9 Great Fantasies About Characters Who Must Overcome Their Differences

	Title	Author
1.	The Betrayal	S.T. Holmes
2.	The Gates of Golor'ath	R.M. Garino
3.	Borrowed Souls	Chelsea Mueller
4.	The Alchemist's Box	Alex Avrio
5.	Heartbound	P.I. Alltraine
6.	Death's Dancer	Jasmine Silvera
7.	Touchdown	Yael Levy
8.	Quest of the Dreamwalker	Stacy Bennett
9.	The Griever's Mark	Katherine Hurley

Fun Activities For Fantasy Fans

Host a magical movie night
Enter a Magic: The Gathering tournament
Play a fantasy video game with friends
Use a Ouija board to contact the spirits
Create a cosplay of your favorite character
Have a board game night
Podcast about your favorite show, movie, or book
Host a Dungeons and Dragons campaign

8 Great Fantasy Movies

Coraline (2009)
Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
Underworld (2003)
The Lord of the Rings (2001)
Age of the Dragons (2011)
Excalibur (1981)
The Dark Crystal (1982)
The Princess Bride (1987)

Common Fantasy Tropes

The possibilities in this genre are endless, and no two authors create exactly the same world. Still, there are several common tropes that writers love to come back to again and again, sometimes adding their own unique twists. Here are a few beloved fantasy staples:

Why Fantasy Matters

In Depth

Great literature is full of unlikely pairs coming together for an important cause and individuals rising above their own prejudices, and in fantasy, with otherworldly powers and supernatural creatures, those differences can be very pronounced. Here, in no particular order, are nine fantasies about people who must overcome their differences.

Up first, at #1, is "The Betrayal" by S.T. Holmes. Sgt. George Francis Genois is a Confederate officer who, through the help of magic, falls in love with a half-black woman named Jewella. When she is arrested before their wedding, George must turn his back on his military career and fight for Jewella. In order to do so, he seeks help from a sorcerer whose magic may lead to George being cursed.

#2 is "The Gates of Golorath" by R.M. Garino. Angels Arielle and Angus were fated to meet. They're meant to fight together and to restore the former glory that the angels used to have. Now, undergoing military training at The Gates of Golorath, they will learn to ward off monsters and protect Earth from evil. But they will also have to battle against others who wish to tear them apart before they can complete their destiny.

Now, undergoing military training at The Gates of Golorath, they will learn to ward off monsters and protect Earth from evil.

Next, at #3, is "Borrowed Souls" by Chelsea Mueller. In Gem City, religious people cheat the system by renting others' souls. They use them to commit whatever sins they want, without damning themselves. Callie must borrow a soul to save her brother, who she's always bailing out of trouble. This time, it's with the mob. If she doesn't work for them, her brother will be killed. But souls are expensive, and Callie knows little about the magic she's playing with.

#4 is "The Alchemist's Box" by Alex Avrio. Regina and Kapitan served on opposite sides of a war, but now she's being forced to work alongside him. In order to repay the debt she's amassed from gambling, she must work for a suspicious character named Mr. Gold and bring back the Alchemist's Box from the Duchy of Pella. Though Regina doesn't want Kapitan with her, she isn't given a choice. As they learn more about the Alchemist's Box and its secrets, the two must overcome their past in order to save the future of the entire Duchy.

#5 is "Heartbound" by P.I. Alltraine. Petyr's culture looks down on humans, but when his realm's population faces an outbreak of disease caused by humankind, he must go undercover and pretend to be an eighteen-year-old human boy. He's meant to learn more about the illness and why it's spreading. However, things take an unexpected turn when he falls in love with a mortal girl, setting up a forbidden romance that may end in tragedy for both of their worlds, and death for the two of them.

He's meant to learn more about the illness and why it's spreading.

#6 is "Death's Dancer" by Jasmine Silvera. Like all godsdancers, Isela uses the art of dance to communicate with the gods. Anyone can pay a fee and benefit from her gifts, and Azrael is her newest client. Necromancers are being killed, and as their ruler, he must find the murderer. The job pays so well that Isela can't say no, but the task involves facing a litany of supernatural creatures. Even worse, she and Azrael fall for one another, despite the fact that dancer and necromancer relationships are forbidden.

Next, at #7, is "Touchdown" by Yael Levy. Goldie's perfect life comes to an end when she's murdered by a jealous witch. But Goldie is back and seeking vengeance, possessing the body of a football player named Clay. Of course, Clay doesn't want Goldie living inside his head, so the two strike a deal: if he helps her prevent the witch who killed her from marrying her fiance, she will leave. But their quest for revenge may not go the way they planned.

#8 is "Quest of the Dreamwalker" by Stacy Bennett. Cara has never batted an eye at the captives her father keeps. In fact, she's failed to realize that she's one of them, believing his countless lies. But then, she meets a prisoner who is about to die at the hands of her father. Rather than allow him to be killed, she helps him escape and, in the process, gives herself a chance to learn the truth. Her dreams will be key to this discovery, but it needs to happen fast, or Cara's father will kill her.

But then, she meets a prisoner who is about to die at the hands of her father.

Lastly, at #9 is "The Griever's Mark" by Katherine Hurley. Astarti's master has controlled her since she was a child. He has her on a Leash, which means energy connects the two of them. It prevents her from hiding from his authority, as he can always find her. She expects things to remain this way until her death, but then she meets Logan. Astarti and Logan are meant to be foes, but their horrific pasts may draw them together instead.