Friday, October 6, 2017

Reading Recommendations: Characters With Animal Companions





Reading Recommendations:
Books With Characters Who Have Animal Friends/Companions/Sidekicks

I'm a huge sucker for books that feature characters with very specific furry friends to accompany them in pretty much everything they do. In fact, I don't even care if they're furry--I just love animal companions. I know I'm not the only one that has desperately wished, ever since I was just a small girl, to have a special little animal figure that was bonded to me and that I could communicate with all the time. Even if we couldn't communicate, I would still want one. (To be fair, I have had dogs all of my life, and they're pretty much awesome, too.) There are many more than I have listed here, of course, but here's just a small select few to get us started. 






Because who doesn't love Hagrid and Fang? I love these two and I think that they are just perfect for each other, regardless of the fact that they aren't officially 'bonded' together. 







2. Lyra and Pantalaimon (The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman)


I remember reading this as a young girl and wanting so badly to have a daemon of my own. Sadly, it still hasn't happened, but it's good to know that I can always visit Lyra and Pan whenever I want.


Image: ALEXAst



3. Tashi and Katala (The Tiger's Watch by Julia Ember)


I particularly loved the companionship of Tashi and Katala because of how different and wild it was. Tashi can't directly communicate with katala in words and Katala is still a legitimate wild tiger, but they bond and learn how to work with one another. It's a fascinating relationship.







4. Rose and the White Bear (East by Edith Pattou)


This classic retelling of the folktale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" features the beautiful companionship of Rose and the White Bear. This is a lovely little book that I enjoyed quite a lot as an adolescent.








5. Mia and Mr. Kindly (Nevernight by Jay Kristoff)


Mr. Kindle is probably one of my favorite 'animal' companions. He is everything I love in an animal companion and I cannot get enough of his dry, sassy remarks. Not to mention how neat it is that he's really more of a shadow, yet he still seems to be a legitimate cat?


Image (left): @Kkharrin
Image (right): @lesyablackbird, also available as a print on her Society6 shop!: https://society6.com/blackbirdink





This might be a stretch since Rand and Bela aren't really with each other all the time, but I thought it still fit well for this particular theme. Bela is a wonderful horse and I love Rand's compassion and attachment to her. 







7. Sarai and her moths (Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor)


Again, is this a stretch? I don't know, but I think Sarai and her moths are have an interesting and worthwhile bond that makes it go well with the 'companion' theme as well.






8. Fitz and Nighteyes (Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb)


It really doesn't get much more classics than Fitz and his trusty wolf Nighteyes. The pair grows incredibly close and also makes me immensely jealous that I do not have my own wolf to bond with.









Nothing sounds better than a girl and her witty, exciting Wyvern who calls himself a 'Wyverary' because he believes that his mother was a Wyvern and his father was a library. No, I'm not kidding--this book is filled to the brim with that level of charm and wit. 





Who are your favorite character and animal companion pairs?

1 comment:

  1. Fitz and Nighteyes is the only one here I've read, but it's a nice list. I like Rose and the White Bear too, because who wouldn't want a polar bear? I guess you'd have to live somewhere cold, though. :)

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