The Third Kingdom

 Should there be religion in a fantasy story? This, as with most elements of a fantasy story, is strictly up to the author. There are risks associated with adding religion, but there can also be a risk in omitting it. I, for one, believe it should be included. In a fantasy novel, there are many key elements that make up the story. Two of these are the world and the people who inhabit that world. I believe it is obvious that in a fantasy story, most certainly an epic fantasy, the worldbuilding is of the highest importance, second only to the characters. The world must be real, must be consistent within its own lore, and it must feel lived in. This should include a faith or religion of some kind. Most fantasy novels that I have read contain some type of religion or faith system. These range widely depending on the novel. In his ‘Narnia’ novels, C.S. Lewis had a very definite Christian perspective and set within a world that was most certainly fantasy. In her ‘Crescent City’ novel...

Should an author include spice (sex) in a fantasy novel? If it is a romantasy, a certain level of spice is not only considered acceptable, but is often expected. In a more traditional fantasy tale, the question of including spice is a subject of great debate. First, let's define exactly what we are calling spice and how it is rated. A spice rating system began on social media platforms such as BookTok, Instagram and book blogs. The system used peppers and rated the spice levels from one to five chili peppers. This proved so popular and efficient that it has been adopted by the industry and now provides clear expectations for readers. The scale below is an example of such a spice scale.   Obviously, there is no single right answer that will satisfy everyone. There are a good many people who are considered ‘advocates for closed-door fantasy.’ These readers argue that the core elements of modern fantasy as defined by authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis leave no place f...