Favorite Fictional Places to Visit

In case you’ve somehow missed the news, we’re kind of currently in a pandemic and not particularly able to travel anywhere of consequence. But have no fear! That’s what books are for, right?

If you’re like me and read a lot of fantasy, you tend to travel all the time anyway, mostly to worlds you likely have no place actually visiting. But it’s okay because fictional characters can’t harm you . . . usually. I make no promises. I mean, my mother always told me dinosaurs couldn’t hurt me every time I had a nightmare, too, but we’ve aaaaaall seen Jurassic Park and its 10,000 sequels, so I’m pretty sure she stands corrected. It’s only a matter of time.

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is favorite places to read, but I really don’t have any. So instead, I’m doing favorite places to read about. And let me tell you, I’ve got all sorts of those!

Deadly lizards aside (and it’s likely too early to say that, because if you know me, you know the sorts of books I read), this week’s TTT is going to be all about series love. You know, the type of book that pulls you into a world and demands that you spend more time in it. No matter how hard you try to stay away, you just can’t, because the world is that good.

So here are some of my favorite bookish places that I love to visit and hope to do so again in the near future!

Of Blood and Bone

The Of Blood and Bone series by John Gwynne is actually the second series set in this world. But since I’m a little bit backwards, this is the one I started with. It’s set 1,000 years in the future from The Faithful and the Fallen series.

As far as I know, Gwynne isn’t planning more books set in this world (though he’s said never say never, so there’s still hope!). I do have the first series to look forward to reading, though, which is handy, because I wasn’t quite done with this world just yet.

Perks of this place:

• Two-thirds of the races have wings!
• Are they good guys or bad guys, though? Who knows?!
• Lots of badass warriors.
• Harrowing regions filled with dark, dangerous creatures.
• The downtrodden finally rising up and fighting back.
• If the world doesn’t get you, the people will.

Saga

I read Saga almost on a whim, after it had been recommended several times. The series is absolutely gory, filled with lots of naked people (. . . and trolls, which I can never unsee, thank you very much), and definitely dark. Yet . . . I found it almost impossible not to love it? I was surprised how into the series I got and how much I came to love the characters. This is a series where there is no happily ever after and the characters will break your heart over and over again. Plus, it sort of just stops at volume nine right now, which makes me so freaking mad because how dare they! *sobs in a corner* I definitely need more of this one.

Perks of this place:

• All sorts of different aliens and creatures you’re never expecting.
• A complicated space war with shifting sides and allegiances.
• A definite need for found family and a squad.
• Plenty of different planets to visit and species to see.
• Wings! I mean . . . sometimes. Sometimes you get stuck with horns, and that’s kind of ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
• You will be scarred for life. I just can’t promise exactly how.

The World of the White Rat

This one’s a little unique in that The World of the White Rat is actually two series and a standalone all set in the same world. I’ve only read the standalone so far, but I’m absolutely hooked on this world already. I mean, there’s sarcastic, slightly homicidal talking swords (ish?). What’s not to love? I’m so addicted to everything T. Kingfisher right now as it is because of her fabulous writing style, but the fact that this world is so easy to love is an additional bonus!

Perks of this place:

• Focuses a lot on older protagonists. Because old people can still have adventures, darn it!
• Includes magic, which leads to fun things like talking swords.
• Frustrating people who eventually get their comeuppance.
• There are rules, I’m sure, but the world is lenient enough to expect surprises.
• Bandits! Sometimes female ones!
• Honestly, regardless of your gender, there are plenty of viable career paths for you.
• Lots of sarcastic characters.
• It’s totally normal to carry a large sword. As long as you know how to use it.

Tristan Strong

Come on. You had to know this was going to appear on my list. I’m a little proud that I lasted all the way to number four before pulling it out! The world in Tristan Strong is just everything that younger me needed in a book and everything older me wants in a book. I absolutely love seeing all the characters from my childhood coming to life and also having the chance to meet new ones. The world is both stunning and horrifying (bone ships, anyone?!). It’s also a world marred by turmoil, war, and strife. Yet . . . there are definitely some characters living there and plenty of places to explore.

Perks of this place:

• Gum Baby.
• Flying hoverboard . . . things. Which I would probably crash and die, but worth it.
• Characters in my favorite folktales brought to life.
• Lots of beautiful (and dangerous) places to explore.
• Plenty of adventure to be had.
• A world in desperate need of coming together and rebuilding.
• Anansi.
• It’s one big world struggling with PTSD and learning how to move on.

Wilderlore

I’m going to throw you for a little loop: here’s a bit of series love for the first book in a series. It’s the only one on my list where there’s just one book released so far, too. Why? Because it only took one book for me to utterly fall in love with the world in Wilderlore! It feels very much like Nevermoor meets Digimon. And if you know me at all, you know that’s fairly high praise, considering how much I love both of those things.

Perks of this place:

• A whole variety of creatures, ranging from dangerous to cuddly.
• Best of all, each one has its own strengths and abilities!
• Humans partnering with beasts and learning to fight and live together.
• A larger world with plenty of places yet to be explored.
• So many cool, unique creatures! Gotta catch ’em all! Erm, I mean . . .
• Secrets, betrayal, and hidden histories.

Wayward Children

Honestly, even though half the worlds have been sort of miss rather than hit for me, I couldn’t not add Wayward Children to this list. Mostly because the worlds I do end up loving, I really freaking love. Plus, I’m always ridiculously excited to see the next world, even if there have been a few disappointments along the way. The Moors is my obvious favorite, but I’m still holding out hope that we’ll get to see Christopher’s world before we’re done!

Perks of this place:

• Death doesn’t have to be final.
• Then again, there are a lot of opportunities for death to find you.
• Harrowing world filled with darkness and evil.
• But, you know, they’re totally cool with you being a mad scientist.
• Vampires. Not the sexy kind, but . . . you make do.
• Monsters in the deep.

Frith Chronicles

This series is six books long already, and I’m ashamed to say I’ve only read one so far. That’s all it took, though. The Frith Chronicles take place in a world that’s a little reminiscent of a dark Digimon world. It’s possible to bond with creatures, if you win their favor and convince them. But sometimes that bond goes sideways and both parties can be corrupted. Or, you know, you get stuck with a really lame creature and can only, like, glow in the dark. Hasn’t happened yet, but I’m sure they’re out there.

Perks of this place:

• Large world to explore filled with lots of wonderful and dangerous creatures.
• If you’re lucky, you get to partner with one of these creatures!
• If you’re even luckier, you won’t lose your mind and it won’t destroy you. Huzzah!
• When you pair with something, you get their abilities. Score!
• I mean, assuming that creature has cool abilities, of course.
• Lots of danger everywhere. Around every turn.
• In fact, just . . . trust no one and nothing.
• Plenty of opportunities to battle with your creatures.
• Also lots of opportunities to die, but maybe try not to do that part, yeah?

Talespinners

This one seems a bit like a no-brainer. What sort of bookish person (reader, writer, doesn’t matter) wouldn’t enjoy a world like the one in Talespinners, where it’s based around the idea of books and characters? It’s one giant bookish allegory, where the characters are trying to find their place as heroes, villains, secondary characters, etc. Everyone has a part to play. I just think this whole world is utterly charming.

Perks of this place:

• Literally a world based on books.
• Totally acceptable to be a villain, since every story needs one.
• The idea of character arcs and growth is literally a thing. For real.
• Fun powers and abilities.
• Always an adventure waiting around every turn.
• Dragons. That is all.

The Gilded Wolves

What’s not to love about this world? I mean, aside from the historical setting, classism, and obvious racism? Pffft. But those things aside, the world in The Gilded Wolves is rather exciting. Heisting almost seems like a way of life if you’re smart enough to get away with it, and people just sort of . . . accept that. Unless you cross the wrong people, of course. I do love all the avenues for research, though, and the different things smart people are able to study. Let’s be honest, I wouldn’t do the heisting things. I would just live in my room and learn all the things and only venture out to talk to other people who know the things and can teach me more things.

Perks of this place:

• Seems a bit like a thief’s paradise.
• Artifacts that give people fun powers.
• Endless unique subjects for people to study and master.
• Heisting is a legitimate way of life.
• There are ancient secrets waiting to be discovered everywhere.
• Some are just more deadly than others.

The Frost Files

I was going to use this last slot for a new series, something I haven’t talked about a bajillion times. But you know what? I just couldn’t do it. I am utterly and hopelessly in love with The Frost Files, and I’m not ashamed to show it. When I think of fictional places I can’t wait to visit again, this is always at the top of the list. And it’s not a trilogy. I was so worried that things would end after book three, but we get even more of Teagan Frost and her sh*t show and gosh darn it am I thrilled about that.

Perks of this place:

• Superpowers! All sorts of different types of them.
• Lots of really sarcastic people.
• Which are obviously the best sorts of people.
• Conspiracies that need to be uncovered!
• People working together in the face of adversity.
• The world breaking apart and coming together again.
• Psychokinesis, I choose you!

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