I don't know about you, but I'm really tearing through books lately. I've mostly been catching up on some urban fantasy, waffling between the giants who released this summer (Jim Butcher, Patricia Briggs, and Kim Harrison) and solid indie authors (like Kim McDougall and Lisa Blackwood, see my recommendations below). But sometime last week I decided to go old school epic fantasy and tackle J.R.R. Tolkien.
This is only my second read-through of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. I first read them in high school, although I got interrupted in a funny way. My father got into a Jules Verne kick in the middle of my Tolkien binge and made me stop to read Journey to the Center of the Earth so we could discuss it. I hated the switch so much, my vitrol against Verne has became a family in-joke. (Apologies to any Jules Verne fans in my newsletter. I'm sure he's great, but some wounds heal very slowly.)
One does not simply take a break while returning the One Ring to Mordor.
Now I've been told as an urban fantasy writer that modern readers don't care for epic fantasies like The Lord of the Rings. It's got too many unpronounceable names, they're making up songs and poems every other page like rap battles, and Tolkien knows more history about his side characters than I know about my own extended family. (Feeling jealous, Ancestry.com?) And honestly, I get why it's not for everyone. The books are more slowly-paced than most modern reads, and the world building can be incredibly overwhelming.
That being said, I'm thoroughly enjoying my classic re-read. I'm much more familiar with the movies at this point so it's fun to peek inside the character's heads for their thoughts. The big legends become more well-rounded than just pointy-hatted wizards and goofy dwarfs. You can see their flaws more readily, which make them relatable, which I assume Tolkien intended. And it is also fun to discover the birthplace of so many tropes I enjoy today, from those found in UF books to role-playing video games.
And hey, did you know that Tolkien used the word "tween" in The Fellowship of the Ring? He writes of Frodo as "still in his tweens, as hobbits called the irresponsible twenties between childhood and coming of age at thirty-three.”
I accept this new definition for “tween” as accurate and approved by a literary legend.
Love Tolkien? Want to fight me on Jules Verne? Email me at [email protected].
New and Upcoming Urban Fantasy
Here's some other fun stuff I've been reading lately:
Dragons Don't Eat Meat is a delightful book about a magical pest-controller who always ends up rescuing her jobs. When Kyra finds an abandoned baby dragon, she finds herself hunting down the brute trying to kill all the dragons and start a civil war among the fae. (The prequel is free until Friday!)
Sworn to Shadows returns us to the Gargoyle and Sorceress World where the Lady of Battles and the Lord of the Underworld still need mortal vessels to do their bidding. I just finished Book 1 of Blackwood's previous series. If you like romance that spans generations (and gargoyle protectors!) this series is your jam.
Don't Forget the Free Books!
Magic in the Real World is still going until August 31st. Browse through these stories and discover a new author for the easy price of zero cents.
Cynetic Wolf has a free sneak peek at a dystopian world where 90% of humanity has died from a plague, leaving factions such as the immortals, cyborgs, enhancers, and subservient half-animal hybrids. Sixteen-year-old hybrid wolf Raek can't hide from his place in the world when cyborgs kill his sister. Can he navigate crushing betrayal and free his people from tyranny?
Until next time, happy adventuring!
-DM Fike
Magic of Nasci Fantasy Adventure Series (Ebook, Paperback, and Kindle Unlimited)
Running into Fire (Book 3) Ebook preorder now, KU and paperback on Sept. 2, 2020
Author Links
0 comments