There’s something about the world-building of certain fantasy stories that makes these worlds feel like they might really exist.

My first one was, of course, Harry Potter. Which was followed over the years by:

• Game of Thrones – I remember the days when we all would rush to finish the latest episode to avoid the spoilers floating online. The world of Westeros, with its strong characters, throne politics, dragons, the “winter” and the visuals were memorable (and the ending was not.)

• The Witcher – I haven’t read the books or played the videogame, and I heard that the Netflix show changed a lot of the original story, which is sad. I liked the 1st season wtih the disjointed timelines converging at the end, and the [actor playing Geralt] seemed to fit the character. I liked Ciri going through training for combat & magic to become stronger. But after Season 1 things got strange and I may not continue it anymore.

• World of Warcraft book series – The world of Azeroth was amazing in the videogame, but the chronicles & books gave its history and characters so much more depth. I’m hoping to finish all the books someday.

• Xianxia – The ancient Chinese culture and beliefs at the heart of xianxia shows is like stepping into a completely different world, but one where the characters still deal with the human struggles of our world. Love Between Fairy and Devil, one of my favourites, was a visual and emotional feast, playful but also painful. The Untamed at first wasn’t at all what I was used to, and I’m not a fan of stories with spirits of the dead, but the element of mystery and its resolution made it worth it.

And no, I never got around to reading or watching the popular Lord of The Rings series for some reason.