Cozy Historical Fantasy For Fall

Rival ornithologists compete in a competition to capture a rare magical bird in this historical fantasy romp full of mishaps and manners. Their best chance of capturing an endangered caladrius bird and becoming Birder of the Year requires teaming up. Suddenly, the professional distance Beth and Devon have been keeping has been thrown out the window. An endangered bird and a coveted prize are on the line, but foul play seems to be fair game in this competition. Will Beth and Devon be able to keep up?

Zacharias Wythe has more than enough on his plate as the first African Sorcerer Royal, especially with rumors that he killed his predecessor and guardian, Sir Stephen Wythe. It’s a rumor that would be easier to do away with if Sir Stephen’s ghost would quit following him around. To top it all off, for no apparent reason, Fairyland has cut off England’s supply of magic. The absolute last thing he needs is a female magical prodigy hellbent on leaving the so-called school she’s been forced to attend. Now, in addition to finding out why England’s magic supply has dried up, Zacharias — alongside Prunella — is going to have to reform magical society and ensure that a proper education in magic is granted to all young magicians, regardless of gender.

Professor Emily Wilde is on a mission to document all of Faerie for her comprehensive encyclopedia on the subject. Her research is unmatched and her knowledge of faeries is impressive, but her people skills are sorely lacking. A fact that’s made plain when she travels to the remote village of Hrafnsvik and fails to make any headway in her research simply because no one wants to talk to her. When her researching rival, the jovial Wendell Bambleby, arrives shortly after her and begins charming everyone, Emily’s forced to admit she might need his help — especially when she gets tangled up in the dangerous court of the Hidden Ones. After all, Wendell’s charms aren’t entirely human.

Follow Emily’s charming adventures alongside her totally normal dog, Shadow, and her definitely human companion, Wendell, in the next two books in the series: Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands and Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales.

A grumpy magician and a cursed baronet are forced to team up to take on a magical conspiracy in this cozy historical mystery set in an Edwardian England steeped in magic. Before becoming the newest liaison to Britain’s magical government, Robin Blythe didn’t know a thing about magic or its presence in England. Now, within the span of a day, he’s learned about magic, met the most disagreeable magician on the planet, and been cursed. Edwin Courcey has no interest in working with Robin, but now that he’s been cursed, Edwin has no choice but to help him. Unfortunately, they soon realize they’re up against far more than a singular curse. Shadowy players are seeking out the very source of magic in England, threatening Robin, Edwin, and all of magical society as they know it.

The two follow ups in this series are equally fantastical and cozy, following other odd couples seeking to stop the magical conspiracy threatening Edwardian England.

In 1920s Washington D.C., a young woman with the ability to talk to spirits sets out to solve the mystery of who’s been murdering people along Black Broadway. When one of the powerful spirits she speaks with tasks her with stealing a socialite’s magical ring, she and a jazz musician vying for the same artifact put together a ragtag team including a Vaudeville performer and a former “circus freak” to pull off this impossible heist.

Regency + faeries = exactly the kind of cozy historical fantasy story I’m looking for. Theodora Ettings has had an unfortunate penchant for scandal ever since being cursed to have only half a soul. It’s made her something of an outcast in London society, so she’s determined to try to be a wallflower this season. But Lord Sorcier has other plans. When he discovers her strange condition, he’s determined to help her by drawing her even further into faerie affairs. His terrible reputation might finally spell the death of Theodora’s chances in society — or he might offer her something even better before they’re through.