Parting is such sweet sorrow!
11 February 2015
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Fantasy Review Barn, To Blathe, Tough Travelling, True Love in Fantasy
This week we are again travelling through the tropes of fantasy with our able guide Nathan from the Fantasy Review Barn. This week’s topic is:
TO BLATHE
Sonny, true love is the greatest thing in the world. Except for a nice MLT, a mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich, where the mutton is nice and lean and the tomato is ripe. They’re so perky, I love that. But that’s not what he said! He distinctly said “to blave.” (Thanks to Wendy again. Let’s find those examples of True Love!)
Gollum and the Ring. Lord of the Rings – I had to go there. I suppose I could have chosen Aragorn and the she-elf but thought I’d think alternatively here and Gollum did love that ring!
Beauty and the Beast – Many different versions and retellings. However, the story remains the same that Beauty changes the Beast through true love. Hey, I quite liked him as a beast but there’s no accounting for taste – some folks are just plain rude!
Jorg and Katherine – this is an odd choice – not sure if you can call it ‘to blathe’ but I liked 
the idea of it. Jorg kept his strange fascination for Katherine. Was it love??
Locke Lamora and Sabetha – The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. Locke has been enamoured with Sabetha for ever! We’ll see how this plays out!!!
Howl and Sophie, Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones – I had to have this – I like the way the romance between Howl and Sophie grows gradually – without even the two of them knowing!
Ron and Hermione, Harry Potter, JKRowling – a bit obvious but I thought I’d give it a mention!!
Come with me if you want to live…
This week over at the Fantasy Review Barn Nathan is taking us Tough Travelling through the tropes of fantasy again. this week’s topic :
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Seems odd to think that in fantasy cities in which entire economies revolve around crime there is room for the men in blue (or crimson, or whatever). But the law does the best it can, even when faced with magic, mystical creatures, or rogue deities.
My picks this week:
The Ministry of Defence – they police the magical world of Harry Potter (J K Rowling).
The Owsla – yeah, that’s right – the rabbit police! Starring none other than Bigwig. Watership Down by Richard Adam’s in case you haven’t guessed! Perks of the job include eating all the best clover.
The Volturi – don’t race out with your pitchforks!!! These are the vampire police after all so they have to have a mention! Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight.
I can’t remember the name – but the crazy mechanical dog out of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Basically works for the Firemen and searches out all you secret book owners – that’s right – all you book owners out there (and you know who you are) be afraid!!!
Peter Grant – he’s actually a policeman, started out as a regular copper then ended up on the fantasy squad! Rivers of London by Ben Arronovitch.
Kate Prospero, Jaye Well’s Dirty Magic – she’s part of the Magic Enforcement Agency. Things are complicated though – not least because she come from a magical family!!
Atlanta Burns by Chuck Wendig. Bear with me – Atlanta may not be the traditional idea of law enforcement but she knows how to get things done! The end goodbye.
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie…
21 January 2015
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Edgar Rice Burroughs, Fantasy Review Barn, Harry Dresden, Kevin Hearne, Tough Travelling
This week over at The Fantasy Review Barn we are travelling once again through the tropes of fantasy. This week’s topic is pets. I’ve decided to stick to our best friends. The canines!
Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden has a dog – Mouse. Quite the opposite as he’s something of a giant!
Kevin Hearne’s Druid Chronicles – Atticus the Druid has a dog called Oberon. Oberon is one of the best fictional dog characters EVER and has the funniest lines of the whole book – well, no, he doesn’t talk but Atticus and Oberton can converse telepathcially.
J K Rowling’s Harry Potter. Hagrid’s dogs – Fluffy and Fang – I think Fluffy was the three headed dog and Fang is the big black shaggy soft hearted critter.
Toto – The Wizard of Oz – not even going to give a name or description – don’t be pretending that you don’t know who Toto is or I’ll set the flying monkeys on you. Would have mentioned them as pets to the Wicked Witch but I’ve decided to stick with the dawgs!
A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs – John Carter finds himself with a very unusual dog like character called Woola – fiercely protective and with three sets of teeth quite a formidable character.
Honorary Mentions –
JRRTolkien’s LotR – Bill the Pony
Captain the cat from Owl and the Japanese Circus by Kristi Charish because a vampire hunting cat is pretty cool
Holy catfish.. it’s a snarky sidekick!
7 January 2015
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Fantasy Review Barn, Snarky Sidekicks, Tough Travelling
This week over at the Fantasy Review Barn we will be travelling once again through the tropes of fantasy looking at:
SNARKY SIDEKICKS:
Why is everyone so serious all the time? Perhaps they need a friend that is there with a quick bit of wit to liven the day; even if the day is looking to quickly turn to blood. (Not actually found in the Tough Guide).
Well, I thought I had a few – but, to be honest, I think I’ve maybe cheated, just a tad….
Lord Ermenwyr from – The Anvil of the World by Kage Baker. I love Lord Ermenwyr, I’m not sure whether he qualifies as a sidekick but I just don’t care because he’s so good – and, i think he does qualify really!
Tyrion – Game of Thrones by GRRMartin – I wouldn’t be surprised to see Tyrion on lots of lists – so sarcastic! I actually love this character.
Jean Tannen – I just don’t think of him as a sidekick as he’s fairly fundamental BUT I can’t resist giving him a mention and really Locke is the main character so I’m saying that Jean is Robin to Locke’s Batman!! The Gentleman Bastards by Scott Lynch
Bob – from Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files – defo a sidekick character – yes!!
The Marquis of Carabas from Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere – is this a cheat? He’s defo not the main character?? Not sure. He’s a great character though. I think this one counts.
Lord Akeldama is Alexia’s foppish eccentric vampire friend from the Parasol Protectorate novels by Gail Carriger
Can I also just say Suzume (MLBrennan’s Generation V) and Wydrin (Jen Williams Copper Promise) – both are massive cheats because they’re not sidekicks – but OMG these two have given me plenty of laughs in my recent reading so they get a mention just for the ‘snark’. I’m calling it quits before I make myself blush with all the cheating!
That’s it for me!
Tough Travel: Holidays
1 January 2015
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Fantasy Review Barn, Holidays, Tough Travelling
Every Thursday we go tough travelling through the tropes of fantasy with Nathan at the Fantasy Review Barn
This week’s topic is HOLIDAYS (and yes, I struggled with this one)
Never too late to celebrate … holidays! Because fantasy festivals and feasts are always fun. Thanks to Wendy for the suggestion! And feel free to blame her if this proves to be as hard as it sounds.
The Lies of Locke Lamora – at the end of the story there is a celebration or feast which involves all the major nobility assembling in one tower, cannot remember and name and as I’ve tidied my bookshelves up I can’t find the book! Result!!
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman – don’t know if this counts as a holiday but once a year the living and the dead come together in the cemetery and dance together – the Danse Macabre (I think this is on the eve of Halloween?)
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith – in which Cassandra each year performs a ceremony (rites) on Midsummers Eve – involving a fire, herbs and a picnic – again, very loose but….
Sorry folks – I was less than useless at this one – I really tried but clearly the festive season has turned my brain into mush (and that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!)
Books and travelling with Lynn 