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Credit: Courtesy of Bookends<\/p>\nCredit: Courtesy of Bookends<\/p>\n
This Gasparilla weekend, a pirate\u2019s life is not the only fantasy gracing our shores. Saturday afternoon, Bookends Ybor unites with the Corner Club for a fantasy-themed book fair and outdoor market, celebrating National Friends of Fantasy Day in swashbuckling style.<\/p>\n
Since 2020, the fantasy genre and its dual-genre half-sister, romantasy, have been on a meteoric rise. Epic tales of daring escapes, victory against all odds, secret magic powers, and star-crossed lovers tap into our collective longing for a better world. And where there be dragons, there often follow another favorite: pirates.<\/p>\n
Some fell in love with fantasy through J.M. Barrie\u2019s classic \u201cPeter Pan,\u201d or Robin Hobb\u2019s treasured \u201cLiveship Traders.\u201d Others were drawn in by the ancient gods and curses of the \u201cPirates of the Caribbean,\u201d or the death-dodging antics of Scott Lynch\u2019s \u201cGentleman Bastards.\u201d Many adore recent epics like Rebecca Roanhorse\u2019s \u201cBetween Earth and Sky,\u201d which explores seafaring legends beyond the European canon.<\/p>\n
Bookends brings a wide selection of fantasy books and merch to their event this weekend, nautical and otherwise. Local guest authors include S.R. Bryna, Kadeem Locke and Annie R McEwen. Costumes are highly encouraged; don your pirate gear, or channel your inner sea siren, to continue the day\u2019s festivities.<\/p>\n
Live entertainment ranges from tarot readings and typewriter poetry to a visiting bard and sunset harp serenade. Kids, and inner children, will enjoy craft tables, games, trivia and a secret woodland fairy hunt. Special selections of grog and grub will be on offer from the Corner Club.<\/p>\n
Check out more bookish events happening Jan. 29-Feb. 14<\/p>\n
Friends of Largo Library\u2019s Semi-Annual Book Sale<\/a><\/p>\n Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 29-31. No cover. Largo Public Library, Largo. largopubliclibrary.org<\/p>\n Author Talk: \u2018The Bottomless Cup,\u2019 Kevin Boehm<\/a><\/p>\n Thursday, Jan. 29. 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. $7. Oxford Exchange, Tampa. oxfordexhange.com<\/p>\n Book Release: \u2018SHINE: 10th Anniversary Edition\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Thursday, Feb 5. 6:30 p.m. \u2013 9 p.m. No cover (RSVP requested). Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg. tombolobooks.com<\/p>\n Tampa Downtown Alliance: Blind Date With A Book<\/a><\/p>\n Monday, Feb 9. 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. No cover. Snow Park, Tampa. tampasdowntown.com<\/p>\n Release Party: \u2018Wicked Onyx,\u2019 Debbie Cassidy<\/a><\/p>\n Tuesday, Feb 10. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. $20. The Book Lounge, St. Petersburg. thebooklounge.com<\/a><\/p>\n Book Launch: \u2018Cold Zero\u2019, Brad Thor and Ward Larsen<\/a><\/p>\n Tuesday, Feb 10. 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. $35. Oxford Exchange, Tampa. oxfordexhange.com<\/p>\n Wild Space Authors Series: \u2018The Birds That Audubon Missed\u2019, Kenn Kaufman<\/a><\/p>\n Wednesday, Feb 11. 5 p.m.-8 p.m. No cover (RSVP requested). Wild Space Gallery, St. Petersburg. @wildspacestpete on Instagram.<\/p>\n Author Talk: \u2018We Were Never Friends\u2019, Kaira Rouda<\/a><\/p>\n Wednesday, Feb. 11. 7 p.m.-8 p.m. No cover (RSVP requested). Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg. tombolobooks.com<\/p>\n Author Talk: \u2018Our Beautiful Mess\u2019, Adele Parks<\/a><\/p>\n Thursday, Feb. 12. 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. $23. Oxford Exchange, Tampa. oxfordexhange.com<\/p>\n Romance & Ros\u00e9, Kristin Wollett & Annabel Monaghan<\/a><\/p>\n Friday, Feb. 13 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. $33. Oxford Exchange, Tampa. oxfordexhange.com<\/p>\n Pitch in to help make the Tampa Bay Journalism Project a success.<\/a><\/p>\n Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us:\u00a0Google News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0NewsBreak<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Reddit<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Facebook\u00a0<\/a>|\u00a0BlueSky<\/a><\/p>\n Recent Stories<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\tPlus, two weeks of Tampa Bay bookish events.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\tAn independent senator called the legislation \u201ccrap,\u201d a Democrat deemed it \u201cunjust,\u201d and a Republican voted \u201cno.\u201d\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\tTrump endorsed him for re-election in November.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n This article appears in Jan. 22 \u2013 28, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n \t
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