She says nothing at all, but simply stares upward into the dark sky and watches, with sad eyes, the slow dance of the infinite stars.
For readers out there who love the whimsical magic of the fantasy world, but can’t stand the bloodthirsty battles and high-stakes political courtroom dramas, cottagecore has emerged as one of the most popular subgenres. Wooden furnishings, cramped thatched ceilings, overflowing flowerbeds, fabric-filled wardrobes – all the sorts of aesthetics that make us feel warm and cozy. Join us at What We Reading as we pay homage to all the homebaked goodies and floral magic with the best cottagecore fantasy books!
What Is Cottagecore?
Before we dive into our recommendations, it’s worth going over what we mean by the term ‘cottagecore’.
Cottagecore is a unique aesthetic that romanticises a rural, slower-paced lifestyle. Having become popularised on social media platforms such as Instagram and Tumblr, it is a vibe that draws inspiration from crafts, baking, and outdoor nature-focused activities such as hiking, foraging and gardening, evoking a nostalgic, cozy and overall wholesome escape from our hectic, fast-paced lives in the present day.
Cottagecore fantasy books lean into this aesthetic whilst also drawing inspiration from folklore and fairytales to create a story that captures a sense of magic and enchantment.
Into The Heartless Wood – Joanna Ruth Meyer
Joanna Ruth Meyer presents a beautifully told young adult fantasy retelling in her 2021 cottagecore book, Into the Heartless Wood. In it, the author behind Echo North introduces readers to the forest. The forest is a dangerous place, where a siren’s song leads men and women to their deaths.
For centuries, a witch has used the souls of her victims to feed the heartless tree, growing her domain. Owen Merrick is lured into the woods by the siren, only to be saved by one of the witch’s tree-siren daughters, Seren. The two visit each other every night, with Seren’s longing to become human growing. But, a sudden shift in the stars soon sees the pair pulled into an ancient war between the witch who rules the forest, and the king attempting to bring her reign to an end.
Check Out The Best Books Set In The Woods
Howl’s Moving Castle (Howl’s Moving Castle #1) – Diana Wynne Jones
How’s Moving Castle is an enchanting tale featuring ever-moving castles, wizards and witches by Diana Wynne Jones. Sophie is the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail if she ever attempts to leave her home and discover her true fate.
However, when she draws the ire of the Witch of Waste, a terrible curse is put on which turns her into an old woman. To break the enchantment, Sophie has to untangle the Wizard Howl’s castle, a moving structure in the hills. Along the way, she strikes a deal with a fire demon, faces the evil witch head-on and learns more about herself than she ever thought imaginable.
Uprooted – Naomi Novik
Nominated for Best Young Adult Fantasy in the Goodreads Choice Awards, Naomi Novik’s Uprooted is a dark atmospheric cottagecore book that takes its influence from nature and Eastern European folklore. Agnieszka loves her picturesque valley, her peaceful village and the glistening river. But, the corrupted Wood, standing on the border of the village and full of malevolent forces, casts a shadow over her existence.
The only thing protecting the village is a cold wizard known as the Dragon. But the price for protection is a costly one. Every decade, the Dragon demands a young woman from the village to serve with him. And Agnieszka is set to be in his crosshairs.
This Poison Heart (This Poison Heart #1) – Kalynn Bayron
Kalynn Bayron’s contemporary fantasy book introduces readers to a girl with a unique and deadly power. Briseis has the power to grow plants from tiny seeds to rich blooms with just a single touch. When her aunt dies and leaves her ramshackle estate in rural New York to her, Briseis’ parents hope it is an opportunity for her to learn how to control her gift.
But, their new home is malevolent in ways the family could have never imagined. Specific instructions, an old-school apothecary and a walled-off garden housing the deadliest botanicals in the world are all hiding centuries’ worth of secrets about Bri’s lineage and the surrounding community. To uncover these secrets and conquer the dark forces descending around her, Bri will have to learn to fully harness her power.
The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea – Axie Oh
Another Goodreads-nominated book for Young Adult Fantasy with impeccable cottagecore vibes comes from Axie Oh in The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea. Deadly storms and bloody wars for generations have ravaged Mina’s homeland. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, has grown angry with them. Attempting to appease him, they throw a maiden into the sea each year in the hopes that the mythical gods will choose his ‘true bride’ and end their suffering.
After intervening on behalf of her brother and his love Shim Cheong, Mina finds herself swept to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of mythical gods and lesser beasts. Discovering the Sea God in an enchanted sleep, she embarks on a crusade to wake him, joined by a crew of gods, spirits and demons. However, a human cannot live long in the Spirit Realm, and plenty of forces are determined to keep the Sea God sleeping.
Stardust – Neil Gaiman
One of the classic Neil Gaiman books, Stardust is a fantastical fairytale story that transports readers into a world of magic, romance and witches. Tristan Thorn will do anything to win the heart of Victoria, even if it means fetching her a star they watch fall from the night sky. But, to do that, he has to venture beyond the walls of his village and into Faerie. In this land, nothing, not even a fallen star, is quite as it first seems.
The Girl Who Drank The Moon – Kelly Barnhill
Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope that these sacrifices will keep the witch from terrorising their homes. What they don’t realise is that this witch, Xan, is benevolent, kind and gentle. Sharing her home with a tiny dragon and a wise swamp monster, she rescues these children and delivers them to welcoming families on the other side of her forest.
One night though, Xan feeds one of these children with moonlight instead of starlight, gifting her with extraordinary magical abilities. Raising her as her own, she names her Luna. Now, approaching her thirteenth birthday, Luna’s powers are arriving right on schedule. Kelly Barnhill’s The Girl Who Drank the Moon follows Luna as her powers grow and a young man from the village prepares to venture into the forest, determined to kill the witch that has plagued the Protectorate.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
