My fantasy reading took on a bit of an international bent this year, ranging from stories set in AU Greece to modern Korea. I didn’t realize, when I picked up A Winter’s Promise, that it was translated from French – but it appears my fantasy readings tastes have shifted abroad. (Side note – I found this in the same Christopher’s Books trip that I found The Murder of Mr. Ma. Another point for in-person browsing!)

A Winter’s Promise takes place in world where the planet has split into several Arks, each with a distinct culture and personality. Ophelia, our protagonist, lives on Anima, where objects have souls that she can (secretly) read. When she’s engaged by her family to a member of another Ark, she must follow him to his icy home and try to navigate the court and political intrigues. The story is full of beautiful settings and interesting interpersonal puzzles, and I enjoyed learning more about the world of the Arks. And Ophelia, the protagonist, felt unfamiliar enough to me (perhaps because I’m used to American YA protagonist tropes) that I constantly felt surprised and engaged by her approach. A great start to a fantasy series and a world I loved spending time with – though readers beware that there are some mixed feelings on the third and fourth series entries.

(I enjoyed A Winter’s Promise so much that I introduced it to my partner, who has now made his way through the entire quarter. That also makes A Winter’s Promise my buddy read for this year’s 52 Book Club challenge! )

It would also be quite difficult for me to write a “best of fantasy” list without a good bookish story in it. The Book of Doors was that story this year, a metaphorical exploration of all that books can bring us. The story follows Izzy, a bookseller handed a mysterious book by a favorite customer. She soon figures out that the book allows her to open doors to anywhere. Not only that – the book is one of many such powerful books, coveted by those in the know. She and her best friend, Izzy, soon find themselves caught up in a magical and dangerous quest to protect the books and their owners.

Reading The Book of Doors feels like riding a magical wave, rather than exploring a well-built world. This is very much soft fantasy – there are some rules to the books, but look to hard and they start to fall apart. Instead, the appeal of this story is how it captures the spirit of reading, both the good and the ugly. The books represent emotions and experiences, but also create communities and rivalries and danger. The right book at the right time can be an escape into a new life – but at the wrong time, it can lead you to despair and isolation. The Book of Doors is bookish fantasy that understands and explores books, and reminds us of how powerful reading can be.