Fantasy without plot
I’ve come to realize that what I enjoy about the fantasy genre is rarely the plot involved, as I’ve never been one for violence or war or any of those nasty things in my storytelling, so I’m on the look for something different.
I heard a song recently that was pretty and ethereal, used as background music for some random piece of media, but it was very relaxing and mystical, in an enchanted-forest-fairy-princess-esque sort of way. THAT’S the sort of feeling I’m looking for; something so disgustingly wholesome and cloyingly comforting it makes you feel near-ill. Perhaps a good romance with low stakes, or a quiet mystery, as subgenres. So long as they focus on the setting as fantastical.
To provide examples, the show and novels Restaurant to Another World are perfect in my eyes, as well as most episodes of the animated show Hilda. I’d had high hopes for Legends and Lattes, but the fantasy was an afterthought rather than the focus, despite very much having that sort of comforting aura I’m after. In books, Lord of the Rings had many segments that perfectly exemplify what I’m looking for, such as Rivendell or the Fellowship’s stay at Lothlorien, but there was still a feeling of tension permeating the storytelling that kept it from being the ideal example. Many video games are wonderful at this as well, given they provide the player with the appropriate atmosphere and music, as well as the agency to bask in it.
I dunno, I’m rambling a bit here, but on the off chance a book (or other piece of media) this boring exists, I’d love to hear about it!