© 2024 Arquie. All rights Reserved.

Well…

It’s a bit complicated and largely up to opinion. However, there are some key elements tying this genre together. 

The Vibes 

When I attended a cozy fantasy con, one of the main discussions was how to define cozy fantasy by authors writing these books (yes, including Travis Baldree). While these types of stories are certainly not new, there has recently been a drastic increase in traction. 

One element the panel agreed on was the vibes. While there can be violence, mature material, and dark moments, the story needs to have a happy ending and an air of comfort when reading. 

In the cozy fantasy community, I think the most debated topic is how dark can it be with it still being cozy? Because when restrictions bind authors, the stakes and character arcs can fall flat. 

Worldbuilding 

While I don’t think cozy fantasy is necessarily limited to high fantasy, all the cozy fantasy I’ve seen is written into their own worlds. The focus is typically on a whimsical and wholesome setting. Think small town vibes, fire in the hearth, and fresh warm bread. Because they’re written this way, the reader can explore and experience the day-to-day life of these amazing stories without the overshadowing “end of the world” stakes set in most fantasy. 

Adventures 

As mentioned above, most fantasy hinge stakes on life or death. Cozy fantasy is a unique approach because while authors are still creating intricate worlds, they’re letting the reader come along on for these “slice of life” type stories. This way, the adventures are focused on the character’s goals, not necessarily the fate of the kingdom.

My Take 

I see a lot of cozy fantasy romance and a certain style of running a shop (tavern, bookstore, what have you). When I sat down to write Of Becoming, I knew I wanted to focus on adventure. I also write dark fantasy, so I decided my one rule for this series would be no killing. How do I write adventure without my normal stakes?

The more I thought about it, I realized there was also a gap in fantasy highlighting common struggles young adults experience with growing into adulthood. So that’s what I focused on. How do you navigate friendships when it’s one sided? How can you keep your head held high when your family doesn’t believe in you? What do you do when you did everything right, but you still feel unfulfilled?

I wrote my first cozy fantasy short stories in a world with magic far away from reality, but where readers could still find common ground with the characters.

As of right now, Of Becoming is set to publish April 2025.

Chat soon, 

Arquie