Get to Know the Fantasy Reader Tag ✨ Recs & Origin Story

Hello fellow bookworms ✨ As you might know, I’m a big Fantasy lover, so I was really excited when Destiny @ howlinglibraries tagged me to do the Get to Know the Fantasy Reader Tag! Definitely check out her blog, she’s such a lovely person and I always enjoy reading her posts 💕 I don’t know who has already done this Tag, but if you also love Fantasy and want to do it, go ahead! 😊

📚 Rules 📚

• Make sure you give credit to the original creators of this tag – this tag was originally created by Bree Hill.
• If you want to, pingback to the post you first saw this tag.
• Have fun!

1. What is your fantasy origin story? (The first fantasy you read)

➽ I’m actually not quite sure, but it might have been Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. It’s one of the books I remember reading when I was younger and I loved the world! It’s a book about books and how reading gets you drawn into these worlds, so it was pretty much perfect for me 🥰 Funke is a popular German author and I still enjoy her books, especially the Reckless series that’s still ongoing.

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?

➽ This was really hard, as most Fantasy authors make their characters suffer 😭 I’m choosing T.J. Klune as his books have some sadness but also lots of comfort and love as well! It’s a good balance. I’d definitely want the Found Family trope to be in the book and Klune writes this so well – it’s perfect 💕

3. What is a fantasy series you’ve read this year, that you want more people to read?

➽ I have been reading many great Standalones and continued series this year. But I started Six Crimson Cranes and ended up loving it! This was my first Elizabeth Lim book that I read on Pauliina’s recommendation and it blew me away 💕 I didn’t know what to expect, but the story was magical, the main character complex, and the world interesting. The second and last book comes out this August and I’m very excited!

4. What is your favourite fantasy subgenre?

➽ When I think back on my favorite Fantasy series, it’s probably High Fantasy, even though I really like Urban/Contemporary Fantasy as well! There is just something about escaping into a completely different world from our own with its own magic that draws me in 💕 Sometimes I prefer Fantasy set in our world though when I don’t have the brain space to get to know a completely new world 😄

5. What subgenre have you not read much from?

➽ I don’t tend to reach for Dark Fantasy/Grimdark that often, as I have to be in a specific mindset or mood to enjoy stories whose setting is designed to be very dark. It’s the reason why I didn’t read The Poppy War books, as they have a lot of heavy content that I knew wouldn’t be for me. That being said, I have been reading Fantasy books that also have some horror elements more often in recent years, as that’s something I can stomach 😄

6. Who is one of your auto-buy fantasy authors?

➽ SO many 😂 I always mention these, but my Top 3 are Rick Riordan (I have loved every one of his mythology books), Susan Dennard (The Witchlands are one of my all-time favorite series), and Roshani Chokshi (She’s an amazing writer with great stories). I also love Jessica Townsend, Amanda Foody, Aiden Thomas, Ransom Riggs, and Margaret Rogerson. Basically, give me all the Fantasy books!!

7. How do you typically find fantasy recommendations? 

➽ I don’t have one specific place, as I get my recommendations from multiple sources. Obviously, I read lots of Book Blogs and love picking up recommendations from other bloggers 💕 I also see some new and popular books on Book Twitter or Goodreads! Occasionally, I’ll also get some recs from my favorite Booktubers 😄

8. What is an upcoming fantasy release you’re excited for?

➽ SO many, it was very hard to choose! I’m definitely excited for Ravenfall by Kalyn Josephson (spooky MG perfect for Fall), The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas (very hyped for another book by this author), and The Luminaries by Susan Dennard (super atmospheric and creepy).

9. What is one misconception about fantasy you would like to lay to rest?

➽ I had to think about this for a while, but there is something that bothers me a bit. That’s the misconception that certain authors ‘own’ tropes and that someone else writing about them is immediately a ‘ripoff’ of whatever popular book used this trope. Usually, these are white authors that get associated with a trope and when a marginalized author has a new book coming out with the same trope, they face backlash and comparisons. The most popular example is Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, as every other book using a heist storyline is often compared to it. This happened with The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi and it broke my heart to see so much vitriol for this series, as it was relentlessly compared or called a ’ripoff’. I didn’t get it, as I love both books and they are not the same at all. This is sadly not an isolated incident either 😟

10. If someone had never read a fantasy before and asked you to recommend the first 3 books that come to mind, what would those recommendations be?

➽ I choose one book for each age category! For Middle Grade I would recommend Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend, it’s magical, whimsical, and full of heart with an incredibly cool world. For YA White Cat by Holly Black is really good, it’s an older backlist series but has a great magic system and lots of snark! When it comes to (New) Adult The Alchemists of Loom by Elise Kova is great! It’s a high fantasy featuring dragons and had great, relatable characters. Elise Kova writes pretty easy-to-read and fun books!

11. Who is the most recent fantasy reading content creator you came across that you’d like to shoutout?

➽ Abi @ Scribbles & Stories is a great book blogger who loves Fantasy (but also has some great Sci-Fi recs) and I’m very happy to have discovered their blog this year 💕 Not only is she super nice, but also has lots of great posts, so definitely check them out! 😊

Have you read any of the Books on my list? What is your favorite Fantasy book? What genres do you like to read? ✨

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