If you've been considering checking out Adult Fantasy, now is the time! With major ongoing series like Fourth Wing and Empire of the Vampire, there's never been a better time to be a fan of Adult Fantasy. Here are 10 reasons why this genre has just what you're looking for, followed by some recommendations of where to start!
So, why read Adult Fantasy?
Reason 1 - No Rule!
There's no rules! No really! Adult fantasy can have everything, do everything and go everywhere. In this genre you can have it all.
Image by Pexels from Pixabay
If you want...
Dragons? There's dragons, wyrms, serpents and everything in between.
Magicians? You can find them in all shapes, sizes and magic systems.
Obscure mythology? Sure thing, there's plenty of gods. We'll find the right pantheon to fulfill you.
God killers? Got that too!
Necromancers? Absolutely! Very helpful if you accidentally find your god dead.
Vampires that are also avenging knights? We've got 'em, and they're as deadly as they are beautiful.
Witches that hide in plain sight AND witches that are bold and powerful? We've got you covered.
Paladins who are just trying to get by after their sworn god died? Absolutely, and don't forget to see where their romantic escapades take them.
Cozy fantasy about an Orc who decided she was done questing and wanted to try her hand at a coffee shop? There's a main quest (book) and a prequel story waiting for you.
Does it sound like this list is getting very specific? If you can think of it, there's probably a fantasy book about it.
Reason 2 - As big or little as you like!
Image by Leopictures from Pixabay
As Brandon Sanderson, Samantha Shannon and George R.R. Martin has proven, we love chunky books. A chunky book means there's more to love, but it also means there's more time to suffer alongside your favorite characters. You'll find stand alone chunky books as well as massively chunky series. Not looking for a book that weighs more than your pet? Not to worry! Not all adult fantasy consists of super thick tomes. There are also some slim delights, such as Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, the Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire, and Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee.
Reason 3 - Characters of all ages
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While young adult fantasy follows younger protagonists, adult fantasy follows a wide range of ages. Your main characters could be someone on the cusp of adulthood, celebrating their 111th birthday, or at countless other points along the journey of life.
Reason 4 - Depth and Perspective
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Sometimes YA fantasy can't devote the time to really dig into characters' motivations while keeping the story and emotions high. Adult fantasy often goes the extra reflective mile and gives us more insight into what is going on, both with world building and character motivations. That's not to say there isn't fast paced adult fantasy, but it often comes with more reflection and explanation of some sort.
Reason 5 - If you want it all, you can have it all!
Image by Becca Clark from Pixabay
Adult fantasy is not afraid to go to the extremes. Similar to reason 1, which I truly believe you can find whatever you are looking for, you can also find it to the extreme. If you want it, it’s out there and it’s darker, heavier, creepier and extremely full of spice, just the way you like it.
Reason 6 - Romantasy!
Last year Rebecca Yarros took the book world by storm with Fourth Wing and Iron Flame. This romantic fantasy series blends the spice (explicit romance) and adult fantasy together seamlessly to give you the best of both genres all in one story. While not the first romantasy book, the sub-genre has certainly taken off and includes some magical fantasy worlds.
Reason 7 - Fantasy contains multitudes
While Romantasy feels like a newer term in the last couple of years, there are even more subgenres of fantasy to explore. There are a lot of terms that can be interpreted in a few ways, but hopefully, this list can help you with some common sub-genres.
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In magical realism, magic sneaks in amongst your regular/modern world.
Cozy fantasy leaves you feeling comfortable and content.
Gothic fantasy will have you on the edge of your seat.
Epic fantasy will take you completely outside of your day to day and often is reminiscent of tales with wizards, elves and "classic" fantasy (think Lord of the Rings).
High fantasy generally means a story that takes place in a completely different world with new cultures, races, countries, and even weather patterns, all from the author's imagination.
Urban fantasy represents a story set in the modern world but infused fantasy elements.
Paranormal often implies some level of urban or contemporary fantasy (set in our world) but with the addition of ghosts or other paranormal activity, while Supernatural fantasy is very similar but often implies supernatural creatures such as vampires, werewolves or even fae/faery/fairy folk.
Dark academia, while not quite a sub-genre, it still deserves an honorable mention. These stories tend to include discussion of academics (studying, teaching, scholarship) alongside darker elements such as horror or gothic components.
Reason 8 - Worldbuilding of epic (or miniature) proportions
Sometimes world building can be overwhelming and other times you can't get enough. The good news is there's world building to fit you at your fantasy comfort level. If you want some magical realism, where you aren't quite sure where the line is between our world and the fantasy you can always check out Adrienne Young's books such as The Unmaking of June Farrow. If you want something that takes you completely outside of your day to day, you could immerse yourself in the Ending Fire Trilogy by Saara El-Arifi which features a really cool magic system set in a brutal world highlighting the repercussions of colonization, oppression and slavery.
Reason 9 - Real issues presented through a fantasy lens
Sometimes it's really hard to process situations that we are too close to. Fantasy gives you a new chance to explore them in a different way. So many wonderful stories exist today that highlight real world issues and help us explore and process topics we might shy away from otherwise. Great examples of this are the aforementioned Ending Fire Trilogy by Saara El-Arifi and the Poppy War series by R.F. Kuang. Good to know: both of these series, while incredibly powerful, are very intense and I strongly recommend reading the content warnings before diving in.
Reason 10 - The possibilities are endless!
Image by Pexels from Pixabay
The best thing about Adult Fantasy is how flexible and creative the genre is. While there are certainly trends in publishing, each fantasy story brings a new angle to the world with their creations. There's always something new to discover, another world to visit and new creatures to meet (or run away from).
Ready to check out some Adult Fantasy, but not sure where to start? We've got you covered!
Legends and Lattes
by Travis Baldree
“What’s a Latte?”
“Bean water with milk.”
― Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
Content Warnings: fire/fire injury, blood, violence, sexual harassment
Want to start out with something classic and cozy? Viv the orc barbarian is ready to hang up her sword and settle down. She learned about lattes on her travels and is ready to try her hand at a coffee shop! Find out if Viv can hang up her sword for good or if her adventurous past will forever haunt her.
If you can't get enough of her adventures, be sure to also check out the prequel novel, Bookshops and Bonedust.
Mistborn: The Final Empire
by Brandon Sanderson
“Humor is the only thing I’ve got left. Humor and determination.”
― Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Content Warnings: Abuse, Blood, Death, Murder, Sexual Assault, Slavery, Violence, War
Ready to immerse yourself in a whole new world? The first in a trilogy, come learn about the Lord Ruler and the oppressed Skaa who dare to rebel against him in the capital city of Luthadel. This story has it all! Heists, found families, heroes who don't know when to give up, political intrigue, street orphans who survive despite all odds, secrets upon secrets, amazing world building and a fantastic magic system. There's even a dash of romance and a healthy serving of betrayal. This story follows the young orphan Vin, who finds herself caught up in Kelsier's plans to take down the Empire. Mistborn raises questions about just what it takes to be a hero and what happens if the hero fails. This powerful trilogy is not one to miss!
If you love this trilogy, you'll be happy to know there's more books in this world, including a 4 book series, Mistborn Era 2: Wax and Wayne.
Empire of the Vampire
by Jay Kristoff
“I’m something of a bastard on the best of days.”
― Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff
Content Warnings: blood, death, gore, violence, war, language, some explicit content
The first in a new epic series, Empire of the Vampire blends epic, supernatural and horror into a spectacular fantasy adventure. Told via an interview between an infamous knight and a vampire, this captivating tale is not one to miss.
The story is split into multiple books and follows the story of Gabriel de León who finds himself forced to share his life story with Marquis Jean Francois. This epic story includes love, heartbreak, hope, adventure, death, and naturally a hefty amount of blood.
The second book in this series, Empire of the Damned, was released earlier this year. Both books include amazing art inserts, making every edition of this book extra special.
Still need more recommendations? Be sure to join us on the Nest and check out our recommendations group!
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