by Melle Amade
One of the reasons why we choose fantasy romance instead of contemporary romance is because of the excitement of the fantasy world. There’s nothing I like more than cracking open a cover and finding out who lives in these forests and what the oceans are made of and discovering all the wonders of a new land. It’s actually one of the reasons I write, because I love creating new worlds. I always feel like it’s opening a window to step through. Once I’m in I begin to experience something that didn’t exist before or at least not in exactly this form.
World building is extremely important to my storytelling. I will spend about two or three weeks doing a world building document that is 200 pages long and includes everything from the history of the people to the politics, the magic rules, character descriptions, and settings. I use photographs, drawings, sketches, and quotes…basically anything I can think of…to make the world as real and tactile as possible. The reason I do all this before writing is because it provides a wealth of material to raise the stakes or create respite in the novel as I’m in the flow. I keep my world building document next to me and refer to it regularly.
Because of my love for world building, I wanted to share with you seven of my favorite worlds. They are in no particular order but they are worlds that have touched me and made me wish they were real.
Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
This world goes without saying as being the granddaddy of modern fantasy writing. Tolkien took the rich culture of Scandinavia and made it into a rich and dangerous world full of warlocks, elves, dragons, trolls, hobbits, orcs, and so much more. Many worlds have used Tolkien’s as a blueprint for the world they create. Just think of some of the characters Gollum the orc fascinating tale that could not have been told in any other setting.
The Nia Rivers Adventures by Ines Johnson
Oh. Em. Gee. An immortal, amazing female Indiana Jones hunting for magical treasure around the world all the while trying to get together with her true love. The magic in this world is how it’s woven in with the myths of the past and brings it all to life. Jungles, ancient sites, magic…it has it all.
Order of the Regent by Melle Amade
This may be cheating a little bit because it’s my world but I love this world so much. I have created a world that is rife with racism, politics, and family battles that have lasted for thousands of years. But what I love about this world is the big bad; the Grosse Obscurité that threatens the entire world as they know it and permeates like a cloud of doom into every corner of the story.
Deadside Reapers by Debbie Cassidy
The Deadside Reapers world is one of the most fun and frivolous fantasy worlds I’ve ever enjoyed. The detail that Cassidy provides to her world and to her characters makes you feel like you can taste the sulfur left over from the magic, feel the extra donut she just ate, and try to squeeze into those damn jeans with her. You really get a sense of the environment and the action scenes are impeccably executed inside the world she created.
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
This was a really interesting world Aveyard created. It is a mix of dystopian and magical wrapped up in one. At first, I was thrown off when the video screens and train lines appeared but that kind of edgy technical aspect laid over a magical world turned out to be super fascinating.
Grishaverse world by Leigh Bardugo
The Grisha world is something I personally love a lot. Primarily because I’m married to a Russian so it was really fun to see Russian culture being used as the foundation for a fantasy world. It’s entirely engaging with the cupola and the Cossack costumes. The flavor and texture make this world extremely believable.
A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
There’s no way I could do this list without including A Song of Ice and Fire. I’m a huge fan of the books and love the way that he created a medieval world that exploded into magic. The intricacy of the houses and the relations and history they have long before the first books even started is just pure mastery and makes reading so much richer!
I’m always on the hunt for new fantasy worlds so please, if you have a favorite one, drop me a comment and let me know what I’m missing!
About Melle Amade
Melle Amade grew up in a place called Potter Valley where the Milky Way is held aloft by a circle of mountains and the central business district consists of a bait store and a saloon. At 19 she moved alone to London and spent the next ten years exploring the world, even becoming an Australian citizen, before she returned to California and found a new home in Los Angeles. Her world revolves around her two wee children, storytelling, and her love of travel. Visit her at www.melleamade.com.