We’re getting real specific with this round of trope trial.

I’ve discovered my love of slightly magical fantasy in the last year or so. And one of the things I love to find, are books where nature is personified or magical. It’s a very specific plot device, but it’s become one of my favorite. Here are 5 books I’ve (semi) recently read that fall into this category!

1. Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was one of my favorite books of 2019! And it was a huge surprise. This book was so magical and feminist. I loved every single word of this beautiful book and think it’s super underrated. My full review is linked with all my thoughts. But I highly, highly recommend this magical YA fantasy.

2. Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This one is a pretty unpopular opinion.. I absolutely adored this book and read the entire thing in a single sitting. This was one of the most atmospheric stories I’ve ever read. However since raving about this book I know a lot people who have read this and were really disappointed. This story definitely lacks in character development, I just personally loved it regardless. But if you need well rounded characters and explanations of magic and world building, this story might not be as big of a hit for you.

3. Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore ⭐⭐⭐⭐

So far this is the only Anna-Marie McLemore I’ve loved. This was a really beautiful Snow White and Red Rose retelling with a sentient woods and magical swans. This is another polarizing book. McLemore’s writing is extremely flowery so if that’s not your jam definitely skip this one. This story is slow and descriptive but also really powerful and full of amazing friendships and family dynamics.

4. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was an obvious but necessary choice. This is one of my favorite series of all time so I couldn’t in good conscience leave it off this list. The magical woods in this story play a massive role and it’s one of my favorite parts of the book. If you’re still sleeping on this series, definitely give it a try! The hype for this one is real.

5. Wilder Girls by Rory Power ⭐⭐⭐

Overall this book was a bit of a miss for me, but that was because of the characters, not the setting. The setting of this was fantastic. The creepy, almost alive woods were one of the strongest parts of this story in my opinion. I loved this setting and the ominous atmosphere it created. If you can look past the lackluster ending and flat characters, this book is worth a read.

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