Escapist novels, bit magic-ky or comforting but not cheesy?

[WhyPie]

I long to really get lost in something but haven't been able to for years, I like:

1. Magic books but not too out of this world (eg I liked Leigh Bardugo, Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, for example)

1. Comforting reads that don't feature war or death (at least directly.) I enjoyed I Capture the Castle, lots of Thomas Hardy)

I have so much hope for your help!

Jodi Taylor’s the nothing girl would be perfect for you I think
she also wrote the st Mary’s chronicles mentioned above which I absolutely adore but do feature a fair bit of death

I came here to suggest Rivers of London too, I love it.

You might like the 'Before the Coffee Gets Cold', by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. There are four books in the series now.

Basic premise - a cafe where you can return to the past for a short time, if you sit in a particular seat and your coffee is served by a particular person. You can only stay in the past for as long as your coffee is warm (hence the title). You must stay seated the entire time. Oh, and your journey to the past will not change the present in any way!

It's definitely a comforting book!

Stardust, Ella Enchanted, Agatha Raisin, M.C. Beaton's hilarious regency romances, Terry Pratchett (don't be fooled, they're actually hilarious social commentary dressed up as fantasy), and what about re-reading children's novels? For real world stories then Marcia Willett, if you like crime give LJ Ross a go.

Oh and also Judith Merkle Riley, Dinah Lampitt, Barbara Erskine. They're all a bit magicky with some history.

The Susan Howatch C of E books are great. Very absorbing (and I speak as someone with zero interest in church politics!)

The Court of Thorns and Roses series (A Court of Horny Fairies, as I think of it) is utter filth, and I couldn’t stop reading.

Ohh the witching hour by Jean Stubbs is brilliant. The blacksmith by Jenny maxwell.

Terry Prachett is my favourite author. Funny, light but incredibly deep and challenging at the same time. That man has made me feel every emotion it is possible to feel!

Piranesi

The Bear and the Nightingale

Stray Andrea K. Höst - the whole trilogy is good.

I also like Between Jobs - first in series by W.R. Gingell though I suppose it is dark.

But very easy reads - though I'd second many PP suggestions.

Try Robin Hobb The Farseer Trilogy - excellent series.

Carlos Ruiz Zafón - The Cemetery of Forgotten Books series

Melvyn Peake - Gormenghast trilogy. You'll either love or hate it....there is no in between.

Maggie Steifvater’s Raven Boys books. The Scorpio Races is also good.

christelle Davos’s Mirror Visitor books.

MGenevieve Cogman’s The Invisible Libary.

There’s a whole ‘cosy fantasy’
sub genre. See, for example: https://bookriot.com/best-cozy-fantasy-books/

@WhyPie I've not read much of his stuff, but how about Paul Magrs?

I will add the magic Kingdom Series by Terry Brooks
Scarlett Thomas
Genevieve Cogman
And Jasper Fforde (the library ones)

I enjoyed the Summer of Impossible Things - it's not about magic as such in the sane way as a lot of the other suggestions, but it has a sort of magical element to it, really lovely book.

Another vote for ADOW (A Discovery of Witches)

I’m guessing it’s too obvious a call and that’s why nobody else has mentioned her, but if you haven’t already read Isabel Allende, she is the GOAT in this genre. The House of the Spirits and Of Love and Shadows are just masterful.

Although they are for a younger audience, the Pinch of Magic series is really good. 3 sisters, one almost adult one about 14 and one 7. The first and third are the best.

I love Natasha Pulley and the Rivers of London.

I’ve just finished The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods. It’s a lovely historical, magical realism book.

Jodi Taylor's St Mary's Chronicles are fab. The Stranger Times is also a great read. For comforting magicky reads I always go to Sarah Addison Allen.

You might like her next book, Pirenesi, as well. I did!

Also, This One Sky Day by Leone Ross.

Eva Luna
The stories of Eva Luna

Robertson Davies (all the trilogies, total escapism in to the worlds. Circus/Academia/orchestra

Lots here which I completely agree with but in terms of other types of books under the cosy reads bit - going left field:

Kate Atkinson - Life after Life and God in Ruins.

Jane Gardam - the Old Filth Trilogy.

And back to magic type novels...

Gormenghast
Rotherweird Triology
Nick Harkaway - Angelmaker

I’m here to second:

Anything by Scarlett Thomas
Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next series
Becky Chambers’ Wayfarers

The first two are light and quirky and very clever. Becky Chambers puts the heart and warmth into well-researched sci fi.

Seconding Sarah Addison Allen.

The Night Circus will be right up your street