"Cozy" fiction, fantasy, sci-fi, etc. - thoughts?

[Mutineer81]

What are people's opinions on cozy fiction? It feels like a new genre, well, a sub-genre. It seems to be very popular nowadays. To me, it's meandering fiction, like, some of the books I've read could be cut in half and be just as good--perhaps better.

Cozy fictions goes against the tenant of keep it tight--don't write a 50 billion word book.

The jumping around POVs also makes me mental.

Anyway, people's thoughts?

 

[Naomasa298]

I'm not even sure what it is. What is it?

 

[Mutineer81]

So, here's it's definition:

Cozy Fiction Genre Definition | Campfire Codex

Cozy fiction invites readers into idyllic settings where close-knit communities solve mysteries and face life's challenges together, all while sipping tea by a warm fire.

www.campfirewriting.com

Examples would be stuff by Delemhach, and the Tales of Pell series, Legends & Lattes, and Can't Spell Treason Without Tea.

 

[Dogberry's Watch]

I think it has a place just like all genres do. There's an audience for it, and if it starts trending, even better for those readers. We've had enough dark romantasy these days. Let the cozy folk pull up the recliner for a bit.

I'm not one of those folk, because I absolutely write dark shit, but I also appreciate the authors who can give back a bit of happiness and light to the world. As far as not keeping the story tight, I'm of the opinion that not every story needs to be. I think some meandering is okay. I didn't mind reading about the trees in Lord of the Rings. I did mind Hugo's ramblings about Napoleon in Les Miserables, though. It's all a matter of preference, really. Which you know, just stating the obvious, haha.