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I love reading books that have magical themes, cottages, libraries...very cozy things basically. I love it when a forgotten place is featured, like some overgrown garden or castle, covered in moss and ivy, with all sorts of things sprouting from the tiles and trying to uproot them. Take, for instance, how in the Grimm fairytale 'The Sleeping Beauty', the Good Fairy bewitches the castle so that vines and thorns cover it to protect it from marauders, and it is left like that for a good 100 years.

Can anyone recommend books that have any of these atmospheres?

Thanks ^^

Hmmm, never heard of it, but I'll be sure to check it out. Thanks so much! =)

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke sounds like a good fit for you. I've only seen the movie, but from what I've read about the book it's the type of magic and setting you're looking for.

If I think of anything else, I'll come back to this thread and let you know.

Thanks! I have the Inkheart book. Haven't read it as yet, but I have watched the movie, but as usual, I think they changed some things.

Thanks again :3

Secret Garden comes to mind by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I imagine that might be the one that started your quest, but just in case it isn't...

In the Sword of Shanarra by Terry Brooks, they don't start out in one of those places, but they do end up there...

There is one set in Cambodia or Vietnam a jungle overgrown well, that transports the protagonist to another planet... I will have to think to some up with more of a title...

Those sound like awesome recommendations. And you guessed right; The Secret Garden was indeed one of the books that started me off on this search. I can't explain it, but I love themes where you have a castle or something like that, and no one knows where it is.

Jandar of Callisto by Lin Carter was the other one.

"The Little Stranger" , Sarah Waters, has a huge creepy mansion as one of the main characters.

Thanks to you both! Will be sure to look more into those books!

Hey Kiwi - you might like "Bridge of Birds" by Barry Hughart. It is set in a made up version of Ancient China, and has a lot of magical themes mingling with the light story. The characters also end up exploring some ruins and other lost or mysterious places. I found it to be a very enchanting and pleasant book to read.