Fantasy Friday Episode 4 - The High Fantasy Experiment - Update

FANTASY FRIDAY

It's been two weeks since I cracked open The Hobbit for the first time, to begin my exploration of the high fantasy sub-genre. Two days ago, I completed the book (see my full review here) and I wanted to post my updated thoughts. 

I'm having a great time expanding my tastes, through trial and error and I am no longer afraid of books that have dragons or mythical beings for fear of being clueless - well-written worlds will teach me as I read :)

I will definitely be reading the remaining Lord of the Rings books. The Hobbit gave me enough of a teaser for me to now feel invested, so I have placed a hold in my local library for the first in the trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring, and will be reading it as soon as it becomes available. I enjoyed reading Bilbo's story, along with his team of fellow adventurers, though I continued to find the prose a bit tedious (definitely related to the time it was written, not the quality of the work!). There was also a lot of "singing" that I wasn't expecting and didn't really love. The world-building was great though and I really do feel that I know more about the ways of the people (creatures/beings) of Middle Earth. I am prepared for Lord of the Rings. I think. 

Another thing I have discovered about high-fantasy is that these books tend to be best told as series, rather than as standalone novels. They are, after all, whole worlds, with many epic quests and adventures that intertwine and branch out. 

I've been looking out for, and researching, recommendations for great standalone high fantasy books but have struggled to identify any (other than The Hobbit!) that are standout recommendations. So I am on my own here. Instead of forcing myself into another series, I'll keep my pace slow and steady (even though I am so impatient!) and stick to Tolkien before moving on to another sub-genre over the next month or so. I wouldn't want to start getting my worlds mixed up! Do you have any recommendations?

Fantasy is a complex beast. It's nuanced and everyone has an opinion. I'm still yet to find my niche (or discover if I even have one!). I'm feeling at the moment that high fantasy is enjoyable but definitely requires some commitment. I am a mood reader for sure, my enjoyment can sometimes be based purely on how I feel that day, and with high fantasy being a bit of a more epic, long-term relationship, it might not be for me. Either that or I will go the other way and become a complete obsessive, reading nothing but epic series for the rest of time! 

In terms of my Fantasy Friday posts, I am still new to the blogging sphere and am struggling to have a new idea every week, certainly can't be dropping one subgenre and moving to another on a weekly (or even monthly) basis, so Fantasy Friday from now on will focus mainly on reviews of fantasy books as I muddle along this path I am on, with the odd, slightly more specific post when I have a creative brainwave :)