Cozy Winter Reading Recommendations

Perhaps this is an unpopular opinion, but winter is one of my favorite seasons. I adore snow, sweaters, and all things that come with this time of the year. The mood is just so...cozy. I want to go ice skating, drink hot chocolate, and bake cookies. Thanks to winter break from university, I have more time to actually read. But right now I am recommending books for you to pick up this winter.

the bear and the nightingale by katherine arden

The Bear and the Nightingale is a fantasy novel set in the old Russian countryside where a young girl named Vasya lives with her family. The town rumors that Vasya is a witch because she sees things that no one else can--spirits, the old souls of Russia's pre-christian past. Soon, ancient forces start to stir and threaten everything Vasya holds dear. Only she has the ability to stand against them, but she must risk her life and standing to do so. This series is enchanting, set in the Russian wilderness in the middle of winter. There are nature spirits, magic, and political unrest. The way Katherine Arden portrays old Russian religious conflict and beliefs intertwined with a spellbinding tale of defiance and bravery is nothing but masterful. This book is perfect for a snowy night in with a cup of hot chocolate next to the fireplace. 


the secret history by donna tartt

In the Vermont countryside resides a group of young, passionate students with a dark secret. Murder, mystery, and inner conflict threaten to tear their lives apart. When university student Richard transfers to the elite but remote college in Vermont, he is instantly drawn to an enigmatic set of friends. These friends are the protegees of an affluent classics professor that holds a strange sway over his students. Soon, Richard is pulled into their ranks and into their darkest secrets. The Secret History is a dark academia novel that established itself as one of my favorite books in 2019. Donna Tartt's writing is exquisite and some have dubbed it as neo-romanticism. She creates complex and morally gray characters that you sometimes love and oftentimes hate. Between the  mystery and character dynamics, you won't want to put this one down. Maybe I think of this as a perfect winter read due to the snowy setting, but there's something alluring and almost frightening about reading murderous plots while snowed in.


the book of three by lloyd alexander

When I reread the Prydain Chronicles, it feels like returning home to a warm hug and a cup of hot tea. In this charming tale, a young orphan named Taran is pulled into a heroic adventure to save his country from a villain known as the Horned King. His best friends are a sorceress princess, a prophetic pig, an invisible dwarf, a wandering bard, and a hungry creature called Gurgi. Taran and his rag-tag group must join together to battle the forces of evil. This series was Harry Potter before J.K. Rowling was even born. It holds magic, fantasy, loyalty, and daring within its pages. Although this book is a middle-grade one, readers of all ages will no doubt adore it. I read it as a teenager and fell in love instantly. When it comes to high fantasy, there is nothing better than The Book of Three.


once upon a river by diane setterfield 

One midwinter night in an inn on the river Thames, a man appears holding a young girl--one that is seemingly dead. Yet, hours later, the girl takes a breath and returns to life. The local community is in awe, questioning the reason behind her resurrection, as well as her identity. The child in question is mute and can provide no answers, only mystery. Once Upon a River follows three different families who are all eager to discover the child's identity and claim her as their own. Is she a kidnapped daughter, a lost grandchild, or the younger sister of the local parson's housekeeper? Diane Setterfield weaves all of their tales together into a whimsical, enchanting story pulled from the pages of a Grimm's tale. You will be drawn into the small town and the inn where stories come to life until you feel as if you are one of them. The book winds through their lives and their lies to craft an alluring, heartwarming story perfect for a cold night in. 


the rose garden by susanna kearsley

When Eva's sister dies, she decides to return to Cornwall, England where they grew up spending their childhood summers. Eva intends to mourn the loss of her sibling and to scatter her ashes where she was most happy in her lifetime. What she doesn't expect is to be pulled into the past--literally and figuratively. Eva soon finds herself falling for the 18th century world and an 18th century man named Daniel Butler who is caught up in the Jacobite revolution. Now, I am not typically one for a semi-romantic novel but there's something about time travel and an English countryside that does me in. Susanna Kearsley weaves a magical story that is perfectly balanced between science fiction and romance. This one will warm your heart and keep you up late into the night reading. 

What are your favorite winter reads?