This is a list of genres and tags that I use to summarise information about a book. I've always wanted a convenient place where you can look up more specific attributes of fantasy books, and most of the possible tags aim to enable this. I've changed the structure to no longer include sub-genres of fantasy because I find that it forces pigeon-holing, and buries information on books that lie at intersections of multiple sub-genres.
Each book also has whether or not I recommend it. Maybe I'll change this sometime in the future to a points system. There's obviously going to be a bit of bias as I only read books whose blurbs have interested me. So expect more recommendations than non-recommendations.
Genres
: I guess this is technically a subgenre of fiction, but it's the main focus on my reviews.
A book is classified as fantasy when it tells a fictional story with elements of the fantastical, the prime example
being magic.
: This is another subgenre of fiction, but after fantasy it's my main interest. Science fiction
is based around fictional stories that usually deal with the future. It doesn't necessarily have to be the future,
but in general the books contain advanced technology, and quite commonly space plays a large role, with potentially
more races than just Humans.
: This is a pretty big catch-all genre when combined with non-fiction. Fiction concerns itself
with stories that have never happened, or with the re-imagination of stories that have.
: Describes stories based on actual events, usually telling them as faithfully as possible.
The genre also contains large amounts of books that aren't stories, which are trying to convey information.
In general I read substantially less of these, and starting a blog for journal articles and textbooks
isn't on my TODO list.
Formats
: This format is that of traditional publications. It is published in one go, and there is a
single book whether you borrow it from your library or buy an online version. The structure of the book
follows a story from the perspective of the characters or a narrator.
: Under some schedule chapters are published online and made available. This differs
from a traditional publication, where the complete book with an ending is given upfront. Additionally, webnovels
often have little to no editorial process, so the English can be a fair bit rougher. I group lightnovels under this
category, with lightnovels being more Asian associated. (Lightnovels are actually physical books, but I find that they
adapt webnovels frequently, and have similar rapid publication rates. They have been through more of an editorial
process, but I probably read a fan or crowd-funded translation.)
: This is a catch-all for literature with a visual component. This mainly includes
Manga (Japanese comics read right to left), Webtoons (Korean comics published online and read vertically),
and Comics (A medium using text and images through panels).
: I use this to categorise journals / diaries / logs. It follows the events chronologically
with respect to their entrance dates. The story often does not occur real-time through a character's point of view,
or have a narrator with complete knowledge.
Tags
: This for me is the traditional style of fantasy, e.g., LOTR. It defines itself by the
large scope of its world, characters, and plot. There's usually multiple continents, or many different cities,
plenty of characters from a wide variety of backgrounds, and the end-game for the plot is usually well-defined, like a quest.
: Based in an urban environment, i.e., a modern city. For me these stories usually contain
some paranormal element that's hidden underground.
: The main character is heavily involved in politics, and the plot revolves around some
political situation.
: Focuses specifically on the growth of characters, usually one character in particular.
It's pretty common that the character is actively
trying to become stronger, and has been thrown into some setting like an alternate reality.
This is particularly common now with web-novels, especially those coming out of Asia.
: The near entirety of its setting takes place in a single location. This location is usually one
specific city or town, and the setting itself is explored in just as much as the main character.
: The story usually begins with a murder or a theft.
The book then follows the course of an investigation, with the tag often overlapping heavily with crime.
: Indicates that the book contains scenes that I consider unnerving. The book itself
probably won't actually be horror, because I don't usually read or watch horror. Please don't let this tag deter,
some books are much better because of such occasional scenes.
: The story involves many dark themes, and the world is set as a pretty grim place.
: Contains technology that is often both futuristic yet heavily inspired from the industrial era.
For me these books also often contain the combination of a magic system and technology.
: The story uses some event from our world's history as its setting. It then re-imagines many
things in a way that don't reflect reality.
: Based on, or heavily involving folk tales.
: When the story is centred around Romance. So, not just that a romantic
relationship exists, but that the story explores it in-depth, and a substantial amount of the
plot revolves around it.
: The book revolves around a revenge story. Similar to the romance tag, this is not just that
a motivation for revenge exists in the book, but that that motivation is absolutely critical to the story.
: The setting of the story is in a medieval world.
: The world contains magic.
: Magic and the system which governs it is described in specific detail.
: The system of magic that features in this story is truly unique. Most books have a system
that is unique by stint of having slight changes to the norm, but there's some which have proper inventive systems.
: The setting takes place in a society and world that exists after a wide-scale catastrophic event.
: The world the story takes place in is on a timer. That is, some event is looming that
will destroy it entirely, or the world itself is becoming uninhabitable.
: I use this tag for when the book explores the main characters problems of transitioning into the
responsibilities and expectations of adulthood.
: When the story is inspired from traditional computer games or role playing games.
usually involves having a discretised levelling system of some form.
: The world contains superheroes.
: The story contains comedic events and writing that made me laugh many times.
It does not mean that the entire book is geared towards humour, or that there are no terribly sad events.
: The main character is relatively quickly teleported into a new world, which then becomes
the main setting. I purposely keep this definition loose. For instance, choosing to enter a computer generated
world and getting stuck there would count.
: The story contains elements of crime. This could be one of the main characters being a thief,
an outlaw, or a criminal. This could be the plot revolving around a big heist, or a prison.
This is not an otherwise lawful character being briefly imprisoned.
: A dragon features in the story.
: Goblins or Orcs feature in the story.
: Elves or Fae feature in the story. This definition is a bit broad, therefore I trust the blurb
to make the definition clearer for each story.
: Indicates that a main character categorises themselves under this umbrella. This says nothing
about the larger plot or the story, and sexual or gender identity may not tie in whatsoever aside from a casual
mention.
: Features a-lot of space travel, with some larger galactic style conflict usually
happening in the background. Mostly defined by the physical scope, and often contains advanced large scale
weapons and aliens.
: If the book is a stand-alone. That is, is the book independent of a larger series.
: I use this for books that are part of a larger series, but have a self-contained story.
Average Age of Main Characters: Self-explanatory, it's just an integer with my estimate of the average age of the
main characters.
Length: This is a measure I'll use from 1-10 to describe the length of the book. It's mainly focuses on the individual book,
but somewhat considers the series if it exists.