Navigating the Dreamscapes: 5 Fantasy Books to Lose Yourself in the Realm of Enchantments

Sometimes we crave a book that will pull us deep into the world of myth. So deeply that it feels as if we are experiencing a lucid dream. I’ve created a short list of 5 go-to books that satisfy the need to lose yourself in a subconscious wonderland. Each book contains a brief review and a favorite quote to tempt you into reading it.

These books all contain that particular flavor of magic only the best kind of dreams possess. They are deliciously atmospheric, deeply emotional, and offer a dusting of myth to their readers. They will leave you a little lightheaded, woozy even. You’ll return to the waking world with a profound sense of wonder and a certainty you’ve brushed the deeply mysterious truths hidden in the subconscious.

The tales they tell are more about the experience than plot or character development. I think it is beneficial to approach them with a sort of open-ended curiosity. Some, but not all, leave you with questions unanswered. I find this enjoyable in a book because it allows my imagination the freedom to roam. And that is how life is, sometimes we don’t learn the answers. There is a comfort in knowing we can still find a happy ending despite this.

Here they are in no particular order:

If you enjoy medieval scapes and multiple perspectives with a vast sense of world-building this is for you.

1: Od Magic by Patricia A. McKillip

All of Patricia A. McKillip’s books contain a dreamlike quality, as one reviewer -Brittany- on Goodreads puts it “She writes gorgeous masterpieces that fit in a locket”.(See it here) Od Magic is the one I reach for when I need that visiting-an-old-friend, feel-good read.

The atmosphere of this book is expansive. We have a sampling of nearly everything; the medieval village, the wilderness, the capital city, the ancient university, the palace, and the thieves’ quarter- complete with a traveling magician’s troupe. There is political conflict, both between kingdoms and between academics. With archaic systems failing the people they are meant to serve. Each backdrop is shown to us through a different character’s eyes, so we have many points of view to enjoy. Yet each viewpoint leaves us guessing what exactly is happening right up to the end. All are threaded together by the distant and perplexing Wizard Od.

“The image became the language of power, the language of the heart. No written words, no human law could restrict something that needed no language…” — Patricia A. McKillip, Od Magic

If you love nature and the current cottage-core, homesteading, and farm life aesthetic then this one is for you.

2: Chalice by Robin McKinley

Robin Mckinley’s books always remind me of a meandering path through a nature park where the journey is as important as the destination. We are going to enjoy the thought process of her characters as much as their actions. It can be a struggle to pull this off well in a story but Robin McKinley handles it like a maestra. Chalice in particular puts this in mind for me since it is told largely in flashbacks. These flashbacks slowly unfold the connection between the main character and the spirit of the land where she lives. The story reminds us just how acutely we are connected to nature and how the relationship between these two seemingly dissimilar things has an extensive effect on both.

I have to add; Chalice has the most magically wonderful portrayal of bees and the relationship they share with their beekeeper I have ever read. This book was cozy fantasy before cozy fantasy became a thing.

“I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’m here and I’m listening, and there is still joy in this world.”

- Robin McKinley, Chalice

If you love dark academia books set in a school with a sharp fri-enemy rivalry then you’ll want to read this one.

3: The Betrayals by Bridget Collins

Hidden away in the high mountains of Somewhere, Europe is an ancient and revered school training young men in the inscrutable Grand Ju. Is it a symphony? A dance? We are never given a clear answer but the performance must masterfully join the beauty of all branches of learning into an overarching theme. Literature, mathematics, science, the arts… You must find a way to bring them together into a harmonious, insightful, soul-touching whole.

One of the things I enjoyed about this book is that our main characters are all “present-day” (think late 1930s era) adults. We experience the story through flashbacks of the tragedy they witnessed during their student days, how it has played out over the last few decades, and how the revelations about it are going to change their lives yet again.

If you love books about books you will love this one.

“These are the times that scare her the most, the beginnings and endings: this is when the world is most unpredictable.”

- Bridget Collins, The Betrayals

If you crave fairytales retold with a touch of Brother’s Grimm-esk darkness I think you’ll devour this one.

5: Mermaid Moon by Susann Cokal

With nods to The Little Mermaid, but focused on female relationships, this story is a fascinating journey about a daughter searching for her mother and the witch who has made everyone forget their own history. The unique darkness of this story is reminiscent of fairy tales in their original blood and bone glory. One of my favorite parts of this book is the Baroness who has a touch of Elizabeth Bathory about her- which fits the feel of the book so darkly well.

I appreciated the depth of detail that went into building the matriarchal Mer culture so much. As well as how the different characters fit (or don’t) into its structure. This felt very realistic since every culture has a vast foundation that not all the individuals who make it up can neatly build themselves onto.

“Every person in the world feels something is missing. This is what it means to be human.” — Susann Cokal, Mermaid Moon

I would love to hear which books you feel fall into this lucid dreaming category so please share your favorites with me!