I felt that this would be a great way to learn a little bit about me and my favourite books! I also felt like I needed to update this as I have read loads recently.

What is your fantasy origin story? (The first fantasy you read)

Plot: The Tower of Babel is the greatest marvel in the world. Immense as a mountain, the ancient Tower holds unnumbered ringdoms, warring and peaceful, stacked one on the other like the layers of a cake. It is a world of geniuses and tyrants, of airships and steam engines, of unusual animals and mysterious machines. Soon after arriving for his honeymoon at the Tower, the mild-mannered headmaster of a small village school, Thomas Senlin, gets separated from his wife, Marya, in the overwhelming swarm of tourists, residents, and miscreants. Senlin is determined to find Marya, but to do so he’ll have to navigate madhouses, ballrooms, and burlesque theaters. He must survive betrayal, assassins, and the long guns of a flying fortress. But if he hopes to find his wife, he will have to do more than just endure. This quiet man of letters must become a man of action.

Now this isn’t my first ever fantasy book but it is the book I hail as the book that kickstarted my love of reading and what kickstarted this blog and other exciting opportunities.

If you could be the hero/heroine in a fantasy novel, who would be the author and what’s one trope you’d insist be in the story?

Last year I chose Stephanie Garber for her whimsical settings etc. but recently I have wanted to choose the likes of Travis Baldree or Rebecca Thorne. Mainly because I don’t want to suffer in anyway – I want that cosy fantasy life and that only please.

What is a fantasy series you’ve read this year, that you want more people to read?

Last year I chose the Frieren series which is still such a great series. I have read a further 4 volumes and it’s just so good. I have actually started collecting it as well! But for the sake of an update the new series I would recommend is…

Plot: In a remote mountain village under the watchful eyes of two stone guardians, the young Yuru contentedly lives off the land while staying close to the only family he has left—Asa, his precious twin sister. Asa, meanwhile, carries out a mysterious “duty” on behalf of the village while locked in a cage. Why is Asa a prisoner? And what other secrets does Yuru’s otherwise idyllic home hide?

Hiromu Arakawa never misses. This first volume is in the elite few of first volumes that blow me away and are a 5 star!

What is your favourite fantasy subgenre? What subgenre have you not read much of?

Like last year it remains the same. Love Steampunk, haven’t read much grim dark. Though I did buy some grim dark books last year which is great to get the ball rolling!

Who are your auto-buy authors?

This year has been less of a focus of buying from my auto buy authors and I have actually been focusing on reading and promoting new authors to me! i.e.

• Lysandra Vuong – Author of Covenant (Urban Fantasy)
• Lucy Holland – Author of Song of the Huntress (Historical Fantasy)
• Jodie Matthews – Author of Meet Me at the Surface (Urban Folklore)

How do you typically find fantasy recommendations?

As we know, I work as a bookseller, so a lot of my recs comes from work. But recently I have been able to work with publishers more closely over upcoming releases and I have recently connected with a self-published author on his new fantasy book.

What upcoming fantasy releases are you excited for?

Blood Over Bright Haven – Is out in the UK in October but I believe it has been out self-published/America already!

What is one misconception about the fantasy genre you would like to lay to rest?

Recently I would say the discussion surrounding Romantasy and it being a ‘lesser’ sub genre in fantasy. I think this is due to some of the more popular books being a little bit on the average side for seasoned fantasy readers who wanted a bit more. But here are 3 romance focused books that I think are 100% amazing!

These books not ‘romantasy’ per se but the romance in these stories are key to the novel. From a married couple, probably the best written love triangle and two morally grey characters finding solace in each other.

If someone had never read a fantasy book before, what 3 books would you choose to get them started.

These were some previous faves of mine that I think are good easier fantasy reads for new readers.