8 Cozy Fantasy Books That Deserve TV Adaptations

Though sweeping, epic high fantasy book adaptations are all the rage nowadays, the cozy fantasy genre has plenty of great material to work with as well — and these low-stakes stories undoubtedly deserve their own TV shows. As streamers like Prime Video and Netflix duke it out over eye-wateringly expensive romantasy adaptations like Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing and Callie Hart's Quicksilver, cozy, calm, and comforting books by authors like Travis Baldree and Sarah Beth Durst have quietly taken the publishing world by storm.

These magical slice-of-life novels offer the same kind of wonderful familiarity as TV shows like Gilmore Girls and Ted Lasso, a form of escapism that truly lets readers feel as if they've been transported to another world — one where death and destruction don't wait around every corner. Being the "Chosen One" destined to save a kingdom from ruin is all well and good, but sometimes, all a person really needs is a hot cup of coffee, some cake, and a few new literary friends. Perfect vibes for a bingeable TV series.

The Very Secret Society Of Irregular Witches By Sangu Mandanna

Standalone Novel (First Published In 2022)

Sangu Mandanna's The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches follows British 30-something witch Mika Moon when a mysterious message arrives asking her to tutor three young witches. Soon, she becomes entangled in a strange yet loving found family with three energetic, magical children and a surprising array of adults, including an annoyingly handsome yet gruff librarian.

The Very Secret Society offers plenty of warmth and fuzzy feelings while also exploring the repercussions of keeping secrets, the pain of grief and abandonment, and how love can be found in even the most unexpected places. This novel is a standalone, but Mandanna has also written a similarly witchy, cozy novel titled A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping, which would be equally well-suited for a TV adaptation, perhaps even as a sitcom.

Miss Percy's Pocket Guide (To The Care & Feeding Of British Dragons) By Quenby Olson

Book 1 of 3 (First Published In 2021)

Fans of historical fiction and cozy fantasy will no doubt enjoy Quenby Olson's Miss Percy's Pocket Guide (to the Care & Feeding of British Dragons). Dragons are a staple of the fantasy genre for a reason, and this book proves why. Miss Percy's Pocket Guide follows Regency-era spinster Mildred Percy as she inherits a trunk full of strange and wonderful things, including a ready-to-hatch dragon egg. Snippets of Mildred's in-progress dragon guide are sprinkled throughout this funny, heartwarming, and original book, giving readers first-hand knowledge of all things dragon.

This is the first book in Miss Percy's trilogy; a three-season TV series would be perfect. Mildred's dragon-themed adventures only become more exciting as the books evolve, as she heads to Wales in search of a Nest in the sequel, Miss Percy's Travel Guide to Welsh Moors and Feral Dragons, and journeys to London in the third book, Miss Percy's Definitive Guide (to the Restoration of Dragons).

The Spellshop By Sarah Beth Durst

Book 1 of 4 (First Published In 2024)

Sarah Beth Durst's The Spellshop may be slightly more intense than other entries on this list; the story kicks off with librarian Kiela and her sentient spider plant assistant, Caz, fleeing the Great Library of Alyssium during a violent revolution. While the threat of the Empire hunting them down looms throughout the story, Caz and Kiela find refuge in her family's old cottage, where they open a jam shop and use their illegally rescued spellbooks to fix the island's many magical wrongs, finding friends, allies, and even romance along the way.

The Spellshop is the first of four books set in Durst's magical realm (two of which have yet to be released), though each story can be read as a standalone. New characters and gorgeous, cozy settings, such as an infinite enchanted greenhouse, are introduced in every novel, providing the perfect setup for a new anthology TV series.

Book 1 of 3 (First Published In 2022)

Voice actor Travis Baldree is undoubtedly the king of cozy fantasy, and it all started with his debut novel, Legends & Lattes. When orc mercenary Viv decides she's had enough of violence and mayhem, she uses a magical artifact to find the perfect location for her new adventure: starting the very first coffee shop in the city of Thune, aptly named Legends & Lattes. Anyone who believes in the restorative power of a good, strong cup of coffee will love this book.

There are currently three books in the Legends & Lattes series, the second of which is a prequel also featuring Viv. She'd be a worthy TV protagonist, that's for sure, and the relationships she builds with her friends and her love interest, the pink-skinned succubus Tandi, are perfect for a cozy, comfy, coffee-scented high fantasy adventure.

Rewitched By Lucy Jane Wood

Interconnected Standalone (First Published In 2024)

There can never be too many witches on TV, and Lucy Jane Wood's Rewitched is the perfect answer to the Charmed-shaped hole in your life. When burnt-out bookseller and witch Belladonna Blackthorn's 30th birthday arrives, she must prove to her coven that she's worthy of her magical gifts. With only one month to cultivate her power, Belle seeks help from her powerful mother, an unlikely mentor, and a mysterious yet charming coven watchman as she embarks on the ultimate magical journey of self-discovery.

Rewitched is Wood's debut novel; her second book, Uncharmed, is set before the events of Rewitched and follows a wholly different witch who has perfected her magic but doesn't understand its true toll. Wood has a third book on the way, and with a Practical Magic movie sequel in the works, there's no better time for TV to get back in on the witchy trend, too.

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia Of Faeries By Heather Fawcett

Book 1 of 3 (First Published In 2023)

Academia meets magic in Heather Fawcett's debut novel, Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries. Written as a series of journal entries in the early 20th century, this Icelandic folklore-inspired, whimsically magical story follows the titular Cambridge University professor as she embarks on her biggest project yet: writing the world's first and only encyclopaedia on the myths and lore of faeries, accompanied by her trusty dog, Shadow.

It would be so much fun to see Emily's journal entries brought to life on the small screen, and with three books full of stories, there's plenty of material for a proper TV adaptation. Visually, this could be absolutely stunning, as Emily and Shadow explore the incredible landscapes that only a place like Iceland can offer.

The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society By C. M. Waggoner

Standalone Novel (First Published In 2024)

"Cozy" isn't just used to describe a sub-genre in fantasy. There's also the ever-popular cozy murder mystery niche, and C. M. Waggoner's The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society brings readers both in this ultimate genre-blending novel. In a village with a sky-high body count, librarian and amateur sleuth Sherry Pinkwhistle quickly realizes something strange is afoot. Aided by the local priest and a fun assortment of friends who could rival The Thursday Murder Club gang, Sherry sets out to find the demonic culprit.

The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society would make for a great limited series, similar to shows like Netflix's The Residence or Agatha Christie's Seven Dials. And who knows? A concept like this could easily become an ongoing murder mystery series, too, with a new case each season. If Buffy the Vampire Slayer taught us anything, it's that where there's one demon, there's usually more.

The Baby Dragon Café By A. T. Qureshi

Book 1 of 3 (First Published In 2025)

A. T. Qureshi's The Baby Dragon Café is essentially Legends & Lattes meets Miss Percy's Pocket Guide, the first book in a cozy fantasy romance series set in the town of Starshine Valley. While the adorable baby dragons are secondary to the book's character journeys, they certainly help this story's protagonists fall in love, as café owner Sapphira and gardener and reluctant dragon rider Aidan Sterling bond while training Aidan's unruly draggo, Sparky.

While romance plays a part in many of the cozy fantasy novels on this list, it's front and center in the interconnected Baby Dragon series. With plenty of contemporary romance novel adaptations in the works, including shows based on books by major bestselling authors like Emily Henry and Elsie Silver, there's no better time for Hollywood to get in on the cozy fantasy romance trend, too.