Tifany Tong
Mrs. Sosanie, Mrs. Hayes
Foundations of Literacy and Technology
17 March 2017 The Adventure of a Fantastical Novel There are many genres of books: contemporary, science fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, and much more. Each genre has different elements in the plot, setting, and character that make the genre unique. One aspect that defines fantasy is that it is not rooted in reality. It revolves around magic and supernatural elements, a land where there are no limits or boundaries, and characters that can wield the elements. Additionally, fantasy is not only limited to magical abilities. The world can be perfectly alike our world, but animals and inanimate objects can come alive.
…show more content…
Sometimes, other genres can get boring. For example, self-help books can be extremely serious. They directly discuss the stress or problems that already weigh us down in a day; similarly, contemporary novels can revolve around the already demanding aspects of our lives. Because of this, it can become difficult to enjoy the self-help and contemporary novels for an extended period. Fantasy can become an alternative option when that happens. Prior to reading fantasy novels, I did not enjoy reading. I felt like reading any book was a hassle, not as something that I could de-stress with or get into; however, fantasy can offer you access to everything that reality can’t. Fantasies are action-packed, filled with magic, and have supernatural beings in the world. It feeds into your curiosity and imagination. One novel that got me into reading in eighth grade was the Shades of Magic series by Victoria Schwab. It is set in London, but the twist is that there are multiple worlds with different London’s. Some of the London’s have magic in it, while other versions of London are deprived of any magic. The main character is Kell, a magician who has immense raw magical powers and the unique ability to travel to the other London’s. The novel follows Kell through the developing problems of all the different versions of London. Although the journey was just on paper, it was an adventure; I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to know what happened next. I wanted to know more about the magic system and the different London’s. Though I had homework and other priorities to manage then, I invested myself into the book. While the Shades of Magic series is filled with so many impossible elements, there is still some tie to reality. The characters still face many things that real people face in life such as conflicts with others, pain, and self-discovery. Kell struggles with who he is and how he wants to live