Fantasy Books – Page 2 – Christine Smith

Five Book Series That Shaped My Growing Up Years

Post published:May 3, 2021
Post category:Reading
Post comments:49 Comments

All us bookworms have them—those particular books that changed us, helped us grow, swept us away to a whole new world that shifted our perspective or simply introduced us to a genre that quickly became the One True Favorite. Those special few that became our stories. I definitely have those stories. Some of them may not even be my top favorite books anymore; there are plenty of other novels that I find more engaging and suit my tastes far more these days. But these are the stories that shaped the Christine you know today, and no other tales can replace…

Why I Love Howl’s Moving Castle

Post published:March 22, 2021
Post category:Reading
Post comments:32 Comments

If you’ve been following me for, well, pretty much any length of time, at some point or another you’ve probably seen me flail about the novel Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. And though I break the sound barrier squealing about it every 0.7 seconds, I haven’t actually ever just sat down and talked about why this story so fully captures my heart and soul. Come every March is a delightful event called March Magics hosted by We Be Reading. It is a celebration of both Diana Wynne Jones’s and Terry Pratchett’s magical works. Every single year I always…

Yet Another Fandom Tag

Post published:February 27, 2021
Post category:Fangirling
Post comments:39 Comments

I couldn’t let February go without joining in on one more fandom tag in celebration of February is Fantasy Month. Because, really, can there ever be enough fandom fangirling? So much alliteration. SO YES. You may notice it is indeed not Monday, and yet I am posting. What is this insanity??? WELL. I ran out of Mondays in February to do all the posts I wanted to. (Silly February, being so short.) Thus, you’re getting my usual Monday post two days early! (But really, who gave February permission to be nearly over???) If you missed it, the amazing Jenelle is…

The Silmaril Awards 2020 Ceremony: Most Mischievous Imp

Post published:September 16, 2020
Post category:Reading
Post comments:49 Comments

Welcome to the Silmaril Awards Ceremony for the Most Mischievous Imp! 47 imps were in for the running, 5 made it to the finals, and today we get to see which single impish being has proven their mischief enough to walk away with the lifetime award! The stadium hums with chatter as I slip up to the stage and look around appraisingly. This is much better than the falling apart warehouse I hosted last year’s awards. It’s never easy to find good accommodations for the Least Competent Henchmen ceremony, but this brightly lit stadium with a colorfully curtained stage is…

The Silmaril Awards 2020 Voting: Most Mischievous Imp

Post published:September 7, 2020
Post category:Reading
Post comments:22 Comments

Welcome to round 2 of the Silmaril Awards! The nominations have been cast, the seconds have been called and counted, and now it’s time for the next vital task: VOTING! Last week everyone rallied around their favorite fantasy characters and nominated and seconded such a vast array of interesting people and creatures alike! I don’t know about you, but I had an absolute blast in all the comments section discussing all things fantasy characters—my favorite topic! (But we won’t talk about how my TBR has positively exploded.) Over the course of 5 days, 47 Mischievous Imps were nominated to win…

The Silmaril Awards 2020 Nominations: Most Mischievous Imp

Post published:August 31, 2020
Post category:Reading
Post comments:248 Comments

Welcome, welcome to the opening of the fifth annual Silmaril Awards, where you get to nominate and vote on your favorite literary fantasy characters across ten different categories! YES. It is that time again where we get to spend three-ish weeks celebrating all things fantasy characters. This will be my 2nd year as a host and I am so honored and thrilled to be a part of such an amazing group and bring YOU GUYS such an epic event. This is going to be a journey to remember! So don your cloaks, grab your weapon of choice, and let’s embark…

{Book Review} The Warden of the West March (Seventh Realm #2) by M.L. Little

Post published:August 10, 2020
Post category:Reading
Post comments:6 Comments

Yes, I return with another book review! I know I’ve been reviewing a lot of them lately. Book reviews should slow down soon, but there have just been way too many delicious releases! Today’s review is a sequel to one I read and reviewed last year, and I’ve been so anxious for this second book! Book #1, The Book of Secrets, told the story of four siblings who discover an enchanted book and embark on a dangerous journey that expands realms. It was part Series of Unfortunate Events, part Harry Potter, and part Narnia, all while still being one of…

{Book Review} An Echo of the Fae by Jenelle Schmidt

Post published:June 29, 2020
Post category:Reading
Post comments:19 Comments

And I am back to squeal about another new book release! There have just been so many delicious books coming out lately, guys. It’s fabulous. And this one. Oh, this one makes my fairy tale loving heart so happy. Quite a while back, the illustrious, incredible, beautiful fantasy writer and magical human bean, Jenelle Schmidt, posted on her blog the opening of a new story she had begun. A semi-original, semi-Rapunzel inspired fairy tale. The snippet was THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING and I needed moooore. Well, praise all that is good, that beginning snippet quickly became a PUBLISHED BOOK. That…

The Silmaril Awards 2019 Awards Ceremony: Least Competent Henchman

Post published:September 23, 2019
Post category:Reading
Post comments:30 Comments

At last the day has arrived! You sent in your nominations, you made your votes, and, finally, it is time to see who will walk away today with the prize! Welcome to the awards ceremony for the Least Competent Henchman! *trumpets and fanfare* The buzz of the great crowd echoes from inside the…warehouse? I frown as I step up onto the stage, or what’s supposed to be a stage, but, in reality, is nothing more than a bunch of boards nailed up on top of some slabs of stone. What suspiciously looks like bed sheets hangs behind the “stage”, posing…

The Silmaril Awards 2019 Voting: Least Competent Henchman

Post published:September 9, 2019
Post category:Reading
Post comments:16 Comments

Welcome, welcome, to the 74th annual Hunger Gaaames! …Oh. Wait, wait! *squints at card* Whoopsie. Totally read that wrong. Let’s try this again. AHEM. Welcome to the next round of The Silmaril Awards! Which is a much nicer game, I promise. Last week we asked you to nominate and second your favorite fantasy literary characters in ten categories and, boy, did you amazing people deliver! We got a ton of nominations. I absolutely loved seeing the enthusiasm for so many great fantasy characters (and being reminded about how many fantasy books I’ve yet to read but desperately need to *cough,…