Fantasy readers are a unique breed. We’re the ones who’ve wandered through the enchanted forests of Middle-earth, battled dragons in Westeros, and tracked down spell tomes in the Unseen University.
We’ve dreamed of soaring on the backs of dragons, casting spells with a flick of a wand, and fighting evil with our trusty swords.
And it’s fair to say we’ve also picked up some quirks along the way that set us apart from the non-fantasy readers of the world.
So, if you’re wondering whether you’re one of us, here are some tell-tale signs that you might be a true fantasy reader.
1. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve debated the merits of various magical creatures over a pint of ale.
2. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve tried to open a door with a magic spell instead of a key.
3. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’re more excited about a book’s map than its table of contents.
4. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve contemplated the logistics of having a hobbit-sized home.
5. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve had to explain what “Tolkien-esque” means to someone who’s never read a fantasy novel.
6. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve felt personally betrayed by a fictional character’s death.
7. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve caught yourself muttering spells under your breath when faced with a particularly difficult task.
8. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve tried to solve a real-life problem by asking “What would Gandalf do?”
9. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve rolled your eyes at a non-fantasy reader who said “It’s just a book, it’s not real.”
10. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve imagined yourself as a powerful wizard or witch casting spells in a crowded room.
11. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve tried to learn a fictional language, like Elvish or Dothraki.
13. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve considered getting a tattoo inspired by your favourite fantasy book or series.
15. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve felt a sense of camaraderie with other fantasy readers, even if you’ve never met them.
16. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve contemplated whether you could actually survive in a world with dragons, magic, and other fantastical creatures.
17. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve used obscure fantasy references in casual conversation, only to be met with blank stares.
18. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve wished that you could attend a ball at the High Court of Faerie, even though you know it probably wouldn’t end well.
19. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve named your pets after fantasy characters or creatures.
20. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve dressed up as your favourite fantasy character for Halloween and had to explain your costume to everyone who asked.
21. You know you’re a fantasy reader when you’ve cried over the ending of a book or series, and had to take a break from reading for at least a week.
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