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!