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Bookbag's Fantasy Picks

Revision as of 08:57, 1 February 2024 by Sue (talk | contribs)

There's something thoroughly enjoyable about losing yourself in a fantasy world - being immersed in a world so new and exciting, and yet with familiar motifs that make connections to real life. Amongst our top ten, we've got some classics like Tolkien and Pratchett, as well as some more recent releases that you may not have heard of - yet. Why not tell us about your favourites? We're always looking for new reviewers, so if you'd like to review a classic fantasy novel and join our team, please get in touch.


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Review of

Abarat by Clive Barker

5star.jpg Fantasy

An imaginative journey through a young girl's fantastic world which shares more than a passing resemblance to The Wizard of Oz. Highly recommended here at Bookbag Towers. Full Review

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Review of

A Feast for Crows by George R R Martin

4.5star.jpg Fantasy

This is the fourth in George R R Martin's epic 'Song of Ice and Fire' series and is highly recommended by Bookbag. If you've not read the three earlier books you really should start with 'A Game of Thrones' - the first book in the series. Full Review

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Review of

A Wrinkle In Time by Madeline L'Engle

4.5star.jpg Fantasy

A Wrinkle In Time is a classic piece of sci-fi fantasy for children. It's a very fashionable genre for the young ones just now and Bookbag recommends it as of considerably better quality than much of the gubbins currently on the bookshop shelves. Children will very likely want to read it more than once. Full Review

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Review of

The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas

5star.jpg Fantasy

The first in a projected trilogy of books, Thief is a stunning debut from new author Sarah Prineas. Young Conn, thief, lock pick and gutterboy, is a resident of Wellmer, a town experiencing rather strange happenings. Full Review

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Review of

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K Le Guin

4.5star.jpg Fantasy

Short but very rich novel that tells the first instalment of the story of Ged Sparrowhawk, a Mage and a dragon lord from Earthsea. If you read fantasy at all but don't know it, go and read it at once. For somebody not acquainted with fantasy it wouldn't be a bad place to start sampling. Full Review

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Review of

The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien

4.5star.jpg Fantasy

Bilbo, a respectable peace-loving hobbit, is somehow persuaded to embark on a dangerous venture with thirteen dwarfs and a wizard. Full Review

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Review of

Emissary (Percheron) by Fiona McIntosh

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The jostling for position in the court takes second place to the jostling for position between nations and you can't take your eyes off either. Full Review

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Review of

The Iron Dragon's Daughter by Michael Swanwick

5star.jpg Fantasy

An outstanding, original fantasy, with a terrifyingly convincing picture of Faerie world mixing alchemy, high technology and esoteric magic. All of this mixed with trials and tribulations typical of a bildungsroman, bitter love, sex and youth culture. Fantasy punk, if there is such a thing. Highly recommended. Full Review

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Review of

Scar Night by Alan Campbell

4.5star.jpg Fantasy

Dark fantasy with hints at horror and s-f too, this debut conveys a superb industrial/gothic atmosphere, has an action-packed plot, rich, many-dimensional characters and a city to have nightmares of. Could be shorter, but what fantasy couldn't? Highly recommended. Full Review

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Review of

Mort by Terry Pratchett

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Many consider Mort to be the finest of Pratchett's Discworld novels and this reviewer is no exception. It's funny, it's meaningful and it's interesting. In this book, in the Discworld, and in our world, it all comes back to DEATH. Don't miss it. Full Review

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