I have nothing but praise for Jim Butcher's unique and inspired fantasy epic. In fact, as far as I'm concerned, it's the single greatest story of the genre and one of the best book series of all time.

The writing style of this series is smooth, descriptive and doesn't waste a word, the level of worldbuilding is absolutely incredible, and the plots are exciting on a level that I really can't convey. As enthused as I get about many good books, I think this is the first time I've ever actually cheered out loud, jumped out of my chair and smacked said book(s) on the couch yelling "HOLY SHIT" because it's just that exciting. The story builds up and up and up to the point where you finish each book saying "well, there's no way he can top that..." and then he does.

Furies of Calderon starts out a bit slow because there's simply so much to introduce, but it picks up about halfway through and plows ahead like a runaway steamroller, getting better and better with every book, each one bigger and more mind-blowing than the last.

First Lord's Fury, the grand finale, may be the single most epic thing I've ever read. I don't think I've ever rooted for characters as hard as I did for Tavi and Kitai. Their development from the first book to the last is really something else...they're almost completely different people by the end but it feels entirely natural as you watch them grow into these amazing, powerful roles. The supporting cast is strong as well, from Tavi's best friend, Max, to the fierce and unpredictable canim.

The Aleran universe itself is gorgeous, a perfect mish-mash of pure fantasy with the influence of ancient Rome. I've read each book 2 or 3 times now and they haven't ceased to impress me. Hands down one of my top recommendations for anyone who hasn't yet had the pleasure.

The first half of this dark urban fantasy series by Rob Thurman is fantastic. It's extremely creative and just gets better and better over the course of five books. I enjoyed them so much that I created a plethora of artwork for the series, and plan to do more in the future.

True, the rest of the books were a bitter disappointment, but that certainly shouldn't stop you from tearing through (and re-reading often) five highly addictive novels before you go.

My mother sent me Nightlife, the first book, as a birthday present several years ago, knowing how much I love dark dramas, snarky humor and the supernatural...all of which are in abundance when it comes to the Leandros brothers. I was hooked from the first page.

These characters are NOT heroes, and that's part of their charm. To have leads who are such an absolute mess, but presented with a sense of humor that mixes perfectly with the dark, intense drama behind it, is refreshing. Be aware, though, you have to love Cal. If you can't embrace his bitchy and often punch-worthy personality early on, this series definitely isn't for you.

I could rave about this author for days. I could write a lengthy, in-depth review of each and every individual book, but that would be a waste of time. Just go read them. Go read them all.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is one of the best book series out there. Sure, my being a lifelong ancient mythology buff enhances the experience, but even if you know nothing about the source material, his modernization of classic tales and figures is thoroughly engaging.

In my humble opinion, Aimee Stewart makes the most staggeringly beautiful photo manipulations ever.

I stumbled across this little gem in the Wolfsbane and Mistletoe collection (Christmas and werewolves; how can you possibly go wrong?) and it is easily the funniest story I've ever read. I was literally doubled over, in tears, laughing so hard that it hurt, from start to finish. The outrageous narrative really shouldn't work but it does. This author has completely won me over with comic creativity. No matter how many times I read this one, I find it just as hilarious and ingenious. It's weird, completely ridiculous and totally over the top...so if you're looking for something more traditional and broody, this certainly isn't for you. But if you can let go and enjoy something for the preposterous, insane ride that it is, Shapeshifters Anonymous is an absolute must-read! For that matter, I recommend the whole Wolfsbane and Mistletoe anthology, although this was certainly the winner of the bunch.

It's always been there, of course, given my lifelong obsession with ancient mythology, but after my recent trip to France, my love of Neoclassical paintings has been renewed with a vengeance. So I thought I'd put together a quick list of my favorite painters of the genre.

For the most part, there's just something about this show that puts a smile on my face. The interactions between the characters and the chemistry of the cast are so wonderful, you can't help but adore them. Fantasy often has it the worst in regards to cheese factor, melodramatic dialogue, bad acting and more, especially when it comes to television, but on the whole, Merlin manages to breathe new life into the genre with its lighthearted, joyful and humorous retelling of a classic.

That's not to say that the show is without its flaws. In fact, the end of the series inarguably goes down as one of the worst letdowns in TV history, and let's not forget the fiasco of the first half of Season 3. In spite of that, though, Merlin remains one of my most enjoyed and rewatched series. The writing is clever, the direction and visuals are lovely, the costumes and set design are beautiful and the performances are great overall.

So...what made this show so very wonderful at its best, and what caused it to tank so very hard at its worst? Let's take a look: