“Master has presented Dobby with clothes! Dobby is free!
22 October 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Elves, Fantasy Review Barn, Legend of Zelda, Tough Travelling
This week over at the Fantasy Review Barn we’re travelling through the tropes of fantasy again and this time we’re delving into elves:
‘ELVES claims to have been the first people in Fantasyland. They are called the Elder Race. They did not evolve like humans, but sprang into being just as they are now.’
Well, I’m going to admit that I really thought this was going to be a doddle – then I got myself all tangled up in the difference between fae and elves and couldn’t decide if I could have certain examples that I’d chosen or whether they’d count of not! (Doh!!)
Anyways, the two obvious ones: LoTR – there are a LOT of elves in this book to say the least. Harry Potter – need I mention Dobby! Really??
My books this week:
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett – I can’t decide if this is cheating or not because I’m still not sure if I can count these as elves. I tend to think of them as brownies! Basically I just don’t know if they count but I love the book so it’s going on the list!
The Mercedes Thompson series by Patricia Briggs – Bone Crossed has a snow elf! Can’t remember much about the snow elf to be honest – but still, it’s an elf, right?
Puck from Shakespeare’s Midsummer Nights Dream. He is definitely described an an elf so I’m feeling good about this one!
The Blue Girl by Charles de Lint – when I read this book I described the little critters as fey – however, they had very much a brownie feel, and the way that they had to be left gifts of clothing and the like was definitely similar to tales of elves – remember Dobby, not to mention the Elves and the Shoemaker! I think I rest my case…
My last isn’t a book but if I didn’t mention this, well, it would be unforgivable – Link – from The Legend of Zelda. He has pointy ears, his weapon of choice is a bow and arrow and he dresses like a woodland type person. Elf!
‘Where nomad has gone before’
16 October 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Fantasy Review Barn, Nomads, Tough Travelling
Being Thursday, I’ve packed up my toothbrush and I’m going travelling through the tropes of fantasy with the Fantasy Review Barn. Hosted by Nathan, every week we dig out examples of whatever trope is the topic and try to expand each others horizons – otherwise known as the TBR. So, this week:
DESERT NOMADS occupy the hot parts to the south, which is either desert or rather parched grass. For some reason this is ideal terrain for breeding horses, of which nomad clans have in large numbers.
Three by Jay Posey – a strange apocalyptic world where terrible creatures called Weir stalk the night shrieking and causing terror. Three is the lone gunman of the piece who against his own better judgement turns hero and comes to the assistance of a lone woman and her son in their hour of need. Can’t say there is any horse breeding going on here but Three is definitely a nomad type character travelling alone through the deserted plains.
The Painted Man by Peter Brett. Arlen is something of a nomad. He leaves his home and family in a quest to discover more about the lost wards that prevent the demons that arise at dusk from taking over his world. I could probably also have the character Jardir from the second novel in the series by the same author – the Desert Spear!
Smilers Fair by Rebecca Levene – probably a slight cheat but Smiler’s Fair itself does have a nomadic lifestyle. The whole fair packs up and moves on on a regular basis – in order to avoid the ‘worm men’ who come from beneath the ground. In fact most of the communities of this book have to regularly up sticks and move for that very same reason.
Aragorn – he rides a horse occasionally, I’m sure that some of the weather must be hot every now and again and he’s a ranger which definitely lends him a lonesome style of life. And, this allows me to get LoTR into my list as usual!
Darn it though – I can’t think of an example from Harry Potter. Drat and bother.
That’s it for me this week – tell me about your nomads please as I’ve done shockingly badly this week!
Behind every great ….army of minions, is an evil ‘overlady’???
8 October 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Dark Lady, Dark Lord, Fantasy Review Barn, Tough Travelling
Every Thursday we travel through the tropes of fantasy guided by our lovely host Nathan at The Fantasy Review Barn. This week’s topic:
DARK LADY. There is never one of these – so see DARK LORD instead.
Um, I think our host missed a few chances with this one. I know we can find some evil women just as bent on control and destruction as their fellow dark lords. Let’s do this!
I won’t deny that this was more of a teaser! It would have been easier to regurgitate old favourites but I wasn’t sure how well they would fit: The Snow Queen, she has magic, she has minions and she definitely plans to take over Narnia spreading her evil and cold. In fact there are quite a number of evil queens – Snow White, Alice in Wonderland, Queen of the Vampires, Sleeping Beauty, etc, etc. Anyway, I kind of opted to go for something else (although I was strongly tempted to throw in DWJ’s witch of the waste:
Catarina from Teresa Frohock’s Miserere. Catarina has made a dark covenant with a fallen angel called Mastema. She intends to open the Gates of Hell and lead the hoardes into the dimension of Woerld. Cruel, evil, possesses magic and intends to invade a different world using hell’s miniions. I think this one counts.
Lilla – from Mike Allen’s Black Fire Concerto. This is a book filled with darkness and horror, living dead, strange cancaballistic types and all other manner of evil. The main pair, Erzelle and Olyssa, search for their enemy – a woman ensorcelled by magic and bent on death and destruction, already being responsible for the deaths of millions and holding under her sway the Grey Ones – who build machines and catacombs from the bones of the living dead. Yeah, this woman is mad as a box of spiders and hell bent on ending the world.
This is a bit of a random one but – She (who must be obeyed) or Ayesha from Rider Haggard’s History of Adventure – Ayesha has discovered the secret of immortality. She is also a great sorceress having the ability to restore the dead to life and read minds. She definitely has magic, she is so beautiful that she bewitches anyone who gazes upon her, she’s definitely not a soft and fluffy type, she has minions (she who must be obeyed!) and she may not have plans to take over the world she’s pretty damned crazy!
That’s it for me – no honorary mention for either LoTR or HP – I feel deeply ashamed – this may be the first of my lists without Tolkien and Rowling – fail!
Me and my shadow?
25 September 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: companions, Fantasy Review Barn, Tough Travelling
This week over at the Fantasy Review Barn‘s Tough Travel event we’re going to be looking at:
‘COMPANIONS… You will normally meet them for the first time at the outset of the tour. They are picked from among the following: Bard, Female Mercenary, Gay mage, Imperious Female, Large Man, serious soldier, Slender Youth, Small Man, Talented Girl, Teenage Boy, Unpleasant Stranger, and Wise Old Stranger.’
Without further ado my list this week is as follows:
- The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman – my first introduction to Gaiman and such an excellent tale. Silas is the rescuer and guardian to Bod. A strange character that I won’t try to define here as it could spoil the story for those who haven’t yet read it – from the list above I would classify Silas as ‘Wise Old Stranger’.
- City of Stairs by Robert Bennett – I dare say that some may disagree with this and perhaps see my choice as a main character rather than a companion but I’m going for Sigrud. Okay, I think introducing his epic-manliness has a secretary is definitely a stretch but, and whilst I really enjoyed the character, I felt like he was Shara’s companion. For me, Sigrud is the ‘Large Man. Please read this book – simply put – it is awesome sauce.
- The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher – I’m looking at Bob! Bob is the spirit of a powerful sorcerer – he mainly lives in a skull in Harry’s cellar and he is an invaluable source of information.
- The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. I’m thinking of the bard who Kvothe is relating his story to – and obviously he falls into the ‘bard’ definition.
- Tindwyl from Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series – she was one of the keepers from Terris and fell in love with Sazed – I might be wrong with this but I’m putting her under ‘Imperious Female’ – simply because I seem to remember her being a very tall and commanding type character. Whilst not my favourite Sanderson series I think it made a good starting point.
Honorable mentions:
Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter of course – lots of companions to choose from – could I get away with Boromir being a ‘serious soldier’ and Ron could be the ‘teenage boy’???
Don’t forget to stop over and check out the other links this week – and tell me your favourite companions please – I actually had more trouble with this one that I thought!
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!…..
4 September 2014
Filed under Uncategorized
Tags: Fantasy Review Barn, Tough Travelling, Turncoats
This week over at The Fantasy Review Barn Nathan takes us travelling through the tropes of turncoats:
‘TURNCOATS are people who change to the side of the DARK LORD in mid-tour.’
Just a little spoiler alert – the following are turncoats, treacherous sorts so, basically speaking, if you haven’t read these books then spoilers be contained herein! You have been warned.
Mr Tumnus from the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by C S Lewis. I love Mr Tumnus and I forgive him – but he was a little turncoat there momentarily! He went to the wicked snow queen – he did. However, he kind of paid for it and he felt duly sorry!
The start of Brandon Sanderson’s Way of Kings – the Breaking of the Oathpact – ten heralds in a pact together, vowing never to leave one behind after the furious battles they fought – went and left one trapped in hell! Now, I confess, if I was the one left behind, in hell, whilst the other nine walked away to lead whatever blissful lives followed – no, there would be no forgiveness for them. There’s a saying about hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, well, times that by 10 and you about have the strength of feeling that I’d have for the other nine heralds. Call me old fashioned but I’d be seriously annoyed. Livid even!!!!!
Seth McGregor from Bloodstone (No.2 of the Rebel Angel series) by Gillian Philip. I can’t really say too much about this – but, he did have a moment there. However, he’s so very easy on the brain, total mind candy and, well, just… you know. I forgive him. And, he was pretty severely punished!
J K Rowling’s Harry Potter – Peter Pettigrew. What a rat (sorry, bad pun intended). Betrayed his friends and became a little snitch and dirty double crosser for he who shall not be named. I mean, he was one of the Marauders, best buddies with Sirius. He helped to create the Marauders map and was the keeper of the Potters secret hideout – and we all know how that ended. How could you Peter!
Lord of the Rings – if I didn’t give it a mention it would just feel weird. Who to name though. Grima betrayed his own people? Smeagol betrayed his own people? – the Ring – it betrayed Gollum and went to Bilbo.
Honorable mentions:
Mustapha – from The Lion King. His own brother, Scar, betrayed him and also nearly killed his own nephew. And, on top of that he gave his pack over to the hyenas. A cad of the first order
Cypher – from the Matrix – he just wanted to taste some steak (well, he was probably a bit pissed off at being thwarted by Trinity but….
Books and travelling with Lynn 