10 Best Slice of Life Fantasy Books about Everyday Life in Another World
Alright folks, here's the deal. We've all had that little itch, that yearning to escape the humdrum of our everyday lives and experience something out of the ordinary, haven't we? Sometimes, even visiting another country isn't thrilling enough. You want a bit more spice, a dash of magic, something from a realm that's not confined by our dull, physics-ridden reality. No, you want to dive into a unique world woven with intricate lore, memorable characters and fantastical elements, all while not straying too far from the comforting allure of the daily grind.
Yes, I'm talking about slice of life fantasy books. This genre perfectly marries the extraordinary with the ordinary, allowing us to envision what it might be like to take a leisurely stroll through an enchanted forest to grab our morning coffee, or haggle with a goblin for our weekly groceries. It's a glimpse into what everyday life would be like in an entirely different world - a concept that's addictively captivating. So let's delve right into this list of 10 must-reads, each epitomizing the charm of mixing the daily routine with a touch of the magical. Each book balances the mundane and the mystical in a way that's full of whimsy, amusement and a lot of day-to-day adventures. You're in for a real treat!
『The Goblin Emperor』
The youngest, half-goblin son of the Emperor has lived his entire life in exile, distant from the Imperial Court and the deadly intrigue that suffuses it. But when his father and three sons in line for the throne are killed in an "accident," he has no choice but to take his place as the only surviving rightful heir. Entirely unschooled in the art of court politics, he has no friends, no advisors, and the sure knowledge that whoever assassinated his father and brothers could make an attempt on his life at any moment. Surrounded by sycophants eager to curry favor with the naïve new emperor, and overwhelmed by the burdens of his new life, he can trust nobody. Amid the swirl of plots to depose him, offers of arranged marriages, and the specter of the unknown conspirators who lurk in the shadows, he must quickly adjust to life as the Goblin Emperor. All the while, he is alone, and trying to find even a single friend . . . and hoping for the possibility of romance, yet also vigilant against the unseen enemies that threaten him, lest he lose his throne-or his life. Katherine Addison's The Goblin Emperor is an exciting fantasy novel, set against the pageantry and color of a fascinating, unique world, is a memorable debut for a great new talent.
Author | Katherine Addison |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Tor Fantasy |
Release Date | Mar 03, 2015 |
Source | Google Books |
『Legends & Lattes』
An Instant New York Times Bestseller A Barnes & Noble Best Book of 2022 A Library Reads Pick An Indie Next Pick A Goodreads Best Fantasy Choice Award Nominee The much-beloved BookTok sensation, Travis Baldree's novel of high fantasy and low stakes. *This new edition includes a very special, never-before-seen bonus story, 'Pages to Fill.'* After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time. The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success — not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is. If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won't be able to go it alone. But the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed. “Take a break from epic battles and saving the world. Legends & Lattes is a low-stakes fantasy that delivers exactly what's advertised: a wholesome, cozy novel that feels like a warm hug. This is my new comfort read.”—Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch's Heart At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Author | Travis Baldree |
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Price | $12.99 |
Publisher | Tor Books |
Release Date | Jun 07, 2022 |
Source | Google Books |
『World of Howl Collection』
One of the most memorable and irresistible characters in all of literature—the Wizard Howl—is introduced in Diana Wynne Jones's classic fantasy novel Howl's Moving Castle and makes guest appearances in two stand-alone sequel novels, Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways. Howl's Moving Castle was adapted into an acclaimed and Academy Award-nominated film of the same name, produced by Studio Ghibli and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Sophie Hatter never intended to set out and seek her fortune. The eldest of three sisters, Sophie thought she was destined to fail. That all changed the day the Witch of the Waste turned her into an old woman. In order to lift the spell, Sophie barges into Wizard Howl's moving castle and strikes a bargain with Calcifer, his fire demon. But Howl is outrunning a curse of his own, and soon Sophie realizes that nothing is as it appears. . . . Howl, Sophie, and Calcifer return in both Castle in the Air and The House of Many Ways, two stand-alone sequels full of mayhem, secrets, and magic.
Author | Diana Wynne Jones |
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Price | $24.99 |
Publisher | Harper Collins |
Release Date | Jul 08, 2014 |
Source | Google Books |
『The Tea Dragon Society』
From the award-winning author of Princess Princess Ever After comes The Tea Dragon Society, a charming all-ages book that follows the story of Greta, a blacksmith apprentice, and the people she meets as she becomes entwined in the enchanting world of tea dragons. After discovering a lost tea dragon in the marketplace, Greta learns about the dying art form of tea dragon care-taking from the kind tea shop owners, Hesekiel and Erik. As she befriends them and their shy ward, Minette, Greta sees how the craft enriches their lives--and eventually her own.
Author | K. O'Neill |
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Price | $9.17 |
Publisher | Oni Press |
Release Date | Oct 18, 2017 |
Source | Google Books |
『The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet』
LONGLISTED FOR THE BAILEY'S WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 'A quietly profound, humane tour de force' Guardian The beloved debut novel that will restore your faith in humanity #SmallAngryPlanet When Rosemary Harper joins the crew of the Wayfarer, she isn't expecting much. The ship, which has seen better days, offers her everything she could possibly want: a small, quiet spot to call home for a while, adventure in far-off corners of the galaxy, and distance from her troubled past. But Rosemary gets more than she bargained for with the Wayfarer. The crew is a mishmash of species and personalities, from Sissix, the friendly reptillian pilot, to Kizzy and Jenks, the constantly sparring engineers who keep the ship running. Life on board is chaotic, but more or less peaceful - exactly what Rosemary wants. Until the crew are offered the job of a lifetime: the chance to build a hyperspace tunnel to a distant planet. They'll earn enough money to live comfortably for years... if they survive the long trip through war-torn interstellar space without endangering any of the fragile alliances that keep the galaxy peaceful. But Rosemary isn't the only person on board with secrets to hide, and the crew will soon discover that space may be vast, but spaceships are very small indeed. PRAISE FOR THE WAYFARERS 'Never less than deeply involving' DAILY MAIL 'Explores the quieter side of sci-fi while still wowing us with daring leaps of imagination' iBOOKS 'So much fun to read' HEAT 'Chambers is simply an exceptional talent, quietly and beautifully redefining the space opera' TOR.COM 'The most fun that I've had with a novel in a long, long time' iO9
Author | Becky Chambers |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Hodder & Stoughton |
Release Date | Mar 16, 2015 |
Source | Google Books |
『The House in the Cerulean Sea』
Lambda Literary Award-winning author TJ Klune’s breakout contemporary fantasy Linus Baker is a by-the-book case worker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He's tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world. Arthur Parnassus is the master of the orphanage. He would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world will burn. And his secrets will come to light. The House in the Cerulean Sea is an enchanting love story, masterfully told, about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours. "1984 meets The Umbrella Academy with a pinch of Douglas Adams thrown in." —Gail Carriger, New York Times bestselling author of Soulless
Author | TJ Klune |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Tor Books |
Release Date | Mar 17, 2020 |
Source | Google Books |
『Beware of Chicken』
A laugh-out-loud, slice-of-life martial-arts fantasy about . . . farming Jin Rou wanted to be a cultivator. A man powerful enough to defy the heavens. A master of martial arts. A lord of spiritual power. Unfortunately for him, he died, and now I'm stuck in his body. Arrogant Masters? Heavenly Tribulations? All that violence and bloodshed? Yeah, no thanks. I'm getting out of here. Farm life sounds pretty great. Tilling a field by hand is fun when you've got the strength of ten men-though maybe I shouldn't have fed those Spirit Herbs to my pet rooster. I'm not used to seeing a chicken move with such grace . . . but Qi makes everything kind of wonky, so it's probably fine. Instead of a lifetime of battle, my biggest concerns are building a house, the size of my harvest, and the way the girl from the nearby village glares at me when I tease her. A slow, simple, fulfilling life in a place where nothing exciting or out of the ordinary ever happens . . . right? The first volume of the blockbuster progression-fantasy series-with more than 20 million views on Royal Road-now available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible!
Author | Casualfarmer |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Beware of Chicken |
Release Date | Sep 01, 2023 |
Source | Google Books |
『In Other Lands』
Georgia Peach Award Nominee • Florida Teens Read Award Nominee • ABC Best Books for Young Readers • Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year • A Junior Library Guild Selection • Hugo & Locus award finalist In Other Lands is an exhilarating novel from bestselling author Sarah Rees Brennan about surviving four years in the most unusual of schools - friendship, falling in love, diplomacy, and finding your own place in the world — even if it means giving up your phone. Excerpt: The Borderlands aren’t like anywhere else. Don’t try to smuggle a phone or any other piece of technology over the wall that marks the Border — unless you enjoy a fireworks display in your backpack. (Ballpoint pens are okay.) There are elves, harpies, and — best of all as far as Elliot is concerned — mermaids. "What’s your name?" "Serene." "Serena?" Elliot asked. "Serene," said Serene. "My full name is Serene-Heart-in-the-Chaos-of-Battle." Elliot’s mouth fell open. "That is badass." Elliot? Who’s Elliot? Elliot is thirteen years old. He’s smart and just a tiny bit obnoxious. Sometimes more than a tiny bit. When his class goes on a field trip and he can see a wall that no one else can see, he is given the chance to go to school in the Borderlands. It turns out that on the other side of the wall, classes involve a lot more weaponry and fitness training and fewer mermaids than he expected. On the other hand, there’s Serene-Heart-in-the-Chaos-of-Battle, an elven warrior who is more beautiful than anyone Elliot has ever seen, and then there’s her human friend Luke: sunny, blond, and annoyingly likeable. There are lots of interesting books. There’s even the chance Elliot might be able to change the world. Chapter illustrations by Casey Nowak.
Author | Sarah Rees Brennan |
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Price | $9.99 |
Publisher | Small Beer Press |
Release Date | Jul 17, 2017 |
Source | Google Books |
『The Healer's Road』
When his parents died due to a lack of proper medicine, Thomas Black vowed that he would become a doctor, and better people's lives. Now, with the advent of war, he is challenged to provide better care than ever before--in a fraction of the time. During the Civil War, Thomas and his two children who follow in his footsteps embody the nobility of the American spirit.
Author | J. L. Reasoner |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Jove Books |
Release Date | Jan 01, 1995 |
Source | Google Books |
『Vita Nostra』
“Vita Nostra” — a cross between Lev Grossman’s “The Magicians” and Elizabeth Kostova’s “The Historian” [...] is the anti-Harry Potter you didn’t know you wanted.” -- The Washington Post “Vita Nostra has become a powerful influence on my own writing. It’s a book that has the potential to become a modern classic of its genre, and I couldn’t be more excited to see it get the global audience in English it so richly deserves.” -- Lev Grossman Best Books of November 2018 -- Paste Magazine The definitive English language translation of the internationally acclaimed Russian novel—a brilliant dark fantasy combining psychological suspense, enchantment, and terror that makes us consider human existence in a fresh and provocative way. Our life is brief . . . Sasha Samokhina has been accepted to the Institute of Special Technologies. Or, more precisely, she’s been chosen. Situated in a tiny village, she finds the students are bizarre, and the curriculum even more so. The books are impossible to read, the lessons obscure to the point of maddening, and the work refuses memorization. Using terror and coercion to keep the students in line, the school does not punish them for their transgressions and failures; instead, it is their families that pay a terrible price. Yet despite her fear, Sasha undergoes changes that defy the dictates of matter and time; experiences which are nothing she has ever dreamed of . . . and suddenly all she could ever want. A complex blend of adventure, magic, science, and philosophy that probes the mysteries of existence, filtered through a distinct Russian sensibility, this astonishing work of speculative fiction—brilliantly translated by Julia Meitov Hersey—is reminiscent of modern classics such as Lev Grossman’s The Magicians, Max Barry’s Lexicon, and Katherine Arden’s The Bear and the Nightingale, but will transport them to a place far beyond those fantastical worlds.
Author | Marina & Sergey Dyachenko |
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Price | $11.99 |
Publisher | HarperCollins |
Release Date | Nov 13, 2018 |
Source | Google Books |
Well, there you have it folks, my top picks for slice of life fantasy books that offer a refreshing change of pace from the typical high-stakes, action-packed narratives we often find in this genre. These amazing works allow us to vicariously experience everyday life in magically infused worlds, just like the characters. Sharing meals, solving minor conflicts, and exploring fantastical worlds are made to seem so ordinary - yet they all feel incredibly immersive and, dare I say, soothing. They're perfect to curl up with on a lazy afternoon, offering the peace of everyday life with that magic touch we all secretly yearn for. So the next time you're caught in one of those 'what-to-read' dilemmas, why not give one of these relaxed paced, slice of life fantasies a go? Who knows, it may become your next favorite book!
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