear Cozy Reader,

The cozy mystery genre is vast and thriving. Each month, dozens of new cozy mysteries are published—as we’ve seen again and again in our Hot Off the Cozy Press posts.

It’s easy to forget that the conventions of this genre began more than two hundred years ago, and that readers have been enjoying mysteries for just as long.

While writing this month’s TBR Stack, I did a bit of Googling and came across a helpful article on the history of the genre: “A Timeline of Significant Mystery Fiction Milestones.”

I’ll admit—I needed the help. I don’t usually read classic mysteries. I tend to gravitate toward amateur sleuths with heart: characters who go on an emotional journey while solving a mystery. You don’t often find that kind of storytelling with Hercule Poirot or Sherlock Holmes.

Because of that, I usually read more modern cozy mysteries.

That said, reading classic mysteries can be a fascinating glimpse into the foundations of this genre. When I’ve read Agatha Christie, I’ve enjoyed not only the puzzle itself, but also spotting the tropes I know and love.

For this month’s stack, I pulled together the books from that article that intrigued me most—and that I thought you might enjoy too. You’ll find the list below.

I’d love to know which one piques your interest!

—Emma

A quick note: I haven’t read most of these books, so I can’t guarantee the writing style or speak to whether they’re suitable for sensitive readers. I recommend checking the StoryGraph content warnings before diving in.

The Leavenworth Case by Anna Katharine Green (1878)

From the publisher’s description:
“Introducing the first American series detective, Ebenezer Gryce, The Leavenworth Case was published nine years before Sherlock Holmes. It became an enormous success, opening with the shocking murder of wealthy New York merchant Horatio Leavenworth. When evidence appears to implicate his nieces, Gryce finds surprises at every turn—even before a second murder occurs.”

💡This was one of the first American bestsellers, selling over 750,000 copies in its first 15 years!

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle (1887)

From the publisher’s description:
“The first appearance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, A Study in Scarlet follows Watson as he meets Holmes for the first time and becomes both his companion and chronicler. Together, they investigate a mysterious murder at Lauriston Gardens, with Watson documenting Holmes’s astonishing deductive abilities.”

📌This is the first of four full-length Sherlock Holmes novels. If you prefer short stories, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is a great place to start.

Lord Edgware Dies by Agatha Christie (1933)

From the publisher’s description:
“Hercule Poirot hears actress Jane Wilkinson casually boast that she intends to ‘get rid of’ her estranged husband. When Lord Edgware is later found murdered, Poirot is certain something doesn’t add up.”

🧐This is book #9 in the Hercule Poirot series—and one I have read. I really enjoyed it. A classic Christie that kept me guessing until the end.

The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene (1930)

From the publisher’s description:
“Nancy Drew sets out to find a missing will after the unexpected heirs to a fortune raise suspicions. Her search leads her to an old clock that may hold the key—and into an adventure that tests both her intelligence and courage.”

✨This is the first book in the Nancy Drew series, which I loved when I was a kid.

💬 What are your most beloved classic cozy mysteries?
If you’re an Agatha Christie fan, I’d love to know your favorite!

— Emma

Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens. When I’m not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me reading at the beach, wandering the tiled alleys of my new hometown in Portugal, or sipping a delicious cup of hot chocolate.

Other places to find me:

📝You can follow me on Substack Notes.

🔮You can subscribe to my other newsletter, Mystics Reading Society!

Special New Year Discount

Dear Cozy Reader,

A few years ago, I discovered the delight of holiday seasonal reading when I listened to A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens on Christmas Eve. It was so cozy and fun that ever since, I’ve added three or four Christmas books to my November and December reading lists.

Today I’m sharing five that I think are wonderful—well-written, engaging, and heart-warming.

I’ve included a variety of styles so you can find something that matches both your reading taste and your current reading mood.

And since Christmas books often have long library holds this time of year, I included a couple lesser-known titles that will hopefully be available.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (Classic Fantasy)

“Marley was dead to begin with…” You don’t need a plot summary for this one. I’ll just say: I always assume Dickens will be intimidating to read, but this novella is short (three hours on audio) and genuinely delightful. I listen every year, and it always makes me think more deeply, reminds me of generosity, and makes me laugh. If you’re intimidated by classics, this is a surprisingly great starting point. For audiobook readers, I love the versions narrated by Jim Dale (Harry Potter) or Ralph Cosham (Inspector Gamache).

Snowed in for Christmas by Sarah Morgan (Rom-Com / Family Story)

Sarah Morgan has been writing an annual Christmas novel since 2018, and they’re an auto-buy for me. Her newest is Merry Little Lie, but I’m partial to Snowed in for Christmas, where a young businesswoman heads to a client’s family estate in the Scottish Highlands on Christmas Eve… and yes, they get snowed in. Morgan blends rom-com energy with complicated family dynamics. This one leans rom-com, filled with charming characters and winter joy. If you love Netflix Christmas movies, you’ll love this read.

The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan (Cozy Literary Fiction)

Jenny Colgan created one of my favorite female characters with this story: Carmen—cranky, doing her best, not great with kids, loves to read, and genuinely talented at her job in retail. When she gets laid off, she moves in with her sister in Edinburgh and takes a job at a struggling bookshop… while also, somewhat reluctantly, helping with the kids. There’s a love story too. What I adore about it: the vivid Edinburgh setting, the bookish coziness, and that Carmen grows without losing her funny, prickly, lovable self.

A Christmas Spark by Diana Biller (Historical Novella)

Diana Biller writes gorgeous historical fiction/romance (I adored Hotel of Secrets and The Brightest Star in Paris). Her work is literary, atmospheric, and filled with strong heroines. In A Christmas Spark, Winnifred becomes assistant to a scientist, John Moore, in a small Midwestern town in 1843. The “spark” is both literal—she tends to cause small explosions—and metaphorical, because their chemistry is delightful. It’s a short, sweet romance perfect for a burst of winter joy. (Note: There’s lots of chemistry here but no open door spice.)

The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett (Cozy Mystery Novella)

I just finished this one and had a great time with it. It’s a sequel to The Appeal. I haven’t read the first book and still followed everything just fine—though fair warning: this novella won’t tell you who did it in The Appeal, but it will reveal who didn’t do it. The story follows a U.K. local theater group putting on a panto of Jack and the Beanstalk. Told through emails, texts, and news clippings, the mystery unfolds when a skeleton dressed as Santa appears. It starts slowly, but once the production ramps up, it’s very fun and surprisingly propulsive. It’s not a “warm vibes” cozy—lots of unlikeable characters!—so it’s perfect if you want something Christmasy but not saccharine.

💬 Okay, cozy readers—those are my picks! I’d love to hear your favorite Christmas or holiday reads. Share them in the comments! (And if you’re reading this in your email, just click the post title at the top to pop over to the comment section.)

—Emma

Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and just a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens. When I’m not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me reading at the beach, wandering the tiled alleys of my new hometown in Portugal, or sipping a delicious cup of hot chocolate.

👉If you love to read spiritual books don’t miss my other newsletter, Mystics Reading Society. Join us for weekly chapter-by-chapter read alongs. We’re currently reading When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron. Read the most recent post: Three Methods for Working With Chaos

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Dear Cozy Reader,

One of the most delightful surprises in my reading life was discovering Star Wars novels.

Over my adult years, I’ve been steadily undoing the snobbery I picked up during my academic days—the kind that looked down on anything that wasn’t prize-winning literary fiction.

That unlearning began when I read A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole and realized romance novels could be great.

From there, I broadened into the wonderful truth that we all have different reading tastes—and it’s a gift that not every book is for every reader.

Still, despite all my learning and unlearning, I never thought to question my assumptions about media tie-in novels. I believed they couldn’t possibly be good.

Media tie-in novels are books officially connected to TV shows, movies, or video games.

They weren’t even on my radar until I read The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray. It isn’t a media tie-in, but it is a wonderful Austen-inspired cozy mystery. I loved it so much that I explored more of Gray’s work—and discovered she had written several Star Wars novels.

My curiosity was piqued. An author I adored writing Star Wars books? Could they actually be…good??

I picked up her book Lost Stars, a YA novel following two Imperial officers as they move through the major moments of the original Star Wars trilogy: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi.

The characters were earnest teenagers living within a fascist regime—until they grew up and everything became more complicated. There was an underlying romance, plenty of adventure, and the joy of experiencing a familiar world through a fresh point of view. I’ve always loved the Star Wars films, but reading a Star Wars book was surprisingly fun, too.

From there, I dove deeper into the lit-verse—and it is vast. There are hundreds of books with no obvious beginning or end, plus new ones being published all the time. There are forums upon forums, and entire websites dedicated to helping readers navigate it.

I learned a lot, but the most important discovery was this: many of these books are great—perfect for readers who love charming science-fiction with strong characters and marvellous adventures.

Since the lit-verse is so big, I decided to share the highlights of what I learned for anyone curious about giving it a try.

Below, you’ll find my beginner’s guide to Star Wars novels, including the information that helped me most and my recommendations for where to begin.

Enjoy! I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. And yes—I’ve also dipped my toes into Star Trek novels. If you’d like a Star Trek lit-verse guide too, let me know!

—Emma

A Beginner’s Guide to Star Wars Novels

Things to Know

Note: Everything I know about Star Wars novels comes from Reddit threads, forums, and Youtini.

The first thing to know: the books fall into two main branches.

Legends

These books were published before Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2014. They usually have a gold Legends banner on the cover.

Canon

These books were published after 2014 under Disney. They all share the same timeline and agree on the same facts of the Star Wars universe.

This split was…controversial. If you ever want to read rage-filled forums for fun, look up debates about Legends vs. Canon.

Canon books fall into specific Star Wars eras

• The High Republic — A couple hundred years before the films, when the Jedi were at the height of their power.

• Fall of the Jedi — Leading up to the prequels (yes, the ones with Jar Jar).

• Reign of the Empire — Leading up to the original trilogy, featuring young Han, Leia, and Luke.

• Age of Rebellion — Set during the original trilogy.

• New Republic — After the fall of the Empire.

• Rise of the First Order — Leading up to the most recent trilogy with older Han, Leia, and Luke.

To see the books sorted by timeline, you can visit Youtini’s Chronological Order page.

Bookish Details

These novels span age categories: middle grade, YA, and adult.

There are also comics and graphic novels, which I’m not covering here, because I haven’t read them.

The audiobooks include ambient soundscapes—ships blasting off, cantina chatter, or lightsabers humming. I love this, but it’s not for everyone.

Where to Start Reading

There are many ways to jump into this lit-verse. Here are a few based on what kind of reader you are and what you love about Star Wars.

If you love reading in chronological order

Start with Youtini’s canon reading list.

If you have favorite characters

Pick books featuring those characters. Here are a few:

• Qui-Gon Jinn & Obi-Wan Kenobi: Master & Apprentice by Claudia Gray

• Anakin Skywalker & Obi-Wan Kenobi: Brotherhood by Mike Chen

• Padmé Amidala: Queen’s Shadow by E.K. Johnston

• Luke Skywalker: Heir to the Jedi by Kevin Hearne

• Han Solo & Princess Leia: The Princess and the Scoundrel by Beth Revis

• Poe Dameron, Rey, and Finn: Resistance Reborn by Rebecca Roanhorse

If you follow favorite authors

See if any authors you already love have written Star Wars books. Disney has brought in some truly fantastic writers.

Here’s a short list, along with the titles you might recognize from their other work.

• Claudia Gray — The Murder of Mr. Wickham

• Mike Chen — Here and Now and Then

• Beth Revis — Full Speed to a Crash Landing

• Zoraida Córdova — Kiss the Girl

• Rebecca Roanhorse — Black Sun

• E.K. Johnston — That Inevitable Victorian Thing

If you just want an excellent story

Start with my two favorites.

• Lost Stars by Claudia Gray — Two Imperial officers move through the major moments of the original Star Wars trilogy.

• Bloodline by Claudia Gray — Princess Leia is ready to retire from the Senate… except for one last mission she can’t walk away from.

Do you have thoughts to add? Questions? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens. When I’m not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me reading at the beach, wandering the tiled alleys of my new hometown in Portugal, or sipping a delicious cup of hot chocolate.

Other places to connect:

👉Follow Sleuth Hero Alien on Instagram—@sleuthheroalien

👉If you love to read spiritual books don’t miss my other newsletter, Mystics Reading Society. Join us for weekly chapter-by-chapter read alongs. We’re currently reading When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron. Read the most recent post: Servants of Peace

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Dear Cozy Reader,

It’s November—and I’ve been having so much fun reading witchy books this season! This month, we’re focusing on charming science fiction novels, which isn’t a genre known for its witchy vibes. However, I thought it would be fun to share some science fiction / fantasy mash-ups, or science fantasy novels.

These are novels that blend both technology and magic. They might not have witches specifically, but they have that fun mystical vibe. Star Wars is the best example of this. It has spaceships and lasers, but it also has Jedis and the Force.

Personally, I enjoy genre mash-ups, because they add depth and fun to a story. For example, I love Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller. It’s a great romance / mystery / historical fiction. You find yourself at a hotel in Vienna in the 1800s, in the middle of a spy mystery with the protagonists both falling in love and getting shot at. Yes, please!

The books I’m sharing today fall into a couple of categories. They are novels set in science fiction worlds with a mystical side or fantasies that feature a science element.

I hope you enjoy this list. Let me know which ones are going on your TBR!

—Emma

P.S. Keep an eye on your email next week, when we’ll do something I’ve been waiting to do for a long time—an introduction to Star Wars novels!!

The Cozy Scale

Each of the books I share, below, will have a rating on the Cozy Scale.

☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️ Pure Comfort Read: Soft and cozy through and through.

☕️☕️☕️☕️ Mildly Stirred: The story may reference danger, loss, or conflict, but it happens gently and usually off-page.

☕️☕️☕️ Cozy with Depth: Contains moderate emotional or thematic tension, but they’re handled with care and resolution.

☕️☕️ Tender but Heavy: Emotionally stirring, but hopeful. Explores hard emotions—trauma, injustice, grief, or recovery—without graphic depictions.

☕️ The Edge of Cozy—Touches darkness or existential themes, but without crossing into horror or explicit violence.

Science Fiction With a Mystical Side

☕️☕️☕️ Star Wars: Master & Apprentice by Claudia Gray

Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan struggle with their relationship as master and apprentice, while on a mission to a dangerous planet.

• Things to love: Background in Jedi life and descriptions of the Force, great exploration of these two characters, features lovable rascals and daring adventures.

• Things to consider: If you love Star Wars, I think you’ll probably love this one, and I definitely recommend reading it on audio.

• What makes it science fantasy? Although Star Wars takes place in space with lasers and spaceships, the Jedi and the Force add the fantasy element.

☕️☕️☕️☕️ Destiny’s Song by Audrey Faye

Lakisha is a Singer, who can use the vibrations of her song to either soothe or disrupt the flow of the universe. She’s sent on assignment to a backwater planet, where she meets her biggest challenge yet.

• Things to love: The witchy and spiritual powers of Singing, a sweet romance, and lovable small town characters.

• Things to consider: This one goes more directly into the mystical, we’re talking chakras, energy, and all the woo-woo, which I love, but it isn’t for everyone.

• What makes it science fantasy? Lakisha has mystical powers, but the story is set in a science fiction world with travel to other planets, spaceships, and future tech.

☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers

Sibling Dex has had enough of the city, so they decide to quit being a garden monk to pursue a new dream of becoming a tea monk. It goes well, until one day they meet a robot, and their life is never the same.

• Things to love: Mosscap, the robot, is the sweetest most inquisitive character ever. Dex’s struggle with purpose and their place in the world is real. It’s a thought-provoking and beautiful read.

• Things to consider: This is a slow and thoughtful novella, less adventure and more philosophy. It’s perfect for when you’re in the mood for drinking tea and pondering.

• What makes it science fantasy? Psalm is more purely science fiction than the other books on this list. It explores robots and sentience without magic; however, there is a rich exploration of spirituality and a polytheistic spiritual tradition.

Fantasy With a Touch of Science

☕️☕️ Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

Emily Wilde is an academic studying faeries on a research trip in Norway. She’s devoted to her work, but then Bambleby, her very annoying colleague, shows up, and her plans go awry.

• Things to love: Emily and Bambelby’s relationship, which has lots of fun banter, faerie mythology, academic narrative voice, so many faeries!

• Things to consider: This comes up on a lot of cozy lists, and I mostly agree, because it is interesting and delightful. However, there is at least one graphic scene of violence, and some lightly disturbing scenes in the faerie world. If you want absolutely nothing disturbing in your cozies, then you might need to skim a few scenes.

• What makes it science fantasy? The story is told through Emily’s academic journals of her trip, and her voice is that of an academic and a scientist.

☕️☕️☕️Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennon

This is the fictional memoir of Lady Trent, a dragon naturalist in a Victorian-inspired fantasy world. The first book in the series tells the tale of a group of scientists, including her, going to a cold land in search of a rarely seen dragon.

• Things to love: A strong female character, an adventure set in a historical fantasy world, dragons.

• Things to consider: I liked the story, but I didn’t love Lady Trent’s character. She was a little too high-class and snobby for my tastes, but other than that it was a fun read.

• What makes it science fantasy? Like Emily Wilde, Lady Trent is a naturalist studying fantastical creatures. Although, this one reads less like a fantasy novel and more like a naturalist’s memoir.

Pure Science Fantasy but Not Cozy

All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders

“An ancient society of witches and a hipster technological startup go to war in order to prevent the world from tearing itself apart. To further complicate things, each of the groups’ most promising followers (Patricia, a brilliant witch and Laurence, an engineering “wunderkind”) may just be in love with each other.”

—from the publisher’s description

• I read this so long ago that I don’t remember all the details of what to love or consider. However, I wanted to add this to the list, because it was written very intentionally as a genre mash-up about how magic and science can come together, or not.

• I do remember getting so lost and absorbed in the story that I didn’t know who or where I was when I closed the book. Charlie Jane Anders is an amazing writer!

💬What are you favorite science fantasies? Did I miss any great ones? Which of these books will you add to your TBR? Let me know in the comments!

—Emma

Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens. When I’m not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me reading at the beach, wandering the tiled alleys of my new hometown in Portugal, or sipping a delicious cup of hot chocolate.

Other places to connect:

👉Follow Sleuth Hero Alien on Instagram—@sleuthheroalien

👉If you love to read spiritual books don’t miss my other newsletter, Mystics Reading Society. Join us for weekly chapter-by-chapter read alongs. We’re currently reading When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron. Read the most recent post: Going Against the Grain.

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Dear Cozy Reader,

This week, I’m reading Cat Dragon, a new cozy fantasy by Samantha Birch. This one is comparable to books like The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst or Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne. I’ve been looking forward to it, and so far, it’s been a delight.

There is so much coziness right from the very start. In the opening scene, Aloysia (A-lo-wish-a), a magicobotanist and witch, is sitting in the pumpkin patch of her farm, carving pumpkins, but these aren’t just any pumpkins. They’re “prattling pumpkins”, ancestors reincarnated in pumpkin form, who come back each autumn to guide (read: pester) their descendants. The scene is sweet and funny, and it draws you right into this cozy fantasy world.

The story then brings the reader along to all of Aloysia’s usual stops around the farm. We go from the cockatrice coop (where a dragon egg is hatching), to her comfortably untidy cottage, and to the greenhouse overflowing with magical plants. We meet Crow, Aloysia’s snarky bird companion, and we go into town to the Cat Dragon shop, where furry cats with wings and extra sharp teeth cause adorable chaos.

The beginning meanders through this cozy world. It’s delightful, but after a while, the coziness goes on for so long I had to ask myself if it might be too cozy. I didn’t think such a thing could exist for me as a reader, but amongst all this comfort and charm, not much was happening. My attention drifted. I considered DNFing, but then something finally did happen.

Aloysia attends the annual harvest festival, where the Guardian of the valley’s magic returns every year. The Guardian is a giant dendritic dragon composed of many twisting vines and branches, and on its way to the festival, it does something unexpected. It turns off the path and rampages towards Aloysia’s farm.

Now here was something interesting—an event that forces Aloysia to take make a choice and take action. The story gets better when the choice she makes changes her life, leading her on a dangerous journey with the very handsome but irritating brother of her best friend.

I sighed in relief because I wanted to read more about this cozy fantasy world with magical plants, cat dragons, and talking crows. But for me, no matter how cozy a book is, I need to be interested in what’s happening to keep reading.

This is a line all cozy books need to walk. The line between creating a comforting story that doesn’t overwhelm the reader with fear, sadness, or grossness, but is still fun to read because the story itself hooks you.

Once the adventure begins, Cat Dragon does a great job with this. I’m still reading it, and there was just a very sweet scene where a cat dragon swats a magical butterfly that sprinkles dust and makes the cat dragon sneeze. And right after that there’s a scene where Aloysia fights a werewolf with poisonous lichen fur.

There’s much to make you feel cuddly here, but you definitely want to turn those pages. And for me, that is what makes a great cozy fantasy.

What about you? Do you prefer more action in your cozy reads, or do you delight in all the comfort without the adrenaline?

—Emma

Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens. When I’m not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me reading at the beach, wandering the tiled alleys of my new hometown in Portugal, or sipping a delicious cup of hot chocolate.

Other places to connect:

👉Follow me on Instagram for photos of adventures and books. I am @ReadingInPortugal. I recently shared You Can Be a Homebody and a Traveler.

👉If you love to read spiritual books don’t miss my other newsletter, Mystics Reading Society. Join us for weekly chapter-by-chapter read alongs. We’re currently reading When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron. Read the most recent post: Widening the Circle of Compassion

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Dear Cozy Reader,

It’s October—and we’re well and truly in witchy season! Today, I’m sharing a curated list of five delightful cozy witch fantasy novels to help you sink into the magic of the season.

Of course, there are countless cozy witch stories out there (and more being conjured up all the time), but sometimes it’s nice to narrow the options just a bit. These are books I’ve personally read, enjoyed, and recommend.

I hope you’re savoring autumn and soaking up all the cozy and spooky vibes!

—Emma

Introducing the Cozy Scale

I’m trying something new—The Cozy Scale. A five-teapot guide to how gentle (or emotionally intense) a story feels. This isn’t about literary quality—it’s about how safe, soothing, and emotionally cozy the reading experience is.

Each of the books I share, below, will have a rating on the Cozy Scale.

☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️ Pure Comfort Read: Soft and cozy through and through.

☕️☕️☕️☕️ Mildly Stirred: The story may reference danger, loss, or conflict, but it happens gently and usually off-page.

☕️☕️☕️ Cozy with Depth: Contains moderate emotional or thematic tension, but they’re handled with care and resolution.

☕️☕️ Tender but Heavy: Emotionally stirring, but hopeful. Explores hard emotions—trauma, injustice, grief, or recovery—in more detail, though still without graphic depictions.

☕️ The Edge of Cozy—Touches darkness or existential themes, but without crossing into horror or explicit violence. The book may sit on the border of cozy, but it ultimately offers meaning, connection, or light at the end.

The House Witch by Delemhach ☕️☕️☕️☕️

A super fun story about a kitchen witch who has to hide his magic while cooking at the castle.

• Things to love: Loveable characters, fun plot, a long story you can sink your teeth into, sweet romance, lots of silliness

• Things to consider: Explores a couple of hard topics, especially childhood abuse and bullying, but the majority of the book is cozy

The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett ☕️☕️☕️

A middle-grade magical retelling of Anne of Green Gables, where Grace must learn 100½ spells or the witch will send her back to the orphanage.

• Things to love: The race to learn all the spells, friendships blossoming along the way, a sweet and love-able main character

• Things to consider: It’s middle-grade, so it doesn’t get truly scary, but it isn’t purely cozy vibes, either. Things get hard for Grace, but also good.

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett☕️☕️☕️☕️

A Discworld novel about Tiffany Aching, a young witch-to-be, who must save the warm, green Chalk country of her home from the monsters of fairy-land.

• Things to love: The wee free men, who are an absolute delight, Tiffany Aching’s gumption, Terry Pratchett’s bonkers but joyful narrative style

• Things to consider: Read this one on audio if you can!

Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper☕️☕️☕️

Emmy Harlow returns home to arbitrate the traditional spell casting tournament that decides the most powerful family in Thistle Grove. Except, she and her friends have made a compact that it will be anybody but Gareth Blackmoore.

• Things to love: All the magic in Thistle Grove, Emmy’s queer romance, the magical action scenes

• Things to consider: This is a fun and witchy romance novel, and there are a couple short spicy scenes.

Lessons in Magic and Disaster by Charlie Jane Anders ☕️☕️

Jaime is a secret witch, and after six years of little contact with her mother, she decides to teach her how to do magic. However, Jaime has forgotten her mother is someone she can’t control.

• Things to love: Autumn in the Boston area, academia vibes, queer relationships, quiet and beautifully crafted characters, a magic system you feel like you could go out and actually do

• Things to consider: This is a quiet exploration of grief in a small family, where one of Jaime’s mothers has died of cancer. It also explores what it’s like to be a struggling grad student. I put this one on the list, because it’s cozy in that rainy day kind of way, where clouds are hanging in the sky, and you just want to wrap yourself up in a blanket and be melancholy but also think about magic. It’s a great autumn read if you’re looking for quiet depth.

Which of these witchy fantasy novels will you add to your TBR? Are there any you love that aren’t on the list? Let me know in the comments!

—Emma

Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens. When I’m not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me reading at the beach, wandering the tiled alleys of my new hometown in Portugal, or sipping a delicious cup of hot chocolate.

👉📸📚Follow me on Instagram for photos of adventures and books. I’m @ReadingInPortugal. I recently shared the 12 Books I Brought to Portugal.

👉🔮📜You might also enjoy my other bookish newsletter, 🔮Mystics Reading Society. Join us for weekly chapter-by-chapter read alongs of spiritual books. We’re currently reading When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron. Read the most recent post: Growing Up

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Dear Cozy Reader,

Here’s the thing about witches: they can be anything. They can be your worst nightmare, your fairy godmother, or your fun friend. They can be powerful beyond compare, a grandmother cottage witch who talks to plants, or a newbie stumbling through their very first spell.

Because witches have so much range, they show up in every genre: horror, romance, mystery, fantasy—even sci-fi.

And once they’re in a book, they amplify whatever vibe you’re already reading. Drop a witch into a horror novel, and you can get some truly terrifying stuff. Place them in a cozy, and suddenly you’re on a charming island with a sentient spider plant, brewing adorable potions to sell to the townspeople. (The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst)

Even though witches can be the dark fiend haunting the scariest stories, they can also be the coziest of delights. Which is why you’ll find them all over the cozy world.

This month, I read Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sanders, a cozy mystery about a librarian who gets into trouble at her job at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. She flees to a small town in Oregon to become the local librarian there. But on her very first day, she finds a dead body in the woods. Then, following the well-loved trope of all cozy mysteries, she decides to solve the case herself.

To add an extra layer of mystery, strange and mystical things immediately start happening to her.

⛔️📚✨⛔️Spoilers Ahead. ⛔️📚✨⛔️

I won’t give away the murder mystery, but because I want to talk about witches, I am going to describe the kind of magic the main character has. In the book, this is a slow reveal.

Namely, the books start talking to her. As patrons come into the library, the titles of the perfect books for them pop into her head, and she knows exactly where they are on the shelves—even though it’s her very first day.

If you want to heighten the joy of a cozy, bookish mystery set in a library, what better way than to make your main character a witch with a magic power that is entirely book-focused? And her gift is one every book lover secretly longs for.

How often have I wished the perfect book for my mood would appear in my mind unbidden?

In her case, library books also keep appearing on her nightstand—books that conveniently lead her toward solving the many little mysteries that crop up in her new home town.

Because witches can be anything, this book gives us exactly the kind of cozy, mysterious, bookish witch of a reader’s dreams, at least of this reader’s dreams.

When I first thought of choosing witches as our autumn theme, I wondered how cozy the books could really be—especially thinking about the common sinister trope of a coven drawing a pentagram on the floor and summoning dark forces, as so many other stories highlight.

However, it’s been so much fun to explore cozy books with witches, because these authors have created truly delightful kinds of magic that only enhance the cozy vibes.

💬✨ What’s your favorite kind of cozy magic you’ve ever come across in a book?

—Emma

P.S. Learn about five more delightful witchy cozy mysteries here!

Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and just a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens. When I’m not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me reading at the beach, wandering the tiled alleys of my new hometown in Portugal, or sipping a delicious cup of hot chocolate.

👉📸📚Follow me on Instagram at ReadingInPortugal.

You might enjoy my other bookish newsletter:

🔮Mystics Reading Society—Join us for a weekly chapter-by-chapter exploration of spiritual books, where wisdom and personal growth intertwine one page at a time. We’re currently reading When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron. Read the most recent post: Why We’re Reading When Things Fall Apart

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Dear Cozy Reader,

We’re on the countdown to October, Halloween, and all things witchy, spooky, and fun. This autumn, we’re celebrating Witches in Cozy Lit, and I’ve put together a special book stack for your autumn TBR (to be read list).

Today’s picks are cozy mysteries with a witchy, paranormal twist. And wow—when I started looking into this sub-genre, I quickly realized just how huge it is. There are so many witchy cozies out there!

Instead of overwhelming us with a giant list, I decided to do some hands-on research. I read the first chapters of a bunch of them and narrowed things down to five that immediately pulled me in: cozy, fun, and page-turning right from the start.

Here are my witchy cozy mystery picks for our Sleuth Hero Alien community. Since I haven’t read beyond chapter one yet, I can’t speak to full content warnings, so I recommend checking StoryGraph if you want details. And let me know in the comments which ones you’re most excited about!

Bonus trope: almost all of these witchy mysteries feature cats—sometimes more than one! 🐾✨

Hexes and Hush Money by Hazel Caraway

Publish date: September 9, 2025
Series: The Cat Café Witch Mystery series

My thoughts:
This one just came out, and I actually featured it in our September Hot Off the Cozy Press list. I’ve started reading it, and it’s hitting all the fun cozy tropes—plus magic right away! The Catnip Café is the heart of the town, run by Ivy, our main character (and witch). From quirky neighbors to a lively psychic grandma, the cast is instantly charming. And a cat café with a witch at the helm? Yes, please.

Publisher description:

For witch Ivy Rowan, life at the Catnip Café is a magical dream, right down to her purring familiar, Hex. But when a ruthless developer is murdered behind her shop—and the town’s restoration fund vanishes with him—Ivy’s dream becomes a waking nightmare.

The sheriff wants her to stick to frothing milk, but she can't when damning gold coins appear at her tables and a rival is struck down by a hexed cappuccino. With Hex suddenly kidnapped, Ivy must act.

To save her familiar and her freedom, she must unravel a century-old money-binding spell to unmask a modern-day killer—before the next cup she pours is her own last rites.

In the Company of Witches by Auralee Wallace

Publish date: October 19, 2021
Series: Evenfall Witches B&B

My thoughts:
This one pulled me in fast—the mystery is set up by the end of chapter one. There’s witty banter between Brynn (our main character) and her aunts, and the setting is autumn in Massachusetts, in a Victorian B&B. Perfect fall vibes! Bonus: a beautiful black Maine Coon cat. If you’re doing our cozy reading challenge, this one ticks the “hotel” setting box.

Publisher description:

For four hundred years, the Warren witches have used their magic to quietly help the citizens of the sleepy New England town of Evenfall thrive. There’s never been a problem they couldn’t handle. But then Constance Graves—a local known for being argumentative and demanding—dies while staying at the bed and breakfast Brynn Warren maintains with her aunts. At first, it seems like an accident…but it soon becomes clear that there’s something more sinister at work, and Aunt Nora is shaping up to be the prime suspect.

There’s nothing Brynn wants more than to prove Nora’s innocence, and it hurts her to know that even two years ago that might have been easier. Brynn, after all, is a witch of the dead—a witch who can commune with ghosts. Ghosts never remember much about their deaths, but Constance might remember something about her life that would help crack the case. But Brynn hasn’t used her powers since her husband died, and isn’t even sure she still can. Brynn will just have to hope that her aunts’ magic and her own investigative skills will lead her to answers–and maybe back to the gift she once thought herself ready to give up forever.

A Familiar Tail by Delia James

Publish date: February 2, 2016
Series: A Witch’s Cat Mystery

My thoughts:
This one was extra fun for me because it’s set in Portsmouth, NH, where I lived for about ten years. It’s always a delight when a cozy mystery takes you back to a familiar place. The opening is thoughtful, with just a touch of paranormal woven in, and chapter one ends with the appearance of a mysterious cat—so of course I wanted to keep going.

Pulisher description:

Unlucky-in-love artist Annabelle Britton decides that a visit to the seaside town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is the perfect way to get over her problems. But when she stumbles upon a smoky gray cat named Alastair, and follows him into a charming cottage, Annabelle finds herself in a whole spellbook full of trouble.

Suddenly saddled with a witch's wand and a furry familiar, Annabelle soon meets a friendly group of women who use their spells, charms, and potions to keep the people of Portsmouth safe. But despite their gifts, the witches can't prevent every wicked deed in town....

Soon, the mystery surrounding Alistair's former owner, who died under unusual circumstances, grows when another local turns up dead. Armed with magic, friends, and the charmed cat who adopted her more than the other way around, Annabelle sets out to paw through the evidence and uncover a killer.

The Accidental Alchemist by Gigi Pandian

Publish date: January 8, 2015
Series: The Accidental Alchemist Mysteries

My thoughts:
I love the spin this one takes on the paranormal cozy setup: a four-hundred-year-old alchemist living in Portland, Oregon…with a living gargoyle sidekick! The atmosphere is steeped in herbs, tea, glass jars, and a personal library of magical materials that feels like witchy heaven.

Publisher description:

When Zoe Faust—herbalist, alchemist, and recent transplant to Portland, Oregon—begins unpacking her bags, she can't help but notice she's picked up a stow away: a living, breathing, three-and-half-foot gargoyle. Dorian Robert-Houdin is no simple automaton, nor is he a homunculus; in fact, he needs Zoe's help to decipher a centuries-old text that explains exactly what he is. Zoe, who's trying to put her alchemical life behind her, isn't so sure she can help. But after a murder victim is discovered on her front porch, Zoe realized she's tangled up in ancient intrigue that can't be ignored.

Curiosity Thrilled the Cat by Sofie Kelly

Publish date: February 1, 2011
Series: Magical Cats Mystery

My thoughts:
This one is pure cozy fun. It has a small-town library, a local restoration project, and—of course—cats. I also loved the little peek at early-2010s library tech (when some small towns were still getting computerized). Owen and Hercules, the two cats, are especially charming—I can already tell they’ll be favorites.

Publisher Description:

When librarian Kathleen Paulson moved to Mayville Heights, Minnesota, she had no idea that two strays would nuzzle their way into her life. Owen is a tabby with a catnip addiction and Hercules is a stocky tuxedo cat who shares Kathleen's fondness for Barry Manilow. But beyond all the fur and purrs, there's something more to these kitties.

When murder interrupts Mayville’s Wild Rose Summer Music Festival, Kathleen finds herself the prime suspect. More stunning is her realization that Owen and Hercules are truly special—perhaps even magical. Now, with a little legwork from her four-legged friends, Kathleen may be able to solve this purr-fect murder...

Which of these paranormal cozy mysteries are you adding to your TBR? Are there any you love that you wish were on the list? Let me know in the comments!

—Emma

Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and just a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens. When I’m not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me reading at the beach, wandering the tiled alleys of my new hometown in Portugal, or sipping a delicious cup of hot chocolate.

You might enjoy my other bookish newsletters:

🔮Mystics Reading Society—A vibrant community of seekers who read with both heart and spirit, weaving wisdom from spiritual books into everyday life. We’re currently reading When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron. Read the most recent post: Six Types of Loneliness

🌊Reading in Portugal —Curious about life abroad? Join me as I share my reading life and adventures. Read the most recent post: 3 Weeks in Portugal

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Dear Cozy Reader,

This month, I scoured the internet for science fiction books with a tea theme that also promised a charming or cozy vibe. There definitely aren’t as many tea-ish science fiction books as cozy mysteries or fantasies—but there is one beloved favorite (that many of you have probably read or at least heard of) and two others that were new to me. I read or browsed all three this week, and here are my thoughts.

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers (Monk & Robot #1)

Published in 2020, this book is gorgeous, calm, cozy, and steeped in the healing spirit of tea.

I’ve read it multiple times—it’s even on my nighttime rotation of audiobooks I fall asleep to. When I picked it up again this week, I was immediately reminded: “Ah! This book is so good!”

The story follows Sibling Dex, a monk on the world of Panga. Though they have a beautiful city life as a Garden Monk, Dex longs for something different. They leave it all behind to become a traveling tea monk in the nature-filled villages outside the city.

The opening chapters brim with herbs, comfy cushions, and villagers seeking comfort and rest with a cup of tea. But the book soon expands into a bigger journey—an unlikely friendship with a robot, and reflections on peace, purpose, sapience, and the way tea can hold space for our meltdowns.

It’s contemplative, tender, and truly beautiful. If you haven’t yet read this highly popular book, it’s absolutely worth picking up.

The Cybernetic Tea Shop by Meredith Katz

This novella was new to me, and it made for a lovely afternoon of reading.

Sal, a sapient robot, has been running the Cybernetic Teashop for nearly 300 years. Clara, an AI technician, has devoted her time to studying sapience and the ethics of the now-outlawed sapient AI.

Together, their story brings us tea, love, grief, rain, endings, and beginnings. It’s cozy the way a cloudy, rainy day in Seattle can be cozy—just a little sad but also thoughtful and sweet.

The joy of tea is woven into the Cybernetic Teashop itself: mismatched cups and pots, trays of baked goods, faded photos of royalty on the walls. The contemplative stillness of a cup of tea is infused into the narrative voice as well.

If you’re looking for a slow, gentle, rainy-day read, this one’s for you.

The Tea Master and the Detective by Aliette de Bodard

The title to this one hooked me, but I’ll be honest: I ended up DNF’ing it (Did Not Finish). It’s beautifully written, but it just wasn’t for me—though it might be perfect for you.

Here’s the premise: a detective hires a mindship (a human biologically merged with a ship) to brew a concoction that will keep her alert in a strange, disorienting area of deep space. Together, they travel there to search for a corpse.

For me, three things made it less than cozy:

• The human-merged-with-ship trope, which always unsettles me.

• The mind-altering, time-bending trippiness of the setting (I read too closely and ended up feeling trippy myself).

• The corpse hunt, which tipped the story from thoughtful into disturbing.

And while tea is present, it’s not the comforting herbs and steaming mugs of the other books—it’s more mind-altering brews, which didn’t feel cozy to me.

That said, it’s smart, sharp, and atmospheric, and if any of the elements I listed above intrigue you, you’ll probably love it!

✨ That’s my roundup of sci-fi tea reads!
What about you—have you read any of these? Do you have other tea-themed (or cozy-adjacent) sci-fi recs?

—Emma

Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and just a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens. When I’m not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me reading at the beach, wandering the tiled alleys of my new hometown in Portugal, or sipping a delicious cup of hot chocolate.

You might also enjoy my other bookish newsletters:

🔮Mystics Reading Society—a welcoming space where books, personal growth, and magic intertwine, nurturing your soul one chapter at a time. Read the most recent post: Not Causing Harm

🌊Curious about life abroad? Check out Reading in Portugal to follow my adventures. Read the most recent post: 3 Weeks in Portugal

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Hi Cozy Readers,

How is your summer going? We’re now squarely at the midpoint, with heat waves rolling in and out. Have you found any good books to read? Have you enjoyed some time reading outside? I’d love to hear about it!

Right now, I’m in the thick of moving. My days are full of packing, decluttering, and tackling all sorts of life admin. Still, I’ve been carving out at least half an hour most mornings to read—because in stressful times, I want to make sure there’s still a bit of daily pleasure that brings me back to myself.

This month, I’ve been hunting for cozy fantasies that feature tea. And good news: there are quite a few!

My first pick was The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy Savinski. This historical, witchy tale takes place in late-1800s Chicago, where three sisters have opened a tearoom.

But these sisters are also witches with the gift of divination. So their tearoom isn’t just about the joy of sipping tea—it’s also a place for tasseomancy, the art of reading tea leaves to glimpse the future. The story centers around a pivotal moment in their lives, as they face a curse, an impossible task from the council of witches, and the pull of passions that might lead them away from one another.

I’m currently halfway through, and while I don’t think I’ll finish it right now, I’m still glad I picked it up—it’s offered some beautiful, cozy moments when I needed them. And even though the pacing is slower than what I’m craving at this particular moment in life, it still has an adorable sentient house and a time-traveling cat (!)—so if you love slow, ethereal, character-rich stories, this one might be perfect for you.

Now, let’s talk about the tea—because that is something I’ve truly loved in this book. The sensory details are delightful: the scent of herbs wafting through the house, the clatter of teapots, and women in elegant dresses sipping tea as they await their readings. Here’s a favorite quote:

“Time at the Crescent Moon continued to turn, and before anyone thought to notice, summer slipped ever so slowly into autumn. The house took all the light linens that had still been resting against some of the more comfortable chairs in the parlors and exchanged them for thick woolen blankets that customers could use to ward off the brutal Chicago chill. Then it collected the floral decorations that were lingering in the corners of the shop and replaced them with dried marigolds, crisp red and brown leaves, and cinnamon sticks.

The customers certainly noted the difference with a surge of delight. They lingered in the threshold of the shop just a moment longer to savor the first whiff of cloves and cardamom and then sank into their chairs in a way that suggested they would order a second pot of tea and enjoy the present company a tad longer than originally planned.”

—Stacy Savinski, The Crescent Moon Tearoom

It’s a sensory-rich, witchy fantasy that weaves tea into every corner—even as the story stretches into the world of circuses, writing, and deeper forms of divination.

The second book I picked up was The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill. This is a middle-grade graphic novel series (currently three books) about a young girl, the daughter of a blacksmith, who stumbles upon a tea dragon house in the woods. Tea dragons are small, adorable creatures—with tea leaves and flowers growing from their antlers—though they’re known to give a playful nip now and then.

This book has been recommended to me so many times, and I finally picked it up. I’m so glad I did—it’s completely charming. The artwork is cozy and calming, and the story is full of warmth. There’s plenty of tea-drinking on the page too, with lovely teapots, wisps of steam turning into memories, and the quiet joy of being in community.

If you’re looking for a gentle, tea ritual experience wrapped in adorable magic, this is a perfect read—especially for a quiet afternoon when you want something soul-soothing and beautifully illustrated.

☕ So those are the tea-ish cozy fantasies I wandered into this month. Have you read anything recently that made you want to brew a pot of tea or curl up in a quiet nook? I’d love to hear your tea-themed book recs—or anything cozy you’ve loved lately!

—Emma

Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens! When I'm not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me crafting fictional tales in my notebooks, spending quality time with my adorable pet bunny, or savoring a steaming cup of hot chocolate.

You might also enjoy my other newsletter, Mystics Reading Society, a welcoming space where books, personal growth, and magic intertwine, nurturing your soul one page at a time. We’re currently slow reading When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron. Join us as we study one chapter at a time. Read the most recent post here: This Very Moment is the Perfect Teacher

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Dear Cozy Reader,

After finishing Tea & Treachery by Vicki Delany—with its British seaside tearooms, fine china, and delicate finger sandwiches—I found myself craving something a little… witchier.

While I appreciate the aesthetic of that world, it’s never quite felt like mine. I’m much more of a witchy tea drinker.

Give me herbal infusions steeped with intention. Medicinal blends that support the body and spirit. Mugs that are sturdy and warm to the touch, and teapots that feel like they’ve brewed spells. One of my favorite classes I ever took was Herbal Medicine Making with the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine. It taught me how to blend teas for most ailments—and honestly, it felt like learning modern-day potion-making.

This kind of tea isn’t shiny or dainty—it’s earthy, wild, and wise. It’s more down-home cottage witch, with bundles of herbs hanging from the rafters and steam curling from a heavy clay mug.

So today, I’m offering you a list of witchy tea-themed fantasy books—stories where tea isn’t just a beverage, but part of the magic, the mystery, and the cozy heart of the tale.

I’ve read at least the first chapter of each of these to get the vibe, and I’ve included quotes from the publishers' descriptions along with my own impressions—so you can see if one is calling your name.

🍵✨ Witchy Tea Reads for Your TBR ✨🍵

🫖 Crescent Moon Tea Room by Stacy Sivinski
Series: The Spellbound Sisters

“Ever since the untimely death of their parents, Anne, Beatrix, and Violet Quigley have made a business of threading together the stories that rest in the swirls of ginger, cloves, and cardamom that lie at the bottom of their customers’ cups... That is, until the Council of Witches comes calling with news that the city Diviner has lost her powers, and the sisters suddenly find themselves being pulled in different directions.”

This is my current audiobook read. I’m a few chapters in and loving it. It’s historical fiction set in late 1800s Chicago, complete with a sentient house, a time-traveling cat, and three witches who divine fortunes in tea leaves. The vibe is ethereal and fairytale-like—cozy but with deeper themes.

📚 Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne
Series: Tomes & Tea

“All Reyna and Kianthe want is to open a bookshop that serves tea… Thing is, Reyna works as one of the Queen’s private guards, and Kianthe is the most powerful mage in existence. Leaving their lives isn’t so easy… But together, they settle in Tawney, a town nestled in the icy tundra near dragon country, and open the shop of their dreams.”

This series is becoming one of my cozy fantasy favorites. Book 3, Tea You at the Altar, is next up on my TBR! These are slow-burn stories with lovable characters, fun banter, and fantasy plots that blossom into adventures. There’s less tea content than I hoped for, but still plenty of delicious scenes of tea sipping and herb sorting. Reyna has a tea for every mood, and Kianthe is delightfully book-obsessed. Cozy goals.

🍋 Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop by Roselle Lim

“Vanessa Yu never wanted to see people’s fortunes—or misfortunes—in tea leaves. Ever since she can remember, Vanessa has been able to see people’s futures at the bottom of their teacups. To avoid blurting out fortunes, she converts to coffee, but somehow fortunes escape and find a way to complicate her life and the ones of those around her.”

I read the first chapter of this one and was immediately hooked. Vanessa's voice is strong from the start, and the premise—fortunes slipping out of her mouth uninvited—is both funny and poignant. The family dynamics are rich, and I can’t wait to see what happens when she heads to Paris to learn from her mystical aunt. This one feels like tea-leaf divination meets romantic magical realism.

👑 A Coup of Tea by Casey Blair
Series: Tea Princess Chronicles

“When the fourth princess of Istalam is due to dedicate herself to a path of serving the crown, she makes a choice that shocks everyone—herself most of all: she leaves. In hiding and exiled from power, Miyara finds her place running a tea shop in a struggling community that sits on the edge of a magical disaster zone.”

I sampled the first chapter and found the writing slow in a thoughtful, precise way—each moment carefully crafted. If you love royal intrigue, characters who think differently, and stories about creating change from the margins, this might be your next read. It didn’t grip me as quickly as Vanessa Yu, but I’m still intrigued by this princess-turned-tea-seller’s story.

Whether you like your tea with cozy vibes, magical powers, or quiet rebellion, I hope this list invites you to brew a pot, settle in, and steep yourself in story.

—Emma 🌿📚✨

Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens! When I'm not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me crafting fictional tales in my notebooks, spending quality time with my adorable pet bunny, or savoring a steaming cup of hot chocolate.

You might also enjoy my other newsletter, Mystics Reading Society, a welcoming space where books, personal growth, and magic intertwine, nurturing your soul one page at a time. Read the most recent post: Intimacy With Fear

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Dear Cozy Reader,

It’s the summer of tea! So, a couple of weeks ago, I went through my list of cozy mysteries to find ones focused on tea. And while tea shows up a lot in cozy mysteries—always brewing in the background or offered to calm a suspect—it turns out I hadn’t actually read any where tea was the main feature. I’m talking about books with punny tea titles or series centered around a tea shop.

Clearly, I had to fix that. So this month, I combed through a list of tea-themed cozies I’d collected, and I picked one I thought might work for me: A Fatal Twist of Lemon by Patricia Greenwood. This one is set in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and features a protagonist who uses her inheritance to buy a Victorian house and convert it into a teahouse serving high-end afternoon tea.

I enjoyed it at first—there was plenty of tea talk and lots of behind-the-scenes moments running the shop. But the mystery moved so slowly that I kept falling asleep while reading. This, of course, is one of the inherent risks of the genre: sometimes, a cozy is too cozy. I can’t say whether it would be right for you, but for me, it was just too sleepy to keep going, so I DNF’d it (Did Not Finish).

The next book I picked up was recommended by one of our community members: Tea & Treachery by Vicki Delaney. Like A Fatal Twist of Lemon, this one also features a newly opened teahouse. It’s set on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, which was a delight for me, since I grew up near Boston and visited the Cape as a kid. And unlike the first one, Tea & Treachery had just the right pacing to keep me hooked the whole time. For me, it was the perfect blend (pun fully intended) of cozy and compelling.

But what I really want to talk to you about is the tea! Because here’s what I was worried about: that a book with “tea” in the title might not actually have that much tea content. You know how books about books sometimes aren’t really about books at all? And you’re like—“You promised books! Where are they??”

Tea & Treachery, though, absolutely delivered. The protagonist, Lily, works at her grandmother’s bed & breakfast in the mornings, making full English breakfast for the guests. In the afternoons, she walks next door to the teahouse, where she bakes afternoon tea treats and prepares the tea.

The book stays rooted in those two cozy, food-scented spaces—Lily leaves the kitchens only rarely. And when she isn’t trying to save her grandmother from being unjustly accused of murder, she’s thinking about scones, creamy Earl Grey, and what tea set to serve them on. I loved it.

There were even little educational moments, like this gem about the difference between high tea and afternoon tea:

“Afternoon tea, as invented by Anna, Duchess of Bedford, and served at Tea by the Sea, is not to be confused, as it often is in America, with high tea, which is a working family’s or children’s evening meal. In the past, afternoon tea was occasionally called ‘low tea,’ meaning served at a low table in a drawing room, as opposed to the high table in the kitchen, around which a family would gather to have their ‘high tea.’ Just to confuse things more, some places in America refer to afternoon tea as ‘high tea’ when it comes with an additional, more substantial course, such as a soup or salad.”
—Vicki Delaney, Tea & Treachery

There are so many ways to approach tea. There’s the herbal witchy way (which is how I drink tea), the Mma Ramotswe way (of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency) with her always-flowing red bush tea, and then there’s the British way, with its formality and ritual. This book is all about celebrating that classic British afternoon tea, and if that’s your jam, I think you’ll love Tea & Treachery.

Oh—and the mystery itself? Delightful! It’s full of lovable small-town characters and a great sense of place on the Cape’s bluffs. For me, this was a five-star cozy read.

Have you read it? Would you like to? Let me know in the comments—and if you have photos of your favorite tea, tea sets, or tea-related books share them in our new community chat space!

—Emma

Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens! When I'm not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me crafting fictional tales in my notebooks, spending quality time with my adorable pet bunny, or savoring a steaming cup of hot chocolate.

You might also enjoy my other newsletter, Mystics Reading Society, a welcoming space where books, personal growth, and magic intertwine, nurturing your soul one page at a time. Read the most recent post: A Fresh Start

Dear Cozy Reader,

There’s something so comforting about a warm cup of tea, and if you’re like me, you might start noticing how often it shows up in your cozy mysteries.

There’s the sleuth who sits down to collect her thoughts and noodle over clues with a steaming mug in hand.

The new entrepreneur who opens a tea shop, only to have someone murdered during the grand opening tea party.

The psychic who reads tea leaves—until she becomes the lead suspect in an investigation and must clear her name.

So, what is it about tea that turns a murder into a cozy mystery we want to read on a rainy afternoon, tucked in bed?

I think the thing about tea is that it’s all about comfort. It’s the drink you reach for in times of trouble, whether it’s a bold black tea or a gentle herbal infusion.

The rising steam, the light fragrance, and the warmth in your hands soothes you. It softens you. It slows everything down.

It’s the feeling you get when Jean-Luc Picard says, “Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.”

It says: slow down, breathe, everything will be okay.

So even when a dead body is discovered in the garden, the moment the tea comes out, you—the reader—feel safe, because tea signals warmth and relaxation.

As Earlene Grey wrote, “No matter where you are in the world, you are at home when tea is served.”

Want to make a murder mystery feel cozy? Just add tea.

Oddly enough, even though I love tea and cozy mysteries, when I sat down to make a list of mysteries where tea is central—in the title, the murder weapon, or the sleuth’s business—I realized I haven’t actually read that many!

I’m remedying that this week by reading A Fatal Twist of Lemon by Patrice Greenwood, but in the meantime, I found a few delightful lists compiled by fellow tea-loving readers. I hope they lead you to something warm and wonderful:

• Top Ten Tea Books - Boulder Tea House

• 5 Tea Mystery Series - Brewed Leaf

• Tea in Agatha Christie - The Home of Agatha Christie

Have you read any cozy mysteries where tea or tea shops take center stage? I’d love to hear about them in the comments so I can add them to my TBR!

—Emma

P.S. “Read a tea cozy” is one of the prompts on the 2025 Cozy Reading Challenge—so if you pick one up this summer, you can check it off your list!

Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens! When I'm not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me crafting fictional tales in my notebooks, spending quality time with my adorable pet bunny, or savoring a steaming cup of hot chocolate.

You might also enjoy my other newsletter, Mystics Reading Society, a welcoming space where books, personal growth, and magic intertwine, nurturing your soul one page at a time. Read the most recent post: Mystics Summer Book Bingo

Reminder: The Cozy Magical Book Club is meeting Tuesday May 20 at 5:30pm Pacific, to discuss Redemption in Indigo by Karen Lord. The Zoom link will be sent out an hour before we meet. All subscribers to SleuthHeroAlien are welcome!

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Hi Cozy Reader,

If you missed it, I kicked off the 2025 Cozy Reading Challenge this past January—and it’s been a joy to watch so many readers embrace the whimsy, comfort, and delight of a cozier reading life!

The challenge features reading prompts designed to inspire your next bookish escape. Prompt #8 is:

A Library or Bookshop Setting — Read a cozy fantasy, cozy mystery, or charming sci-fi set in a library, bookshop, or featuring a bibliophile protagonist.

To help you find your next literary adventure, I’ve curated a list of bookish reads filled with libraries, bookshops, and book-loving characters. Some are personal favorites, and others are cozy picks from my own towering TBR. As always, make sure to check out content warnings or reviews to match your own cozy vibe.

Let’s wander through the stacks and discover some delightful reads!

📚 Bookish Cozy Mysteries

The Books & Biscuits Mystery Series by Abby Collette
A small-town bookshop and soul food café become the heart of a charming mystery series filled with family warmth and tasty treats.

Dead and Gondola by Ann Claire
Set in a cozy Colorado bookshop, this Agatha Christie-inspired mystery features sister sleuths and a death tied to a rare book.

A Troubling Tail by Laurie Cass
A bookmobile-driving librarian and her clever cat team up to solve small-town mysteries in this charming cozy series.

Books Can Be Deceiving by Jenn McKinlay
The first in the Library Lover’s Mystery series, this cozy tale follows a librarian turned sleuth in a quaint seaside town.

Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sanders
A librarian with magical powers relocates to a tiny Oregon town, only to find herself tangled in murder and spells.

✨ Bookish Cozy Fantasies

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
A prequel to Legends & Lattes, this story follows a young orc warrior recovering in a sleepy town—and discovering the magic of books and friendship.

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
A librarian has to flee the city and returns to the island home of her childhood, where she protects her spellbooks, opens a shop, and finds love along the way.

Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett (Discworld)
The Unseen University Library, full of dangerous magical tomes and an orangutan librarian, plays a key role in this chaotic and hilarious fantasy.

The Secrets of Winterhouse by Ben Guterson
A young girl solves puzzles and uncovers secrets in a grand hotel with a magical library and a mysterious past.

Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sanders
Yes, it fits here too! A magical librarian heroine makes this a cozy crossover between fantasy and mystery.

🚀 Bookish Charming Sci-Fi

Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite
A sci-fi novella featuring a detective investigating a murder and the deletion of minds from the library of memories.

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
A quirky, modern-day quest through a mysterious bookstore that hides a secret society devoted to decoding eternal knowledge. (Note: This one is more science-adjacent than pure sci-fi, but I think it counts!)

Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers
A quiet, reflective look at life aboard a spacefaring community, where record keeping, oral histories, and how we bury the dead matter deeply.

🌿 Happy Reading! 🌿
I hope this list leads you to your next cozy, book-filled escape—whether it’s a magical library, a charming bookshop, or a mystery-loving librarian with a cat sidekick.

If you’re doing the 2025 Cozy Reading Challenge on StoryGraph, be sure to check out what others are picking for this prompt!

Which one are you adding to your TBR first? Or do you have a favorite bookish read that didn’t make the list? I’d love to hear about it! 💖

—Emma

📌Comments are open to paid subscribers only, to keep the vibes cozy and the space safe from trolls.

Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens! When I'm not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me crafting fictional tales in my notebooks, spending quality time with my adorable pet bunny, or savoring a steaming cup of hot chocolate.

You might also enjoy my other newsletter, Soul Weavers' Reading Society, where I write essays for unconventional souls who want to read healing, empowering, and witchy reads. Read the most recent post: Daily Devotional Reading