I’m in need of some inspiration today, what better way to be inspired than by choosing my Top 5 Magical Creatures although what qualifies as a magical creature is still, I believe, open for debate.

Well, of course, everyone is going to go for Harry Potter creatures, and who wouldn’t, the whole series was full of magical creatures, including the latest instalments with Newt! But I’m thinking of digging deeper into my reading past to see if I can come up with some creatures and magical lands people don’t know about … like:

• XANTH — I’m cheating here, because Xanth isn’t a creature, but a land full of magical creatures. Xanth features in a series of books written by Piers Anthony, in which wizards go on quests with magical creatures: talking centaurs, sirens, ogres, dragons, griffins and yes, animated zombies. The series starts with A Spell For Chameleon.
• THE LUGGAGE — The magical luggage that walks on its own set of legs, is from Terry Pratchatt’s The Colour Of Magic and the Discworld series of books. The indestructible luggage is an enchanted chest belonging to Twoflower, an insurance clerk from the Agatean Empire who’s on holiday in Ankh-Morpork.  Obviously the Luggage is just one of many enchanted and or magical creatures you’re likely to encounter in Discworld. So, what are you waiting for, go have a read.
• THE OCTAVO — is the most powerful magical book on Discworld, who readjusts reality in order to save one of its 8 spells, and also, inadvertently saves Rincewind, Twoflower, and the Luggage from falling off the edge of Discworld into the void because the missing spell resides inside the head of Rincewind. See, I told you, go read the books.
• THE DRAGON IN LYONESSE — is a series of books written by Gordon R. Dickson that, again, like the magical land of Xanth, feature several magical and enchanted creatures and beings; from a renegade fire-breathing dragon named Bryagh, to Sandmirks (huge rodents), venom-biting Harpies, a giant Sea-Lizard, a Kraken, and a man-eating worm! The first in the series is The Dragon and the George.
• THE FORGOTTEN BEASTS OF ELD — a fantasy book written by Patricia A. McKillip is set in a magical world filled with witches, evil wizards who enchant people and creatures against their will, and summon bone-crushing demons from hell, and in which there is a creature of shadow who induces abject fear in everyone except the heroine of the story: Sybel, who cares for other magical creatures in her home on the mountain.

Who said I never read fantasy novels … I did when they were filled with these kinds of creatures and mythical monster, wizards and, as with the Discworld and Xanth series of books, full of warped off-the-wall humour as well.