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Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

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2025 Challenge - Regular > 18 - A Book Containing Magical Creatures (that are not Dragons)

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message 1: by Nadine in NY (last edited Dec 03, 2024 11:02AM) (new)

Nadine in NY Jones | 9548 comments Mod
A book containing magical creatures that aren't dragons.

There are so many magical creatures out there! Fairies, sprites, vampires, unicorns, kodama ... how am I supposed to choose???


Listopia list is here: A Book Containing Magical Creatures (that are not Dragons)


message 2: by Rose (new)

Rose W | 116 comments OK - I need some help with this one. Any ideas???


message 3: by Ellie (new)

Ellie (patchworkbunny) | 1748 comments A perfect spot for the next Emily Wilde book I think!


message 4: by Bea (new)

Bea | 608 comments Would shapechangers like wereanimals work here?


message 5: by Brandon (new)

Brandon Harbeke | 696 comments Bea wrote: "Would shapechangers like wereanimals work here?"

I would say yes.

Other ideas would be vampire fiction or Animorphs.


message 6: by Bea (new)

Bea | 608 comments Brandon wrote: "Bea wrote: "Would shapechangers like wereanimals work here?"

I would say yes.

Other ideas would be vampire fiction or Animorphs."


Thanks, Brandon.


message 7: by Ally (new)

Ally (allybl) | 47 comments I love this prompt. I think any book with talking animals would even work here - like Hollow Kingdom. It could also stretch to the magical realism category like Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe or Garden Spells. I'd also shout out to Darynda Jones's books about Charley Davidson, Grim Reaper if you like fun paranormal fantasy with a bunch of sex and snark.


message 8: by Tania (last edited Dec 04, 2024 11:41AM) (new)

Tania | 678 comments Books I've read and recommend:

Reawakened
The Wizard's Butler
Poor Unfortunate Soul
Origins
Evernight

Poison Study - I'm not sure if we're counting people as creatures, I don't remember if there are actual creatures but the people have magic, so it's a judgement call as to whether this fits, but since we are considering vampires I thought we might consider this as well and this series is amazing

Singer of Souls - I actually don't recommend this one, because it gave me nightmares for weeks, but if you don't get nightmares from books then sure, go ahead, because it's well written


message 9: by Denise (last edited Dec 06, 2024 01:57PM) (new)

Denise | 372 comments Ellie wrote: "A perfect spot for the next Emily Wilde book I think!"

I agree! Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales

For anyone who hasn't read this delightful series with fairies yet, the first one is Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries. It also does get dark, just as a warning. Not like grimm dark, but a little dark. There are cruel fairies.


message 10: by Ashley Marie (new)

Ashley Marie  | 1027 comments I need to know what PS has against dragons, suddenly.

But I'll probably plug in an InCryptid book (or maybe start the October Daye series) here, Seanan McGuire is amazing with fantasy creatures.


message 11: by Michele (new)

Michele Olson | 99 comments Ashley Marie wrote: "I need to know what PS has against dragons, suddenly.

But I'll probably plug in an InCryptid book (or maybe start the October Daye series) here, Seanan McGuire is amazing with fantasy creatures."


Probably because we just did a dragon category this year, and no one likes a repeat.


message 12: by Megan (new)


message 13: by Donna (new)

Donna | 8 comments The Spellshop would be a good one for this. It’s cosy fantasy and a really lovely read


message 14: by K.L. (new)

K.L. Middleton (theunapologeticbookworm) | 817 comments I definitely second Donna's recommendation of The Spellshop. I read it last month and absolutely loved it!

I'd also recommend Howl’s Moving Castle as another cozy fantasy option for this prompt.


message 15: by Cyndy (new)

Cyndy (cyndy-ksreader) | 133 comments Would any of the Serafina books fit this prompt?


message 16: by Nadine in NY (last edited Dec 20, 2024 04:12PM) (new)

Nadine in NY Jones | 9548 comments Mod
Cyndy wrote: "Would any of the Serafina books fit this prompt?"



That's up to you. There are humans, and dragons, and human-dragon hybrids, and there are quig, which are sort of small quasi-dragon creatures.


message 17: by Cyndy (new)

Cyndy (cyndy-ksreader) | 133 comments Nadine in NY wrote: "Cyndy wrote: "Would any of the Serafina books fit this prompt?"
That's up to you. There are humans, and dragons, and human-dragon hybrids, and there are quig, which are sort of small quasi-drago..."


Thanks. I couldn't tell from the book descriptions. All I read is there was magic in the forest. So, I was assuming magical creatures.


message 18: by Nadine in NY (new)

Nadine in NY Jones | 9548 comments Mod
Cyndy wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Cyndy wrote: "Would any of the Serafina books fit this prompt?"
That's up to you. There are humans, and dragons, and human-dragon hybrids, and there are quig, which are sort of..."




Hang on, I was referring to the wrong books! I thought you meant Rachel Hartman's books about dragons. But you must mean a different series with that name - so I take it back, I have no idea!!


message 19: by Jen W. (last edited Dec 22, 2024 02:00PM) (new)

Jen W. (piratenami) | 497 comments Cyndy wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Cyndy wrote: "Would any of the Serafina books fit this prompt?"
That's up to you. There are humans, and dragons, and human-dragon hybrids, and there are quig, which are sort of..."


Assuming you meant Serafina and the Black Cloak, there were shapeshifters and magic, but no dragons that I remember. (I only read the first book, though.) I think it would probably count.


message 20: by Diana (new)

Diana (candystripelegs) | 241 comments Hmm....

For Faeries and Fae:
The Modern Faerie Tale series by Holly Black would work for this: /series/4185...

So would the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa: /series/4732...


There's also a few Goblin Market related stories and series that would be great:
Not Good for Maidens
Shades of Rust and Ruin

I got a nice illustrated copy of the Goblin Market for Christmas that I'll probably use: Christina Rossetti's Goblin Market

For vampires:
Vampires Never Get Old: Tales with Fresh Bite
My Roommate Is a Vampire

For mermaids and other sea related creatures:
Sea Witch
Sea Witch Rising
The watersong series should work: /series/5867...


message 21: by Denise (new)

Denise | 301 comments I’m going to read Ariadne


message 23: by Laura (new)

Laura P. | 161 comments Donna wrote: "The Spellshop would be a good one for this. It’s cosy fantasy and a really lovely read"

That's what I'm reading. It's been sitting on my nightstand since it was released.


message 24: by Ketutar (new)

Ketutar Jensen | 98 comments I recommend:
The Black Gryphon (Mage Wars #1) by Mercedes Lackey The White Gryphon (Mage Wars, #2) by Mercedes Lackey The Silver Gryphon (Mage Wars, #3) by Mercedes Lackey

If you are not into Fantasy, there's
In Calabria by Peter S. Beagle
It's more magical realism, the unicorns are treated more like natural animals :-) It's a very lovely story, but Peter Beagle's stories often are


message 25: by Julie (new)

Julie Anne | 1 comments I just finished Fairytale by Stephen King and I think it goes well for this prompt as it has many different magic creatures that are not dragons. 😊


message 26: by Rachel (new)

Rachel | 34 comments Siren Sisters by Dana Langer This was a quicky young adult one I'd had on my TBR for awhile.


message 27: by Ron (new)

Ron | 2653 comments Been having a hard time with this one. The only real magical creature books I have are Twilight books but I've read those religiously.

I'm thinking of going with The Odyssey for this one, however I might have another that could work:

Why We Love (and Hate) Twilight: The Highs and Lows of the Twilight Saga - This is a critical analysis of essays about Stephenie Meyer's vampire/werewolf saga that I think might fit here.


message 28: by Brandon (new)

Brandon Harbeke | 696 comments Ron wrote: "Been having a hard time with this one. The only real magical creature books I have are Twilight books but I've read those religiously.

I'm thinking of going with [book:The Odyssey|138..."


The author of Why We Love (and Hate) Twilight was recently on the podcast The Worst Bestsellers if you want to hear more from her.


message 29: by Ron (new)

Ron | 2653 comments Brandon wrote: "Ron wrote: "Been having a hard time with this one. The only real magical creature books I have are Twilight books but I've read those religiously.

I'm thinking of going with [book:The..."


Interesting thanks. The worst bestsellers in that she considers Twilight to be a worst best seller or that her book is a worst best seller?


message 30: by Brandon (new)

Brandon Harbeke | 696 comments Sarah Gallagher was just a guest on the podcast, which is run by two other regular hosts. "Worst" in the podcast title is not always accurate. Besides their regular Nora Roberts month and flashback summers, which tend to feature books that the participants are mostly positive about, the other books being discussed tend to be popular books that will spark discussion.

Over the last two years of listening, my favorite talk was probably about Spare by Prince Harry (Episode 217).


message 31: by K.L. (last edited Apr 04, 2025 02:19PM) (new)

K.L. Middleton (theunapologeticbookworm) | 817 comments Ron wrote: "Been having a hard time with this one. The only real magical creature books I have are Twilight books but I've read those religiously.

I'm thinking of going with..."


Ooh! The Odyssey would be such a great choice for this prompt!


message 32: by Ron (new)

Ron | 2653 comments Brandon wrote: "Sarah Gallagher was just a guest on the podcast, which is run by two other regular hosts. "Worst" in the podcast title is not always accurate. Besides their regular Nora Roberts month and flashback..."

Cool I'll have to take a listen. I'm excited for Sarah's new book. If it's anything like her Twilight videos it'll be fun. She's a Twilight fan but she also likes to break down the negatives of it. While I don't always agree with her takes, I have fun listening to what she has to say.


message 33: by Ron (new)

Ron | 2653 comments Brandon wrote: "Sarah Gallagher was just a guest on the podcast, which is run by two other regular hosts. "Worst" in the podcast title is not always accurate. Besides their regular Nora Roberts month and flashback..."

Cool I'll have to take a listen. I'm excited for Sarah's new book. If it's anything like her Twilight videos it'll be fun. She's a Twilight fan but she also likes to break down the negatives of it. While I don't always agree with her takes, I have fun listening to what she has to say.


message 34: by Ron (new)

Ron | 2653 comments K.L. wrote: Ooh! The Odyssey would be such a great choice for this prompt!

Yeah it's perfect. I wrapped it though in one of my TBR's and can't remember which month I placed it in (I wrapped books as TBR's from May through October) so I wouldn't even know when I'd be able to get to it.


message 35: by Heather (new)

Heather (heatherw25) | 4 comments Fan Service by Rosie Danan is a fun werewolf book, especially if you were into late 90s/early 00s CW shows


message 36: by Sasha (new)

Sasha  Wolf | 105 comments I read Vanya and the Wild Hunt for this and found it an enjoyable, quick and refreshing read with a diverse cast of characters. The main character is a neurodivergent British Indian girl who goes to a magical school based in India, with pupils from all over the world, where her gay uncles are on the staff. There's also a lesbian couple amongst the background characters, who I hope we might get to know better in later instalments of the series. Magical creatures mentioned include fairies, fallen stars, winged deer and horses, phoenixes, chimeras, fey dogs, rainbow fish, and a chicken that lays chocolate eggs.


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