I’m far overdue to recommend Sarah Beth Durst. I’ve read four of her books so far. She writes a broad range on the light-to-dark, cozy-to-dire-adventure spectrum, but somehow, she’s managed to infuse everything I’ve read so far with warmth, sincerity, and hope–and beautifully crafted prose.

The first I read from her is a cozy fantasy standalone called The Spellshop, recommended to me by a friend when I asked for light, cozy fantasy. The premise: a reclusive librarian and her enchanted potted plant escape a library just before it burns down in a revolt, and she establishes a new life for herself on this small-town island she’d used to live on when she was a little kid. Fundamentally, the story is about her learning how to connect with people and make friends. The book has dangers of consequence, and dire happenings in the far background, but everything that’s on the page is on the lighter, gentler side and ultimately ends happily. It’s a sweet comfort read, and I wholeheartedly forward my friend’s recommendation to anyone who’s seeking cozy fantasy.

I enjoyed The Spellshop so much that I wanted to read more of Durst’s work, but I craved a more adventurous, epic fantasy type of story. So I picked up Queen of Blood, the first entry in her Queens of Renthia trilogy (which I have now read in its entirety). As you can probably guess from the title, this series is more action-packed and has more violence and mortal threats on the page. I wouldn’t nudge this series toward someone who’s super squeamish or looking for a light read. And yet, it never felt grim. I was endeared to Daleina, the friendships she formed, and the student-teacher bond she had with Ven later in the novel.

The magic system was easy to understand and easy to get into while being imaginative, interesting, and inherently fraught, and the magic, the world-building, and the core conflict of the narrative were inextricably intertwined. Daleina remains my favorite queen, and the first book is my favorite of the series, but Naelin is an interesting foil and companion to her in the sequels, which continue to build upon the world and story threads established in Queen of Blood. If you’re looking for something light and gentle, I would steer you toward The Spellshop, but if you’re up for mortal peril, tragedy, and adventure but still want warmth and heart in the midst of it, I highly recommend giving the Queens of Renthia series a shot.

Or, hey, maybe check out her other books too! Durst is prolific, and her website lists over two dozen books. She’s written predominantly epic fantasy, young adult fantasy, and children’s literature (quite a range of audiences there, which is very cool), and she has another cozy fantasy book forthcoming. I’ve only read a fraction of her library, and I’m excited to read more.