How The Scholars of Elandria is Different From Other Fantasy Series

I often tell people that The Sage’s Consort and subsequent books aren’t your typical fantasy novels. I also like to say that they are “fantasy for non-fantasy readers” or “gateway fantasy.” But what does all that really mean?

Well, for one thing, the books are short. Fantasy usually comes in right around 90,000 to 100,000 words. All three of the Scholars of Elandria books sit right around 65,000 words, give or take a couple thousand. 

I tried hard to get these books up to genre standard. Fantasy usually has long exposition about the world, but it just didn’t fit for these books. If it didn’t advance the plot, I didn’t feel like it belonged.

See, I consider my fantasy novels to be character studies and social commentary. Sure, there’s magic in an alternative world, and the magic is cool. There’s a wider external plot about the clash between magical and nonmagical peoples in Elandria. But at the end of the day, my books are about the characters and the themes.

The Sage’s Consort is equal parts an adult coming-of-age story, a journey of self-acceptance, and a romance between two very emotionally messy people. The Consort’s Journey goes further into the social commentary, but it’s mostly about Quinn moving past accepting himself and into embracing himself. It’s also about Amarice being pushed to her limits and discovering who she is and isn’t as a leader.

The Sage’s War follows Quinn, Amarice, and Raymond equally. Quinn is comfortable with himself, but he learns to push his magic to new heights. Raymond is in a position of power he never wanted, and he’s lonely. He gets a love story, though! And Amarice finally breaks. She’s been strong and a leader her entire life. She’s never confronted her inner demons, so we come face to face with her emotional wound.  

My books are about emotions. Rather than give you endless paragraphs on magic systems and architecture and history, I want you to feel what my characters feel. I want you to become invested in them and relate to them, perhaps even learn from them.

I no longer stress about how thin my books are compared to others in my genre. Honestly, a lot of fantasy series feel like major commitments. I want my books to reach the people who need them, even if they don’t have a lot of time. 

Oh, and there’s sex. So, that’s different from a lot of fantasy.

Sound like a series you could sink your teeth into? Buy copies here.

~Krystal