#polish fantasy
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I'm reading a young adult fantasy/romantasy book, written by a Polish author (in Polish) - Mags Green "Słoneczny Gon" - and the only thing I can think of now, halfway in the story, is that If she was an American or British author, she would already have hundreds of thousand of fans. Her book would most likely be signed with "New York times bestseller".
She just hits so right with the current book market targeted at young women (Sarah J Maas, Leigh Bardugo, Rebecca Yarros, Holly Black). The only thing stopping her, is the fact that she doesn't write in English. I honestly hope that this book gets translated, and her publishing house won't sleep on it.
#it's her debut novel#so it's not perfect#but still; she would totally fit in with the big names#romantasy#ya lit#young adult#young adult literature#young adult fantasy#young adult fiction#female writers#polish books#polish fantasy#fantasy books#book recommendations#bookworm#female author#mags green#i hope this book will keep it's standard till the end#i even hope it'll get better#the beggining had it's linguistic stumbles#but apart from that the story is well written#the worldbuilding is interesting#and the main character is suprisingly full of character (and not as dumb as I thought she would be)
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Fantasy throughout the world
On top of having an article centered around the French fantasy specifically, the "Modern Success" issue of the BNF Fantasy series also has an article (again written by Anne Besson) covering the topic of "Fantasy throughout the world". Here is, once again, a rough translation by your humble servant:
While heavily dominated by an English-speaking production, fantasy literature found its place in numerous European countries, and managed to cross several continents.
Born in England, grown in parallel on the two sides of the Atlantic oceans, and becoming a mass-phenomenon in the United-States, fantasy is without a doubt an anglophone genre. Even today the fantasy market has a MASSIVE unbalance, and the modern fantasy successes prove that the mondialization of the imaginations is dominated by the cultural superpower of the USA. But ever since the 1970s, as the translations of Tolkien spread across the world and role-playing games conquered the heart of teenagers, "native fantasies" started to appear in various European languages.
German fantasy is a good example of one of those "local takes" - it does help that Germany has a literary background including the Romantic movement, and the brothers Grimm fairytales. After the enormous success of Michael Ende's Never-Ending Story in 1979, the German fantasy did not stop. Many successful authors appeared. Wolfgang Hohlbein gained an internal fame, with his 1982 Märchenmond or his 1999's Chronicles of the Immortals. Cornelia Funke was a famous German youth author, with her trilogy "Inkworld" in 2003. Kai Meyer reworked Germanic legends in his 1998's Loreley or his 2001's Nibelungengold. Walter Moers created the continent of Zamonia, and popularized the character of Captain Blue-Bear (hero of a 1993's children television show, of two novels, and of a 1999's movie).
But very often, international fame only latches on one specific author that is well-known outside of their country's frontiers. In Poland, this author would be Andrzej Sapkowski with his 1986's Witcher series, adapted in 2007 as a video game, and in 2019 as a television series). In Spain, it would be Javier Negrete with his 2003's Tramorea.
Crossing the continents, it becomes very tempting to mix together the magic of fantasy literature with specifically cultural supernatural domains - the Hindu pantheon, the Chinese ghost stories, the kami and the yokai of Japan, the witchcraft of Africa or the Caribbean Isles...
South-America is rich of a literary tradition that in France we compare to our own "fantastique": the short stories of Argentina's authors Jose Luis Borges or Adolfo Bioy Casares in the 40s, the magical realism of Alejo Carpentier in Cuba (The Century of Lights, 1962), of Gabriel Garcia Marquez in Columbia (A Hundred Years of Solitude, 1967) or Carlos Fuenta in Mexico (Terra Nostra, 1975).
On the side of the African continent, The Road of Hunger, in 1991, by Nigerian author Ben Okri, is also part of this more "legitimate" current, a form of fantasy much closer to "general literature", but there is a new African generation, dominated by English-speaking women (Nnedi Okorakor, Nisi Shaw, Lauren Beukes) that fully appropriate and absorb the fantasy genre.
Up until a very recent date, it was considered more respectful to not assimilate these works, born of very different cultures, with a genre that is both modern and Anglo-Saxon. However, the numeric world and the mondialized economy have today destroyed a lot of cultural frontiers, and today we assist to a true "meeting of the imaginations" mixing various cultures together. The author of this article mentions as an example several works coming from East-Asia: the Japanese manga Full Metal Alchemist by Arakawa Hirowu, the other Japanese manga Witch Hat Atelier, or the Sino-American movie The Great Wall (2016).
#fantasy literature#foreign fantasy#fantasy references#fantasy novels#german fantasy#non-english fantasy#polish fantasy#spanish fantasy#african fantasy#european fantasy#japanese fantasy#fantasy throughout the world
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Obviously a lot of the monsters found in the world of the Witcher are based on Slavic folk tales/mythology.
But also Elder Speech/Hen Llinge is heavily based on Welsh and Irish.
I'm trying to figure out if the Grrnichora/Gvaern Ichaer is based on any pre-existing myth, or was it devised by CDPR for Throne breaker?
Anyone know?
#Witcher#Witcher 3#Witcher 2#world of the witcher#andrzej sapkowski#the witcher#netflix witcher#the witcher series#polish myth#polish#polish fantasy#polish books#fantasy#mythology#folk lore#polish mythology#slavic folklore#slavic#slavic folk stories#welsh#irish#welsh mythology#irish mythology#irish language#welsh language#elder speech#hen llinge
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My review/thoughts on The Last Wish by Andrezj Sapkowski! (I bought this book in October 2019 from a used book store for $5; little did I know it would drastically change my opinion on books/reading forever.)
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars!
Is there spice? A tiny bit, it's just fade to black. Don't go into this series expecting really romantic sex scenes, monogamy, or anything like that. 90% of the Witcher sex scenes feel like “old school” fantasy. Think Conan the Barbarian. Geralt takes many lovers throughout these books.
TWs: (See each chapter below for individual trigger warnings.)
Judging a Book By It’s Cover: I feel like the books with their red spines and video game art covers have become pretty iconic. I’m a big fan of the game character design, so I really like them, but just be warned that the covers really don’t have anything to do with what happens in the book other than “oh look! There’s a Witcher doing Witcher activities!”
✨📖 Review 📖✨
Let me start off by saying: This is the book that started it all for me; the book that made me obsessed with reading. I could NOT stop thinking about this book when I would put it down, and it was the first thing on my mind when I woke up the next morning. I just had to know what Geralt was going to do next. He’s a badass, genetically modified man, made for killing monsters… and he talks to his horse. He says he doesn’t care, but spoiler, he actually does. My most unexpected, and first as an adult, book boyfriend.
The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski is a collection of short stories where the chapters fluctuate between present time to various past events/Witcher contracts that help depict what the life of a Witcher is like and also help introduce some of the characters that are a frequent part of Geralt’s life. (This book series is actually the foundation of what spawned both the video game series and the Netflix show; they’re not an expansion.)
If you’re interested in reading The Witcher, I would highly recommend starting with this one and then reading Sword of Destiny, though it’s not “required” to do so. It’s a great way to get used to the world, which is a dark, medieval fantasy setting that contains witches & wizards, elves, dwarves, monsters/ mythology and more. The short stories of The Last Wish & Sword of Destiny focus more on monster slaying and breaking curses, while the novels veer more towards politics, war, and scheming. Both have heavy themes tied to morals/social justice and making choices. Geralt is a morally grey character with a dry sense of humor that tries to mind his own business, unless hired to do otherwise, but somehow always finds himself getting involved in things that Witchers aren’t supposed to care about. No matter what choice he makes, there’s always a consequence.
Here’s a brief summary of each of the short stories you’ll find in this particular book:
The Voice of Reason: These are the “present day” chapters, set at a Temple of Melitele while Geralt is healing from an injury. You’ll find The Voice of Reason chapters in between every short story. There’s a lot of philosophizing and remembering to be had in these. (TWs: One of these chapters features nudity and sex. Though the sex is short and not in great detail. There are some suggestive jokes, some misogyny, some fighting/blood, and one of the priestesses has a seizure.)
The Witcher: The King of Temeria’s daughter was cursed at birth, causing her to be born as a creature known as a striga. The King is offering a reward for anyone who can lift the curse, killing her being the last resort. Geralt takes on the contract, locking himself in and spending the night in the old palace that the striga lives in. (TWs: Incest, dying during child birth, blood/gore.)
Grain of Truth: This story has bits of Beauty and the Beast in it. Geralt encounters two dead bodies while traveling, leading him to investigate the area and finding a manor nearby. While literally stopping to smell the roses, a large beast bursts from the manor in a (failed) attempt to scare Geralt away. The beast is now curious about Geralt; not immediately realizing he’s a Witcher, he invites him to dinner and discussion. (TWs: rape, blood, gore, nudity)
Lesser Evil: Geralt visits a mage known as Stregobor, who is being hunted by a woman named Renfri. Stregobor wants to enlist Geralt as his bodyguard to defend him from her. Geralt refuses, but eventually encounters Renfri and her gang in a tavern. When Geralt comes to realize that Renfri will stop at nothing to kill Stregobor, including killing innocent townspeople, Geralt is forced to pick a side. If you’ve heard the classic Witcher quote “Evil is evil,” this is where it comes from. (TWs: Sexual assault, blood/gore, autopsies. There is also a sex scene in this chapter, however it is “fade to black.”)
A Question of Price: The Queen of Cintra, Calanthe, is holding a banquet to give her daughter Pavetta away on her 15th birthday (as is custom.) Hoping to give her to Skellige to ensure their alliance and expecting a fight, Calanthe has hired Geralt as a bodyguard/mediator. Geralt engages in conversation with the Queen throughout the dinner & explains to her that that’s not what Witcher’s do, when suddenly a helmeted knight appears claiming that Pavetta was promised to him by Calanthe’s late husband 15 years prior, via the “law of surprise” (an ancient custom). A large fight breaks out which results in Geralt invoking his own “law of surprise.” (TWs: vomiting, drinking, violence, underage marriage/sex)
The Edge of the World: Dandelion is traveling with Geralt who is looking for work. All of the potential jobs are deadends, not “real” Witcher jobs, however on their way out of town, they encounter a man who claims a “devil” is causing trouble nearby; the man wants this “devil” to be dealt with, but doesn’t want the Witcher to kill it. Geralt agrees to investigate, leading to himself and Dandelion being attacked by the creature. During a second attempt to persuade the creature to leave, Geralt is knocked down (and out) by an unidentified rider. When he wakes, he finds himself bound and gagged. (TWs: Colonization, racism, violence)
The Last Wish: While fishing, Geralt and Dandelion have an encounter with a djinn that leaves Dandelion gravely injured. Geralt rushes Dandelion on horseback to the nearest city to find his only hope of saving his friend now lies with a mage who has recently taken up residency. This mage turns out to be the witch Yennefer of Vengerberg, who will save Dandelion, but at the cost of Geralt’s ego and at the chance of her capturing the djinn for her own gain. (TWs: magical coercion/manipulation, blood & gore, nudity, sex that isn’t described in great detail.)
Thank you for reading! If you liked my review/thoughts, consider following me on [GoodReads], [Bookstagram], or [Threads]! (I tend to post on GoodReads & Threads first!)
#The Witcher#The Last Wish#Andrezj Sapkowski#Geralt of Rivia#Book Review#Yennefer of Vengerberg#Dandelion#JensJumbledMess#High Fantasy#Adult Fantasy#Epic Fantasy#Dark Fantasy#Single POV#Polish Fantasy#Monster Hunter#NA Fantasy#The Witcher Books#The Witcher Novels#Short Stories#Short Story Collection#Fantasy
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Is this Justice? Is this a new dawn?
#d20#dimension 20#fantasy high junior year#fantasy high junior year spoilers#adine abernant#fig faeth#kristen applebees#fabian seacaster#gorgug thistlespring#riz gukgak#my art#I'm so tired#I'm gonna take a break and then polish everything up and update the masterpost
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Never letting polish nerds recommend me fantasy books, holy shit is the one I’m currently reading bad.
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doom arc
#ffxiv#cyella#cylva#shadowbringers#final fantasy#ff#grey doodles#getting frustrated by how little ive drawn this year so i decided to get this out even if it wasnt super polished#eye strain /#just in case
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The Devils You Know
This Spirits' Eve watch out for those you don't...
~☆◇Prints◇☆~▪︎~☆◇Commissions◇☆~▪︎~☆◇Kofi◇☆~▪︎~☆◇For inquiries: [email protected]◇☆~
#ichi makes art#art#digital art#illustration#fantasy art#digital illustration#drawings#horror#spooky halloween#halloween#polish#zaduszki#2d animation#animated#gif warning#horror gifs#spooky animation#spooky#scary#creepy#sculptures#devils#demons#inspired by famous Wawel Heads google them ;3
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#illustration#fantasy#my art#polish folklore#slavic folklore#basilisk#bazyliszek#smok wawelski#dragon
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LOVE IS STORED IN THE. WAFFLES? I THINK.
#to the anon who asked for more ashace! hi#THESE WERE THE POLL RESULTS!!!!#it was supposed to be sappier in my head but I got too embarrassed. TEHEPERO#<- smth smth ace getting lost in his domestic fantasies#just a quick comic so nothing is really polished. that’s for later this month!!!!!!!!#:( i missed them too tho. ashace my beloved#ashace#twstshi#ashi tamadai#ace trappola#twst ace#twst grim#grim twst#twst yume#twst#disney twst#twst wonderland#twst yuu#twisted wonderland#twsited wonderland#ashipiko draws ♪#has it really been that long since I posted ashace……….#i forgot how to do tags………
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Hello to annual spooky creature feature! This year it's a chicken from hell! The Cockatrice! I felt like playing around with a bit more local folklore for this bundle. Greetings from wonderful, autumnal slavic forests. 🫀 Print and sticker are available in October on my patreon.
#creature#monster#art#illustration#dark#slavic#digital art#fantasy#eastern europe#polish#isvoc#sketchblog post
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Day 1: Lost
Happy Sephiroth Week!
Work is killing me so I probably won't be able to finish anything else, but I'll see what I can do <3
#sephiroth#sephirothweek#ffvii#ff7#jenova#might polish this later#fanart#final fantasy vii#work is killing me#i just want to stay home and draw our boy
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「水着ガレヲン」 by カメポンデ | Twitter
๑ Permission to reprint was given by the artist ✔.
#granblue fantasy#グランブルーファンタジー#galleon#kemonomimi#big#horns#multicolored hair#nail polish#fan art#artist:saisarisu#pixiv art#mypost#mypost:granblue fantasy
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A collage I made for one of the characters from my newest story. His name is Kundel by the way hes an absolute manfail and a menace
#i promise promise promise ill post a test chapter soon#im just not sure yet where i want this project to go so im avoiding actually writing it but i have all of the art prepared#its going to be so fun though its so polish and yyy fantasy like and yeah just trust me#although thinking about characters is way easier than writing so i do it constantly#ill probably make more collages like this for other ocs too#i missed talking about my characters so ill do it in the tags#besides being an absolute boyfail kundel also owns an awfully old bmw car that he uses to drive his friends around#and literally EVERYONE complains about his driving#pirat drogowy behavior#besides that hes the brother of the main character from my last post about this project#her name is marysia#also his name translates to scrub. like the way you describe animals#or mutt#digital artist#oc#oc art#digital art
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HELLO ZAKKURA NATION HOW ARE WE 🫵⚔️🫶🏼
#zakkura#clack#ff7#cloud strife#zack fair#ffvii#final fantasy 7#getting better with colors on procreate. love/hate relationship with that app.#but PTS will nvr come to ios let’s be so ffr#my health still ain’t that great but I want to post smtg more polish soon so hopefully I get better soon
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Just a found family on their way to a gentler life (hopefully)
So there's this really good fanfic by @eaymtb of Cloud being sent back in time together with child remnants that's got me SO hooked, I've been wanting to draw something for it for ages so here's some art of the boys on their way to Wutai
#ff7#ffvii#final fantasy 7#ffvii au#ff7 crisis core#Cloud strife#ff7 kadaj#ff7 yazoo#ff7 loz#ff7 remnants#advent children#ff7 advent children#my art#fic rec#chances I completely misunderstood what the kids were wearing bc my reading comprehension loves pissing on the poor#if I had more energy i'd polish it more but there's a reason I don't post a lot of art lol.. what energy#This fic is SO cute SO funny SO sad SO dramatic#I love the remnants adopting Cloud as their New Mother so much#the kids are almost DEFINITELY a bit too big but when I tried to squish down Yazoo it made it look like his posture was very bad#i would not do that to the poor boy
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