Springtime Escapades—6 Enchanting Books to Welcome the Season

Spring is slow to come, at least in my neck of the woods. So I’m trying to get into a more spring vibe. If you feel the same, I made a list of books that might put you in the right mood. There’s no better time to dive into stories that evoke the vibrant spirit of spring.

Wasting no more time, let’s dive into this expedition through lush landscapes, captivating kingdoms, and enchanting realms, where the essence of spring permeates every page. Whether you’re craving a thrilling adventure or a heartwarming romance, there’s something for everyone in this curated selection of books that captures the essence of the season.

1. The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow 

This book is all about January being stuck in a mansion with Mr. Locke and his collection of old artifacts.

Alone and overlooked, January discovers an unusual book that tells the tale of love and adventure found through doors. Through this awesome tale, January discovers her own door to freedom.

January’s character growth was empowering, shedding light on the valuable lesson of race and its ability to illuminate the perspectives of others.

The conclusion was brilliant, unveiling the deeper meaning behind the book’s mere existence. This book is a heartfelt tribute to readers who experience countless lives through the magic of storytelling.

2. Uprooted by Naomi Novik

This Nebula Award-winning novel is a captivating blend of Eastern European folklore and classic fairy tales. Agnieszka loves her peaceful village, with its forests and bright river. But the corrupted Wood’s malevolence looms at the border, overshadowing her life.To maintain its powers, her community depends on the enigmatic and determined wizard known solely as the Dragon. But the cost of his help is high: he wants a young woman to serve him for ten years—a fate almost as bad as falling to the Wood. They disappear for ten years and when they return, they’re completely changed.The next choosing is coming up soon, and Agnieszka is scared. Everyone knows that the Dragon will take Kasia, who is beautiful, graceful, and brave, everything that Agnieszka isn’t, and her closest friend. And there is no way to save her.Agnieszka is worried about her bestie, Kasia, who’s the prettiest girl in town. Everyone’s convinced Kasia will be taken by the Dragon at the next Choosing. But surprise! Agnieszka gets picked to serve the Dragon and finds out how messed up the world can be.

Agnieszka and the Dragon are a riot—they have this love/hate thing going on that’s hilarious and heartwarming.

Get ready for magic, monsters, princes, and wizards, but expect the unexpected. Agnieszka has to deal with some really awful stuff. I had to stop reading her story a few times because it got so intense. This journey through the evil Wood is not for scaredy-cats. But if you’re looking for a fantasy that’s got badass characters and really cool new spins on old stories, give Uprooted a go!

3. Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

This book is a mix of Chinese and Japanese legends and fairy tales like Rumpelstiltskin, The Wild Swans, and Cinderella. This book had that Studio Ghibli vibe going on.

Shiori, the princess of Kiata, has a secret: she’s got forbidden magic in her veins. On the day of her engagement party, her magic goes haywire. Although she managed to dodge a marriage she didn’t want, her stepmother Raikama, who’s also a sorceress, notices her blunder.

Raikama exiles the princess and transforms her brothers into cranes. She warns Shiori to never speak a word or else one of her brothers will die. Shiori, without money, without a voice, and with no one by her side, must locate her brothers and unravel a mysterious secret that engulfs their realm. She embarks on this journey with the help of a paper bird, a dragon, and the boy she was supposed to marry. Shiori is a powerful heroine. Despite her innate resilience, she encountered multiple hardships that ultimately resulted in her becoming physically stronger.

Seeing the close relationship she had with her brothers warmed my heart. Being an only child, I can only understand the bonds of siblings through the stories and experiences of others.

4. The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder

Indiana Jones encounters Sleeping Beauty. This one sentence was the deciding factor that made me read this book. As someone who has always been fascinated by treasure hunting and grew up watching movies like “Indiana Jones” and “The Mummy”, this book was right up my alley.

Fi, a skilled treasure hunter, inadvertently pricks her finger on a dusty spindle, thereby awakening the spirit of Prince Briar Rose. He is stuck in a curse that will last for a hundred years, and only one kiss can break it.

Teaming up with a huntswoman named Shane, they set off on a quest to the Forest of Thorns to awaken the prince. However, as they proceed, they confront malevolent magic and frightful beasts.

It was entertaining to see how Fi and Shane worked together. Despite all the squabbling, there’s still mutual respect. Briar is ridiculously charming and swoon-worthy, you can totally see a romance blossoming.

Every treasure hunter has to go on an expedition to find what’s been lost. The way they incorporated the Sleeping Beauty tale as an old legend for their expedition was really unique.

5. The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster 

Bujold begins the day right before Daughter’s Day. During the celebration of the Daughter, the Lady of Spring, the focus is on bidding farewell to the Father of Winter and warmly welcoming the season of His Daughter. A year later, the denouement takes place, also on the day dedicated to daughters. Initially, Bujold had planned to dedicate a book to each God (Mother of Summer, Son of Autumn, Father of Winter, Daughter of Spring, and the Bastard). However, she was unable to complete the books for the Father and Mother, resulting in only three books focusing on the children (with occasional appearances of the parents). The Curse is Spring’s book.

6. Flowerheart by Catherine Bakewell

This is a cottage core fantasy romance about a girl with powerful and dangerous magic that she needs to learn to control before she destroys everything she loves. When she needs her control the most to attempt a difficult spell, her only ally is Xavier, her former best friend. But Xavier is a far cry from the shy child she used to know. It has a great cottage core atmosphere and you can really can really feel the whimsy of the magic. The stakes are low, and so is the pace. This is a slow burn romance.