Breakfast at Tiffany’s: Five Underappreciated Fantasy Books Perfect for the Uninitiated

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Today, the amazing and oh-so-lovable Kat and I have teamed up to bring you one of the coolest collaborations in the blogosphere—Breakfast at Tiffany’s. (Haha, get it? We think it’s pretty cool)

Since I’m constantly fangirling about fluffy contemporaries and Kat is a fantasy fanatic, we thought that it would be fitting to switch things up. 💖 Kat will be recommending some of her favorite fantasy novels here, and I will be hyping some of my most anticipated contemporaries for 2019 over on her blog, Novels and Waffles. Without further ado, please welcome Kat from Novels and Waffles!! *applause*

LOOK AT HOW CUTE KAT’S GRAPHIC IS!! I could stare at it forever. 😍#WeStanTalent

Grab your legendary sword (you know, the one that was wielded by some ancient hero to defeat some equally-ancient baddie), your Wonder Woman shield look-alike (because that’s a staple for any wardrobe. I always store mine in my sock drawer), and your adamant armor (which despite weighing the same as a Canadian moose, still leaves you looking fresh) and gear up for the fantasy adventure of your life. Why? Because that’s what I’ve traveled across the interwebulous void to talk to you about today here on Read by Tiffany.

When the wonderful, brilliant, and utterly amazing Tiffany invited me to share some fantasy recs on her blog, I was about as calm as the movie-version Dumbledore was when he asked Harry if he put his name in the Goblet of Fire.

AKA: Not very calm.

I know I’ve shouted about how I’m complete fantasy trash before, but I’m going to risk bothering you all to death and do it some more (but this time, it’s at Tiffany’s request, so it’s socially acceptable now. Thanks, Tiffany for giving me another excuse to spout more of my fantasy nonsense).

I have Tiffany’s official permission to bother you all with my fantasy book recommendations.
*Insert maniacal laugh here*
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The Thief  by Megan Whalen Turner

Reading any book from The Queen’s Thief series is like taking a big, gooey bite out of a chocolate-chip cookie, only to discover that it’s actually oatmeal raisin. And as somebody who thinks chocolate tastes about as appealing as a mouthful of crunchy dirt (😱😱😱), this is an extremely good thing. Betcha didn’t see that coming.

As I read The Thief, I spent the majority of the story feeling very comfortable. I was confident I knew what the author was doing and how it was all going to end. Welp, I was wrong. What I thought was chocolate ended up being a raisin, and it was such an unexpected delight. Now, most people don’t particularly enjoy being wrong, but I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that books are the exception. Don’t we all want a book so full of surprises that our heads spin around and around like that tea cup ride at Disneyland (but without the accompanying barf bag)? I know I do. With books, we want to be wrong. We want to be surprised. We don’t want to know what’s going to happen next, and this series is great at doing just that.

Recommended For Readers Who Want: A character-driven, high fantasy story full of detailed mythology, political machinations, and unexpected twists.

Inkheart by by Cornelia Funke

Inkheart is a book about the magic of books, and as a book blogger, how could I not love it? Also, let’s see how many times I can say the word, “book” in a single sentence. The story begins one dark and stormy night (because nothing unpleasant can ever happen when it’s bright and sunny outside, amirite?) when Meggie’s father reads aloud from a book. You might think this is a perfectly normal, inconsequential thing to do. But, dear reader, this is where you would be mistaken. As soon as Meggie’s father begins to read, something magical happens. Something horridly, tragically magical. And suddenly, nothing would ever be the same again. (How’s that for a cliffhanger?)

Recommended for Readers Who Want: A book that will make you fall in love with the magic of books all over again. And make you consider pursuing a career as a bookbinder.

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

Nowadays, fantasy books are grim, dark, and gritty. You’ve got your hardened criminals, your bloodthirsty assassins, and your elven princes who’d just as soon kill you as look at you. And let me tell you, I’m all for that. I love me some Cardan as much as the next person. But sometimes my heart – which grew up feasting upon the fluffy magic that is Disney – needs refilling. And The Goose Girl is the perfect light, feel-good snack for that.

Recommended for Readers Who Want: A light, fluffy, feel-good fairy tale that will clear up your acne, revive your dying house plants, and fill your soul with everlasting sunshine.

Fairest by Gail Carson Levine

Like The Goose Girl, I read this fairy tale whilst I was just a wee preteen, but the uniqueness of the story has stuck with me ever since. To be fair (haha get it? I made a pun! Cause of like…the title…), Fairest might be more properly classified as a Middle Grade novel, but the way it offers a fresh discourse on what it means to be beautiful is something that applies to readers of every age. Its message gives me hope; it makes me think that I can overcome the constant barrage of social media in my life and my resulting feelings of inadequacy.

Recommended for Readers Who Want: A fresh, body-positive fairy tale that topples the “Pretty, Pretty Princess” trope and teaches us to love ourselves more fully.

Peter and Wendy by J.M. Barrie

This book has it all – jealous fae, bloodthirsty pirates, kidnapped princesses, daring sword fights, and a completely magical found family that I just can’t get enough of. Not to mention eternal #squadgoals. Honestly, I can’t wrap my head around why Cinderella and Snow White retellings are about a dime a dozen, while the goldmine that is Peter and Wendy just sits over here, virtually untouched. This book will forever be my favorite classic, and no matter what you say, I won’t change my mind.

Recommended for Readers Who Want: A lyrically written adventure full of magic, pixie-induced aerobatics, and eternally youthful boys who can’t seem to keep their cute little trickster noses out of all sorts of piratey trouble.


If you’re interested in following Kat (and you totally should), here are her platforms:

Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads | Bloglovin

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How excited are you about this collaboration? Do you like our punny name for it? Let me know in the comments! 💕

Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads  Bloglovin | Tumblr

38 thoughts on “Breakfast at Tiffany’s: Five Underappreciated Fantasy Books Perfect for the Uninitiated”

  1. I LOVE this post!! Even though I’m like Tiffany – always screaming about fluffy contemporaries haha – I also enjoy reading fantasy every once in a while. And this post definitely convinced me to add these fantasies to my TBR 😍 Kat’s blogging voice is so funny and witty; I always smile and laugh when reading her posts, and this one is no exception.

    Also, Breakfast at Tiffany is very punderful, I love it 😉 You two are both such great bloggers and I love this collaboration!! Heading over to read Tiffany’s contemporary recs now 💓

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    1. PUNDERFUL (Dezzy…Have I mentioned I love you??) ❤ Let me just shower you with all my love and chocolate! I definitely agree with you on Kat's blogging voice because it's just so fun and easy to read. I think this is such an amazing list of books she's recommended too because it'll be great for us contemporary lovers to diversify and find more amazing books to read 🙂

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  3. The movie version of Dumbledore LOL. That’s amazing. I read The Thief years and years ago, when there was only one sequel, so I want to go back and read the whole series now! And I haven’t read Fairest but Ella Enchanted is one of my all time favorite books. I need to read some Shannon Hale too. Love the list!

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    1. Isn’t it hilarious? 😂I’m honestly so ashamed because I haven’t read any of these books, so it’s good to hear that you enjoy them Morgan. Kat picked amazing ones 🙂 Ella Enchanted is definitely one of my favorites (though I’ve only watched the movie and not read the book :O) I’m so glad you enjoyed this post ❤

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  7. Lovely idea!
    I do like some fantasy, but they are usually the ones that are more something else with a bit of fantasy 😀 Like Dark Tower which is also horror with a bit of sci-fi 😀

    The Thief sounds good tho! I think i’d like that.

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  8. That Dumbledore GIF though, I laughed so hard hahahahaha. I love this post and what a great idea for a collaboration, two queens together, I LOVE IT. I loved Inkheart so, so much when I was younger, such a good story ❤

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  9. I love the pun name. Very cute and classy (:

    I have yet to read The Thief although I know it has been on my shelf for eight years+. It’s one of my biggest blogger shames. I’ve read Inkheart which I loved but I never continued the series! Goose Girl is so fantastic! I listened to the audiobook version and it had a whole cast of characters. So worth listening through. Still have not read Fairest… I might just get rid of it from my shelf since I don’t think I’ll ever read it honestly. I hated Peter Pan and Wendy in the book. They annoyed me so much 🙄! It looks like Kat and me have similar interests in books so I’m looking forward to these in the future.

    https://shesgotbooksonhermind.blogspot.com/

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    1. Yay!! We were really proud of the pun 😉

      Don’t be ashamed!!…because I haven’t read any of the books on this list before :O (I know *shocker*) but I think that’s what’s amazing about this post because we can find recommendations 🙂

      Thank you so much for supporting, Adriana ❤

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  11. omg I read almost all of the books Kat recommended. I loved The Thief (and the later books even more!!) SO CLEVER. And The Goose Girl! It was sooooo good (though my personal favorite in the Books of Bayern was River Secrets). Ahahaha…I’m now a fangirling mess.

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  12. Ah, you two make me so happy!!! ❤️ I love you both so much!! *sends some bottled love (aka kombucha, which is basically the same thing) through mail* I’m loving these recs and the punny title! I ADORE Inkeart and Peter and Wendy, and have been meaning to read the Goose Girl for years! It’s been on my tbr since before I knew what a tbr shelf was. 😂

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  15. I’m only just now getting around to commenting on this (DERP), but thanks so much for having me guest post on your blog! I’ve already said thanks a million times, but I mean it! It was so much fun and I hope we can do it again sometime 🙂

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  16. ALL OF ZE PUNS

    Aaaah I adore Kat’s graphics, and your name for this collab cracked me up. Well chosen you two! I actually first came across Goose Girl from watching Hailey in Booklands booktube channel, I found out about that book a while ago but now I may just have to add it to my TBR…along with one or two others here.

    *runs over to check out Tiffany’s post on Kat’s blog*

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    1. ALL ZE PUNS!!!

      Always appreciate your ethusiasm and support Clo! The collab name was Kat’s idea, and I knew instantly we had to make it really happen. 🙂 I actually hadn’t heard of many books on Kat’s list until now, so it’s definitely something I’m keeping my eye on!

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  17. I love the punny title! XD

    I’m such a fantasy dork, so this post is perfect! I’m currently reading Inkheart, and I’ve read (and loved) Fairest. I so need to read a Megan Whalen Turner book! Loving the Harry Potter gifs.

    Aaaaanyways. Just have to say this – but I love your blog design! It is the cutest thing ever!!!! 😍😍😍

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  18. Pingback: One Year Blogiversary Giveaway – Novels & Waffles

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