Tough Traveling: Knights
The Thursday feature “Tough Traveling” is the brainchild of Nathan of Review Barn, who has come up with the excellent idea of making a new list each week based on the most common tropes in fantasy, as seen in The Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynn Jones. Nathan has invited anyone who is interested to come play along, so be sure to check out the first link for more information.
This week’s tour topic is: Knights
Um. Noble rich people on horseback. Come on, you people know what knights are. (Topic provided by Mariam)
Wendy’s Picks:
The Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson
The Knights Radiant were once mighty men and women who fought against the Voidbringers, but they betrayed mankind for reasons unknown, laying down their shardblades and shardplate, and leaving this world.
The Genesis of Shanarra by Terry Brooks
Logan Tom and Angel are Knights of the Word. They don’t exactly know what that means, but they use their powers for good, or at least to survive, and protect the children of Armageddon.
The Warlord Chronicles by Bernard Cornwall
You can’t talk about knights without thinking of King Arthur. Though Cornwell mostly does away with the legendary round table, he can’t possibly let go of the men who fight at the Pendragon’s side.
The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McAffrey
Horses? Pfft. Who needs horses when you can ride dragons! in Dragonflight, Lessa regains her birthright and telepathically bonds with a queen dragon, and leads the waning Weyr back to glory.
The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
Harry is an orphan, but Corlath, king of the Hillfolk sees something special in her and kidnaps her. Once the Patty Hearst Syndrome firmly sets in, Harry ends up learning how to fight like the people of Damar, who turn out to be her ancestors, and earns herself a place as one of the King’s Riders.
The Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce
In Wild Magic, the young girl named Daine meets the legendary Allana of Trebond, the fierce woman who earned her place among the knights, and whose story is told in The Song of the Lioness series.
The BiblioSanctum 
AHHH! I thought I was being clever with Pern!
LikeLike
Can’t we both be clever?
LikeLike
Oh yes good choice with Sanderson!!!! I think the one in my mind is October Daye too. But well UF.
LikeLike
WOhoo Sanderson 😉
LikeLike
Nice choices! I’d add the Kingsguard (Jaime Lannister, etc.) from George R.R. Martin’s Song Of Ice And Fire saga. And… wait, are they any in the Narnia stories? I couldn’t sworn there were, but I can’t recall specific names…
LikeLike
Ah yes, I couldn’t remember the name of Jaime’s posse.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cornwell! I need to start reading him as soon as I can, he’s been on my radar too long for me to be able to procrastinate further… 🙂
LikeLike
I’ve only read the Warlord Chronicles, which I’ve read two or three times now. I really should branch out.
LikeLike
Yeah I obviously need to read The Dragonriders of Pern! It sounds awesome and dragons make every book better.
LikeLike
I’m a bit gutted that I forgot the Knights Radiant. Really, I will just leave now! 😀
LikeLike
LOL yes that was a pretty big one to miss 😛
LikeLike
Way to go bringing up Genesis of Shannara and The Song of the Lioness – You could go even more old school with The Lioness Rampant herself:)
LikeLike
I haven’t read the Lioness series, but I got to meet her briefly in Wild Magic, so I felt it important to include her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t read a single author on your list – I feel so uncultured. 😀
LikeLike
I LOVED The Blue Sword!! I love Robin McKinley in general. Her older stuff, anyway 😉 I really need to read Cornwell too. I just added a couple of his books to my kindle about a week ago, and that means business. *snickers*
LikeLike
Good list! I almost chose Hari from The Blue Sword, but ended up going with Aeron instead. And the Pern books – yes, and I feel like an idiot for not thinking of them. I need to read some Sanderson; everything I’ve read about his books has been positive to glowing.
LikeLike
The Warlord Chronicles was pretty fantastic! I’ve unfortunately been disappointed by others I’ve read by him. I scandalously have not read anything by Anne McCaffery and knights on dragons sounds SO kickass. Not sure why I’ve never picked up the Pern books. Aren’t they sort of a fantasy/sci-fi mash up?
LikeLike