Modern retellings of iconic, ancient tales

To be known and to know others.

Fictional books that feel like a warm hug, featuring magic and whimsy and perfectly happy endings. These are lower on stakes and higher on good vibes!

The four books in Tolkien’s main Middle-earth saga + several other collections published posthumously.

Listed in the recommended reading order for people who like to read full series.

Fated Mates is a romance novel podcast and recommendation machine from novelist Sarah MacLean and critic/editor Jen Prokop. Among the hundreds of episodes and thousands of recommendations are 76 (and counting!) deep dives, each devoted to a single book or series. Pick a book, read it, then listen to the episode (organized <b><a href='https://fatedmates.net/book-club'>here</a></b>) for an expansive reading experience.