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Original poster

Adult fantasy books

46 replies

LuciferRising · 14/08/2023 17:22

There is a thread running about recommendations for adult fantasy.

I'm attempting to write one and have around 140k or words that I am now editing. So I have my story and it is in need of a trim and a huge amount of editing.

What I'd like to know is what other people like from adult fantasy. Or do not like. My MC is a woman around 40. She has flaws and she remains very much human. There are a few scenes I will cut. I don't like the overly gratuitous sex scenes in YA fantasy and the few ones I do have will likely go - or I'll make them more subtle (than they already are). I also need to make it less tropey somehow.

What do you like or do not like?

OP posts:
SweetPetrichor · 14/08/2023 17:50

Personally, I only pick up books with a male lead/characters cause I live a female life everyday, but I get that’s my particular quirk.
I like history in my fantasy - so often you get a book of tropes that feels like a stapled together standard fantasy. I love the background that makes the setting ‘real’. I think the world building is so important in fantasy.

ASGIRC · 14/08/2023 17:59

I like fleshed out worlds.
I dont necessarily have a favourite "type", but the world needs to be interesting, to make me interested.

MargaretThursday · 14/08/2023 18:08

Plausibility and continuity are the two things that I really want.

Especially hate when something is not mentioned until it's needed and suddenly they discover/knew all along that they could do it.
So in chapter 50 you suddenly discover the creatures can not just fly but carry humans on their backs, and are prepared to fight like that, when for the rest of the book they're described as crawling all the time.

Too much telling, particularly when it's not backed up by the showing-don't tell me they're horribly violent and then have them treating the prisoners to story time with wine round the fire.

And on the same front: Too much violence. I don't need a description that turns my stomach.

Although I quite like the stories that are almost entirely about world building and feeling a place that really exists rather than the war of the worlds being planned.

Original poster
LuciferRising · 14/08/2023 18:20

Fleshed out world - I am struggling with this within one book. I do have a second planned but I'm finding it hard to get that balance. When I have all the scenes I want, I plan to go back and paint in the little details of the world and the characters.

Male MC - second MC is male and the antagonist (but not the villain), and I have a few POV scenes for him.

I like character driven rather than plot.

OP posts:
Kpo58 · 14/08/2023 18:51

Is it "adult" fantasy books or fantasy books aimed at adults that you are writing?

Original poster
LuciferRising · 14/08/2023 18:52

Aimed at adults!

OP posts:
Speckson · 14/08/2023 19:00

I really dislike a female heroine that is a "Mary Sue".
As a woman I generally prefer a male lead too, just as I always play a male character in computer games if possible - my idea of good fantasy is much like @SweetPetrichor

Tumbleweed101 · 14/08/2023 19:20

Can you give us a blurb so we have an idea of what your novel is about?

Nemesias · 14/08/2023 19:27

I don’t like sex scenes - I find them really cringey! I don’t want to imagine the author having sex and that’s really what that is all about. I also don’t really like when the author uses bad fanfic names like T’amaril Hvorathe or you know - names like that. Robin Hobb is my favourite fantasy writer

Luckydog7 · 14/08/2023 19:36

Yes, sex scenes if any should be understated.

Main character needs flaws either/or/both things that she grows out of or things that she needs to live with. Needs to have significant failures in the story that change the course of the plot.

Consistent personality both mc and side characters. Any changes need to be justified.

I look for an original setting/magic system explained concisely and yes, demonstrated (show) rather then explained (tell) as exposition. Indeed any exposition should be brief and sprinkled into the story as the mc explores it.

I'm about 40k words into my own fantasy novel so very interested in your concept. I wish I was brave enough to let anyone read mine.

Luckydog7 · 14/08/2023 19:38

Op have you listened to any writing lectures/attended a course? I found brandon sandersons lecture series very practical and interesting. Its on you tube.

Original poster
LuciferRising · 14/08/2023 20:17

Robin Hobb is my favourite author.

I've read numerous books on writing, immersed in several forums (I found these the best to learn from), and watched a lot of YouTube videos - referenced from the forums.

I need to come up with a blurb because my close friends and family keep asking (two years in so far - hard with work).

Essentially, set post catastrophic event sending what remains of human kind back to the middle ages, and the discovery of a mythical realm which has the resources needed for the FMC realm to survive. The theme focuses on choices, ownership of outcomes, what can be sacrificed to gain what you need, and power - but not simply physical (or magical).

OP posts:
Original poster
LuciferRising · 14/08/2023 20:25

wish I was brave enough to let anyone read mine.

On one of the forums you can paste a paragraph to get feedback, or a chapter - they have info on there about what it means regarding publishing.

I need to find beta readers once I've got it sorted. It's not going to be great. It's my first one so I'll settle for OK!

OP posts:
ImDoingThisNow · 14/08/2023 20:33

Don’t like sex scenes. Generally find most relationships boring.

Can't stand ‘empowering' female leads. I don’t like being preached at. I don’t want role models in books.

I want fantasy and magic that’s 'real' and that makes sense.

Don't like 'gritty' as it usually comes across as too try hard.

ImDoingThisNow · 14/08/2023 20:34

I like world building and story.

Neverknowinglysensible · 14/08/2023 21:00

I really dislike trophes E.g.
Book 1: the hero/ine has always been an outsider; goes to school/new environment; falls foul of the popular crowd, but makes (generally two, one male, one female) supportive friends; struggles but, by dint of much effort/natural talent that just appears, succeeds.
Book 2: At the top of the world, but then the cracks appear… .supportive friends either turn against hero or sacrifice selves for hero who is, at that time, ungrateful. Much angst. Hit rock bottom.
Book 3: (WHY is so much fantasy in trilogies?) Growth. Clawing ones’s way back up. Happy ending. Unless of course, you want to springboard the next trilogy!

What I do like, really consistent world building with a sense of history. Some humour/realism, sympathetic characters without being all perfect, well drawn secondary characters.
Good luck OP, I love writing but haven’t the guts to go for it properly. Hope you succeed!

BibbleandSqwauk · 14/08/2023 21:22

I'd agree about staying away from tropes and archetypes...the wise old man, the young hero, the slightly pathetic girl that discovers her powers, the cynical wisecracking sidekicks / thief, the burly warrior who's a little bit dim. If you read a lot of fantasy they become v irritating and instantly recognisable.

MoreThanEnoughSoFar · 14/08/2023 21:38

I don't like the overly gratuitous sex scenes in YA fantasy
I'm a bit confused... are you describing YA fantasy? Explicit sex scenes in YA are extremely rare, since the readers are from 12+.

What I'd like to know is what other people like from adult fantasy. Or do not like.
I find that I will gladly read even the most used tropes if it is well written. I don't mind the orphan with magic, the assassin with a heart or the Gandalfesque wizard as long as the writer a) writes a good story and b) avoids to force everyday politics into the plot. No matter what you are (left/right) it rarely makes a good read.

it is in need of a trim and a huge amount of editing.
My advice is: if you have a sentence with three adjectives, cut the two of them. Writers tend to fall in love with their own descriptions, but as a reader I find that less is more.

Crispynoodle · 14/08/2023 21:46

LuciferRising · 14/08/2023 20:17

Robin Hobb is my favourite author.

I've read numerous books on writing, immersed in several forums (I found these the best to learn from), and watched a lot of YouTube videos - referenced from the forums.

I need to come up with a blurb because my close friends and family keep asking (two years in so far - hard with work).

Essentially, set post catastrophic event sending what remains of human kind back to the middle ages, and the discovery of a mythical realm which has the resources needed for the FMC realm to survive. The theme focuses on choices, ownership of outcomes, what can be sacrificed to gain what you need, and power - but not simply physical (or magical).

Sounds right up my street! I also do not like sex scenes

Original poster
LuciferRising · 14/08/2023 21:46

I'm a bit confused... are you describing YA fantasy? Explicit sex scenes in YA are extremely rare, since the readers are from 12+.

What would you class From Blood and Ash or ACOTAR as? They don't feel fully adult to me and it is in fact the sex scenes which makes me think that.

OP posts:
Sewannoying · 14/08/2023 21:48

While I like a bit of romance, I strongly dislike fantasy stories that are just about two people getting together (or worse, merely a vehicle for sex scenes).

I have to say, having read your explanation of your themes, I’m not sure what your story is about. You need a strong hook for someone to think about buying your book, because there are so many books on the market.

FeigningConcern · 14/08/2023 21:54

I don't like adult fantasy (well not the kind you are talking about anyway 😂). Mainly because with all the weird names and weird places and usually too many characters (with weird names) and over-complicated plots (they often come with a map and a bloody index of characters/places/timeline etc ffs) they are way too difficult to follow.

If you avoid that it'd make them more accessible to the easily confused.

Catsmere · 14/08/2023 21:58

My preference in adult fantasy can be summed up by one word these days: Discworld. :)

Purpleavocado · 14/08/2023 21:58

I hate Mary Sue characters, and I'm not keen on the chosen one trope.
I like a good plot with good pacing and decent world building

MoreThanEnoughSoFar · 14/08/2023 22:01

What would you class From Blood and Ash or ACOTAR as? They don't feel fully adult to me and it is in fact the sex scenes which makes me think that.

I see your point. From Blood and Ash started out as YA, but I think the later books are meant for her readers becoming more mature, so they are now considered New Adult. Sarah Maas is technically YA, but again probably for readers 18+. I write YA, and I find my young betareaders are more interested in emotion than explicit acts.

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