Last week, I made an Instagram post highlighting how my fantasy romance books are a bit different than what you typically see in this subgenre. I know that not writing to genre conventions means I will alienate some readers. But at the same time, I know my taste in books isn’t unique.
Here are six reasons why my fantasy romance series, Arcane Pursuits, might not be for you—or, why it might be exactly what you’re looking for.
1. The characters are older
Raise your hand if you’re over a certain age and are finding it hard to relate to all the 20-something fantasy romance protagonists. Some lucky people can mentally “age up” the characters and ignore all evidence to the contrary, but I’ve never been one of those people. Making characters older in your own head-canon only goes so far when they wouldn’t sound out of place on a college campus—and I don’t mean at the front of the classroom.
There are definitely fantasy romance books that put older adults front and center. T. Kingfisher, for example, regularly writes protagonists in their 30s, 40s, or even older. After reading many of the books that are already out there, I decided to start filling the void myself. Because, despite what some might think, life doesn’t end the moment you turn 30. (Speaking for myself, some of my major milestones have happened in my 30s: going to graduate school, getting married, returning to writing regularly again.) My characters are older than your typical fantasy romance protagonists, but they’re still capable of finding love and adventure!
2. The MMC’s are unconventional
Fantasy romance books have no shortage of tall, muscular, assertive male main characters. Bonus points if they’re racially ambiguous and have shadow magic. There’s nothing inherently wrong with these male leads; they’ve simply become overdone, in my opinion. Men who don’t fit that mold deserve love, too!
Take Alain, the male lead of A Tower of Half-Truths. He’s pale, vertically challenged, and at one point described as “more bone than muscle.” (Let’s be honest, a guy who spends his days sitting around and reading isn’t going to have six-pack abs—even with magic!) And he’s the opposite of suave: he’s accident-prone, scatterbrained, and often winds up with his foot in his mouth. But he’s no less a man than his brawny and charismatic counterparts; he just represents a different kind of masculinity.
3. Everyone is gay
Well, not everyone. And I’m using the broader definition of “gay.”
Humans are complex creatures, and my main and side characters alike fall across the spectrum of sexual orientations and gender identities. A Tower of Half-Truths features a bi-for-bi couple, a nonbinary side character (whose gender identity is intrinsic to their faith), and many wizards who are implied to be aro ace. Though the terms bisexual, nonbinary and aro ace never appear in the text, the world of Perrun is still an overall queer-friendly place.
Even my straight-presenting couples don’t often stick to traditional gender roles. As a writer, that means I get to explore all the different ways people can complement one another in their relationships, and in ways we don’t always see represented in books.
4. It’s not Medieval Times
My books are set in a gaslamp fantasy world, which means it’s loosely based on the late Victorian/early Edwardian era. Strong emphasis on loosely. Though I did some research, it isn’t meant to be a one-to-one representation of real-life Victorian England. There are trains, stagecoaches, and (naturally) gaslamps. But much of this technology is powered by magic.
Just like with teenaged heroes and macho male love interests, there’s no shortage of fantasy worlds based on Medieval Europe. (Or, more specifically, England circa 1300 AD.) Instead of knights and courts, I’m more interested exploring how old magic and modern industry can coexist—and work together. That’s something I plan to explore even further in the sequel to A Tower of Half-Truths.
5. The stakes are lower
I don’t write about Chosen Ones destined to save the world. While wars, rebellions, and political intrigue are happening in the background, my characters’ struggles are more personal. In A Tower of Half-Truths, Alain is trying to save his academic career while Mavery is simply trying to make ends meet.
Be warned: although these are relatively low-stakes books, I wouldn’t necessarily describe them as “cozy.” I’m just writing about ordinary people with jobs/lives that aren’t typically represented in fantasy books. That means my characters will still face violence, injustice, and mental trauma, as they would in the real world.
6. There’s a hard magic system
It has rules and limitations, and it’s relevant to the plot!
I’ll be the first to admit I’m not reinventing the wheel here. If you’ve read high fantasy or played D&D, it should feel somewhat familiar. In fact, many elements were borrowed from Western RPG’s. I first got the idea of magical Schools—and being able to learn spells from all of them, rather than being limited to a specific type of magic—from playing the Elder Scrolls games. Concepts like spell components and areas of effect were lifted straight from D&D. Like I said, it’s nothing new; I’m just putting my own spin on it. But my books will always include an appendix, just in case you need it!
I’m taking some risks with the Arcane Pursuits series. But if all of the above sounds like your perfect fantasy romance, you could be my ideal reader! 😉
Book one is out now. Its follow-up will be out in 2026. (At this time, I’m making no promises about a month, or even a season.) And this two-book arc is only the beginning. Future installments will feature familiar faces and brand-new couples, all across the world of Perrun.
N.J. Prynne 
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