Apparently February decided to be nearly finished. (Um…what?!) BUT IT’S NOT OVER YET. Which means Fantasy Month is still going on!
If you missed it, Fantasy Month is an epic yearly blog linkup created by Jenelle Schmidt in which we spend the month of February celebrating all things fantasy. There’s still time to join in. Check out THIS POST for all the details!
Part of the celebration was a super fun hashtag game Jenelle put together. Shamefully, I didn’t join in via twitter like I had hoped to because, well, February was cRaZy. But I just couldn’t not join in on something asking fun fantasy questions. I mean, OBVIOUSLY. So instead I decided to be a rebel and answer all the questions in one blog post. (Ya know, the one social media outlet that doesn’t use hashtags. BUT THAT’S NEVER STOPPED ME BEFORE.)
Here art the questions:
FANTASY MONTH QUESTIONS
FIRST SET: Fantastic Creatures
1.) Favorite Fantasy Creature
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! Do I really even need to answer this, guys? I believe anybody who even knows me for the course of one day can guess the answer.
DRAGON!!!!!
2.) Preference: Sentient or Beast?
I always struggle with this one. It’s a lot of fun having animalistic types of dragons (or any mythical beast). But, at the same time, having human-like creatures is super fascinating.
Honestly? My favorite tends to be a little in between. Not fully talking and super intelligent, but not quite beast-like either. Maybe something a smidge more intelligent than dogs? I don’t know why, I just find that fun.
3.) Creature You Wish Were in More Books
Ummmm. ALL OF THEM? Eheheh. I’m not picky when it comes to fantasy creatures. But there is a sad lack of griffins. And like WHY?! Griffins are amazing! LION-EAGLES, PEOPLE. How can you go wrong with that?
4.) Best Fantasy Creature on Film
TOOTHLESS! I mean, duh.
5.) If You Could Have a Fantasy Creature…
I’d have a…
DRAGON!!!!!
It’d be a fabulously pink dragon and we’d go off on adventures to Baskin-Robbins and get free ice cream (because I suspect if you show up at Baskin-Robbin’s doorstep atop a dragon, they’ll give you free ice cream. Having a giant fire-breathing creature threatening your ice cream shop is bad for business.) and then go destroy our enemies or something.
All good fun.
6.) Favorite Fairy Tale Featuring a Fantastic Creature
Does the Beast from Beauty and the Beast count? Because that is my favorite fairytale.
7.) Favorite Fantasy Creature Character
*faints* Favorite fantasy creature character??? Like from any book/movie/TV show???
Toothless? Or the Beast from Beauty and the Beast? Or Smaug? Or Smeagol? Or ALL the dragons in…every book with dragons I’ve ever read (which is a lot). Or Calcifer from Howl's Moving Castle? And would Nick from the Beaumont and Beasley books count? Heh. (He’d probably be so insulted. XD) Or…EVERY FANTASY CREATURE EVER? I don’t knoooow! THIS QUESTION IS IMPOSSIBLE.
SECOND SET: Fantastic Romance
8.) Favorite Fairy Tale Ending
I’m sure this is gonna come as a surprise but…Beauty and the Beast’s ending. The ending is one of the biggest reasons I love that story in the first place. It portrays such a beautiful picture of redemption. It is much like our relationship with Jesus. We were ugly, unlovable creatures, but He loved us anyway. And when we accepted His love, we became something beautiful.
IT JUST GIVES ME A LOT OF FEELS!
9.) Romantic Tropes You Dislike in Fantasy
Love at first sight. UGH. PLEASE STOP. Love doesn’t happen like that. It grows. Sure, you may be attracted to one another at first sight, and like the person quite a lot. But that’s not #TrueLove in any form or fashion.
And then when the Prince falls in love with the Princess while she’s under a sleeping spell or something???? CREEPY. Like…how do you fall in love with an unconscious person you found 2 seconds ago? Can we not?
10.) Romantic Tropes You Like in Fantasy
I quite like the poor, ill-treated boy/girl falling in love and marrying royalty. (Cinderella anyone?) It’s just so satisfying seeing this big time prince/princess want to marry a peasant despite the strict king/queen protesting at every turn. And the star-crossed lovers have to fight to be together and then we get to see our poor, beloved little peasant have all their dreams come true and end up being a fabulous leader of the kingdom and sldkjflsjdflksjdf. IT’S PRECIOUS. I never get tired of that trope. Ever.
11.) Love at First Sight?
LOLZ. I believe I already answered this question. XD
12.) Friendship that Turns to Romance?
YESSSSSSS. GIMME ALL THE FRIENDSHIP-TO-ROMANCE STORIES. It is adorable and I love!
Now sometimes I wish we could have friendships in fiction that are simply that—friendships. Merely people who are friends that doesn’t turn into a full-on romance plot. ‘Cause sometimes I just want friends in fiction! Ya know, some relationships that aren’t romance. But, at the same time, besties falling in love is ADORBZ. (I’m so contradictory.)
13.) Best/Worst Fantasy Love Triangles
Good gracious, I had to squeeze my brain cells hard for this one.
The Una/Aethelbald/Leo love triangle in Heartless by Anne Elisabeth Stengl was a very fascinating one! Because I loved Aethelbald and Leo and…well, I won’t say much because #Spoilers. But it was a doozy, let’s leave it at that.
For some reason I cannot think of one I particularly hated in a fantasy book. This may be blasphemous but…I actually kinda like love triangles??? I KNOW. But they add tension and are just rather…fun. DON’T HATE ME.
14.) Favorite Fantasy Couple
*deep breath*
HOWL AND SOPHIE FROM HOWL’S MOVING CAAAAAAAASTLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is anyone surprised? No? No.
THIRD SET: Fantastic Families
15.) Best Fantasy Family
I adore Billy Bannister’s family in the Dragons in Our Midst series by Bryan Davis. Let’s just say his family history involves dragons and a touch of Arthurian legend so…yeah. Plus his parents are just totally epic. And, really, all the characters from that series forms a family. So can I just say the whole Dragons in Our Midst cast because…YES. MY BBYS. <3
16.) Best Siblings in Fantasy
NICK AND CRISPIN from the Beaumont and Beasley series by Kyle Robert Shultz. One sensible brother and one, um, not sensible brother off discovering fairytales are real and having hilarious adventures? YES PLEASE.
But you can also never go wrong with the Pevensies from Narnia. I also adore Kyrin and Kaden from The Ilyon Chronicles by Jaye L. Knight. TWINS. ALWAYS GIMME TWINS.
17.) Best Fathers in Fantasy
Well, we’ve already discussed Billy Bannister’s family is awesome, and a big reason for that is his dad, Jared. Strong, fatherly, with a history that will blow your mind.
This is sliding away from books to TV shows, but David/Prince Charming from ABC’s Once Upon a Time is a pretty fantastic dad. Protective, kind, will take on anything with a sword and do it epicly, happens to be a Disney prince. What more do you want in a father? Let’s just not talk about the fact that his daughter is the same age as he is. (It’s one of those shows that’s best not to question…)
18.) Best Mothers in Fantasy
Can I just repeat the question above but do the mothers? Billy’s mom, Marilyn Bannister, is so strong and full of love. And you gotta love Mary Margaret/Snow White from Once Upon a Time. She’s literally the picture of hope and it’s very inspiring.
ALSO. Lyll Allerion, the mother of Kale from the DragonKeeper Chronicles by Donita K. Paul, is AH-MAY-ZING. I’m not sure I’d say she’s a very…good mother, but she’s so unexpected! I’ve never come across a mother like her in fiction. She’s so eccentric and…unorthodox. It amused me endlessly. She also has basically my favorite quote ever.
“Wear pink. It confuses the enemy.” <---My role model right there.
19.) Best Fantasy Friends
Blaaargh! EVERYBODY? ALL OF THEM? THERE ARE TOO MANY GOOD ONES.
- Mr. Tumnus and Lucy are precious.
- Billy and Walter from the Dragons in Our Midst books are total bros.
- Howl and Calcifer from Howl’s Moving Castle are hilarious.
- Frodo and Sam. (OBVIOUSLY.)
- Legolas and Gimli (“Never though I’d be fighting side by side with an elf.” “What about side by side with a friend?” <333333333333)
- Creel and Shardas from Dragon Slippers. (DRAGON + GIRL BESTIES = YESSS.)
- Merlin and Arthur from BBCs Merlin (FAVORITE. BROMANCE. EVER.)
And like…900000000 more I’m not mentioning. THERE ARE TOO MANY.
20.) Best Mentors in Fantasy
WELL. Speaking of the DragonKeeper Chronicles, Wizard Fenworth would probably have to be my favorite. He’s another one of those eccentric ones. Also absentminded and a little gruff but utterly loveable anyway.
Professor Hamilton from the Dragons in Our Midst books is also utterly fantastic.
(If you can’t tell, the Dragons in Our Midst series is one of my top favorite series in existence. I know I’m so subtle about it…)
21.) Why Are There So Many Fantasy Orphans?
Oooh, now we’re getting into philosophical stuff, are we? XD WELL. I do love shoving my opinions at everyone, SO LET’S DO IT. I personally believe there are two main reasons for this:
#1: Going to your parents and asking permission to travel across the world to Death Mountain or the Dark Woods of Darkness or the Volcano of Tears or the Tower of Terrible Things so you can fight a Villain of Unimaginable Power in order to save the world and, oh yeah, you might be out past curfew…just a bit, proooobably won’t go over well. Solution: NO PARENTS. Which is kinda rude? Because parents are fabulous and can help save the world! I mean, personally? I’d rather the fate of the world be in a sensible, experienced parent’s hands than a hormonal 16-year-old. SORRY. And the Dragons in Our Midst books are awesome examples of having parents involved with saving the world. (YES. ANOTHER MENTION OF THOSE BOOKS. I WON’T APOLOGIZE.)
#2: A popular theme in fantasy is “finding-where-you-belong”, and if you have a happy home and loving parents well…you’re probably already where you belong. Fantasy often focuses on a bunch of very different and diverse people/creatures/what-have-you coming together and forming a family. Because, well, when you’re traveling across the world to defeat Ridiculously Powerful Villain you tend to get preeeetty close. But really, is there anything more beautiful than seeing a bunch of lonely, broken people coming together and making a family amongst themselves? It’s seriously one of my favorite things to find in fiction ever. So, though I agree we should have more good parents in fiction, I understand why orphaned protagonists is popular. (I’m often guilty of it myself…)
Wow, that answer got long. MOVING ON!
FOURTH SET: Fantastic Elements
22.) Favorite Magical Weapon.
OH MAN. THERE ARE SO MANY AWESOME ONES. Sting has always been a personal favorite. It’s such an adorable, small, deadly thing. And you can never go wrong with a weapon that glows to alert you the enemy is around. #Convenient
I also think Percy Jackson’s sword, Riptide, is epic. It’s a PEN that turns into a SWORD. How cool is that? So if you need to give someone your autograph or slay your enemy, YOU’RE COVERED. It also doesn’t hurt mortals. Just monsters and demigods and people like that. Fun stuff!
23.) Fantastic Art/Music
Oh goodness, we could be here all day. (But I’ll spare you, fear not.) I loooove epic, fantasy sounding scores and movie soundtracks. And my favorite pastime is looking at pretty, inspiring fantasy pics on Pinterest. THIS IS my fantasy board should you want to peruse. But really the majority of my boards have some fantastical elements about them. (I’m obsessed, okay?)
24.) Epic Journeys and Quests and Heirs, Oh My!
I…honestly have no idea how to take this prompt. Like…stories with a combination of all these elements or…?
I’d say the Blood of King trilogy by Jill Williamson has all of this AND it’s just totally epic with phenomenal writing. Literally one of my favorite series! GO READ IT.
25.) Prophecies: Love or Hate?
I’m honestly fine with them. If they have a solid reason for being around and help move the plot, why not? I know they’re ridiculously cliché, but I still find them rather fun.
26.) A Villain You Love to Hate
Oooh, so many good villains!
The Dragon/Death-in-Life from Heartless is a good (er…bad?) one! He’s a DRAGON, so obviously he’s cool. But meeeeeeep, he’s so evil and creepy and powerful. Not the type of villain you want to mess with, let’s leave it at that.
27.) Favorite Fantasy Hero/Heroine
HOWL FROM HOWL’S MOVIE CASTLE. AND SOPHIE OF COURSE. (They’re my favorite male and female fictional characters on this planet. WHICH IS SAYING SOMETHING YOU HAVE NO IDEA.)
(And literally all my answers are either about dragons, Howl and Sophie, or the Dragons in Our Midst books. #SorryNotSorry)
28.) Share an Epic Fantasy Quote
“Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality.
It's a way of understanding it.” –Lloyd Alexander
BASICALLY MY LIFE MOTTO.
WHEW. That was…long. o.o I apologize, guys. If you’ve made it this far then…HERE. HAVE SOME DRAGON EGGS AND RAISE EPIC DRAGONS. (See, now it was all worth it.)
Don’t forget to head on over to Jenelle's site to join in all the fantasy goodness before it’s too late. (Just a couple of more days left!!!)
TALK WITH ME!
COME TO ME, O’ FANTASY LOVERS! I need to know your answers to some of these delectable questions. Like what fantasy creature do you wish were in books more? (Good stuff to know.) And what are some romantic fantasy tropes you love/hate? (Also good to know.) (What? I’m not using you guys to figure out what to put or not put in my own novels. Pssssh. What are you talking about?) Talk with me about all the fantasy things!
