|
Though I primarily read historical fiction and fantasy, there are some aspects of fantasy that I find quite attractive. From a writing perspective, as well as that of a reader, here are some of the things that I look at when picking a book to read.
First and foremost, I must be able to pronounce, or at least read the character's name. Nothing puts me off faster than seeing some unpronounceable gibberish that hurts my brain to think about. That doesn’t mean, of course, that the names cannot be unusual, merely that they should be easy on the eyes.
Secondly, I like to see other races present. Humanoid races work best for me, and I like the idea of exploring themes of race relations with Orc, Dwarves or Elves, despite them commonly being derided as tropes. The advantage of these, somewhat familiar races, is that the reader usually has some preconceived ideas of what they are like, allowing you to dive right into the story. Of course, from an author's point of view, it enables a writer to turn some ideas on their head and perhaps introduce a new wrinkle into the race.
Of course, maps are a staple of most fantasy stories, but it can be overdone. Something simple, which introduces the main points of interest along with some other essential landmarks usually fits the bill. This is one area that I find a little harder to deal with in an ebook since flipping to a map is not as easy in that medium. Maps should also be easy to read in whatever format the reader is using, which these days includes phone screens or small tablets. Imagine trying to look at a map of Middle Earth on just a phone!
There are other elements I look for in books, of course, including unique characters and a plot that makes sense, but then again, that applies to all books, not just fantasy.
What do you think is essential in a fantasy story? Shoot me an email or post on my facebook page!
|
