Bustle

Charlotte Ahlin

http://charlotteahlin.com
Bio
Charlotte Ahlin is a writer, playwright, actor, and artist. She's a lifelong New Yorker and a graduate of Oberlin College. She writes about books for the internet and writes plays for no one in particular. Right now she's reading 70’s science fiction and drawing sad cartoons.

11 Fantasy Short Stories You Can Read For Free Right Now

When we think "fantasy," we usually think big: enormous castles besieged by large dragons, sweeping, multi-generational epics about kingdoms and queendoms, and hefty, hardcover book series that seem to go on forever. Fantasy fiction tends to work…
By Charlotte Ahlin

If Jon Kills Dany, This GoT Prophecy Could Be A Clue About How He Does It

In the book series, A Song of Ice and Fire, there is a much-referenced prophecy about Azor Ahai, a magical person who is meant to emerge from the chaos, satisfy a few cryptic requirements, and take down the Big Bad, freeing everyone from an eternity…
By Charlotte Ahlin

Do These 5 Central 'Game Of Thrones' Characters Have A Chance Of Getting Out Alive?

As Game of Thrones barrels towards the end of its final season, there is one question on everyone's minds: Who is going to make it to the end of Game of Thrones? If there's one thing that both A Song of Ice and Fire and HBO's Game of Thrones have in…
By Charlotte Ahlin

This Cersei Prophecy Could Predict How She Will Die — And Who Will Kill Her

I don't know if you've heard, but Game of Thrones is back for its eighth and final season. TV fans are trading memes, reading Reddit theories, and planning watch parties. Book fans are complaining about The Winds of Winter still not being out and…
By Charlotte Ahlin

11 Books That Examine Some Of The Grisliest Crimes In History

Look, I get it: I like a good Jack the Ripper story just as much as the next person. I like the morbid documentaries and the weird fringe theories about who Jack The Ripper actually is. I even like that Star Trek episode where Jack the Ripper…
By Charlotte Ahlin

11 Facts From The 'Game Of Thrones' Book That You Probably Forgot About By Now

So I don't know if you've heard of this little TV program, Game of Thrones, but it seems like it's maybe back one final season of ice dragons, incest, and hot people talking quietly to each other about fantasy politics. TV fans are planning…
By Charlotte Ahlin

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