This post was originally published on Audible.com.
Sometimes, you just need to escape to another world. And I’m not talking about a gritty fantasy realm where kingdoms hover at the brink of war, or a planetary system facing imminent destruction—I mean a real escape. You want a world where the stakes are a little less universe-shattering and a little closer to home—even when they’re set far, far away. Where the resolution offers a little bit of hope for humanity (and beyond). Lucky for us, cozy sci-fi and fantasy is having a moment right now (we can’t imagine why!). So stop that doomscrolling, and sink into these out-of-this-world stories that feel like a warm hug.
Beloved BookTok sensation Travis Baldree wrote and performed this bestselling novel of high fantasy and low stakes. Worn out after decades of packing steel and raising hell, Viv, the orc barbarian, cashes out of the warrior’s life with one final score. A forgotten legend, a fabled artifact, and an unreasonable amount of hope lead her to the streets of Thune, where she plans to open the first coffee shop the city has ever seen. However, her dreams of a fresh start filling mugs instead of swinging swords are hardly a sure bet. Old frenemies and Thune’s shady underbelly may just upset her plans. To finally build something that will last, Viv will need some new partners, and a different kind of resolve. A hot cup of slice-of-life fantasy, with a dollop of romantic froth.
A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family—and a new love—changes the course of her life. As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she’s used to being alone and she follows the rules ... with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos "pretending" to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously. But someone does.
Linus Baker works as a case manager in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He takes his job seriously, and he’s a strict rule follower. But when he receives an assignment to determine whether or not six magical (and dangerous!) children are likely to bring about the end of the world as we know it, he finds rules and order going out the window. Linus travels to the orphanage where the children live, cared for by Arthur Parnassus, who would do anything to protect these kids and their secrets. This delightful listen about magic and found family, with themes many LGBTQIA+ listeners can relate to, is narrated by Daniel Henning.
Slice-of-life fantasy is having a big moment right now—and this xianxia-inspired take on a hero who decides to leave the cultivator life behind in favor of farm life took us by surprise. There’s farce and plenty of humor here—but there are also characters that are downright fun to get to know. Travis Baldree is a sheer joy to hear in this story. Reading its countless five-star reviews, it’s clear that listeners found this upbeat tale to be a wonderful escapist balm this year.
Hugo Award winner Becky Chambers has been our go-to for cozy science fiction since The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet became a staple of the genre, and her delightful Monk & Robot series is no exception. It's been centuries since the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and laid down their tools; centuries since they wandered, en masse, into the wilderness, never to be seen again; centuries since they faded into myth and urban legend. One day, the life of a tea monk is upended by the arrival of a robot, there to honor the old promise of checking in. The robot cannot go back until the question of "what do people need?" is answered. But the answer to that question depends on who you ask, and how...
The Goblin Emperor is a vividly imagined fantasy of court intrigue and dark magics in a steampunk-inflected world. The youngest, half-goblin son of the Emperor has lived his entire life in exile, distant from the Imperial Court and the deadly intrigue that suffuses it. But when his father and three sons in line for the throne are killed in an "accident," he has no choice but to take his place as the only surviving rightful heir. Entirely unschooled in the art of court politics, he has no friends, no advisers, and the sure knowledge that whoever assassinated his father and brothers could make an attempt on his life at any moment.
In a small back alley of Tokyo, there is a café that has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than 100 years. Local legend says this shop offers something else besides coffee: the chance to travel back in time. Over the course of one summer, four customers visit the café in the hopes of making that journey. But time travel isn’t so simple, and there are rules that must be followed. Most important, the trip can last only as long as it takes for the coffee to get cold. Heartwarming, wistful, mysterious, and delightfully quirky, Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s internationally bestselling novel explores the age-old question: What would you change if you could travel back in time?
With mesmerizing narration by actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi follows the titular character on his daily rounds through the House, a labyrinthine mansion full of statues, sea water, and a single mysterious “Other” who sometimes makes an appearance. Follow Piranesi through his daily routine of meticulous record-keeping—an unwavering labor of love and quiet optimism—and slowly uncover the mystery of how he came to be there and just exactly what it all means.
Do I need to say more than "cat in space" to sell you on this listen? Well, aside from that delightful detail, Riley August's debut novel—in which siblings Scout and Keiran, along with their cat, Pumpkin, search the stars for some sort of clue about what wiped out all civilization but their own—is at turns harrowing, cozy, and heartrending. Subtle sound effects enhance this spacefaring adventure, and the narrators understood the assignment: Robyn Holdaway (Sex Education) as the leading voice imbues Scout with the kind of bravado that masks a soft, vulnerable interior. Come for the uncannily performed meows, stay for the high-stakes race for the truth, listen again because you just don't want to say goodbye to these characters
Can't Spell Treason Without Tea is a swoon-worthy sapphic tale of two women who dream of owning a teashop with a bookstore in it. Reyna is a Queensguard, but the queen she guards is a murderous sociopath. Her girlfriend, Kianthe, is the most powerful mage in the land. When the two choose each other over the expectations of their roles, it's treason for Reyna and a ticking clock for Kianthe. There's so much to enjoy in this sweet story about love and community, and Jessica Threet's lively narration makes you feel like you're in the middle of the action alongside the characters. If you like this one, there's more Tomes & Tea audiobooks to enjoy!
The Teller of Small Fortunes is somewhat unusual for a cozy fantasy since it mostly takes place on the road. Instead of developing warm, homey feelings around a small community, this one instead focuses on building connection through found family. Fortune teller Tao is only willing to tell "small" fortunes, the stuff of everyday life and small-town gossip. But when a former mercenary and thief ask for her help finding a missing child, everything changes. Their little band grows to include a baker (one of my favorite characters) and a magical cat. Phyllis Ho's narration captures the gentle feel of this fantasy in a way that'll have you reaching for your favorite hot beverage to complete the mood.
Becky Chambers meets Miss Marple in this sci-fi ode to the cozy mystery, helmed by a no-nonsense formidable auntie, Dorothy, and set aboard the HMS Fairweather, a luxurious interstellar passenger liner where room and board are included and new bodies are graciously provided upon request. One of the ship's detectives, Dorothy Gentleman, wakes up in a body that isn’t hers—just as someone else is found murdered. When she finds that someone is not only killing bodies but purposely deleting minds from the Library, she realizes something even more sinister is afoot
An impulsive sorcerer and his curmudgeonly rival venture deep into a magical forest in search of a counterspell that can break the curse between them—only to discover that mere magic might not be the only thing pulling them together. Chasing rumors of a powerful sorcerer with a knack for undoing curses, the pair enter the Unquiet Wood, a forest infested with murderous monsters and dangerous outlaws alike. To break the curse, they will have to set aside their long-standing rivalry, and—much to their horror—work together.
More low-stakes sci-fi and fantasy listens
