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Are you bored? Do you want to escape from the metaphorical chains that are holding you down to the Earth’s crust? Do you want to be a hero? Did you answer ‘yes’ to any of those questions? Behold; me. I am here to guide you through the dark, forbidden forest and to the beauty that is fantasy books. First years, this way!
Fantasy is, well, fantastic. It is for the brave to jump head first and become the hero that they were destined to be. But there are few among our ranks who are hesitant. If you claim that you don’t like “wizards” or “witches” or you only like the “real world”, you are lying and have yet to experience the world that is fantasy. Be warned, it is not for the light hearted. A fantasy book or series is a commitment, a commitment to adventure, a commitment to bravery. You make that commitment and it is set in stone and there is no going back from that. So, are you ready?
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If you want to hang with the cool kids of fantasy then you cannot just slide by without reading Harry Potter. It’s an international treasure. There are seven books in total and they are all fantastic. Do you really need me to explain Harry Potter to you? Have you been living under a rock? Did you not see Emma Watson’s speech at the UN? That last question isn’t that relevant to Harry Potter but you should still check it out. Anyway, you just need to go read because this is the pathway for escapism because who doesn’t want to go to a wizarding school and learn magic? Exactly. Everyone should read Harry Potter, it’s a human right, trust me. Moving on…
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You know what I’m talking about. The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices and, most recently, Magisterium (though this is part of a different series). If you want to laugh, if you want some sass, if you want to kick some ass then this is where you turn to. The Infernal Devices is the prequel to The Mortal Instruments so it doesn’t really matter which ones you read first. TID has three book whereas TMI has six books but if you’re going to start reading them, don’t watch the City of Bones film first because a) spoilers and b) it’s not that great (so I think). Personally, out of the two series, I prefer The Infernal Devices because I loved the Victorian London setting and they are easier to get you in to the pool of Shadowhunter love if you read them first. BUT, I have a big but (no pun intended), if you read TMI first and get to the last book of the series, it’s going to spoil TID for you so, just saying.
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This is quickly becoming one of my favourite fantasy series ever. There are going to be six books in this series and a prequel has already been published and it is just as wonderful as the other books. Throne of Glass follows this tough, fierce, cool assassin and guess what else? She’s a female. What’s that? Girl power, that’s what it is. The fantasy world for this is brilliant. It is set in a world where there was magic but the king abolished all magic and there are fairies and other fantasy beings. Action, lots of it. It’s amazing so just read it. If I was going to grade it, I would give it an A. What does the A stand for? Assassins? Action? Awesome? All are applicable. Do you now feel like you are able to continue the journey? Can you navigate the ocean that is fantasy books? And please, share the worlds which you love to delve in to.