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Decoding Fantasy Fiction: aka "What the hell am I reading?"
This is a problem that actually comes on both sides of the coin so to speak. You’ve got authors who think they are writing an urban fantasy, but they really aren’t (and they just don’t know it) and readers who think they are reading an epic fantasy (but they really aren’t and they just don’t know it) and then the readers who stare at the screen before one clicking after trying to figure out if the genre lists below the book mean anything at all.
Here we go, your one stop shop when deciphering what the hell kind of fantasy are you reading.
CLASSIC FANTASY
Often referred to as Epic Fantasy. Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, Terry Goodkind, George RR Martin, Robin Hobb . . . all these are epic fantasy. A world all its own with no connection to our own. They might have their own religions, political situations, magic systems or even way of cursing (Blood and bloody ashes comes to mind). Classic or epic fantasy tends to run longer too than other kinds of fantasy. Let’s face it, you can’t create a believable world in four hundred pages (well maybe someone can but I haven’t seen it yet).
Expect these to be big, big books.
HISTORICAL FANTASY
Usually a slight variation on the classic fantasy above. Think alternate history worlds. Books like Naomi Novak’s series about dragons in the Naploeonic wars (its on my TBR list) or Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel’s Dart series set in an alternate France with a whole new twist on the words, Love as thou Wilt.
URBAN FANTASY
I’ve done a post on this but I will recap. Expect your characters to live in our world, but be surrounded by magic and monsters. These books are often crammed full of action, intrigue, fight scenes and twists at the 80% mark that will have your pulse pounding. I see most of these books topping out at the 350-400 page mark, a perfect read for a long weekend. Look for authors like Patricia Briggs, Kim Harrison, or me ;)
PARANORMAL ROMANCE
This is a story that’s going to (usually) be set in our world not unlike the urban fantasy above. The difference is there the story will revolve and rely heavily on the romance aspect. Expect sex scenes of varying smexy degrees. Expect billionaire bear shifters, wickedly handsome werewolves, and viciously violent and yet still somehow soft and sweet vampires. You’ll get magic here, you’ll get shifters, and you’ll get a ton of sexy time.
So while it technically IS urban fantasy, you might not see it as such except for glimmers here and there.
Now here’s where things get hard to decipher. An author can blend these together . .. for instance I have an urban fantasy that borders on being a classic fantasy (weird, I know) but I’ve created a an Elemental world within ours that doesn’t touch on the human world.
Having the definitions is nice for sure, and I hope they help, but the reality is, the fantasy world is a big place. One we can all be blessedly lost in from time to time.
All these voices in my head...
WHO DOES THIS REMIND YOU OF?
WHY GO BACK TO RYLEE’S WORLD?
Though it may seem obvious, as to why I found myself writing in Rylee’s world once again, I thought it might be best to explain.
Because I had no intention of going back to Rylee, as far as I was concerned her story was done with “The Blood of the Lost.” Her journey with me was over, kaput, finito . . . but a funny thing happened …
SPOILERS AHEAD IF YOU HAVEN’T FINISHED THE RYLEE ADAMSON SERIES
It began with numerous readers emailing and messaging me about Rylee, Liam, Pamela and of course Alex. Asking me to keep writing their stories. I politely declined even while Rylee whispered in my ear that maybe they had a point. That maybe she wasn’t fucking well done. I told her to shut up, I had other projects calling to me. I told her she’d get a cameo in the Elemental Series, that would have to be enough.
Rylee grumped at me. Seriously grumped that maybe . . . just maybe the transition for her into becoming a daywalking vampire wasn’t as smooth as we’d let on in the last book.
I grumped back at her. Not my issue. Stop pestering me, I’m busy. You know there are other characters out there who need me to tell their stories too. You’re being selfish.
That quieted her up some. You know Rylee, there is no way she’d want to be thought of as selfish. So she was quiet.
And damn it if the story didn’t start to unfold. The issues she was having, the new darkness she was facing.
Damn it.
I told Rylee she had two weeks to tell her story, that was it. I wrote RYLEE (The Rylee Adamson Epilogues, Book 1) in fifteen days. As I wrote this book, I
couldn’t believe the changes Rylee struggled with, the darkness in herself. I realized this was a big part of why she’d been pestering me that her story wasn’t done. Because while she’d saved the world from the demons, there was still a struggle as monumental in its own way she had to face.
It is a full length novel, the same size as PRICELESS . . . the only problem? At the end of the book I realized Rylee wasn’t the only one with a story that still had to be told.
Double damn it.
“These books suck you in and don’t let you go!! Can’t wait for the next one! Hope I have the patience to wait that long.” – Reviewer of RYLEE
She smirked. I groaned. Liam all but grinned at me with a wink from one of his ice blue eyes. So be ready for LIAM (The Rylee Adamson Epilogues, Book 2) coming to you this summer (aiming for July/August).
YOUR RESPONSE SO FAR
I am BLOWN away at the response to Rylee’s Epilogue! I knew you all missed her but WOW, I had no idea just how badly you all were jonesing for a fix of that potty mouthed Tracker . . . or should I say Huntress?
“YAY!!! Rylee’s back!!! I was going through withdrawal thinking the series was over and was thrilled to see that Rylee’s story will continue.” -Reviewer of RYLEE
If you haven’t picked up RYLEE (The Rylee Adamson Epilogues Book 1) yet, may I make a suggestion? Click a link below to grab it. You don’t want to miss out on this newest adventure. And yes, to all those who are asking, you will for sure get to see Rylee and her gang as cameo’s in Larkspur’s Elemental Series. Because Lark has her own battles to face and when it comes to standing in the way of darkness, Rylee is the one who knows better than any other the sacrifices that sometimes have to be made.
Apparently none of these characters are done talking . . .
What's your take on Goodreads?
I want to connect with my fans more, because you guys are awesome! To do that, I’d like to find out where you’re all hanging out them most. I’ll be doing some polls over the next few weeks to collect your opinions.
This will only take a few minutes, and it is completely anonymous. I am finding GOODREADS is something readers have very mixed emotions about. What’s your take on it?
[yop_poll id=”2″]
ROOTBOUND, REPLICA AND CAFFEINE
Yesterday I sent “Rootbound” off to the editor, did copy edits on “Replica” and ingested WAY too much caffeine. ;) BUT, today is exciting. After where I left the ending of “Rootbound” I am bouncing in my chair to start “Spirit Sown” Lark # 7 . . . seriously. I cannot wait to see where the characters take me on this go round in Lark’s world! (And maybe, just maybe there might be a cameo from Rylee’s gang!)