“Tough Traveling” is a weekly Thursday feature created by Nathan at Review Barn where participants make a new list each week based on The Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynne Jones. This hilarious little book cheerfully pokes fun at the most prevalent tropes in fantasy. All are welcome to take part, and there is a link up over at his site. Join in any time!
This week’s trope is FATHERS:
Comes in two types in fantasyland. Either a semi-mystical figure proving impossible to live up to or the overbearing type who doesn’t understand why his daughter doesn’t accept the traditional princess role. He may be tough to get along with but usually does think he has his kids interests in mind.
I tried to get a good mix of father figures, from crazy overbearing to the cool dads of fantasyland. No semi-mystical ones, though. Happy belated Father’s Day to all my North American peeps!
 Imago Bone – The Scroll of Years by Chris Willrich
Hats off to a regular, non-royal father! Well, as regular as a master thief can be. Bone spends much of the book as a father-to-be, but clearly cares very deeply for the welfare of his unborn child. Unfortunately things kind of go ass over teakettle in the fatherhood department…this post reminds me that I need to read book two so I can see what happens with that situation! |
 King Ashe – Princeless comics by Jeremy WhitleyKing Ashe is a textbook overbearing father, choosing to lock his daughter Adrienne up in a tower until she can be rescued by a knight…all so that she’ll get married and stop being an embarrassment. You know, if by ’embarrassment’ you mean completely badass. Daddy dearest’s plan works about as well as you’d expect. |
 Averill Demonai – The Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams ChimaAs the father of Princess Raisa, heir to the Grey Wolf Throne, Averill Demonai is a powerful dude. But rather than try to control his precious princess, he encourages her to embrace her Clan heritage and learn archery, trading, and living rough. #CoolDad |
 Adam Hauptman – Mercy Thompson series by Patricia BriggsAdam is an amazing father to his teenage daughter Jesse, which is especially impressive because his ex-wife is er, uncooperative at times. He exhibits a good blend of protective dad and progressive dad – while he tries to protect Jesse and will literally kill those who harm her (werewolf fathers, amirite?), he doesn’t stop her from living her life either. |