Copyright timesnownews
Fantasy books have a reputation for being long, sprawling epics with complicated maps and multi-volume sagas. It is no wonder then, that the best of us think twice before picking up a new book to read mid-week. But not every journey through a magical world needs to be a Lord Of The Rings- level commitment. Some of the most imaginative worlds can be explored in just a few hours, and still leave a spell. Here are five compact fantasy novels you can devour before the weekend begins. The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo This lyrical, compact novella reads like a fairy tale. Set in an empire inspired by imperial China, The Empress of Salt and Fortune is largely a story about an empress who has been sent south for a political marriage, and the handmaiden she befriends in the new place, pieced together through objects and memories. The writing is vivid and comments on monarchy in a read that feels modern and interesting. And, at under 120 pages, it’s perfect for an evening read with a pot of tea. Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh This woodland fantasy reimagines English myth in a way that feels haunting yet heartwarming, and leaves you feeling eerie-like about what lurks in the forest. Tobias Finch, a solitary forest guardian, has lived for centuries among trees and magic, protecting the woods from the people, and the people from what resides in the woods. But when a curious young folklorist named Henry Silver arrives, the quiet of the forest begins to shift. Beautifully atmospheric and tender, this queer love story is wrapped in moss and mystery and just the right length for a lazy Friday night. The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss A companion novella to The Kingkiller Chronicle, this book stands beautifully on its own. It follows Auri, a quiet girl who lives beneath the university in a labyrinth of tunnels, caring for forgotten things. There’s no grand battle or sweeping romance but the book traces the daily life of the protagonist who finds beauty in small, broken places. There is no distinct plot, beginning middle or end, and this is why it is easier to read, often quite poetic in places. Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire Imagine a home for children who once stumbled into magical worlds (like Narnia or Wonderland) and were forced to return. Now they live together, grieving the worlds they’ve lost. This novella is darkly whimsical, quite like a coming-of-age tale, and deeply empathetic to the dreamers who never quite fit back into ordinary life. It’s sharp, emotional, and under 200 pages. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison For readers who love court intrigue but not 800-page tomes, this standalone fantasy is a rare gem. When a shy, half-goblin heir unexpectedly becomes emperor after his royal family’s death, he must navigate a dangerous court filled with politics, prejudice, and betrayal. Addison’s world-building is graceful yet efficient, her prose elegant, and her protagonist quietly unforgettable.
