“Master has presented Dobby with clothes! Dobby is free!
22 October 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Elves, Fantasy Review Barn, Legend of Zelda, Tough Travelling
This week over at the Fantasy Review Barn we’re travelling through the tropes of fantasy again and this time we’re delving into elves:
‘ELVES claims to have been the first people in Fantasyland. They are called the Elder Race. They did not evolve like humans, but sprang into being just as they are now.’
Well, I’m going to admit that I really thought this was going to be a doddle – then I got myself all tangled up in the difference between fae and elves and couldn’t decide if I could have certain examples that I’d chosen or whether they’d count of not! (Doh!!)
Anyways, the two obvious ones: LoTR – there are a LOT of elves in this book to say the least. Harry Potter – need I mention Dobby! Really??
My books this week:
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett – I can’t decide if this is cheating or not because I’m still not sure if I can count these as elves. I tend to think of them as brownies! Basically I just don’t know if they count but I love the book so it’s going on the list!
The Mercedes Thompson series by Patricia Briggs – Bone Crossed has a snow elf! Can’t remember much about the snow elf to be honest – but still, it’s an elf, right?
Puck from Shakespeare’s Midsummer Nights Dream. He is definitely described an an elf so I’m feeling good about this one!
The Blue Girl by Charles de Lint – when I read this book I described the little critters as fey – however, they had very much a brownie feel, and the way that they had to be left gifts of clothing and the like was definitely similar to tales of elves – remember Dobby, not to mention the Elves and the Shoemaker! I think I rest my case…
My last isn’t a book but if I didn’t mention this, well, it would be unforgivable – Link – from The Legend of Zelda. He has pointy ears, his weapon of choice is a bow and arrow and he dresses like a woodland type person. Elf!
Books and travelling with Lynn 
I wouldn’t worry too much about the definitions. People have been using the terms interchangeably for ages, after all. ^_^
It sounds like a fun list. ^_^ I hope you had fun making it!
I always have fun with this weekly event – you should join in – you’d probably have loads more examples than I have!
Lynn 😀
I might collect a few of my favourites to post later, but I’m terrible with participating in events like this consistently. 😦
This one I could definitely do, though. ^_^ I have a soft spot for elves.
Yeah, you should do a post. This is a very relaxed event – in fact if it was any more relaxed it would be in a rip van winkle novel! No pressure at all to post each week – basically you can just cherry pick the ones you like and make yourself look really good!
Lynn 😀
Ya there are no Tough Travel police around. If someone wants to say Gimli is an elf then no one can stop them.
Bigjobs! Nae King, Nae Qinn! Feagles!!
I love the little blue guys! I just love their way of thinking and speaking. I could literally read the Tiffany Aching series again because it was such good fun.
Lynn 😀
Awesome – I immediately thought of Link as well, but couldn’t quite figure out how to fit him in.
I thought it was a bit of a cheat – but I like a bit of creative cheating. Particularly when I’m struggling with books to come up with. I couldn’t make up my mind if elves were fae or if they should have wings or not. Link is perfect!
Lynn 😀
Looking at this category I thought I would lots of answers but like you find myself thinking of Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. Years ago I read two books from Terry Brook’s Shannara series I think they had elves in… 🙂
Would that be the Dark Legacy of Shannara by any chance? I’ve just bought the first two and one of them is called the Wards of Faerie??
Lynn 😀
I’m not 100% sure I know the series has been extended more recently. I’ve just checked my father’s old school copies that I read. They are The Sword of Shannara and The Elfstones of Shannara which I think means there’s a good chance elves may be involved 🙂
Thanks Jessica 😀
The Shannara books definitely had elves in them, yes. ^_^ (It’s been ages since I read them, so that’s about as much as I remember about the elves in the books, though.)
Thank you Lynn E. 🙂
Of course I’ve bought books that are right at the end of the series!! Doh.
Lynn 😀
A fun list! The Legend of Zelda call was a great one. I never would have thought of it. 🙂
Bit of a cheat – but he really does look like an elf. I love Zelda!
Lynn 😀
Ha! Link! I grew up playing the Legend of Zelda series. I’ve got my Wind Waker edition Gamecube next to me right now!
I’m going to play it again at some point.
Beats the elves in Skyrim.
Zelda is great! I was happy to get Link on the list. Felt like a bit of a cheat but I figured I’d be forgiven.
Lynn 😀
You have a good memory! I hardly remember a snow elf in Mercy Thompson, but that’s pretty damn cool. And Hylians have pointed ears so yeah I’m gonna say Link is an elf! Ocarina of Time remains one of my all time favorite games ever 🙂
Ah, well, ahem, I’m just going to come clean – I thought there was an elf, I was certain there was an elf – but I couldn’t remember what it was called so I had to look it up. I’m useless with names most of the time – in fact sometimes I almost forget the names of characters as soon as I’ve put the book down. I usually have to go and look them up!
Lynn 😀