Author: unicornfantasybookreviews

Gender Inequality and Disney Princesses: A Rant

Hello. Today I am writing about why I strongly dislike Disney’s depiction of women and its effect on society. I have very strong views on Disney and Grimm’s fairy-tales, and why they are the opposite of role-modeling for people all over the world. 

Not only do Grimm’s fairy-tales follow a certain archetype, they are also widely known and merchandised, what with Disney taking these stories and transforming them for a wide-spread audience.

This is a thoroughly written, provocative rant, that I hope will give readers insight to my views on Disney’s sexism, and how much it impacts the world.

This rant will cover the following:

-Beauty and appearance

-Weakness

-Dependence on men

The Rant:

First and foremost, there are obvious sexist opinions from the producers of Disney. There are plenty of characters that are portrayed in a number of sexist ways. 

First of all is the Disney princess archetype. The women in Disney are often small and petite, with blue eyes and blonde hair. There are some exceptions to this, such as Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Even she, however, is weak, and shorter than many of the male characters in the movie. She is portrayed as a bookworm, but all she sings about is her fairy-tale ending with a happily ever after. Even this ‘headstrong’ girl, is heavily reliant on her prince. I get it, she fell in love with the Beast. But he is a prince in disguise. 

This tells young girls that they must rely on men, and that they can never truly be independent. 

In the Disney movies, the princesses always wait for a prince to come and save them. This not only tells girls to become obsessed with boys in romantic ways, it says that they do not have to work hard for anything, and that they will always get what they want. 

Disney movies also include male characters who are tall with square jaws who are incredibly brave. (Prince Charming from Cinderella, the General from Mulan, the Beast from Beauty and the Beast.)

These male characters not only tell boys that they need to be strong, they tell girls that boys are stronger than them. The characters also tell both genders that boys are always heroic and  emotionless, and that they should not be weak.  

I think that this is very unfair to both genders. On that note, Disney excludes gay and lesbian characters, transgender characters and other characters of other sexualities and sexual preferences. Disney has a very narrow-minded view on the world, and the ‘roles’ that we must play to fit in with society. 

One thing I cannot stand is the voices of the characters, specifically the singing voices. All of the girls, even Mulan, who is stronger than a lot of the other female Disney characters, has a chirpy bird-like voice. I do not understand this, because as seen in Mulan, the character’s talking voice is low. But in the songs that probably stand out to audiences more than the plot, the voice is high-pitched. 

All the men have low voices, that sound the same as well. Clearly Disney thinks that all girls have soprano ranges, and all men are bratones or bases. This is also extremely sexist, and is accepted by the millions of Disney fans all over the world. 

No wonder that sexism is such a problem in the modern world. With the internet, Disney is even more popularized. The messages on the internet spread even faster than those on television. 

There is another sexist view that should be addressed. It is a common theme in Disney movies for the prince to ‘fall in love’ with a princess. Is this really love, or is it lust?

The prince from Snow White sees her body in a coffin. He does not know who she is, he doesn’t know what her background is or what her personality is like. He doesn’t even know her name. He sees her body and her sexuality, and clearly thinks that she is a conquest or a trophy. And when Snow White wakes up, she seems okay with that! 

Snow White is also one of the youngest Disney princesses, being twelve years old. The prince who comes to ‘save her’ is realistically sixteen, at the youngest, and twenty-one at the oldest. This is also a disguised rape scene. He sees her young body and falls for her, and with his older age and charm, he gets her to like him back. Apparently adult audiences are okay with this, because they show the movie to their children. 

The same scenario occurs in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. The girl is asleep for one-hundred years, and along comes an older, handsome prince who falls in love with her sleeping facade. This is not ‘true love’ in my opinion. It is also lust. He does not care whatsoever, what this girl’s personality is like, or what her opinions on life are. He does not care about this, only her body. 

This is a despicable portrayal of what is acceptable in romance. These movies claim that girls are helpless, and men are only interested in their bodies. The sexism in these particular scenes is clear. 

The original Grimm’s fairy-tales from which Disney took these stories are worse, where the prince actually rapes Sleeping Beauty when she is asleep. Even though Walt Disney did not put this in his movie, the movie still emphasizes and claims that this is okay. 

The commercial industry does not help either. They put images of princesses on girls clothing, which can only be found in girl’s sections of stores. The princess toys are sold in what are usually pink boxes, and have pictures of only girls playing with the dolls. This is segregation of genders, and it needs to stop. 

In Disney’s new live-action version of Aladdin, princess Jasmine is portrayed the same way as the other Disney female characters. Slim, high-voice, and pink-colored clothes. Viewers hoped that Jasmine would not be made into a sexist character in the new movie, but it was disappointing that Disney used the same approach that they use to all of the other female characters. They are conquests, designed to please men. Jasmine’s character in both films is forced to marry a prince. Aladdin becomes one just to marry her, and even tells her that he loves her, when he doesn’t even know her. 

Overall, I am very angry about the way that women are portrayed in Disney films. Not only that, but commercials and designers take this to another level by creating clothes and merchandise with the characters (and therefore sexist views) plastered all over t-shirts and dresses. I am frustrated because this issue does not seem to stop, with new Disney films such as Frozen 2 being released every year.

I would like to have a real princess, for once. One whose body doesn’t define her, who can chose to marry or not marry. One who can reflect change, perhaps as a lesbian or transgender princess who the public admires, just as they would admire a glittery, slim, straight, married princess who dotes on cute animals. 

For once, I would like to see a character who does not look like previous princesses, one who is a different color or ethnicity. I would like to see Disney’s live films try to actually research the cultures of the characters they are showing. 

This is why I am openly against most Disney movies, and their sexism. I am, in fact, furious about the lack of change that we have seen throughout these movies. 

Perhaps we can see a Disney prince and princess who work together to solve their problems, and are equal, with equal rights. Let’s have a princess who works at a laboratory, or a university. Let’s have scientists and engineers, not helpless ‘damsels in distress’. 

I cannot change Disney, but I can alert and educate other people of why the company is so sexist. I think that people all over the world need to realize that Disney does not encourage young people. It diminishes them. 

We can change this sexist way of thinking, by educating people and teaching them what this popular company has done. It has not divided us by plague, or road, or wall, but by a gap in all genders. 

–Helena K. Hollander, at UnicornFantasyBookReviews.com

 

Okay, Joseph Campbell fans, don’t hate me.

Today I thought I’d rant about why I hate the Hero’s Journey. I am only doing this, because the hero’s journey is used in everything from sci-fi to fantasy.

Think about it.

Is it freaky that, when you really ponder it, Harry Potter, Star Wars and Jumanji are all the same story? Minus the droids, wizards and wild animals, the plots are identical. For example, all have a main hero who starts out as a complete loser. He is geeky and scrawny, and complains about his situation.

(Especially Luke. Luke is the whiniest kid in the entire galaxy.)

Look how whiny that is! Stop whining, we get it!

(Okay back on topic.)

Anyway, I get tired of going to a bookstore, picking a fantasy book off the shelf, and then putting it back after a typical scenario like this:

Me: This looks like a great book!

-reads description-

Me: Boy of sixteen…discovers magic in an unusual circumstance…meets a beautiful girl who he saves from a monster…old mentor…(Sigh.)

-cliche much?-

Me: Nope. I’m not reading this predictable junk. 

This has actually happened many times, believe it or not. I just can’t get over the predictability!

I think that if you are planning on writing a fantasy book, make a plot twist! Examples are:

-Another group of adventurers completes your quest.

-You are kidnapped.

-A main character dies. (Cough, Ned Stark, cough.)

Change it up, be unpredictable! Also, do we really need those old mentors? Why can’t they be young for once, and more helpful? To see more about this, go to this page: The Most Unhelpful Wizards I’ve Ever Read.

Anyway, there are just so many alternatives to a story than a teenage boy who goes on a magical journey. It has just been done so much, that authors are just telling the same story over and over and over and over again.

So, a final word to readers and writers out there:

There is nothing wrong with any of these books. They are great! They are just so cliche and predictable, that it is hard to find differences and be surprised by them.

Personally, I think that the best books are the ones that are new, something we haven’t seen before. It can be really hard to come up with ideas, but I believe that everyone has this potential.

So read, write and never be afraid to share your ideas about books and fantasy, because chances are, people will want to hear what you have to say!

Don’t stop writing!

And of course, Don’t Stop Believing. It is a hero’s Journey, after all!

 

 

Yay!

Finally, a truly biased review!

Okay, so you know how I give writing tips from time to time? How I write reviews on my favorite fantasy books of all time? (So far, anyway.) Well, I’ve done it! I have published a book of my own.

Today I will be reviewing my own book. I published the kindle edition on December 1, and I officially published the paperback on December 11, 2018. This book is the first of its trilogy, and I have already started writing the second book.

Today I will introduce my plot, and then my characters.

The first book, Connection of the Worlds, follows four main characters as they discover that the world around them is actually full of ancient mythological creatures from many different pantheons.

Connection of the Worlds

In the first book, the first character we are introduced to is Tor Anderson. (After a mysterious and foreshadowing prologue, of course.) Tor is just your average kid, who does somewhat well at school, has a best friend, and a worst enemy. While walking home from school, Tor sees a couple of mysterious people. One is a woman, who looks like she’ll kill him. Another is a girl, maybe a year or two older than him, who doesn’t look much nicer. Despite her apparent anger, the girl, (A.K.A. the Greek goddess Athena.) is actually trying to hunt down various mythical beings. Tor doesn’t quite believe her, but agrees to meet up with her the next day. Athena thinks that Tor might have more to him than he realizes.

On our other side of the story, we meet Luna, a quiet girl who is shy, and has a great secret. She is the daughter of a Chinese moon goddess. Luna is eventually led to Washington State, where she meets our fourth and most mysterious character yet: Seth Frederick. Seth had been living in a public library for two years. Anyway, Seth and Luna briefly meet, then Seth leaves.

Eventually, Tor and Athena find themselves on an epic quest to find the other two Children of Myth, destined heroes of an ancient prophecy.

Will they find the other two? Maybe with great trials, and epic adventures into various realms and cities. Perhaps they will even find out what the Power is, and find a way to stop Chaotic gods from finding their way into the human world.

Characters

Okay, so after that dramatic ending of my summery, let’s jump into who these heroes really are.

Tor Anderson

Tor is thirteen years old. He is often the comic relief, and is quick to come up with a joke in a time of catastrophe. He doesn’t have any superpowers, but that doesn’t stop him from becoming a lovable hero. He believes he is the son of the Norse god of thunder, Thor. When he’s not in school, Tor enjoys reading and drawing superhero comics, and surfing at the beach in his hometown: San Diego, California.

Athena

Warfare, wisdom, weaving, you name it. Athena is a Greek goddess, with powers of metamorphosis, flight, and the use of two wicked shortspears, she is totally ready to fight hoards of demons. Bring it on! Athena grew up on Mount Olympus, and has helped numerous heroes of different prophecies. Now, she is one. You can count on her to draw up a battle plan, or improvise. Whichever technique, she is ready to face Chaos, no doubt about it!

Luna Wong

Luna is also thirteen, and is shy and quiet. She is extremely thoughtful about people and situations, and is nice to everyone, including strangers. Luna enjoys riding her horses, Storm and Shadow, and flying her chariot pulled by them. (Forgot to mention that in the summery.) Luna also uses a bag of Moondust, a special powder given to her by her mother, Chang’e. Luna has good night vision, and is quick to help anyone in need.

Seth Frederick

Seth is mysterious. Seriously, this guy is hiding from his past. Bad vibes. For the past two years of his life, he’s lived in a library, surrounded by books and knowledge. He never thought his life would change, until a sight on a nearby rooftop caught his eye. He left the library, and later discovered his father was actually Horus, (Heru Sa Aset.) the falcon, war-god from Egyptian Mythology. Seth uses a wicked-looking obsidian dagger as a weapon, and also has a power you wouldn’t expect by looking at him. Incredible strength.

Conclusion

So that was it! A description and review of my book. I have given the book nine unicorns, the extra unicorn taken off because I am the author. (Ha ha.)

Overall, I really enjoy my characters. Humor is a great part of my book, and when you read it, I advise that you do not skim. Why? Like any book, you’ll miss the funny bits, and also descriptions.

Take your time reading, then please write a review on Amazon.com. Thanks!

Also, remember to get my next to books in the trilogy, which I have not published yet, but will hopefully come out sometime soon.

If you are interested in my other blog, fully dedicated to Connection of the Worlds, check it out at: connectionoftheworlds.com

Remember, keep reading and writing! You never know where it will take you. 🙂

Hi everyone! Here is a post on creating a good character! In my Writing Fiction 1 post,  I gave a basic character sheet. Today I thought we’d go over this in more detail.

Every character needs a name.

I’m going to create a female superhero today. I’m thinking I’d like a strong, masculine sounding name. Also, my character needs a name for her alter-ego.  I’m going to name my character Ace.  I’m thinking her name name can actually be a nickname. Depth already! Who calls her by her nickname? Does anyone call her by her actual name? These are questions that you can think about when creating a character of your own.

Name: Jacelyn (Ace) Campbell A.K.A The Hornet

Ace is a superhero, with powers like a bee. Her alter-ego will be called Hornet.  Another question to think about: What drives this character? Why do they do what they do (For good or bad.)? Where are they from, and do they live with anyone? Are they an adult? Do they have a spouse, or a parent living with them? This takes us to age.

Age: Sixteen

Ace is sixteen. She lives with her dad. Her mom was a French artist who got stung by a bee while giving birth. She died, but Ace lived. The bee had affected Ace’s genetics, and Ace was born with superpowers. Ace wants to get a job, so she can have a normal college education. Her dad insists on living a secret life. He is an inventor, and designs high-tech suits and gadgets for his daughter. While Ace lives in an abandoned subway tunnel, her nemesis Cobra grows up in town. Cobra was bitten by a snake, but treats her powers as a curse, rather than a gift. Another good question to ask: Does your character like who they are? What do they want to change or improve? Do they have a nemesis with similar or improved powers?

Birthday: August 31st, 2002

This makes Ace sixteen to this date. The story would presumably take place the year of 2018. Perhaps it is a coming of age story. Maybe Ace wants to get out of the subway and see the world. Maybe she wants her dad to come with her, but he refuses. Good questions with this stage are: Does this character have lots of wisdom? (Older characters might.) Does this character act mature or imature for his/her age?

Height: 5′ 9″

Another thing, Ace is pretty tall. She is athletic and trains everyday. She is strong and nimble, but is weakened when it comes to running. Fortunately, one of Ace’s powers is flight. She can fly for several hours, but has to stop eventually or her powers will start to weaken. Questions to ask: Does this character have any athletic advantages or disadvantages? If your character is a dwarf, (Take Gimle from Lord of the Rings.) he will have a very hard time running. He is strong, though, and that makes up for it. An elf, (Legolas, also from Lord of the Rings.) has much more agility and longer legs. They can run much faster.

Gender: (Optional.) Female

Okay, so you’re probably thinking Why gender? Wouldn’t that be obvious? The truth is, no. What if you have a transgender character, or another sex altogether? Usually men are stronger and taller, so maybe Ace has to train a lot harder. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to make women sound weak! Ace is just as muscular and strong as Superman or Thor. (Maybe more like Wonder Woman, since Ace can’t shoot lasers or down oceans in one gulp.) Think about gender, and provide as much details on your characters as necessary.

Habits: Chews fingernails and pencils when irritated or nervous.

Habits are things characters do unconsciously, like biting a nail, or tugging a braid. These can be major or minor flaws, depending on how serious they are. These habits can be good too, like always using manners, or listening when people talk. Other habits might be talking too loud all the time, or snorting when laughing.

Hobbies: Enjoys reading, tinkering with gadgets, and also likes to do art.

Hobbies are things the character might enjoy doing, such as reading, or playing a musical  instrument.  These really add more depth to your characters. Maybe your character feels awkward in P.E. class, but excels at Math and Language Arts.

Power(s): Flight, stinger.

You’re probably picturing a bee-like stinger. It is not so; my character can actually shoot gold colored lasers from her fingertips. What powers does your character have? Whether it’s super-clumsiness, or shooting lasers from your eyeballs, your character has a strength. They also have a weakness! As hard as it is, you must give them one. Even invincibility is a weakness. Maybe the character never dies, but they might still feel pain. My character Ace suffers from dyslexia. She has a hard time reading, but this doesn’t stop her from trying to read. Reading is the source of imagination for her art. She doesn’t go to school, but her dad teaches her how to read and write, among other things. Where does your character get his/her knowledge?

Friends/Family: Ace’s Dad, Mike; Jeffery; Dr. Onions

Who are the last two people? Well, maybe Jeffery is a human boy who Ace saves. (A love interest?) Maybe Dr. Onions is a loyal dog Ace saves as well. Maybe she found him abandoned in the subway tunnel. Maybe when she went into town for the first time, she found him there. There characters are not protagonists, but they can still have just as much depth. A character profile could be created for any of these characters.

So that’s it! My step-by-step character profile. It’s an important part of writing, because without good characters, there is not a good story!

I hope you enjoyed this post, and I hope it helps with any books you might try to write. The main character is an inspirational person. Maybe they have flaws, but they still try to do the right thing. That’s what makes them so good; so human.

And remember:

Enjoy writing and reading!

You saw the title. I can bet you almost everyone reading this is picturing the blonde superhero. Well, if you weren’t, I bet you are now!

Ha ha.

Well, today I thought I’d explain the differences between the superhero and the mythological figure.

Thor (Mythology) Basics:

1. Thor is the Norse thunder god.
2. He is the son of Odin, the chief god. Thor is Sif’s husband.  And, Thor is not Loki’s brother!
3. Thor has red hair! He is not attractive, and is probably red in the face all the time.
4. Thor’s hammer has a short handle.

 

Thor (Superhero) Basics:

1. Thor is still a Norse god.
2. Thor is the son of Odin and Frigga, but is not married. Sif is in the Thor movies, but is not a major character. She is depicted with dark hair. (She is a pretty cool character in the first Thor movie.) In the movies Loki is Thor’s adoptive brother.
3. Thor has blonde hair! Long, blonde hair that flows in some imaginary wind. Thor also wears a superhero costume, which is red, blue and grey.
4. Thor’s hammer has a super long handle!

 

Thor Mythological Feats:

Thor is a Norse god. He has the ability to summon thunder, not lightning. He downs part of the sea in a few gulps, wrestles with old age herself, and defeats the serpent, Jormungandr. (Spoilers!)

Thor actually is killed by the serpent, at the same time he kills it.

This is during Ragnarok, the end of the world. Vikings believed this would eventually happen. The wolf Fenrir would break it’s chains and swallow the sun and moon. Loki would turn against the gods, and help his frost giant brethren sail to Asgard, on the ship of nails. Then Hel, Norse goddess of death, would release the dead into Midgard. (Earth.) The nine worlds would be covered in ice and snow, and gods would die trying to save them. Odin would lead the Valkyries from Valhalla, (Afterlife for heroes.) and they would be slaughtered by giants. Then Odin would die while facing Fenrir. Then Thor dies, then Frey, then most of the other gods. But luckily, the giants would go down with them! Then, the only two humans left, would discover a reborn Earth, and would repopulate it. A new sun and moon would rise, and the cycle would repeat again.

Happy, huh?

While, if you watch the Thor movies, don’t worry. Ragnarok is full of superheroes and bright explosions. There are powerful weapons, a Valkyrie, another superhero the Hulk, and then Thor dies. (Ha ha. Just kidding. They wouldn’t kill off Chris Hemsworth.)  In the movies and mythology, Thor is not perfect. In fact, in Norse Mythology, even the gods aren’t perfect. Far from it, actually. That is why they are so interesting to learn about.

For anyone willing to read a book on Norse Mythology, try one or all of these:

Neil Gaimon’s Norse Mythology really good! It is written in a great style, with tons of conflicted characters.

D’aulaires’ Book of Norse Myths is great as well. It could be a children’s book, I suppose, but I think it is informative and funny at the same time. I recommend it!

Rick Riordan’s Magnus Chase is an awesome version of the ancient myths. It combines humor, myth, and great characters. (Go Magnus! Go Blitz, Hearth, Sam, Alex!) I definitely liked it, though if you haven’t read Riordan’s other books, read those first.

 

So that’s it! Thor vs. Thor.  Go watch the movies, read Norse Mythology. You’ll see differences and similarities. Overall Thor is a good character. He is entertaining and funny.

One of these differences is his hair color. His wife Sif is the blonde one. She actually gets her hair chopped off by Loki. Loki begs for forgiveness, and asks dwarves to craft presents for the gods. They end up creating Thor’s hammer, and new hair for Sif. In the movie, as I mentioned, Sif is a brunette and a minor character. (Watch Thor Ragnarok for more on Thor’s hair. You’ll see similarities between him and Sif!)

Anyway, that’s all for today!

I hope you enjoyed reading about Thor!

 

 

The Dragonets are coming.

Hi everyone! This review is on the series Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland. Sutherland has also written other books as well, several of which I have read and enjoyed. But back on track.

I read Wings of Fire a while ago, and decided I really liked it! This is definitely a good read for Middle School and Young Adult. I think people of all ages will enjoy the series, which follows different dragons in every book.

This review will be on the first book, the Dragonet Prophecy.  This is from the perspective of sweet and adventurous Clay.

Dragonet Prophecy.

There is a war on the dragon continent of Pyrrhia. Seven tribes are locked in a deadly three-way battle, over who will be the new queen of the Sandwings. (The tribes are Mudwings, Seawings, Rainwings, Nightwings, Sandwings, Icewings, and Skywings.)

A group of dragons from all of these tribes, The Talons of Peace, has heard a prophecy predicting the arrival of  five dragonets, (young dragons) who will end the war. On the brightest night, a group of dragons collects the dragon eggs. One, however, the Skywing, is broken. They decide to use a Rainwing egg instead for that one. (Rainwings are supposed to be lazy, but this one is definitely not!)

The five dragons grow up in a cave for the first six years of their lives. The dragonets are Clay the Mudwing, Tsunami the Seawing, Sunny the Sandwing, Starflight the Nightwing, and Glory the Rainwing. All five of these characters are really cool. They all share equal roles in leadership, though they tend to follow Clay too, who is their ‘Bigwings’.

Anyway, one day, when all five are bored out of their minds, they decide to escape. They escape their guardians, Kestrel, Webs, and Dune. Then the dragonets accidentally fly into Skywing territory, where they are taken prisoner by the mad queen Scarlet.

Clay, Tsunami, and Starflight are all forced to fight in an arena. After the fight, Clay befriends Peril, who attempts to help him.

Clay and his friends leave, and Glory even spits in Scarlet’s face on the way out. (Go Glory!)

They fly to Mudwing territory. Clay wants to find his parents, so he and Glory go into the Mudwing camp. (Rainwings have the ability to change their appearance, allowing Glory to look like a Mudwing.)

While in the camp, Clay finds his mother Cattail. Cattail doesn’t care about him, and tells him she doesn’t even know who his father is. Clay does, however find family living in the Mudwing camp. He is tempted to stay with them, but knows he has to fulfill the prophecy. He and Glory leave, and go back to the others. Morroseer, another Nightwing, tells Starflight to take the dragonets to the Seawing kingdom. The story ends here.

I really enjoyed this book. There is some violence in the prologue, but it’s not the main story. All the characters are really fun! I love all of them! Luckily, there are lots more books in the series right now. (There is also the Winglets series that accompanies the books, but I wouldn’t read it until you finish the series.)

Technically the series is eleven books, but I would read the first five as one series, and then read the sequels. I liked the first five books the best, but there were some really awesome characters in the latter series. (Turtle, you were such a sweet character. Winter! I wish I could read another book from your point of view!) But, the first five characters are really awesome.

Characters.

Clay

Clay was so funny! I loved his kind, clumsy personality, and his love for his friends. He is very much the ‘hero’ archetype, like in the Hero’s Journey. He is very cool.

Tsunami

Tsunami, Tsunami. Where do I start? The second book is from her point of view, which I enjoyed just as much as Clay’s. Tsunami is very loud, yells a lot, but means well. She is hilarious, without realizing it sometimes. She sometimes can act obnoxious, but we all have our flaws.

Sunny

I really didn’t care much about Sunny until her book, the fifth in the series. She sometimes is quiet, but is lovable and kind. She is a Sandwing, but for some reason doesn’t have the barbed tail. She looks weird as well, not like a Sandwing. She really cares about her friends.

Starflight

Starflight is a nerdy, smart, Nightwing. Nightwings are supposed to have mind reading abilities, but Starflight doesn’t have any. This doesn’t make him any less of a good character. He is a good friend and loyal dragon. He appears timid sometimes, but he is still a good character.

Glory

Glory! Glory is such a fun character… Just wait until you read the third book in the series. The great thing about the series, is all the books have different points of view. Glory is spunky, funny, and just a hoot sometimes. She is not the lazy Rainwing you expect her to be.

There you go! I encourage fantasy readers to read this book. Why? Because the characters are realistic, the plot is interesting, and the whole series is enjoyable! Just make sure you don’t skip a book, because all of these dragons have something different to say.

Nine Unicorns! (I took one off for a book twist in the later books, which I didn’t care for. But for the first five? Ten Unicorns!)

Please note: Unicorn Emoji is unavailable at this time. Otherwise, I would have nine unicorns lined up here. [Simulate unicorns dancing and vomiting rainbows, as sparkles rain down on Wings of Fire series.]

Well, anyway, this series is a really good one! Remember, read, read, read!

 

 

 

“When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground.”

-Cersei Lannister

 

Hello everyone!

I know I haven’t written a blog post in a really long time. Well, I’ve been traveling a lot! But I find  that traveling gives me inspiration to read and write.

So here I am again! Let me introduce you to one of the best books of our time…

A Game of Thrones

This book was the first of the series, A Song of Ice and Fire. It was written by George R. R. Martin in 1996. It won several awards, but that doesn’t matter to me. I’ve read plenty of good books without awards.

Anyway, the plot is fascinating. The first book focuses on the Stark family.

Here are the characters of house Stark:

Eddard (Ned) Stark

Catelyn Stark (Ned’s second wife)

Robb Stark (Ned and Catelyn’s first child)

Sansa Stark (Daughter of Ned and Catelyn)

Arya Stark (Daughter of Ned and Catelyn)

Bran Stark (Son of Ned and Catelyn)

Rickon Stark (Youngest child of Ned and Catelyn)

Jon Snow (Bastard son of Ned Stark.)

There you go! All of the Starks. Now the plot of the first book!

 

Plot: A Game of Thrones

I will try to sum up the book without too many gory details, too many sexual details, or just too many details in general. (There may be spoilers!)

Believe it or not, A Game of Thrones has more of a story than people will think. Most people tend to see it as a book completely made of sex and violence. I have to admit, that yes, there is a lot.

But before you scream and cover your ears, first let me tell you the actual plot.

So, I mentioned the Starks. The Starks hold power over Winterfell.

Well, all of the Starks, (except for Catelyn) are on a hunting excursion with King Robbert Baratheon. They discover a family of direwolf pups, one for each child.

Then they return to Winterfell. Ned receives news that Robbert’s advisor,Jon Arryn, is dead.

Ned’s son Bran is pushed from a tower after discovering Cersei and Jamie Lannister, (Brother and sister.) having sex. Bran’s legs are paralyzed.

Ned is appointed new advisor, so he and his two daughters Sansa and Arya depart for King’s Landing, the royal capital.

Sansa is betrothed to Joffery Baratheon, the Cersei and Robbert’s son. Arya hates Joffery, (Go Arya!) and beats him up.

Our story also follows thirteen year-old Daenerys (Dany) Targaryen. She is from Essos, a continent near Westoros. Her brother Viserys betroths her to Khal Drogo, leader of the Dothraki. Dany receives three dragon eggs as a wedding gift. She eventually learns to love Drogo.

Drogo is injured, and a healer with evil intentions sacrifices Dany’s child. But Dany is the blood of the dragon.

She burns the healer, and the dragon eggs. She herself walks into the flames, and returns with three hatched dragons.

Meanwhile, at the Wall. I forgot to mention the Wall. It’s a huge wall, on Westoros designed to keep the Wildlings on the north side from invading. Jon Snow joins the Night’s Watch, and joins forces with the other recruits against their instructor.

Then news of tragady reaches Jon Snow. He attempts to return to Winterfell, but is prevented by his comrades, who are loyal to the Night’s Watch.

Back at Winterfell, Catelyn meets Tyrion Lannister, the crippled brother of Cersei and Jamie. But Catelyn thinks Tyrion attacked Bran, so she arrests him. (By the way Tyrion is a viewpoint character. He’s one of my favorites.)

Tragedy strikes. (I won’t say what it is! Ha ha.)

Sansa and Arya are both there. But Arya escapes, while Sansa is held at King’s Landing.

Robb Stark gathers an army. Tyrion fights too, on the other side. Tyrion suffers an injury, but both characters survive.

Robb is made King in the North.

 

So that’s the first book. It’s a good, long, read. A fantastic read, at that. I won’t cover the rest of the series, because (Guess what?) it’s not complete. That’s right, we’re still waiting for The Wind of Winter to come out. And after that, there is one more book!

But even though it’s not a complete series, it is still one of the best books I’ve ever read.

Ten unicorns!

So after you read this book, (And love it as I do!) next is A Clash of Kings. Then the next three, which I’m sure you’ll love as well. 🙂

There are also so many books on the history of Westoros! I would recommend A Game of Thrones to lovers of J. R. R. Tolkien. The history and world building is similar, but clearly different. Also recommended to hardcore-fantasy readers. (High Fantasy, is the category.)

And remember!

 

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.”

-George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons

 

 

Hello to everyone!

First off, you probably saw the title and were like, “But this is a website on Fantasy Reviews!”

Well, let me just say a few things.

You’ve got to understand how hard it is to write a book, when you read it. This gives a more open minded opinion. You can compare the book you’re reading to other books, and think about what would improve it.

When you write a book,  you need characters, a plot that captures the reader, a problem, encounters with other people, arguments and disagreements, a decision, a good title, etc, etc. If it’s fiction you’re writing, you’ve got your work cut out for you.

World building:

When you create a fantasy world, there are certain tools that make your work way easier.

-Pencils

-Paper

-Computer (Really, really, really useful!)

-Your brain (Even more useful than a computer!)

Not to be rude about the last one, but I’ve seen pre-generated ideas on certain websites and in a few books. (I personally don’t like these because customizing them takes a long time.)

Let me go through the steps.

Steps:

I usually start my book by introducing a major character. Before I type up my idea, I write it down on paper. (Yes, I know. Paper.) I create a simple profile for the character, usually something like this:

Name:

Age:

Birthday:

Height:

Gender: (Optional.)

Habits:

Hobbies:

Power(s):

Friends/Family:

I create a few main characters, and then I think about my plot. Usually, I have a rough idea. I might make a character meet another character, or discover another ‘world’. I sometimes write out the order of events in the way I want things to happen. Then, I’ll write a chapter or so. I try to go back and edit frequently.

I might create a few villains at this point. I’ll write a profile for them too.

Tip: When creating a villain, think about their motives. What do they want? How will they get it? I try not to make them too power hungry. (Cough, Voldemort, cough.)

First Sentence:

When I start the book, I want something that captures the reader, but is still descriptive. If you say something like this:

I watched.

Does it make you want to read more? Or is it irritating how you don’t know what’s happening? Saying something like this might have less suspense, but is more descriptive:

I watched as they dragged my mother away.

It’s better, I think. I wouldn’t add more to that.

I watched as the guards dragged my mother down the cobblestone road.

It’s kind of a mouthful. Phrasing it differently might help.

I watched as they dragged her down the street.

A simple sentence, a plot that seems interesting. Who are they, and what do they want with the main character’s mother? Or family, or simply the main character him/herself. What about the setting? Add that in after the first sentence.

I like to look up pictures and descriptions of places I’m writing about. If I’ve been there, I might need a reminder. If I’m creating an entirely different world, I might draw a map, or invent a language. Just look at J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, and his other books. He invented Middle Earth, a history for it, fantasy creatures that live there, their languages, and even the flora and fauna that grow/live there.

I usually try to come up with a prophecy of some sort. I can’t really give any tips on that, since I have yet to use them in my book ideas. (I can’t seem to get the rhyming write! Get it? Write? Right?)

Conclusion:

Basically, I wrote all of that to help other writers out there with a few starter tips. I also wrote it for readers of this blog to enjoy.  🙂

I hope it gives you a good idea of making a plot and a few characters. I think that writing books helps me to understand how hard it is for authors to publish their books and create a great plot! I really enjoy sharing tips and ideas with others.

Remember to believe in unicorns!

 

-Unicornfantasybookreviews.com

(Spoilers may be included!)

Seriously, what’s with these guys? They are ‘father figures’ I know, but come on.

At the gates of Moria, the writing said: Speak Friend and Enter. I got what it meant. You just say Friend! But did the ‘most powerful wizard of Middle Earth’, Gandalf, get it? NO! And get this. The fellowship was freezing in the snow, and the firewood they found over the course of an hour was all wet and soggy. After several hours, Gandalf is like: “Oh, I’m a wizard!” and does a simple fire incantation. Another example: The Chronicles of Prydain, sometimes referred to as Taran Wanderer. Dallben, the mentor/wizard, is supposedly very powerful. What does he spend all of his time doing? Meditating! Meditating when there is a war going on! It’s disgraceful!

Arthur: We have a very different idea about what disgraces the name of wizard, Malfoy.

But anyway, need another example? How about the countless times that Dumbledore didn’t tell Harry his important discoveries like, um, Harry is a Horcrux! Harry must die! Or what about how to destroy the Horcruxes! Come on old man!

And remember the Arthurian Legend? Arthur spent years training with Merlin, but did future seeing Merlin tell him that he was going to pull the sword out of the stone? I don’t think so, because it came as a great shock!

So we’ve looked at several individuals. Now we’ll make some general observations.

Surprisingly, sometimes these guys are actually somewhat helpful to the plot and hero.

Pros and Cons:

Pros:

-Mentors: Give advice to their apprentices/students

-Help them train for deadly battles

-Keep the heroes out of trouble

-Provide shelter and a safe home (Like Hogwarts)

Cons:

-Mentors Also: Fail to help whenever there is action

-Sometimes are full of themselves (Dumbledore: Even though I have extraordinary brain power…etc.)

-Usually die at some point in the story (Can’t really help that, I suppose.)

Okay, so we have our pros and cons, but we also need to look at these similarities:

Becoming a Wizard/father figure/mentor:

Want to become a wizard? It’s easy! All you need are these few required things!

Required:

-Long white beards

-Long white hair

-Long flowing robes and cloaks

-Hat (Optional)

-Staff or Wand

-Twinkling Eyes (No Contacts!)

-Magical Abilities

Required Age:

Must have lived 100 years or more!

Required: (Signed Contract of Wizardry)

Sign name:

I (Full Name)                                                         ,By the order of (Example: Order of Merlin)                                  , Hereby Accept to the full time job of being a wizard. I will protect my hero/apprentice. I will not tell him important information, I will put off his questions, and I will protect him even if it means keeping him at my home for years.

Name: (Full)                                                                     ,

Signature:                                                                        ,

Basically that’s it!

So, still think Dumbledore’s amazing, or Gandalf’s incredible, or whatever? I’ve got a few other unusual wizards to talk about.

There are wizards, and then there are wizards.

Some just don’t act like it!

In the popular comic Asterix and Obelix, the druid is Getafix. He makes a potion of strength. He doesn’t drink it, though. He actually gets caught and put in a prison in one of the comics. He’s a druid, and similar to a wizard.

How about Obi Wan Kenobi in Star Wars? Not a fantasy book, but he fits the description. He also gets killed by Darth Vader early in the film, so I won’t dwell on him too much. But he is similar in many ways.

And remember Mr. Miyagi in the Karate Kid? Same story. Mentor teaches kid to believe in himself. Mentor is old and frail, but manages to do some cool stuff.

Same story for almost all of these guys! They all are semi-helpful, awe-inspiring, and powerful mentors.

Conclusion:

So there you go! Wizards/mentors/father figures, all unhelpful sometimes, but most of the time are okay. I can’t blame them though. Most are older than 100! (They are extremely fit for being so old.) They are pretty cool, and I gave them a hard time. (But seriously. Speak friend and enter!)

If anyone is writing a book, they might just want to consider putting a character similar to one of these in it. Especially if it is about the Hero’s Journey. So I hope this was funny and helped summarize these characters!

And remember, wax on, wax off!

Ten Unicorns!-Incredible characters, plot, and writing!

So, the Greek myths. Ancient gods and goddesses who control everyday life for the ancient Greeks. Monsters and demons that thrive in the Underworld, and in our world as well. Passed down from generation to generation through stories and song, these myths continue to be popular with readers to this day. And Rick Riordan takes a new spin on Greek mythology. The Lightning Thief was published in 2005, the first of the five book series Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Riordan wrote the story for his son, who liked the Greek myths and had ADHD and Dyslexia. This became the basis for demigods at camp Half-Blood. ADHD allowed demigods to survive in battle, taking in all details around them. And Dyslexia? Demigod minds are hardwired for ancient Greek, but struggle with English. Creative, don’t you think?

Plot summary:

 I’m not going to go into perfect detail about the series. That’s what the books are for. But I will summarize as best as I can.

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief:

Percy Jackson lives with his mom and stepdad in Manhattan, New York. He has been expelled from all his previous schools, and is a “bad” kid. His only friend is Grover Underwood, who is strange and walks funny. One day, Percy discovers the truth. His real dad is Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. Percy now stays at Camp Half-Blood, a camp for kids like him. Kids who are half-mortal, half-Greek god. (Or goddess.) Percy meets his new mentor, (And centaur, half-man, half-horse.) Chiron. Chiron trains demigods to fight, use their magical god/dess powers and more. Percy also meets a number of campers. Annabeth Chase is one of them. She is the daughter of Athena. Annabeth doesn’t talk to Percy, until their first quest. The chief god, Zeus’s lightning bolt has been stolen. Percy, Annabeth, and Grover, have been chosen to get it back.  They have many adventures, including facing the Gorgon Medusa, almost getting blown up on a bus, and a trip to the dark, dangerous, Underworld.

Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters:

It’s the last day of school, and Percy is excited to get back to Camp Half-Blood. But at school, a group of Laistrygonian Giants attack Percy and his new friend Tyson, with deadly dodgeballs. Percy is shocked to discover Tyson’s superhuman strength and fire resistance. Finally, the last giant is killed by Annabeth, who came just when Tyson had collapsed. She is nervous around Tyson, and after returning to Camp Half-Blood, Percy can see why. Some monsters have attacked. (The magical borders were down, and the pine tree that was once a girl, Thalia, is dying.) Tyson easily defeats them.

Percy looks through the Mist, (The power that conceals ancient Greek powers from most mortal eyes.) and sees that Tyson is a monster too. But Tyson says he is a good monster. (Good old Tyson.) The new defence teacher, Tantalus, orders a quest to save the camp. Percy expects to be chosen, but instead it is his enemy at camp, Clarisse, daughter of the war god Ares. She leaves, and Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson sneak out as well. They board the Princess Andromeda. A cruise ship which carries monsters like Hellhounds, Dranceane, and others. Percy dreams of his friend Grover, a satyr, (Goat-man.) who is in danger. They escape the cruise ship and sail into the Sea of Monsters. They face the witch Circe, fight the song of the sirens, and finally come to the island of the Cyclops. Grover is held in a cave there. Percy and Annabeth save him and Clarisse, who winded up there too. They find the Golden Fleece, the fleece of a ram, that has healing properties, according to Rick Riordan. They bring the fleece back to Camp Half-Blood, and not only does it restore the borders, but it heals something, or rather someone else. That’s right. Thalia, daughter of the Olympian Zeus, is back in town.

Percy Jackson and the Titan’s Curse:

It’s been almost a year, and Percy, Annabeth, and Thalia are on a mission to find two demigods, a sister and a brother, who have been going to a school a little ways away. The three split up to look for the siblings, and Percy finds them first. (Of course he does.) The siblings are Bianca and Nico Di Angelo. But before Percy can explain what’s going on, a Manticore attacks. The beast takes them to a cliff. But before he can push them off, several things happen at once. Grover, Thalia, and Annabeth find them. Annabeth battles the Manticore and they both topple off the cliff. Then, a group of girls with bows and arrows come. They are the followers of the hunting goddess Artemis. They take the demigods back to Camp Half-Blood. Then, several hunters and demigods are chosen for a quest. Thalia, Grover, Bianca, and hunters Zoe and Phoebe leave at dawn. They are going to look for Annabeth and Artemis, who also disappeared and is presumably in trouble. But Phoebe gets a horrible rash, and cannot come. Percy goes instead. Together, the demigods make their way to the ruins of the titan’s (Older gods.) version of Mt. Olympus. Mt. Othrys. They save Annabeth and Artemis. (With the loss of two demigods, may I add.)

Percy Jackson and the Battle of the Labyrinth:

Percy comes back to camp. He discovers that the ancient Labyrinth is forming underneath North America. Kronos, the evil titan, and his army plan to use the Labyrinth to get into Camp Half-Blood. Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and Tyson use the entrance at Camp Half-Blood and go on a quest. They find Nico Di Angelo, demigod son of Hades, and he slowly starts to trust them. But then they are separated. Percy and Annabeth join forces with mortal Rachel Elizabeth Dare. She guides them in the Labyrinth, straight to Mt. Othrys. (Also she hits the evil titan Kronos in the eye, with a plastic, blue, hairbrush. Go Rachel!) They meet up with Grover and Tyson, and Rachel goes back home. Then, the remaining five hurry back to Camp Half-Blood, where there is a battle. Daedalus, maker of the Labyrinth dies, and the Labyrinth dies too.

Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian:

Percy is almost sixteen. The prophecy approaches. Nico and Percy start the book by taking a dip in the River Styx. Percy becomes invincible except for a small part of his back. (Good thing he didn’t choose his ankle! I’m looking at you, Achilles.) Then, Kronos attacks Mt. Olympus. (Currently at the six hundredth floor of the Empire State Building.) The demigods of Camp Half-Blood defend it. (The gods are at war with a giant named Typhon.) The campers have allies too. Hunters of Artemis, centaurs, nymphs, and satyrs all fight in the battle. Many are lost to Kronos’s forces. Percy faces Kronus, who is inhabiting ex-camper Luke Castellan. Luke and Percy fight Kronos, and Luke dies. Kronos is defeated. The demigods hurry back to Camp Half-Blood, and Rachel Dare is being made Oracle. Percy and Annabeth end up dating. (Hurray!) The End.

 

Not really. There are other Rick Riordan books. The Heroes of Olympus series continues the story, the Kane Chronicles involves Egyptian Mythology, and Magnus Chase involves Norse Mythology. The Trials of Apollo series takes place at Camp Half-Blood, but I really hated the first two books. (Plus, Apollo was such a brat.) Sorry Rick Riordan, you could do better without that series. The other series’s were incredible!

Characters:

Here are my favorites from the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series!

Percy:

He’s different than other heroes. He’s someone we can relate to, not just a perfect guy who gets everything he wants. He’s kind, generous, brave, (Obviously.) and smart. He always lightens the mood, and is in some ways the comic relief. Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, can not only wield a sword, but can create hurricanes and miniature storms. He can control water, which is a really amazing power. (One that I dreamed of having for a short while!)

Annabeth:

She’s smart, powerful, smart, ferocious, smart, awesome, and smart! She loves architecture and books. She wanted to go on a quest ever since she got to Camp Half-Blood when she was seven years old. (She never left until her first ever quest with Percy and Grover.) She is very independent and is killer with her dagger. (I mean killer.) She is very clever and always thinks ahead. I think she would be an awesome friend to have.

Grover:

Grover was such a funny character in the first few books of the series. He loved enchiladas and his dearest ambition was to find the nature god Pan. (Turns out Pan died when Grover finally found him. Sorry Grover.) He plays the Panpipes, and can sense emotions. That’s pretty cool.

Luke, why did you have to die?:

That’s probably the worst title I’ve made up so far. But why did he die? He was a hero in the end. He served Kronos, but he cared about his best friends Annabeth and Thalia. The three reached Camp Half-Blood at the same time with Grover, who led them there. Thalia sacrificed herself. Annabeth says to Percy later on, that Luke was never the same after that day. Luke stabbed himself with Annabeth’s dagger that was once his, (Hero’s soul cursed blade shall reap.) and died.

Tyson:

Who’s our favorite cyclops? Tyson, of course! Son of Poseidon, this cyclops also forges weapons and an awesome shield that Percy uses throughout the series. Tyson even helped Annabeth bake a birthday cake for Percy, even though it turned out looking like a brick. Tyson also rides his “fish-pony” (Hippocampus.) Rainbow throughout the series. This proves that Tyson is gentle with all creatures that he loves. Good old Tyson even appeared briefly in the Heroes of Olympus series.

R.E.D.:

Rachel Elizabeth Dare is a very unique character. She is fearless and smart, can speak prophecies, and can see through the Mist. Did you ever notice her initials spell out RED? Maybe this is because of her red hair, or maybe due to the fact that she sometimes paints herself to help support charities. Rachel is also an extremely talented artist, who lives in a cave when she stays at Camp Half-Blood. A nice cave, full of paintings that she drew on the walls. She is a pretty cool character, and once she and Annabeth get along, the two are pretty much best friends.

Nico Di Angelo:

He perhaps has the most growth out of all the characters. He starts out as a little kid, then develops his powers and becomes more social. He has a major secret which was revealed in the Heroes of Olympus series. I won’t spoil it, but in my opinion it makes Nico even more cool, and makes you feel sad for him. He also lost his sister Bianca during The Titan’s Curse and resents Percy Jackson for this, but the two resolve this by talking to Bianca’s ghost. Poor Nico.
Overall, this is tied for first place as my favorite book series. (Harry Potter being the other.) These are some of the most well written characters I’ve ever read, an intriguing plot, and a great writing style! Ten unicorns for being amazing!