“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 TO BLATHE:
Sonny, true love is the greatest thing in the world. Except for a nice MLT, a mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich, where the mutton is nice and lean and the tomato is ripe. They’re so perky, I love that. But that’s not what he said! He distinctly said “to blave.” (Thanks to Wendy again. Let’s find those examples of True Love!)
What an appropriate week to be celebrating true love! It’s no secret that I love love, regardless of the time of year.
There’s a tiny spoiler for the romantic pairing in Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier at the end of this post. You’ve been warned!
 Wesley and Buttercup – The Princess Bride by William GoldmanCome on, isn’t this the couple that everyone thinks of when they think true love? “As you wish” is probably the most romantic catch phrase of all time. “Mawwiage. Mawwiage is what bwings us togethew today. Mawwiage, that bwessed awwangement, that dweam within a dweam…”
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 Anna and Charles – Alpha & Omega series by Patricia Briggs
This is a case of “when you know, you know.” When Anna and Charles meet, it’s clear that they’re meant to be mates…at least it is to their wolf halves. The human halves? There’s attraction, sure, but they don’t even know each other! Watching these two get to know one another and fall in love as equals is seriously swoon worthy. |
 Katsa and Po – Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Two warriors, two nations, two political agendas. Two isolate people with crushing responsibility and secrets. Can they beat the odds? You bet your mutton sandwich they can! I love that Katsa is the one to take care of Po when bad things happen, rather than the other way around. You go, girl! |
 Sorcha and Red – Daughter of the Forest by Juliet MarillierSo I’ll admit that I was slightly surprised about how the romance played out in Daughter of the Forest, but pleasantly so. This is a serious forbidden love situation where the parties involved just say ***k it and get together anyway because they deserve some happiness. The slowest of burns. |