Into the Forest discussion
2024 Challenge
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2024 Challenge Progress Placeholder
I love this year's challenge. Done with the Challenge!My Placeholder
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My Placeholder1. Sea and water creatures. Rogue Ascension, Book 1
2. Blood drinkers. House of Hunger
3. Shapeshifters. Squad
4. Fire Creatures. The Novice
5. Creatures from religious mythology. Ethan & Jag Destroy the World
6. Ice/snow/winter creatures. Taaqtumi: An Anthology of Arctic Horror Stories
7. Forest Creatures. The Gift Is in the Making: Anishinaabeg Stories
8. Creatures animated by magic. Murder on the Lamplight Express
9. Hybrid creatures. Roverpowered 2: Tales of an Aspiring Alchemist
10. Un-alive creatures. The Dead Seekers
11. Free spot. Gobbelino London & a Melee of Mages
12. Free spot. A House with Good Bones
2024 Into the Forest Annual Challenge: Mythic Creatures from Folklore & Legend
1. Sea and water creatures
2. Blood drinkers
3. Shapeshifters
4. Fire Creatures
5. Creatures from religious mythology
6. Ice/snow/winter creatures
7. Forest Creatures
8. Creatures animated by magic
9. Hybrid creatures
10. Un-alive creatures
11. Free spot
12. Free spot
My Placeholder1. Sea and water creatures.
2. Blood drinkers.
3. Shapeshifters.
4. Fire Creatures.
� 5. Creatures from religious mythology. Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
6. Ice/snow/winter creatures.
7. Forest Creatures.
� 8. Creatures animated by magic. The Dollmaker of Krakow by R.M. Romero
9. Hybrid creatures.
10. Un-alive creatures.
11. Free spot.
12. Free spot.
1. Sea and water creatures: Encantado Donna Vorreyer2. Blood drinkers SouCou Yant Marsha Gomes McKie
Certain Dark Things Silvia Moreno Garcia
3. Shapeshifters: The Fox Wife Yangsze Choo
4. Fire Creatures: Legends of the Fire Spirits Robert Lebling
5. Creatures from religious mythology The Greek Myths Volume 2 Robert Graves
Gilgamesh:A New Translation of the Ancient Epic Sophus Helle
Waking the Moon Elizabeth Hand
6. Ice/snow/winter creatures: Moon of the Crusted Snow Waubgeshig Rice
7. Forest Creatures Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries Heather Fawcett
8. Creatures animated by magic: The Motion of Puppets Keith Donohue
9. Hybrid creatures: Once a Monster Robert Dinsdale
10. Un-alive creatures: Summer of the Mariposas Guadaloupe Maria McCall
The Icarus Girl Helen Oyeyemi
11. Cryptids: The United States of Cryptids J.W. Ocker.
12. Free spot
Love the challenge! :)My Placeholder:
1. Sea and water creatures
The Drowned Woods ✔️
2.Blood drinkers
Down Among the Sticks and Bones ✔️
Vampires of El Norte ✔️
3.Shapeshifters
In an Absent Dream ✔️
4. Fire Creatures
The Stardust Thief ✔️
Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White ✔️
5.Creatures from religious mythology
Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Ruthless Vows ✔️
Godkiller
6. Ice/snow/winter creatures
The Stolen Heir ✔️
7. Forest Creatures
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands ✔️
8.Creatures animated by magic
Howl’s Moving Castle ✔️
Painted Devils ✔️
9. Hybrid creatures
Across the Green Grass Fields ✔️
10. Un-alive creatures
Beneath the Sugar Sky ✔️
The Ghost Bride ✔️
11. Free spot - monsters
The Last Graduate ✔️
12. Free spot - clockwork creatures
The Winter Garden ✔️
Count me in! As I read these books, I may change them to a different category.
�1. Sea and water creatures
�2. Blood drinkers
�3. Shapeshifters
�4. Fire Creatures
�5. Creatures from religious mythology
�6. Ice/snow/winter creatures
�7. Forest Creatures
The Ghost Woods?
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands
�8. Creatures animated by magic
�9. Hybrid creatures
�10. Un-alive creatures
Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio
Song of the Huntress
�11. Free spot: cognisant city/book
�12. Free spot: alternate history
Mod
My Placeholder
✔️ 1. Sea and water creatures.
-Breathe and Count Back from Ten by Natalia Sylvester
-A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall
-Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol
-Lost Ark Dreaming by Suyi Davies Okungbowa
-Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland
✔️ 2. Blood drinkers.
-Blood City Rollers by V.P. Anderson
-When Among Crows by Veronica Roth
-Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse
✔️ 3. Shapeshifters.
-In Universes by Emet North
-The Pecan Children by Quinn Connor
-The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim
-The Hero Twins and the Magic of Song by David Bowles
-The Skeleton Flute by Damara Allen
-Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell
✔️ 4. Fire Creatures.
-Paper Dragons: The Fight for the Hidden Realm by Siobhan McDermott
-The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years by Shubnum Khan
-She Who Knows by Nnedi Okorafor
-Mabuhay! by Zachary Sterling
-The Phoenix Keeper by S.A. MacLean
-The Weavers of Alamaxa by Hadeer Elsbai
✔️ 5. Creatures from religious mythology.
-Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang
-Asgardians: Odin by George O'Connor
-The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
-Kwame Crashes the Underworld by Craig Kofi Farmer
-Monster Locker by Jorge Aguirre
✔️ 6. Ice/snow/winter creatures.
-The Fireborne Blade by Charlotte Bond
-Queen B: The Story of Anne Boleyn, Witch Queen by Juno Dawson
-Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. Klune
-The Raven and the Reindeer by T. Kingfisher
✔️ 7. Forest Creatures.
-Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis
-Jupiter Nettle and the Seven Schools of Magic by Sangu Mandanna
-The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman
-Lola by Karla Arenas Valenti
-Thea and the Mischief Makers by Tracy Badua
-The Wild Huntress by Emily Lloyd-Jones
-My Extremely Tiny Forest Adventure by Emma Steinkellner
-Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth
✔️ 8. Creatures animated by magic.
-The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands by Sarah Brooks
-The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
-A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher
✔️ 9. Hybrid creatures.
-Monkey King and the World of Myths: The Monster and the Maze by Maple Lam
-Unico: Awakening (Volume 1): An Original Manga by Samuel Sattin
-Tale of the Flying Forest by R.M. Romero
-Buried Deep and Other Stories by Naomi Novik
-House of Frank by Kay Synclaire
-A Song for You and I by K. O'Neill
✔️ 10. Un-alive creatures.
-Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
-The Lumbering Giants of Windy Pines by Mo Netz
-The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark
-From These Dark Abodes by Lyndsie Manusos
-Asunder by Kerstin Hall
-The Night Train by Lorelei Savaryn
-The Firelight Apprentice by Bree Paulsen
-Taxi Ghost: A Graphic Novel by Sophie Escabasse
-Spellbound Solstice by Alexandria Rogers
-The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden
-The Curse of Eelgrass Bog by Mary Averling
✔️ 11. Free spot: Questing Cats
-The Cat Who Saved Books by Sōsuke Natsukawa
-Katie the Catsitter by Colleen A.F. Venable
-The Girl Who Kept the Castle by Ryan Graudin
-The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C.M. Waggoner
-Death's Country by R.M. Romero
✔️ 12. Free spot: Talking animals.
-Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire
-The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien by John Hendrix
-Sidekicks by Santat, Dan (2011) Hardcover by Dan Santat
-Thunderous by M.L. Smoker
-Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan
-Into the Riverlands by Nghi Vo
-Eagle Drums by Nasugraq Rainey Hopson
-Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo
Here's my placeholder! I'm hoping this helps me with my fantasy goals for this year :P ✔️1/121. Sea and water creatures:
2. Blood drinkers:
3. Shapeshifters:
4. Fire Creatures:
5. Creatures from religious mythology:
6. Ice/snow/winter creatures:
7. Forest Creatures: Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
8. Creatures animated by magic:
9. Hybrid creatures:
10. Un-alive creatures:
11. Free spot:
12. Free spot:
1. Sea and water creatures:2. Blood drinkers:
3. Shapeshifters:
4. Fire Creatures:
5. Creatures from religious mythology:
6. Ice/snow/winter creatures:
7. Forest Creatures:
8. Creatures animated by magic:
9. Hybrid creatures:
10. Un-alive creatures:
11. Free spot:
12. Free spot:
Oh, excited about this theme!!1. Sea and water creatures
� Fathomfolk, Eliza Chan
2. Blood drinkers
� The Jinn Daughter, Rania Hanna
3. Shapeshifters
� Her Radiant Curse, Elizabeth Lim
� Mirrored Heavens, Rebecca Roanhorse
4. Fire Creatures
� The Phoenix Keeper, SA MacLean
5. Creatures from religious mythology
� Daughters of Olympus, Hannah M Lynn
6. Ice/snow/winter creatures
� The Longest Autumn, Amy Avery
7. Forest Creatures
� Into the Heartless Wood, Joanna Ruth Meyer
8. Creatures animated by magic
� Dragonfruit, Makiia Lucier
9. Hybrid creatures
� Song of the Six Realms, Judy Lin
10. Un-alive creatures
� The Ghost Bride, Yangsze Choo
11. Free
� A River Enchanted, Rebecca Ross
12. Free
� A Fire Endless, Rebecca Ross
I hope I will do better this year :)Examples: mermaids, kraken, kelpies, Loch Ness, Leviathan, Lusca, Umibozu, encantado, rusalka, and more.
✔️To Kill a Kingdom
Examples: vampires, Chupacabra, Penanggalan, Strigoi, Yakshini, and more.
✔️ My Roommate Is a Vampire
3.Shapeshifters.
Examples: Werewolves, Kitsune, Werecats, Werehyenas, Tanuki, Skinwalkers, Nanaue, and more.
The Night Tiger
4. Fire Creatures.
Examples: Djinn, Dragons, Phoenix, and more.
The City of Brass
5.Creatures from religious mythology.
Examples: Angels, Demons, Gods, Demi-Gods and more.
Daughter of the Moon Goddess
6. Ice/snow/winter creatures.
Examples: Wendigo, Yeti, Yuki-Onna, Nuckelavee, Jack Frost, Ded Moroz, and more.
The Bear and the Nightingale
7. Forest Creatures.
Examples: dryads, all types of Fae including wood fae, elves, gnomes, goblins, and more.
8.Creatures animated by magic.
Examples: golems, Frankenstein, Pinocchio, poppets, dolls, and more.
The Golem and the Jinni
9. Hybrid creatures.
Examples: centaurs, fauns, gorgons, Griffiths, sphinx, the minotaur, and more.
10. Un-alive creatures.
Examples: ghosts, psychopomps, banshees, La Llorona, black dog, hellhounds, and more.
11. Free spot.
12. Free spot.
Can't wait for this to begin. Read an original tale, collection of tales, retelling, or novel with these creatures from myth and folklore:
1. Sea and water creatures.
Examples: mermaids, kraken, kelpies, Loch Ness, Leviathan, Lusca, Umibozu, encantado, rusalka, and more.
2.Blood drinkers.
Examples: vampires, Chupacabra, Penanggalan, Strigoi, Yakshini, and more.
3.Shapeshifters.
Examples: Werewolves, Kitsune, Werecats, Werehyenas, Tanuki, Skinwalkers, Nanaue, and more.
4. Fire Creatures.
Examples: Djinn, Dragons, Phoenix, and more.
5.Creatures from religious mythology.
Examples: Angels, Demons, Gods, Demi-Gods and more.
6. Ice/snow/winter creatures.
Examples: Wendigo, Yeti, Yuki-Onna, Nuckelavee, Jack Frost, Ded Moroz, and more.
7. Forest Creatures.
Examples: dryads, all types of Fae including wood fae, elves, gnomes, goblins, and more.
8.Creatures animated by magic.
Examples: golems, Frankenstein, Pinocchio, poppets, dolls, and more.
9. Hybrid creatures.
Examples: centaurs, fauns, gorgons, Griffiths, sphinx, the minotaur, and more.
10. Un-alive creatures.
Examples: ghosts, psychopomps, banshees, La Llorona, black dog, hellhounds, and more.
11. Free spot.
12. Free spot
Placeholder:1. Sea and water creatures.
Examples: mermaids, kraken, kelpies, Loch Ness, Leviathan, Lusca, Umibozu, encantado, rusalka, and more.
Kwiat paproci i inne legendy słowiańskie [Poland] 3/5
[unavailable in English, slavic, short stories, could also fit for undead, blood drinking - strigoi or forest creature - leshy; rusalka; water demon]
2.Blood drinkers.
Examples: vampires, Chupacabra, Penanggalan, Strigoi, Yakshini, and more.
Katia. Cmentarne love story by Aneta Jadowska [Poland]
Bride by Ali Hazelwood
3.Shapeshifters.
Examples: Werewolves, Kitsune, Werecats, Werehyenas, Tanuki, Skinwalkers, Nanaue, and more.
The Dedalus Book of Spanish Fantasy [Spain]
[anthology, translated, magical realism, Death as a protagonist, Cervantes' wife turned into chicken]
The Lover by Silvia Moreno-Garcia [Mexico]
[short stories, shapeshifter, love triangle, fairy tale shades]
4. Fire Creatures.
Examples: Djinn, Dragons, Phoenix, and more.
The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl 02 by Miyuki Tonogaya [Japan]
[phoenix side character, manga, corpoworld, romance]
Hoarded by the Dragon by Lillian Lark
[romance, shapeshifting dragon, fantasy]
5.Creatures from religious mythology.
Examples: Angels, Demons, Gods, Demi-Gods and more.
Chrystus wylądował w Grodnie by Uladzimir Karatkevich [Belarus]
[historical, retelling of Gospels set in Belarusian part of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]
A Question of Power by Bessie Head South Africa/Botswana]
[magical realism, rural Africa, TW: abuse]
Panna by Aleksandra Seliga
[Poland]
[slavic mythology, the suual conflict old gods vs new god; unavailable in English]
6. Ice/snow/winter creatures.
Examples: Wendigo, Yeti, Yuki-Onna, Nuckelavee, Jack Frost, Ded Moroz, and more.
The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl 01 by Miyuki Tonogaya [Japan]
[manga, translated, sweet romance, normal working girl x Yuki onna working guy corpoguy]
Heart of Ice by K.M. Shea 2/5
["Froze..." ehm, Ice queen retelling]
7. Forest Creatures.
Examples: dryads, all types of Fae including wood fae, elves, gnomes, goblins, and more.
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands 3,5/5
A Midsummer's Night Dream by William Shakespeare 3/5
8.Creatures animated by magic.
Examples: golems, Frankenstein, Pinocchio, poppets, dolls, and more.
Mother of Learning 3 by Domagoj Kurmaić [Croatia] 2/5
[YA, fantasy, time loop, protagonist can summon golems, undead Lich antagonist, wizards]
The Puppeteer by Kathryn Ann Kingsley
[romance, the puppeteer, magical circus]
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson [USA]
9. Hybrid creatures.
Examples: centaurs, fauns, gorgons, Griffiths, sphinx, the minotaur, and more.
Honor Among Orcs by Amalia Dillin
[romance; orcs; (view spoiler)]
10. Un-alive creatures.
Examples: ghosts, psychopomps, banshees, La Llorona, black dog, hellhounds, and more.
Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia [Mexico] 2/5
[horror, ghosts, mages, Mexico]
11. Free spot -Human Magic Users
Mother of Learning 1 by Domagoj Kurmaić [Croatia] 4/5
[Croatian author writing in English, YA, PSI spiders, YA, College? setting, time loop, wizards]
Mother of Learning 2 by Domagoj Kurmaić [Croatia l] 3/5
Bride of the Barrier Master, Vol. 1 (manga) (Bride of the Barrier Master by Kureha [Japan]
[manga, urban fantasy, YA, romance, magic users]
Północ - Południe by Robert M. Wegner [Poland]
[grimdark fantasy, wizards, fantasy, great worldbuilding, unavailable in English]
Between by L.L. Starling
Wedded to the Wanton Witch by S.L. Prater
This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede
12. Free spot - Reincarnators or Transmigrators [I have to put all that portal/isekai mangas somewhere :P
[book:Reincarnated old hag can’t leave things alone！ - second life of a former unscrupulous empress- Vol.１|176745089] [Japan] 3/5
[Grandma Empress reincarnated 300 years into the future, fantasy world, manga]
The Princess of Convenient Plot Devices (Manga) Vol. 4 by Kazusa Yoneda [Japan]
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Looks like I can unleash the power of all those Slavic retellings and fairy tales that recently have become quite popular here :).
Edit 03.01.24 - as predicted, the first Slavic tale collection added to the list :)
Love this challenge. I'm thinking it will mesh with my necessary reading and not merely my recreational reading.1. Sea and water creatures.
Examples: mermaids, kraken, kelpies, Loch Ness, Leviathan, Lusca, Umibozu, encantado, rusalka, and more. Song of the Sea
2.Blood drinkers.
Examples: vampires, Chupacabra, Penanggalan, Strigoi, Yakshini, and more.
3.Shapeshifters.
Examples: Werewolves, Kitsune, Werecats, Werehyenas, Tanuki, Skinwalkers, Nanaue, and more. After the Forest
4. Fire Creatures.
Examples: Djinn, Dragons, Phoenix, and more. The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye: Five Fairy Stories
5.Creatures from religious mythology.
Examples: Angels, Demons, Gods, Demi-Gods and more.
6. Ice/snow/winter creatures.
Examples: Wendigo, Yeti, Yuki-Onna, Nuckelavee, Jack Frost, Ded Moroz, and more.
7. Forest Creatures. Winter Rose
Examples: dryads, all types of Fae including wood fae, elves, gnomes, goblins, and more.
8.Creatures animated by magic.
Examples: golems, Frankenstein, Pinocchio, poppets, dolls, and more.
9. Hybrid creatures.
Examples: centaurs, fauns, gorgons, Griffiths, sphinx, the minotaur, and more. "The Lamia," in Medusa's Ankles: Selected Stories
10. Un-alive creatures.
Examples: ghosts, psychopomps, banshees, La Llorona, black dog, hellhounds, and more.
11. Free spot. Tam Lin
12. Free spot.
Read an original tale, collection of tales, retelling, or novel with these creatures from myth and folklore:1. Sea and water creatures.
Examples: mermaids, kraken, kelpies, Loch Ness, Leviathan, Lusca, Umibozu, encantado, rusalka, and more.
2.Blood drinkers.
Examples: vampires, Chupacabra, Penanggalan, Strigoi, Yakshini, and more.
3.Shapeshifters.
Examples: Werewolves, Kitsune, Werecats, Werehyenas, Tanuki, Skinwalkers, Nanaue, and more.
4. Fire Creatures.
Examples: Djinn, Dragons, Phoenix, and more.
5.Creatures from religious mythology.
Examples: Angels, Demons, Gods, Demi-Gods and more.
6. Ice/snow/winter creatures.
Examples: Wendigo, Yeti, Yuki-Onna, Nuckelavee, Jack Frost, Ded Moroz, and more.
7. Forest Creatures.
Examples: dryads, all types of Fae including wood fae, elves, gnomes, goblins, and more.
8.Creatures animated by magic.
Examples: golems, Frankenstein, Pinocchio, poppets, dolls, and more.
9. Hybrid creatures.
Examples: centaurs, fauns, gorgons, Griffiths, sphinx, the minotaur, and more.
10. Un-alive creatures.
Examples: ghosts, psychopomps, banshees, La Llorona, black dog, hellhounds, and more.
11. Free spot.
12. Free spot.
Here's my placeholder. I haven't been very active with challenges in the last couple of years, but I really want to get better this year. 1. Sea and water creatures.
2.Blood drinkers.
3.Shapeshifters.
4. Fire Creatures.
5.Creatures from religious mythology.
This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron
6. Ice/snow/winter creatures.
7. Forest Creatures.
In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire
8.Creatures animated by magic.
9. Hybrid creatures.
10. Un-alive creatures ( creatures from the afterlife )
All the Bad Apples by Moïra Fowley-Doyle
11. Free spot. Your choice!
Witches Get Stuff Done by Molly Harper
12. Free spot. Your choice!
Mod
Margaret wrote: "What are people using for their free spots? I might just fill them in when I read books that don't quite fit with any of the current categories, but I'm curious what others are doing!"I am re-reading The Scholomance series, and I decided to use it for a free spot as monsters, as there are many and they don't fit neatly in the other categories.
I used the other one for clockwork creatures from The Winter Garden. I expect I could have fit these in Creatures Animated by Magic, but they seemed different (they become more and more animate by themselves after a time), so I gave them their own category!
My problem will be to find something for some of the main categories, where I can think of examples of books I already read, but not books in my immediate TBR (e.g. winter creatures), but I am going more with the flow this year!
Margaret wrote: "What are people using for their free spots? I might just fill them in when I read books that don't quite fit with any of the current categories, but I'm curious what others are doing!"Human magic users (all those pesky wizards, mages, sorcerers or witches) and reincarnators/transmigrators for me
Mod
I tend to read whatever I need to read for work and whatever else pulls me and fill in what fits for the reading challenges that way. And then in November I'll see what's left and frantically chose books related to whatever challenges I'm in for the last two months of the year. :)
Andy wrote: "I am re-reading The Scholomance series, and I decided to use it for a free spot as monsters, as there are many and they don't fit neatly in the other categories.I used the other one for clockwork creatures from The Winter Garden. I expect I could have fit these in Creatures Animated by Magic, but they seemed different (they become more and more animate by themselves after a time), so I gave them their own category!
My problem will be to find something for some of the main categories, where I can think of examples of books I already read, but not books in my immediate TBR (e.g. winter creatures), but I am going more with the flow this year!"
Margaret wrote: "Great ideas Andy and Asaria!
I tend to read whatever I need to read for work and whatever else pulls me and fill in what fits for the reading challenges that way. And then in November I'll see wh..."
Going with the flow is the best approach :). Good luck with the challenge!
Margaret wrote: "What are people using for their free spots? I might just fill them in when I read books that don't quite fit with any of the current categories, but I'm curious what others are doing!"I am going to do cryptozoological bestiaries, so United States of Cryptids ,The Bestiary and Book of the Hakutaku all on my list!
Mod
I am considering that one too!
Margaret wrote: "What are people using for their free spots? I might just fill them in when I read books that don't quite fit with any of the current categories, but I'm curious what others are doing!"I used one free spot for Yule Monsters. My second one is another crypto creature.
This list may give some ideas.
/list/show/1...
Mod
Thanks!
Mod
This is what I did for 2023. For the most part I read books that I wanted to read anyway, but as it was they often ended up being appropriate for a different category. For instance I originally selected Siren Queen for deals with the devil. I read Silver Nitrate and The Angel's Game just because I liked other books from these authors. I wasn’t originally reading them for the challenge, but as it turned out they both had deal with the devil themes.
I intend to keep this flexibility for this year’s challenge as well
This will I think be a difficult challenge for me, because I really don't enjoy dark fantasy or horror, and a lot of the newer books featuring these creatures seem to focus on the dark or horrorifying. I don't object to dark; I just don't prefer it as the dominant mood. I suspect I should head for the middle-grade book lists!
Or even picture books--looking forward to Pretty Ugly.
Mod
I understand, but I think not all the categories have to be dark. You can select books that are less so. For example I could never read Anne Rice, but there are a few books with vampires in them that I liked like Sunshine, Certain Dark Things. For book with Fae I liked Except the Queen and Tam Lin
For creatures animated by magic The Golem and the Jinni is wonderful and would also count for Fire creatures/Djinn
Edited to add: sorry I missed the dark where you asked for middle grade books. The books I suggested are adult books
Susan wrote: "This will I think be a difficult challenge for me, because I really don't enjoy dark fantasy or horror, and a lot of the newer books featuring these creatures seem to focus on the dark or horrorify..."The only books that come to my mind are untranslated :(
Susan wrote: "This will I think be a difficult challenge for me, because I really don't enjoy dark fantasy or horror, and a lot of the newer books featuring these creatures seem to focus on the dark or horrorify..."I guess paranormal romance could work for several categories, too, if that is of interest! I don't really read it, sorry!
I am also not into horror at all, and now I have found a book for blood drinkers, I think I can easily find stuff I like.
I have easy reccomendations for fae and unalive creatures that are not dark, you could ask in the categories threads and see what suggestions you get for the categories you find most difficult?
Mod
I have a personal goal of reading at least 60 middle grade this year, so I suspect a lot of my challenge books will be middle grade! And I second asking for lighter recs in each of the categories.
Mod
I hope to read 2 books for each prompt
1. Sea and water creatures.
Examples: mermaids, kraken, kelpies, Loch Ness, Leviathan, Lusca, Umibozu, encantado, rusalka, and more.
The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey
Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse
2.Blood drinkers.
Examples: vampires, Chupacabra, Penanggalan, Strigoi, Yakshini, and more. Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler
Soul Taken by Patricia Briggs
3.Shapeshifters.
Examples: Werewolves, Kitsune, Werecats, Werehyenas, Tanuki, Skinwalkers, Nanaue, and more.
Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor
The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo
4. Fire Creatures.Examples: Djinn, Dragons, Phoenix, and more.
The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah
The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years by Shubnum Khan
5.Creatures from religious mythology.
Examples: Angels, Demons, Gods, Demi-Gods and more.
Gilgamesh: A New Translation of the Ancient Epic by Sophus Helle
Vicious Spirits by Kat Cho
6. Ice/snow/winter creatures.
Examples: Wendigo, Yeti, Yuki-Onna, Nuckelavee, Jack Frost, Ded Moroz, and more.
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden
7. Forest Creatures.
Examples: dryads, all types of Fae including wood fae, elves, gnomes, goblins, and more.
After the Forest by Kell Woods
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands
8.Creatures animated by magic.
Examples: golems, Frankenstein, Pinocchio, poppets, dolls, and more.
The Stolen Heir by Holly Black
The Prisoner’s Throne by Holly Black
9. Hybrid creatures.
Examples: centaurs, fauns, gorgons, Griffiths, sphinx, the minotaur, and more.
The Painted Boy by Charles de Lint
The Wind in His Heart by Charles de Lint
10. Un-alive creatures.
Examples: ghosts, psychopomps, banshees, La Llorona, black dog, hellhounds, and more.
The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas
The Jinn Daughter by Rania Hanna
11. Free Spot The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden ( for creatures of ice and snow)
12. Free Spot Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (for creatures from religious mythology)
Jalilah wrote: "Susan wrote: "This will I think be a difficult challenge for me, because I really don't enjoy dark fantasy or horror, and a lot of the newer books featuring these creatures seem to focus on the dar..."Thank you--I'm not focusing on MG books; I only suspected that they'd be lighter (or at least not as long and unrelievedly dark). So I'll check out your list.
Andy wrote: "Susan wrote: "This will I think be a difficult challenge for me, because I really don't enjoy dark fantasy or horror, and a lot of the newer books featuring these creatures seem to focus on the dar..."Yes, I'll ask in specific categories; thank you, Andy.
1. Sea and water creatures. Dragonfruit2. Blood drinkers. Certain Dark Things
3. Shapeshifters. A Warning About Swans
4. Fire Creatures. The Stardust Thief
5. Creatures from religious mythology. Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons
6. Ice/snow/winter creatures. The Raven and the Reindeer
7. Forest Creatures. Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands
8. Creatures animated by magic. Illuminations
9. Hybrid creatures. Dark Lord of Derkholm
10. Un-alive creatures. A Theory of Haunting
11. Free spot. When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain (more shapeshifters)
12. Free spot. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi (more water creatures)
Update: Completed on New Year's Eve!
Mod
2. Blood drinkers.
3. Shapeshifters. A Warning About Swans
4. Fire Creatures.
5. Creatures from religious mythology.
6. Ice/snow/winter creatures.
..."
I really enjoyed A Warning About Swans and Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands!
Mod
How it everyone doing on their challenges? Any favorite books so far? Any categories you're struggling with?
Mod
I've found myself reading a lot of books with talking, sentient animals and especially cats, so for my free spaces, I chose: Questing Cats and Talking Animals.
I've read a ton of excellent books for the challenge, but if I had to pick one favorite, it would be A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall. I used it for water creatures. It's a gorgeously written cozy epistolary fantasy. It's going to be one of my favorite books of the year.
I don't know why, but my first placeholder won't allow me to edit, so I'm reposting to update. 1. Sea and water creatures.
Examples: mermaids, kraken, kelpies, Loch Ness, Leviathan, Lusca, Umibozu, encantado, rusalka, and more. Song of the Sea
2.Blood drinkers.
Examples: vampires, Chupacabra, Penanggalan, Strigoi, Yakshini, and more.
3.Shapeshifters.
Examples: Werewolves, Kitsune, Werecats, Werehyenas, Tanuki, Skinwalkers, Nanaue, and more. After the Forest Blood Red
4. Fire Creatures.
Examples: Djinn, Dragons, Phoenix, and more. The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye: Five Fairy Stories Tooth and Claw
5.Creatures from religious mythology.
Examples: Angels, Demons, Gods, Demi-Gods and more. Matrix Penric’s Demon
6. Ice/snow/winter creatures.
Examples: Wendigo, Yeti, Yuki-Onna, Nuckelavee, Jack Frost, Ded Moroz, and more.
7. Forest Creatures.
Examples: dryads, all types of Fae including wood fae, elves, gnomes, goblins, and more. Winter Rose Blood Red
8.Creatures animated by magic.
Examples: golems, Frankenstein, Pinocchio, poppets, dolls, and more. Story "Dolls' Eyes," in Medusa's Ankles: Selected Stories
9. Hybrid creatures.
Examples: centaurs, fauns, gorgons, Griffiths, sphinx, the minotaur, and more. "The Lamia," in Medusa's Ankles: Selected Stories
10. Un-alive creatures.
Examples: ghosts, psychopomps, banshees, La Llorona, black dog, hellhounds, and more.
11. Free spot. re-reading of Tam Lin
12. Free spot.
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Margaret wrote: "The year is halfway over now!How it everyone doing on their challenges? Any favorite books so far? Any categories you're struggling with?"
I've finished two or more in several categories, but haven't hit on even a single book I want to finish reading for a few slots (unliving; winter/ice creatures; blood drinkers). And two slots are filled so far only with short stories. These categories are creatures whose stories I don't gravitate toward--and of course that's the challenge.
But I won't finish a book I'm not enjoying.
I'll browse the placeholders for books to sample.
Mod
How it everyone doing on their challenges? Any favorite books so far? Any categories you're struggling with?"
I've finished two or more in several c..."
I try not to finish books I'm not enjoying either. Last month I abandoned more than 10 books because I wasn't liking them!
You seem to enjoy some of the modern classic fantasy authors. I wonder if you would enjoy A Fine and Private Place by Peter S. Beagle for unliving? It's a quiet contemporary fantasy about ghosts.
How do you feel about Katherine Addison? Her The Cemeteries of Amalto novella series has unliving and blood drinkers, but they're not like, gruesome books.
Oh, do you like Terry Pratchett? The Death books?
Just some ideas! I know you weren't asking for recs!
Mod
How it everyone doing on their challenges? Any favorite books so far? Any categories you're struggling with?"
I've finished two or more in several c..."
Life is too short to force yourself to read a book you are not enjoying. It’s happened many times that at first I didn’t like a book, but once I continued reading I ended up liking it a lot, but if I still don’t like it after I’ve read about 1/4 I’ll stop.
I’m not a huge vampire fan but I did like both Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler and Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
For that matter, I don’t really like ghosts either, but did enjoy Silver Nitrate also by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas
Margaret wrote: "Susan wrote: "Margaret wrote: "The year is halfway over now!How it everyone doing on their challenges? Any favorite books so far? Any categories you're struggling with?"
I've finished two or mor..."
Oh, but I am grateful for recs--will start with the Beagle.
I think I found a series that co-stars the Snow Queen (the original by HC Andersen is a long-time favorite--hard to match her sinister mystique), and that series covers a lot of fairy tale retelling bases, so they count as market research for me. (My own adaptation of The Snow Queen is being included in an upcoming anthology play series.)
And I've never met Katherine Addison. So I'll take a look.
Margaret wrote: "The year is halfway over now!How it everyone doing on their challenges? Any favorite books so far? Any categories you're struggling with?"
I've overloaded on some categories and missing others- plenty of creatures from religion and hybrid creatures, still missing fire creatures and creatures animated by magic. Best so far have been Waking the Moon, Elizabeth Hand The Icarus Girl, Helen Oyeyemi, Enheduana Sophus Helle, The Fox Wife Yangsze Choo, and of course the Patricia McKillips.
Mod
How it everyone doing on their challenges? Any favorite books so far? Any categories you're struggling with?"
I've overloaded on some categories and..."
I haven't read any of those, though I had most on my want to read shelf!
Mod
How it everyone doing on their challenges? Any favorite books so far? Any categories you're struggling with?"
I've overloaded on some categories and..."
I loved Waking the Moon! It’s my favourite type of fantasy, where the magic or supernatural is not apparent at first, rather simmering under the surface! I haven’t thought of it for religious mythology but it is indeed! I also liked The Icarus Girlbut I haven’t read the others.
Margaret I think you would love Waking the Moon. We read it as a group read a number of years ago, but I think you hadn’t joined yet
Mod
How it everyone doing on their challenges? Any favorite books so far? Any categories you're struggling with?"
I've overloaded on some c..."
I'll have to read it one day!
Mod
How it everyone doing on their challenges? Any favorite books so far? Any categories you're struggling with?"
I've overloaded on some categories and..."
Rose, if you are interested here is our discussion thread from back then! /topic/show/...
Into the Forest
Books mentioned in this topic
The Raven and the Reindeer (other topics)A Warning About Swans (other topics)
A Warning About Swans (other topics)
The Raven and the Reindeer (other topics)
The Raven and the Reindeer (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
K. O'Neill (other topics)Mary Averling (other topics)
Mary Jo Adamson (other topics)
Katherine Arden (other topics)
Rebecca Roanhorse (other topics)
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Read an original tale, collection of tales, retelling, or novel with these creatures from myth and folklore:
1. Sea and water creatures.
Examples: mermaids, kraken, kelpies, Loch Ness, Leviathan, Lusca, Umibozu, encantado, rusalka, and more.
2.Blood drinkers.
Examples: vampires, Chupacabra, Penanggalan, Strigoi, Yakshini, and more.
3.Shapeshifters.
Examples: Werewolves, Kitsune, Werecats, Werehyenas, Tanuki, Skinwalkers, Nanaue, and more.
4. Fire Creatures.
Examples: Djinn, Dragons, Phoenix, and more.
5.Creatures from religious mythology.
Examples: Angels, Demons, Gods, Demi-Gods and more.
6. Ice/snow/winter creatures.
Examples: Wendigo, Yeti, Yuki-Onna, Nuckelavee, Jack Frost, Ded Moroz, and more.
7. Forest Creatures.
Examples: dryads, all types of Fae including wood fae, elves, gnomes, goblins, and more.
8.Creatures animated by magic.
Examples: golems, Frankenstein, Pinocchio, poppets, dolls, and more.
9. Hybrid creatures.
Examples: centaurs, fauns, gorgons, Griffiths, sphinx, the minotaur, and more.
10. Un-alive creatures.
Examples: ghosts, psychopomps, banshees, La Llorona, black dog, hellhounds, and more.
11. Free spot.
12. Free spot.