Flights of Fantasy

Recently, a friend read 'Cruel Beauty' by Rosamund Hodge and she hasn’t been the same ever since. Having found the book to be an amazing read, she went on a fantasy fiction reading spree hoping to come across another story that would give her a similar high, engage her with the same intensity, and impress her with its elegant characterisation of complex people. While I do read fantasy fiction (have some of my favourites among the works of C.S Lewis, J.K Rowling, Juliet Marillier, Patricia McKillip), it is towards the crossbred genre of ‘historical-gothic-supernatural’ fiction that I gravitate more often than not.  I pick up other books only off and on, more as an in-between phase, when I feel weighed down by the suspense-laden, tragedy-infused, fear-inducing, and anxiety-driven atmosphere of the gothic novels that I find most fascinating because of the very same elements! It's quite interesting to note how our contradictions rule us and exemplify our humanness.  Another time when I deviate to alternate genres is when friends can't help raving about certain books.

Anyone who is member of a book community or group would know that when it comes to book recommendations, we trust the reading taste of certain friends. We share our thoughts with them (on new books, on discovering some hidden gem, on highly anticipated releases, awesome book covers, and more) and consider their recommendations with the same gravity as we would a decision about having 'pasta arabiatta' or 'thin crust pizza' for dinner.  We find ourselves carried away by their enthusiasm, influenced by their opinion, and quite willing to try out the books they liked.

And so, spurred by the excitement unleashed from the discussion on Cruel Beauty, I  decided to devote an 'in-between' phase, solely to fantasy fiction. Having done this, I went a step further and created my ‘Fantasy Fiction Reading List’. Wondrous worlds await me!

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After an exhausting search which led me across book blogs, online book sellers, journal/magazine book reviews and articles, I have shortlisted what I think is a fairly exciting assortment. Will post reviews as I read them. The scope of these books extends from the stand-alone to trilogies and am hoping to meet some very interesting faerie folk, vampires, demons, witches, trolls and whatnot between their covers.  

Flights of Fantasy scheduled for take-off are:

Trilogy

All Souls Trilogy (Vampires, Witches, Daemons, Humans)

The Malediction Trilogy (Trolls, Witches)

Order of the Sanguines (Vampires, Angels, Demons, Legion, Humans)

Duology

The Wrath and the Dawn (Thousand and One Nights)

The Rose and the Dagger (Thousand and One Nights)

Stand-Alone

Cruel Beauty (Beauty and the Beast)

Crimson Bound (Red Riding Hood)

Gilded Ashes (Cinderella)

Strands of Bronze and Gold (Bluebeard)

Enchantment (Snow White)

The Glass Casket (Red Riding Hood + Snow White)

Tam Lin (The Ballad of Tam Lin)

The Perilous Gard (The Ballad of Tam Lin)

Recommended by Friends

Rebel of the Sands (Trilogy)
Cat's Eye Chronicles (Series)

A Court of Thorns and Roses (Series)

Any other suggestions? Do share your favourite fantasy titles.