Have you ever wondered what it would look like if dinosaurs ruled the fantasy genre instead of dragons or vampires? Though we may not even consider dinosaurs when we think of fantasy, they are an interesting addition to the genre.
Dinosaur fantasy is a genre that is typically action-packed, full of magic, and has twists around every corner. Keep reading to find out more about this unique genre.
Dinosaur Fantasy
As fans of the fantasy genre, we know that it is a genre packed with magic. The magic differs between series and novels, but it is always there in one way or another. This is no different for dinosaur fantasy. The only difference between dinosaur fantasy and more “traditional” fantasy is the existence of dinosaurs.
Dinosaur fantasy can take place in any time period, any location, and contain any number of dinosaurs. These dinosaurs could be real, historical dinosaurs that once walked the earth, or they could be completely fictional. There are no rules about this in the dinosaur fantasy genre.
Likewise, the setting and the time period could also be historical or it could be fictional. It is common to have dinosaur fantasies take place in realistic time periods such as the Jurassic Period, but that is not always the case.
There is only one hard and fast rule about what makes a dinosaur fantasy: it must contain both dinosaurs and magic. Other than that, authors have the freedom to create worlds and stories that suit them. They can have friendly dinosaurs or terrifying dinosaurs. They can include humans and other species of animals, or it could be a novel with only dinosaur characters. As we will see below, there are many different types of dinosaur fantasy.
Examples of Dinosaur Fantasy
Dinosaur fantasy is a unique genre that can be interpreted in many different ways. Though it is a fairly small sub-genre of fantasy, it can be just as exciting and fun to read as any other genre.
Each of the novels and series below takes dinosaur fantasy in a different direction. Even if dinosaurs are not usually your cup of tea, take a look at the recommendations below before making a judgment. This is a genre that has a lot to offer.
The Dinosaur Knights
The Dinosaur Knights is a dinosaur fantasy trilogy by Victor Milán. This trilogy contains everything you might hope for in a dinosaur fantasy like action, adventure, magic, and dinosaurs. What could be better than that?
This series takes place on a planet that is dominated by dinosaurs. They exist alongside humans and, for the most part, they leave each other alone. The setting of this trilogy is quite similar to many medieval fantasies. There are kings, knights, and epic battle scenes. Political intrigue is at the forefront of the storyline, and there are plenty of heroes to come to save the day. If you are looking for a short and sweet summary for this trilogy, it is – knights riding dinosaurs.
Besides the interesting concept of knights riding dinosaurs, this series has a lot to offer. The world-building is detailed and well thought out. The characters grow and change throughout the series. The magic system is fun and compelling to read, and so much more. For a first visit to the genre of dinosaur fantasy, The Dinosaur Knights series is a good place to start.
Jurassic Judgment
Jurassic Judgment is a series of novels by Janice Boekhoff. There are two novels in this series: Extinction Island and Deception Island. This series sits right on the border between fantasy and science fiction, so it can certainly qualify as either genre. It definitely fits the criteria for being a dinosaur fantasy.
This series largely takes place on an island that is for death row inmates as they await their fate. The island is full of beasts; both human and animal. The main character of this series, Oakley, is awaiting death for the murder of her best friend. As she awaits her fate for a crime she does not remember committing, she encounters many beasts. Some of which are genetically modified dinosaurs.
This series is full of twists and turns. At no point will you be able to predict what is coming next. There is plenty of action and adventure in the pages of this series. As well as romance, mystery, and, of course, dinosaurs. This series is short, so it is an easy one to pick up and dive into without a huge amount of commitment.
Dinotopia
Dinotopia is a series of novels for young readers by a variety of authors. The world of Dinotopia was created by James Gurney, who has written several of the books in this series. There are a number of authors who have contributed to the 16 books in this series, so each book is very different from the last. While this series is aimed at children and teen readers, there is still much to enjoy for older and more mature readers.
Dinotopia takes place on an island that is inhabited by both humans and dinosaurs. These two species have learned to coexist in peace. The series begins with a shipwreck on the island of Dinotopia, and the people aboard the ship find themselves among the dinosaurs.
Not only does this series have a fascinating storyline and interesting characters, but it also has beautiful illustrations. It is not a “picture book” by any means, but it does contain art that beautifully compliments the writing. It is a series that may not be traditional fantasy, but it is interesting nonetheless.
Conclusion
I hope this article has helped clarify what this genre is all about and given you some ideas of books to read in this subgenre.
And if you want to read more about unique fantasy subgenres on this blog, check out:
Lastly, feel free to leave a message in the comments below if you have questions about this or another fiction-literature-related topic!
