There are plenty of book series which had a promising first entry, only to fizzle out as the sequels were published. Characters become dry, places remain unchanged, and, ultimately, the story’s plot lines become contrived, because there’s nothing fresh for the author to work with. Plots stop revolving around the Read more…
Much as we might dream of making a living writing books, the sobering reality is that few of us ever will—even if accepted by a traditional publisher. When you pick up a book at the store, the majority of the authors you come across within are working a day job. Read more…
It’s safe to say Anne Rice would not enjoy this comparison. She, along with Stephen King, made her dislike of the Twilight Saga clear. What’s more, Stephenie Meyer read little vampire literature. It’s unlikely she’s read Anne Rice, which means any similarities likely stem more from the overall nature of Read more…
The world of Harry Potter has an especially colourful cast. Whether it be the heroes friends, their adversaries, or those who sit somewhere in between, each character is unforgettable. Fans have those they love (and those they love to hate), but among those most cherished is one girl who Harry Read more…
The creatures depicted within the world of Narnia can be both charming and frightening, but mostly the former. Mythological beings, such as centaurs or fawns, are a large part of our canon, only being further cemented in the imaginations of thousands when C. S. Lewis chose to incorporate the creatures Read more…
The Never Ending Story is a quirky children’s novel published by Michael Ende, though the majority of us are familiar with the 80’s film—the music of which would eventually infiltrate a scene in the third season of Stranger Things, if you’re still not sure what I’m talking about. The movie Read more…
It’s not over until it’s over…and in the case of enduring franchises, this can mean never. Eventually, readers will reach “the end.” Moviegoers will watch the credits. Many franchises will have sequels, prequels, in between bonus stories, spin offs, and even remakes, but, eventually, all good things must come to Read more…
Twilight, like most novels, raises it’s share of questions. While the text offers it’s own explanations, these can be easily missed—particularly if a viewer has only enjoyed the film versions. People share these questions online, only to be rebuffed by die hard readers for whom the answers were clear. To Read more…
Love them or hate them, tropes are here to stay. They’re an easy way to show a viewer what a story is about, giving them the familiarity they crave, while being given the creative freedom to subvert audience expectations. Tropes are timeless, and most don’t need to vanish entirely—the problem Read more…
The Lord of the Rings, for all it’s fame, has never been a conventional book. Though it started the genre of fantasy as we know it, inspiring such works as The Dark Tower or Game of Thrones, it nevertheless bent many rules—even in it’s own day. The books are long; Read more…