Reading is a great hobby for many.
A past-time, something to do while on a long trip or on a rainy day.
Enjoy an escape to a fantastical land or the big city. Take a trip down into a meadow where the flowers are abundant, bees a-buzzing and nothing is exactly what it seems. Why, I can’t imagine a better more enjoyable journey than taking a trip into a world of magic and whimsical sorts.
Its why Wonderland, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings are some of my favourite tales. The iconic characters, the unexpected journeys and magic systems are unparalleled. Now I’ve definitely got some new favourites from Leigh Bardugo, Rick Riordan and Cassandra Clare – they have revolutionised the idea of a YA book with their individual representations of fantasy worlds.
While writers such as Tolkien created the epitome of what we know as ‘high-fantasy’ with a vast landscape of different lands, new languages, magic systems, species and lore; modern writers have changed the landscape with their own renditions of what defines a fantasy.
You can have high-fantasy or epic fantasy; as seen with Lord of the Rings, The Final Empire, Eragon and Game of Thrones.
Low fantasy, which is found most often in a world similar to own. City of Bones and Percy Jackson are examples of this as they both situate within our world, displacing the main characters from mainstream society into the magical world.
Magical realism is a style of fiction that paints a realistic POV of a modern world while including magical elements. Books which slot into this sub-type include Ninth House and The Shadow and the Wind.
Dark fantasy books collate under the definition of a darker fantasy books with a pronounced horror element. Probably one of my favourite renditions under the genre, dark fantasy books are a bit more adult compared to middle grade fantasy books like Percy Jackson. Examples include Nevernight, Bloodlines, Vampire Academy and Six of Crows.
Fables and fairy tails include the classic mythological tales of the Brother’s Grimm, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, etc.
Fantasy books will always be the centre of my reading because of the escapism and ironically, the realism authors attach to these other-worldly landscapes. Its been a dream of mine to one day, write my own story. Whether its a short story or a novel, I don’t know, but what I am certain about is – the only person stopping you from doing anything, is you. Obviously motivation plays a factor, but everyone writes differently and were no longer restricted to one set style. There’s different perspectives, POVs, styles and formats in which books can be presented.
Signing off,
Aliya
A Wandering Reader 