Thirteen ways to tell you're reading a fantasy book.

ThirteenWays to tell You're Reading a Fantasy Book 13. One of our names on the cover ;) 12. There is use of the word magic, majik, majyk, magyk, magyc, majick, or some other derivative thereof included inside the covers 11. Mages, magus, magi, magii, or any derivative used to describe a character with 'otherworldly powers' that you are NOT, under pain of death, to call magic. 10. Dragons, dragyns, wyverns, wyrms, or other winged, lizardlike critters. 9. Animals that talk *please note, this alone is not a valid test, as there are numerous books with talking cats. These are often not fantasy, but mysteries. I think it's done to confuse people. 8. It begins with Once upon a time 7. There is a prince, princess or king under a spell. 6. There is a quest to destroy the penultimate evil. 5. There is someone/something that represents penultimate good 4. Cover art with clouds, and a (preferably identifiable) lightsource shining through it. Even better if said lightsource is from a magic relic, character, or whatever else represents penultimate good in said book. 3. Names with apostrophes in odd places. 2. Names with more vowels than consonants...or better yet, no consonants The number one way to tell if you're reading a fantasy? 1. Elves. Or, a human like race of magical creatures who are taller than average, generally blonde haired and pointy eared, and live for a very long time...and are NOT, under pain of death, called elves.