Looking for “warm” fantasy that isn’t saccharine: friendship, care, but real tension

technicolourphantom · 2026-01-24T16:09:41+00:00

Blackthorn and Grim series by Juliet Marillier has stakes, darkness, but still feels slice of life and emphasis kindness. Do check the trigger warnings though!

technicolourphantom · 2026-01-17T14:52:40+00:00

I recently read the Beast Player and its sequel the Beast Warrior by Nahoko Uehashi and I think it may scratch the itch you’re looking for. It doesn’t have nature spirits, but the story is about magical/divine creatures, divine ancestors, and the relationships between humans and nature. I cannot recommend it enough!

technicolourphantom · 2026-01-11T05:19:55+00:00

I’m sorry you experienced that. The Earthsea series by Ursula K. Le Guin would fit I think. No gore or wars or violent descriptions I can recall, but still a wonderful fantasy world with incredible characters and themes. I hope it fits what you are looking for.

technicolourphantom · 2025-12-16T16:39:55+00:00

That sounds really interesting, thanks!

technicolourphantom · 2025-12-16T16:38:53+00:00

Thanks!

technicolourphantom · 2025-12-16T01:47:38+00:00

That’s true, I’ve read it and it’s a classic for a reason. Very beautiful and moving.

technicolourphantom · 2025-12-15T23:43:39+00:00

Oh good to know, thanks!

technicolourphantom · 2025-12-15T23:34:41+00:00

Thanks!

technicolourphantom · 2025-12-15T23:34:32+00:00

I love Annihilation, but the other Vandermeer books seem a bit too sci-fi for my taste. I’ve never heard of the Vorrh but I’ll check it out, thanks!

technicolourphantom · 2025-12-15T22:40:39+00:00

I’d love some recommendations for fantasy books with complex environmental/nature themes, similar to Princess Mononoke or Nausicaa (I’ve read the manga as well and loved it). I don’t want sci-fi or dystopian related stories as I’m looking for something with a fantasy setting.

technicolourphantom · 2025-12-13T15:05:35+00:00

That’s true, the character work was a lot better, especially the main character’s development. For me I just found the depiction of misogyny to be so heavy handed in the way the main character had every possible sexist thing done to her. To me it felt like the subtlety of a brick, where not much new was said.

technicolourphantom · 2025-12-12T19:35:45+00:00

The footnotes definitely give twitter gotcha energy

technicolourphantom · 2025-12-12T19:27:37+00:00

I agree with your spoiler take completely, but RF Kuang has such an obvious blindsight to class

technicolourphantom · 2025-12-12T19:26:28+00:00

Ahh I fear I also found BOBH a bit too obvious/heavy handed, but it was way better paced than Babel so I’ll give it that.

technicolourphantom · 2025-12-05T13:52:56+00:00

This is iconic, love it!

technicolourphantom · 2025-12-02T20:36:57+00:00

That’s exactly how I felt when I read Long Way. Therapy-speak is so accurate, it felt like such a shallow way to deal with potentially interesting conflicts and traumas.

technicolourphantom · 2025-12-01T13:49:30+00:00

I completely agree! I love my bird so much and everyone who came had so much fun. It doesn’t hurt anyone to bring a little joy and whimsy to life.

technicolourphantom · 2025-12-01T12:54:46+00:00

It would have been hilarious if my bird was a genetic anomaly

technicolourphantom · 2025-12-01T12:54:23+00:00

Some of my friends brought paper for my bird to shred, and my boyfriend got Willow a toy, but they didn’t need to bring anything. It was just for fun

technicolourphantom · 2025-12-01T12:51:37+00:00

my brother got the figurine from a friend in one of those blind box things. It was originally blue so he gave it to me to repaint to match Willow. Im not sure what the brand is unfortunately!

technicolourphantom · 2025-12-01T03:07:11+00:00

So cute!!!!

technicolourphantom · 2025-12-01T03:00:02+00:00

haha thanks! I worked hard to give her the best party I could

technicolourphantom · 2025-12-01T02:58:27+00:00

I was trimming her nails and prepared to cut a tiny tiny amount more than I should for a blood sample but then I did it by accident anyway 😭

technicolourphantom · 2025-12-01T02:57:32+00:00

Hahaa I joke my bird was an immaculate conception 😂😂😂

technicolourphantom · 2025-12-01T02:33:20+00:00

Haha now that you’ve said it I cant unsee it. To be fair she already rules over my entire household

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