We LOVE challenging each other during #WyrdAndWonder and #SpooktasticReads with prompts which inspire responses which can be taken literally by the words of the prompt itself or become explored more creatively by what sparks a response from the reader, blogger or social Fantasy lover to share with us during the months of May and October. This year, I’ve decided to post complimentary discussions featuring the prompts I am responding to via Instagram on our @WyrdAndWonder feeds. As it was a goal of mine last year but not one that I could fulfil properly.

Hallo, Hallo dear hearts!

I have been seeking out stories about the fae since I first started my journey on Jorie Loves A Story in (2013). I’ve been considerate of the different kinds of fae written about in Speculative Fiction – as it was a quick-study on my behalf to sort out the differences between the Unseelie and Seelie Courts of the fae. Yet, even then, I noticed there was a particular trend that ran through those narratives too: regardless of which Court the fae belonged there was a grey line amongst them. Meaning, not all of the fae considered Seelie are without darkness and not all of the fae considered Unseelie are without light.

All of the fae have a unique personality about them as much as inherent natures which are sometimes hard to understand as they are not entirely predictable. One of my top favourite series involving the fae is the series by Ms Chris called: the Tipsy Fairy Tale trilogy. (you’ll find all those lovely reviews, vlog interview and posts here) However, there have been other stories of the fae explored throughout the years as well. Such as reading the first novel of the October Daye series (see also this Post), Fly Free (the first novel in a trilogy) by Allison Rose (see also Review), To Court A Queen by H.L. Burke (see also Review), Silver Hollow (the first novel in the Borderlands series) by Jennifer Silverwood (see also Review), Liminal Lights (the first in a series; the only one I read as I couldn’t continue with it) by J.M. Bogart (see also Review), FAE – the anthology of short stories by World Weaver Press (see also Review) and A Chimerical World: Tales of the Seelie Court edited by Scott M. Sandridge (see also Review).

As you can see – it is quite the diverse array of stories involving the fae and quite a few series as well. This was the first year I decided to dip my toes into the Unseelie Court rather than staying within the Seelie side of the ledger. Mostly as I was charmed by the premise, and I was happy to find an #ownvoices author and story. Even the content warnings felt like ones I could handle even if a few of them gave me a bit of pause to contemplate before I purchased the audiobook. All of these stories I’ve gravitated to read held my interest for different reasons – yes, they all involve the fae in one way or another – but it was the style of voice within the narratives themselves which pulled me in their worlds. Each writer approached writing about the fae differently and that has made my journey exploring the fae so wicked amazing as I get to see different elements of the fae and their societies per each new writer who conceptionalises a way for us to see them.

I would still like to attempt to read the October Daye series with my Mum – who enjoyed the conversations I had with her about October Daye whilst I read Rosemary and Rue. Whilst I still intend to continue reading the Borderlands Saga as I purchased the third novel in the series this past May during #WyrdAndWonder (shh! I haven’t mentioned that yet!) and I also intend to purchase the second and third novels after Fly Free. Like most stories I am keen on reading – certain genres and series take me a bit longer than expected to fully engross myself into their worlds and installments. I will get to them but sometimes the timing is not my own to choose.

One thing was certain, for a reader who likes to challenge herself to go outside her comfort zone I can definitely say, I took a firm leap outside mine by purchasing Unseelie! Which I think was part of the joy for me this #SpooktasticReads in finding a novel like this one – it presented a challenge to tuck into the part of the fae I’ve explored the least and it gave me a path back into reading about the fae which I’ve longed to do since I concluded the Tipsy Fairy Tale trilogy. 

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• #SpooktasticReads 2024

We LOVE challenging each other during #WyrdAndWonder and #SpooktasticReads with prompts which inspire responses which can be taken literally by the words of the prompt itself or become explored more creatively by what sparks a response from the reader, blogger or social Fantasy lover to share with us during the months of May and October. This year, I’ve decided to post complimentary discussions featuring the prompts I am responding to via Instagram on our @WyrdAndWonder feeds. As it was a goal of mine last year but not one that I could fulfil properly.

Hallo, Hallo dear hearts!

I have been curious about ‘haunted houses’ the whole of my life – despite the fact, I very rarely go inside ‘haunted houses’ because I am always on the brink of believing they are simply too much for me to experience! Mostly, as whenever I’ve gone to Halloween parties or events – they have the tendency of taking the fear factor a bit too far afield for me. More Horror than Halloweeny and definitely more scare than fright! It is good to have a bit of fright in your life at this time of the year but not to the point where you think your heart will fail. I love the lighter side of Halloween – which sort of plays out in the types of stories I gravitate towards reading as well.

My favourite ride at Disney World is The Haunted Mansion and likewise, I love the accompanying film by the same name – especially how it ends, and all the ghosts go to Heaven. It is a beautifully scripted film and has such a wicked ending. I also love the film The Canterville Ghost (the one with Neve Campbell) – as it also plays into the theme of hauntings as does the silliness of the plot within High Spirits. Whereas my favourite tv series was The Ghost Whisperer (starring Jennifer Love Hewitt). 

When it comes to books however, I am less versed in hauntings except for when there are ghosts present whenever I read a Paranormal or Witchy story as ghosts tend to take centre stage in those kinds of stories. This is why I wanted to tackle this prompt this year – to seek out the stories which befit this prompt and how the prompt can be answered in different ways as you approach stories which speak towards it.

I elected to select two backlogue review copies I’ve had for audiobooks – seeing if I can finally attach myself inside their stories and focus on reviewing them before the end of the year. I’d love to know if anyone has heard either of these themselves or what their takeaways were as well.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• #SpooktasticReads 2024