The renaissance fair is one of the most electrifying festivals a person can attend. I visited my first one last month and there’s nothing that can quite match the energy. However, I’ve taken the challenge of trying to capture this atmosphere in book form.
Renaissance fairs include characters like pirates, princesses and fairytale creatures. Elements like adventure, humor, theatrics and romance are also stylized in a fair setting. Keeping these things in mind, here are a few books that give off that same flair.
“The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi” by S.A. Chakraborty
Image courtesy of Goodreads
The first book in a pirate fantasy series detailing the life of Amina al-Sirafi after her glory days of being a feared captain. Amina and her ensemble of a misfit crew go on one last adventure to rescue a wealthy woman’s daughter, and maybe find lost treasure along the way. Even though this book takes place during the 12th century in the Indian Ocean, the amount of humorous moments and magical mishaps create a similar atmosphere.
“The Fellowship of the Ring” by J.R.R Tolkien
Image courtesy of Wikipedia
You can’t talk about the Renaissance Fair without mentioning Tolkien’s classic “The Lord of the Rings.” “The Fellowship of the Ring” is the first installment in the series following Frodo Baggins as he sets off on a quest to destroy the One Ring. Bards playing music, sitting in taverns, and making crafts at festivals are just some of the elements that resemble the bustling crowds. The characters wear hooded cloaks, shiny swords, and intricate hair accessories that many use for their fair-inspired outfits.
“Howl’s Moving Castle” by Diana Wynn Jones
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Similar to Hayao Miyazaki’s movie adaptation, Diana Wynn Jones tells the story of Sophie Hatter as she navigates a witch’s curse that turns her into an old woman. As Sophie tries to break her curse, she goes on one of the most wacky adventures I’ve ever read. Talking fires, a wizard that’s as cowardly as he is vain, and wandering castles match the eccentric nature of the events you’d find at the fair.
“Uprooted” by Naomi Novik
Image courtesy of Penguin Random House
Inspired by Polish and Slavic folklore, “Uprooted” focuses on a village girl named Agnieszka when she is chosen as an offering to appease a wizard. As she works closely with the wizard, Agnieszka learns of the magical threat that lurks in the forest. Out of the other books listed, “Uprooted” takes a darker direction when it comes to expressing the energy of the fair. A quaint village sitting at the border of a dark forest parallels how fairs are designed to mimic this same environment.