Charlotte Ahlin
http://charlotteahlin.com
Charlotte Ahlin is a writer, playwright, actor, and artist. She's a native New Yorker and a graduate of Oberlin College. She's also the Associate Artistic Director and Morale Officer of Fat Knight Theatre. Right now, she's reading science fiction from the '70s and drawing sad cartoons.

9 'Game Of Thrones' Book Characters That Need To Be In The Final Season Of The Show

It's finally happening: HBO's Game of Thrones is coming to an end. We have one more season of dragons and ice zombies and ice zombie dragons before those angsty lords and ladies of Westeros leave us for good (or, you know, at least until that…
By Charlotte Ahlin

Was Homer's 'The Odyssey' Actually Written By A Women?

If there's one thing we know about the Victorians, it's that they loved to be scandalized. The dominant moral values of British society during the 19th century were fairly vanilla, you see. Hetero-normative gender norms were rigidly enforced.…
By Charlotte Ahlin

Dragons Won't Actually Cross The Wall, According To George R. R. Martin's Newest Book

Look. I know that you're still anxiously awaiting the publication of The Winds of Winter. You want to know whether Jon survives being stabbed in the back, or whether Tyrion makes it through the Battle of Meereen, or whether poor, dehydrated Dany is…
By Charlotte Ahlin

Why Do The Starks Have Wolves In 'Game Of Thrones'? It All Goes Back To Norse Mythology

George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire has a lot of plot going on. I mean, the HBO show has a lot of plot going on, and they've barely adapted a tenth of all the subplots, battles, love affairs, and name-listing in the original book series (not…
By Charlotte Ahlin

The Sigils In 'Game Of Thrones' Can Tell Us A LOT About The Families They Represent

If you've ever read the Song of Ice and Fire books, or seen the Game of Thrones TV show, then you probably have at least a vague idea of the Houses of Westeros. The plot of A Song of Ice and Fire follows a number of noble families duking it out over…
By Charlotte Ahlin

Interested In Norse Mythology? Pick Up These 10 Books Inspired By The Ancient Stories

The weather is getting colder, the days are getting darker, and sinister ravens are wheeling through the sky to warn us of coming doom (or it feels that way, at least). The time has never been better to read some excellent fiction based on the myths…
By Charlotte Ahlin

11 Journaling Tips For People Who Are Absolutely TERRIBLE At Keeping A Journal

Journaling! It's a mindful practice that's been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, so naturally there is massive pressure to be good at it. To begin with, let's do away with that: try keeping a journal if you want to keep a journal. Never mind all…
By Charlotte Ahlin

9 Beautifully-Written Fantasy Books That Deserve Far More Attention

Like science fiction, mystery novels, and toy-based children's cartoons from the '80s, fantasy is one of those genres that gets adapted a lot these days. It feels like we're seeing more high fantasy on TV and film than ever, which is good news if…
By Charlotte Ahlin

11 Essays That Will Get You Seriously Ready To Make Big Changes In 2019

You can say what you want about the state of the publishing industry, or how and what the teens are reading these days, or the myriad ways in which YouTube and Twitter have conspired to ruin our attention spans/novels/global democracy, but one fact…
By Charlotte Ahlin

Trace The Mythology Of The Dragons In 'Game Of Thrones' To This English Classic

Dragons! These magical fire lizards are a solid mainstay of fantasy, from ancient myths to The Hobbit to Pokemon cards. In some stories they're the treasure-obsessed embodiment of evil, while in others they're more of a big wild animal with no…
By Charlotte Ahlin

9 Mythic Retellings Full Of Bizarre Circumstances, Grand Journeys, And Revenge Plots

You've probably heard of Madeline Miller's Circe, or perhaps you have even read it already. You already know that it's no easy business, being a god. Or a witch. Or a monster. In one of the most celebrated books of 2018, Miller manages to take a…
By Charlotte Ahlin

Love Fantasy But Hate Castles & Dragons? Try These 11 Books

Look, I love castles and dragons as much as the next nerd. I've written at length about Song of Ice and Fire conspiracy theories (don't even talk to me unless you think that Aegon is a Blackfyre pretender). I've read a lot of books with characters…
By Charlotte Ahlin

Hopefully Brienne From 'Game Of Thrones' Won't Share The Fate Of The Woman She's Based On

You know that super fun dragon show with all the naked scenes and the twins who have a very inappropriate relationship with one another? Yeah, most of it's based on real life. Or rather, George R.R. Martin has drawn inspiration from a whole lot of…
By Charlotte Ahlin

10 Short Audiobooks To Get You Through Holiday Travel

Look, I know that audiobooks are great all year round, but there's something about the holidays that make audiobooks especially important. You can plug in and listen on the plane, bus, or car ride to grandma's house. You can queue one up while…
By Charlotte Ahlin

Winter Is Definitely The Creepiest Season, And These 11 Terrifying Books Prove It

Winter is a time for festivities, for lighting candles and singing songs and eating lots of warm, ridiculous food. But do you know why we have all of these cozy, comfy, adorable traditions surrounding the dead of midwinter? Because winter is…
By Charlotte Ahlin

The History Of The Holidays Is More Fascinating Than You Think, As Explained By These Books

It's that time of year: Mariah Carey is blasting in all the drugstores, and Netflix is pumping out a whole new slew of lightly plotted wintertime romance films. Perhaps you're thrilled to be buying presents for your loved ones and bringing a literal…
By Charlotte Ahlin

Who Is Azor Ahai? Everything To Know The Mythical Savior From 'Game Of Thrones'

If you've seen the Game of Thrones TV show, or read the Song of Ice and Fire books, or stumbled across a subreddit of theories about the true identity of Ser Pounce, then you've probably heard the term "Azor Ahai" before. Perhaps you've filed this…
By Charlotte Ahlin

Celebrity Memoirs Can Be Hit-Or-Miss, But These 11 Are Definitely Hits

The celebrity memoir has gotten a bit of a bad reputation. I mean, look, I'm not saying that every Instagram influencer and Real Housewife is secretly a stunning memoirist, or that we should all give up novels to exclusively read cookbooks written…
By Charlotte Ahlin

Winter Has A Bad Reputation, But These 11 Books Might Make You Reconsider

Winter is a great season for reading. It's the time of year when everyone comes together to eat and celebrate, sure, but it's also a prime time to cancel plans and snuggle under blankets by the radiator with a good book and a mug of the hot liquid…
By Charlotte Ahlin

Learn The History That Inspired The Lannisters & Impress All Your Friends

The Targaryens have their dragons and their wigs. The Starks have their wolves and their ability to (sometimes) time travel via psychic trees. But only one family has managed to hang onto the the Iron Throne since book one of the Song of Ice and…
By Charlotte Ahlin