By Ashley Rands, Marketing
The days are getting darker and the air has turned crisp and cold. Winter is upon us and with it comes more time indoors to escape the colder winter weather. The added benefit of staying indoors is having more time to curl up with a good book. We have some reading winter reading recommendations.
It’s time to break out the fluffy blankets, sip hot chocolate, and curl up next to a blazing fire to read a good book. Some of these best winter reads might be set in the dead of winter, a character with a cold heart, or might have a chilling twist. These winter reading recommendations range from tragic, funny, mysterious or spooky. Whatever the plot we have some fantastic science-fiction and fantasy winter reads that will make you cancel plans and remain hidden under your piles of blankets.
Winter Reading Recommendations
Holiday Hijinks
by Camden Park Press
Our first winter reading recommendation may not exactly fall under science fiction or fantasy but this anthology is one to fall in love with this holiday season. There are four anthologies each one filled with perfect cozy winter reads. The first anthology is Mistletoe Merriment which include ten short lighthearted romances that truly bring the warmth and joy of the holiday season. Next we have Whimsical Winter Wonderland which is filled with fun, whimsical stories that add just the right bit of holiday magic to your holiday reading. Crazy Christmas Capers will have you laughing and bring a smile to your face. It is filled with light hearted adventures that go from bad to worse and might land these characters on Santa’s “naughty” list. The last anthology in this collection is Happy Holiday Historicals. In this collection you can find ten sweet tales of traditions of old.
Where the Forest Meets the Stars
by Glendy Vanderah
Grab your tissue box and snuggle up with this winter read. Glendy Vanderah’s novel will take you on an emotional, heart warming ride. Her story centers around three characters and how they deal with the hand that life has dealt them. Joanna is recovering from losing her mother and battling breast cancer. Her neighbor, Gabe, fights his own battles with depression. Together they work to solve the mystery of a little girl named Ursa who claims she has been sent from the stars. Ursa will remind you of a modern-day The Snow Child.
Cold Days (The Dresden Files #14)
by Jim Butcher
You don’t need to read the previous novels in the series to understand what is going on in this book. Harry Dresden is no longer the only professional wizard in Chicago. He is now Winter Knight to Mab, the Queen of Air and Darkness. A professional killer. Harry faces new and old enemies and Harry must gather friends and allies to prevent an apocalypse and discover a way out of his servitude.
The Left Hand of Darkness
by Ursula K Le Guin
Don’t pass this book up because it was published in the 1960s. It is definitely a book ahead of its time. This book was a winner of both the Hugo and Nebula Awards. It is a story of a man from Earth who is sent as an envoy to the icy planet Winter. Ursula creates a rich new world with detailed customs and exploration of an ambisexual society.
The Girl Who Kept Winter
by Giao Chi Phan
If you are looking for a fantasy romance winter read then look no further than The Girl Who Kept Winter. Dong Tu is our heroine. Her journey starts by being forced to marry a nasty man but five days before her wedding she is kidnapped by three strangers who are martial art experts. She then encounters Obsidian, the King of Poison. He is a dangerous and cold man and no one has ever touched him until an innocent kiss from Dong Tu seals their destiny.
Frost Bitten, Twice Shy: A Short Story
by Amalia Dillin
This is a very short story that weaves a wonderful tale that will only leave you wanting more. Kate isn’t human and she is determined to conquer her fear of the snow despite the fact her father died in one. She returns to her home to the house her father left and the journey there has her discovering things about herself she never knew.
Attempted Vampirism
by L.G. Estrella
If you like humorous DnD style books then this one’s for you. Jonathan Bloodhaven is a Vampire Lord and finds himself in a troubling situation with Vampire Tax Collectors. He is about to lose his belongings and his castle. He and his butler assemble an old mismatched group in which they have to go out adventuring together. This book provides a great winter theme of a vampire in seclusion.
The Winter People
by Jennifer McMahon
Are you ready for a spooky ghost story? You might want to hide under your covers for this one. West Hall, Vermont is a town where people go missing without explanation and strange legends are told. One mysterious secret is that of Sara Harrison Shea, who, in 1908, was found dead in the field behind her house just months after the tragic death of her daughter. In present day, Ruthie lives in that same house and one day her own mother goes missing. While trying to figure out where her mother went, Ruthie finds a diary that once belonged to Sara which makes her wonder if history is repeating itself.
YA Science-Fiction and Fantasy Recommendations
The Clandestine Queen
by Brandon J Greer
Action, danger, magic, intrigues, prophecies, demons, witches, romance. This book has it all. The Clandestine Queen will keep you on the edge of your seat and yearning for more once the novel is over. It is a great winter read for its winter magic. Maggie is a young girl who begins to unravel her past. Loravain is a witch hunter who is determined to gain his freedom from his demon master. Together these two characters will take you on a magical journey and you won’t want to put it down.
A Winter’s Promise
by Christelle Dabos
This book takes place after an event called the Rupture. Earth is shattered into pieces and each of these floating islands are called arks. Ophelia lives on one of these arks and has abilities to communicate with objects that she touches. Because of this, she is forced to marry a stranger from a cold and desolate ark. She soon finds herself in the middle of a treacherous game of politics and power.
Cold Magic
by Kate Elliott
First in the Spiritwalker Series, Cold Magic, is a steampunk science-fiction Victorian romance novel. Basically, a mash up. It’s set around the Industrial Revolution and new factories and technologies are transforming cities. But the old ways do not die easily. Cat and Bee are the characters in this wonderfully complex novel. They are studying at college and learning the science that will shape their future when the Cold Mages come for Cat. She and her cousin are thrown into a world of magical rule and must decide who they can trust.
Romantic Winter Reading Recommendations
If you are still looking for more reading recommendations after all of the above we have some great romantic winter reading recommendations. These are sure to warm your heart and keep the fire blazing all night long.
Rekindling Christmas: A Happy Holiday Romance
by Rebekah R. Ganiere
This is the first book in A Happy Holiday Romance series. Christmas is approaching and Annika Marshall is a single mom who has felt betrayed by every man she has ever loved. She is determined to stay away from her first love, Jesse, who has returned to town to become the head football coach. Jesse is determined to win Annika back and will enlist the help of some kids to make it happen.
Christmas Magic at Moonrise Cove
by Jules Barker, Shelly Jasperson, Trish LeBaron, and Cassandra West
There are 4 books in this series and each one is written by a different author and focuses on a different character in the same town. Each of these books are sure to keep you smiling well after the novel has ended.
Still looking for more winter reading recommendations? Check out this blog for more suggestions.
