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Books to Beat the Winter Blues

2/22/2023

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Fe-blue-ary got you down? Why not get lost in a great book to beat back those winter blues?

This week, we’ve compiled a list of ten excellent, humorous, lighthearted fantasy and sci-fi books that are perfect for escaping into!
Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi. Aliens travel to Earth to befriend us, but they’re hideous (by human standards) and smell terrible. Their solution? Hiring a Hollywood agent to help them win humanity’s trust. An absolutely hilarious read!

2. Magic Kingdom for Sale—Sold! by Terry Brooks. After his wife’s death, Ben Holiday responds to a strange advertisement, purchasing a magic kingdom for a million dollars. He now rules over a land with fairies, wizards, talking dogs . . . What could possibly go wrong?

3. Enchanted, Inc. by Shanna Swendson. If you like sweet, clean romances, this one’s for you—and it’s the beginning of a series. Katie Chandler is so normal that magic can’t affect her in any way. When she moves to New York City, she sees right through all the enchantments covering up unusual activity. This lands her a job, and a love interest or three.

4. The Princess Bride by William Goldman: Does this book really need an introduction? As you wish! Pirates, Rodents of Unusual Size, six-fingered men, swashbuckling, and Twue Wuv await inside this captivating book!
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5. Wizard at Work by Vivian Vande Velde. A Dumbledore-type headmaster wizard just wants to have a peaceful summer break and enjoy his hobby, gardening. But people keep showing up and asking him for help with a slew of ridiculous problems. Will he ever be able to get back to his gardening?

6. Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente: Sentient races compete for glory in a galactic musical competition . . . upon which rests the fate of the planet Earth!
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​7. A Malady of Magicks by Craig Shaw Gardner. This is the first book in a trilogy that also has a follow-up trilogy. A wizard is cursed to be allergic to magic, and his hapless apprentice has to perform spells for him as they undertake a perilous journey to find a cure. Can they survive encounters with tap-dancing dragons and sinister shrubbery?

8. Sorcery & Cecelia: Or, The Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer. This book is quite a bit like Pride and Prejudice, but with magic! Cecelia and Kate have to stop a scheme to destroy a beloved wizard . . . but they also have to worry about debutante balls and choosing dresses and suitors.

​9. The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide by Douglas Adams. This “trilogy” of five books is a classic, beloved, delightful romp through space. Arthur Dent, a very ordinary human, is rescued at the last minute as Earth is demolished to make room for an interstellar highway bypass. Now he’s hitchhiking to the strangest planets with his friend from Betelgeuse, Ford Prefect, and his trusty towel and Babel fish. Don’t Panic!

10. Going Postal by Terry Pratchett: (Or any of his books; we had to pick one!) Con man Moist von Lipwig is forced to get Ankh Morpork's post office running efficiently. There are tons and tons of undelivered letters. But shadowy characters don't want the mail moved, and they just might kill him to ensure that!
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BONUS: If you sometimes need extra help, like we do, in the SAD department, here's a UV lamp we recommend - the one Sarah herself uses.

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What are your favorite books for chasing away the winter blues?

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P.S. - Check out this list of our favorite speculative fiction by Black authors.

P.P.S. - ​If you enjoyed this list of recommendations, why not sign up for our newsletter? Twice a month, we'll send you a themed list of fantasy and/or sci-fi book recommendations, and sometimes music or movies too! (Not to mention jokes, games, puzzles...) It's almost as good as using that UV lamp! ;)
​As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
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Deborah J. Natelson

Deborah lives with a fluffy member of fauna named Flora. She is the author of the witty and whimsical The Land of the Purple Ring, as well as the darker and more action-packed Bargaining Power and The Midnight Files. Her author website is www.deborahjnatelson.com.

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Sarah M. Awa

Sarah writes about werewolves and lives with two hairy guys. Her debut novel is Hunter’s Moon, hailed as "emotionally strong and suspenseful" (Eric Wilson, New York Times bestselling author). Check out her author website at www.sarahmawa.com.

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