Reading orders / Bookmarks / Fantasy bookmarks
Fantasy bookmarks
Fantasy is the widest bookmark category and the one where matching the subgenre matters most.
Knight Resting Under Tree Bookmark
A knight resting under a tree. Quiet, which almost nothing in this category is.
Anime Sword Bookmark
Medieval knight kneeling with a sword. The one that works as a gift for men, which this market underserves badly.
Medieval Knight Bookmark
A blade with an amethyst core. Reads as a Shardblade to anyone who would know.
Also worth a look
Hero’s Sword Bookmark$8.99
Magical Wizard Bookmark$8.99 on Etsy
Wizard Castle Bookmark - Handcrafted…$8.99Match the subgenre, not the genre
Epic fantasy wants scale: castles, banners, armies implied rather than shown. Sword and sorcery wants a single object, usually a blade. Romantasy wants roses, thorns and a palette rather than a subject. Grimdark wants almost nothing, just a silhouette and a limited range of colour.
The commonest mistake is buying a bright whimsical design for someone reading something bleak. A cheerful castle on top of The First Law is a small daily irritation.
The gift gap
Most bookish merchandise is designed for one audience, and it is not men. If you are buying for a man who reads fantasy, the sword and knight designs are the ones that will not sit in a drawer.
Most of what is on this page comes from one shop, bookmarks for book lovers, which is where we ended up after a few years of buying these.