It’s been a while since I’ve done a tag… and believe you me, I have about 10 of those suckers in my drafts… they’re fun and I thank everyone who’s been tagging me. I shall get around to some of them in the future, I may not… This tag, however, was created by the wonderful Drew @ The Tattooed Book Geek and so this tag shall be done!
I don’t probably have to prompt you to check Drew’s blog out but I will- check it out! … You’re more than likely already familiar with Drew’s blog where he publishes his poetry (ow, Drew, your poems stab the aul heart quite often!) and reviews all the mighty fantasy books he reads. He’s funny and friendly, despite the tattoos π , and just… go on! click-click! π
It has taken me quite a while to get this tag going. Mainly because I am the ambassador of “I don’t have a favorite” so this tag has been swirling in my mind for days and days and days… and it has left me so frustrated with myself because- “Suck it up buttercup, make up your mind!”… This is me having a go…
The Rules:
- Credit Drew @ The Tattooed Book Geek as the creator of the tag, either use the created tag name graphic or create your own and link back to my blog. I created my own graphic. It’s not pretty but practice makes perfect so I shall keep practicing… also, anything to procrastinate from what really needs to be done, right?
- Answer the questions
- Tag as many people as you want
What is your favorite genre?
Even though I so wanted to come up with a totally original answer for this one, there’s no denying the power of a good fantasy book. Fantasy it is… And I like it with a decent villain, corruption, heart-stopping action and kickass hero(ine). I also like it when it comes in the form of trippy and otherworldly!
Who’s your favorite author from the genre?
My life pretty much has 2 differing reading timelines. One when I was younger and didn’t know about boys and booze so from back then I would say Tove Jansson would have been my favourite with her Moomin tales.
Tove wrote some fantastic children’s tales (and other books) full of so much wisdom and morality. Plus the Moomin themselves are just adorable looking.
The other timeline starts some 10 years ago when I moved to Ireland and got back on the fast-moving reading train. Favourite author from the most recent and current timeline in the fantasy genre would probably be Mark Lawrence.
Make no mistake though, there are some brilliant indie authors out there whose fantasy books are just as mind-blowingly fantastic (pun!) and by no means should be discredited for the sake of ‘bigger’ names. Not to mention all the well-known fantasy authors whose books I haven’t even managed to read yet.. but I want to. So badly, I do!
What is it about the genre that keeps pulling you back?
The endless possibilities. I am always worried about starting to see a pattern in fantasy books, and sure, there is some but then again some of the detail is quite unique to everything I’ve personally read so I am always in awe at how many brilliant brains there are behind the books at producing scenes, settings and characters. It’s the fantasy author’s imagination that knows no bounds, their ability to tie the fantasy element into so many different aspects that can be found in other genres that really tells me- read fantasy and you have it all!
What’s the book that started your love for your favorite genre?
The books that definitely re-ignited my flame for reading was The Broken Empire trilogy by Mark Lawrence. I think, mainly, because I was in a weird place in my life at that time… you could say, stagnant, and these three books just shot me up with so much excitement. I realized- “Hey! You don’t need to live a boring, routine life… read more, you daft girl! Read more!”… and off I went…this very blog was turned from a ‘whatever the hell this was before’ into a book blog because I wanted to share my excitement around the trilogy and suddenly I started getting review requests and the rest is history.
If you had to recommend at least one book from your favourite genre to a non-reader/someone looking to start reading that genre, what book would you choose and why?
I would recommend The Steps of Power; The Kings book series by J.J. Sherwood, starting with “Kings or Pawns”, followed by “Heroes or Thieves”. I really enjoyed “Kings or Pawns” with it’s wide character cast in the swirl of elven political intrigue.
I would also recommend a recent discovery of mine- The Saga of Thistles and Roses by Karen Gray. A fantasy with a twist of post apocalyptic/futuristic element in a Scottish setting. I mean, you have unicorns and other magical beasts with some serious hard-to-see-coming twists and fabulous characters in royal intrigue.
And… och!.. I could just keep going.. there are so many fabulous fantasy books out there I could recommend…
Why do you read?
I read because I have FA else to do with my free time at the moment. Reading has always been my preferred medium. I rather read than watch. Give me a piece of content on paper or on video and I will always choose paper format.
Yet, it’s also escapism and entertainment… mostly, for me, reading is a form of procrastination… and I am not proud of the fact but YOLO! I used to be able to ‘reward’ myself with books, for exampleΒ I would have told myself- ‘Clean the house, make dinner and then you have the rest of the day to read!”… Well, it doesn’t work anymore… *sigh* Now I just read and then try to make time for everything else π
I tag:
Teach! @ TeacherofYA’s Book Blog
Stefanie @ Your Daughter’s Bookshelf
…and everyone else who wants to have a go.Yo, Tags! Don’t feel pressured into doing the tag and apologies if you have already been tagged. π
I absolutely love your responses! And you have provided me with some new books to look into (because I need to add to this pile haha). The images you chose are beautiful and so suitable! Fantastic β€
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thanks Danielle… yes, do check these books out, you may be pleasantly surprised! ππ
and the TBR pile is a mystical evergrowing beast!!! π
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The TBR is consuming all things around it haha. A monster I tell you π
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you’re right- it is consuming everything… time, attention, money… goodness! that’s an awakening! π
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High praise for creating your own graphic, I remember you writing on one of my posts – probably this tag in fact that you don’t do creating graphics so props and fist bumps for creating one!π
Thanks for the awesome shout out at the start, friendly despite the tattoos – lol!π
Ah, my poetry does pull on the heartstrings at times!
Great answers, fantasy = awesome!
High praise for Mark Lawrence, he’s such a great author and The Broken Empire trilogy is awesome, after GoT got me into reading again and fantasy Lawrence along with Brett and Abercrombie were the authors that cemented my love of fantasy.
Endless possibilities is so true!
Great answers.π
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thanks Drew… i had one of those days where work just … kept making me find other things to do π
i have a tat as well so i felt i needed to make a point about tattooed people not being scary and unapproachable!
yeah, Abercrombie is one of the authors I need to check out asap!
thanks again π
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Ha, work sucks, I’m happy to escape after my shift!π
True about Tattooed people, we’re not unapproachable well, my tattoos don’t make me unapproachable that’d be the sarcasm out my mouth that does that!π
Abercrombie is great, especially if you like sarcasm in grimdark.
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you said it… work does suck! π
hahaha, sarcasm.. yeah… it’s like a double chastity belt protecting you from eejits! π
you know, it sounds like i have totally missed out for not having read Abercrombie… gotta rectify that! π
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Ha, unfortunately there’s always idiots about, my work place seems to be populated by them!π
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Currently reading Mark Lawrence at the moment and loving every minute of it! I’m about 80% of the way through King of Thorns at the moment, easily one of my favourite series already. Thanks for sharing the other recommendations, will take a look at them!
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that’s awesome! i’m glad you’re loving King of Thorns!!! π i think you might like Sherwood’s books as well!
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Thanks, Liz. Consider it added to my (ever-growing list).
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π
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Thanks for the tag! I enjoy fantasy, though I must admit I have read very few full series. And ooh, I understand what you mean by reading timelines!! I think mine is split into three :p
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π if you decide to do the tag, consider me interested and reading your answers! π 3 timelines sound interesting π
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Totally agree about the endless possibilities!!!
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Leave it to Drew to make his rules for this tag about a mile long, listing the reasons to use or not his graphic and about how practice makes perfect. Lol πAnd you even had to use his name at the top of your post in the graphic. Double LOL I am one of those people who doesn’t have a favorite genre. I read so many that I told Drew not to tag me because I knew I’d never be able to choose just one. I pick all of them. π I knew you’d say fantasy though just from some of the books you’ve reviewed. But you read a really good mix of genres, so I think you’re like me that way. I’m all over the place. I went from science fiction to fantasy to romance to contemporary all in one week. I love little Jorgy. I’m glad the books are on here. Mark Lawrence changed my thoughts on adult fantasy completely. I still need to finish that series.
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There are 3 rules Jillian, 3 FFS! And most bloggers who create tags put their name at the top/in the graphic so why shouldn’t I??π
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That’s fine to do that on your own blog because I put my name in my headers, but why should the blogger who is using it on their blog also have your name on it? That’s all I meant by it. I have no idea what you’re talking about. What are the 3 Fs of blogging? Are you stalking Liz’s comments? I literally wrote this no more than 3o minutes ago. Lol
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In the rules, the red text is mine π hehehe, should have out my initials to it- poor Drew got a doing over! π
yeah, i don’t really have a favorite either.. i tend to judge a book by it’s content, rather than genre… is it well written, has good pace and keeps my interest… and there’s a lot of things out there i find interesting! π
woop and double win for Lawrence… glad that series is going down a treat for you… and for me, scifi is something i feel i should experiment more with… hmm…any good recs?
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Ha, I’m used to it Liz!π’ I think Stropasaurus Jill was having a go at me as you put my name at the top of the graphic you created when there was no need to put my name in it at all as it’s your own graphic.π
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Awwe… but youre a guy, and poor guys always get it from women! π
but of course I’m going to put your name in the graphic- you’re the Creator of the Tag, the Lord of the Questions and The Original! So why not?! π Credit where Credit’s due!
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Well I thank you for the credit, I guess it’s just because it’s a graphic you created on your blog and it’s got my blog name on it, I don’t know!π
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oh well… maybe I did do it wrong…? I don’t know… I’m an amateur at this π especially graphics!
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I remember you wrote you couldn’t be arsed with graphics – I think it was in my tag I did so you deserve praise for doing graphics anyway! π
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Aww, thanks π yes… I’m just soooo bad at picking the image and moving and shaking the text and finding the lovely fonts… your recent graphics are just sooooo pretty!
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Thanks. π I’ve found a style I like and think it looks cool, people will probably get bored with it though!
Graphics aren’t easy, image, font, etc, there a damn nightmare at times! π
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Bored or not, you also gotta think of your blog’s branding a bit.. so sticking to something you truly like is essential π besides, i can#t see how someone could get bored with the font for example you use… it’s used on many book covers as well and it really works.
Agreed- it is a nightmare, hence I hardly dabble! π
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The font is awesome it’s called “bleeding cowboys” on pic monkey so it even has an awesome name!π
Ah, but you did dabble Liz, it’ll be expected more from you now!π
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It sure is an awesome name for a font… cool!
yeah, no! π I would only torture people with poorly chosen images… pfffft!
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Oh no, you can’t get out of it that easy!π
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What on earth are you guys talking about? Bleeding cowboys. Hmm… π€ Sorry I’m days late to respond. I’m so unorganized lately. My brain is mush. π Ha! I was just giving Drew a hard time. We have a love, love, harass relationship. He secretly loves it.
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Bleeding Cowboys is the name of the font, it’s a cool name way better than Ariel or some others.π
Yes, you certainly give poor Drew a hard time.π’
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I was just giving you a hard time. π It’s part of the fun. π
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It was a while ago though! π
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As far as science fictions recs, my favorite is Blake Crouch and I’d start with Dark Matter. If you like science and physics, you’ll think it’s brilliant. π
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Great thanks fir the rec… I still remember your review for Dark Matter and it definitely swung me to have more interest in it! π
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Dark Matter is amazing! I sat on the couch for six hours straight. My hands literally hurt from gripping the book. And Drew surprised me with that book. Isn’t he a sweetie pie? β€οΈ
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omg π That sounds amazing… Drew is truly a gent, you;re lucky to have a great bestie π
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He’s such a sweetie. I sent him a ton of books, and I know his gentlemanly ways. π
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I have read a few responses to this tag and must say I admire the way everyone tackles it. I would be very hard pushed indeed to come up with decisive answers to the questions.
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π It is difficult alright, especially for readers who like to tap into a lot of genres…
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Oh my my TBR pile just grew a ton!! What great answers!!
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π I think you might enjoy the Saga of Thistles and Roses… it has all sorts of intrigue, including relatioships intrigue… The Broken Empire is a bit more brutal, so only if you can stomach it, I would recommend π
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Awesome.. added to virtual TBR so when I want to buy a new book that will be it π
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π Happy reading!
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Ahahaha @ heβs funny and friendly, despite the tattoos :’).
I think your graphic looks great! β€ And spooky!! π And hail fantasy!! No matter how many genres we love, this one seems to always stick out juuuuust a tat bit more than the others eh? π The Moomins are so cute! I bought the Prince of Thorns recently after hearing so many great things about it from you and Drew (and Jill!). I hope 2017 will be a year with much more of the reading whatever the hell I want attitude so I can finally get to all these lovelies. I happen to own the Steps of Power books on my Kindle as well already so mmm, mmm, mmm! π Yaaay for featuring Karen! π Your reasons for reading must be the most hilarious I've seen so far :'). Now who nailed this tag? You did!! \Γ΅/
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Aww, thanks! I thought the graphic looked a like a fantasy setting i would love to read about π
Yay, you got Prince of Thorns… that’s awesome… and I have been thinking the exact same thing about 2017 reading/reviews… I keep missing the books that everyone is talking about because I have a ton of review requests and I’m a sucker for accepting most of them… so, next hyear… ha! The New Year’s resolution is sorted! π
Cool, thumns up for Steps of Power… i hope you’ll like that one too… it was quite interesting and I should soon be able to start reading the second one in the series. Meg from Magic of Books also loved these!
Hahaha… my reasons for reading.. I just saw everyone’s answers and was like- darn, ye’re all so lyrical and prose-y… so I had to be original somehow and give a bit of a ‘party pooper’ answer to that π
Thanks *takes a bow*
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Fo sho! The dark fantasy that isn’t horror type <3. Yes, same here. It's not like I want to read all the hyped books per se, but bloody hell, if I read a great recommendation, I want to read it and I can't! *raises non-alcoholic toast!*
I saw you both loved the books, so I had to buy them obvs π (2017!!)
Hahaha, well, FA was fabulous! β€
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I’m surrounded by fantasy lovers! π It’s true that the genre offers endless possibilities despite the usual tropes being used. I like how it’s the best genre to escape reality because who’s gonna come across a shapeshifter in real life, haha!
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π aww… but us fantasy lovers we still love you and your psychological thriller reviews π
You’re right… don’t see many shapeshifters in real life… until one day one of us does and then O_o… and then ‘everything in this life has been a lie!’ π
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That’s a relief π β€ What if we already live in a world of magic???
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Yeah… what if we started vibrating at a different frequency and started seeing all the fantastical beasts all of a sudden..how cool would that be π
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All of these authors are new to me. That is the one great thing about Fantasy, there is so much out there you can’t help but to find subgenres that fit your tastes. I am a SciFi person, but I read more Fantasy. I wonder if this is the reason… that there is more of it out there with more variety? Also, I always love reading about why people read. I am happy Drew included that question. I think I will do this tag. I really like it. π
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yes!!! do the tag! i really want to read your answers π
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Lovely answers! I love how you talked about endless possibilities. I read a lot of fantasy a couple of years ago, then a lot of contemporary, and now with book blogging, I’m getting back into fantasy a lot more, and this is definitely what I love about it: how it keeps surprising me and all the possibilities and crazy imagination of some writers ahah π
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Thank you π
yep, the consensus is in- fantasy is high quality stuff! π
I’ve done a lot of ‘genre hopping’ as well, and I still do, but most of the time it’s still fantasy that manages to get me excited about reading…
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Fantasy is the popular genre. I started to wonder if it’s cause most book bloggers read fantasy or if it’s just the majority of people who do this tag.
Mark Lawrence is one of the many fantasy authors I need to check out.
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It really does seem to be the most popular… granted, it is a quite exciting genre though π
Yes, Mark Lawrence writes a helluva book. I hope you do enjoy when you get a chance to read. Are you thinking to start with The Broken Empire trilogy or with his most recent series?
Thanks for stopping by π
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Yea, I prefer to start with Broken Empire. I’ve heard so much about it.
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I will def do this tag…though my answer is gonna be the same!!
I love how you tag me “Teach!” You kill me, Boss. I heart you.
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Yes!!! defo do the tag! can’t wait to read your answers π
hahaha, it just felt so right to nickname you Teach.. π with the blog name an all… π
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Fantasy!! Yes, my favorite too. π I’ve never read Mark Lawrence but I’ve seen the books and have been tempted. And I agree- the possibilities, the imagination are the best part of fantasy.
Love that graphic with the eagle, BTW.
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You should try Mark Lawrence π Dark fantasy at its quite best with brilliant writing π
Thanks! π
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Christian fantasy is my favorite genre, specifically children’s books. C.S. Lewis is my favorite. I’m really into heroes and villains. Some Christians seem to think Christian fantasy is dangerous, but if you look at all the word pictures in the Bible, it’s really just another way to explain deeper truths. Fantasy and fiction beat boring explanations any day.
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