#WyrdAndWonder Book Tag for May 2021

For the Wyrd & Wonder challenge, throughout May 2021 we have a series of challenge prompts. I thought of linking them all up with a single mammoth #WyrdAndWonder Book Tag (because book tags are cool and I’m still new to them). So, here it is:

Pop this in your book bag of holding!

One book that I want to pop into everyone’s radar is The Mask & Dagger Series by Teresa Edgerton (my review here). It’s an elegant Victorian / historical fantasy with a swashbuckling hero and lots of alchemical experiments. A wonderful book trailer:

#MapMonday

Well, it isn’t restricted to Mondays, because we all know that SFF books just love their maps. The more difficult, the better. Diana Wynne Jones says it best in The Tough Guide to Fantasyland:

“Examine the Map. It will show most of a continent (and sometimes part of another) with a large number of BAYS, OFFSHORE ISLANDS, an INLAND SEA or so and a sprinkle of TOWNS. There will be scribbly snakes that are probably RIVERS, and names made of CAPITAL LETTERS in curved lines that are not quite upside down. By bending your neck sideways you will be able to see that they say things like “Ca’ea Purt’wydyn” and “Om Ce’falos.” These may be names of COUNTRIES, but since most of the Map is bare it is hard to tell.”

I never knew my father

I could do a full post on all the book-dwelling magical orphans, foundlings and other secret heirs to the throne, who got to know about their father much too late. But I’m choosing to just go with a gallery of these poor (un)fortunate souls.

Underdogs, Against the Odds

Well, technically most SFF lead start off as being underdogs and later turn into heroes. But I am looking at Samwise, silent, good and supporting till the very end. Without Samwise, Sauron would still be about:

Fly my pretties / Fantasy creature on the cover

I’d have received bonus points for choosing a book cover with a pegasus or a book cover without dragons. But I’m currently reading Catherynne M. Valente’s The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland, and I couldn’t resist this awesome cover. Some time back, I also wrote about my favorite animal sidekicks in books, so check out that post too if interested!

Mixed feelings

The 7-1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton was such a mixed bag! I expected to love it, but I ended up in a massive reading slump because of it. My reasons in the book review here.

Had me at hello / Can’t Wait to Read

The Wolf and the Woodsman is the book that I’m most looking forward to. Interesting cover art, and amaaazing pitch. June cannot come soon enough.

In the vein of Naomi Novik’s New York Times bestseller Spinning Silver and Katherine Arden’s national bestseller The Bear and the Nightingale, this unforgettable debut— inspired by Hungarian history and Jewish mythology—follows a young pagan woman with hidden powers and a one-eyed captain of the Woodsmen as they form an unlikely alliance to thwart a tyrant.

#StackSaturday

Not just limited to Saturdays, but here’s a stack full of books about swans and ensorcelled swan maidens — all straight from my TBR. Also geese, because they are cousins. Really.

With friends like these #TropeTuesday

Unreliable and fairweather friends are not reserved for Tuesdays, as Nora will tell you in The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Real Magic. The way those creatures hoodwink and numb her into thinking they are her best friends is something to behold.

Who’s afraid of the suck fairy?

I am — I really used to like The Mists of Avalon, but then some shocking news came in about the author. It’s so difficult to separate the author from the work. Gulp! The suck fairy visited and removed its sparkle.

Book rainbow

Here there be book spines arranged in the VIBGYOR colors:

All the feels

Plain Kate by Erin Bow was such an emotional rollercoaster – a book that gave my feelings a full-on work out. Poor Kate gets mistaken for a witch, loses her livelihood, surrenders her shadow, and loses her close friend. We do get some respite at the end, but what a hard fight it was.

Throwback to an Old, Old Read

I have a lot of old favorites which I love to talk about from time to time. But the oldest of these that comes to mind is The 13 Clocks. It’s such a pity I discovered this well after my teens. The Duke has slain the 13 clocks, and time is at a freeze. His (comical) villainy has no end as he imprisons a princess and sets an insurmountable task for her suitors. It’s written as a children’s book, but also has a layer of cynical humor for the adults.

Off the beaten track

The SPFBO is all the rage these days. That’s how I discovered Chronicles of the Bitch Queen by K.S. Villoso. This book started off as independent or small press fantasy, but was later acquired by Orbit Books for traditional publishing. And what gorgeous covers too, artwork by Simon Goinard!

#ShelfieSunday

My book case is mostly just made up of ebooks, so there’s no taking pictures there. But here’s an image of my Dream Library at the Abbey Library of Saint Gall, Switzerland. And as a bonus, do check out this Tumblr Page for vintage book photos.

Spine Poetry

How should I combine book titles into a poem about mother figures? Here’s my attempt: Thank you, for Spinning Silver into our lives. You are indeed the Everfair ones. If only we could get you a Blue Lily, Lily Blue, to show our eternal gratitude, more than just in May.

Reluctant Hero(ine)

Another book trope that we love reading about in SFF. This one made me think of The Goblin Emperor. Maia, poor and bullied, suddenly becomes the last living heir to the goblin throne. From there onwards, it’s all about the reluctant Maia navigating the tricky contours of the royal court.  

On the Shelf

I looked for the oldest fantasy book on my shelf. Seriously, I’ve forgotten how long I’ve had Sunshine by Robin McKinley on the TBR. It’s one of those foremost vampire novels. You’d think I would have read it by now.

Chosen One

We sure know a lot of Chosen Ones in SFF, replete with double-edged prophecies and irresistible destiny. I’m not going to name Harry Potter here (and I just did), but I’m thinking of: The Paladin of Souls. This is one of my all-time SFF favorites. When you have been chosen by the gods to complete a task, you’ll NEVER have it easy.

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It’s still not too late to join in for this wonderful challenge. You can absolutely set your own pace and route. And if you’re interested in the #WyrdAndWonder Book Tag, hop on!