One of the things that I always appreciate are characters that don’t always take themselves too seriously or that have high volumes of sarcasm. Put that into fantasy and you might just create my favorite book.
Today for Top Ten Tuesday (as always hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl) the prompt is books that make me smile. I specified that a bit. I’m sharing books with (dark) fantasy that can make you laugh. Or they did with me.
Discworld’s Death Arc by Terry Pratchett
“I? KILL? said Death, obviously offended. CERTAINLY NOT. PEOPLE GET KILLED, BUT THAT’S THEIR BUSINESS. I JUST TAKE OVER FROM THEN ON. AFTER ALL, IT’D BE A BLOODY STUPID WORLD IF PEOPLE GOT KILLED WITHOUT DYING, WOULDN’T IT?”
Pratchett’s Death is a work of art of a character. He is one of my favorites. While he shows up as the stereotype skeleton with a black robe and a scythe, his personality makes him interesting. While he does his jump he wonders about humanity and tries human things. Just imagine him as a farmer or as Santa. Yeah.
Gentleman Bastard by Scott Lynch
‘You’re one-third bad intentions, one-third pure avarice and one-eight sawdust. What’s left, I’ll credit, must be brains.’
There is just so much ass in these books between these characters. I love it.
Winnowing Flame by Jen Williams
“There is, it seems to me, a certain type of man who is terrified of the idea of a woman wielding power, of any sort; the type of man who is willing to dress up his terror in any sort of trappings to legitimise it.”
There is something so funny about people bitching with animals. A lot of the laughs are also accompanied with a lot of truth.
Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee
“The seat at the other end of the table was empty. Ayt had not arrived yet. Hilo checked his watch. He leaned back in his chair and smiled at those assembled, apparently at ease as he waited.
“Ayt-jen must’ve stopped to key my car.”
The variety of different characters and them clashing creates tense, emotional and also often funny moments. Especially Hilo likes to sass his way in and out of any argument.
It’s weird saying this, but Pratchett’s Death is both adorable and hilarious (oh dear… that sentence would be appalling out of context!)
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It is! It is one of the best depictions of Death I’ve ever seen.
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It’s both funny AND deep.
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Great list! I need to make a start on Jade City asap.
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Yes it is soooo good!
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What a great list! 😀 I particularly love… almost all of the above haha. The Green Bone Saga is completely new to me though!
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Haha Then I think you will love the Green Bone Saga as well 😀
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It’s on the TBR! 😀
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Great list (also your blog is so, so cute!) Just followed your blog!
My TTT: http://theburstingbookshelf.com/10-authors-whose-books-i-always-buy/
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Ah thank you ❤
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I considered including Terry Pratchett in my list – he’s probably the only author who has made me laugh out loud whilst in public. However I would have had to include everything he wrote because I loved it all.
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I managed to limit myself but yes all this stuff is great and funny 😀
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Great list! I think I want to meet Pratchett’s Death character 😀
Here’s my Top Ten Tuesday post.
Happy reading!
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Please do. They are great!
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Totally agree on your inclusion of Pratchett in your list!
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There could be no other first choice.
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I agree – the Death arc (and the Witches) are my favourite Discworld novels – Hogfather was on my list at the top too!
This is the link to my TTT
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Hogfather is such a great one!
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Ahh this is so funny, I love sarcastic characters in fantasy books! Really need to pick up Terry Pratchett’s books.
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Ah yes please do 😀
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I haven’t read any of these, but the quotes made me smile! I love some good sarcasm too. 🙂 Here is my Top Ten Tuesday.
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It is sometimes so very needed!
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I haven’t read any of these but the Discworld books I do have definitely make me smile!
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They always seem to have that abbility!
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I love Gentleman Bastard (although I’ve only read the first book so far)! And I want to know more about Pratchett’s Death character, he seems fun!
My TTT: https://www.traversingchapters.com/top-ten-tuesday-books-that-make-me-smile/
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He is the best fun!
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I quite like how Hilo can be dangerous and yet so sassy that make me laugh!
Happy readings!
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It is a talent haha.
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Death is Pratchett’s best character! I love reading the Death books, and I’m glad he makes appearances in the other books which focus on other characters, too.
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Yes! I am always so curious where he is going to pop up.
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Me too! It’s always a nice treat to see Death show up where I don’t expect him. (In Discword fiction, anyway. I’m perfectly happy not having him show up IRL.) 😉
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Discworld’s Death Arc sounds amazing!
My TTT .
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It is for sure!
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All of these are new to me, but I’m always up for a book that can make me laugh. 🙂
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Those are the best.
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Terry Pratchett is on so many TTT lists this week. I guess I need to pick up one of his books.
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Yes! I love his books so much!
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DEATH really is the most wonderful character. He’s definitly in my top three favorite Discworld Characters togheter with Sam Vimes and Lord Vetinari.
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I didn’t care much for Vetinary in Guards Guards but got a fond feeling for him in Going Postal!
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I’ve never read Terry Pratchett, but I’m thinking I might need to. 😃
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Yes his books are awesome.
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I love humor in my fantasy books! I haven’t read any of these yet, but they’re all on my TBR so it’s good to hear they have humor 🙂
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We need a dose of laughs inbetween our heart breaks haha.
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Oooh, I love your spin on this topic! Death is still one of my favorite characters, ever. ❤ Which is such a weird thing to say, but I said what I said, darn it! His personality is just fabulous. I really need to read Gentleman Bastard still. I know I'm going to love it.
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He is just so amazing.
I drafted this post a while ago but during early July it turns out that Scott Lynch isn’t such a great person. I don’t know if you saw it pass you by on Twitter? So I am kind of hesitant to rec him now. :_:
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Yeah, I saw that. x.X Honestly, I try to separate the books from their authors, because … well, because a lot of reasons, but first, if I didn’t, I’d have to get rid of 90% of the books on my shelves, since we read a lot of classics. xD
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I love Pratchett’s humor so much! 👏👏👏
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Yes. His humor is the best~!
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