Recs if you like Where the Dark Stands Still...

Standalone fantasy books that won't make you invest your life in a dozen installments

Books that inspired or are similar to Studio Ghibli films

Fantasy inspired by Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Albania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, and/or Russia (myths, setting, etc.) Will also be including Slavic inspired fantasy books here as well.

Have you ever wanted a fantasy book with whimsy, but dark? More gothic and twisted and creepy? Then you've come to the right place! Open to recs.

books that feature an animal (real & fantastical alike) as a side character, companion, or a pet!

fiction books that have a main character or prominent side character that fit the D&D Druid class (at least partly). here for the wildshape, speak with animals, and loving nature vibes! open to recs and input!

also credit to @moss-mylk for providing a whole shelf worth’s of recs for this list!!!

"Place as character" is usually reserved for lush descriptions that bring environments to life, and less often used for environments that have a life of their own. This list includes houses, homes, castles, spaceships, anywhere people will spend time and call home. Not meant to include haunted houses, but a case could be argued for specific ones. c:

Only including the first in a series unless books feature different sentient places.

Perfect for fantasy lovers with not enough hours in the day!

Feel free to mention any I missed in the comments 😊

Book about or by authors from Slavic countries that aren't Russia!

I love reading romances between men and women where one or both of the characters are bi because it shows the potential of bi people to fall in love with any gender, if that makes sense. So often bi people in “straight” relationships don’t get clocked as LGBTQ+ and I like seeing how they make a “straight” relationship queer. It’s also nice to read about LGBTQ+ outside of achillian and sapphic stories and spaces. I’m always on the hunt for more.

books for the barbie movie lovers

Beautiful books for when your monthly reading roundup needs a little facelift 😉

Want to start a life in the cottage, escape from the horror of life and tuck into your corner in the world? Just remember, this could be a cozy corner OR it could be just the opposite of that...

…fairytales with a darkness that creeps

🍄✨️ Educational Books To Avoid Badly Done Fairy Bargains ✨️🍄

mermaids, fairies, and anything whimsy is such fun way to spend these warmer months

creeping vines, twisting thorns, bleeding hearts and rotted bones...

i hope to make a book list gathering all of the polish folklore inspired fantasy, as poland has very interesting legends too!!! currently heavily influenced by When Among Crows let me know if you have anything to add here, i will gladly extend this list! 💚