Romantasy suggestions please!

[osirista]

Am organising a reading retreat for next summer and would love to invite a UK romantasy author- all the ’big’ names seem to be US. I’m not as up on Romantasy as I’d like to be. Any suggestions for UK Romantasy authors very welcome!

Most of them do indeed seem to be American.
You could look at MA Kuzniar, Alexandra Bell or Alexandra Christo - I believe they're all UK based.
Samantha Shannon is also British but is more high fantasy than romance. Ditto Jen Williams.
Another author I rate is Beth Cartwright, she is English, she writes beautifully, but again, she's not precisely within the genre of romantasy in the sense of Sarah Maas or other US authors.

If I think of any others I'll add them here.

Tell me more about the retreats @osirista - my kids have just flown the nest, and it’s such a strange mix of freedom and emptiness. I’ve realised what I really need right now is time just for me, with no one else to look after. A reading retreat feels like exactly the kind of escape I’m craving — quiet, books, fresh surroundings, and space to just be. Is this what you offer? Have you a link or more details

I would also like to know about a reading retreat!

Thank you- I’ve just remembered that I have an author friend in common with Jen Williams! Will get on to her ASAP! Can I ask your (vague! ) age range please?! Do you think I should be aiming Romantasy retreats at people in their 20’s and 30’s (judging by the people queuing for Sarah Maas!)?

will definitely check out Beth Cartwright

Not sure if this is allowed- but here we are. Happy to DM if this is taken down or if you’d like further details. The Romantasy retreat would be next autumn half term. Not sure if it’s on the site yet but we have also Gillian McAllister and another fabulous thriller writer signed up to come to one of the June retreats

https://www.naxoscreative.com/escape-into-literature-2

Gillian McAllister is one of my absolute favourites at the moment — especially loving Wrong Place Wrong Time. I think you've inspired me... I might just go have a browse and see if I can gently persuade DH to book an archeological tour or something while I sneak off on a reading retreat.

@Winterdaffodilsam dying to add who she’s coming with (one of my favourite thriller writers!) but will have to wait…aaargh!

Oh god, I'm ancient. I'm 61, but I'm a lifelong fantasy reader, addicted to YA fantasy & romantasy. It's not something you ever grow out of. And I know loads of women my age reading Sarah Maas and Leigh Bardugo.

It will be the young pretty ones that plaster their photos all over social media and hashtag "bookstagram". They're the ones that like freebies and ARC's.
But you'll find that it's women in their fifties and sixties that are more likely to sign up for reading retreats. We are the ones with the time and the income and the focus for deep discussion.

Restrict yourself to your younger age group if that is your preference, but you'll find that us oldies have a wealth of reading experience when it comes to fantasy. We grew up on Ursula le Guin and Anne McCaffrey, we were in it at the start, before romantasy was even a word.

This thread has really got me thinking — now that the children have left home, I finally feel like I have the mental space to start that novel I’ve been promising myself for years. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, but life just kept getting in the way.
I’m now seriously considering a retreat — not just for reading, but ideally one that supports writing too. A change of scene, some quiet, and a bit of creative focus sounds like exactly what I need. Are any of you doing something similar, or can anyone recommend a retreat that caters to writers?

Hello soul sister and fellow Ursula reader! We’re the same age! Love that you love fantasy . Ages range on our retreats but we don’t have as many young booktokkers as we thought we’d get - think they’re all busy working or have v young kids.

Funny you should say that Winterdaffs - DM me! I might have something right up your street!

Absolutely agree with this - romantasy is not just confined to ‘young people’ and us older SFF readers enjoy it too. The genre name is recent but it’s existed for longer than that! Plus I would expect that it’s the older age group that have the free time and the money to afford a retreat. I’m in my late 40s and it sounds great, but I doubt I’d have the cash this year.

In terms of UK romantasy authors, how about Stephanie Burgis? She’s American but based in Wales. She’s written regency-inspired fantasy (Jane Austen with dragons, basically) and her latest book, Wooing The Witch Queen, would fit the romantasy description (I haven’t read it yet, but it looks very entertaining).

Sarah Rees Brennan’s latest book (Long Live Evil )could fit into the romantasy genre, but I haven’t read it yet. She’s Irish.

It’s quite hard to think of UK authors as the big hitters seem to be from the US. If I think of any more, I’ll add them to the thread.

Thank you Ellie! Come next year!

Oh another one - timeslip author - sort of history/fantasy/witchery, would be Paula Brackston. Again, perhaps not quite the romantasy genre, but maybe worth bearing in mind for future options/retreats for readers/writers.

Do you think people would appreciate 2 Romantasy authors on the retreat or should we have one Romantasy author and another genre - either similar (fantasy/SFF) or different (romcom, bookclub)?

Personally, I'd say the most interesting would be one that's strictly romantasy and a crossover fantasy genre, which is where someone like Beth Cartwright or Paula Brackston might fit in. Or even Genevieve Cogman, whose books have a steampunk feel. They're all fantasy with a twist. There are also Viking type timeslip romances that might be another option; Christina Courtenay is one author who springs to mind.

As regards romcom, unless it was historical based rather than contemporary, then for me, that would be veering a little too far towards what used to be termed chicklit, which is a different genre with an altogether different readership.

(FWIW, although I am interested, I probably wouldn't be attending anyway, because of my dogs)

Cheeky request - is there a discount code for Mumnetters?

As an ancient and longstanding mumsnetter (ask me anything!) I should jolly well think so! DM!