Each Sunday in May I’ll post Fantastic Fives (or at least I’ll try to) as part of the Wyrd & Wonder event, a month-long celebration of all things fantastical. Follow the hosts to not miss a thing: Annemieke (A Dance With Books), Ariana (The Book Nook), Jorie (Jorie Loves A Story), Lisa (Dear Geek Place), and Imyril (There’s Always Room For One More).
For this week’s theme, I chose five reads that describe my comfort zone. These books encapsulate many of the tropes and themes I love in books. Here are my five picks and why I love them.
The Lies of Locke Lamora, by Scott Lynch
Probably the reason why thieves are my favourite type of characters. Locke Lamora and his companions are such fun characters to follow around. Plenty of banter and shenanigans.
The Prince of Starlight, by Lou Wilham
A queer elf prince goes on an adventure, solving mysteries to save his kingdom. He’s sassy and smart and actually cares about his people. Strong themes of found family, which is a pretty queer trope too.
The Princess Bride, by William Goldman
The book is better than the movie and I’ll die on this hill. The film removes the persona and story Goldman builds around himself, which in my opinion is the best part. The satire on the fantasy genre is unparalleled.
Beneath Cruel Fathoms, by Anela Deen
The book that sparked my love for indie books. Non-toxic romance, complex characters to root for, and lovable side characters. The sequel to this one would have followed my two favourite characters but there are no plans in sight for it. You can still enjoy this one as a standalone.
Luck in the Shadows, by Lynn Flewelling
Thieves, but make it gay. It’s character-heavy and enjoyable even when we lose the plot at times. This is just the start of a seven-book series, so there are plenty of adventures to accompany these not-quite heroes.
Tune-in next Sunday for five books with elements out of my comfort zone that I enjoyed.
Tiny Elf Arcanist 
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