Latest news with #fantasy
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
So You Wanna Fall In Love With A Warrior Elf? 10 BookTok Romantasy Reads That Will Ruin Your Sleep Schedule In The Best Way
If you're even mildly online, chances are you've heard whispers of the ✨ romantasy✨ genre; the magical literary genre that blends fantasy and romance together and has BookTok in a literal chokehold. Related: If you're into… ✨ Magic and slow-burn romance 🔥 Tension so thick it's practically fanfiction 🧝♂️ Broody fae men and badass heroines 📖 Plot twists that emotionally wreck you …then you're so ready to be part of the Romantasy Cult. Just make sure you hydrate. And maybe call in sick tomorrow — you're not putting these books down. 1. From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout ✨ "Nothing is ever simple when the gods are watching." ✨ This is the book that launched a thousand obsessions. Poppy is a badass heroine sworn to a sacred destiny, until a smirking golden-eyed guard ruins everything. Expect: deadly secrets, enemies-to-lovers tension, and one hell of a plot twist. Perfect for fans of steamy slow-burns and morally gray men. 2. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas 🧚 Beauty and the Beast meets 1000+ fan theories and wingspans. 🧚 If you're on BookTok, you know that this is just the start of everyone's romantasy journey. Feyre is a mortal huntress dragged into the fae lands, and that's just the beginning. This series has everything: epic romance, ancient curses, court politics, and "the mating bond." Once you meet Rhysand, it's over for you. (Honestly, anything written by Sarah J. Maas will become an obsession and key part of your personality...I don't make the rules. 🤷♀️) Related: 3. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros 🐉 Think Hunger Games meets spicy dragon school. 🐉 If you've ever wanted to ride dragons while navigating deadly exams, secret powers, and off-limits lovers, this is your book. Violet may not be physically built like a warrior, but she's no damsel, and her enemies? Yeah, they might be her only shot at surviving. 4. The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen 🗡️ A princess assassin forced to marry the enemy king. What could go wrong? 🗡️ This one is for the "stab him, then kiss him" folks. Lara is trained to destroy the man she's forced to marry, but the longer she spends with him, the more she questions everything. Expect slow-burn, political intrigue, and intense emotional payoff. 5. Radiance by Grace Draven 👑 An arranged marriage between a human and a monstrous fae prince…with zero insta-love. 👑 This underrated gem is soft, slow, and swoony. Ildiko and Brishen aren't beautiful (or even really nice) to each first. But their respect, banter, and trust build one of the most wholesome (and still hot!) love stories in romantasy. Related: 6. Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin 🧙♀️ A witch and a witch hunter are forced to marry. Cue the chaos. 🧙♀️ Lou is chaotic and sassy; Reid is stiff and serious. Watching them clash (and then burn) is half the fun. If you like morally complex worlds with forbidden romance, magic, and cinnamon-roll-turned-problematic men, grab this. 7. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black 🖤 Welcome to Elfhame, where lies are currency and love is war. 🖤 Jude Duarte is a human raised in the cruel fae court, and she's out for power. Cardan is the arrogant, hateful prince who can't stop watching her. It's toxic. It's soooo BookTok. And it' 8. The Savage Lands series by Stacey Marie Brown 🌶️ If you like the ACOTAR vibe but grittier and steamier, this one's for you. 🌶️ It's set in a post-war world where fae rule and humans are barely surviving. Brexley (yes, icon name) is thrown into a deadly prison where survival means making alliances, especially with the dangerously beautiful fae warrior who might be her enemy…or her only shot at freedom. Related: 9. The Crowns of Nyaxia series by Carissa Broadbent 🧛♀️ Hunger Games meets vampire court meets epic love story. 🧛♀️ (Clearly, I love the Hunger Games a bit too much.) Oraya is a human adopted by the vampire god of death, and now she has to fight to survive the Kejari, a brutal tournament full of monsters, politics, and betrayal. Enter: a mysterious rival with secrets and sharp teeth. The tension? Unmatched. 10. The Married to Magic series by Elise Kova 🧝♂️ Fantasy marriage of convenience, soft cinnamon roll magic warrior elf king, and cozy romance vibes. 🧝♂️ Each book in this series is a standalone with a fresh couple and setting, but they're all connected by a magical world and super romantic plots. In A Deal With the Elf King, a human girl is taken to the fae realm as the next "Human Queen," and her icy elf king husband is not ready to fall in love…until he very much does. BONUS: If You're Craving Something Spicier… The Plated Prisoner series by Raven Kennedy (Gilded cage, broken girl, glowing gold king. Trauma healing, but make it sexy.) Zodiac Academy by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti (Messy, magical college and enemies-to-lovers chaos.) Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco (A vengeful witch and one of the seven princes of Hell. Literally.) What other romantasy books would you add to the list? Let me know in the comments! Also in Community: Also in Community: Also in Community:
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick: ‘With picture books, I'm ruthless, and that has carried over into my novel'
What is your new book The Museum of Lost Umbrellas about? It's an adventure story for nine to 12-year-olds, set on the imaginary island of Ollipest, where Dilly Kyteler goes to live in a rather odd house with her rather odd aunt. The magic begins when Dilly discovers the Museum of Lost Umbrellas on Half Moon Lane, and one of the lost umbrellas leaps into her arms. It's the first of a fantasy series. What challenges does that pose and how far ahead have you planned? The book involved world-building, which is new for me. I had to think through each choice and invention because everything has to make sense across multiple books, plus allow for expansion. The second book is in the works, and there are three further ideas, two of which are prequels. READ MORE It's a return to middle grade (MG) fiction after a 12-year gap in which you've written two young adult (YA) novels. How would you compare the challenges and rewards of writing for the two different age groups? Both require solid, propulsive storytelling; but I think middle grade is more story-led, while young adult is character-led. I usually write MG in third person and YA in first. The challenge is switching my head from one to the other; the reward is variety! You are both a writer and illustrator. Does it feel like using different parts of your brain or do the two overlap? When you have an idea, is it usually an image or words? With picture book ideas, images and words arrive more or less together. When drawing or painting, I listen to podcasts or the radio to dial back interference from the word-side of my head. The radio is off when I'm drafting a novel – I even find reading other voices in my spare time distracting. The overlap between my picture books and novels is that my novels are very visual – readers say they see them unroll like movies. [ The best books for summer 2025: our critics' top picks Opens in new window ] Are there common themes in your books? How has your writing and drawing style evolved? Overcoming fear is my most repeated theme, feeling like the outsider is another – fairly common experiences in books and life. My tic is giving my main character an unusual name. I keep thinking I've stopped doing it and up it pops again! Style-wise, I push at my own edges quite a bit, challenging myself to try new things. Hagwitch was the Children's Book of the Year in Ireland in 2014. What was it about? Hagwitch is a novel with a dual narrative, one story set in the theatres of Tudor London, the other set on a puppet barge in modern day Little Venice. Both involve a chunk of Hawthorn wood inhabited by a malevolent spirit. Tell us about your debut YA novel, On Midnight Beach, which was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. It's a retelling of The Táin. I reimagined the legend as a quarrel between two fishing villages over a visiting dolphin and set my story in the sweltering summer of '76. Think CúChulainn, Maebh, Emer and Fergus in bell-bottoms, T-shirts, and clogs. What have been your career highlights? The Children's Books Ireland (CBI) awards, the Carnegie shortlisting, being Ireland's nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen and Astrid Lindgren Awards. Stomp-dancing around a fire in the woods with Choctaw and Chickasaw families in Oklahoma while researching The Long March. Working with the legendary New York picture book editor, Neal Porter. Seeing my books in other languages. Which projects are you working on? Right now, it's all things Cloud Witch Chronicles, though there's a YA novel lurking. Have you ever made a literary pilgrimage? Yes, to visit the Alcott house in Concord, Massachusetts. It's right on the edge of a busy road but the minute you step through the door, you're inside Little Women. What is the best writing advice you have heard? Kill your darlings. With picture books, I'm ruthless, and that has carried over into my novels. Words, sentences, paragraphs, chapters, characters – if they're in the way, out they go, no regrets. I cut an entire storyline from On Midnight Beach, 15,000 words in fifteen minutes. It's so satisfying to see everything tighten up. Who do you admire the most? Writers? Elizabeth Strout, David Almond, Meg Rosoff, John LeCarré, Kate DiCamillo. Which current book, film and podcast would you recommend? The Country of Others by Leïla Slimani; Past Lives. I'm a Brené Brown fan. Which public event affected you most? In the past, 9/11. Today, the annihilation of Gaza. The most remarkable place you have visited? Australia, with its astonishing wildlife. I saw mudskippers, dingoes, bowerbirds, bandicoots, flying-foxes, thorny-devils, stinging trees, and nearly collided with a cassowary. Your most treasured possession? A tiny handmade book on a chain. It's filled with minute drawings by children's illustrators I've met. What is the most beautiful book that you own? I own a lot of picturebooks ... one of Shaun Tan's maybe, Isabelle Arsenault's or Sydney Smith's. Which writers, living or dead, would you invite to your dream dinner party? Rosemary Sutcliff, Kate DiCamillo, Anne Frank, Louisa (and May) Alcott, George Eliot, Arthur Ransome, Diana Wynne Jones. Who is your favourite fictional character? Jo (and Amy) March. A book to make me laugh? The Book With No Pictures by BJ Novak. A book that might move me to tears? A Song for Ella Grey by David Almond. The Museum of Lost Umbrellas is published by Faber & Faber on July 31st.
Geek Tyrant
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Cailee Spaeny Reportedly in Talks for ELDEN RING Movie, Could She Be Playing Marika? — GeekTyrant
The world of Elden Ring is heading to the big screen, and it looks like A24 may have found its first major female star. According to insider Jeff Sneider, Alien: Romulus star Cailee Spaeny is in talks to join the highly anticipated film adaptation of FromSoftware's critically acclaimed game. If a deal comes through, she would join an impressive cast that reportedly includes Kit Connor and Ben Whishaw, signaling that A24 and co-producer Bandai Namco are pulling out all the stops to bring this massive fantasy universe to life. The movie is being directed by Alex Garland, a self-professed fan of Elden Ring . Garland's involvement has fueled excitement, but the addition of Spaeny would make this project even more interesting. The actress has had a rise in recent years, winning the Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival and earning a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in Priscilla . She also headlined Alien: Romulus and starred in Garland's acclaimed 2024 film Civil War and the FX sci-fi series Devs . If this casting happens, it marks another big collaboration between the two. Alongside Garland in the director's chair, the film is being produced by Avi and Ari Arad , DNA Films' Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich, and Peter Rice. Then there's George R. R. Martin, who co-created the game's lore. He is attached as a producer and has publicly praised Garland's involvement. The biggest challenge is adapting Elden Ring 's sprawling, nonlinear narrative, which players uncover through exploration and cryptic lore rather than a traditional plot. So, who could Spaeny play? The fan speculation is already running wild. The most obvious candidate is Queen Marika the Eternal, the godlike ruler whose shattering of the Elden Ring kicks off the game's entire mythos. Marika's presence looms over the Lands Between, making her an essential figure in any adaptation. Other interesting options include Melina, the enigmatic maiden who guides players, or Ranni the Witch, a fan-favorite character tied to some of the game's most pivotal events. And then let's not forget Malenia, Blade of Miquella, the undefeated warrior and arguably the most iconic boss fight in the game. Of course, the movie probably won't follow the player's journey beat for beat. Given Garland's storytelling style, the film will likely zero in on a specific event from the game's history, maybe it will tell the story of Vyke the Dragonspear. It a really strong story, and if you're not familiar with it, you can read all about it here. It's the kind of tragic story arc is tailor-made for Garland's storytelling style. For now, everything remains under wraps, but the Elden Ring film is shaping up to be a massive, ambitious project with serious talent behind it.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Netflix drama review: The Sandman season 2 volume 2 – premature end to a great adaptation
4/5 stars Season two of Netflix's The Sandman comes to its tragic conclusion, with the last five episodes that dropped on the streaming platform on July 24 detailing the fate of Dream (Tom Sturridge), Lord of The Endless. In these final chapters, it is more apparent than ever that the show, adapted from Neil Gaiman's fantasy comic book series , is wrapping things up in an unexpectedly hurried fashion. An 11th bonus episode is scheduled for July 31, but the dramatic denouement of The Sandman unfolds here. Season one , which premiered in 2022 and covered roughly the first quarter of the comic book series, followed Dream as he escapes from decades of wrongful imprisonment and sets about restoring order to his otherworldly realm, The Dreaming. Play At that pace, showrunners David S. Goyer, Allan Heinberg and Gaiman would need at least four seasons to do justice to all 75 issues of The Sandman.
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Debut Author X.K. Westwood Redefines Belonging in Powerful New Fantasy, The Sibyl's Ember
STERLING HEIGHTS, MI, UNITED STATES, July 23, 2025 / / -- What if belonging isn't granted but chosen—deliberately, courageously, and often quietly? That's the central question in The Sibyl's Ember, the debut fantasy novel by X.K. Westwood, releasing soon. Set in the tradition-bound village of Oswynn, the novel follows Soltic Arden, a young man expected to serve in silence. But one act of defiance propels him into a forbidden world—where belief is dangerous, freedom is costly, and truth has a heartbeat. At its core, The Sibyl's Ember isn't just fantasy. It's an emotional journey through secrecy, longing, and the relentless need to be seen. Layered with ancient rituals, lost gods, and whispered names, the story pulses with deeply human themes of identity, faith, and self-worth. 'I wrote this from a place of remembering,' Westwood shares. 'Of wanting more than what you were told you deserved—and holding onto tenderness even when it wasn't safe to.' Westwood's personal journey—from rural Michigan to the bright lights of New York and back—shapes this novel's authentic exploration of chosen family, spiritual resilience, and emotional survival. This is a story for the quiet rebels—for those who've never been handed a seat at the table but pulled up a chair anyway. For those who speak softly and carry fire. About the Author X.K. Westwood (he/him) is a queer author and worldbuilder who crafts stories for those living in the margins—where memory, myth, faith, and doubt intersect. His writing celebrates tenderness, resistance, and radical imagination. When not writing, he can be found by the sea, dreaming of better worlds for those who never quite fit into the ones they were given. email us here X.K. Westwood X.K. Westwood Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
