After publishing my novel, The Finery, a joyful romp through a dystopian fantasy setting, I thought I would share my top five humorous fantasy reads.
Men at Arms By Terry Pratchett
Fantasy novels can be cosy, adventurous, exciting, and joyful — and it’s that last one that Pratchett really embraces in all of his Discworld novels. Whenever I want to slip on some comfortable shoes and visit the cobbled streets of Ankh-Morpork, it’s the path of Captain Sam Vines I follow. All of the city-watch stories have their own delightful tales of misadventure, but Men at Arms follows Captain Vines trying to recruit new staff, and his difficulty facing change, alongside Pratchett’s pearls of wisdom such as “Pride is all very well, but a sausage is a sausage,” makes this an enchanting fantastical read.
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
You may have seen the classic cult movie, and though that is a delight, the book is much better. Goldman cleverly writes as though he is abridging an original work by a writer named Morgenstern, and his witty prose makes this book hard to put down. It’s a classic adventure full of sword fights, love, intrigue, and, most importantly, joy. I can’t recommend this enough to a fantasy fan who enjoys a slice of humour.
Kill the Farm Boy by Delilah S Dawson and Kevin Hearne
You know you’re looking at a humorous fantasy novel when the necromancer is called Steve. This story takes one of my favourite fantasy tropes (the chosen one) and adds a dash of hilarity to his journey. There’s an assassin who is afraid of chickens, and a trash-talking goat. So, if you’re looking for a light-hearted adventure, this is for you.
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
This novel has the sort of cover that makes me cross a bookstore at speed, and it more than delivers once the book is opened. This story has a ton of humour and wit, and the magical setting is a real adventure for any fantasy fan.
The Finery by Rachel Grosvenor
When I started writing The Finery, I had a few points in mind. The first was that I had realised that the older I get, the more likely I am to have the ability to deliver the ring to Mount Doom (if you’re not sure what I’m talking about, see: Tolkien). Older women are badass, and when centenarian Professor Wendowleen Cripcot finds herself facing the power of an ever-growing government regime in the winter of her life, she doesn’t stand down. Sprinkled with humour, fantastical realism, and a wolf sidekick who will stop at nothing to get a good breakfast, The Finery is a lively mix of Pratchett and Orwell. Big Brother is watching you…but he probably needs glasses.
What would you add?
