Wyrd & Wonder Round Up: Week 1

ART CREDITS
Orange dragon by Elena Zakharchuk

We have reached the end of the first week of this years fantastical event, and before I say anything else I have to mention how blown away I’ve been by some of the things you’re doing with my map! It brings me great joy! Now, let’s all sit down by the fire and take a look at what everyone has been doing on this first stretch of the journey. Some may have wandered off to the mountains where dragons and deep secrets lurk, while others may have strayed towards the meadows and lakes, hoping for a glimpse of a fae or nymph…

I’ll be using our great ledger (aka the master schedule) to keep track of everyone’s adventures, and though I will also try and keep up with my social media feeds, if you can’t see your post listed it’s because I missed it – be sure to link it up and we can add it on to the next week! My round-up will include all your intro posts, your lists and recommendations, and other random treasures collected along the way, but don’t miss out Lisa’s post over at Dear Geek Place for everyone’s reviews, read-along posts, and interviews.

New Travellers

A huge welcome to our newly joined adventurers, be sure to make space by the fire for them: The Captain of Captain’s Quarters, Sia of Every Book a Doorway, Lila of Hardcover Haven, Starr K. of Pages and Procrastination, Peat of Peat Long’s Blog, John of SciFiMind, Mat the Tiny Elf Arcanist, Natalie of Too Short to Read, and Miki of A Writing Soul’s Story.

At the Foot of Mt. TBR

It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.

– The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien

Everyone is different… some like to set off with a map, a plan, and a fully packed backpack. Others run out the front door with not even a handkerchief to their name. Some might have a vague idea of where they want to end up, but are happy to get distracted along the way… I am certainly in this last camp when it comes to my reading plans, but let’s see what everyone else had to say:

• Nicole of BookWyrm Knits set off early and has a TBR full of cosy-looking fantasy and some comforting re-reads.
• Tammy of Books, Bones, and Buffy also posted her TBR before May, which has quite a few dark reads, but they all look excellent!
• Celeste of A Literary Escape is focusing on ARCs but is happy to admit she may wander off the path and pick up something else
• Annemieke of A Dance With Books has a stack of hopeful books, but is also running the Sunbolt and Memories of Ash readalong!
• Nic of Dragon Rambles considers fantasy as a genre a comfort zone, and so everything is fair game
• Ellie of Curiosity Killed the Bookworm is using portals to traverse my map, and is hoping Mt TBR doesn’t knock her out
• Caitlin of Realms of My Mind has an ARC-heavy selection and can hopefully catch up on them all using our fantastic prompts
• Susy of Susy’s Cosy World is balancing physical books and e-books in the hopes of finding the ultimate comfort reads
• Lisa of Dear Geek Place is leading the charge on The Night Circus readalong and is planning to get her fix of cosy fantasy from the screen
• Lynn of Wanderinglynn has a very ambitious TBR and is excited to get back into fantasy after a short break
• I only have a few books on my TBR because life is busy but I am mostly excited about all the new books I’ll want to read after I see everyone else’s stacks and reviews
• Miki of A Writing Soul’s Story wrote a lovely little piece of lore based on our map, and will be adding to it as she ventures through the month
• Snapdragon of Snapdragon Alcove has a long list of very interesting books but isn’t afraid of going off-road
• Sia of Every Book a Doorway is looking at the edges of comfort zones and catching up on ARCs
• Rachael the Green Tea Librarian has filled her pack with all sorts of different types of fantasy reads
• Zezee of Zezee With Books is excited about all our events and prompts, and is planning on enjoying some good old fashioned sword and sorcery
• Athena the OneReadingNurse is sticking to familiar authors and favourite themes
• Laure of Reading Delicacies has a list of hopeful reads, trying to knock off a few sequels and ARCs from the never ending list
• Imyril of There’s Always Room for One More is happy to be swept where the mood reading takes her, and I’ll be joining her and a few others for a Ninth Rain buddy-read
• Rebecca of Powder & Page has a lovely array of books to choose from
• Louise of Monstrumology is stepping out of her comfort zone somewhat but hopefully will enjoy them all
• Janette of Witchy Reading has a few ARCs and a few comfort reads to keep her going as she sets off from Mt TBR
• Lauren of Always Me has plenty of reading challenges forming her TBR
• Jenna of Falling Letters is back after a few years out and is planning on reviewing a few recent reads as well as getting stuck into new ones
• Natalie of Too Short to Read has a beautiful selection of books but is very willing to be tempted off the path
• Heather of Based on a True Story is setting off from Mt TBR with witches, magical pen-pals, and a woman on the run
• Peat of Peat Long’s Blog does not hide the fact that his TBR is a very loose plan, and has already tried to tempt me into picking up The Silmarillion
• Starr K. of Pages & Procrastination has chosen some eye-catching books to set off with

Lists & Recommendations

Lauren at Always Me has a list of Movies and TV Shows to try and watch this month

Heather of Based on a True Story looks at fantasy authors she’s discovered since the last Wyrd & Wonder

Celeste of A Literary Escape has journeyed to Dragon’s Pass to look at some favourite draconic books

Starr K. of Pages & Procrastination took a dip in the Icy Waters of Waiting for the Next Book and then crossed Conflict Bay to look back on some memorable fight scenes.

Peat of Peat Long’s Blog has stopped off at Pirate Cove to share Five Books With Buccaneers

Caitlin of Realms of My Mind has created a book tag from a section of the Wyrd & Wonder map

Fantastic Fives

Based on A True Story | The Book Nook | Curiosity Killed the Bookworm | A Dance With Books | The Green Tea Librarian | Pages and Procrastination | Peat Long’s Blog | There’s Always Room For One More | Tiny Elf Arcanist

Random Treasure

Ellie of Curiosity Killed the Bookworm has created a Cosyometer to help define the subgenre of cosy fantasy – there’s even a download link so you can create your own!

Annemieke of A Dance With Books is showing off her Reading Journal with all things Wyrd & Wonder for May

Miki of A Writing Soul’s Story is continuing her journey past Slump Valley and towards the Road Less Travelled

Zezee of Zezee With Books has done the Last 10 Books Tag with a fantasy twist.

Housekeeping

As I mentioned before, if you don’t see your post here be sure to add it to the Master Schedule so we can include it in the next roundup.

We’re active on Discord this year, and if you haven’t joined us then do get in touch with one of the hosts to be added. 

Please remember to always credit the artists for the Wyrd & Wonder artwork if you use it in a post. You can find the info for that at the bottom of any of the hosts’ blog posts! 

That’s it, happy reading and we’ll see you next week!