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Good vs Evil: Religion
If you want to see my other thoughts on good vs evil, click here for other posts. Religion and mythologies can be a very big aspect of fantasy, either as world building or because it is a large part of the plot. It is also a very important aspect of a fantay’s portrayal of good and evil. In most cases, the religious aspects are what sets the tone or expectation of what is good and what is evil. This can apply to the larger culture of people or to an individual character. A writer can do one of two things with their use of religion. He/she can do what is…
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The Witch’s Heart
by: Genevieve Gornichec Recommend (for readers who like norse mythology) Where to find: Amazon Barnes & Nobles Indigo Books Angrboda is a witch in hiding. She survived being burned not once, not twice, but three times. Now she spends her time living in a cave at the edge of Jotunheim. Only a precious few know where she currently resides, another giantess who helps her market her potions for supplies and the giant who brought her lost heart back to her. Loki, the most mischievous god of them all, visits Angrboda now and again. Maybe, something happened for both of them the day he brought her back her heart. The Witch’s…
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Awesome Urban Fantasy Anime
XXXholic Episode count: 41 English Dub: 1-24 Kimihiro Watanuki has always been able to see spirits his whole life. They are attracted to him and can even attack him at times. He has the deepest wish to not see them anymore. One day he stumbles into Yuko Ichihara’s shop. However, her shop isn’t an ordinary shop, she specializes in granting wishes. Unfortunately, his wish is too big to pay for upfront, so she strikes a deal for him to work part time at his shop until he has done enough work to pay off his wish. This show isn’t for everyone. It has a lot of philosophical thoughts and concepts…
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Good vs Evil: Urban Fantasy
If you want to see more of my thoughts on good vs evil in fantasy, click here for my other posts. I find the concept of good vs evil in urban fantasy novels to be very interesting and complex. In high fantasy, the concept can be fairly black and white; however, when the fantasy story occurs in a version of our world, the concept of right and wrong and good and evil becomes as complicated as the concept is in our own lives. For starters, characters in urban fantasies are not set in a good and evil box. By that, I mean that it isn’t always clear who is good…
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Running with Werewolves
For those of you looking for a werewolf-oriented series I would recommend: -Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs If you want werewolves, but don’t want the main character to actually be one, then the Mercy Thompson series is the way to go. At a full moon: Well technically Mercy is a coyote, not a werewolf, but her neighbor is the local alpha. He definitely gets furry at the full moon. Just make sure you’re not too near him when he does. This story is very close to a specific werewolf pack. Adam Hampton is the alpha of the pack that is located in Mercy’s, the main character’s, area. I find the…
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Hall of Smoke
by H. M. Long Recommend Where to find: Amazon Barnes & Nobles Indigo Books Hessa’s world is crumbling around her. Her goddess has abandoned her and her people, the Eangen. She is the only survivor of her village. She might be the only Eangi left in the world at all. Hessa’s only hope is to continue on the last mission she was given from her goddess. Kill the man named Omaskat. However, that is easier said than done, and when she finally finds him, will she have the strength to carry out her orders? Hall of Smoke by H.M. Long is a mythology lover’s dream. There is so much complexity…
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Good Vs Evil: High Fantasy
If you want to see my other thoughts on good vs evil, click here for my other posts. The fantasy genre in general often revolves around the concept of good against evil. Evil has risen in power and is trying to dominate, control, corrupt, or destroy the world, and good must answer the challenge. High fantasy, in particular, largely revolves around this situation. So, how do high fantasy stories portray this epic idea of good vs. evil? The first important thing to note is that high fantasy often presents a very strict idea of what/who is good and what/who is evil. There is a clear demarcation between the sides, and…
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Series with Deep Complex Plots
#1. The Darksword Trilogy by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman In a world where having magic is a requirement to be alive, a baby with no magical aptitude is considered to be born dead. No matter how healthy the newborn, the parents will have no problems leaving the child to die. They are doing nothing wrong since it is already ‘dead’. Joram was one such baby left for nature to claim, but he survives. He spends his life fooling those around him until he has no choice but to flee. He stumbles upon a forbidden practice called science and those that practice it. Insight: Religion has many sides to it.…
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The Girl and the Mountain
by Mark Lawrence Recommend Where to find: Amazon Barnes & Nobles Indigo Books SPOILER ALERT: Please be aware that this is book 2 of this series. If you have not read the previous book, this review might spoil events in that book. If you’re interested in the first book, I have a review here. If you want a spoiler based review of this book click here. Yaz was right on the brink of freedom. She clawed her and her friends out of the Pit of the Broken ready to make their quest to the green land. However, she has a new obstacle in her way. She’s been captured by the…
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Wild Sign: So Many Missing Witches
by Patricia Briggs Highly Recommend Where to find: Amazon Barns & Nobles Indigo Books SPOILER ALERT: Please be aware that this book review contains spoilers from Wild Sign by Patricia Briggs. This post is about my thoughts on the events and developments in the story. Please DO NOT read further unless you have read the book or don’t care if the major events are spoiled for you. This is also the sixth book in the series and might spoil events in previous books. If you want to read my spoiler free review, click here. Wild Sign is the sixth book in the Alpha & Omega series, and it starts just…
