Imyril @ One More shared Jess @ Jessticulates‘ completed tag. Originally created by Bree Hill as the Get to Know the Romance Reader Tag, The Book Pusher adapted it for fantasy readers.
1) What is your fantasy origin story? (the first fantasy novel you read)
The earliest fantasy book I can recall reading is Into the Land of the Unicorns. I love that cover SO! MUCH! I’m still trying to figure out who the artist is, though. 🙁 I read a lot of unicorn books between grade two and four. This is the one that sticks out the most. I still have all four books in the series, which wasn’t completed until 2010. (Scholastic published the first book in 1994).
2) If you could be the hero in a fantasy novel, who would be the author and what’s one trope you’d insist be in the story?
Ahhh, I gotta go with Tolkien. And the trope I’d want to encounter is one of his magical atmospheric forests! Preferably one more Lothlorien-like than The Hobbit-era Mirkwood, but I’d be happy with any. (Snippet of ‘The Forest of Lothlorien in Spring‘ by Tolkien.)
3) What is a fantasy you’ve read this year, that you want more people to read?
A lot of the books I’ve read this year are fantasy in the broadest sense. I tend not to call a book fantasy unless it’s set in a secondary world with magical elements. I have only read a handful of those this year. And I think most of the other fantasy books (in the broad sense of the word) I’ve read are well-known in the blogosphere!
Two of my favourites which have less than 200 ratings on Goodreads are middle grade titles: A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat (contemporary fantasy set in a Thai-analogue world) and Homerooms and Hall Passes by Tom O’Donnell (‘reverse’ portal fantasy, in which fantasy trope characters are transported from their world into contemporary middle school).
4) What is your favourite fantasy subgenre? What subgenre have you not read much from?
My favourite fantasy subgenre is high fantasy in a secondary world. I’m very pick y about it though, so I don’t often read it and find titles I love. (Uprooted by Naomi Novik is a new favourite from recent years.) In recent years, I’ve also been enjoying and reading a lot of magical realism and fabulism. I have not read a lot of urban fantasy. The setting and themes don’t appeal to me.
5) Who is one of your auto-buy fantasy authors?
Anna-Marie McLemore writes young adult magical realism. When I first discovered their books, they only had two titles. I’ve preordered each book since (they now have five books out). Highly recommended if you love luscious fairy tales, soft queer characters, or #ownvoices Latinx stories.
6) How do you typically find fantasy recommendations? (Goodreads, Youtube, podcats, Instagram…)
As with most of my book recommendations these days, I find them through book blogs. For fantasy in particular, I also keep an eye out for read alikes of books I really enjoyed by looking at who blurbed or inspired the title.
7) What is an upcoming fantasy release you’re excited for?
Over the Woodward Wall by A. Deborah Baker (AKA Seanan McGuire). Middlegame is one of my all time favourite books. Over the Woodward Wall was a series of children’s books within the Middlegame universe, written by one of the greatest alchemists of all time. Due 6 October 2020.
8) What is one misconception about fantasy you would like to lay to rest?
Jess @ Jessticulates (who I copied this tag from) answered this question with “that it’s pale, male, and stale” and I love that. Even though I adore Tolkien, he’s not the be all and end all of the genre. (Same goes for George R.R. Martin, Neil Gaiman, etc.) I know I like ‘medieval’ Eurocentric secondary world high fantasies, but that’s just one type of fantasy I enjoy and there is so much more beyond that. Fantasy can mean so many different things. Today the genre encompasses a wonderful spectrum of authors (not that there isn’t more to be done, but you certainly have more options than say 20 years ago). I hope the word fantasy will continue to become less synonymous with one particular subgenre.
9) If someone had never read a fantasy before and asked you to recommend the first three books that come to mind as places to start, what would those recommendations be?
Hmmm, first that come to mind? Well, I would say Neverwhere and The Hobbit (it’s first that comes to mind but it’s unlikely I would recommend it first to someone who’s never read fantasy!). Then I think of Riordan Presents or Nevermoor, because I’m a children’s librarian and I often get asked where to start for that age.
But if I wanted to give careful and considered recommendations…I might still say Neverwhere, and then maybe Wild Beauty, and perhaps When the Sea Turned to Silver. (Tough question! It depends on who is asking!)
10) Who is the most recent fantasy reading content creator you came across that you’d like to shoutout?
I have been discovering lots of new-to-me blogs during quarantine! Lois @ Aquaventus writes thoughtful and in-depth reviews of fantasy novels. Check out her excellent review of one of my favourite books, Why You need to Read: “Middlegame”.
As always, I tag anyone who would like to complete this!
I’ve somehow never heard of Into the Land of the Unicorns – it sounds like a series I need to go and read immediately! I read my very first Anna-Marie McLemore novel just last month and loved it, so now I need to read everything they’ve ever written, and one of these days I really do need to give Tolkien a go. 😀
Unfortunately I think the series is out of print now 🙁 But maybe you can find some copies at your library? It’s been awhile since I read them but I feel like they’d still hold up today, haha. You are in for a treat with the rest of McLemore’s books! And speaking of treats – if you find Tolkien to your taste, you’ll have plenty to keep you occupied for years haha. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Thank you for the mention! I’m looking forward to reading your review on “Middlegame” (when it’s ready)!
You’re welcome! I reviewed Middlegame last year – you can find my thoughts here: https://fallingletters.ca/2019/05/middlegame-mcguire-review.html 🙂
I loved this post!! So many new recommendations!!
Thank-you; I hope you enjoy one or two of them 🙂
I think I remember Into the Land of Unicorns… or at least, the cover rings serious bells! Hmmm!
Isn’t it great?? I was so disappointed when book three and four went with a different style when they finally came out.
Hallo, Hallo Jenna,
Ooh my goodness – this is what it looks like, eh? I was looking forward to visiting your spin on this meme and tag; now I know I have to sort it out for myself after I get my posts up for this week! I’ll swing back and expound my comments but for now, just wanted to comment on what a wicked good response you gave!!
Hello Jorie!! Thanks for dropping by 🙂 This was a fun one to write.
Oh! I did not know about Over the Woodward Wall! thanks.
I didn’t either! I know my parents read me C.S. Lewis before I could read myself. I remember checking Steel Magic by Andre Norton out of my school library lots, too.
Haha, I’m happy to bring it to your attention as well! I can’t remember how I came to Lewis (perhaps my dad introduced me??) but I remember reading the entire Narnia series in grade three. I haven’t read anything by Norton :O Steel Magic looks like something I would have enjoyed, though.
Glad to have brought it to your attention 🙂
I love the sound of a reverse portal fantasy – what a brilliant concept!
Right! It’s one of those simple genius ideas that made me think “I can’t believe someone hadn’t already written this”, haha.
I really do need to read more McLemore. I think Wild Beauty will be the next book of theirs I tackle. Great answers~
Thank-you so much! I am sure you will enjoy Wild Beauty 🙂
Into the Land of Unicorns was an early fantasy read for me too and I can’t count how many times I watched the movie and bawled my eyes out! And I think a magical forest would be a great trope to experience 🙂
I don’t think there is a movie for Into the Land of the Unicorns – maybe you are thinking of The Last Unicorn?
Uprooted is one of my favorite books <3 I'm glad you loved it too! And saying that fantasy is not "pale, male, and stale” is absolutely perfect!
I wish I could find more books like it! Thanks for the comment 🙂
This was excellent! I *need* to get on the Anna-Marie McLemore train! That fact that I haven’t read any of their books is shameful!!! Also the idea that fantasy is “pale, male, and stale” hit home! I know so many people who believe this and don’t even try to read fantasy by BIPOC with such rich and immersive stories out there! They are missing out!
Thank-you so much for reading! 🙂 I am SURE there is an Anna-Marie McLemore book out there for you to fall in love with, now that they have seven books out. That is definitely a bummer re: people out there who don’t realize the diversity of the genre these days.