Showing posts with label listicle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label listicle. Show all posts
Find Your Inner Fantasy Fan! 10 Fantasies That Are GREAT For Getting Started With The Genre (Wyrd and Wonder 2020)
Saturday, June 20, 2020
Hello, friends! How ya been doing? Welcome to my first post for Wyrd & Wonder 2020!
Wyrd & Wonder is a fanatasy themed blog-a-thon hosted by Imyril at There’s Always Room for One More, Lisa of Dear Geek Place, and Jorie from Jorie Loves A Story. Check out all the info for it here!
Today I’ll be recommending some books for readers interested in getting into fantasy. I think a lot of people are kind of intimidated by fantasy. I mean, the books are big, the series are long, and there are so many types to choose from! Knowing where to start, or even what kind of fantasy book you might be interested in can be tough!
But have no fear, dear fantasy beginners! I’ve compiled a handy dandy listicle of fantasy books I think are great starting places for anyone who’s new to the genre!
* As a note: These are all YA fantasy books/series because I think that the style and pace of YA is easier to get into and a lot less intimidatingly dense than Adult fantasy. That being said, there are a lot of great Childrens, Middle Grade, and Adult fantasies out there too and if YA’s not your thing, it’s still worth it to look into finding fantasy books that you might enjoy which are in a different marketing demographic.
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FANTASY FOR FIRST-TIMERS
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
Recommended For: Book-lovers who like adventures with a dash of silliness
What It’s All About: Elisabeth is a young apprentice librarian in a world where books are very much alive and sorcerers exist. She has been taught that all socerers are evil ne’erdowells but when she’s framed for a monstrous crime, she must team up with socrcerer/notorious scoundrel, Nathaniel Thorn, and his demonic servant in order to get to the bottom of what is going on.
The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare
Recommended For: Lovers of angsty historical romances
What It’s All About: In Victorian London, something dark lurks beneath the peaceful facade of the city, and our protagonist, Tessa Gray, is about to discover exactly what it is! When she’s tossed into a world of demon-hunting descendants of angels, Tessa discovers that not everything is not what it seems and that she just might be the key to defeating the darkness brewing within the city…
Wicked Fox by Kat Cho
Recommended For: Fans of fluffy contemporary romances
What It’s All About: Set in modern day Seoul, Wicked Fox is about two Korean teens, Miyoung and Jihoon, and their blossoming romance. The catch? Miyoung’s hiding a BIG secret: she’s a gumiho—a nine-tailed fox shape-shifter from Korean myth, who feeds on the souls of men. Worse, when Miyoung decides to rescue Jihoon, she ends up losing her precious fox bead, which holds her soul as a gumiho. Chaos and cuteness ensue!
The Shadow and Bone Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo
Recommended For: Readers who want to familiarize themselves with basic YA fantasy tropes
What It’s All About: In the magical land of Ravka, young woman discovers she has magical abilities that make her a powerful figure in the country and pit her against a seductive and evil ancient force. A fun showcase of the tropes that have become the basis of YA fantasy, Leigh Badugo’s Shadow and Bone trilogy is a great starting point for fantasy newcomers!
The The Devouring Gray Duology by Christine Lynn Herman
Recommended For: Fans of shows like Riverdale and/or Stranger Things / Fans of friendship stories
What It’s All About: Set in the modern New York state, the The Devouring Gray duology follows five teens whose families are descended from the founders of their town and who have been granted magical abilities in order to protect their town from a monster trapped in an alternate dimension. But could the politics of their families end up putting the town in more danger?
The Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas
Recommended For: Readers who want plenty of action, adventure, and romance and a story they don’t have to try hard to follow
What It’s All About: The series starts out following Celaena Sardothien, the most notorious assassin in the land, who is freed from slavery by a prince who wants her to compete to become his father’s champion. However, the series morphs from there into a wild ride including the return of lost royalty, fae, monsters, plenty of romance, and so much more!
To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
Recommended For: Fans of The Little Mermaid and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise
What It’s All About: Lira is a deadly siren princess, but when she kills a mermaid, she’s banished from her undersea kingdom, turned into a human, stripped of her siren song, and told she has a year to deliver the heart of Prince Elian to the sea queen. But what happens when Lira and Elian find that maybe they’re not as destined to hate each other as it seems?
Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson
Recommended For: Romance readers who are looking for a hint of fantasy and adventure
What It’s All About: Kazi is a former thief turned soldier. Jase is the heir of a family of outlaws with an intriguing past. When Kazi and Jase clash in a cat and mouse game, they find that their freedom and their futures are at stake—as well as their own hearts! A wild ride full of action and romance, Dance of Thieves is a perfect first fantasy read
Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
Recommended For: Fans of historical romantic comedies who want to spice up their books with some magic
What It’s All About: In a historical France-inspired fantasy world, young witch Lou was already on the run when she is forced to marry Reid, a witch-hunter, and live under the nose of the Church. Find out what happens when Lou and Reid begin to start falling for each other and find themselves embroiled in far more dangerous circumstances.
The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
Recommended For: Slytherins who don’t mind a dash if silliness
What It’s All About: Alessandra knows what she wants—power—and she plans on getting it! Her plan is to marry and murder the Shadow King in order to steal his kingdom for herself. Unfortunately Alessandra isn’t the only one who has set her murderous sights on the king. Worse—Alessandra find that she might even be growing fond of the king! Find out who wins this hilarious and dark race to control the kingdom in The Shadows Between Us!
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So, that’s all for today, friends. I hope you enjoyed and found a recommendation or two that you think you might like!
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SPILL THE BEANS, FRIENDS!
- Are you a fan of fantasy?
- If so, what books/series do you recommend for readers who want to get into the genre?
- If not, are you considering trying out fantasy?
PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links for which I receive a small commission when my link is used.
Well, friends, we are in the midst of hard times and, as we all know…it is a truth universally acknowledged that hard times call for a healthy dose of escapism! And, when you can’t exactly leave your house, what better way to escape than through a good old fashioned book? So, today I’ve gathered up my books and selected five that I find oh-so-relaxing to share with you, dear friends!
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RELAXING READS
Your Soul Is A River by Nikita Gill
Evocative and emotional, Nikita Gill’s debut poetry collection is a stunning, must-have addition to any library. Centering on the theme of emotional healing, Gill uses nature and celestial imagery to paint vivid messages about self love and healing with her poetry. With its gentle imagery and soothing messages, Gill’s poetry is a great option if you are in need of a piece of literature which will leave you feeling safe, loved, and empowered all at once.
Mooncakes by Wendy Xu and Suzanne Walker
If you’re in the mood for a sweet treat of a literary experience, look no further than Mooncakes! This free webcomic (which is also available in graphic novel form) is, in the words of its creators, “A (queer, Chinese-American) paranormal romance,” but in, like, the cutest, coziest way ever? *squeals with delight* Like, usually, paranormal romances are all dark and ominous in terms of atmosphere, but Mooncakes is like a crisp and cozy autumn day all wrapped up into one adorable webcomic! If you’re in need of a cute pick-me-up, definitely give Mooncakes a look!
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
Looking for something hilariously fun and quirky? Check out Nimona! Nimona is the tale of the “evil” (*cough* Actual Big Softy™ *cough*) scientist, Ballister Blackheart, and his overzealous assistant, Nimona, and their quest to “thwart” Ballister’s “nemesis,” Sir Goldenloin. Eagle-eyed readers may recognize the art style in Nimona and that’s because Noelle Stevenson also is the writer and artist for the Netflix reboot of She-Ra. Stevenson brings that same energetic flair to Nimona, creating a comic which manages to be both humorous and heartwarming at the same time. Nimona is a must read for all!
Wicked Fox by Kat Cho
When I think of “fluffy fantasy,” there’s one book that instantly pops into my mind: Wicked Fox by Kat Cho! Oftentimes described as “a K-drama in literary form,” Wicked Fox is set in Seoul and tells the story of two Korean teens, Miyoung and Jihoon, but here’s the catch: Miyoung is a gumiho—a nine-tailed fox shape-shifter from Korean mythology who devours the souls of men. Wicked Fox is the story of Miyoung and Jihoon’s budding romance and magical encounters—and it’s so freakin’ cute!!! This is the perfect piece of fluff fantasy to settle your soul with a dose of adorableness!
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Graceling is an OG YA book, but it’s also one that’s maintained its status as A Really Good Read™ through the years. It follows Katsa, a young woman in a world where some are gifted with magical “graces.” Katsa is gifted with the grace of killing and thus is tasked with being an assassin. Graceling is a little slower in pace than most current YA fantasies, but I’d argue that’s what makes it so comforting. It takes its time letting readers get to know the characters and the world, and it works. If you’re looking for a more measured fantasy, Graceling is it.
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So, that is all for today, my dear friends! I hope this post was able to help you find a good ol’ relaxing read to snuggle up with or, at the least, brought a little extra cheer to your day.
As a side note, you can purchase these books and more through my Bookshop affiliate store to help support this blog, indie bookstores, and the publishing industry, all simply by treating yo shelf and yo’self! If you’re specifically interested in comfort reads, take a look at my specific, Corona Comfort book list! If you’re into audiobooks, instead, check out my referral link to Libro.fm (which supports indie bookshops) and get your first audiobook free! I’m gonna sign off for now, so until next time friends…
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SPILL THE BEANS, FRIENDS!
- Do you read to relax?
- What are some of your favorite comforting reads?
Whew!
So a lot of things have happened in the past decade.* Like, we honestly went from Hannah Montana to modern day, gender fluid Miley Cyrus and okay I'm kinda diggin' it?
But for real, so much has changed! And, in my opinion, most of it has been for the better. I mean, just look at the state of YA literature. We've started to (finally!) move towards more diverse books and opened the doors for #ownvoices authors. We went from love triangle Cassie Clare books to books where she has an openly polyamorous throuple! We left the "girls in gowns" cover trend in the past and have moved on to gorgeous illustrated covers!
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