This year’s theme for Wyrd and Wonder is comfort. For this week we are describing what that means to us. If I’m thinking of a book as comforting or cozy it probably has some or all of the following elements.
Low Conflict
There is a time and place for high stakes drama with life and death consequences. But sometimes I just want to read something that doesn’t have a lot of suspense.
I think that’s why I like The Wizard’s Butler so much. There is a conflict that drives the storyline but a lot of the narration is about making lunch or figuring out a routine around the house or making a five year plan. Especially on audio, it is such a soothing book.
Food
You knew there had to be food involved. That’s almost synonymous with the cozy aspect of any genre. Give me a tea shop or bakery or food truck and I’m all in.
Found Family
I like stories about people finding their people. That could be romances or it could be friends and chosen family. I especially like it if they are leaving bad circumstances and finding better ones.
Positive
I read for entertainment. I want my books to be cheery. I don’t find grimdark zombie post-apocalyptic fantasies comforting.
Quirky Characters
This goes back to increasing the fun. I recently read a series where just a few of the secondary characters were:
- a Celtic warrior shapeshifter who likes to drink and throw rocks at tourists
- an ancient vampire who is losing his mind and likes to competitively garden
- a gargoyle butler who thinks outrageous human clothing helps him hide in public
- a Bigfoot who likes to sneak up on hikers to see them run
Throw in quirky side characters in an organic way to your story and I’ll love it. I’ve read another series by this author that doesn’t have fun side characters and I didn’t follow through with it.
I love found family too. I’m sad that the follow up to Irregular Witches appears to have been pushed back, I’m so looking forward to reading more.
Enchanted Inc. is such a positive fantasy chick lit. Found family is also one of my favorite tropes.
I consider all those elements as well in a comfort read. I also find predictability to often be comforting – I know basically how the story is going to play out so I don’t have to worry about what lurks on the next page.
These are all elements that I like as well and that make a story cosy/comforting to me. May this month’s reading delight you!
Good list of tropes! I also love quirky side characters and found family – I recently read Running Close to the Wind which definitely has both, as well as pirates, which I also love!