Winter is moving in, and so are we. As cold winds howl outside our windows and snow looms on the horizon, we rush our bundled up bodies home to curl up cozy and warm by the fire, a hot cup of tea warming our chilly hands and a good book warming our hearts. There is no better time of year to pick up a new book than winter, when we’re all cloistering ourselves away indoors and nestling under blankets. So, today I bring you a hearty pile of frosty reads to keep you company in the months to come.
Every book on this list suits the chilly season. Some are set in frosty snowscapes, while others bring the nostalgic fairytale vibes so iconic of this season. I’ve included a mix of beloved fantasy series and some lesser known standalone novels that capture the whimsy of the snowy season. A great deal of these should be readily available at your local library, as well!
Without further ado, here are my top 10 winter fantasy reads!
1. Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman
128 pages, 14k words
For many of us, Neil Gaiman is the reigning king of autumn reads. But Odd and the Frost Giants is a hidden winter gem. Following the story of a young viking boy named Odd, the enchanting tale takes us through the gorgeous yet treacherous old Norse winterscape and its rich mythology. The Frost Giants have overtaken the gods and claimed Asgard for themselves, and it’s all up to Odd to save the cast out gods and overthrow the giants. Odd’s epic quest has held a special place in my heart ever since I first read it in middle school, and Gaiman’s mastery of storytelling — along with another entry in this list — ignited my passion for Norse mythology as a child.
2. The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
221 pages, 64K words
No one is surprised to see this entry, but I would be remiss to leave out such an iconic tale. If you were a child in the mid-2000’s, you’re likely well acquainted with the tale of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe thanks to the 2005 movie adaptation. In my grade school years, this movie topped the December pajama, hot chocolate, and movie days preceding winter break, challenged only by the ubiquitous The Polar Express, released a year prior. But many young readers, much like myself, would be surprised to learn The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is not the first novel in the series. According to the HarperCollins lineup, which honors the chronological order of events within the series, The Magician’s Nephew is the first of The Chronicles of Narnia. This novel follows the first two children to ever set foot in Narnia from our world, and shows us the creation of Narnia itself. For anyone who grew up watching Narnia unfold on the big screen, The Magician’s Nephew is an exciting way to jump back into that beloved world, with new twists and turns to follow.
3. A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher
306 pages, 92k words
This charming yet surprisingly dark YA Fantasy novel is the youngest on my list, released in paperback from just last year. Don’t be fooled by the sword wielding gingerbread man on the cover, though; this story opens with a murder, and the danger only piles on from there! Join Mona, a fourteen-year-old baker with a minor talent for enchanting pastry dough to do her bidding, as she’s wrongfully charged with murder in a corrupt system, and pursued by a deadly assassin hellbent on taking down magicians, no matter how small their talents. A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking is a delightful mix of whimsy, imaginative world building and creative problem solving, and just a touch of the grim and spooky one might expect from a well established horror writer. When you’re looking for a good book to pick up while waiting for all those gingerbread men to cool off for icing, Mona’s brave adventures offer the perfect mix of sugar and spice.
4. Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer
277 pages, 119k words
Fans of the series will know The Arctic Incident is the second in the series, and for those who haven’t yet experienced Artemis in all his glory, I’d definitely recommend starting with book one instead. Unlike The Chronicles of Narnia, book two of the Artemis Fowl series builds directly off book one. But I’m listing The Arctic Incident instead because it doesn’t get any more wintery than boy genius Artemis Fowl and fairy police officer Holly Short teaming up against the Russian Mafiya! There’s action, adventure, heists, kidnappings, and plenty of snow and ice to satisfy any itch of wanderlust that comes calling in the bundled up winter night.
5. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
323 pages, 95k words
Speaking of Russian winters, Katherine Arden’s Winternight Trilogy dives deep into the rich mythology of medieval Russia. This enthralling fairytale took the fantasy world by storm with its brazenly bold heroine, Vasya Petrovna, and her unlikely ally, Morozko, the Frost King. Vasya is the only person in her village who can see the creatures from her people’s folk stories, and the only one left who truly believes in them. Enter Anna Ivanovna, Vasya’s new Christian step-mother from Moscow who sees the mythological creatures too — only she thinks they’re demons. As a dark beast from the old folk tales rises in power and threatens to destroy the world, Vasya must fend off both the monster and her new mother’s desperate attempts to cleanse their village of Vasya’s supposed devilishness. The only way to survive is to turn to the frost king for training and aid.
Winter, and Morozko, are a constant presence throughout this novel, at once awe-inspiring and terrifying. Curl up with a warm blanket while reading this one, and you’ll be left feeling very grateful indeed to have central heating!
6. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
534 pages, 168k words
Inkheart, my love, my raison d’être. If the first thing that comes to mind when you think the word ‘cozy’ is a library full of stories and comfortable couches, then Inkheart is the book for you. The novel is set in modern Europe, with a magical realism twist — there are some orators in this world with words so powerful, they can read anything out of a story world and into our own. But everything comes at a cost, as Meggie learns when a man straight out of a fairytale comes knocking at her father’s door. Though presented as children’s literature, Funke’s Inkheart explores a depth of themes, from what it means to be alive, to predetermination and whether or not we can change our fates. All wrapped up in a greatest hits tour of your favorite classic tales. Funke’s storytelling is unmatched, and her characters are at once charming and compelling, making this series one of my all time favorite comfort reads.
7. City of Dogs by Livi Michael
250 pages, 76.5k words
The second of my Norse mythology-inspired books on this list, City of Dogs holds the other 50% responsibility for my teenage obsession with all things Asgard. After accidentally interrupting the start of Ragnarok and escaping into modern day England, little dog Jenny has accidentally brought doom unto her new family. Now she must rally the neighborhood dogs and finish what she started — stopping Ragnarok from destroying all nine worlds as we know them. With the grand climax taking place in the midst of a snow storm, I’d say this story of six heroic pups makes the perfect read for anyone wishing for a dog for Christmas.
8. Wolves of the Beyond: Lone Wolf by Kathryn Lasky
219 pages, 71.5k words
Speaking of pups, this sequel series to The Guardians of Ga’Hoole is all about the wolf packs hunting in the wintery wilderness beyond the owls’ borders. A brief warning for anyone who has yet to finish The Guardians of Ga’Hoole: although Wolves of the Beyond works as a standalone series, it is set after the events of the Ga’Hoole series and does have some offhanded spoilers. Personally, I think owls make excellent reading for the winter as well, but Lone Wolf begins when our hero Faolan the wolf is born one cold winter night with a twisted paw. The narrative follows him as he’s left abandoned at the side of an icy river, giving us the full sense of winter’s harshest bite even as Faolan manages to beat the odds and survive his death sentence. Faolan’s courage and kindness will warm your heart even as winter’s chill tries to freeze you to the bone.
9. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling
870 Pages, 260k words
A controversial entry in a controversial series, written by a controversial author. For anyone not in the know, J. K. Rowling has repeatedly taken transphobic stances across social media, leading to a massive disowning by fans. Obviously, as a member of the LGBT+ community myself, I am sickened by her behavior, but as a child of the late nineties and early two-thousands, I can’t deny the ways Harry Potter shaped my youth. I, like many, grew up with ABC Family’s Christmas-time Harry Potter movie marathons, and some of my most formative friendships as a child were fostered on a shared love of the series. I’ve owned the entire seven book series for a good ten years by now and though I have no intention of giving any more money to the franchise, I also won’t be burning the books any time soon. In my eyes, we’re seeing ‘the death of the author’ play out in real time, and I’m okay with detaching the story from its creator.
If you feel the same but don’t already own the series, I highly suggest renting the books from your local library or buying secondhand. This way you can indulge in the fantasy without contributing to the darker reality. She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named won’t make anything off your engagement, and you can go on pretending Hatsune Miku penned your childhood.
As for my choice of The Order of the Phoenix, despite the frankly disturbing realism of Dolores Umbridge and my unending love for Sirius Black, I find the fifth book in the series has the most memorable Christmas and winter themes. Harry is grounded from the Quidditch team and holed up in the Room of Requirement for much of the book, while Sirius Black paces his manner, stir-crazy as he hides from authorities. Mr. Weasley’s near-death experience leads to a memorable Christmas, and whenever I think of mistletoe, I can only see the awkward crying-kiss scene between Daniel Radcliff and Katie Leung. Romantic? Questionable. Iconic? Absolutely.
10. Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan
385 pages, 115k words
Last but not least, a dark and bloody tale to keep the goths fed this winter. Described as “A snow-frosted, blood-drenched fairy tale,” by Roshani Chokshi, Wicked Saints is the first in a slavic-inspired trilogy that will haunt you like the howling wind on a lightless winter night. Nadya’s world is turned upside down when her monastery is besieged by a neighboring army, sending her on the run. But Nadya hears the whispers of the gods in her head, and is soon pursued by the enemy prince, a blood-mage who senses great power within her. As the war grows worse and the world order itself is challenged, these unlikely teammates will have to work together with a monstrous boy to bring down the king and end a centuries-old war. For anyone seeking a story that’ll keep them up through long winter nights, this is the bone-chilling saga for you.
And there you have it: my top ten winter fantasy reads! Have you read any of the books on this list? Or do you have a different go-to winter read? Let me know in the comments below!
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