Want some beautifully written, atmospheric, adventure-filled, whimsical reads? Here are my top high-fantasy book recommendations that are perfect for the winter:

The Starless Sea (Standalone):

While pursuing higher education, Ezra spends winter break reading at the library on university campus. Upon his reading he inexplicably stumbles upon a story about himself, which sends him on a quest looking for a lost magical world built around stories and books. This is lyrical, incredibly cozy, and a book for book lovers.

You can read my initial Goodreads review of it here.

The Winternight Trilogy (Book 1: The Bear and the Nightingale):

Vasia’s stepmother is a devout Christian, vowing to eliminate everything of the old religion and the belief in its spirits. As the spirits lose their power and stop protecting them, danger ensues. A fantasy trilogy revolving around Russian folklore and the magical spirits it features, set in the biting Russian winter cold.

The Mirror Visitor Quartet (Book 1: A Winter’s Promise):

The world has broken up into pieces and exists as separate floating spires in the universe called Arks. Each Ark is unique in its features, including its magical nature. On the Ark of Anima, objects have souls, and Ophelia can not only communicate with them, but also walk through mirrors. Her life is torn apart when she is married off to a man on the Ark of the Pole, as she becomes a political pawn in a game she doesn’t understand.and are perfect for the winter.