R. L. Stedman

Writer

Literature

6 Old-But-Awesome Fantasy Series for Teen Readers

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Awesome Fantasy Series —

Know that awful feeling when you reach the end of a great series? Well, don’t panic, here’s a whole heap of old-but-awesome fantasy series to discover!

teenager - school visit

What Should I Read Next?

Because I’ve been reading fantasy for, oh, well, way too long to count, I thought it would be fun to set out some options based on some old and new series.

Warning:

This is a long blog post! Here you can download to read as a pdf 

PS: You’re welcome to copy and share this pdf.

 

1. Epic Adventure

 

If you like: 

The Shattered Sea Series by Joe Abercrombie

 

half a king by Joe Abercrombie

 

Try: 

The Belgariad by David Eddings

belgariadseries

 

What’s it About?
The Belgariad is a five-volume fantasy series, featuring good versus evil, wicked gods and powerful magicians. The series follows Garion, a scullery-lad from the country and his mysterious Aunt Polgara in their search for the missing Orb of Aldur.

At the beginning of the stories Garion is a young unknown, but as the reader continues through the books his exciting backstory is gradually revealed. When The Belgariad first came out, I haunted the library for weeks, just desperate for the next in the series, and had my name on all the pre-order lists.

The Belgariad feels like real seat of the pants adventure – Garion didn’t really understand what was happening to him, so neither did I, as the reader. I still remember the amazement, the OMG moment when finally I realised what was actually happening. (I don’t want to give too much away here, so apologies if this sounds ambiguous)!

Why Is it So Amazing?

The action in The Belgariad is great – it’s a fantasy, so there are heroes and battles and sword fighting and all that good stuff – but really it’s the characters that set The Belgariad apart. Eddings developed an enormous cast of characters, and each person is so believable that you really feel you know them; they each have their own foibles and way of speaking. I still think, even now, that The Belgariad has one of the best cast of characters in any series. Sorry, JRR, I think Eddings out-did you there.

Any Other Info?

David Eddings and his wife, Leigh Eddings, went on to write a number of other series, including The Mallorean, the sequel to The Belgariad, so if you do get hooked on this series there are plenty of other books to go on to.

Interested? Want to find out more?

Check out this review from Will Read for Feels.

2. Magic and Legends

 

Enjoy 

The Raven Cycle By Maggie Stiefvater?

the raven boys by Maggie Stiefvater

 

Try: 

The Dark is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper.

The Dark is Risking by Susan Cooper

 

When I read that Maggie Stiefvater listed Cooper as among her favourite authors, I wasn’t surprised; if you’ve read The Dark is Rising you can certainly see the similarities. Although The Dark is Rising is slower-paced than Stiefvater’s work and doesn’t have any cars (plus its first book, Over Sea and Under Stone, is written for a younger audience), the settings feel way more evocative.

What’s it About?

The Dark is Rising is a good versus evil story, set in Cornwall and Wales, and tells the story of Will, the last of the Old Ones, born into a mysterious order. On his eleventh birthday, Midwinter Day, Will learns why a strange man is following him, and why he has to keep his family safe. Throughout the sequence Will is aided by Merlion (Merlin) and three children: Barney, Simon and Jane. The stories are all set in Britain, moving from Cornwall to Buckinghamshire to Wales.

Why Is It So Great?

The whole sequence is creepy and exciting and full of references to King Arthur and the Grail. It has a strong emphasis on music. It’s rare to find books that celebrate musicality in children – I still remember the excitement when I realised I wasn’t the only musical weirdo in the world!

The Grey King, the third of the Rising sequence, is set in Wales. This book has always been my favourite of the series, so much so that I worked in Wales primarily so I could see the area she describes in her books! I ended up setting my first book, A Necklace of Souls, in Angelsea partly because of Cooper’s The Grey King.

If you’re into Celtic mythology and adventure, The Dark is Rising is an absolute must-read. It’s really aimed at children around ten to say fourteen, but older kids will still enjoy it.

3. World-Building

 

If you enjoy Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn Series, try:

The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson

The Earthsea Cycle by Ursula Le Guin.

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin

 

What’s it About?

First written as a trilogy, The Earthsea Cycle is a classic fantasy series. Set in Earthsea, a world made of sea and archipelagos, the stories follow the adventures of Ged, a wizard of Earthsea, and Tenar, a priestess. In 1990 Le Guin released Tehanu, the fourth in the cycle, and more recently, a number of short stories.

Why Is It So Great?

The Earthsea Cycle is world-building at its best; the detailed world of Ged and Tenar is immersive and exciting. Just a short warning: The Earthsea novels are slower than Sanderson’s Mistborn series – the action takes time to build – but what makes Le Guin’s novels amazing is the sheer believability of the world. When reading Earthsea, you really feel as though you’re walking through a market or sailing across the sea. If you enjoy travelling but haven’t the budget, The Earthsea Cycle is a must-read!

Any Other Info?

The Earthsea works were adapted into an Anime movie by Disney and Studio Ghibli.  The movie is interesting, although don’t expect it to resemble the book!

4. Schools of Wizardry

 

If you liked The Adventures of Harry Potter by JK Rowling try:

Harry Potter Series

Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones

Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones

 

What’s It About?

Witch Week takes place over Halloween week at Larwood House, a horrible boarding school that’s home to many witch-orphans (children whose parents were burnt for witchcraft). Most of the class of 2Y are terrified that they will become witches – but some welcome the idea of magic. And others believe they are far too good to ever become a witch.

Witch Week is one of my favourite Wynne Jones novels, mostly because it’s just so funny.

“You girls,” said Simon, “all stink.”
The result was almost overpowering. So was the noise the girls made.

Why Is It So Great?

I first read Diana Wynne Jones’ Charmed Life when I was nine. I still have a copy, and it remains one of my favourite stories ever. Wynne Jones had the most amazing storytelling gift; she told stories of magic and multiple worlds and her extraordinary characters simply bounced from the pages.

I thought you were talking about a SERIES?

Yep. I am – Witch Week is one of the Chrestomanci novels. The Chrestomanci stories are all stand-alone novels. They’re set in many different worlds but they all feature Chrestomanci, a powerful enchanter with an allergy to silver and a highly developed dress sense. So if you enjoy Witch Week then good news! There’s heaps of other stories to try.

5. Adventure and Romance

 

If you like Kristin Cashore’s Graceling Realm, try:

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

The Riddle-Master Trilogy by Patricia McKillip

The Riddle-Master of Hed by Patricia A McKillip

 

What’s it About?

The Riddle-Master stories tell the adventures of Morgon, the Prince of Hed. Born with three stars on his forehead and the ability to solve riddles, Morgon doesn’t care about destiny or matters of state; all he wants to do is study riddle-mastery. Unfortunately for Morgon, the biggest riddle he must solve is himself. The characters, Morgon and his fiancee, Raederle of An, develop in unexpected ways through the series. There’s action and backstory and plenty of magic. The story is never boring.

Why is it so great?

The Riddle-Master series is notable not only for its world-building and strong female protagonists but for the beauty of its writing. McKillip’s writing is always lyrical, more like poetry than prose. The Riddle-Master series has the best concluding paragraph ever:

‘Raederle, her voice tranquil, began telling him about pearls and luminous fish and the singing of water deep in the sea…Peace, tremulous, unexpected, sent a taproot out of nowhere into Morgan’s heart.’

6. History and Myth

 

Love Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha Series? Try:

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

The Merlin Trilogy by Mary Stewart

The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart

 

What’s it about?

The Merlin Trilogy follows Merlin, the bastard grandson of a minor Welsh King, who has a gift for seeing things that others cannot. Set in Britain of the fifth century, the story takes place against the ruins of the Roman empire, where the crumbling remains of towers battle with memories of the old gods and their druid priests. There’s an ever-present threat of danger running through the novels; the Norse invaders, the new Christian religion and the death of a once-great civilization. Merlin knows the darkness is coming.

‘What was there to see? A young man with an injured hand, a King with his lust satisfied, a woman with her penance beginning. And for all of us, time to remember the dead.’

Why is it so great?

Who doesn’t like the idea of King Arthur and the Grail? In The Merlin Trilogy, the settings interweave myth with magic, but they’re underpinned by historical fact. Stewart must have gone to great lengths to ensure the stories are accurate – even small details like the hypocaust systems of roman villas are so well described that the reader could almost be there. This trilogy was the other reason I lived in Wales!

I don’t get how it’s like The Grisha Series? Isn’t that based on Russian History?

Check out Leigh Bardugo’s amazing website. You can see here how she used historical reality to shape her Grisha world. Stewart did something similar in The Merlin Trilogy; a great deal of the work is based on the History of the Kings of Britain, a medieval work by Geoffrey of Monmouth.

Other info?

The Merlin Series was made into a TV series by the BBC (entitled Merlin of the Crystal Cave). Stewart was also a prolific writer of romantic suspense, so if you enjoy a range of genres, check out her other titles.

Conclusion

This is an epically long blog-post! Congratulations on reaching the end and thanks for your patience.

If you would like to print this out for reference, here’s the download link again.

And if you’re STILL short of reading material, here are four lists on Goodreads that might be of interest:

(All the cover art here is from Amazon, and I’ve added links to all the Amazon entries for these books too, in case you’re wanting to read more.)

Happy Reading!

How to Make Your Teen a Lifetime Reader

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Make Your Teen a Life-Time Reader

It can be hard to find the right book for a teen. I know; I have two of them (teens, not books!).  There’s so much vying for a teen’s attention: Videos, TV on demand, gaming, social media. Mostly all at once.

 

teenager - school visit

The advantage of the right book, though, is that a) it doesn’t need batteries and b) teachers approve. And once you’ve found the right one you’re golden, because a teen will devour it, watch the movie, read the sequel, and wear the clothes. They’ll be quiet for hours, totally immersed in another world. Books may appear solitary, but teens use them to form communities. They’ll discuss their favourite books with on-line or real world friends; they form fandoms.

 5 (free) Resources:

  1. Your school librarian. A great school librarian is the best resource ever. If you home school or don’t have the best library, you can try Teen Librarian Toolbox, a website for teen librarians (that is, librarians for teens, not the other way around!) or My Best Friends are Books, curated by the Amazing Zac from Christchurch City Library.
  2. Goodreads, a social media site for readers. There are a lot of Young Adult (YA) pages, where readers can hang out with their peers.
  3. #bookstagram on instagram, twitter or tumblr. Just pop it into the search bar, and you’ll come up with a range of sites. Because many are curated by people under 25, you’ll generally find a whole bunch of book ideas and connect with a lot of passionate readers.
  4. Book blogs. I’m planning on doing a post on my favourite book bloggers later, but if you check out bookbub’s blog that’s a good start. Just pop “teen” into the search function on the right, and you’ll find a whole heap of suggestions.
  5. Poetry is a rich resource. Check out Slam Poetry on Youtube (also check out the comments on this link – teens are fabulous supporters of one another.)

The Importance of Books

I follow @westerosreader on Instagram. In one post he said he never was a great reader until his Aunt leant him the Maze Runner and … well, now he’s hooked! He now has over 16K followers and a great fan base.

So never, never, stop encouraging kids to read; the right book at the right time can change a teen’s life.

So you want to write fantasy? 3 reasons why there are no rules.

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No Rules, Just 3 Things to Consider

When you’re writing fantasy, there are only two rules. The first rule: don’t do what other people do. The second rule: There are no rules.

 

fairytale book
Image source

There are only three things to consider:

1. Tropes

Fantasy is truly one of the most awesome genres because there are literally are no limits. In a fantasy, characters can travel through time, they can change faces, they can live in a castle or a hut in the woods or somewhere at the end of the universe. Fantasy makes great story-architecture. So, if you’re writing fantasy, read the frigging genre. Think of the current YA tropes: Another bunch of teens fighting the system, falling in love and whoops, there goes another love triangle. Try and be innovative. Lord knows, there’s plenty of scope.

Read as many myths and legends as you can get your grubby paws on. Don’t just read Greco-roman; you’ll broaden your repertoire significantly if you spread your mythic wings to include Pacifica, Aztec, Native American, Chinese, Celtic storylines. Another great thing about fantasy? You can nick these myths (sorry, adapt) and you won’t have to worry about copyright. (Unless you start to infringe upon Disney. Don’t go there. Seriously.)

If you’re borrowing another culture’s story legacy, be respectful and understand the nuances of the story before you begin pulling it apart.

Because fantasy is often based on mythic lore, it’s easy to hit your stride and walk straight into another unoriginal tale of elves and dwarves, so it does pay to be aware of the traditions before you start. Once you’re aware of the traditions, of course, rule two applies. Because once you really start to break the rules, you’re able to create a seriously funny work. Shrek did this well, as did Enchanted. Terry Pratchett is probably the ultimate trope-user. Check out the disc-world series.

Image from wikipedia
Image from Wikipedia

2. World-building

Fantasy usually involves world building. This is the most complex and delightful part of writing fantasy and probably explains why some of the most successful fantasists (GRR Martin, Katharine Kerr) are Dungeon and Dragon fans.

When building a fantasy world, as JK Rowling says, you need to know the rules for that world. You may find yourself drawing maps and buildings, as Tolkien did, to help orientate yourself in your imaginary world.

Some writers like to plan the world in advance – maps, currencies, food, clothing, even (like Tolkien) complete languages. Others prefer to just write, and let the world develop around the character.

Either approach is okay – as I say, there are no rules – but if you’re developing the world as you go, you’ll probably need a proofreader to make sure you haven’t inadvertently contradicted your fictional world. (I just read an interesting post on Cornerfolds book blog about this very point, check it out if you’re interested in how readers feel about inaccuracies in books).

One tip: It makes it a little easier if you use reality as an anchor for your imagination. For example, in The SoulNecklace Stories, I based the Kingdom of the Rose on a real island (Anglesey, in North Wales). I did this partly because Anglesey’s Welsh name is Ynys Mon or Druid’s Island. I mean, how could I not use it!

I spent a lot of time looking at google maps and photos, and I visited Anglesey; this made it easier to describe everyday things like travel distances, directions, or the view from a window.

 

3. The M word.

Will you have magic in your world? Typically, fantasy does allow magic, although increasingly there’s a blur between technology and spells. The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss, explores the technology behind magic; China Mieville has a steam-punk world named Bas-Lag in Perdido Street Station; Helen Lowe looks at what happens when one world’s culture meets another in her brilliant Wall of Night series.

A true fantasy novel describes the intersection between the known and the unknown. Because sometimes what looks like magic is actually technology – and who knows? Perhaps the opposite is also true, and what looks like technology is actually magic.

Extras

A short note: I’ve speckled links liberally through this post. Some lead to Wikipedia entries; others lead to Amazon links, so you can read the beautiful books set out here. One link leads to an fantastic Lord of the Rings interactive map. Check this out!

Or don’t. Like I say, there are no rules…

3 Outstanding Ghost Stories to Encourage Kids to Read

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Ghost Stories To Capture The Imagination.

Spooky stories are thrilling, scary, but always safe – because the child knows that if they put the book down, they can just walk away. Wish life was like that!

spooky stories
image source

Spooky stories are great at hooking kids into reading. Here are three books I recommend:

The Ghosts of Tarawera by Sue Copsey.

The Ghosts of Tarawera

Quick name drop: Sue was my editor for Prankster. Sue’s writing a three-part series of spooky tales (this is the second in the series) so if your class enjoys this book, then don’t worry, there’s more! The Ghosts of Tarawera is a Storylines Notable Book, and is available from bookstores or directly from Sue, at her website: Suecopsey.com  Sue also has a whole lot of spooky jokes on this website.

Under the Mountain by Maurice Gee

Under the Mountain

A well-known classic, Under the Mountain, is exciting to read aloud. There’s also a movie (which I didn’t like, but some people did), and Penguin have study notes available online here.

The House on the Hill by Kyle Mewburn, Illustrations by Sarah Davis

The House on the Hill by Kyle Mewburn

The House on the Hill is Kyle’s homage to Edgar Allen Poe and is written in rhyming stanzas, a little like The Raven. A natural performer, Kyle has a youtube channel which is great fun. Scholastic have produced some helpful teacher notes here.

Here’s a link to Kyle’s youtube Storytime Channel

Hope you enjoy.

How to Fall in Love With Words

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Falling in Love with Words —

Two nights ago I went to a workshop called ‘A Continued Sense of Wonder’.

Picture Book
Image Source

 

Hosted at the awesome Dunedin Public Library, the workshop was about children’s literature. It’s to be held quarterly, and is open to anyone with an interest in kids books. Best of all, it’s totally FREE!

What did I learn?

This group reminded me of how central a book can be in a child’s life.

We each brought a book that had resonated with us, either as a kid or as an adult. Books ranged from Tintin’s Explorers On the Moon to The Illuminae Files, and we each had an interesting story about why this particular book was, or had been, important to us.

(Rather cheekily, I brought along my own book, The Prankster and the Ghost, because to be honest, this is the kid’s book that has touched me the most. I learned an awful lot about myself while writing it, and I wanted to share a little of that experience.)

Why we like stories

We talked about how a favourite book provided a pathway into fantasy. ‘I used to imagine myself as Laura Ingalls Wilder, playing in the prairies.’

Books provided street cred: ‘I was the only girl in my class who had read a book eight times!’

Books created friendships: ‘I biked round to my friend’s house to read her books’.

Books provided escape: ‘It was awfully soothing, just reading and listening to the waves.’

Books are important to us

We hold our favourite books gently. We smile as we talk about them and we turn the pages slowly, with reverence. If we’re talking to others about the book, we tip the book to share the pictures inside. Books carry more than a story; they carry memories; they remind us of a time we were happy.

Through stories, kids make sense of the world.

The evening reminded me again of just how much I had loved reading as a kid – oh, the memories! Mum coming home from the library with a bag full of books; picture books for the little kids, chapter books for us older ones. And the excitement of going to the library by myself, with my own library card. Reading by torchlight when I was supposed to be asleep; of the disappointment of watching Little House on the Prairie and realising it was nothing like the book.

How stories have changed, and how they’ve stayed the same.

I used to read books that had been translated. Heidi, Pippi Longstocking, Asterix. It’s much harder now to find translated works for kids (The Gecko Press is doing some great work in this space).

Thirty years ago, the plots of kids books had a slower pace, and frequently the words were more complex.

But many of the great novels are still as loved as they’ve always been. Astrid Lindgren’s Pippi Longstocking is as unorthodox and fun as ever – who wouldn’t love to have a horse on a verandah? Charlotte’s Web still makes kids cry. And children cheer when the Peach leaves with James inside.

Kids today are even luckier than we were because now they have Harry Potter!

fairytale book
Image source

Remembering the importance of books

Sadly, it’s all too easy to lose sight of the enjoyment your work provides others. Perhaps I need to remind the marketers of this when they talk about ‘what is the unique selling point of your book?’: It’s not about my book – it’s about all books. Writers are not in competition with each other.

Caught up in the drive to update the Facebook page, to increase the word count, to promote one’s work, sometimes its good to step back and remember: we write because we love it.

We write because, once upon a time, we fell in love with reading.

Finally…

What was your favourite book as a child? What’s the first book you remember reading? And now you’re an adult, what kids book do you love the most?

More information:

Dunedin Library’s A Sense of Wonder meets quarterly and is open to anyone who loves kids books (writers, readers, illustrators, librarians, parents, grandparents…). You can download the Fiction Highlights from the Children’s Collection here: Continued Sense of Wonder 1 Booklist

Just for fun, I’ve added links to the Amazon holdings of all the books mentioned in this post!

What is a Novel? Character, Conflict and Change.

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What Is a Novel?

Here’s my definition: a novel is fictional characters undergoing transformational conflict.

What does this mean?

Conflict can be internal, that is from inside the character, where the character grows and changes.  In A Room With a View, Lucy’s perspective on society changes.

Conflict can also be external – where the characters change in response to something outside themselves. In The Light Between Oceans ( a novel by my more famous namesake!) a lighthouse keeper discovers a baby girl and decides to keep a secret.  It’s also worth noting that, although generally fictional, a novel may be based on fact. (A little-known example of fact inspiring fiction is To Kill a Mockingbird.)

In a novel, characters don’t have to be human; the main characters in Watership Down are rabbits, and Beak of the Moon tells a story from the perspective of keas (mountain parrots). But even in these examples, the characters undergo conflict, and they learn something from this conflict that changes them.

Also, obviously, a novel, unlike a play, involves telling the story solely through writing.

How long is a novel?

A novel can  be as short or as long as the author decides, but for adult fiction the following generally applies:

  • A novella: between 10,000 – 30,000 words
  • A short story: between 1000 – 5000 words
  • Flash fiction: less than 1000 words.

And then there’s micro fiction, (I call this tweet-fiction) which is ubershort and almost impossible to write, because how can you set character, conflict and resolution into 140 characters? Ernest Hemingway did, though, in these famous six words: “For sale: baby’s shoes, never worn.”

In summary:

A novel is:

  • A written work
  • Fictional
  • Involves characters, conflict and change
  • Generally (but not always) requires a resolution.

At least, that’s my definition! Over to you, dear reader. What’s your definition of a novel?

Because that’s the nice thing about writing and reading – there’s no right or wrong. There’s only the reader and the words.