So, we’re back with another Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s prompt is: Favourite Book Settings
So… This topic was decidedly difficult? 🤔 It could be that my brain just wasn’t in a thinking mood and the brain fog was admittedly working extra hard today (lol, of course I’m making the post on the day of!), so I couldn’t decide on whether I wanted to focus it on a few specific places from my favourite books or whether I wanted to focus on the setting and highlight books based on those. In the end, I decided to go with the former because I thought it would be easier? It wasn’t. There are just too many settings I love so this is simply a tiny taste of my favourites. Sorry in advance cos this post is just a hot mess 😂

Words in Deep Blue
I mean, which one of us doesn’t love a book about books that’s set in a bookshop or library? It’s a love story and not just between people but for books. It’s a love letter to stories and a testament to the power of words and I fell madly in love with this fictional bookshop and its Letter Library.
If you’re curious, you can check out my review for it.
Sorcery of thorns
Another book with a very bookish setting but this time we’ve crossed over to a fantasy world where librarians keep watch over tomes that come to life. Tomes are categorised from most likely to eat or curse you to harmless and I mean, do I need to say more?
If you’re curious, you can check out my review for it.
THE SIMPLE WILD
Alaska. For some reason, ever since reading Nora Robert’s Northern Lights when I was in my early twenties, I fell in love with Alaska. The Simple Wild brought that love rushing back to the surface in spades with its wild, harsh beauty and picturesque landscapes.
If you’re curious, you can check out my review for it.
That second chance
The first book in the Getting Lucky series introduces to Port Snow, and it’s one of the best small towns I’ve ever read a romance set in! I can’t get over how much I love the place—we have meddling family, cheeky neighbours, a wonderful community with so much history, and ah, I wish it was real cos I would try to find a way to move there ASAP!
If you’re curious, you can check out my review for it.
The trials of morrigan crow
One of my new all-time favourite MG fantasies, this world will give you the same nostalgic, whimsical and magic filled vibes as HP but BETTER. With Mog, Juniper and all the characters at the Hotel Deucalion, plus the magical school setting as well, what’s not to love?!
If you’re curious, you can check out my review for it.
jade city
The Green Bone Saga has fast become one of my all-time favourite adult fantasies so of course Janloon, the capital city of Kekon, would make it to this list. I don’t read a lot of books with an urban fantasy setting but the world-building in this is one of the best I’ve read, and it’s clear in how Lee brings this city full of magical jade to life!
spin the dawn
This is a fantasy world inspired by Chinese/Eastern mythology and it’s absolutely *chefs kiss!* There’s a map to illustrate the setting and all the wonderful, magic-filled places we travel to throughout the story and it’s STUNNING! 😍 Definitely one of my favourite Asian inspired, fairytale-esque settings 😍
If you’re curious, you can check out my review for it.
aurora rising
I’ve been slowly dipping my toes in more sci-fi over the least few years and the Aurora Cycle books are one of my faves! The outer space setting teeming with all sorts of alien lifeforms, the cultures, languages, FOOD (well, sort of). There’s so much to love about the galaxy!
If you’re curious, you can check out my review for it.
THE GODDESS OF NOTHING AT ALL
This is the story about Sigyn Odindottir, Loki’s wife and it’s set in Asgard. Rector brought this setting to life so well and if you love Norse mythology or popular mythological settings, you must check this out! One of my top 2021 reads.
If you’re curious, you can check out my review for it.
UNDER THE WHISPERING DOOR
This is another story that mostly takes place in a tea house and wow, does it work! It creates such a cosy and welcoming vibe in this story. I want to visit Charon’s Crossing every day and have Hugo pick out a tea especially for me, please! 🙈
If you’re curious, you can check out my review for it.

What are some of your favourite book settings? Have you read any of these books or are they on your TBR?

I’m fascinated by the fact that you found this week’s prompt difficult! I whipped up my post really quickly. It’s so interesting to see how different people respond to the same prompt. 🙂
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-favourite-book-settings/
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I found it difficult because I’m bad at choosing and there are so many ways that this prompt can/could’ve been done! 😂
LikeLike
Nevermoor would be such an amazing place to visit! And I’m glad you liked Spin the Dawn, I’m looking forward to reading it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you enjoy Spin the Dawn! It’s such a magical and whimsical setting/story and I really enjoy the author’s writing style! 😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
I keep wanting to read Nevermoor. I’m glad the setting is particularly striking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! Nevermoor is such an amazing series and I highly recommend it to everyone 🙂 It’s so whimsical and fun! I especially love the characters 😍
LikeLike
I just got Under the Whispering Door from the library—I can’t wait. This is a great list!
I also struggled a bit with…the scope of this. I love TTT more than my luggage, and I get that the prompts are pretty vague on purpose, but sometimes I wish that there were more specific prompts, kind of like the Let’s Talk Bookish people do.
But then we probably wouldn’t get such wonderful variety of answers.
Lori
https://fiftytwo.blog/2021/10/11/ttt-favorite-book-settings/
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m pretty late to responding (sorry lol) but I hope you enjoyed or are enjoying Under the Whispering Door! And I totally agree, sometimes I wish prompts could be more specific or with guides like they do for LTB! 😂 But I do love seeing how people interpret prompts!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post, loved the Under the Whispering Door and small towns are great settings 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorcery of Thorns has one of my favorite settings. And Jade City! I just want to crawl into Fonda Lee’s head and find out how she builds such a vivid world. Great list!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Omg RIGHT!? I just… I would die to be in Fonda Lee’s head while she was writing this INCREDIBLE series! Haha, the world building is just mind blowing but maybe I’m just biased cos the series is one of my all time faves!
LikeLike
I’m currently reading Under The Whispering Door and I ADORE Charon’s Crossing Tea House so much! And the setting in Sorcery of Thorns was also amazing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you enjoyed Under the Whispering Door! I would love to spend a day or two or more in Charon’s Crossing Tea House 😍
LikeLike
I loved Port Snow! The breathtaking views, the nosy but kind residents… I would love to live there. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely nosy but well-meaning and cheeky residents! I love that small town so much 🥰
LikeLike
OMG! We both featured Port Snow. It really is an amazing place. I adored the books shop in Words in Deep Blue. That letter library ❤️ Seriously, what is it about Alaska? I love reading about it in books (and I have actually been there – it’s beautiful!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Port Snow FOR THE WIN! That place is too amazing and every time I think about it I wish that it was real 😂 Alaska is on my travel bucket list! I’d probably not survive in the winter there but I’d love to experience the place for myself one day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can attest to how nice Alaska is in the summer
LikeLike
I struggled with this week’s topic as well. So don’t feel alone!
I enjoy reading books set in bookish locations!
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/autumn-vibes-books-whos-cover-has-autumn-feels/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad to know I’m not the only who struggled with the topic! It’s just so broad and I had no idea where to start 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, this post is fine! I love the sound of Sorcery of Thorns. The Norse setting of the Goddess sounds awesome as well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Greg! The Goddess of Nothing at All was AMAZING and I highly recommend it 😍
LikeLike
Jade City – I loved that world! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s so amazing!
LikeLike
Some topics work for us, others don’t, we all have those weeks. But you managed quite well. And presented some books I might be interested in- “Words in Deep Blue” sounds interesting and I’ve seen “Under the Whispering Door” a million times on other blogs, I really will have to get that.
Thanks for visiting my TTT earlier which took me around the world to thirteen countries..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Under the Whispering Door is a beautiful heartfelt story. I hope you enjoy it if you pick it up 😃
LikeLike
I’m sure I will. Once I get to it.
LikeLike
Janloon 💚 really want to read Under the Whispering Door. i had no idea it took place in a tea house. that sounds cute and cosy and makes me want to pick it up even more!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes yes, Janloon and Under the Whispering Door! It’s definitely a unique setting but I loved the simplicity of it. Also, definitely cosy! I hope you enjoy it 😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just the first Nevermoor book the other day and I’m stoked to pick up the others too. It’s such a wonderful setting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
YAS! Nevermoor is stunning and I love the series so much. I still have to read the third book but I’m so excited to dive back into that world with Mog and the crew at the Hotel Deucalion! So glad you enjoyed it 😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great list! Sorcery of Thorns had such a great setting! I actually haven’t read many on your list, lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really!? Haha I feel like you’ve always read all the books, Joanna! 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought about adding Aurora Rising to my list as well because it definitely has some great (and weird) places!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha, for sure weird! Lots of wonderfully weird 😂
LikeLike
Yes to The Simple Wild! I had a hard time choosing between that one and Enjoy the View for my post. 😉 Several others on your list are on my tbr, and I just added Jade City, as well. So thanks for that! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved the Moose Spring setting but I wish the residents had been more likeable 😂 I really hope you enjoy Jade City, Dedra! It’s an amazing book and the series is *CHEFS KISS!*
LikeLike
Libraries are my favorite places to be, though I have to say I can never can get any work done there! 😉 Sorcery of Thorns appealed to me for that very reason. Also adding Cat Rector’s book to my list, it looks fantastic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The only library I was really able to get work done in was the uni library cos there were only reference books there 😂 The Goddess of Nothing at All is STUNNING and emotionally slays so hard. I hope you enjoy it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] Lee BakerFirst Lines Friday: 15 October 2021Fall Bucket List Book Tag!#WWWWednesday: 13 October 2021#TopTenTuesday: My Favourite Places to Be…First Impressions Spotlight: Dim Stars by Brian P. […]
LikeLike
Great picks, Dini! 😍
LikeLike