Team Urban vs. Team Epic – Why I Love Epic Fantasy

I’ve always been a child of the Fantasy genre. From the moment that I realized there was a place where I could get lost in massive new worlds, be chased by trolls or giants, wield magical weapons, and come out the other side unscathed at the end, I’ve been in love with this genre! Fantasy gives readers a whole new set of universes to explore, when the one we’re currently inhabiting gets to be a little too much.

Epic Fantasy specifically though, has always been a favorite of mine. In this subgenre, the biggest difference is that the stakes are always higher. Whole worlds are in peril. The fate of the land rests on the shoulders of one, seemingly helpless, individual. Wars are waged, journeys are made, and our brave heroes and heroines learn who they really are inside. As a young reader, I loved that this subgenre allowed anyone to become the best version of themselves. Feel too scrawny, or too scared? Not to worry! You just haven’t discovered your inner potential. Epic Fantasy is here for you!

If you haven’t yet stepped foot into this beautiful realm of literature, allow me to give you some guidance. The best place to start for most people, is The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Read that, and ready to move on? Try Wizard’s First Rule, the first book in The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind! Looking for something with more humor, and less death? Look no further than any book in the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett. The Color of Magic will make you fall in love. Rincewind will steal your heart. I promise.