This post was originally published on Audible.com.
Here we are in these dark winter months, with a long way still to go. Instead of counting the days till warmer weather, we invite you to take a different approach. Embrace it. There is an undeniable magic to the chill, the way it can freeze the world into a living sculpture, and it's something to relish, not escape. In these dark and twisty fantasies (with some sci-fi peppered in), the winter setting heightens the stakes and adds an element of allure. Start at the top of this list, and you'll get some winterscapes that revel in the beauty of the cold. Go deeper, and we'll get darker. Are you up for it?
Enter a chilling future
A cold, sunless, post-apocalyptic world, survivors sheltered in a medieval capsule, and an immortal threat: vampires. That’s the world of Travis Beacham’s Impact Winter series, which features a full cast and lush sound design. This listen is perfect for leaning into the bleakness of winter evenings, an immersive adventure for long walks on snow-covered trails, when nature itself makes our world feels a little bit supernatural.
Chilly vibes only
Admittedly, this 2023 Hugo Award winner is light on depictions of winter itself—it’s more of a winter vibe, as many a modern fairy tale can be. It’s dark, yet cozy. Harrowing, yet hopeful. In short, everything we want our winters to be. Amara Jasper’s delivery envelops you like a warm winter cloak.
Cozy academic fantasy at its finest
Heather Fawcett’s debut adult novel transports us to the tiny village of Hrafnsvik in the far north. Brought there by her research, preeminent faerie expert (and overall bookish curmudgeon) Emily Wilde is all business—until she finds herself chasing a mystery and coming head-to-head with her charming academic rival. You'll learn about how to make a deal with a faerie, how to chop firewood properly, and which fae should really be avoided at all costs.
Come closer, my child
Homesteading in Alaska can be lonely business. Especially for a young couple unable to conceive a child. But the deep woods can also bring gifts. A girl made of snow, for instance, that dances through the trees on winter nights and instills the landscape with a dreamy magic. In this listen you’ll feel the pull of unpredictable wildness, while the soothing narration of Therese Plummer will lull you into a false sense of security. But we’ll warn you now: Don’t fall asleep.
A classic sci-fi that feels like fantasy
Filled with the political strife of two combating cultures on a different planet, The Snow Queen is a blend between sci-fi and fantasy that fans of both Frank Herbert and Hans Christian Anderson (this is a retelling of his like-named work) will enjoy. Vinge's attention to detail when drawing the land and the culture of the people gives the story a creepy, fairy tale feel. This classic is narrated by Ellen Archer, who brings in character work that is surprising and enlightening, adding a layer of complexity to the story.
No winter lasts forever...
Kate Rudd shines in her narration of Raasch’s debut fantasy novel Snow Like Ashes, which tells the story of Meira as she attempts to revive her home. Where Meira comes from, winter isn’t just a season that passes through for a few months. Winter is her land, her kingdom, and now she is only one of the few left after outsiders conquer and slaughter. Just as she regains hope for the revival of her people, she’s swept away into the harsh reality of her world. What she would have staked her life on before may have always been a lie.
Oh how frigid is the love of a frost demon
The Winternight Trilogy as narrated by Kathleen Gati is at turns haunting and lovely. It takes you across the snow-laden lands of Rus’, or ancient Russia, from the countryside all the way to Moscow. Living in a time when paganism and Christianity exist side by side, Vasya Petrovna has the second sight and can see the protective spirits of house and forest. It’s a dangerous road to walk for a young woman, being what she is, especially when the term “witch” is healthy and alive amongst the cold and desperate people. But Vasya has the kind of moxie that can outlast the hatred of a town, a city, and even a chaos demon. Prepare to love her fiercely.
What if the onset of winter meant the death of your land—forever?
Audie Award winner Michael Kramer lends his talents to this magical story of deceit and greed brought on by the struggle to stay alive as an ancient enemy threatens the lives of the people of Arlethia. As Reign and her brother battle the threats to their borders, they must also regain the respect of their people that they lost in their efforts to survive. Filled with fast-paced action and stellar narration, Circle of Reign is a stunning tale of frost-tipped rooftops and the struggle for morality in a shady land.
These wolves really do bite
Set in a present-day alternate reality in which supernatural creatures have always lived alongside humankind, Written in Red invites us into the world of the Others through the eyes of Meg Corbyn, who isn’t quite human herself. Anne Bishop is known for not shying from dark subject matter, and here we get shape-shifters and other creatures who see people as literal walking bags of meat. It can be a little ruthless, and the stakes are high for our main character, but that means the payoff is so satisfying in the end.
Imagine the bitter cold of a dead sun
There’s an icebox where the sun used to be in the post-apocalyptic world of The Wolves of Winter. As the warmth is stripped from the Earth, so is the humanity that once filled it. Struggling to survive in the Yukon of Canada, Gwendolyn and her family have a new mystery man in their camp, who brings with him trouble that the family wanted to avoid. With no place to escape from the winter nightmare that is Earth, Gwendolyn must face these fears head-on to protect and preserve what’s left of her life.
Like a glittering icicle to the heart
As our best fantasy pick for 2018, Spinning Silver’s fairy tale setting and Lisa Flanagan’s subtly accented narration crawled into our brains and enchanted us. In a land reminiscent of Eastern Europe where snow people called the Staryk walk among humans, three young women learn to fight overwhelming odds through the force of their wills. One is taken by the snow king, another must marry a fire demon, and the third is under the thumb of an abusive father. Novik’s sparing use of language is reflective of the harsh land they live in, and yet, the world is still vivid in our mind’s eye, even months after listening. It is a story that lingers.
Now, go dark or go home
We begin in a warring nation. Alina Starkov, at first just a lowly army cartographer, is taken to be trained against her will for a power she has that makes her able to fight the dark forces of the Fold. The Shadow Fold is a nightmare-like territory complete with monsters that is threatening to take over the Slavic-inspired nation of Ravka. People are desperate, and even the good guys do bad things. Filled with twist after dark twist, jump on board with this YA trilogy that isn’t afraid to take us down to the rock bottom before picking us back up.
When her hero is also her enemy
This one is a romance, but it’s real dark and twisted. It’s the end of the world, and the first of the four horsemen, Pestilence, is slowly infecting the human population with disease as he rides through the streets. Sara stays behind in her empty town to kill him, but is captured by the horseman instead. He then drags her behind his horse as he continues his death march. Sound romantic? Oh, you just wait.
Winter is here
No wintry fantasy list would be complete without A Game of Thrones, the epic kickoff to George R. R. Martin's fantasy sensation, A Song of Ice and Fire. The series mostly follows House Stark, a noble family controlling the northern portion of the great kingdom of Westeros, and narrator Roy Dotrice ably leads listeners through its saga of betrayal, bloodshed, Machiavellian intrigue, and, of course, dragons.
