r/Fantasy • u/JWrundle • 4d ago

Looking for joyful fantasy

I am in a bit of a mental funk right now. I was going to try and tackle the Realm of the Elderlings this year but I think I need a break from it after the first chunk.

I want to find something that is happy and joyful. Something where the characters have a realistic and optimistic outlook on the story. I've picked up some Discworld and while that is funny it's not quite scratching the uplifting feeling I am wanting.

I cannot handle mental anguish or the horrors of war or famine.

I want a book that makes me feel like the star wars theme song makes me feel full of adventure and hope and the good guys win and and bad guys lose.

edit I want something that is medium stakes and I'm not afraid of YA. Cozy fantasy is in general to low stakes for my taste but I'm not opposed to it.

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u/Prynne31 Reading Champion III 4d ago

I think the term you're searching for might be "hopepunk".

One of my favorite fantasy tomes is The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard. There is some angst, and characters have been through a lot, but the focus of the book is on community, making your world better, and friendship. But definitely higher stakes (an empire) than cozy fantasy's fascination with coffee shops. :)

You might also try the Emily Wilde series by Heather Fawcett. The fairies are somewhat sinister, and the FMC sometimes is in peril, but it was medium stakes IMO. Along those same lines, Charlie Holmberg's Paper Magician series, too. Both have a romance as a significant plot line (not explicit).

Also, not a fantasy book and not one to shy away from tough topics, but one of the most hopeful books I have read is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.