Seeking Book (or Movie/Series) Recs - Slow-Paced, Dreamy Fantasy/Fairytale

[labingi]

I feel the need for some "escapist" literature (or video), and right now I want to escape into something dreamy and otherworldly. I would love recommendations.

An example of the type of thing would be Angel's Egg, the 1980s short anime. On the fast-paced, action, heartwarming end, maybe the recent movie, Flow. At the intellectual/concrete extreme, maybe A Voyage to Arcturus.

Seeking stories with...

* nature/beauty
* a dreamy or surreal quality - like it may be a dream or metaphor or afterlife or enchantment or something.
* on the slow, quiet end.
* vaguely old-timey in setting, like anywhere from 150-7000 years ago or the rough equivalent in an otherworld.
* some story/plot, though it can be slight, long enough that I get to spend time with the characters: novella or long; hour-ish video or longer.

Don't want...

* anything YA
* anything obviously moralizing;
* any "strong feminist heroine" or anything that smacks of contemporary politics of any kind from any side of the aisle;
* anything fast-paced or action packed. (I'm fine with Flow at the extreme end of fast.)
* anything that "feels" like it was written in and for the 2020s or 2010s;
* anything really short.

Fine with or Fine with Caveats...

* melancholy, dark, horror-tinged if not super dark/depressing/horror
* relatively thin characters, as long as what's there isn't any of the "don't want."
* romance if it's subtle, not the main point, not stereotypical. (Romance will be an easier sell if it's m/m.)
* child, teen characters as long as the story itself doesn't feel aimed at modern kids/teens (see Angel's Egg).
* written/created in pretty much any time period from ancient to present, if it more or less fits the above.

Thanks in advance for rec's!

Comments

[vilakins]

'The Hands of the Emperor' by Victoria Goddard
'The Goblin Emperor' by Sarah Monette

That they're both about emperors is coincidence. They're slow and gentle with wonderful characters I didn't want to say goodbye to. Goddard has written a lot of books in her universe (which has many different cultures), but that one stands out, is my favourite, has that dreamlike quality others don't necessarily have, and it's pretty much standalone. If you like it and want more, you could follow it with 'At the Feet of the Sun', but Hands is the one I love. The main relationship is M-M; I use a dash as it's asexual but very deep.

[labingi]

Wow, thanks for all this info. This is a lot to dive into. I'm excited!

[bookwyrme]

Really enjoyed The Goblin Emperor. I'll have to look at the rest of the series sometime! I do like a tale which revolves around someone not getting revenge.

[vilakins]

I can't buy them in my country, even on Kindle, and the local library doesn't have them. I'd love to read more about Maia and his world. :(

[labingi]

Interesting. I may have to go on a treasure hunt for The Goblin Emperor.

[bookwyrme]

Ugh. I hate it that Kindle has gotten more and more restrictive about countries. I used to be able to use it to give gifts to friends and relatives all over the place. Now, they have to be in the US & I hate that!