However you celebrate this time of year it is generally known as the Season of Giving… but sometimes it’s difficult knowing just what to give!

So our gift to you, dear reader, from all of us here at the Hive, is a handy gift guide – a catalogue of fiction – for those awkward readers in your life. Conversely, you could also simply take this as an opportunity to stock your own wishlists – treat yourself! 

(Underlined book titles link to affiliated Bookshop.org)

Get your shopping lists ready, and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all…

For the ones… Who are new to this realm 

Magic. Revolution. Identity.
The Emperor’s reign has lasted for decades, his mastery of bone shard magic powering the animal-like constructs that maintain law and order. But now his rule is failing, and revolution is sweeping across the Empire’s many islands.
Lin is the Emperor’s daughter and she spends her days trapped in a palace of locked doors and dark secrets. When her father refuses to recognise her as heir to the throne, she vows to prove her worth by mastering the forbidden art of bone shard magic.
Yet such power carries a great cost, and when the revolution reaches the gates of the palace, Lin must decide how far she is willing to go to claim her birthright – and save her people.

Nils says… The Drowning Empire trilogy by Andrea Stewart. This is an epic fantasy in an exciting secondary world, animal companions, monsters and a great magic system. There’s also mysterious characters and a sprinkling of romance. 

In a corporate-dominated spacefaring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. Exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids, for their own safety.
But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn’t a primary concern.
On a distant planet, a team of scientists are conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid—a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module, and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, all it really wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is.
But when a neighboring mission goes dark, it’s up to the scientists and their Murderbot to get to the truth.

Theo says… I’m going to go with All Systems Red by Martha Wells. It’s the first of the murderbot series and might challenge perceptions of sci-fi space fiction as being just the bastard child of Star Wars and Flash Gordon. Funny, sharply observed and well deserving of the TV series adaptation. 

My name is Peter Grant, and I used to be a probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service, and to everyone else as the Filth.
My story really begins when I tried to take a witness statement from a man who was already dead…
Probationary Constable Peter Grant dreams of being a detective in London’s Metropolitan Police. After taking a statement from an eyewitness who happens to be a ghost, Peter comes to the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, who investigates crimes involving magic and other manifestations of the uncanny.
Suddenly, as a wave of brutal and bizarre murders engulfs the city, Peter is plunged into a world where gods and goddesses mingle with mortals and a long-dead evil is making a comeback on a rising tide of magic.

Cat says… The Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch is perfect for those who want the familiarity of this world, combined with the weird, wonderful and dangerous that lurks beneath. The inescapable mundanity of police work meets the mystery of impossible deaths – and a sadly underfunded Department of Magic (his name’s Nightingale) left to figure out what’s going on. As the books and characters develop in this ongoing saga, it’s a pleasure to be part of their journey. 

Feyre is a huntress, but when she kills what she thinks is a wolf in the woods, a terrifying creature arrives to demand retribution. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she knows about only from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor, Tamlin, is not truly a beast, but one of the lethal, immortal Fae.
And there’s more to the Fae than the legends suggest.
As Feyre adapts to her new home, her feelings for Tamlin begin to change. Icy hostility turns to fiery passion that burns through every lie she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But shadows are creeping in, and Tamlin has a dark secret that he cannot share. Fate brought Feyre to Tamlin for a reason, but saving him from the darkness that threatens his world will lead her down a path that she can never return from.

Emma says… For those new to the Monster Romance genre I would always suggest C.M Nacosta’s Morning Glory Milking Farm. May as well throw you in at the deep end of the cosy monster fucker pool. For something a bit darker, a bit more monstrous, Opal Rayne’s A Soul to Keep is breathtakingly beautiful and seriously spicy. For Romantasy? A Court of Thorns and Roses is a good starting point as ever, a gateway drug if you will. The first book in the series is arguably the weakest but it does get a lot better if you stick at it. Love my bat boys.  

There are some tall stories about the caverns beneath the Citadel – about magic and mages and monsters and gods.
Wydrin of Crosshaven has heard them all, but she’s spent long enough trawling caverns and taverns with her companion Sir Sebastian to learn that there’s no money to be made in chasing rumours.
But then a crippled nobleman with a dead man’s name offers them a job: exploring the Citadel’s darkest depths. It sounds like just another quest with gold and adventure … if they’re lucky, they might even have a tale of their own to tell once it’s over.
These reckless adventurers will soon learn that sometimes there is truth in rumour. Sometimes a story can save your life.

Beth says… The Copper Promise by Jen Williams is a great entry into fantasy. It’s a satisfying story within itself, but it is the start of a trilogy if you decide you want to keep exploring. Plus, Williams is herself a huge fan of fantasy and it shines through her writing and character work. Other great fantasy starting points are Age of Assassins by RJ Barker, in which an apprentice assassin tries to solve a murder and the worldbuilding is exceptional, and The Black Hawks by David Wragg; a typical band of mercenaries style of adventure but extremely witty and entertaining with characters that will stay with you.

For the one… With their head amongst the stars

Meet Hail: Captain. Gunrunner. Fugitive.
Quick, sarcastic, and lethal, Hailimi Bristol doesn’t suffer fools gladly.
She has made a name for herself in the galaxy for everything except what she was born to do: rule the Indranan Empire. That is, until two Trackers drag her back to her home planet to take her rightful place as the only remaining heir.
But trading her ship for a palace has more dangers than Hail could have anticipated.
Caught in a web of plots and assassination attempts, Hail can’t do the one thing she did twenty years ago: run away.She’ll have to figure out who murdered her sisters if she wants to survive.
A gun smuggler inherits the throne in this Star Wars-style science fiction adventure from debut author K. B. Wagers.

Vinay says… The Indranan War Trilogy by KB Wagers – Imagine if the child of Leia and Han Solo turned out to be a gunrunner who has to reluctantly get back to her royal duties for the empire. A fast-paced action/ political thriller in space with references to Indian culture sprinkled through the book.

They’re big, they’re bad and they’re about to become extinct . . .
Jamie’s dream was to hit the big time at a New York tech start-up. Jamie’s reality was a humiliating lay-off, then a low-wage job as a takeaway delivery driver. During a pandemic too. Things look beyond grim, until a chance delivery to an old acquaintance. Tom has an urgent vacancy on his team: the pay is great and Jamie has debts – it’s a no-brainer choice. Yet, once again, reality fails to match expectations. Only this time it could be fatal.
It seems Tom’s ‘animal rights organization’ is way more than it appears. The animals aren’t even on Earth – or not our Earth, anyway. In an alternate dimension, massive dinosaur-like creatures roam a tropical, human-free world. And although Kaiju are their universe’s largest and most dangerous animal, they need support to survive.
Tom’s ‘Kaiju Preservation Society’ wants to help. However, others want to profit. Unless they’re stopped, the walls between our worlds could fall – and the consequences would be devastating.

Nils says… The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi — think Jurassic Park with an abundance of humour and shenanigans! This is a great standalone for those who don’t like hard scifi or spaceships but want a fun read with monsters and scientists trying desperately to keep them under control! 

From the million-copy-bestselling Claire North – one of the most original and dazzling voices in speculative fiction – comes an intergalactic tale of conspiracy, war and the fall of empires.
My name is Mawukana na-Vdnaze, and I am a very poor copy of myself.
In telling my story, there are certain things I should perhaps lie about. I should make myself a hero. Pretend I was not used by strangers and gods, did not leave people behind.
Here is one truth: out there in deep-space, in the pilot’s chair, I died. And then, I was reborn. I became something not quite human, something that could speak to the infinite dark. And I vowed to become the scourge of the world that wronged me.
This is the story of the supernova event that burned planets and felled civilizations. This is also the story of the many lives I’ve lived since I died for the first time.
Are you listening?

Theo says… Slow Gods by Claire North – a glorious, sweeping, complex first foray for this author into space opera with a compelling first person protagonist and a well delivered climate crisis metaphor.

Halley Zwick is on the run.
Exposing an interplanetary conspiracy should have brought justice. Instead, it’s brought Halley nothing but a target on her back. With nowhere left to turn, she boards a relic of the past: Elysian Fields, a drifting crypt in deep space.
Once hailed as humanity’s answer to death itself, Elysian Fields was trillionaire Zale Winfield’s promise to Earth’s elite — cryo-sleep until medicine caught up with mortality. But that future never came. The program was abandoned. The barge has floated dark and silent for over a century.
Or so Halley thought.
The moment she steps aboard, something feels wrong. The silence isn’t empty—it’s watching. Shadows fall across corridors. Scratching claws echo in the vents. Whispers bleed from the walls. Something is crawling, slithering, waking.
As Halley descends into the heart of the ship, paranoia blurs into terror. The Elysian dead may not be sleeping—and what woke them is hungry…

Cat says… Cold Eternity by SA Barnes – for when it’s not cold enough outside, how about a ghostly mystery on a floating tombship deep in space? Gripping from start to finish, this is clever, haunting and with real scares to keep the adrenaline flowing!

The Culture – a utopian human-machine symbiotic society – has thrown up many expert Game Players, and one of the greatest is Jernau Morat Gurgeh. He is Master of every board, computer and strategy – he is The Player of Games.
Bored with success, Gurgeh travels to the cruel and incredibly wealthy Empire of Azad to try their infamous game . . . a game so complex, so like life itself, that the winner becomes emperor. Mocked, blackmailed, almost murdered, Gurgeh plays the game, and faces the challenge of his life – and very possibly his death.

Gray says… I’m legally obliged to put The Player of Games by Iain Banks on everyone’s Christmas list, whether they have been naughty or nice, there will be something important to take away from it. If someone has never touched sci-fi before, it is the perfect introduction. If they’re an old hand at this spaceship malarkey, then there are enough fascinating new concepts to carry them along. All things to all men. 

For the one… Who’s always in a rush

Everyone loves a well-catered event, and the supernatural community is no exception. Enter Sin du Jour, the expert caterers to demons, goblins, faeries, and everything in between.
In their first month on the job Lena Tarr and Darren Vargas, the newest line chefs at the supernatural catering agency, have had to approximate angel meat, evade amorous lizards, and provide craft sacrifices for a Hollywood debut. Their coworkers have contended with zombified clowns, fought off the Easter Bunny’s hit squad, and captured a golden fish for a goblin royal wedding. And as if their new jobs weren’t weird enough, now they have to deal with a very personal transformation on the behalf of their mysterious employer. As if surviving as a New York City chef weren’t hard enough.

Vinay says… The Sin Du Jour series by Matt Wallace – this 7 book series with page count of just about 200 pages each takes a look at a restaurant that caters to the supernatural community and their assorted adventures, set in NYC. Its damned near riotous and demented with interspersing moments of hilarity and darkness

Piranesi lives in the House. Perhaps he always has.
In his notebooks, day after day, he makes a clear and careful record of its wonders: the labyrinth of halls, the thousands upon thousands of statues, the tides that thunder up staircases, the clouds that move in slow procession through the upper halls. On Tuesdays and Fridays Piranesi sees his friend, the Other. At other times he brings tributes of food to the Dead. But mostly, he is alone.
Messages begin to appear, scratched out in chalk on the pavements. There is someone new in the House. But who are they and what do they want? Are they a friend or do they bring destruction and madness as the Other claims?
Lost texts must be found; secrets must be uncovered. The world that Piranesi thought he knew is becoming strange and dangerous.
The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite.

Nils says… Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. This is a dreamlike, mysterious and features the most gentle and sympathetic main character. It’s a short one at just 245 pages but it’s thoughtful and ever so impactful. 

Doctor Jasmine Marks is going back into hell.
The Hygrometric Dehabitation Region, or the “Zone,” is a growing band of rainforest on the equator, where the heat and humidity make it impossible for warm-blooded animals to survive. A human being without protection in the Zone is dead in minutes.
Twenty years ago, Marks went into the rainforest with a group of researchers led by Doctor Elaine Fell, to study the extraordinary climate and see if it could be used in agriculture. The only thing she learned was that the Zone was no place for people. There were deaths, and the programme was cut short.
Now, they’re sending her back in. A plane crash, a rescue mission, a race against time and the environment to bring out the survivors. But there are things Marks’s corporate masters aren’t telling her. The Zone keeps its secrets, and so does Doctor Fell…

Theo says… Saturation Point by Adrian Tchaikovsky – a fun short read (it filled a four hour flight to Tenerife for me) about how climate change could turn large swathes of the Earth into an unsurvivable alien landscape, but with a lovely twisting plot. 

In this witty fantasy horror from New York Times bestselling, Nebula and Hugo award-winning author T. Kingfisher, a young woman seeking a fresh start is confronted by ancient gods, malevolent supernatural forces, and eccentric neighbours in an isolated desert town.
Perfect for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Chuck Tingle, and Rachel Harrison.
With only a few dollars to her name and her beloved dog Copper by her side, Selena flees her past in the city to claim her late aunt’s house in the desert town of Quartz Creek.
Selena loves the strange beauty of the desert. But the people of Quartz Creek share their town with others, old gods and spirits whose claim to the land long predates their human neighbors. When Selena’s search for answers leads her to her late aunt’s journal, she discovers a sinister truth about her new home: it’s the ground of an ancient god known simply as “Snake-Eater”, to whom it seems Aunt Amelia owed a debt.
Snake-Eater has taken a sinister liking to Selena. And now that she’s the owner of his home, he’s hell-bent on collecting everything he was promised.

Cat says… Snake-Eater by T Kingfisher. A warm, fun adventure full of magic, heart and with a delightful cast of characters that will become your found family as much as it does for heroine Selena. Also I need a neighbour like Grandma Billy. You’ll see. 

Welcome to Mistwood, WV – a small town where the monsters are real and so is the romance.
Hazel Reed considers Bigfoot, better known as Eric “Big E” Sasqui, to be her mortal enemy. She thought she’d never have to deal with her annoying, academic rival again after graduation. But sure enough, ten years later, he’s her biggest competition on the bowling alley lanes. Her life is stressful enough without the towering hunk hanging around.
When sparks between them start to fly, Hazel will have to confront the secrets she’s spent years keeping, including knowing just who is responsible for a leaked photo that ruined Eric’s life. But is the lifelong theater nerd ready for how the former jock will react?
There’s nothing Eric desires more than being able to live his life in the open, not having to hide his true Sasquatch form, but life got a whole lot harder when a tabloid photo of him put the public eye on Mistwood. Bowling helps him escape his overbearing family, but there’s also the added plus that it puts him in close proximity to the curvy girl who always caught his eye back in high school.
When Eric concocts a plan to help Hazel with the struggles she’s been hiding, he’ll put her acting abilities to the test and turn them both into a viral sensation on the spicier side of the internet. What happens when the two find that they’re no longer playing for profit and instead falling fast for their former opponent? Are the pins split against them? Or does Bigfoot have the balls to roll for romance while there’s plenty of heat to spare?

Bowling with Bigfoot is the second standalone novella in an interconnected small town, monster romance series, and it includes open door scenes intended for adult readers. An Author Note about the content is included at the beginning of the book for your consideration

Emma says… Bowling with Bigfoot by Eden Crowe is a bitesize book with a big personality (and big feet). If you’ve never thought of the elusive cryptid in “that” kind of way, I promise you will after reading this.

An enchanting new novella set in the magical world of Sunday Times bestseller Threadneedle.
Rowan is visiting her aunt – Winne the hedge witch – in the Welsh countryside, to get back to nature and hone her skills, as well as taking a break from her annoying sisters and enjoying some peace and quiet. However, Rowan soon comes to realise that hedges are a serious business and this isn’t quite the opportunity to rest and escape she thought it might be.
Not only that, but mysterious events around the town are causing panic in the secret magical community and cowans – non-magical folk – are starting to take notice.
Can Rowan hone her hedge craft, try to make some friends and solve the riddle of the mysterious goings-on, or is magic about to be revealed to the world … or at least Wales?
Have you read the first two full-length novels in this magical, Sunday Times bestselling series? Threadneedle and Shadowstitch are both available to read now.

Beth says… The Hedge Witch by Cari Thomas is a beautiful coming-of-age novella that kind of acts as a prequel to her series in that it focusses on a non-protagonist character from that series before events in that series, but it has no bearing on the series so can be read alone. In fact, it’s quite tonally different to the series in that it’s much lighter and has quite a warm tone. It’s chock full of magic. And mushrooms. My other two recommendations are both fairy tale retellings, but very unusual ones; Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher is a tale where the princess locked in the tower shouldn’t be rescued, and Cinder House by Freya Marske is a Cinderella retelling in which (Cinder)Ella dies on the first page.

For the one… With the impressive weapons collection

Born in fire. Tempered in blood.
Epheria is a land divided by war and mistrust. The High Lords of the south squabble and fight, only kept in check by the Dragonguard, traitors of a time long past, who serve the empire of the North.
In the remote villages of southern Epheria, still reeling from the tragic loss of his brother, Calen Bryer prepares for The Proving—a test of courage and skill that not all survive.
But when three strangers arrive in the village of Milltown, with a secret they are willing to die for, Calen’s world is ripped from under him and he is thrust headfirst into a war that has been raging for centuries.
There is no prophecy. His coming was not foretold.
He bleeds like any man, and bleed he will.

Vinay says… The Bound and the Broken by Ryan Cahill – A modern epic fantasy series that combines old style storytelling & plotting with some of the more modern character examinations & pacing, this is epic is every sense (world-building, scale and page count)

An epic coming-of-age fantasy inspired by mythology and the Iron Age, Malice by John Gwynne is the first in The Faithful and the Fallen series.
Young Corban watches enviously as boys become warriors, learning the art of war. He yearns to wield his sword and spear to protect his king’s realm. But that day will come all too soon.
The Banished Lands has a violent past where armies of men and giants clashed in battle, the earth running dark with their heartsblood. Although the giant-clans were broken in ages past, their ruined fortresses still scar the land.
But now giants stir anew, the very stones weep blood and there are sightings of giant wyrms. Those who can still read the signs see a threat far greater than the ancient wars.
Sorrow will darken the world, as angels and demons make it their battlefield.
Then there will be a war to end all wars.

Nils says… The Faithful and the Fallen series by John Gwynne. Epic battles, coming of age, monsters and magic, angels and demons and a fiercely loyal animal companion. What more could you want? This just screams epic fantasy! 

Perfect for fans of Mark Lawrence and R Scott Bakker, The Court of Broken Knives is the explosive debut by one of grimdark fantasy’s most exciting new voices.
They’ve finally looked at the graveyard of our Empire with open eyes. They’re fools and madmen and like the art of war. And their children go hungry while we piss gold and jewels into the dust.
In the richest empire the world has ever known, the city of Sorlost has always stood, eternal and unconquered. But in a city of dreams governed by an imposturous Emperor, decadence has become the true ruler, and has blinded its inhabitants to their vulnerability. The empire is on the verge of invasion – and only one man can see it.
Haunted by dreams of the empire’s demise, Orhan Emmereth has decided to act. On his orders, a company of soldiers cross the desert to reach the city. Once they enter the Palace, they have one mission: kill the Emperor, then all those who remain. Only from ashes can a new empire be built.
The company is a group of good, ordinary soldiers, for whom this is a mission like any other. But the strange boy Marith who walks among them is no ordinary soldier. Marching on Sorlost, Marith thinks he is running away from the past which haunts him. But in the Golden City, his destiny awaits him – beautiful, bloody, and more terrible than anyone could have foreseen.

Theo says… The Court of Broken Knives by Anna Smith Spark. The best laid plans of mice, men and high priestesses go staggeringly awry as a drug-addled lost prince comes into his senses, his inheritance and his paramour. 

A delightful romantic Korean contemporary fantasy tale – a quest to track down a demon of darkness before it devours the mortal realm.
Two bickering immortals. One chance to save the world.
Kim Hani – the once-terrible gumiho known as the Scarlet Fox – spends her days working at a café and trying not to let a certain customer irk her.
Seokga – a trickster god thrown from the heavens for his attempt at a coup – spends his days hunting demons and irking a particular gumiho.
When a demon of darkness escapes the underworld, and the Scarlet Fox briefly emerges from hiding, Seokga is offered a chance at redemption: kill them both, and his sins will be forgiven.
But Hani is prepared to do anything to prevent Seokga from bringing her to justice, even trick her way into his investigation. Anything, that is – except fall in love . . .

Cat says… The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim. Korean fantasy was so new to me, but with this series I’m absolutely sold. Deities and supernatural creatures live alongside each other, with their own coffee shops, police force… and rogues. Can a cunning fox-spirit and a grumpy trickster uncover a monster and save both their world and ours? 

There was a time when the Red Gods ruled the land. The Dark Lady and her horde dealt in death and blood and fire.
That time has long since passed and the neighbouring kingdoms of Mireces and Rilpor hold an uneasy truce. The only blood spilled is confined to the border where vigilantes known as Wolves protect their kin and territory at any cost.
But after the death of his wife, King Rastoth is plagued by grief, leaving the kingdom of Rilpor vulnerable.
Vulnerable to the blood-thirsty greed of the Warrior-King Liris and the Mireces army waiting in the mountains…

Beth says… I will always always recommend Godblind by Anna Stephens for epic fantasy as it epitimises that ‘epic’ scope key to the subgenre; warring nations the playthings of warring gods, multiple protagonists, betrayals and heartbreak and so much bloodshed. Other fantastic epic fantasies include The Lost War by Justin Lee Anderson – perfect for DnD fans because it’s based on his own DnD adventures! It’s also super twisty. Also for a fun twist on the genre, Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames imagines a mercenary band getting back together but in the vein of a rock band getting back together – lots of fun musical Easter eggs. Oh and speaking of mercenary bands getting back together, Timandra Whitecastle’s Queens of the Wyrd is an excellent epic norse adventure!

For the one… Just setting out on their adventure

Winner of the Wales Book of the Year People’s Choice Award! A heartwarming story about family, friendship and finding your inner fire.
Between bullies at school and changes at home, Charlie Challinor finds life a bit scary. And when he’s made guardian of a furry fox cub called Cadno, things get a whole lot scarier.
Because Cadno isn’t just any fox: he’s a firefox – the only one of his kind – and a sinister hunter from another world is on his trail.
Swept up into an unexpected adventure to protect his flammable friend, Charlie’s going to need to find the bravery he never thought he had, if he’s going to save the last firefox . . .

Beth says… A perfect story packed with magic, fantastical creatures and a portal to magical world, The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery is ideal for children between the ages of seven and eleven. My son and I have been reading these books together a chapter at a time, but it’s also suitable that he could be reading it on his own (but he knows I love fantasy stories!). Another brilliant story for young readers (but also any reader, as Nils and I have read this together) is Diana Wynne Jones’ Howl’s Moving Castle. It’s again full of magic and whimsy, and was of course adapted by Stuido Ghibli into a feature-length anime.

The Amulet of Samarkand is the first title in the New York Times bestselling Bartimaeus series by Jonathan Stroud, author of Lockwood & Co. – a global No.1 show on Netflix.
When a young magician’s apprentice secretly summons an irascible 5,000 year old djinni to do his bidding, neither are prepared for the peril that ensues.
Nathaniel is plotting the downfall of his nemesis – a ruthless magician by the name of Simon Lovelace – and tasks Bartimaeus to steal the powerful Amulet of Samarkand from him, in order to exact his revenge.
But before long, Nathaniel and Bartimaeus are caught up in a terrifying adventure much bigger than either of them anticipated, involving intrigue, rebellion and murder…
Set in an alternate London controlled by magicians, this hilarious and electrifying series will enthral readers of all ages.

Vinay says… The Bartimeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud – A delightful djinn tasked with a whiny pompous self-important young magician for a master in a London ruled by magicians, this witty trilogy is an absolute delight with some killer footnotes populating the series

“If men no longer know what they are looking at, there may well be unicorns in the world yet, unknown and glad of it.”
Living in peace in her lilac wood, the Unicorn didn’t know the world had changed, or that anything had happened to the rest of her kind. Overhearing a chance conversation, she resolves to venture out and discover the truth. The road is dangerous, and the risks are great. If she fails, then unicorns will be lost. Forever.
A modern fairy tale, The Last Unicorn is a beloved classic, voted by TIME as one of the 100 greatest fantasy novels of all time. It is fantastical, poignant, wistful and wonderous, showing us the humanity of magic, and the magic of humanity.

Nils says… The Last Unicorn by Peter S Beagle. If your kid/teen loved the film then they’ll love the book. It’s highly magical, more in depth than the film adaptation and great for adults to enjoy with their kids too. 

At the end of his thousand-year reign of the Copper Mountains, old King Mansolain is tired and his heart is slowing down.

When his attendant, the Hare, consults The Wonder Doctor, he is told he must keep the King engaged in life by telling him a story every night until the Doctor can find a cure.

The search is on for a nightly story more wonderful than the last, and one by one the kingdom’s inhabitants arrive with theirs; the ferocious Wolf, the lovesick Donkey, the fire-breathing three-headed Dragon.

Last to arrive is the Dwarf, with four ancient books and a prophecy that the King will live for another thousand years – but only if the Wonder Doctor returns in time.

Theo says… This is very much for younger kids but The King of the Copper Mountains by Paul Biegel was a key gateway-read for leading me into fantasy fiction. The idea of a king so ill that he needs a constant diet of fascinating stories to keep him alive – while a cure is sought. Somehow there is so much of the magic of reading and stories wrapped up in that.

A timeless classic adventure illustrated by former Children’s Laureate Quentin Blake.
A magical old man has asked Kay to protect the Box of Delights, a Box with which he can travel through time. But Kay is in danger: Abner Brown will stop at nothing to get his hands on it. The police don’t believe Kay, so when his family and the Bishop are scrobbled up just before Christmas, he knows he must act alone …
John Masefield’s classic children’s book is considered to be one of the great works of modern children’s fiction. Magical, fantastical and filled with vivid, rich characters – brought to life in this edition by Quentin Blake’s stunning artwork – The Box of Delights and its sequel The Midnight Folk are a must-read for any child. A genuine fantasy classic in the tradition of Peter Pan, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland or The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. If you like Harry Potter, you’ll love this. A wonderful book for early readers aged 8 and up.

Cat says… At this time of year, there’s only one choice: The Box of Delights by John Masefield. It’s a classic for a reason, and has been dear to me since I first opened that magical cover. The BBC adaptation is pretty great too! Empowering, clever and haunting, as the wolves are running…

Cemetery Boys is an LGBTQIA+ ghost story about magic, acceptance and what it means to be your true self. From the instant New York Times-bestelling author Aiden Thomas.
Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can’t get rid of him.
In an attempt to prove himself a true brujo and gain his family’s acceptance, Yadriel decides to summon his cousin’s ghost and help him cross to the afterlife.
But things get complicated when he accidentally summons the ghost of his high school’s resident bad boy, Julian Diaz – and Julian won’t go into death quietly.
The two boys must work together if Yadriel is to move forward with his plan.
But the more time Yadriel and Julian spend together, the harder it is to let each other go . . .

Gray says… Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas. Necromancy with an emphasis on the ‘romancy’ part. This book cleverly picks apart gender norms in its fantasy version of Mexican occult culture (occulture?) while also being a fun smoochy book for the teens.

MAGIC IS A CON GAME . . .
Kellen is moments away from facing his first mage’s duel and the start of four trials that will make him a spellcaster. There’s just one problem: his magic is gone.
As his sixteenth birthday approaches, Kellen falls back on his cunning in a bid to avoid total disgrace. But when a daring stranger arrives in town, she challenges Kellen to take a different path.
Ferius Parfax is one of the mysterious Argosi – a traveller who lives by her wits and the three decks of cards she carries. She’s difficult and unpredictable, but she may be Kellen’s only hope . . .

Beth says… For older readers, I’d firstly recommend Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castell; everyone I’ve ever recommended this too have always told me how much they loved it and they devoured the rest of the series! It’s a secondary fantasy world, you have an underdog protagonist (so very relatable for teens), and a Western-style setting. Oh, and a foul mouthed and tempered squirrel-cat… My second recommendation is perfect for parents who love epic grimdark fantasy and want to start introducing their young people to that world; Joe Abercrombie’s YA trilogy that starts with Half a King. Again, it’s an underdog kind of protagonist determined to succeed and survive in the face of everything his world throws at him. There’s darkness and heartbreak in the trilogy, but not to an adult degree, so a good stepping stone between the two.

For the one… Always keeping an eye on the news

When you bring back a long-extinct species, there’s more to success than the DNA.
Moscow has resurrected the mammoth. But someone must teach them how to be mammoths, or they are doomed to die out, again.
Dr. Damira Khismatullina, an expert in elephant behavior, was brutally murdered trying to defend the world’s last elephants from the brutal ivory trade. Now, her digitised consciousness has been downloaded into the mind of a mammoth.
As the herd’s new matriarch, can Damira help fend off poachers long enough for the species to take hold? Or will her own ghosts, and Moscow’s real reason for bringing the mammoth back, doom them to a new extinction?
A tense SF thriller from a new master of the genre.

Vinay says… Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler – a book that shows the magic of science but also the venality of men, especially when bringing back long extinct creatures to life, for their own reasons. An eco-thriller novella that has a lot of interesting statements to make 

On a mysterious island where crime does not exist, a seemingly impossible murder has been committed….
Can you join together with a very unlikely amateur detective to solve the Last Murder at the End of the World?
The small group of villagers who live on the tiny island lead simple, but happy lives. There is no world beyond their shores, but they’re content with what they have. Only Emory feels frustrated. Unlike everyone else on the island she doesn’t yet seem to have a purpose. All she seems to be good at is asking questions.
But then one of the scientists who guides the villagers is found murdered and as there has never been a crime before, there is no detective to call on. There is only Emory and her gift for asking questions. So now Emory must explore every inch of her island – from the cliffs to the jungles, from sandy beaches to the very top of the mountain – to find clues that apparently don’t exist.
How can she solve a mystery on an island where no one lies but there’s still no way to find the culprit?

Nils says… The Knight and the Butcherbird by Alix E Harrow. This is a post apocalyptic short story about changing for survival. It’s lyrical, haunting and so beautifully crafted. Unfortunately this is only available on Kindle in the UK so for anyone wanting a physical dystopian novel to gift I’d say The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton is fantastic and features the author’s signature inventive twists!

The year is 2393, and the world is almost unrecognizable.
Clear warnings of climate catastrophe went ignored for decades, leading to soaring temperatures, rising sea levels, widespread drought and-finally-the disaster now known as the Great Collapse of 2093, when the disintegration of the West Antarctica Ice Sheet led to mass migration and a complete reshuffling of the global order.
Writing from the Second People’s Republic of China on the 300th anniversary of the Great Collapse, a senior scholar presents a gripping and deeply disturbing account of how the children of the Enlightenment-the political and economic elites of the so-called advanced industrial societies-failed to act, and so brought about the collapse of Western civilization.
In this haunting, provocative work of science-based fiction, Naomi Oreskes and Eric M. Conway imagine a world devastated by climate change.
Dramatizing the science in ways traditional nonfiction cannot, the book reasserts the importance of scientists and the work they do and reveals the self-serving interests of the so called “carbon combustion complex” that have turned the practice of science into political fodder.
Based on sound scholarship and yet unafraid to speak boldly, this book provides a welcome moment of clarity amid the cacophony of climate change literature.

Theo says… The Collapse of Western Civilisation: A view from the future by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M Conway. It’s a very short read – being a 62 page faux-academic essay imagining a future Chinese scholar reflecting on the events of the 21st century. The title feels pretty topical and it is an atypical read – more like the book World War Z, than a conventional protagonist driven novel. But it does make some astute, entertaining and increasingly prescient observations about the political and social malaise that is leading us into a dystopian future.

Ever since a hurricane devastated the small town of Mercy, Louisiana, a red algae bloom has taken over. Mutated wildlife lurks in the water that rises by the day, but Mercy has always been a place where monsters walk in plain sight. Especially at its heart: the Cove, where Noon’s life was upended long before the storm at a party her older boyfriend insisted on.
Now, Noon is stuck navigating the submerged town with her mom, who believes their family have been reincarnated as sea creatures. Alone with the pain of what happened that night at the cove, Noon buries the truth: she is not the right shape.
When Mercy’s predatory leader demands Noon and her mum capture the creature drowning residents, she reluctantly finds an ally in his deadly hunter of a daughter and friends old and new. As the next storm approaches, Noon must confront the past and decide if it’s time to answer the monster itching at her skin.

Cat says… They Bloom at Night by Trang Thanh Tran. A not-quite future America on the verge of environmental collapse due to rising tides; a Vietnamese girl and her family encountering monsters and strange mutations. A deeply heartfelt tale of grief, survival, transformation and hope. 

IN PERILOUS TIMES LIKE THESE, THE REALM DOESN’T JUST NEED A HERO.
IT NEEDS A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR.
Sir Kay and his fellow knights awake from their mythical slumber whenever Britain has need of them; they fought at Agincourt and at the Somme. But in these perilous modern times, the realm is more divided than ever, a dragon has been seen for the first time in centuries, and Kay is not the only ancient and terrible thing to come crawling up out of the ground . . .
Perilous Times is a fiercely entertaining contemporary take on the myths of Camelot, which asks: what happens when the Knights of the Round Table return to fix the problems of the modern world?

Beth says… If you want to dip a toe in the world of cli-fi dystopia but not sure if you want to let go of that fantasy edge just yet, Perilous Times by Thomas D. Lee was written for you. It’s Britain in the near-future where rising water levels have caused displacement, which in turn has caused overcrowding and tensions are on knife edge. Into this world are dragged back King Arthur’s cursed knights to fight once more for their kingdom. It is a fantastic read, so very on the nose for our own perilous times.

For the one… Suffering with Wanderlust

Among the bustling markets of eighteenth century Cairo, the city’s outcasts eke out a living swindling rich Ottoman nobles and foreign invaders alike.
But alongside this new world the old stories linger. Tales of djinn and spirits. Of cities hidden among the swirling sands of the desert, full of enchantment, desire and riches. Where magic pours down every street, hanging in the air like dust.
Many wish their lives could be filled with such wonder, but not Nahri. She knows the trades she uses to get by are just tricks and sleights of hand: there’s nothing magical about them. She only wishes to one day leave Cairo, but as the saying goes…
Be careful what you wish for.

Nils says… The Daevabad trilogy by Shannon Chakraborty. The realm of Daevabad is one of my favourite secondary worlds. There’s magic, djinn, a variety of Middle Eastern mythology and some romance thrown in too. 

THIS IS THE WAY THE WORLD ENDS . . . FOR THE LAST TIME.
IT STARTS WITH THE GREAT RED RIFT across the heart of the world’s sole continent, spewing ash that blots out the sun.
IT STARTS WITH DEATH, with a murdered son and a missing daughter.
IT STARTS WITH BETRAYAL, and long dormant wounds rising up to fester.
This is the Stillness, a land long familiar with catastrophe, where the power of the earth is wielded as a weapon. And where there is no mercy.

Theo says… The Fifth Season by N.K.Jemsin has one of the most brilliantly imagined worlds – a massive continent of near constant catastrophic tectonic activity ironically named “the stillness” by its inhabitants and held in check only by enslaved and subjugated magically gifted people called oregenes. It’s bleak in places but beautifully written and there is no world in fantasy fiction quite like it.

From the author of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy comes a new heart warming fantasy rom-com with an opposites-attract twist set in the delightful world of Tanria.
Immortal demigod Rosie Fox has been patrolling Tanria for decades, but lately, the job has been losing its lustre. After one hundred and fifty-seven years of being alive, everything is beginning to lose its lustre. When Rosie dies (again) by electrocution (again) after poking around inside a portal choked with shadowy thorns only she can see, she feels stuck in the rut that is her unending life.
Thanks to Rosie’s meddling, the portal inventor, Dr. Adam Lee, must come in person to repair the damage. When all the portals begin to break down, he declares an emergency evacuation of Tanria. In the mad rush to get out, Rosie and Adam end up trapped inside the Mist. Together.
And uptight Adam Lee in his bespoke menswear seems to know a lot more about what’s happening than he lets on. . .

Cat says… The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam by Megan Bannen. This may be the third entry in the series, but it was my entry point – and it’s 100% a world I’d love to live in! I lost an entire afternoon to this wonderful, hilarious and magical alternate reality, which also made me work to figure out just what everyday things (like not-quite-cars) are. Smart, imaginative and full of heart. 

Magical researcher Sirin has everything she needs for a solo trek through the Arctic: a sledge heaped with supplies, a fistful of insubordinate audacity, and—unknown to her—-the eye of a polar bear shifter stalking her every move.
Sirin is determined to find the source of magic before it disappears. Nothing, not expulsion from her guild, becoming the laughing stock of the magical research community, or the threat of certain death on the taiga will stop her. Not even the careful and patient trailing of a shifter who shouldn’t exist.
Berne is a simple bear. He likes spending time rolling around in the snow, a good meal, and apparently, round little scientists. Of which, he realizes, Sirin could be both. When his duty to protect a thousand-year-old secret is tested by the undeniable pull he feels towards her, Berne can’t help but sink his teeth into the one solution that will let him keep his adorable prey—a mating bite.
Exploration has never been so stimulating.

Emma says… The world featured in  A Polar Expedition and Other Stimulating Research Opportunities by Kass O’Shire is where I want to live in my next life. The gaslampesque magical world just pulled me in and I don’t think I want to be free, gorgeous polar bear shifters are just a bonus. 

ACCORDING TO JANUARY SCALLER, THERE’S ONLY ONE WAY TO RUN AWAY FROM YOUR OWN STORY, AND THAT’S TO SNEAK INTO SOMEONE ELSE’S . . .
In a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr Locke, she feels little different from the artefacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored and utterly out of place.
But her quiet existence is shattered when she stumbles across a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure and danger. Each page reveals more impossible truths about the world, and January discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own.

Beth says… There are so many books I want to recommend for this category! I’ll start with The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow, just for the amount of wonderful worlds in this story! Harrow is one of my favourite authors for her storytelling, so if you want a book that will utterly transport you away, this is a good one. If you have a reader who loves an adventurous holiday, backpacking across Asia for example, The Far Wild by Alex Knight would be ideal for them. Alex used to work for the tourist board for Florida, so he is expert at bringing an environment to life and making you feel like you’re trekking through a jungle. Speaking of larger-than-life worlds and being completely transported and immersed in another world, both Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang and The Magician’s Daughter by H. G. Parry do a wonderful job of that!

For the one… Who likes keeping it retro

From the imagination of two of fantasy’s greatest names comes a magnificent epic of heroic and dynastic struggle.
At age 17, Mara’s ceremonial pledge of servantship to the goddess Lashima is interrupted by the news that her father and brother have been killed in battle on Trigia, the world through the rift.Now Ruling Lady of the Acoma, Mara finds that not only are her family’s ancient enemies, the Minwanabi, responsible for the deaths of her loved ones, but her military forces have been decimated by the betrayal and House Acoma is now vulnerable to complete destruction.

Vinay says… The Empire Trilogy by Janny Wurtz & Raymond Feist – a spin-off series from Feist’s Riftwar Saga, this can nonetheless be read as a standalone series and is all the more fantastic for it. Featuring Mara of the Acoma, it is a a journey of a girl who leads her house from the depths of ruin to survival and something beyond. A political thriller with one of the most memorable reads, it is one of my all time favorite books to re-read

Draw near and listen, or else time is at an end.
The watering holes of the Plain are drying up, the fearsome fanghorn grow more numerous, and bad omens abound.
Wulfgar, a leader of the Altaii people, must contend with twin queens, warlords, prophets and magic in hopes of protecting his people and securing their future.
Elspeth, a visitor from another world, holds the answers, but first Wulfgar must learn to ask the right questions.
But what if the knowledge that saves the Altaii will also destroy them?

Nils: Of course I would always recommend The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit but alongside that The Warrior of Altaii by Robert Jordan is a great standalone novel for any Wheel of Time fans out there. The book was written in the 70s and you can clearly see a lot of ideas for Wheel of Time being formed in this novel so it’s worth a read. 

The forerunner to The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion tells the earlier history of Middle-earth, recounting the events of the First and Second Ages, and introducing some of the key characters, such as Galadriel, Elrond, Elendil and the Dark Lord, Sauron.
The Silmarillion is an account of the Elder Days, of the First Age of Tolkien’s world. It is the ancient drama to which the characters in The Lord of the Rings look back, and in whose events some of them such as Elrond and Galadriel took part. The tales of The Silmarillion are set in an age when Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, dwelt in Middle-Earth, and the High Elves made war upon him for the recovery of the Silmarils, the jewels containing the pure light of Valinor.
Included in the book are several shorter works. The Ainulindale is a myth of the Creation and in the Valaquenta the nature and powers of each of the gods is described. The Akallabeth recounts the downfall of the great island kingdom of Númenor at the end of the Second Age and Of the Rings of Power tells of the great events at the end of the Third Age, as narrated in The Lord of the Rings.
This pivotal work features the revised, corrected text and includes, by way of an introduction, a fascinating letter written by Tolkien in 1951 in which he gives a full explanation of how he conceived the early Ages of Middle-earth.

Theo says… Well, if Nils is going to mention Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, I guess that leaves it to me to mention The Silmarillion! (it is on your christmas list right, Nils?! I already have an illustrated copy 🤣) If you want to understand the sweeping grandeur of Tolkien’s world that was distilled down into its purest form in LotR, then reading The Silmarillion is a must. Not least for the insights into “Elder days before the fall, of mighty kings in Nargothrond and Gondolin, who now beyond the western seas have passed away.”  And on top of that you get to know Galadriel’s backstory and why she – more than anyone – has a very personal reason to hate Gorthaur … sorry Sauron (or Sharon as the Starbucks Barista would label his coffee)

Servant. Seductress. Spy.
All Phèdre nó Delaunay has known is a life of servitude – until now. When her bond is purchased by a nobleman, Anafiel Delaunay, he transforms her into a charming courtesan and skillful spy. He’s also the first to recognize what she is: one touched by the god Kushiel’s dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one.
But when Phèdre uncovers a plot that threatens the very foundations of her homeland, she’s thrown into a world of deadly courtiers, heroic traitors and one truly Machiavellian villainess. Her journey will take her to the edge of despair and beyond. For false friends, loving enemies and beloved assassins all wear the same glittering masks – and Phèdre will get but one chance to save all that she holds dear.

Cat says… The Kushiel series by Jacqueline Carey. Definitely for adults only, I remember picking up the first book on release… and now somehow there’s several trilogies! Deeply beautiful writing that seduces you into a world of powerful courtesans and those who seek to control them, this series does unique fantasy worldbuilding like nobody else. 

Discover the late Ursula Le Guin’s passionate and enthralling story of a young boy sent to a school of wizardry to learn the ways of magic in the opening quartet of the Earthsea story.
‘One of the literary greats’ Margaret Atwood
‘The deepest and smartest of writers. Her words are always with us. Some of them are written on my soul’ Neil Gaiman
A Wizard of Earthsea * The Tombs of Atuan * The Farthest Shore * Tehanu
Ged is but a goatherd on the island of Gont when he comes by his strange powers over nature. Sent to the School of Wizards on Roke, he learns the true way of magic and proves himself a powerful magician.
And it is as the Archmage Sparrowhawk that he helps the High Priestess Tenar escape the labyrinth of darkness. But over the years, Ged witnesses true magic and the ancient ways submit to the forces of evil and death. Will he too succumb, or can he hold them back?

Beth says… Ursula K. Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea was first published in 1968 and was the forerunner for a wealth of fantasy elements that are now commonly found throughout the genre. Her influence is clear to see in many hugely bestselling fantasy series, but not acknowledged nearly as much as she should be. A school of wizards, communing with dragons, and an arduous magic system in which names mean power – if these tick your box then pick up Earthsea. 

For the one… Who thought Belle’s prince was sexier as a beast

Enter the world of the hidden folk – and discover the most whimsical, enchanting and heart-warming tale you’ll read this year, featuring the intrepid Emily Wilde. . .
Emily Wilde is good at many things: she is the foremost expert on the study of faeries; she is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world’s first encylopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people
So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby
But as Emily gets closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones – the most elusive of all faeries – she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she’ll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all – her own heart.

Nils says… The Emily Wilde trilogy by Heather Fawcett features a human/fae romance and it’s so wonderfully developed. There’s humour, creepy fae, animal companions, an evil queen and some scholarly light academia. Not much spice though so not one for those on the naughtier side of reads. 

Ana has perfected the art of the Irish goodbye—especially when it comes to holiday office parties that send her anxiety spiraling. When she escapes the company festivities and takes refuge in her favorite bookstore, she expects to find her usual hidden reading nook empty and waiting.
Instead, she discovers Kael—the store’s new owner with silver-streaked hair, warm golden eyes, and a pair of very real reindeer antlers that catch the light when she smiles.
As winter snowfall traps them together in a cozy back room filled with books and twinkling lights, Ana finds herself doing the unthinkable—connecting with a stranger who somehow makes her feel perfectly safe being herself.
When Ana notices an enchanted sprig of mistletoe that supposedly reveals true soul-matches, Ana doesn’t believe in holiday magic…but she’s definitely willing to test the theory with Kael.
One kiss is all it takes to prove that sometimes the universe saves its most perfect gifts for those who’ve spent too long watching other people’s dreams instead of living their own.

Cat says… My favourite monster romance author has got to be Lola Bliss, and all of her short books are winners – but for the season, let’s say Antlers and Anxiety. A cosy bookshop provides a haven for a woman escaping her office Christmas party (relatable!), with companionship from a beautiful reindeer shifter. Lola always challenges relationship norms in her monster world, and the deep love portrayed in her work hits me every time. 

Spread Me is a darkly seductive tale of survival from Sarah Gailey, bestselling author of Just Like Home. A routine probe at a research station turns deadly when the team discovers a strange specimen in search of a warm place to stay.
Kinsey has the perfect job as the team leader in a remote research outpost. She loves the isolation and the way the desert keeps temptations from the civilian world far out of reach.
When her crew discovers a mysterious specimen buried deep in the sand, Kinsey breaks quarantine and brings it into the hab. But the longer it”s inside, the more her carefully controlled life begins to unravel. Temptation has found her after all, and it can”t be ignored any longer.
One by one, Kinsey”s team realizes the thing they”re studying is in search of a new host—and one of them is the perfect candidate….

Gray says… Spread Me by Sarah Gailey is probably my favorite ‘monster romance’ of the year, and the fact that it plays out like a romance book while also being about a sentient virus, with the main problem being miscommunication, really impressed me. And the body horror was appropriately sexy for those of us not turned on by the concept of infection.

The small town of Ever, Massachusetts is idyllic and quaint. It’s also chock full of monsters.
THEA
When my sister thrifts an aged map with iridescent lettering leading to a town called Ever, I roll my eyes. According to a quick internet search, the town doesn’t exist. We only manage to find it with the help of a sexy gas station owner who offers to come for me if I call him. Swoon.
I quickly learn that Shepherd isn’t actually human, nobody in town is. News flash—he’s a gargoyle—a dominant, possessive, creme-brulee-loving monster. That should terrify me, but something about him keeps me coming back. Maybe it’s the snark. Maybe it’s the delicious snacks. Maybe it’s his wingspan, which leads me to wondering about the size of other things. I digress.
No one realized that when I came through the town’s protective wards, something happened to them. Now the town—and my sisters—are in danger from a soul-sucking evil that’s constantly trying to burrow its way in.
Can Shepherd and I save the town and our shot at love, or will evil ruin our happily ever after?

Getting It On With Gargoyles is the first book in the Haven Ever After monster romance series. Each book can be read as a standalone. If you’re in the mood for possessive cinnamon roll heroes, look no further. Shepherd’s got you covered. And he brings snacks.

Emma says…  Oof, where to start? (Emma is our monster romance expert – find out more here) I think Hazel Mack’s Haven Ever After series has got to be one of my favourites. Sweet small town vibes with plenty of monster loving to go around.  Full of personality, passion and pixies. A close contender would have to be Krista Luna’s Brides of the Moon Blade Clan. Less variety in the monsters featured, but still cosy romance with all the spice! 

Halla has unexpectedly inherited the estate of a wealthy uncle. Unfortunately, she is also saddled with money-hungry relatives full of devious plans for how to wrest the inheritance away from her.
While locked in her bedroom, Halla inspects the ancient sword that’s been collecting dust on the wall since before she moved in. Out of desperation, she unsheathes it―and suddenly a man appears. His name is Sarkis, he tells her, and he is an immortal warrior trapped in a prison of enchanted steel.
Sarkis is sworn to protect whoever wields the sword, and for Halla―a most unusual wielder―he finds himself fending off not grand armies and deadly assassins but instead everything from kindly-seeming bandits to roving inquisitors to her own in-laws. But as Halla and Sarkis grow closer, they overlook the biggest threat of all―the sword itself.

Beth says… I have to recommend Swordheart by T. Kingfisher just because of the metaphors involved with falling for a guy who is literally a sword… I mea come on… This is a very sweet love story but also has plenty of spice. Less spice but plenty of romance (and suitable for YA) is Moonstone by Laura Purcell; sapphic and werewolves, super atmospheric and will set your pulse racing!

For the one… Who wants all the feels

A little bit of sin is good for the soul.
Gadriel, the fallen angel of petty temptations, has a bit of a gambling debt. Fortunately, her angelic bookie is happy to let her pay off her debts by doing what she does best: All Gadriel has to do is tempt miserably sinless mortal Holly Harker to do a few nice things for herself.
What should be a cakewalk of a job soon runs into several roadblocks, however, as Miss Harker politely refuses every attempt at temptation from Gadriel the woman, Gadriel the man, and Gadriel the adorable fluffy kitten. When even chocolate fails to move Gadriel’s target, the ex-guardian angel begins to suspect she’s been conned. But Gadriel still remembers her previous job… and where petty temptations fail, small miracles might yet prevail.
Olivia Atwater explores love, grief, and the very last bit of chocolate in this sweet modern fantasy, full of wit and heart. Pick up Small Miracles, and enjoy a heavenly faerie tale from the author of Half a Soul.

Theo says… I’m going to suggest Small Miracles by Olivia Attwater a cosy self-published novel that deservedly won SPFBO8. Minor angels and demons strive to control the lives of ordinary mortals in a school setting and chocolate becomes a weapon of war! 

Family changes everything.
Tao roams the dusty countryside with only her mule for company, telling small fortunes, for small prices. Fleeing a troubled past, she knows big fortunes come with big consequences.
Until one day, when she finds herself joining a desperate search for a lost child. Alongside an ex-mercenary, a (semi) reformed thief, an overly enthusiastic baker and a slightly magical cat, Tao will need to risk everything to save the family she never thought she’d have.
Can her walls finally break down, or will the shadows of her past close in?
A cozy, heart-warming fantasy adventure about trying to find yourself – and finding family instead.

Nils says… The Teller of Small Fortunes and The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong are both cosy standalone novels that really hit that feel good, warming spot. There’s plenty of magic, found families and strong themes of kindness, understanding and acceptance. 

There once was a town where nothing ever happened—until, one day, it did.
Corinthia, the librarian of Shadow Ridge, doesn’t fall for mysterious strangers. She doesn’t go for long walks in the woods. And she most certainly does not believe in magic.
She has her books, her rescued hound, and her Cabinet of Chocolate—everything she needs for a cozy evening alone, thank you very much.
But when a bet with her best friend leads to a hike in the maze-like nature preserve behind the Shadow Ridge Library, she meets a mysterious woman who challenges everything she thought she knew about her town, her destiny, and her heart.
She doesn’t believe in magic… but magic believes in her.

Cat says… A Nest of Magic by Kate Moseman. This is the bookish equivalent of a perfect cup of tea, cosy chair and warm fire. A gentle, magical romance that moves from library stacks to deep woods, keeping grounded while enticing a true sense of wonder and joy. Also the goodest pupper sidekick! 

Miss Mildred Percy inherits a dragon.
Ah, but we’ve already got ahead of ourselves…
Miss Mildred Percy is a spinster. She does not dance, she has long stopped dreaming, and she certainly does not have adventures. That is, until her great uncle has the audacity to leave her an inheritance, one that includes a dragon’s egg.
The egg – as eggs are wont to do – decides to hatch, and Miss Mildred Percy is suddenly thrust out of the role of “spinster and general wallflower” and into the unprecedented position of “spinster and keeper of dragons.”
But England has not seen a dragon since… well, ever. And now Mildred must contend with raising a dragon (that should not exist), kindling a romance (with a humble vicar), and embarking on an adventure she never thought could be hers for the taking.

Emma says… I think the cosiest book I’ve read all year has to be Miss Percy’s Pocket Guide to the Care and Keeping of British Dragons by Quenby Olson. Incredibly wholesome apart from some scandalous sightings of a vicar’s ankle and jam packed full of adorable baby dragons. You’ll laugh, you’ll vow revenge on that scoundrel and it will easily wyrm its way into your heart.
For something with a bit more spice, I would absolutely recommend Steffanie Holmes. Her Nevermore Bookshop series is just perfection, and our FMC has literal book boyfriends! Mystery, romance and a raven shifter. This has it all. 

Is three days with a cat enough to change your life?
The troubled and anxious of Tokyo are desperate to find out. They all have their problems – and they all want to believe that a feline companion from a unique pet shop can help them find a solution. But there are rules: they must be returned after three days, and they must always sleep in their own familiar blankets.
In The Blanket Cats, we meet seven such customers, including a couple struggling with infertility, a middle-aged woman on the run from the police, and two families in very different circumstances simply seeking joy.
But like all their kind, the blanket cats are mysterious creatures with their own unknowable agendas, who delight in confounding expectations. And perhaps what their hosts are looking for isn’t what they really need.
Three days may not be enough to change your life. But it might be enough to change how you see it.

Beth says… I’m going to recommend The Blanket Cats by Kiyoshi Shigematsu. It isn’t obviously speculative at first, and certainly wouldn’t be shelved amongst the SFF section of any bookstore, but there is a sense of something magical going on throughout it, and you’ll certainly feel magically transformed after it. If your recipient prefers a larger serving of fantasy in their cosy fantasy, then you should absolutely turn to Sangu Mandanna; both The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping are packed full of magic and whimsy, and they’re both super heartwarming. Mandanna is a fantastic character writer, and having that connection with a character is what makes a cosy fantasy!

For the one… Who wants all the frights

A stolen child.
Revenge.
This is the story of Ted, who lives with his young daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street.
All these things are true.
And yet some of them are lies.
An unspeakable secret binds the family together, and when a new neighbour moves in next door, the truth may destroy them all.
Because there’s something buried in the dark forest at the end of Needless Street.
But it’s not what you think.

Nils says… The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward. This is more of a psychological horror, with some shocking twists and strange characters. It’s unputdownable!

A woman builds her lover from carefully scavenged pieces and parts. A young girl is groomed for madness by one who loves her most. A neurodivergent boy organizes his life, and loss, by the ticking of a clock. And love can be the most splendid and destructive force in the entire world.
Love is a Crematorium and Other Tales is a collection of seventeen stories that are both bleak and beautiful, devastating and sweet. Enter the crematorium to experience grief, starlit nights, and gorgeous tragedy that make our souls burn from the inside out.

Theo says… Possibly a bit left field but I’m going to suggest an anthology Love is a  Crematorium and other Stories by Mercedes M. Yardley. A marvellously inventive and eclectic mix that teases and horrifies with stories that range from the surreal to the sublime.

Four passengers meet on a train journey through Eastern Europe during the First World War, and face a mystery that must be solved if they are to survive…Bizarre creatures, satanic rites, terrified passengers and the romance of travelling by train, all feature in this classically styled horror. Imagine there was a supernatural chiller that Hammer Films never made. A grand epic produced at the studio’s peak, which played like a cross between the Dracula and Frankenstein films and Dr Terror’s House Of Horrors… Four passengers meet on a train journey through Eastern Europe during the First World War, and face a mystery that must be solved if they are to survive. As the ‘Arkangel’ races through the war-torn countryside, they must find out: What is in the casket that everyone is so afraid of? What is the tragic secret of the veiled Red Countess who travels with them? Why is their fellow passenger the army brigadier so feared by his own men? And what exactly is the devilish secret of the Arkangel itself? Bizarre creatures, satanic rites, terrified passengers and the romance of travelling by train, all in a classically styled horror novel.

Cat says… Hell Train by Christopher Fowler. The story of a Hammer movie that was never made, with genuine monster action interspersed with ‘real world’ actors considering how they’d play the bloody adventure. A fast-paced horror packed with nostalgic vibes for those who love Lee, Cushing et al! 

As a child, Ashley Whitelam was haunted by ghostly figures no one else could see. Silent and watchful, these Heedful Ones followed her wherever she went. She hasn’t seen them for eighteen years, not since that fateful night at Red Rigg House.

But now they’re back, and they’re trying to tell her something.

Children start to disappear across the Lake District and Ashley becomes involved in the investigation, eager for free publicity to promote her work as a psychic. She never expected the collaboration to bear fruit, but when she discovers the body of one of the missing children, everything changes.

The police are convinced that she’s involved with the killings, and the press are hounding her for answers. Desperate to clear her name, she works with true crime podcaster, Freddie Miller, to investigate. As they look deeper into the disappearances, Ashley must dig into the demons of her past, before the nightmare in the present comes for her, too.

Beth says… Jen Williams hasn’t confined herself just to the fantasy genre, and instead has spread her considerable talents to atmospheric supernatural horror in The Hungry Dark, and truly suspenseful chilling crime thrillers in Dog Rose Dirt and Games for Dead Girls.

For the one… Who’s read everything 

Somewhere in England, in a small town called Strange Ground by the Skea, Ebbie Wren is the last librarian and he’s about to lose his job. Estranged from his parents, unable to make connections with anyone except the old homeless lady who lives near the library, Ebbie isn’t quite sure what he’s supposed to do next. His only escape from reality is his deep interest in local folklore, but reality is far stranger than Ebbie can dream.
On the other side of the sky and the sea, the Queen of House Wood Bee has been murdered. Her sister has made the first move in a long game, one which will lead her to greatness, yet risk destruction for the entire Realm. She needs the two magical stones Foresight and Hindsight for her power to be complete, but no one knows where they are. Although the sword recently stolen by Bek Rana, small time thief and not very good at it, might hold a clue to their location . . . and to stopping the chaos. But all Bek wants is to sell the sword and buy herself a better life. She’s not interested in being a hero, and neither is Ebbie.
But someone is forcing their hand and playing for the heart of the Realm. Ebbie and Bek are destined to unite. They must find a way to stop the destruction of House Wood Bee, save the Realm, and just maybe save themselves in the process. All victories come at a price. The Oldungods are rising. And they are watching…

Nils says… The Wood Bee Queen by Edward Cox. This is a fairytale-esque, fun adventure with plenty of magic and whimsy. It’s a standalone too!

Loch is seeking revenge.
It would help if she wasn’t in jail.
The plan: to steal a priceless elven manuscript that once belonged to her family, but now is in the hands of the most powerful man in the Republic. To do so Loch—former soldier, former prisoner, current fugitive—must assemble a crack team of magical misfits that includes a cynical illusionist, a shapeshifting unicorn, a repentant death priestess, a talking magical warhammer, and a lad with seemingly no skills to help her break into the floating fortress of Heaven’s Spire and the vault that holds her family’s treasure—all while eluding the unrelenting pursuit of Justicar Pyvic, whose only mission is to see the law upheld.
What could possibly go wrong?
The Palace Job is a funny, action-packed, high-fantasy heist caper in the tradition of Scott Lynch’s Gentleman Bastards series, from debut author Patrick Weekes.

Vinay says… Rogues of the Republic Trilogy by Patrick Weekes – a trilogy if you love Oceans trilogy, packed with tons of humor and inappropriateness and an interesting set of characters, including a talking warhammer and a foul-mouthed sidekick 

Ten Low is an ex-army medic, one of many convicts eking out a living at the universe’s edge.
She’s desperate to escape her memories of the interstellar war, and the crimes she committed, but trouble seems to follow wherever she goes.
One night, attempting to atone for her sins, she pulls a teenage girl – the sole survivor – from the wreck of a spaceship.
But Gabriella Ortiz is no ordinary girl.
The result of a military genetics programme, she is a decorated Army General, from the opposing side of the war to Ten.
Worse, Ten realises the crash was an assassination attempt, and that someone wants the Ortiz dead.
The pair bury their hatreds and strike an uneasy deal to smuggle the General off-world.
Their road won’t be easy: they must cross the moon’s lawless wastes, facing military hit squads, bandits and the one-eyed leader of an all-female road gang, in a frantic race to get the General to safety.
But something else waits in the darkness at the universe’s edge.
Something that threatens to reveal Ten’s worst nightmare: the truth of who she really is and what she is running from.

Theo says… Ten Low by Stark Holborn, a beautifully written, vividly imagined cross between science fiction and spaghetti western. For a touch of fantasy it has the almost magical layer of the mystery ‘ifs’ that cluster around the protagonist feeding off the possibilities and probabilities that cloy to each action filled event – like a vindictive infinite improbability drive collapsing the wave functions in unpredictable ways. And alongside the eponymous Ten Low you have Gabbriella Ortiz the baddest kick ass thirteen year old girl warrior since Eowyn told the witch-king “begone foul dwimmerlaik, lord of carrion, leave the dead in peace.” 

When Jack Churchill and Ruth Gallagher encounter a terrifying, misshapen giant beneath a London bridge they are plunged into a mystery which portends the end of the world as we know it. All over the country, the ancient gods of Celtic myth are returning to the land from which they were banished millennia ago. Following in their footsteps are creatures of folklore: fabulous bests, wonders and dark terrors.
As technology starts to fail, Jack and Ruth are forced to embark on a desperate quest for four magical items – the last chance for humanity in the face of powers barely comprehended.

Cat says… World’s End by Mark Chadbourn. The Age of Misrule series seriously deserves more love. What if the ancient mythology of the British Isles began to stir and rejoin our modern world? We follow a group of reluctant heroes called to step up and fulfil their roles in this new age, and it’s absolutely compelling. Also the cover of this book features a dragon chase on the M25 – enough said! 

Dawn of Cthulthu – A trilogy of speculative fiction essays, exploring the strange corners of the human imagination, mixing genuine science, history and biology with fictional creations.
On the Worship of Dark and Monstrous Gods – fictional chronicle of the real history of Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Cult, from it’s humble origins in the Egyptian New Kingdom, thirty-five hundred years ago, through its expansion into the Red Sea and along the African coasts, the emergence of Azathoth, Yog Sothoth and other Gods, conflicts with Buddhism and Islam. and domination of the Indian Ocean, and ultimately, to the present.
Lost Continents Found – A tour of legendary and fictional lost continents, including Atlantis, Lemuria and Mu, and the discovery of actual submerged continents in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and other lost lands hidden beneath the world’s oceans and seas.
The Mysterious Monsters of Sesame Street – Everyone loves muppets. But where did they really come from? How did they evolve? How did they learn to speak? Where do the big birds and the snuffleupagas originate? A tour de force exploration of biology and evolution about the anatomy and biology unreal animals.

Gray says… Dawn of Cthulhu! By D. G. Valdron is my current ‘hidden gem’ book, containing three separate alternate histories, one in which Lovecraft based his stories on a real mythology, one in which all of the ‘lost continents’ actually existed and my personal favorite: an ecology of the monsters of Sesame Street.

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBUT FROM THREE-TIME WINNER OF WALES BOOK OF THE YEAR CARYL LEWIS: A STORY OF LOVE, MAGIC AND THE IRRESISTIBLE LURE OF THE SEA.
Nefyn has always been an enigma, even to her brother Joseph with whom she lives in a small cottage above a blustery cove.
Hamza is a Syrian mapmaker, incarcerated in a military base a few miles up the coast.
A violent storm will bring these two lost souls together – but other forces will soon try to tear them apart…
Moving between the wild Welsh coast and war-torn Syria, Drift is a love story with a difference, a hypnotic tale of lost identity, the quest for home and the wondrous resilience of the human spirit.

Beth says… Caryl Lewis is perhaps not a hidden gem in Wales (but most definitely a gem of a woman), and Drift was Waterstones’ Welsh Book of the Year, but I think in terms of wider audiences it’s stunningly lyrical and gorgeous story that they’re missing out on. It’s not overtly SFF, more with threads of folklore and speculative, but a gem of a book notheless.

An unpredictable, poignant, and captivating tale for readers of all ages, by the critically acclaimed author of Only Forward.There are a million stories in the world. Most are perfectly ordinary.
This one… isn’t.
Hannah Green actually thinks her story is more mundane than most. But she’s about to discover that the shadows in her life have been hiding a world where nothing is as it seems: that there’s an ancient and secret machine that converts evil deeds into energy, that some mushrooms can talk — and that her grandfather has been friends with the Devil for over a hundred and fifty years, and now they need her help.

Beth says… I’m cheating slightly and blurb-recommending a second hidden gem, because I adored this book and don’t hear it mentioned often. Hannah Green and her Unfeasibly Mundane Existence is one of those stories that stick with you for years but is somewhat difficult to describe. Just trust me and pick it up. Whilst we’re talking about hidden gems that stick with you, Claire North’s The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August is another one I don’t hear people rave about enough; it’s a clever blurring of time travel and reincarnation, the concept of which still plays on my mind years and years after having read it.