Val Neil

Dark Fantasy Author

Recommendations

Val’s Audiobook Recommendations

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Most of these will be fantasy, though I do read in other genres. All links are affiliate (I earn a smidgen from any sales, at no extra cost to you).

The Greenbone Saga by Fonda Lee – Japanese-inspired Dark Urban Fantasy Gang War

  • memorable characters who make bad decisions based on their personalities
  • martial arts/magic mash up
  • political intrigue
  • realistic, well-written villain
  • Asian, disabled, bi, and gay rep
  • open door sex scenes, which I dislike, but can be skipped
  • BIPOC author, excellent narration

Between Earth and Sky by Rebecca Roanhorse – Indigenous-inspired Epic Dark Fantasy Religious Conflict

  • main characters are on opposite sides of the same conflict
  • a blind warrior god-avatar, a bisexual siren ship captain, a naïve priest who just wants everyone to get along 
  • religion grants magic
  • political intrigue
  • crows
  • BIPOC, disabled, and LGBTQ rep
  • multiple narrators

Orconomics by J. Zachary Pike – D&D-inspired Satirical Look at the True Costs of Adventuring

  • dysfunctional D&D group with a goblin mascot
  • healing potion addicts
  • lots of humor but serious stakes
  • I told my D&D group about this. Three of them immediately read it and loved it.
  • SPFBO Winner
  • great narration

The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne – Norse-inspired Epic Dark Fantasy

  • down on his luck guy bent on revenge, retired badass who just wants to be left alone, princess who gave up her life to go raiding
  • more people on opposite sides of same conflict
  • lots of violence and monsters
  • god-descended people are feared and rounded up to be made slaves
  • zealots trying to bring back a dead god

Catch Me if You Can by Frank W. Abagnale – Teenage Conartist Scams His Way Across the Globe

  • definitely worth a listen even if you’ve seen the movie as they’re pretty different
  • Abagnale rationalizing his worst decisions and making himself out to be awesome, but it’s highly entertaining
  • just fucking FUN
  • narrator uses old-timey voice that’s perfect
  • Abagnale’s claims have been disputed so don’t take this at face value

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir – Guy Sent into Space to Save the World has Amnesia

  • hard sci-fi
  • two timelines (current and flashbacks)
  • it’s really hard to talk about this one without giving away major spoilers
  • science!
  • touching relationship

Classic Movies: Willow

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It’s been difficult to  write lately, even though I’m stuck at home with lots of free time. Lately I’ve been refilling my creative well by watching or reading old favorites.

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The movie follows Willow, a farmer who performs magic tricks and dreams of being a real sorcerer. While his village lives in peace, the rest of the country is torn by war, as people fight against the evil queen Bavmorda. A prophesy tells of a child bringing down the queen, and when Willow’s family finds the baby floating in the river, he is tasked with protecting her. It’s a typical good vs. evil flick, with magic, monsters, chase scenes, and humorous interactions between characters.

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Stuff I Love About this Movie

  • Madmartigan screaming at a troll
  • A brownie putting the moves on a cat
  • “I will not be ignored!”
  • Two old women having a knock-down fist fight
  • Madmartigan going all Home Alone on an army
  • “You NEVER go that fast with an infant on board!”
  • Willow threatening Madmartigan with an acorn
  • The two-headed dragon monster
  • Karma for Burglekutt
  • Apple boobies
  • the sled scene
  • the creepy-ass wails you hear throughout the movie
  • Sorsha insulted when Madmartigan stops liking her
  • Willow’s failed attempts to use magic
  • The horsedrawn cart chase scene
  • Opposing parenting strategies
  • The fucking pig scene scarred me as a kid

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Also, can I just say how nice it is to have a movie with several female leads on both sides? And different ages (again, old lady fight!).

Willow’s village is also awesome. Instead of going all LOTR and shrinking down standard-sized actors, they employ a bunch of little people* to play the Nelwyn. Roles for little people usually make them the butt of jokes or relegate them to nonhuman characters with enough make up and prosthetics to make the actors unrecognizable. Warwick Davis, the actor who plays Willow, began his career playing the Ewok Wicket. The Nelwyn characters are varied, from political bully to sage sorcerer to warrior to loyal BFF to loving family. Willow may face prejudice and slander away from his home, but it’s a nice change to see a community of little people normalized.

If you love fantasy/adventure and haven’t already seen Willow, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s got action, adventure, comedy, trickery, magic–all the cool stuff. And if you’re a writer, this is an excellent example of the Hero’s Journey.

* someone please correct me if that term is incorrect, going off googled preferences here

Images belong to Lucasarts or whoever currently has the rights to Willow. Copyright © 2020 Val Neil. All rights reserved.