Rhetorics of Fantasy Book

I liked it, but like this reviewer, I think Mendlesohn has got the cart before the horse. Attempt to classify fantasy novels is like herding cats. They are slippery creatures, leaping and diving through taxonomy at will. Categorizing the different narrative techniques and discussing how different novels make use of (a mix of) these techniques would have, to me, made more sense.

Her argument isn't helped by a lack of clarity in her writing. The chapter on the portal fantasy is easily the best. In other sections at times Mendlesohn relies more heavily on a synopsis of the books she discusses than on a clear articulation of her classification structure.

Glad I read it, though: some interesting points to think about and Mendlesohn shows a great understanding of, and love for, the genre.