In real life, we love our pets. In fantasy, the pets might be larger, dangerous-er, and/or undead, but the love remains! In celebration of the release of opens in a new windowThe Thousand Eyes by A. K. Larkwood in paperback, we’ve prepared this resource highlighting some of our favorite candidates for fantastical pet adoption from across all the many, many realms.
Check it out!
An Airborne Whale from A. K. Larkwood’s opens in a new windowThe Serpent Gates Duology
The Maze between worlds is a vast and interdimensional realm populated by abandoned ruins, weird space, and a vast swath of floating forest. Wanderers traverse this strange place in floating ships, and you’ll either need a reliable guide or a ship of your own if you want a chance at adopting a flying whale!
But we promise the hassle is worth it. An interdimensional whale that flies? That’s like the perfect companion.
The Thousand Eyes is on sale in opens in a new windowpaperback now!
Edward and Bella from opens in a new windowThe Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi
These two Kaiju are less lovebirds, and more love-giant monsters, but they do still have wings! It’s the hope of the Kaiju Preservation Society (KPS) that Edward and Bella (enormous, winged, occasionally plasma-venting) will pair off together and bolster the Kaiju population’s dwindled numbers. CAUTION: THESE ARE NOT BEGINNER PETS. Definitely start with a cat, or a dog, before taking on multiple Kaiju. But! To those experienced pet-owners out there, the love of a Kaiju is as colossal as they are <3
The Kaiju Preservation Society is on sale in paperback now!
Calliope from opens in a new windowThe House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
“Calliope, a thing of evil, sat on the edge of his bed, black tail twitching as she watched him with bright green eyes. She started purring. In most cats, it would be a soothing sound. In Calliope,it indicated devious plotting involving nefarious deeds.”
Linus Baker is a caseworker in The Department in Charge of Magical Youth, and Calliope is his pet cat. Mischievous and quite imperious (but what cat isn’t?), Calliope isn’t actually up for adoption, but to pet-seekers looking for a temporary commitment, a brave cat-sitter could help Linus watch over her while he takes a much needed vacation! Hopeful applicants should be advised that Calliope’s friends are the magical children who live on Marysas Island, which does include the Antichrist. The House in the Cerulean Sea is on sale now!
A Bone Dog from opens in a new windowNettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
Not Bonedog. That excellently named osteo-creature belongs to Marra, but if you ask nicely, perhaps she’ll construct for you a bone dog of your very own!
Every dog needs love, and it’s also true that this need for love extends beyond the grave. Enter Marra, convent-raised princess and occasional reanimator of skele-dogs. Like living dogs, bone dogs are also Very Good, and an ideal match for pet adopters looking for a deep and meaningful relationship. Dare we say, an adopter-adoptee bond that is not just skin deep. Nettle & Bone is on now!
A Chasm Fiend from Brandon Sanderson’s opens in a new windowThe Stormlight Archive
The Shattered Plains are a mazelike lattice of mesas where the armies of King Elhokar Kholin maneuver giant bridges to wage war against the Parshendi. Ravaged by High Storms of cosmic magic, the depths of the gorges between plateaus are no less dangerous. Here, aspiring pet owners looking for a challenge can find the dreaded chasm fiends! With chitinous armor stern enough to repel even the sharpest blade and crushingly tough pincers, these behemoth crustaceans may require dedicated training, but as any chasm fiend owner will testify, “AH! BY KELEK’S BREATH, IT’S TEARING APART MY HOUSE! LIVING HERALDS ABOVE!!” Rhythm of War is on sale now!
Noodle from opens in a new windowNona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Her city is under siege. The zombies are coming back. And all Nona wants is a birthday party. In many ways, Nona is like other people. She lives with her family, has a job at her local school, and loves walks on the beach and meeting new dogs. But Nona’s not like other people. Six months ago she woke up in a stranger’s body, and she’s afraid she might have to give it back. The whole city is falling to pieces. A monstrous blue sphere hangs on the horizon, ready to tear the planet apart. Blood of Eden forces have surrounded the last Cohort facility and wait for the Emperor Undying to come calling. Their leaders want Nona to be the weapon that will save them from the Nine Houses. Nona would prefer to live an ordinary life with the people she loves, with Pyrrha and Camilla and Palamedes, but she also knows that nothing lasts forever. And each night, Nona dreams of a woman with a skull-painted face…
Nona the Ninth is on sale now!
Who is your favorite pet in SFF? Let us know in the comments!