Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
Some books really do grab you and pull you so much into their world you want to explore it completely alongside the characters, whether they’re places that are really out there or from the author’s own creative imagination! So let’s dive into this week’s Top Ten with
Books Set In a Place I’d Love to Visit
Together We Burn – Isabel Ibañez
Location: Hispalia
It has its problems but Hispalia sounds like it would make for a lovely holiday, once they’ve worked out entertainment that doesn’t involve cruelly exploiting the dragons. Still, this alternate fantasy version of Medieval Spain would make for a great holiday destination.
Read my review of Together We Burn
The Man With No Shadow – Bonnie Quinn
Location: The Campground (“Goat Valley” in NSP adaptation)
I can’t remember if the campground had a name in the book, but NoSleep adapted it under “Goat Valley Campgrounds”. Truly, both the book and podcast version are well worth checking out. And I know, I shouldn’t really want to visit a campground that offers little except death, but I kind of do? Especially if it’s run by Kate, though I’d be following all of her rules while there, too.
Read my review of The Man With No Shadow
Location: Oxford
This is, of course, a very firm, real-world place, which Josie Jaffrey populates with paranormal creatures such as vampires. I do really want to visit Oxford, but it is unfortunately not somewhere I’ve yet had the opportunity to go to! But there are a lot of places around the UK I feel the same about – maybe one day!
Read my review of May Day
Location: Discworld
Because of course! Discworld isn’t a perfect world but it’s definitely entertaining, and it would be fun to head there on a little trip. Most Fantasy worlds have way too many issues to consider them as a ‘fun’ destination, and Discworld does have that – as well as the chances of getting roped into some apocalyptic event or fights between monarchs or any other perils the characters face – but I’m 6 books deep into this world now and it feels so wonderful whenever I return, of course I’d visit if I had the chance!
Read my review of Wyrd Sisters
The Meeting Point – Olivia Lara
Location: Carmel-by-the-sea
Maya plans to surprise her boyfriend, but discovers he’s been cheating instead. Luckily, the Lyft driver who accidentally revealed this suggests she heads to a nearby beach town, and Maya falls in love with the place. And, truly, how could you not? The way Olivia Lara describes Carmel-by-the-sea is absolutely enchanting, and it’s a real place! Definitely on the bucket list.
Read my review of The Meeting Point
Tunnel of Bones – Victoria Schwab
Location: Paris
I could have used both Cassidy Blake books for this – and yes I still need to read Bridge of Souls – with City of Ghosts set in Edinburgh and Tunnel of Bones in Paris. But, with Tunnel of Bones, Cassidy specifically spends a fair amount of time in the catacombs, and though I have been to some parts of Paris (when I was 12 then a trip to Disney a few years back, which isn’t Paris-the-city, really) the catacombs are top of my list for somewhere to visit.
Location: Arnes – Red London
Yes again this Fantasy world has its problems, but for the most part the main impact we see is on the core group of characters – outside of the actual events, this just seems like a really fun place to visit. Especially with all the magic on display! I would absolutely love to take a stroll through Red London, and see what’s on offer. And yes, two Schwab books in a row – I couldn’t really help myself!
Read my review of The Steel Prince graphic novel
Fevre Dream – George R.R. Martin
Location: The Mississippi
I don’t really desire to visit this version of the Mississippi, or even go to the river during the time this is set, but there are a lot of places along there I have always wanted to visit, and really hope I get to do so one day. This isn’t, of course, the only book set there, but it is one I really like, and I’ve even read it twice – a rarity for me!
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children – Ransom Riggs
Location: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Both creepy and charming, visiting Miss Peregrine’s Home would feel almost like visiting an older version of the X-Mansion. Ransom Riggs paints a wonderful portrait of this home, full with children with strange abilities. Getting there involves some time travel, but it would be worth it.
The City We Became – N.K. Jemisin
Location: New York
New York has always been on my to-visit list, but Jemisin really captures the city well here – including the uglier sides of it. New York has six avatars, representing Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn etc. I loved this book not just for the story and dangers the characters face, but for the city it’s set in, too.
Read my review of The City We Became
So there we have it. Books set in places I’d love to visit, whether those locations are real or completely different worlds. And I would love to hear about your favourite book locations, too – what kind of places are top of your to-visit list?
Unwrapping Words 