TTT: Book Places to Go

I haven’t done more travel-heavy posts lately, and honestly, had Chokshi’s The Gilded Wolves come out before I went to Paris, I totally would have done something like my Prague and Daughter of Smoke and Bone spiel.

That being said, I love traveling. When I can–and I’ve been trying to do so every year–I tend to jet-set it out of the country and live far, far away. So when books take place in a different part of the country, I’m always eager to swallow it whole.

Now, I know “places mentioned” doesn’t specify whether these places are completely fictional or based on a real place, but I’ll go with real places, because at least those I can visit properly.

Places Mentioned In Books That I’d Like To Visit

Marrakesh, Morocco (Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor) – I don’t know about you, but every time I pick up a Laini Taylor book I’m always so eager to jump into her world. Literally. I’ve gone to Prague and back, and now it’s time for Marrakesh.

Istanbul, Turkey (Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld) – Okay, I’m pretty sure I’ve wanted to visit Istanbul even before I’d read Behemoth. And this must have been even way before I’d read Cybele’s Secret by Marillier. In any case, I had an obsession with describing this place, and I’d love to visit here at least once.

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia (Injustice: Gods Among Us by Tom Taylor) – A visual of this totally counts, right? The Salar de Uyuni is a massive salt flat in Bolivia and has the phenomenon of being a massive mirror when there is water on the ground. From the scene of The Flash running through it, it seemed breathtaking.

Moscow, Russia (The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden) – Alright, Arden’s Moscow is definitely going to be different from the Moscow of the present, but I am still eager to visit at least once anyway. I had a close encounter some years back, but it was a no-go since I didn’t have a travel visa.

Just about everywhere in Singapore (Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan) – Oh come on. I’d jump on a plane in a heartbeat given the chance, just to experience the fusion food life that is Singapore. And boy, there’s a lot of that there. Also, that Ferris wheel because I LOVE FERRIS WHEELS.

Kyoto, Japan (Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden) – Honestly, I’d just visit the entirety of Japan if I could. Kyoto is definitely a priority, and not just because it’s the cultural heart of Japan and there’s a lot of history there (I mean, it was the old seat of the shogunate for goodness’ sakes)…well, actually, it’s mostly that. The other part is because why wouldn’t I want to visit the area so heavily used as the setting for Rurouni Kenshin?

Just about everywhere in Scotland (Outlander by Diana Gabaldon) – Oh come on. We totally know I’m down for traipsing Scotland if there’s a chance I’d be thrown back in time and meet a sexy ginger Highlander in a kilt. Wait, is this fiction? It totally isn’t. That being said, Hogwarts is also in Scotland, so I can definitely kill two Death Eaters with one stone circle. Um.

Bath, England (every Jane Austen book ever) – Alright, I’ve actually been to Bath, but it was a short stop on a tour and honestly, I didn’t have time to do anything. I would love to go here again and properly have tea at the Jane Austen center and take in the sights that it’s known for.

Amsterdam, Netherlands (The Fault in Our Stars by John Green) – I wasn’t too big a fan of this book, to be honest, but it did make me want to go to Amsterdam. Actually, again, as someone who wants to travel all the time, the book didn’t really twist my arm or anything.

Transylvania, Romania (Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier) – Laini Taylor and Juliet Marillier are definitely two ladies who’ve made me want to visit a lot of their historical settings. I absolutely loved Marillier’s description of Piscul Dracului and I know it doesn’t actually exist, but there are definitely castles in Transylvania that I’d love to visit, including Vlad Dracul’s famous Bran Castle and Vajdahunyad, which was totally one of my trunk story settings.

Anyway, where would you like to go off to in your books?