How To Live Your Best Fantasycore Life!

When life starts moving a hundred miles an hour (as it so often does), there’s usually a temptation -- or a fantasy, if you will -- to escape to other worlds. Perhaps that’s why we love film and television so much: they offer an escape from our everyday reality of 9-to-5 jobs, 401(k)s, and self-checkouts, transporting us instead to realms of vast kingdoms, mythical creatures, and endless wonder.

While we can’t prescribe anything that’ll actually take you there (though, if you know someone, send them our way), we can suggest a few ways to mentally take yourself to new, fantastical worlds. Today, we’ll be exploring movies, books, and even a few food ideas to help you capture that fantasy aesthetic in your own life. And yes, we’re going to play pretend a little here, because being a rigid adult can be such a drag, so get ready to embrace the inner witch, knight, or castle-dwelling royal that lives within you!

FILM

Throughout Hollywood’s history, countless dedicated filmmakers have worked tirelessly and imaginatively to push the boundaries of fantasy cinema.

A personal favorite of mine has always been Jim Henson. While he’s often remembered for The Muppets, Henson also gave us brilliantly macabre and wonderfully strange films like Labyrinth, starring David Bowie, and The Dark Crystal. Watching these two films is like stepping into a dream where you’ll witness a masterclass in puppetry, inventive set design, and mythic storytelling that will leave you wanting more.

If you’re looking to add a bit more adventure to your fantasy elixir, though, there are excellent films to consider, like Ridley Scott’s epic Legend, starring none other than Tom Cruise and Tim Curry. With its fairies, unicorns, elves, and goblins, what’s not to love? For those craving that same retro magic, you might also revisit 1981’s Excalibur or Dragonslayer, released the same year and featuring one of the most impressive practical dragons ever put to film. And, of course, no list of fantasy films would be complete without The NeverEnding Story, a timeless classic that’s sure to give you that nostalgic warmth you might be craving. 

LITERATURE

If your imagination is saying, “I’ll take it from here,” then let’s move on from movies and dive into perhaps the most excellent form of immersion – books. With an even larger world to explore, there are countless novels worth your time, and with every page turned, you might just start to feel the grass beneath your feet and see castles rising in the distance.

Perhaps some of the best literature to remove from the shelf of your local bookstore would be Eragon, written by Christopher Paolini, or, if you’re really looking for something to chew on for a while, then The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien might just be for you.

However, in more recent years, we’ve also been gifted One Dark Window, the first book in The Shepherd King duology. Written by Rachel Gillig, it’s considered by many to be a top-tier read. Centering around Elspeth Spindle, this novel will sweep you into a quest you never knew you needed to take.

Also earning high praise is Amber Nicole’s The Book of Azrael, another series opener that leans into dark fantasy romance. And if you’re a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, well… buckle up.

Other great fantasy reads include Anathema by Keri Lake, Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence, the Zodiac Academy series by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, and, of course, if you don't mind your series unfinished, A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin.

FOOD

For such a long voyage, you’re going to need something to keep you on your feet. And let’s be honest, food makes everything better, especially when it’s paired with a good book or movie. Here are our top recommendations to turn your kitchen into a cozy, moody tavern.

For starters, we have to recommend a good soup or stew. Thai works on so many levels: not only can you pick your favorite flavor (tomato basil for the win), but it also keeps you warm and cozy as we enter the Winter months. And if you have any bread lying around, go ahead and dunk those slices.

Need something more casual? Try some cheese and crackers (I always pair slices of pepper jack with a roll of Ritz crackers) or maybe carrots and hummus if you want something a little lighter. Plus, for the latter, you can always share with your noble steed if he gets restless during your travels.

If you’d like to prepare something a bit heartier, say, a proper dinner, you could do far worse than the options presented in Alison & Joanne’s Yuletide Feast. It features dishes like pork and apple sausage rolls with honey mustard, garlic butter mushrooms, and Cornish hens with chestnut-pear stuffing. My stomach grew ten sizes just writing that down.

There's also A Feast of Ice & Fire by Chelsea Monroe-Cassel and Sariann Lehrer for you "Game of Thrones" fans, featuring recipes from every corner of the realm, like Honeyed Chicken from the North, Trout Wrapped In Bacon from the Riverlands, Flea Bottom's notorious Bowl of Brown, and Sansa Stark's favoite Lemon Cakes.

As you can see, there are countless ways to coat your mind in layers of fantasy, painting your world with endless landscapes, the shimmer of dragon scales, and the rugged texture of goblin-made rucksacks. Whether through film, books, or even the food we enjoy, there are endless ways to immerse ourselves in these brilliant worlds. After all, life is far too short to limit ourselves to just the reality we live in.