Happy Monday, book pandas! 🐼 I’m excited to be back with another Fantasy with Friends post today.
What is Fantasy with Friends?
Fantasy with Friends is a discussion meme hosted by Briana and Krysta on Pages Unbound. Questions are posed every Monday about fantasy, either as a genre as a whole or individual works. The yearly schedule is available on Pages Unbound so you can prepare way in advance! Don’t forget to leave a comment and link on the scheduled day so your post can be linked up. You can also tag @pagesunbound on Twitter and/or Bluesky!
Today’s Fantasy with Friends question:
Is there a common trope or concept you see in children’s fantasy stories that you think would be fun to see more of in adult fantasy?
Probably up until a couple of years ago, I used to still read a fair bit of middle-grade fantasy. My mind still came up blank when I first read this question and I was sorely tempted to skip this week’s topic! I told myself to stop being silly and to give it a go anyway, so let’s see if this makes any sense… 😂
When I think of children’s fantasy, the first things that come to mind are whimsy and magic. I feel like the stories highlight wonder over logic and there aren’t always strict and structured magic systems, and sometimes the emphasis of how magic works is based on accepting and believing that magic is real and that you are able to wield it. Despite being a fantasy reader that does like logic over wonder (depending on the fantasy I’m reading), it’s also nice to not over-think or over-question how something is happening as long as the overall story still makes sense. I feel that with the rise of cosy fantasy, where the focus is less on structured systems and more ‘this is magical’ vibes, it has become more common in adult stories, but I’d love to see it more.
Another element that I’ve always really loved in children’s fantasy is making the mundane magical, specifically making food magical. I’m thinking about chocolate frogs, every flavour beans, cakes and pies infused with emotions, and all the different sweets a la Charlie and the Chocolate factory! I don’t know what it is about magical food that makes me so happy, but I remember that as a child, this fantastical element always used to fill me with such wonder. I sure wish there was more of it in adult fantasy! 🤤
Somewhat similar to the ‘magical in the mundane’, I love how often in middle-grade there are magical worlds that exist alongside our own—whether hidden in plain sight or in hidden magical societies, a la Amari and the Night Brothers and the Nevermoor series. I know that this is a pretty common element in adult urban fantasy—thinking of a lot of Ilona Andrews’ books or the Mercy Thompson series, but I think what sets this element from children’s fantasy apart is the sense of whimsy and awe that comes with it. There’s a sense of wonder that comes with having your eyes suddenly opened to this hidden society that always existed before you, but you never realized it before. I’d love to see that more in adult fantasy because I think that could be pretty fun!
And that’s it from me, folks. I tried my best, lol. What do you think of these things from children’s fantasy? Would you also like to see more of these elements in adult fantasy?
dinipandareads 
Yes yes yes! I want all of this! I like adult fantasy, but sometimes it leans really hard into the stereotype that books for adults or books that are quality are supposed to be dark. Bring me some wonder and whimsy!
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I agree! Or that adult fantasy needs to be super serious and make logical sense for readers… But it’s magic and fantasy, why not make fun and whimsical and wondrous? I definitely didn’t get into fantasy because of how serious and logical the books were! 😂 Definitely would love more wonder and whimsy (outside of cosy fantasy as well).
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[…] Dinipandareads […]
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I hadn’t thought of magical food, but now that you mention it I’d love to see more of that, too! Of course, I wouldn’t love having to chase my food down or have it taste weird, but I’d love to be charmed by some magical sweets.
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Definitely no to chasing down my food or have it taste funky, but there’s something about the idea of food being magical that is so wondrous and appealing to me! Not sure why specifically food, but whenever I recall reading books where food is magical, it instantly fills me up with warmth and joy! 🥰 I’d love to be charmed or amazed by magical sweets too 🤭
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My brain goes blank every time I sit down to answer these prompts, too! Sometimes I just let it sit.
Magical food is a good one, I can’t think of the last time I saw directly magical food. Food’s pretty important in e.g. Robin McKinley’s Sunshine, and I don’t know if anyone can read that without craving baked goods, but the food is mundane, almost an antidote to the magic etc.
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I think cos I prepare these posts last minute, I always wind up having a bit of a panic, but *I can do hard things*. 😂
There’s something about the thought of magical food that is so wondrous to me and that’s always been the case ever since I was a kid. In the fantasy I’ve read that heavily involves food, it’s always mundane as well, but I always get massive cravings too. The last time that happened I wound up baking cinnamon rolls at 5am. 🤭
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I guess the main thing you mention here is to bring the ‘fun’ aspect back into the discovery of fantasy worlds, and I think I agree that it would be nice to see that. Surely magic can’t be all dark and dangerous stuff only! 😆
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Yeah, I get the feeling sometimes that people think if adult fantasy isn’t serious or the magical system isn’t properly explained, it’s not good. I think it would be nice to see more of the wonder and whimsy of magic, especially outside of (mostly) cosy fantasy, where I see it most often.
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I would never have thought of the food aspect, but you’re so right! I would love to experience some magical foods, and I don’t think it would be too much of a stretch to include it more in some kinds of adult fantasy!
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I would love more whimsy in adult fantasy! I feel like we either get cozy fantasy with no stakes or the darker side where the stakes are higher, but I would love a cozy style story but with high stakes… After reading The Tainted Cup this is maybe the closest I can see to that? But there must be books out there that fit it better, we just need to find them.
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I think we get quite a lot of this in cosy fantasy – but I love whimsy and I’m not a huge fan of cosy fantasy. I’d love to see more whimsy and wonder embedded in other types of fantasy stories.
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[…] Fantasy with Friends: Children’s Fantasy Concepts in Adult Fantasy […]
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Great post Dini! I think this week’s topic is pretty hard because I really can’t think of anything 😅 I do think portal fantasy and whimsical familiar (not powerful ones) are not as common in adult fantasy compared to middle grade fantasy. You’re right though that “mundane” magic is not as common and all of your examples are so on point to strengthen you argument 😂 These days with cozy fantasy I think there’s more food magic but they’re mostly sad (to go back in time or reveal memories etc) not fun and whimsy and just… there for the sake of being there.
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[…] Fantasy with Friends: Children’s Fantasy Concepts in Adult Fantasy by Dini at Dini Panda Reads […]
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