Have you checked out our various Features pages lately? Julie and I are all about Features posts. (Who doesn’t need an occasional break from reviews?) In this new feature post, we will be discussing What Books Taught Us. And no, we don’t mean cooking, crafting, or organizing. We are talking about serious, useful skills. Like how to pick a literary tattoo. We want to make sure all of our readers are prepared!
Do you regret that Tweety Bird/Tasmanian Devil/Micky Mouse tattoo from college? In this episode of What Books Taught Us, we are going to focus on some characters who have tattoos. In case you are looking for some inspiration yourself. Plus, I really just wanted a post for all the fan art!
Feyra from A Court of Thorns and Roses series: I cannot even begin to express my obsession with this series! In A Court of Thorns and Roses, Rhysand gives Feyra a very special tattoo to help her in her trials against the Evil Queen. Included in the tattoo is a funky eye. That sees all.
Which is on full display in this scene.
Now that is a statement outfit!
We also learn about Ryhsand’s tattoos in A Court of Mist and Fury.
The Night Court is full of tattoos!
Karou from A Daughter of Smoke & Bone series: Another all time favorite series for me. And more eye tattoos! Eye tattoos are a must! In this case, Karou and the other chimera revenant have hamsa tattoos.
How totally cool would that tattoo be!
Barrons and the rest of the Nine from the Fever Series: Barrons and the other Nine are covered in tattoos. Mostly of Celtic/Tribal designs.
Maybe not the direction I’d choose for a tattoo for myself. But it doesn’t hurt to look!
Lucas Maxfield from the Contours of the Heart Series: Maybe because this was one of the first NA books I read, I don’t think there is a much better book boyfriend out there!
Still not sure which direction to go on your new tattoo? Buzzfeed has a list for that.
26 Stunning Harry Potter Tattoos
Do you have any literary tattoos you want to share?
I’ve always thought that I’d love to have a literary tattoo—but my husband’s not so keen on tattoos in general, so I’ll probably just always admire instead. Love these examples!
Nicole @ Feed Your FictionAddiction recently posted…Why Everything I’ve Ever Told You About Book Blogging Is Wrong (and Also Right). Let’s Discuss.
Admiring is much less of a commitment, Nicole! I agree with that plan!
The series I think of when it comes to tattoos are The Mortal Instruments, the Vampire Academy series, and the House of Night series. The Mortal Instruments utilizes them for some magical (I know Jace hates that description) abilities.
The Vampire Academy series and its spinoff uses tattoos in a different way. On the dhampirs, tattoos represent a Strigoi kill-count. Single kills are a lightning mark on the neck. In massacres where an unknown, large number of Strigoi were killed, a new design has to be made to represent that achievement and skill. In the spin-off, the alchemists wear gold tattoos of lilies to represent that they are alchemists. These tattoos have some type of vampire blood or venom in them.
The House of Night series uses them to indicate a full-fledged vampire and their abilities. An outline of a crescent on the forehead indicates you are a fledgling. A filled in one normally means that you are a full vampire, but other intricate designs that Nyx bestows on the vampires indicates their powers and her blessing.
In fantasy series, tattoos seem to give the wearer powers and to represent achievements or blessings of a god. Does this say something about society? When I read those series, I wondered what it would be like to have tattoos like that.
Carrie @ Cat on the Bookshelf recently posted…The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett
Al good suggestions, Carrie! And I could use some magical runes myself!
Ugh tattoos on your fingers look nice, but it must hurt very badly though 🙁
Anitya @Hooked To Books recently posted…The Best Reading Lights of 2017 – Buyer’s Guide & Reviews
Agree completely, Anitya!