Happy May Day – and welcome to a month of Wyrd and Wonder when an enthusiastic party of bookworms, gamers and other genre fans celebrate the fantastic. Wyrd and Wonder means tripping over blogs where we rave about our favourite fantasy books, yell about movies and shows, share the games setting our imagination alight. Sure, we enjoy fantasy all year round – but in May we do it together. So, what will I be getting up to?
urban fantasy
They have always walked among us. Some shift shape. Some drink blood. Some step freely between worlds to marvel at the kaleidoscope of lives lived differently. Now, some have chosen to show themselves to us. Others will stop at nothing to keep their secrets. But is humanity ready to live with monsters?
It’s nearly that time – Spooktastic Reads starts on October 19 for thirteen days of your Wyrd and Wonder crew daring to venture into the darker side of fantasy. I’ve been revelling in tales of ghosts and curses since the summer, so what can you expect from my Spooktastic Reads?
Our adventure is done, but the long days of summer lie ahead for further exploration of the realms of fantasy to lay in a stock of new stories to share when we next meet. But before we head back out into the fictional wilds, let’s take a final look back at our fifth year of Wyrd and Wonder.
We’re two thirds of the way through our journey, which is another fine time to pause and take stock. Pour yourself a drink and settle in to hear all about the adventures we’ve been having on our travels through the realms of fancy.
Well met, traveller! How are your adventures through the realms of fantasy? Varied and satisfying, we hope – but before you head back out in search of another, settle in and I’ll tell you a tale of what the rest of the party have encountered in their genre journeys. That’s right, it’s time for the Quest Log!
Welcome back to the tavern, traveller! Grab a drink and rest awhile – the first week of Wyrd and Wonder has been busy, so it’s time to settle in and find out what adventures the rest of the party have found as they ventured into the wilds of fantasy. Never fear, your co-hosts have a round-up of all the action!
May is here, marking the start of our fifth annual celebration of all things fantastic! Wyrd and Wonder means raving about our favourite fantasy books, yelling about movies and tv shows, sharing the games that light our fires, seeking out new authors and making new friends. Sure, we read fantasy all year round – but in May we do it together.
I’m on three panels for this year’s Subjective Chaos Kind of Awards, which means nominees have dominated my reading this year. I’m making solid progress on Best Series, so time for a quick recap and a longer look at two of the nominees: Los Nefilim by Teresa Frohock and Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan.
I have a habit of tearing through the Rivers of London novellas. What Abigail Did That Summer is no exception, foregrounding my favourite unruly relative, a teenaged whirlwind who is determined to learn magic. The summer in question is Foxglove Summer and with Peter out of town, there’s nobody to keep a wary eye on what Abigail is up to…
Later than advertised (sorry folks, last weekend got away from me), it’s time for one last affectionate look back at our amazing month of Wyrd and Wonder. A huge hearty THANK YOU to everyone who took part – you make Wyrd and Wonder what it is and we love you for it.
The month of May is made of good intentions, followed by a cascade of compromises. That is to say: I started Wyrd & Wonder with a stack of outstanding reviews …and I ended it the same way. Time to clear my conscience – let’s take a look at my last 2 Wyrd & Wonder reads and catch up on the third season of BookBurners.
It’s the big finale: look around at the faces around you, the light of new worlds shining in their eyes, their hearts full with new characters, their shelves creaking in anticipation of the grand emptying of the book bags at month’s end. Raise a glass to your fellow adventurers and settle in for the tale of the party’s Wyrd and Wonderful adventures over this past week…
Juliet McKenna is an author I’d been meaning to read forever. When good bookfriends expressed quiet but fervent enthusiasm for The Green Man’s Heir, I decided it was time to take the plunge. Today I’m here to be your good bookfriend and express my own quiet but fervent enthusiasm for this contemporary folkloric fantasy series. You should take the plunge, the water is fine if full of terrifying naiads and nixes.
After each adventure, it’s recommended you take a brief pause to catch your breath before heading back out into the worlds of fancy. Join me by the fire to hear what your fellow adventurers have been up to in the third week of Wyrd and Wonder…
onemore.org 