I love FANTASY books. They’re imaginative. Unique. Challenging. There are nearly 60 subgenres – and each subgenre is different. Alternate history fantasy, dark fantasy, urban fantasy… I’ll write about genre soon. What do you think?
I LOVE modern British fantasy. I’ve picked five of the best. Who would you have chosen?
- NEVERWHERE by Neil Gaiman
American Gods is genius. But Neverwhere was the TV series, which turned me on to urban fantasy in a big way. It’s now also a book. Richard is the everyman character, who falls through the cracks into London Below. A world literally beneath London. It’s magical, unpredictable and terrifying.
- JONATHAN STRANGE AND MR. NORRELL by Susanna Clarke
A strange, challenging and original book. It reimagines the entire history of England. It’s set in the nineteenth century in a world where magic once existed and is now being brought back by two magicians. It questions ‘Englishness’ and the line between ‘reason’ and ‘unreason’. It won a bunch of awards.
- FATED by Benedict Jacka
A dark mage with the ability to see into the future – that’s it. Alex Verus’ whole powers. Apart from his dry – very English – sense of humour. It’s marketed as being an English Dresden Files – and it is. What’s not to enjoy?
- RIVERS OF LONDON by Ben Aaronovitch
Photo by Flickr User Nicolas Raymond: Starry London Night
Here’s a mythologised London: its past and its legends. Peter Grant – a detective – learns about magic, whilst investigating a murder. He becomes an apprentice wizard. This is a police procedural within an urban fantasy.
- THE INVISIBLE LIBRARY by Genevieve Cogman
There should be no division between women and men writing in the fantasy scene. But in the last few years there’s been a large number of powerful books written by women within fantasy in Britain. The Invisible Library won, however, because it celebrates London. It bursts with ideas. Irene – the librarian – has to retrieve (i.e. steal) precious books from across perilous parallel universes…with vampires and werewolves…luckily Irene has her wit and intelligence to survive.
What would you have chosen?
My British fantasy novel, Blood Dragons, is also set in London. But this time it’s a divided world: between the First and Blood Lifers. Where the predators are also the prey.
Rebel Vampires Volume 1: Blood Dragons is released on the 14th August.
There will be a virtual launch and release day blog tour.
I’ll post the calendar of events nearer the day, so you can follow, share and join in.
E-mail me at rosemary.johns1@btinternet.com if you’d like to be part of the launch or blog tour
rosemaryajohns.com 