Death
Death is always a rich vein to mine for the blood of metaphor. This particular example is one of the more robustly constructed metaphors in the book and effectively conveys the anxiety its constant potential presence brings:
“She staggered forward, screaming and sobbing, bearing the torch aloft and certain that death was there for her, breathing softly, black wings rustling like those of the crows that waited, waited somewhere in the predawn darkness to sweep down on the eyes of the dead.”
Just like Those Foley Guys
You know, most sound effects in Hollywood movies are a type of metaphor. What you think you are hearing is really something that is only similar, auditorily speaking. This particular example of metaphor works almost like a behind-the-scenes peek into sound effect technology:
“A moment later, there was a sound not unlike a knife sinking into a melon. Amara heard Fidelias let out a slow, breathless cry, as though he had tried to hold it in, keep from giving it a voice, and been unable to do so.”
They Say a Change Will Do You Good
You know that saying, right? When people want to yank you out of the ennui that is the friendly status quo that makes life bearable at all. A change will do you good, they say, as if change is always a good thing. Metaphor suggests otherwise:
“The furies of earth and air and wood whisper everywhere that something dangerous is abroad and that the peace our land has enjoyed these past fifteen years nears its end. Metal furies hone the edges of swords and startle smiths at the forge. The rivers and the rains wait for when they shall run red with blood. And fire itself burns green of a night, or blue, rather than in scarlet and gold. Change is coming.”
A Little Romance
Metaphorical language also works well for scenes of romance. Though, admittedly, it can be difficult for some writers of fantasy novels to be familiar with romance. Seriously, though, this metaphor usually is the strongest in a fantasy novel:
“She could smell him, his scent like leather and fresh wind, and she felt herself arch into the kiss, slow and sweet.”
Tree Metaphors
Metaphorical images involving trees are for some reason quite prevalent in fantasy novels. Trees, limbs, roots, leaves—why not, there is so much raw material to work with, right? Still, attempting to make the leap from tree to treachery is pretty brave stuff:
“Because a sound tree doesn’t have bad roots, Amara. No enterprise of greatness begins with treachery, with lying to the people who trust and love you.”
