SOPH + AVI CHAT RE: WHY YOU SHOULD READ FANTASY THIS SUMMER
Blink Twice If You Need: A Meditation On The Famed ACOTAR and Fourth Wing Series; A Giveaway! xx
Happy Summer Solstice to all who celebrate! Happy Monday. We’re coming at you with an honest-to-goodness convo about reading fantasy: why we like it, why it’s kinda culty, why Sarah J. Maas of A Court of Thorns and Roses and Rebecca Yarros of Fourth Wing have us hooked by the razor sharp tips of their author talons, and who the sexiest fantasy characters are. Gentle reader, should you not partake in fantasy, we still implore you to read on. Plus, scroll for a special giveaway because we <3 you
Soph: Hey girly girl
Avi: Hi :)
Soph: Let’s get down to biz. You’re currently finishing up the Throne of Glass series and your lover has just gifted you Fourth Wing as well, am I right?
Avi: It’s true! Honestly I’m surprised he was willing to enable my addiction. My other books have become his nemeses since he has to compete with them for my attention.
Soph: You’ve got some good reading ahead of you.
Avi: I cannot wait.
Soph: Let’s give our readers a hint as to why we’ll have our noses in between paper and glue this summa. What do you like about Sarah Maas, author of the A Court of Thornes and Roses, Crescent City and Throne of Glass series?
Avi: You know, it’s hard for me to put my finger on exactly what it is about her work that I love so much. I grew up loving faeries and magical fantasy worlds, so I’m no stranger to the concepts, but there’s something about the way she fills in every crack and crevice of these worlds. It makes it so much easier to feel fully immersed. I don’t even want to know what information my brain got rid of to make room for all the faerie lore I’ve got in there now. And then the obvious… this woman is the absolute expert at writing male characters. Like I love my boyfriend, but she’s just about ruined all mortal men for me. How about you? Have you always been a fantasy girl?
Soph: I concur re: ruining mortal men. And on reading fantasy — please, I scoff! Twilight Saga? Devoured in 4th grade (def not age appropriate??). Harry P? Easily. Percy Jackson? The lesser-known treasures like Glint? I’ve always escaped into books and reading fantasy has allowed me to do that in a way that surpasses other genres.
Avi: Wow, I’ve never even heard of Glint! You really are our resident fantasy connoisseur.
Soph: You flatter me. We mentioned Maas has written a few other series, including Throne of Glass, which she wrote when she was 16. If you had to recommend just one series — either A Court of Thorns and Roses or Throne of Glass, which takes the cake?
Avi: Ugh, don’t do this to me. I think if you’re more in the mood to lose yourself in an epic story with a lot of characters and perspectives, then Throne of Glass is for you. But if you want to revel in faerie magic and feel tingles in the panties, it’s gotta be ACOTAR. You’ve read Maas and Yarros — what is it about their writing that appeals to an expert like yourself?
Soph: The world-building. If you say you’re reading ACOTAR or Fourth Wing for the prose, I’d laugh in your face. The way that both of these authors create and maintain these unimaginable worlds and allow us to see so clearly their intricacies is pretty powerful and hard to do as an author. There are so many fantasy books that don’t strike the right balance of plot and character development while also creating worlds that are engrossing and palpable, but I think both these gals do it so well. Hats off m’ladies.
What do we recommend people read first? If they’ve never read any of this stuff?
Avi: I did ACOTAR first, and I think that’s what I would recommend to others, too. Throne of Glass is a bit of an undertaking. What do you think?
Soph: I agree, although for some of our friends, even a six-part series might be daunting — if that’s the case, I’d say dive into Fourth Wing. Two books. Easy peasy.
Avi: If a six-book series is daunting for you, I would definitely steer clear of Throne of Glass lol. Before reading either series, would you rather have been a faerie or a dragon rider? Has your answer changed since?
Soph: Dragon rider through and through. Faeries are powerful but also intense and kind’ve a drag lol
Avi: Hey! Don’t f*ck with the faeries! You’ve got a point though, they can be super extra. I’m curious, would you want to see a live-action show based on any of these books?
Soph: Hell no. What about you? Do you think someone can successfully turn these books into movies/shows? They’re currently casting a Hulu adaptation of ACOTAR, but I haven’t seen news of anything coming out anytime soon.
Avi: Frankly, absolutely not. Of course, I would love to see these stories on screen, but the probability of a film/tv adaptation being incredibly cringe is too high. Not only would they have to rely way too heavily on CGI, but no human man could ever capture the perfection of these Fae male characters. Casting would be a nightmare. At best it could be a self aware Twilight situation, at worst… I don’t want to think about it. But that’s just me.
Ok, onto the serious questions — Who’s the sexiest character from the books you’ve read, and please elaborate why? :)
Soph: XADENNNNNNNNNN <333333333333333 Fourth Wing zaddy!!! He is similar to Rhysand in ACOTAR in that he loves and uplifts the main character, Violet, for all of the unruly, insane power that she wields, and instead of holding her back, although he can be protective and have a fiery temper (hot), he sees her as an equal and the two are a power duo. Also he’s a shadow wielder and has a troubled past …. call life alert bc I have fallen and cannot get up. You?
Avi: This is tough. I love Rhysand of course, but Court of Silver Flames made me want to risk it all for Cassian. And I’m willing to bet the next book will make Azriel my number one. But there’s also something about Rowan… honestly, all the Throne of Glass men are hunkalicious.
Soph: We’ve lost her mi boys. Riddle me this: do you think TikTok helped quality fantasy reads come to the fore? Or are we just reading trending novels that keep us distracted?
Avi: I caught a glimpse of fanfare on Instagram and “book-tok” but it was never enough to convince me to read the books. You’re the one that got me to read ACOTAR hahaha. I think a recommendation from a real flesh and blood friend that you trust will always be more influential than randos on the interwebz.
Ok now me — Why do you think the enemies-to-lovers trope has become so ubiquitous in these types of novels? Because never in my life have I fallen in love with a man who was so nasty and asshole-ish, but for some reason in these books, the “morally grey” men are always the ones we can’t resist!
Soph: Ah! A tale as old as time I’m afraid, and one I’ve unfortunately fallen victim to. Funny you ask that, because at the beginning of Fourth Wing, Xaden has a vendetta against the main character and wants to kill her. And then things flip and I’d don’t want to reveal too much but — I think it’s only human to think that you possess the power to change someone who may not treat you the way you want to be treated. But, I think we’re in love with the chase and the possibility of changing the bad boy (usually just an asshole who smells bad and drinks patron on the rocks but then tips under 20%) more than the actual person. I feel like it becomes a pride thing too. But if that person doesn’t want to give you the time of day at the beginning, they’re likely not going to do much more after a months-long situationship. Ya know? And therein lies the crux of our infatuation with the enemies-to-lovers trope — its impossibility is tantalizing hahhaa
Avi: Why do you think reading fantasy has become (maybe has always been) so cultish?
Soph: I think there’s a taboo associated with reading fantasy and people tend to link that with the extremes i,e. DND, Live Action Role Play in McCarren Park (you know who you are) and Lord of The Rings lovers. And then there are those of us who are just slightly obsessive readers. Look, you’re either the one explaining the plot for 45 minutes to your friend who has never read any fantasy in their life, or the one receiving the unsolicited retellings of a book you’ll never read. I think it’s becoming culty because those of us who love it are an energized group and we’re protective of our precious stories.
Rapid Fire Fantasy-Reading Do’s and Don’t’s:
Do: Read on train and/or in park and/or at bars (no it’s not giving pick me if you’re actually reading)
Don’t: LARP
Do: Lend books to friends
Don’t: Mansplain fantasy plot to random stranger (friends & fam(ily) only)
Do: Spend a Friday eve in bc you have 100 pages left
Don’t: Give up after the first 100 pages because the plot isn’t “doing anything for you”
Do: Form a strategic alliance with GOT and House of Dragon lovers
Don’t: Judge fantasy by its cover
Do: Give in to elaborate, mind-blowing entertainment that isn’t connected to a screen bc we all need that <333
Fin
Avi: End of the day, why should our sweet sweet Blink Twice elves read fantasy? They probably have better stuff to do like go to a wine bar in Fort Greene or to a Sunday rave in Bushwick. Why should they use precious brain capacity to read this hoopla?
Soph: Fantasy allows us to believe beyond the realm of what is possible in our everyday life. It can pull you out of the depths of friend drama, a recent breakup or feeling less than or unseen. Fantasy gives something back to our childhood selves, too — brings a spark back to the little imagination corner that’s tucked away and dusty in the back of all of our brains.
Avi: Couldn’t have said it better.
FYI, Avi turned 26 this past weekend so please comment Happy Birthday or she’ll hex u ;) jk. Happy Birthday, Avi!! This newsletter would not be the same without your hilarious, scathing, sarcastic writing and I am so grateful to call you a close friend! To many more years of fighting off sniveling 20-year-olds, being smart and beautiful, and to writing our kooky newsletter together! <333333
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If you wish to enter for a chance to win a copy of the first book of the Fourth Wing series, please like and comment on this post via Substack and forward this fantasy issue of Blink Twice to a friend. You must be a current subscriber (free or paid) to enter! Email us a screenshot once you’re done to blinktwicenewsletter@gmail.com <3 winner will be announced on IG (blink.twiceee) this Friday 6/28!
Birthday blessings to the birthday girl 🌞