Realms Review: 'Wicked Lovely'

If we had to pick our all-time favorite faery story, Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr easily tops the list. Full of danger, intrigue, magic, romance, and daring feats of bravery, this book, and the rest of the series, is must read for fans of the supernatural and the Fae. Marr's writing hooks you in from the start, beginning with three tantalizing rules:

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.
Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.
Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.

Aislinn is the main character, a girl who can see faeries, along with her grandmother, since they both have the Sight. They follow the rules above. Why? Because faeries blind or kill those with the Sight. Unfortunately for Aislinn, a faery king has started following her around, and she's drawn into their world to potentially save the Summer Court. The Summer Court is one of four faery courts, along with the Winter Court, the Dark Court, and the High Court.
          We give Wicked Lovely five out of five stars for its originality, highly enticing plot, dark and attractive setting, and its well-developed characters. Marr has built an elaborate, believable world that the reader dives right into. We see the politics behind court decisions, and attach ourselves to the characters, feeling their pain when they must decide between what needs to be done and what is right. The author takes you on a roller coaster of emotions as you hand onto the edge of your seat, rooting for your favorite characters and hoping the real villains get what's coming to them. And some character will win you over, while others betray you.
          Even if Wicked Lovely doesn't become your favorite faery story, we guarantee it's a high quality read that'll be close to the top of your list. If Wicked Lovely captures your heart, be sure to read the rest of the series: Ink Exchange, Fragile Eternity, Radiant Shadows, and Darkest Mercy.

Realms Review

Spotting Trends in Young Adult Fantasy

What's Trending?

Write what you love. That's hopefully what your teachers/mentors tell you, and what you tell yourself. You need to love your work so that you create the best piece possible. From a publishing standpoint, though, it can't hurt to keep an eye on what's trending. Many agents and publishers will tell you that contemporary young adult fiction is currently trending, and it is, but don't be disappointed. The young adult fantasy community is HUGE, and there will always be trends within that community. If you have a fantasy story, there's a fan base to explore.

Marked, first book in the
House of Night series

          We're going to identify the trends in young adult fantasy since, say, 2005. That's a nice ten-year cushion. Though, to be truthful, young adult audiences have only had books targeted toward them specifically within the last twenty years or so. Weird to think about, huh?
     Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, but the novel (and rest of the series) is called the Twilight phenomenon for a reason. It hooked and fascinated millions of people around the world and stirred enormous interest in young adult fantasy. Since then, young adult fantasy books have come a long way, with stronger plotlines and, some would argue, better writing. People have even suggested that if a book like Twilight were proposed today, it wouldn't have been published. But that's a whole other point.
    On October 5, 2005, a book came out that basically started the young adult fantasy fan base. You're probably inwardly groaning that the title we're about to drop is

Fallen
by Lauren Kate

           The point is, when Twilight appeared, we were able to more easily identify and track trends in YA Fantasy market. We saw an incredible surge in vampire stories and love triangles after the popularity of Twilight. There were good books and bad books, but, eventually, it began to get it old. The publishing industry was "milking the vampire cow" as a good friend of ours once said. During this time, books like the House of Night series by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast and the Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith surged into popularity. With the vampire trend, we also saw a rise in werewolf stories, the vampires' enemies. Books like Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause and Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater were placed on the shelves next to vampire stories.
          The vampire/werewolf Paranormal Romance trend lasted for a while, and when it began to shift, we still saw a heavy dose of Paranormal Romance, but we began to see fallen angels in the market. Ah, yes, in 2010, we saw Fallen by Lauren Kate and (one of our recent Realms Reviews) Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. This also spurred the angel phase, where the angels didn't have to be fallen, like Halo by Alexandra Adornetto and Angel Burn by l.a. weatherly. We've read all of these angel books and, personally, we recommend Hush, Hush and Angel Burn if you're looking for an angel romance that doesn't bore or frustrate you.

Splintered
by A.G. Howard

          This brings us to the rise of retold fairy tales. It's difficult to pinpoint exactly what sparked the trend in re-told fairy tales, and this may be because it's taken off in the film industry, too, with movies like Snow White and the Huntsman, Maleficent, Into the Woods, and now Cinderella, among many others. People like to re-imagine the classics for a number of reasons, but we'd say it's mostly because people love them and there's a guaranteed audience. Some books, like Beastly by Alex Flinn, came out before the fairy tale trend really hit the shelves, but we'd say the books that brought the trend to the forefront were Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles, which re-imagined the stories in a futuristic sci-fi-esque landscape and released in 2013. We've mentioned some retold fairy tales previously, so we'll try to throw some new titles at you, like Splintered by A.G. Howard, a retelling of Alice in Wonderland. Entwined by Heather Dixon is a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses.

Snow Like Ashes
by Sara Raasch

          Most recently, we've been seeing more and more High Fantasy in the young adult realm. Sarah J. Maas brought us Throne of Glass. We also see Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo and Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch. We are happy to say we have both Shadow and Bone and Snow Like Ashes in our To Be Read pile!
          Listed above are a lot of popular books, but please keep in mind that trends also include all the independent, and even some mostly unknown, books as well that fall into the trend. This also doesn't include every popular book, either. There are several popular books and series that have made it into the spotlight that don't fall into these trends. Just look at anything by Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, or Libba Bray (not to mention, several others!).
          Seeing these trends, it makes you wonder what will follow High Fantasy. There are lots of stories about witches and fairies, too, and maybe they fall into Paranormal Romance, but there's room for them to trend. Personally, we'd love to see something radically different start trending, something in YA Fantasy that moves away from what we're familiar with. What's your favorite trend, or, what would you like to see trending?

Realms

Realms Review: 'Hush, Hush'

Everything about Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick entices us, even the title. It makes us want to scream WHAT DO I HAVE TO BE QUIET ABOUT right from the start. Hush, Hush was at the front of the "fallen angel craze phase" that followed vampires and werewolves. From the beginning chapter, we learn of the bad boy, our fallen angel named Patch, but he is not the protagonist.
          Our main character is Nora Grey, an intelligent high-schooler who has dealt with past trauma, and is now dealing with Patch. Their relationship is a strange one, at first, with him intentionally being mysterious to draw her toward him for his own plans and her curiosity getting the better of her even though she doesn't trust him. At this point, you, the reader have enough details to definitely not trust him, and you're hanging onto the edge of your seat crying, "Nora, no!"
          There are some areas of the book that could have done with some more refinement or editing, but for a debut novel, Fitzpatrick does an excellent job. The writing is captivating and has a superb pace, revealing just enough details to make you want to keep reading, but not giving everything away. And, as romance blossoms between the two, you can't help but wonder if it's real or fake, and where it's going. The characters play a dangerous game, and you, the reader, are helpless. Fitzpatrick does her job in that it seems like it's going to be a train wreck, so you can't look away!
          If Hush, Hush sounds like the book for you, we've got more good news! It's the first in a four-book series, which you can buy all of from Simon & Schuster. Fallen angels may seem old now, but we guarantee this book is worth the read if you're into Paranormal Romance.

Realms Review

Tips for Writers: Worldbuilding

Discworld, imagined by Terry Pratchett

Worldbuilding is a giant in the realm of fiction. Often, people like to ignore it at first because it requires enormous effort on the author's part, but the truth is, there's no escaping it. Even if you're writing realistic fiction, you need to factor in worldbuilding, because that's what explains why everything in your book is happening now. We are going to focus on how it can help your Young Adult Fantasy writing.
          Let's make a list of things to consider, shall we?

• Environment: including the way the ecosystem works in particular areas of the world, the temperature, the defining features of the landscape, and more.
• Cultures, Politics, Religions: unless you're writing a Utopian novel, the characters in your story probably belong to different cultures, have different beliefs about certain topics, dress certain ways. Remember, your characters are individuals, and just like in the real world, even the most similar people probably don't agree on everything.
• Basic Infrastructure: what do your people eat? And don't say "stew." Stew is so common in fantasy books, but how bland is that? Know your world. What is grown? How do people get around? How do they dispose of things? How does the economy work and who holds the power? What does the average person do for a living?
• History: even though you've made this world pop into existence, you want to make it look like any other world, one rich with history. Civilizations don't just suddenly exist. How did your world get to the point it's at today?This is may not seem important to the now of your story, but it is. The history of your world explains why everything is happening now, rather than one hundred years ago or one hundred years from now.
• Mimicking Ethnic Groups: you want to create believable people with accurate portrayals of society. In an article we found that may also help you, "7 Deadly Sins of Worldbuilding," by Charlie Jane Anders, it's said "If you decide that instead of Belgians, you're going to have an alien species called the Bzlgizns––who are basically Belgians except they've got antlers––you still have to try and make them well-rounded and as nuanced as possible." In other words, you can't just create a race and give them no personality. They can't exist for the sake of existing. They have desires, goals, and practices that make them who they are. 
• Knowing How Certain Powers/Inventions Impact Society: if there is magic, or a crazy new invention, you have to consider the aspects of society it will impact. You can't introduce something and not expect everyone to be affected by it. 

Now, don't feel too overwhelmed by this list. Odds are, you've probably imagined a lot of it, and the rest are suggestions for you to work on to give characters a more realistic feel in a much larger playground. A lot of these also pertain to worldbuilding from scratch, which some of you may not necessarily be doing. For example, if your fantasy story is set in our world, then a lot of the history and culture and infrastructure is there. You should still do your research, but you don't have to start from the beginning.
          A good example of this is in The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. The human world is still there, and the Shadowhunters do behave similarly to most humans when not hunting demons. Therefore, Clare's worldbuilding consists mostly of defining Shadowunter history, some aspects of their culture, and how their power works in relation to the rest of the world.
          For some, it is easier to create a "worldbuilding bible," so to speak. In this document, you write down all the aspects of the world, even the ones you may not necessarily use in the book, to further define your story and make the characters and reactions more believable. Your worldbuilding bible could contain a map with lists and histories of all the places, along with the cultures in those areas and how they interact with other places/people/species, etc. Honestly, this article would be way too long if we went through every possible aspect to include, but we've handed you the basic tools and it's time to start digging!
          What's in your world?

Other Resources:

"25 Things You Should Know About Worldbuilding" by Chuck Wendig

"Brandon Sanderson Teaches Fantasy Writing and Worldbuilding" by Nathan Smith

Realms

Realms Review: 'Daughter of the Forest'

Today there are plenty of retold fairytales abounding in bookstores. They are popular because they are tales that contain core elements everyone already loves. That said, we wanted to review a retold fairytale that came out in 1999. Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier is a retelling of the popular tale of The Six Swans. In Daughter of the Forest, the protagonist is a teenage girl named Sorcha. When her father remarries an evil sorceress, their new stepmother turns Sorcha's brothers into swans. Sorcha escapes, and is offered a chance to save her brothers through the help of the fairy queen, who says Sorcha must weave them shirts out of spindleweed, a spiky substance that is painful to the touch, but throughout the process, she must remain silent. If she speaks at all before she completes the shirts, she will lose her brothers forever.
          Marillier's writing is phenomenal, fully illustrating the time period and immersing her readers in clan-ruled Ireland and an early warring England. Sorcha's character is crafted so beautifully that the reader roots for her from the start. She is well-rounded, exhibiting strength and love, but suffering from her many challenges. Many of the other prominent characters show depth, too, that reflect their personality and the time period. And, of course, the plot is similar to the well-known fairytale, and is already foolproof. The finer details and changes are what make it excellent, believable, and intense. Filled with danger, magic, and even romance, Daughter of the Forest is a book you cannot stop reading.
          We give this book five out of five stars. This is the kind of fantasy story that feels so real, you can almost believe it was part of history. You will be shocked, anxious, and cry, both sad and happy tears at times. There is some graphic content in this story, to the point where some would question this as a young adult novel, but there is no question that Sorcha's experiences and challenges relate to young adults. If you love retold fairytales, this book comes highly recommended.

Realms Review

March 2015 Young Adult Fantasy Releases

Hello, Travelers! We hope this Wednesday is treating you well. As a way to bring you the newest Young Adult Fantasy novels, we've decided to write about five new books each month. Please keep in mind that there are a lot of YA Fantasy novels released each month, so this is by no means a "fair" list. What we can guarantee is that these books release sometime this month (some have already), and that they are fantasy. We have not read any of the books in this list, so also keep in mind that these are books that seem interesting based on their description. Without further ado, here are the March releases we picked to share.

March 3rd, 2015

In The Storyspinner by Becky Wallace, drama and danger abound in this fantasy realm where dukes play a game for the throne, magical warriors race to find the missing heir, and romance blossoms where it is least expected.
          In a world where dukes plot their way to the throne, a Performer’s life can get tricky. And in Johanna Von Arlo’s case, it can be fatal. Expelled from her troupe after her father’s death, Johanna is forced to work for the handsome Lord Rafael DeSilva. Too bad they don’t get along. But while Johanna’s father’s death was deemed an accident, the Keepers aren’t so sure.
          The Keepers, a race of people with magical abilities, are on a quest to find the princess—the same princess who is supposed to be dead and whose throne the dukes are fighting over. But they aren’t the only ones looking for her. And in the wake of their search, murdered girls keep turning up—girls who look exactly like the princess, and exactly like Johanna.
          With dukes, Keepers, and a killer all after the princess, Johanna finds herself caught up in political machinations for the throne, threats on her life, and an unexpected romance that could change everything.

March 5th, 2015

In Crow Moon by Anna McKerrow, Danny is a fun-loving sixteen-year-old looking for a father figure and falling in love with a different girl every day. He certainly doesn't want to follow in his mum's witchy footsteps.
          Just as his community is being threatened by gangs intent on finding a lucrative power source to sell to the world, Danny discovers he is stunningly powerful. And when he falls for Saba, a gorgeous but capricious girl sorceress, he thinks maybe the witch thing might not be such a bad idea.... 
          But what cost will Danny pay as, with his community on the brink of war, he finds that love and sorcery are more dangerous than he ever imagined? 
          Wickedness and passion combine in this coming-of-age adventure.

March 10th, 2015

In Red by Alyxandra Harvey, bad girls burn hot…. 
       

  Red is the color of Kia Alcott's hair. 
          It's her temper, which blazes hot and always gets Kia into way too much trouble. 
          And it's the color of fire. Fires that Kia can start…just by thinking about them. 
          When her latest “episode” gets her kicked out of school, Kia is shipped off to her grandmother, who works for the wealthy Blackwoods. It's an estate shrouded in secrets, surrounded by rules, and presided over by a family that is far from normal…including the gorgeous and insolent Ethan Blackwood. 
          Ethan knows far more about the dangers of the forest surrounding the estate than Kia can ever imagine. For this forest has teeth, and Ethan is charged with protecting the outside world from its vicious mysteries. 
          But inside, even the most vibrant shade of red doesn't stand a chance against the dark secrets of the Blackwood family…. 

March 10th, 2015

In The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows, Wilhelmina has a hundred identities. 

          She is a princess. When the Indigo Kingdom conquered her homeland, Wilhelmina and other orphaned children of nobility were taken to Skyvale, the Indigo Kingdom’s capital. Ten years later, they are the Ospreys, experts at stealth and theft. With them, Wilhelmina means to take back her throne. 
          She is a spy. Wil and her best friend, Melanie, infiltrate Skyvale Palace to study their foes. They assume the identities of nobles from a wraith-fallen kingdom, but enemies fill the palace, and Melanie’s behavior grows suspicious. With Osprey missions becoming increasingly dangerous and their leader more unstable, Wil can’t trust anyone. 
          She is a threat. Wraith is the toxic by-product of magic, and for a century using magic has been forbidden. Still the wraith pours across the continent, reshaping the land and animals into fresh horrors. Soon it will reach the Indigo Kingdom. Wilhelmina’s magic might be the key to stopping the wraith, but if the vigilante Black Knife discovers Wil’s magic, she will vanish like all the others. 
          Jodi Meadows introduces a vivid new fantasy full of intrigue, romance, dangerous magic, and one girl’s battle to reclaim her place in the world.

March 24th, 2015

In In the Time of the Dragon Moon by Janet Lee Carey, on the southernmost tip of Wilde Island––far from the Dragonswood sanctuary and the Pendragon Castle––live the native Euit people. Uma, who is half Euit and half English, and not fully accepted by her tribe, wants to become a healer like her Euit father. But the mad English queen in the north, desperate for another child, kidnaps Uma and her father and demands that he cure her barrenness. After her father dies, Uma must ensure that the queen is with child by the time of the Dragon Moon, or be burned at the stake. 
          Terrified and alone, Uma reaches out to her only possible ally: the king's nephew Jackrun, a fiery dragonrider with dragon, fairy, and human blood. Together, they must navigate through a sea of untold secrets, unveil a dark plot spawned long ago in Dragonswood, and find a way to accept all the elements––Euit, English, dragon, and fairy––that make them who they are.

Realms 

**Each synopsis was taken from GoodReads 

Realms Review: 'A Great and Terrible Beauty'

Many of us are used to stories where magic is defined by rules. In fact, most, if not all, magic has rules, but what if you didn't know them? What if you had to figure them out on your own? Libba Bray's A Great and Terrible Beauty does just that. Gemma, the protagonist, stumbles across a magical world she has discovered through visions. She, and three other girls, unravel their powers there, and discover when they return to their world that the magic lasts for a little bit outside the strange world, but doesn't last forever. It wears off, leaving them wanting to return, but an evil also lurks in that world.
          Bray's elaborate and beautiful settings hook you in and make the reader lust after the magical world and Victorian England, where most of the story takes place. The characters are all well-developed and exceed your expectations as you read on and learn they are more than their stereotypes. Felicity is not just the snobby leader, but a girl who dreams of being more than she's allowed to be. Pippa may be beautiful and seemingly stuck up, but she hides a terrible illness she's afraid of. Ann seems to be a weak sidekick, but she also has a quiet strength. Gemma, the protagonist, is not easily manipulated, and finds her own sense of leadership along with her sense of self; she changes immensely throughout the whole trilogy.
          For a novel with well-written and strong female characters, as well as a dangerous plot full of unexpected twists and turns, A Great and Terrible Beauty might be the right story for you. The beginning, we found, was a little slow, but if you can plough through it, we promise it picks up, and we promise you won't be disappointed. We give this book four out of five stars.

Realms Review

Author Interview: Mats Strandberg on 'The Circle' and Fantasy

Realms Young Adult Fantasy Literary Magazine: Will you give us a brief background about who you are and where you’re from?

Mats Strandberg: I come from Fagersta, a small industrial town in the middle of deep forests. It has a lot of similarities with Engelsfors. Except there’s no apocalypse there, as far as I know. I moved to Stockholm on my own when I was sixteen, and after high school, I started working as an entertainment reporter for TV and magazines. My first novel was published in 2006. I love horror, reality TV, Vermont, art, I eat way too much ice cream, and I got married this past week.

Realms: Did you begin your writing career more interested in journalism or in novel writing, and how has that changed?

Mats: I have always had a dream of becoming a writer. There are a lot of pictures of me as a kid sitting by the typewriter. I was almost published when I was seventeen years old, actually. I had written a book that was a complete rip-off of everything I loved at the time; Donna Tartt, Bret Easton Ellis, Stephen King, The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer, and, erm, V. C. Andrews. So there was a lot of incest and coke sniffing ballet dancers…. It was a hot mess. I’m so, so glad the publishing house said no in the end.

Realms: You co-authored The Engelsfors Trilogy with Sara B. Elfgren. How did the two of you come up with the idea of the books and what made you decide to write it together?

Mats: Sara worked at a movie production company and she liked the two novels I had published by then. She asked for a meeting and I was really impressed. Nothing really came of the meeting but we instantly realized that we had a lot of common ground; we both loved really good teenage drama, for instance My So Called Life, Veronica Mars, Twin Peaks, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Freaks and Geeks. We also talked a lot about Curtis Sittenfeld’s novel Prep. We decided we should try to create something together, something about a group of teenagers in a small town with a lot of preconceived notions about each other, who are forced to get to know each other––and themselves––through some sort of mission or project. We had a lot of different ideas about what this project could be. When we realized that they could be witches, forced together to save the world, everything just fell into place. Creating this story was like putting everything we love about pop culture in a big blender. And, also, write the kind of books we really wanted to read ourselves, about characters we really loved.

Mats Strandberg, co-author of The Circle
Photo by: Magnus Liam Karlsson

Realms: What are some of the positive aspects of working with another author on a series and what are some of the challenges?

Mats: Well, there are many amazing things about being two authors. It could have gone horribly wrong, I suppose, but we were lucky. Ideas get twice as good in half the time. I loved reading Sara’s chapters, and I loved reading my own chapters after Sara had edited them. We both edited each other’s texts, over and over, until we couldn’t tell the difference anymore. It’s fun to have someone to play pretend with. We really spent most of our waking hours together in Engelsfors for five years. People often ask if we disagreed a lot, and of course we did. That’s the whole point of collaboration. When we really disagreed, it almost always turned out that none of our ideas were really that strong. That’s when we came up with totally new plot twists and stuff together, which often became our favorite parts of the books.

Realms: What appealed to you about writing from the point of view of YA characters?

Mats: A lot of things. High school itself is such a great arena. It’s a place where you are forced to spend day after day with people you have nothing in common with except being born in the same year. It was also really good therapy writing these books. I have really understood myself at that age so much better––and was able to forgive myself for a lot.

Realms: The books shift point of view between the six witches who make up the main characters, and a couple other characters, as well. What made you and Sara decide to tell the stories from multiple points of view, instead of one?

Mats: That was one of the most fun parts about writing. To play with the characters’ differences, their backgrounds and personalities, and their different views on everything that happens to the group. Also, with more characters, you can take more risks as an author. If you only have one POV, that character has to be relatable, understandable, and preferably likeable for as many readers as possible, which often makes the main character quite bland. I don’t know how many people would pick up a book that was told from only Anna-Karin’s or Vanessa’s POV. Here, the reader almost becomes a part of The Circle.

Realms: Out of the six witches, do you have a favorite?

Mats: I honestly don’t. It changes all the time. The mix of them was what I loved the most. For instance, after writing a lot about Minoo or Anna-Karin, who are very introverted and over-analyzing, it could feel like a relief to write about Vanessa, who is just as smart, but is more spontaneous and driven by instinct rather than logic.

RMV Film, started by Benny and Ludvig Andersson

Realms: Did the Swedish film adaptation of The Circle follow the plot of the book closely? Did you enjoy the film?

Mats: Yes! Sara wrote an amazing script with the director, Levan Akin. And we are both executive producers, so we were both very involved in, for instance, casting. Also, this is the first film made by RMV Film, a production company started by ABBA legend Benny Andersson and his son Ludvig, so they have been just as eager as us to make this film as awesome as possible. I’m so happy with the result. A lot of changes have been made, of course. But the film is so true to what’s important; the characters and their emotional journeys, and the core themes, like the importance of empathy.

Realms: Do you plan on writing or co-writing any more YA Fantasy books in the future?

Mats: I am sure I will! And Sara and I will definitely work together again.

Realms: What are you currently working on?

Mats: I am working on a non-YA horror novel that will be published in Sweden this fall. It is set on a cruise ship on the cold waters between Sweden and Finland, and it all happens within twelve hours at night. It’s a great setting for horror. You can’t get off the boat, and the phones don’t work….

Realms: Which author(s) influence you the most?

Mats: Probably Stephen King. I started reading him when I was ten, and he really made me fall in love with horror and fantasy, and putting it in a familiar every-day life.

Realms: Outside of the world of reading and writing, what is your favorite thing to do?

Mats: Hanging out with friends, really. Talking.

Realms: If there was the kind of magic in this world that is in storybooks, what would you want to be or be able to do?

Mats: I would love to be able to fly. I have dreamt of that ever since I saw my first Superman movie when I was a kid. If that doesn’t work, teleportation would be very practical, too.

The Circle is the first novel in the Engelsfors Trilogy, written by Mats Strandberg and Sara B. Elfgren. Six witches––Minoo, Vanessa, Linnéa, Anna-Karin, Rebecka, and Ida––are drawn together by an invisible force on the night of a blood-red moon. Though they are nothing alike, they must learn to work together to discover their powers, save the world, and survive high school.

For more information about the trilogy, visit the World of Engelsfors. You can follow Mats Strandberg on Tumblr, Twitter, and Instagram. Sara B. Elfgren can also be reached on Tumblr, Twitter, and Instagram. The Circle is available through The Overlook Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other bookstores.

What Makes Good Young Adult Fantasy?

The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins

Today, we wanted to explore what makes good Young Adult Fantasy. Sure, we all have our favorite stories, but what is it that hooks us, sucks us in, and pulls us along for the ride? The answer probably is different for everyone. We know we're drawn by strong characters. Characters who make us feel, so we want to root for them. That's what propels the story. For other readers, maybe the plot is more important. Who knows? Tell us in the comments below!
          First, we came across an article called "The 8 Habits of Highly Successful Young-Adult Fiction Authors." Most of the authors mentioned write contemporary fiction, but all of the points apply to fantasy, too. The first habit was, "Think like a Teen." Sound advice. In fact, we mentioned in last week's article, "Young Adult Fantasy vs. Adult Fantasy," that a key sign you're reading YA literature, is if the story is told through the perspective of a teen character. You have to put yourself in an adolescent's shoes.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown
by Holly Black

          We won't go into too much detail about the other article, because you can read it for yourselves, but the other seven points are: "Find the 'Emotional Truth' of the Teenage Experience," include "Pop Culture" references, "Get Input from Real Teenagers," be careful of using slang words (since teens' use of language changes about every four years), "Keep it Moving," don't be afraid to touch on dark subjects, and "Find the 'Kernel of Hope.'" This is all great advice to create a specific character, in a specific setting, and not being afraid to address questions that teens face.
          Some may disagree with us on this point, but we believe it is crucial for every YA story to have a hopeful ending. There needs to be a hope, because teens are at a point in their lives where they're preparing to face The Future, and they need a spark to keep them going, even in fantasy settings. The darkest YA stories have hope. The Hunger Games trilogy, by Suzanne Collins, ends with Katniss recovering, ever-so-slowly, from her traumas and beginning a new life. In Holly Black's The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, Tana didn't become a vampire, and she managed to lock herself up securely so that she could fight through the illness that leads to vampirism if you don't lock yourself up. She saved her sister, and she can be human again, or at least the hope of being human again. See what we mean?

The Amulet of Samarkand
by Jonathan Stroud

          Now we can address the fantasy aspect. What makes good fantasy? An author who has used world-building tools often creates the best and strongest fantasy worlds. The reader needs to learn about the world, and there are a few ways to do that. In urban fantasy, a common way to learn about the world is through the main character being thrown into a supernatural situation he or she didn't previously know about, and then learning the ropes from others or experience. In a setting where the main character already lives in the fantasy world, the reader has to learn about the world through interactions. In rare cases, like Christopher Paolini's Eragon or The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud, some authors use footnotes or glossaries to expand upon the world.
   
      This might seem an odd requirement, but hear us out: your fantasy story needs to be believable. What this means is readers need to think the world is plausible, and can immerse themselves within it because it's relatable, and understandable. Readers need to be able to imagine the world. If your story has magic, there needs to be a system, and if it's a post-apocalyptic world, the event that began it needs to make sense, and humanity's reaction to it needs to make sense.

The Tough Guide to Fantasyland
by Diana Wynne Jones

          The Harry Potter series is a fantastic example of world-building. J. K. Rowling took a setting that everyone could identify with (school, and all the regular problems of meeting new people and making friends), and flipped it into fantasy (a school of magic), and her system has rules, like not being allowed to use magic outside of school until your seventeenth birthday. Another example is Blood and Chocolate, by Annette Curtis Klause, where the main character has to deal with typical teenage issues with family and school, but her family consists of werewolves. The rule? Don't get close to humans.
          Honestly, we could talk forever about world-building. There are so many tips and strategies, but we're here to discuss why it makes good YA. If you really want to go in depth about creating an awesome fantasy world, read The Tough Guide to Fantasyland: The Essential Guide to Fantasy Travel by Diana Wynne Jones. You won't regret it.
          The best, most successful, and enjoyable YA Fantasy has well-rounded characters firmly grounded in the teenage mindset, a fast-paced story, an ending with hope, and a believable fantasy world. If you think we left out anything, comment below with what you think makes spectacular YA Fantasy.

Realms

Realms Review: 'Book of a Thousand Days'

What's more terrifying than death? Being locked away in a tower for seven years. Dashti, a maid to Lady Saren, is locked away with her mistress in a tower after Lady Saren refuses to marry a man she despises. Dashti is the protagonist in Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale, which is written in the form of a journal entry. Food begins to run low and they both suffer from extreme heat and cold. Lady Saren's two suitors come to them from time to time: one who is welcome and brings hope, and one who is downright terrifying.
          In the days to come, they will need to figure out why the guards of Lady Saren's kingdom have stopped coming, how they can escape, and if the hopeful suitor will help them. Hale's beautiful writing weaves this re-told fairy tale on the Asian Steppes with intrigue, suspense, love, and surprise. There is murder, distrust, disguise, and hope, but who can Dashti and Lady Saren trust?
          At Realms, we give this story five out of five stars for its ability to take an old story and transform it into something original, its strong protagonist (and characters, overall), lovely world-building, and the thrills of the built-up suspense. You will not be able to put it down. Your opinions of characters will change in between the beginning and the end. You will want Dashti to have her happy ending, but will she obtain it? Read the highly recommended Book of a Thousand Days by master storyteller Shannon Hale to find out.