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How to Write Romantasy: Blending Fantasy and Romance into One Heart-Stopping Adventure
Learn the craft of creating a page-turning romantasy novel in this easy-to-follow guide from writing expert and renowned author of The Savior’s Series, Jenna Moreci.
In How to Write Romantasy, Moreci takes you from your first kernel of inspiration through the resolution of your novel, ensuring you hit all the key elements along the way. Chapters are organized around specific plot points, necessary skills, and common questions, covering topics such as building a fantasy framework, creating compelling characters, learning the art of the tease, and bringing home the happily ever after. Each chapter is followed by a summary that you can use for quick reference. You will
• How to marry the fantasy plot with the romantic storyline
• How to write a marketable book that romantasy readers will love
• How to create a shippable pairing that makes fans swoon
• How to build romantic and physical chemistry
• How to pace the story if you’re writing a series
Delivered with a hefty dose of humor, Moreci’s clear and simple methods are accessible for writers of all experience levels. With How to Write Romantasy, you will walk away with a deeper understanding of the genre and plenty of inspiration to build your very own romantasy novel.
In How to Write Romantasy, Moreci takes you from your first kernel of inspiration through the resolution of your novel, ensuring you hit all the key elements along the way. Chapters are organized around specific plot points, necessary skills, and common questions, covering topics such as building a fantasy framework, creating compelling characters, learning the art of the tease, and bringing home the happily ever after. Each chapter is followed by a summary that you can use for quick reference. You will
• How to marry the fantasy plot with the romantic storyline
• How to write a marketable book that romantasy readers will love
• How to create a shippable pairing that makes fans swoon
• How to build romantic and physical chemistry
• How to pace the story if you’re writing a series
Delivered with a hefty dose of humor, Moreci’s clear and simple methods are accessible for writers of all experience levels. With How to Write Romantasy, you will walk away with a deeper understanding of the genre and plenty of inspiration to build your very own romantasy novel.
240 pages, Paperback
Published October 21, 2025
37 people are currently reading
3735 people want to read
About the author
Jenna Moreci
6 books3,461 followersJenna Moreci is a bestselling dark fantasy romance and writing craft author, as well as a YouTube sensation with hundreds of thousands of subscribers. Her first installment in The Savior’s Series, The Savior’s Champion, was voted one of the Best Books of All Time by Book Depository.
Born and raised in Silicon Valley, Jenna spends her free time snuggling up with her charming partner and their tiny dog, Buttercup.
Born and raised in Silicon Valley, Jenna spends her free time snuggling up with her charming partner and their tiny dog, Buttercup.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
October 22, 2025
As a long term enjoyer of Jenna's youtube content, I got really curious how does she fare in a written form. I must say the book is written with her signature wit and humour, very much reminiscing of the voice she uses in her comedic short-form videos.
But as much as her videos are more entertaining than informative, so is this book. Read it if:
* you need a motivational pep talk "you too can do it!"
* heard romantasy is getting popular but have no idea what it really is
* read romantasy, but have never written anything long-form besides unstructured fanfics and need introducing to basic novel-building concepts like plot goals, conflict, stakes or character arc
* you want to focus on a classic story going through "intimacy bases" and "relationship escalator"
You will of course not find these terms in the book, I've only learned them by reading specific non-fiction, but these are subconscious underlying beliefs about monogamous romantic heterosexual relationships. While there are same-sex couples mentioned in this book, the assumption is they follow the exact same patterns as cishetero couples progressing through an intimacy / relationship checklist. While there is why choose / polyamory mentioned, it's brushed aside, again with the assumption it's exactly the same as monogamous couples just with extra person / people added.
But overall, for the majority of mainstream audiences these assumptions are true anyway. A lot of romantasy follows these concepts without questioning or deeper exploration. So the book does a good enough job in this area.
You will also not learn intricate plotting or how to avoid common problems like slow start, saggy middle, plot holes, etc. You will need a different, in-depth story structure book for that. Here you will only see the basics like: ensure you have a low moment before the win or a high moment before a loss, or re-check all the sub-plots whether you resolved them and didn't leave any hanging.
I did appreciate the idea that romantic chemistry equals emotional intimacy, and framing it as 5 ingredient mix: friendship (do the people like each other), respect, vulnerability, trust and unity. I always thought so many romances lack the actual romance because it's all hate-lust and bicker-banter but no actual care, trust or understanding.
However, while I agree with Jenna, I think a lot of readers of romantasy do not. So many books with plenty of emotional intimacy get dismissed as "no chemistry" because there's no overwhelming and instant lust, drama within the relationship or the love interest isn't personally attractive to the reader. Drives me up the wall, I swear.
I wish someone told me, is romance supposed to be about 2 flawed characters falling in love and becoming happier in the process while healing their insecurities and "inner wounds", as many guides and analyses claim (and what I do tend to enjoy), or is it supposed to be a get-off material for the reader (I swear so many popular romantasies have no other appeal, the characters have usually 2 traits: hot and annoying). So at this point if you're thinking of "writing romantasy" you have to consider: do I want to write a good book or a popular book? Most popular romantasy isn't good and most good romantasy doesn't get the fraction of the popularity of the dreck.
There's a reason why so many of the books I liked have 3-4-digit number of ratings while all the popular stuff has 5-6 or even 7-digit number of ratings... Things I love is 10-100 times LESS popular than things I hate.
I still think good books have more future as the dreck will soon be easily emulated with AI. We're already halfway there.
Anyway, this guide definitely focuses more on the romance aspect like crafting a non-toxic couple that is stronger together than apart and hitting intimacy goals across the story.
I'm a bit baffled why Jenna mocks "fantasy euphemisms" for explicit scenes but then keeps calling sex "a romp in the hay" or "going to poundtown" or "doing the dirty". If you hate euphemisms just call sex sex, seriously. It's not like the book avoids any explicit or mature language - it doesn't. There are swears, innuendo and explicit terms mentioned here and there. Anyway I doubt in a typical romantasy full of elegant fae and rich royalty the characters have sex through a "romp in the hay", it feels so out of place.
A lot of more difficult or nuanced subjects were dismissed with "consult your beta readers / sensitivity readers / critique partners / editor" which sorry to say, is a cop-out.
Also if you're a beginner, choosing a suitable circle of beta readers / critique partners is a whole new tricky task that isn't debated here, even though this is a beginner-oriented title. Poorly chosen beta readers and mismatching critique partners can do more harm than good to your motivation and artistic vision. Don't ask me how I know.
4 stars. Moderately entertaining, moderately progressive, useful beginner tips, and Jenna is a great cheerleader. I wished this book had been more though.
Thank you Netgalley, Clarkson Potter and Ten Speed Press for the ARC.
But as much as her videos are more entertaining than informative, so is this book. Read it if:
* you need a motivational pep talk "you too can do it!"
* heard romantasy is getting popular but have no idea what it really is
* read romantasy, but have never written anything long-form besides unstructured fanfics and need introducing to basic novel-building concepts like plot goals, conflict, stakes or character arc
* you want to focus on a classic story going through "intimacy bases" and "relationship escalator"
You will of course not find these terms in the book, I've only learned them by reading specific non-fiction, but these are subconscious underlying beliefs about monogamous romantic heterosexual relationships. While there are same-sex couples mentioned in this book, the assumption is they follow the exact same patterns as cishetero couples progressing through an intimacy / relationship checklist. While there is why choose / polyamory mentioned, it's brushed aside, again with the assumption it's exactly the same as monogamous couples just with extra person / people added.
But overall, for the majority of mainstream audiences these assumptions are true anyway. A lot of romantasy follows these concepts without questioning or deeper exploration. So the book does a good enough job in this area.
You will also not learn intricate plotting or how to avoid common problems like slow start, saggy middle, plot holes, etc. You will need a different, in-depth story structure book for that. Here you will only see the basics like: ensure you have a low moment before the win or a high moment before a loss, or re-check all the sub-plots whether you resolved them and didn't leave any hanging.
I did appreciate the idea that romantic chemistry equals emotional intimacy, and framing it as 5 ingredient mix: friendship (do the people like each other), respect, vulnerability, trust and unity. I always thought so many romances lack the actual romance because it's all hate-lust and bicker-banter but no actual care, trust or understanding.
However, while I agree with Jenna, I think a lot of readers of romantasy do not. So many books with plenty of emotional intimacy get dismissed as "no chemistry" because there's no overwhelming and instant lust, drama within the relationship or the love interest isn't personally attractive to the reader. Drives me up the wall, I swear.
I wish someone told me, is romance supposed to be about 2 flawed characters falling in love and becoming happier in the process while healing their insecurities and "inner wounds", as many guides and analyses claim (and what I do tend to enjoy), or is it supposed to be a get-off material for the reader (I swear so many popular romantasies have no other appeal, the characters have usually 2 traits: hot and annoying). So at this point if you're thinking of "writing romantasy" you have to consider: do I want to write a good book or a popular book? Most popular romantasy isn't good and most good romantasy doesn't get the fraction of the popularity of the dreck.
There's a reason why so many of the books I liked have 3-4-digit number of ratings while all the popular stuff has 5-6 or even 7-digit number of ratings... Things I love is 10-100 times LESS popular than things I hate.
I still think good books have more future as the dreck will soon be easily emulated with AI. We're already halfway there.
Anyway, this guide definitely focuses more on the romance aspect like crafting a non-toxic couple that is stronger together than apart and hitting intimacy goals across the story.
I'm a bit baffled why Jenna mocks "fantasy euphemisms" for explicit scenes but then keeps calling sex "a romp in the hay" or "going to poundtown" or "doing the dirty". If you hate euphemisms just call sex sex, seriously. It's not like the book avoids any explicit or mature language - it doesn't. There are swears, innuendo and explicit terms mentioned here and there. Anyway I doubt in a typical romantasy full of elegant fae and rich royalty the characters have sex through a "romp in the hay", it feels so out of place.
A lot of more difficult or nuanced subjects were dismissed with "consult your beta readers / sensitivity readers / critique partners / editor" which sorry to say, is a cop-out.
Also if you're a beginner, choosing a suitable circle of beta readers / critique partners is a whole new tricky task that isn't debated here, even though this is a beginner-oriented title. Poorly chosen beta readers and mismatching critique partners can do more harm than good to your motivation and artistic vision. Don't ask me how I know.
4 stars. Moderately entertaining, moderately progressive, useful beginner tips, and Jenna is a great cheerleader. I wished this book had been more though.
Thank you Netgalley, Clarkson Potter and Ten Speed Press for the ARC.
November 16, 2025
I didnt know what to expect when I picked this book up. I just knew that I wanted to have a better grasp about writing Romantasy, and this not only delivered on that, but gave me so much more than I expected. Jenna does an amazing job in this for a few reasons. She weaves in excellent information about understanding how to appropriately write for the Romantasy genre, educates you on the very basic foundations of not only Romantasy, but storytelling and writing itself. She does all of this while still having her own personal voice come through, and in very entertaining ways, mind you. The book is simply this: incredibly informative, a great foundational read for anyone looking to understand the do's and donts of writing Romantasy, and FUN. I had a great time reading this and would recommend this to anyone who wants to get better at writing for this type of genre.
October 21, 2025
This book is full of fantastic information for anyone who wants to jump into the Romantasy genre. Written in Moreci's witty and conversational style, it is an enjoyable read as well.
Too many writing guides read like text books, but How To Write Romantasy is both fun and informative.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ten Speed Press for the review copy.
Too many writing guides read like text books, but How To Write Romantasy is both fun and informative.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ten Speed Press for the review copy.
July 1, 2025
How to Write Romantasy is a non-fiction writing advice guide for the titular genre, romantasy, which is a mash up of romance and fantasy.
I would recommend this title to people acquainted with romantasy as a genre, who nevertheless aren't in-depth students of it or experienced writers. It's very accessible and explains basic concepts and expectations of the genre in a brief and often humorous manner. However it's short and concise, so for a long time connoisseur of the genre it might seem too much of a 101: beginner's class.
I'm glad the author put emphasis on healthy relationships, equality and queer-inclusivity, and remains both sex-positive and supportive of closed door romance. Some subjects are unfortunately glossed over, like dark romance or reverse harem / why choose. I wonder is it because those sub-genres are less "mainstream" or because the author lacks personal experience with them.
The book also explains fiction writing concepts like having a central conflict in the story, both romantic and fantastical, having important milestones the story travels toward so it isn't aimless, and focusing on an emotional roller-coaster like darker moments before the triumph and vice versa. Similarly, with romance writing, it puts emphasis on creating "chemistry" and crafting characters' personalities in a way they clash but also ultimately match together.
There are also common mentions what if you write a series where the final resolution only happens in the last book, because that's often the biggest difference between popular romantasy titles and typical standalone romance books.
Overall, I think this title will be useful for its intended audience: casual readers of romantasy who want to write their own, or people familiar with writing adjacent genres like fantasy or romance who want to give a try to this new trendy mix.
Content warnings: some crass language.
I received an ARC from Netgalley & Ten Speed Press for the purpose of leaving a honest review.
I would recommend this title to people acquainted with romantasy as a genre, who nevertheless aren't in-depth students of it or experienced writers. It's very accessible and explains basic concepts and expectations of the genre in a brief and often humorous manner. However it's short and concise, so for a long time connoisseur of the genre it might seem too much of a 101: beginner's class.
I'm glad the author put emphasis on healthy relationships, equality and queer-inclusivity, and remains both sex-positive and supportive of closed door romance. Some subjects are unfortunately glossed over, like dark romance or reverse harem / why choose. I wonder is it because those sub-genres are less "mainstream" or because the author lacks personal experience with them.
The book also explains fiction writing concepts like having a central conflict in the story, both romantic and fantastical, having important milestones the story travels toward so it isn't aimless, and focusing on an emotional roller-coaster like darker moments before the triumph and vice versa. Similarly, with romance writing, it puts emphasis on creating "chemistry" and crafting characters' personalities in a way they clash but also ultimately match together.
There are also common mentions what if you write a series where the final resolution only happens in the last book, because that's often the biggest difference between popular romantasy titles and typical standalone romance books.
Overall, I think this title will be useful for its intended audience: casual readers of romantasy who want to write their own, or people familiar with writing adjacent genres like fantasy or romance who want to give a try to this new trendy mix.
Content warnings: some crass language.
I received an ARC from Netgalley & Ten Speed Press for the purpose of leaving a honest review.
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October 11, 2025Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
How to Write Romantasy by Jenna Moreci is a guide for beginners learning the writing process for Romantasy. With her trademark humor and clear chapter summaries, Jenna Moreci lays out her opinions for how to successfully write in this skyrocketing genre.
I did feel that this was strongly geared towards writers who have never written fantasy and romance before. A lot of writers in fanfic spaces might have already covered a lot of what Jenna says just by virtue of writing romance-focused fanfic in fantasy spaces and others might still need some pointers. The emphasis is put fairly equally on the romance, the characters, the fantasy, and the plot that ties everything together, which is how a Romantasy should be written.
Jenna does go through a lot of misconceptions of what romance and Romantasy even are as well as sharing progressive ideas about relationships readers might not be familiar with. In one section, she discusses the difference between romantic and sexual attraction and even brings up platonic and aesthetic attraction. I have a lot of friends who are Aspec, so these are terms that I am familiar with but I know that they are not as mainstream as I wish they were, so I did appreciate Jenna acknowledging their existence as well as the negative racial stereotypes that are sometimes packed into fantasy creatures.
A feature of the book some aspiring writers might find very useful is the parts where Jenna specifically discusses series. Not every Romantasy has to be a series, but writers who prefer them seem to be quite legion. Not every section of the book goes into what to do for a series as it's more about plot and the romance vs worldbuilding, but it goes into enough detail, I think, where applicable.
I would recommend this to beginning writers trying to start writing Romantasy and readers who are confused about what Romantasy even is and are trying to level up their own understanding of the genre
How to Write Romantasy by Jenna Moreci is a guide for beginners learning the writing process for Romantasy. With her trademark humor and clear chapter summaries, Jenna Moreci lays out her opinions for how to successfully write in this skyrocketing genre.
I did feel that this was strongly geared towards writers who have never written fantasy and romance before. A lot of writers in fanfic spaces might have already covered a lot of what Jenna says just by virtue of writing romance-focused fanfic in fantasy spaces and others might still need some pointers. The emphasis is put fairly equally on the romance, the characters, the fantasy, and the plot that ties everything together, which is how a Romantasy should be written.
Jenna does go through a lot of misconceptions of what romance and Romantasy even are as well as sharing progressive ideas about relationships readers might not be familiar with. In one section, she discusses the difference between romantic and sexual attraction and even brings up platonic and aesthetic attraction. I have a lot of friends who are Aspec, so these are terms that I am familiar with but I know that they are not as mainstream as I wish they were, so I did appreciate Jenna acknowledging their existence as well as the negative racial stereotypes that are sometimes packed into fantasy creatures.
A feature of the book some aspiring writers might find very useful is the parts where Jenna specifically discusses series. Not every Romantasy has to be a series, but writers who prefer them seem to be quite legion. Not every section of the book goes into what to do for a series as it's more about plot and the romance vs worldbuilding, but it goes into enough detail, I think, where applicable.
I would recommend this to beginning writers trying to start writing Romantasy and readers who are confused about what Romantasy even is and are trying to level up their own understanding of the genre
October 27, 2025
This book is exactly what it says on the cover: a clear, no-nonsense guide for writers who want to blend fantasy and romance. Jenna Moreci’s tone is sharp, funny, and practical; she gives structure and advice without turning it into a lecture.
It reminded me why I started writing in the first place. Sometimes going back to the basics feels like coming home. I recognized so much of the early chaos of learning to write:the contradictions, the confusion, and the excitement of discovering how stories actually work.
She covers everything from worldbuilding to romantic chemistry and even has a section about writing intimacy that’s equal parts educational and hilarious.
If you’re just starting out, this is a great first step. If you’ve been writing for a while, it’s a refresh that might just reignite your spark.
4.5⭐️ Funny, educational, and accessible.
Note: I received a copy of How to Write Romantasy by Jenna Moreci from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It reminded me why I started writing in the first place. Sometimes going back to the basics feels like coming home. I recognized so much of the early chaos of learning to write:the contradictions, the confusion, and the excitement of discovering how stories actually work.
She covers everything from worldbuilding to romantic chemistry and even has a section about writing intimacy that’s equal parts educational and hilarious.
If you’re just starting out, this is a great first step. If you’ve been writing for a while, it’s a refresh that might just reignite your spark.
4.5⭐️ Funny, educational, and accessible.
Note: I received a copy of How to Write Romantasy by Jenna Moreci from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2025
Thank you to Jenna and NetGalley for my copy of this e-ARC!
I went into this knowing that I'd already appreciate the tone based on Jenna's videos and other books. I enjoy her practical and direct approach to topics that can make other people uncomfortable to speak about (like sex, intimacy, different kinds of attraction, etc.) which is refreshing and insightful to consider against the backdrop of one's own writing.
One of my favorite parts about Jenna's craft books, and videos surrounding the topics of genre, is the consistency with which she explains the genre itself. Being able to look at a book and utilize if/then statements deriving from it is invaluable for marketing correctly.
Someone else mentioned that this is also a good look into the craft for even people who aren't writers, and I absolutely agree. I also think it would prove to provide better understanding from anyone who did read it the effort we go through to blend these pieces together and form an entire picture.
I'm sure I'll continue to use this for a long while, even after having publications under my belt.
I went into this knowing that I'd already appreciate the tone based on Jenna's videos and other books. I enjoy her practical and direct approach to topics that can make other people uncomfortable to speak about (like sex, intimacy, different kinds of attraction, etc.) which is refreshing and insightful to consider against the backdrop of one's own writing.
One of my favorite parts about Jenna's craft books, and videos surrounding the topics of genre, is the consistency with which she explains the genre itself. Being able to look at a book and utilize if/then statements deriving from it is invaluable for marketing correctly.
Someone else mentioned that this is also a good look into the craft for even people who aren't writers, and I absolutely agree. I also think it would prove to provide better understanding from anyone who did read it the effort we go through to blend these pieces together and form an entire picture.
I'm sure I'll continue to use this for a long while, even after having publications under my belt.
October 3, 2025
Though I'm not an aspiring Romantasy Author, I really enjoyed Jenna's previous how-to guide, "Shut Up and Write the Book" and figured this would give me insight on writing romantic subplots. This book was FULL of good advice for that, and anyone looking to bring romance into their book in any way will find this book incredibly helpful.
Jenna gives all the important factors for a good romance, along with specific trope examples, tips on how to help your lovers really stand out, and warnings on stuff to avoid. Through it all, you can absolutely hear her voice as you read. Her no-nonsense motivation, spiced up with her usual silly humor, makes the book as entertaining to read as it is informative.
I don't have much background in creating or reading the why choose / reverse harem tropes in fantasy. I do know enough polyamorous folks in real life to know this book's discussion of these tropes could be its weak spot. It is VERY inclusive when it comes to gay romance in general for sure. She makes a point of using gay couples as examples when covering tropes and writing tactics. Yet she largely focuses on monogamous romance in this book. When throuples and reverse harems are mentioned, they're mostly given the same tactics and ideas one would write for a couple. I still rate this a 5 star book personally, since the focus is on romance in *fantasy* and most authors seem to gravitate towards writing couples anyway. But it may be something to keep in mind when you give it a read.
Overall I've found this to be incredibly valuable and fun! I'll turn back to again and again while I'm getting my own craft right.
Jenna gives all the important factors for a good romance, along with specific trope examples, tips on how to help your lovers really stand out, and warnings on stuff to avoid. Through it all, you can absolutely hear her voice as you read. Her no-nonsense motivation, spiced up with her usual silly humor, makes the book as entertaining to read as it is informative.
I don't have much background in creating or reading the why choose / reverse harem tropes in fantasy. I do know enough polyamorous folks in real life to know this book's discussion of these tropes could be its weak spot. It is VERY inclusive when it comes to gay romance in general for sure. She makes a point of using gay couples as examples when covering tropes and writing tactics. Yet she largely focuses on monogamous romance in this book. When throuples and reverse harems are mentioned, they're mostly given the same tactics and ideas one would write for a couple. I still rate this a 5 star book personally, since the focus is on romance in *fantasy* and most authors seem to gravitate towards writing couples anyway. But it may be something to keep in mind when you give it a read.
Overall I've found this to be incredibly valuable and fun! I'll turn back to again and again while I'm getting my own craft right.
October 1, 2025
This definitely isn't my typical read, I'm strictly a fiction reader. But the teenage girl who always dreamed of writing a book couldn't resist reading a guide for just that. Like many avid readers I've always considered trying my hand and if I ever go for it this will be my bible.
The balance of instructions and humour was perfect and the writing style made me feel like a friend was guiding me through the process. At multiple points while reading, ideas sparked of what I could do if I wrote a book.
I will now be adding Jenna's fictional works to my TBR mountain because her writing style is definitely a bit of me.
The balance of instructions and humour was perfect and the writing style made me feel like a friend was guiding me through the process. At multiple points while reading, ideas sparked of what I could do if I wrote a book.
I will now be adding Jenna's fictional works to my TBR mountain because her writing style is definitely a bit of me.
September 8, 2025
This writing craft book is perfect for beginning/aspiring writers that are ready to take that big step towards improving their craft and writing their first book. You can hear Jenna's voice clear in the narration, and her humor shines through just as it does in Shu Up and Write the Book-- and everything she writes. Her advice is clear and to the point, and by giving her words personality, it makes it that much more engaging and encouraging for newbie writers feeling overwhelmed or intimidated. While much of the advice and rules of writing taught in this book is rather surface level/introductory, it serves its purpose well.
Moreci clearly explains and defines the genre of Romantasy and how rather than purely mashing together two genres, it instead becomes one of its own, with its own expectations and requirements. This book dives deep into what these three genres mean, and what this fusion means for the structure and craft of a novel. By also learning about fantasy and romance, it is easier to see where Romantasy is rooted and where it becomes something of its own.
I did not agree with all points made, for example the general lack of nuance in character building, but it goes along with how every reader/writer has their own opinions and takes on the genre and what they appreciate in a good book. It is clear from the way that The Savior's Champion is written that nothing in this book was written without true consideration and research. This is a wonderful first craft book for the writer that wants to dive right in and write while still being educated and intentional in their craft.
Moreci clearly explains and defines the genre of Romantasy and how rather than purely mashing together two genres, it instead becomes one of its own, with its own expectations and requirements. This book dives deep into what these three genres mean, and what this fusion means for the structure and craft of a novel. By also learning about fantasy and romance, it is easier to see where Romantasy is rooted and where it becomes something of its own.
I did not agree with all points made, for example the general lack of nuance in character building, but it goes along with how every reader/writer has their own opinions and takes on the genre and what they appreciate in a good book. It is clear from the way that The Savior's Champion is written that nothing in this book was written without true consideration and research. This is a wonderful first craft book for the writer that wants to dive right in and write while still being educated and intentional in their craft.
August 10, 2025
I love the way Jenna writes and I'm so in it!
Every line makes sense and it's something I really needed to boost me, both reading and writing wise.
This small, entertaining guide on writing got me out of an almost reading slump, and if my fingers don't stop itching, a very long writing slump. I don't know, just having some "rules" to follow in a book and the easy and nice pace they're written gave me an extra push to start working on writing again.
16 chapters and Jenna's voice keels playing in my head with each word! (I'm sure the audiobook is going to be amazing!) I have been in love with Jenna's YouTube channel for a few years now.
When I saw this book on NetGalley, it was an instant pick. (Of course, I'll get the physical copy as well.)
Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of the book you want to write. This is also a good guide to introduce you to the genre in general, whether you're a reader or a potential reviewer.
It's a step-by-step, easy-to-follow guide, with examples to help the reader understand even easier.
I love the writing style and the language she uses. Funny thing is, I couldn't stop reading it in Jenna's voice!
I'll put everything to use later this year and hopefully have a first daft by next summer!
So, thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc and thank you to Jenna for writing it.
Every line makes sense and it's something I really needed to boost me, both reading and writing wise.
This small, entertaining guide on writing got me out of an almost reading slump, and if my fingers don't stop itching, a very long writing slump. I don't know, just having some "rules" to follow in a book and the easy and nice pace they're written gave me an extra push to start working on writing again.
16 chapters and Jenna's voice keels playing in my head with each word! (I'm sure the audiobook is going to be amazing!) I have been in love with Jenna's YouTube channel for a few years now.
When I saw this book on NetGalley, it was an instant pick. (Of course, I'll get the physical copy as well.)
Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of the book you want to write. This is also a good guide to introduce you to the genre in general, whether you're a reader or a potential reviewer.
It's a step-by-step, easy-to-follow guide, with examples to help the reader understand even easier.
I love the writing style and the language she uses. Funny thing is, I couldn't stop reading it in Jenna's voice!
I'll put everything to use later this year and hopefully have a first daft by next summer!
So, thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc and thank you to Jenna for writing it.
August 11, 2025
This is a nice and concise guide to writing a romantasy novel.
My favourite part of this is that the style Jenna has adapted allows this book to be used by debut authors and veterans alike.
Are you thinking of writing your first novel? This is for you.
Are you switching genres to romantasy? This is for you.
Are you wondering whether your novel is classified as romantasy or unsure if the genre is for you? This is also for you.
The writing is fun whilst definitely informative and the book is easy to read. The summaries at the end and clear chapters means that a more seasoned reader or someone just wanting an overview can cherry pick information. Overall I found this a helpful book and full of many general tips. It was also helpful for me because I had been on the receiving end of "is your book a romantasy?" And now I can confidently say, thanks to Jenna's book, that it is not. And this is why I think this book is also good for fence sitters such as myself.
Overall, if you think your first or next book is a romantasy or you haven't decided yet this book is a lovely, easy to digest manual that will help steer you in the right direction!
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.
My favourite part of this is that the style Jenna has adapted allows this book to be used by debut authors and veterans alike.
Are you thinking of writing your first novel? This is for you.
Are you switching genres to romantasy? This is for you.
Are you wondering whether your novel is classified as romantasy or unsure if the genre is for you? This is also for you.
The writing is fun whilst definitely informative and the book is easy to read. The summaries at the end and clear chapters means that a more seasoned reader or someone just wanting an overview can cherry pick information. Overall I found this a helpful book and full of many general tips. It was also helpful for me because I had been on the receiving end of "is your book a romantasy?" And now I can confidently say, thanks to Jenna's book, that it is not. And this is why I think this book is also good for fence sitters such as myself.
Overall, if you think your first or next book is a romantasy or you haven't decided yet this book is a lovely, easy to digest manual that will help steer you in the right direction!
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 4, 2025
ARC Book Review | How to Write Romantasy By Jenna Moreci
Genre: Reference
Release Date: October 21, 2025
Price: $18.99
Formats: Paperback, eBook, & Audiobook
Where To Find: Everywhere Where Books Are Sold
Description: How to Write Romantasy is an easy step-by-step guide for writers on how to blend romance and fantasy into a well-crafted story.
As I have been following Jenna Moreci for a few years now and am already familiar with her works, I found that this book mirrored her videos and intentions extremely well. Jenna has always been good at explaining and detailing terms and concepts. She does not jump into anything without detailing and explaining these basics first, which help new or confused writers understand what romantasy is before they learn how to write it.
Warning | Jenna is very straight forward and does not shy away from anything. Her works are always inclusive, and she has a habit of cursing. So, if you do not feel comfortable with LGBTQ+ themes, polyamory/monogeny/throuples/etc., multi-racial themes, anti-abelist themes, and the occasional foul language, this book is NOT for you.
Review
Jenna combines humor and personability with facts and explanations to create a well-rounded and well written explanation on how to write a romantasy story. She uses her own series, the Savior Series, as well as others to explain and give examples that are easily digestible for the reader to follow and understand.
Jenna not only focusses on the romance aspect of Romantasy, but the Fantasy aspect as well. Providing clear and well-organized world building, magic systems, and overall expectations for the reader/writer.
For Romance, Jenna delves into how to make a romance believable. One thing I love about this book is that it subtly calls out love at first sight tropes. Yes, love at first sight can happen, but there still has to be a believable catalyst for it. Conversations, actions, moments that allow the characters to become closer together that is more than just a physical reaction.
One of my favorite sections is about villains. Jenna was able to map out the differences between antagonists and villains, and how to make them relatable without making them into the “good guys” with believable motivations.
The ending chapter is fun and light hearted. A way to praise the reader for following along and potentially starting or finishing their own writing journey.
The overall summaries at the end of each chapter helped to organize the overall information taken in. She did a great job in highlighting things within the chapter that fellow writers can use to help remind themselves of certain points or allow them to backtrack into the chapters for more information.
Overall, this book is perfect for anyone wanting or needing help in their Romantasy writing journey. I highly recommend highlighting or bookmarking pages that you think you will need to visit or reference frequently. This can be done in both the digital and physical versions. And for those reading through audio, I recommend writing down anything you think you might want to revisit. Especially chapters and time stamps. With the digital ARC I received I was able to use immersive reader to read to me while I jotted down my own notes for the review as well as notes I liked for my own writing.
Genre: Reference
Release Date: October 21, 2025
Price: $18.99
Formats: Paperback, eBook, & Audiobook
Where To Find: Everywhere Where Books Are Sold
Description: How to Write Romantasy is an easy step-by-step guide for writers on how to blend romance and fantasy into a well-crafted story.
As I have been following Jenna Moreci for a few years now and am already familiar with her works, I found that this book mirrored her videos and intentions extremely well. Jenna has always been good at explaining and detailing terms and concepts. She does not jump into anything without detailing and explaining these basics first, which help new or confused writers understand what romantasy is before they learn how to write it.
Warning | Jenna is very straight forward and does not shy away from anything. Her works are always inclusive, and she has a habit of cursing. So, if you do not feel comfortable with LGBTQ+ themes, polyamory/monogeny/throuples/etc., multi-racial themes, anti-abelist themes, and the occasional foul language, this book is NOT for you.
Review
Jenna combines humor and personability with facts and explanations to create a well-rounded and well written explanation on how to write a romantasy story. She uses her own series, the Savior Series, as well as others to explain and give examples that are easily digestible for the reader to follow and understand.
Jenna not only focusses on the romance aspect of Romantasy, but the Fantasy aspect as well. Providing clear and well-organized world building, magic systems, and overall expectations for the reader/writer.
For Romance, Jenna delves into how to make a romance believable. One thing I love about this book is that it subtly calls out love at first sight tropes. Yes, love at first sight can happen, but there still has to be a believable catalyst for it. Conversations, actions, moments that allow the characters to become closer together that is more than just a physical reaction.
One of my favorite sections is about villains. Jenna was able to map out the differences between antagonists and villains, and how to make them relatable without making them into the “good guys” with believable motivations.
The ending chapter is fun and light hearted. A way to praise the reader for following along and potentially starting or finishing their own writing journey.
The overall summaries at the end of each chapter helped to organize the overall information taken in. She did a great job in highlighting things within the chapter that fellow writers can use to help remind themselves of certain points or allow them to backtrack into the chapters for more information.
Overall, this book is perfect for anyone wanting or needing help in their Romantasy writing journey. I highly recommend highlighting or bookmarking pages that you think you will need to visit or reference frequently. This can be done in both the digital and physical versions. And for those reading through audio, I recommend writing down anything you think you might want to revisit. Especially chapters and time stamps. With the digital ARC I received I was able to use immersive reader to read to me while I jotted down my own notes for the review as well as notes I liked for my own writing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2025
This is a fantastic "how to" novel.
Right from the start Jenna explains exactly what Romantasy is and isn't, and the difference between fantasy romance and romantic fantasy (it's the amount of romance, vs the amount of fantasy and plot, for those of you wondering - FR = 40%Fantasy and 60% Romance, RF = 60% Fantasy and 40% Romance). But regardless if you write RF or FR, at the end of the day, your story must have a Happily-Ever-After, no exceptions. Can this HEA only occur once we reach book four in a series? Yup, you betcha, as long as it's there.
Jenna then goes on to break down the other subgenres of Fantasy, including explaining the difference between Dark Fantasy and Dark Romance (very important people! I wish all authors would read this differentiation), Epic/High Fantasy, Gaslamp, Contemporary, Paranormal. The chapters ends with a recap of everything you just learned.
Each chapter is like this, with loads of valuable knowledge all summarized at the end.
The book is rife with humor: Shaft Dangerzone and his six pack wings, anyone? And great advice you are going to hit bumps in the road-scenes that aren't any fun to write, chapters that aren't shaping up the way you'd hoped, and sections that make you question if you have any talent at all. This is incredibly annoying but very normal.
Probably the greatest piece of advice in the entire book is that nothing appeals to everyone and if you try and make your book appeal to everyone, you are going to fail.
I think the only thing I really disagreed with in the book, was the talk about different fantasy races and when body alterations have gone too far in regards to romantic relationships. Jenna makes it clear that she is not into monster romance. Suggesting 'adding' appendages such as tails, horns and wings (on the back) rather than 'replacing' or changing, such as hocks instead of legs or wings that attach from the arms to the torso or replace the arms all together, claiming it falls too close to bestiality and is 'icky'. I disagree with this assertion wholeheartedly, having read lots of monster romance that wasn't 'icky' in the least.
Overall, this was a very complete and informative guide to writing romantasy, and I learned a few things I didn't previously know, even though I'm pretty familiar with the genre at this point. If you are considering combining your love of romance and fantasy, this is a great book to help guide you through the early stages and will likely answer your most prominent and burning questions, with everything from worldbuilding, to magic use, to the spicy romance scale.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an Advanced copy of the book for review.
Right from the start Jenna explains exactly what Romantasy is and isn't, and the difference between fantasy romance and romantic fantasy (it's the amount of romance, vs the amount of fantasy and plot, for those of you wondering - FR = 40%Fantasy and 60% Romance, RF = 60% Fantasy and 40% Romance). But regardless if you write RF or FR, at the end of the day, your story must have a Happily-Ever-After, no exceptions. Can this HEA only occur once we reach book four in a series? Yup, you betcha, as long as it's there.
Jenna then goes on to break down the other subgenres of Fantasy, including explaining the difference between Dark Fantasy and Dark Romance (very important people! I wish all authors would read this differentiation), Epic/High Fantasy, Gaslamp, Contemporary, Paranormal. The chapters ends with a recap of everything you just learned.
Each chapter is like this, with loads of valuable knowledge all summarized at the end.
The book is rife with humor: Shaft Dangerzone and his six pack wings, anyone? And great advice you are going to hit bumps in the road-scenes that aren't any fun to write, chapters that aren't shaping up the way you'd hoped, and sections that make you question if you have any talent at all. This is incredibly annoying but very normal.
Probably the greatest piece of advice in the entire book is that nothing appeals to everyone and if you try and make your book appeal to everyone, you are going to fail.
I think the only thing I really disagreed with in the book, was the talk about different fantasy races and when body alterations have gone too far in regards to romantic relationships. Jenna makes it clear that she is not into monster romance. Suggesting 'adding' appendages such as tails, horns and wings (on the back) rather than 'replacing' or changing, such as hocks instead of legs or wings that attach from the arms to the torso or replace the arms all together, claiming it falls too close to bestiality and is 'icky'. I disagree with this assertion wholeheartedly, having read lots of monster romance that wasn't 'icky' in the least.
Overall, this was a very complete and informative guide to writing romantasy, and I learned a few things I didn't previously know, even though I'm pretty familiar with the genre at this point. If you are considering combining your love of romance and fantasy, this is a great book to help guide you through the early stages and will likely answer your most prominent and burning questions, with everything from worldbuilding, to magic use, to the spicy romance scale.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an Advanced copy of the book for review.
July 19, 2025
Conoscevo Jenna Moreci solo per fama, e non ho ancora letto i suoi romanzi, sebbene li tenga d'occhio praticamente sin dall'uscita, quindi questo è il suo primo lavoro che riesco a leggere e devo ringraziare Netgalley e l'editore per la copia omaggio fornitami in cambio di un parere onesto.
"How to Write Romantasy" è un manuale, e al tempo stesso un saggio divulgativo, davvero utile e interessante. Chiarisce in maniera semplice, ma esemplare, quelle che sono le differenze tra generi che non tutti hanno ancora ben chiaro: romantasy, fantasy romance e romance fantasy, che all'apparenza sembrano uguali, ma che invece son ben diversi nell'equilibrio tra gli elementi che vanno ad intrecciare.
Per chi mastica il genere e chi legge tantissimo, la differenza è già chiara, e quindi le prime quaranta pagine possono risultare un attimo ridondanti nello spiegare cose già sentite, anche solo sui vari social e sul Booktok soprattutto.
Per chi, invece, vuole avere un quadro ben chiaro e definito, soprattutto nell'ottica di ciò che si vuole scrivere e come puntare a livello strategico sul marketing del proprio titolo, può rivelarsi utile conoscere bene la terminologia per usarla a proprio vantaggio e con correttezza.
Questa prima parte, per me, è stata la più debole perché i concetti li avevo già sentiti e studiati ben bene, e quindi ho letto rapidamente per arrivare al succo del saggio, e cioè l'aiuto nella scrittura, la guida nella struttura del lato romance e del lato fantasy.
Quando il saggio arriva a diventare un "manuale", il lavoro di Jenna Moreci si fa davvero interessante, e sebbene sia abbastanza rapida come lettura, dà diversi spunti da cui partire sia per mettersi al lavoro, che (e soprattutto) per studiare meglio e approfondire alcuni aspetti che l'autrice tende ad accennare o a trattare, anche se non estremamente fino in fondo.
Come prima guida, e con gli esempi portati, devo dire che è stata una lettura davvero utile e scorrevole, che aggiunge dell'arricchimento al bagaglio che magari gli autori esordienti o gli aspiranti autori hanno già.
Mi sento di promuovere questo testo e di consigliarlo a chi vuole informarsi di più e farsi un'idea di base per procedere col proprio sogno: quello di regalare magiche storie d'amore.
"How to Write Romantasy" è un manuale, e al tempo stesso un saggio divulgativo, davvero utile e interessante. Chiarisce in maniera semplice, ma esemplare, quelle che sono le differenze tra generi che non tutti hanno ancora ben chiaro: romantasy, fantasy romance e romance fantasy, che all'apparenza sembrano uguali, ma che invece son ben diversi nell'equilibrio tra gli elementi che vanno ad intrecciare.
Per chi mastica il genere e chi legge tantissimo, la differenza è già chiara, e quindi le prime quaranta pagine possono risultare un attimo ridondanti nello spiegare cose già sentite, anche solo sui vari social e sul Booktok soprattutto.
Per chi, invece, vuole avere un quadro ben chiaro e definito, soprattutto nell'ottica di ciò che si vuole scrivere e come puntare a livello strategico sul marketing del proprio titolo, può rivelarsi utile conoscere bene la terminologia per usarla a proprio vantaggio e con correttezza.
Questa prima parte, per me, è stata la più debole perché i concetti li avevo già sentiti e studiati ben bene, e quindi ho letto rapidamente per arrivare al succo del saggio, e cioè l'aiuto nella scrittura, la guida nella struttura del lato romance e del lato fantasy.
Quando il saggio arriva a diventare un "manuale", il lavoro di Jenna Moreci si fa davvero interessante, e sebbene sia abbastanza rapida come lettura, dà diversi spunti da cui partire sia per mettersi al lavoro, che (e soprattutto) per studiare meglio e approfondire alcuni aspetti che l'autrice tende ad accennare o a trattare, anche se non estremamente fino in fondo.
Come prima guida, e con gli esempi portati, devo dire che è stata una lettura davvero utile e scorrevole, che aggiunge dell'arricchimento al bagaglio che magari gli autori esordienti o gli aspiranti autori hanno già.
Mi sento di promuovere questo testo e di consigliarlo a chi vuole informarsi di più e farsi un'idea di base per procedere col proprio sogno: quello di regalare magiche storie d'amore.
October 1, 2025
I’ve been following Jenna for years. I'm constantly visiting her YouTube channel, read The Savior’s Champion, The Savior’s Sister, and I was even a beta reader for The Savior’s Army. I also picked up her first craft book, Shut Up and Write the Book. So I went into How to Write Romantasy already knowing her style: smart, cheeky, and not at all afraid to own her experience-based opinions and share them for the benefit of all.
Full disclosure, I did receive an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for the offer to write an honest review. Here is my honesty:
I’ve studied writing for decades, so there isn’t much I haven’t come across before. What makes this book stand out is how Jenna takes Romantasy—a genre she dominates—and shows you exactly what is critical and how to make sure you have everything you need to write a potentially successful Romantasy story. She trusts her readers to handle the truth without sugar-coating anything, including the spicy bits.
The chapters I considered most universally useful:
Start with the Conflict — if you don’t have high stakes, you don’t have a story.
Mastering Romantic Chemistry (Emotional Intimacy) — essential for making readers care about your couple.
Make Sure Your Characters Shine — readers might be enthralled with your epic world-building, but they're going to fall in love with your characters. Or, at least, that's the goal.
And of course, as I already alluded, there's even a chapter with some of Jenna’s famous advice on writing sex scenes. For the inner twelve-year olds, it's hilarious. For the "we don't talk about sex" crowd, it's probably really uncomfortable. But for anyone writing Romantasy, it's direct and practical and should be considered mandatory reading.
Does this book cover every possible kind of romance? No. But if you read it with your own perspective and unique story concept in mind, you’ll see that what she teaches applies well beyond Romantasy. It’s useful for any story where relationships drive the heart of the narrative which, in my opinion, should be most books.
If you're looking for line-level writing advice, this is not it. If you're looking for a guide on how to make sure your Romantasy novel is set up for success, use this as a blueprint and checklist every time.
Full disclosure, I did receive an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for the offer to write an honest review. Here is my honesty:
I’ve studied writing for decades, so there isn’t much I haven’t come across before. What makes this book stand out is how Jenna takes Romantasy—a genre she dominates—and shows you exactly what is critical and how to make sure you have everything you need to write a potentially successful Romantasy story. She trusts her readers to handle the truth without sugar-coating anything, including the spicy bits.
The chapters I considered most universally useful:
Start with the Conflict — if you don’t have high stakes, you don’t have a story.
Mastering Romantic Chemistry (Emotional Intimacy) — essential for making readers care about your couple.
Make Sure Your Characters Shine — readers might be enthralled with your epic world-building, but they're going to fall in love with your characters. Or, at least, that's the goal.
And of course, as I already alluded, there's even a chapter with some of Jenna’s famous advice on writing sex scenes. For the inner twelve-year olds, it's hilarious. For the "we don't talk about sex" crowd, it's probably really uncomfortable. But for anyone writing Romantasy, it's direct and practical and should be considered mandatory reading.
Does this book cover every possible kind of romance? No. But if you read it with your own perspective and unique story concept in mind, you’ll see that what she teaches applies well beyond Romantasy. It’s useful for any story where relationships drive the heart of the narrative which, in my opinion, should be most books.
If you're looking for line-level writing advice, this is not it. If you're looking for a guide on how to make sure your Romantasy novel is set up for success, use this as a blueprint and checklist every time.
November 20, 2025
🪙
A Writing Guide Worth Its Weight in Gold
You get one, and you get one, and you get one. Everyone gets one.
Well yeah, everyone should get one if you plan to write a romantasy because this is worth its word count in gold.
To make it even all better, you get to witness Jenna's snark and maybe sometimes intrusive thoughts? This gives the book all the more life and flair, and makes you feel that this is really a wise old friend sharing their wisdom over a cup of wine . 🍷
It's all so thought out and fleshed out. Beautifully written and covers all the basics. It is incredibly informative and sends you the right way if you want to dig deeper.
Every chapter has an incredible summary to remind you of the main points, and I will personally use these as the basis of my checklists. ✔️
One of my favourite parts is the "what if I am writing a series?" section that really pushes you to plan forward and deeper. Though this comes in specific places and with specific topics, it was definitely much appreciated, though I will not say that series writing was covered in depth.
I think every beginner author should have this on their shelf.
And if I dare say, some more experienced authors should also have this and take its advice and recommendations to heart because some things you would think are common sense are actually done wrong, and this book is a sure way to remedy that. ✍️
It is super clear that this book is written by someone who knows their craft , who's done their research, and who has listened to readers and knows what they want and what they want to stay away from. So hear them and heed the words. 🗝️
Thank you NetGalley, Clarkson Potter, and Ten Speed Press for the ARC. 💛
You get one, and you get one, and you get one. Everyone gets one.
Well yeah, everyone should get one if you plan to write a romantasy because this is worth its word count in gold.
To make it even all better, you get to witness Jenna's snark and maybe sometimes intrusive thoughts? This gives the book all the more life and flair, and makes you feel that this is really a wise old friend sharing their wisdom over a cup of wine . 🍷
It's all so thought out and fleshed out. Beautifully written and covers all the basics. It is incredibly informative and sends you the right way if you want to dig deeper.
Every chapter has an incredible summary to remind you of the main points, and I will personally use these as the basis of my checklists. ✔️
One of my favourite parts is the "what if I am writing a series?" section that really pushes you to plan forward and deeper. Though this comes in specific places and with specific topics, it was definitely much appreciated, though I will not say that series writing was covered in depth.
I think every beginner author should have this on their shelf.
And if I dare say, some more experienced authors should also have this and take its advice and recommendations to heart because some things you would think are common sense are actually done wrong, and this book is a sure way to remedy that. ✍️
It is super clear that this book is written by someone who knows their craft , who's done their research, and who has listened to readers and knows what they want and what they want to stay away from. So hear them and heed the words. 🗝️
Thank you NetGalley, Clarkson Potter, and Ten Speed Press for the ARC. 💛
October 19, 2025
This book is targeted at the novice writer. As such, it is 60% how to write a novel and 40% romantasy 101. It explains things like basic story structure, the importance of editing, and how every story needs a conflict. The romantasy overview is, therefore, high level. For example, the romantasy tropes it discusses are the most basic and common tropes (enemies to lover, love triangle, etc.). I was hoping for more depth, but if you’ve never written a novel before and you want to get into romantasy, this would be quite helpful.
Moreci has good advice for new writers. For example, she recommends worldbuilding only as much as the plot requires. I think this is sage advice because many novice writers spend months or years worldbuilding and never actually write anything. Her point that the romantic couple needs to be “better” (defined as “more entertaining”) when they’re together than apart is also salient.
I think the main shortcoming of this book is that there are few examples. She references her own book a handful of times and one other book, and I think that’s it. More examples would have provided some depth and color to the ideas she discusses. Without examples, the concepts felt general, ungrounded. (I realize fear of spoilers could be the reason for this, but I recently read Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody, which spoils like fifty books; I found the examples immensely helpful for understanding the concepts presented there.)
Overall, I think this book has good advice for those looking to stick their toes into this genre, but if you’re hoping for a deep dive into romantasy’s nuances, this is not the book you’re looking for.
Thank you Netgalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Moreci has good advice for new writers. For example, she recommends worldbuilding only as much as the plot requires. I think this is sage advice because many novice writers spend months or years worldbuilding and never actually write anything. Her point that the romantic couple needs to be “better” (defined as “more entertaining”) when they’re together than apart is also salient.
I think the main shortcoming of this book is that there are few examples. She references her own book a handful of times and one other book, and I think that’s it. More examples would have provided some depth and color to the ideas she discusses. Without examples, the concepts felt general, ungrounded. (I realize fear of spoilers could be the reason for this, but I recently read Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody, which spoils like fifty books; I found the examples immensely helpful for understanding the concepts presented there.)
Overall, I think this book has good advice for those looking to stick their toes into this genre, but if you’re hoping for a deep dive into romantasy’s nuances, this is not the book you’re looking for.
Thank you Netgalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2025
4.5 stars!!
This book felt like a great way to be introduced to the process of writing a Romantasy novel. The way it is written is very entertaining and allowed me to stay invested into it without getting bored. There was a level of personality in it that definitely allowed me to stay interested.
Furthermore, while I don't think this book covers everything, it does do a good job at diving into the more popular tropes and ideas that one might find in a popular Romantasy today. The biggest strength this book had to me was the explanation of the 5 things you need to create to provide emotion intimacy for the characters. The author is also very good at including little examples of what each situation could look like through the whole book.
Lastly, I want to touch on the inclusivity that was included in this book. I think for the most part the author tried really hard to be aware and cognizant of relationship that might be outside of the "normal" perspective and for that I applaud her. However, I think if you're looking to write a book with a why choose or a reverse harem, you might want to look for specific detail for that somewhere else.
In the end, this book felt like a really easy, fun, and entertaining way to get introduced to something's that make a great Romantasy but you might need more guidance on how specifically plot and write a book beyond the fairly basic plot devices shared in this book.
Thanks to NetGalley, Jenna Moreci, and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for the eARC of this book and I would still highly recommend checking it out when it gets released on October 21, 2025!
This book felt like a great way to be introduced to the process of writing a Romantasy novel. The way it is written is very entertaining and allowed me to stay invested into it without getting bored. There was a level of personality in it that definitely allowed me to stay interested.
Furthermore, while I don't think this book covers everything, it does do a good job at diving into the more popular tropes and ideas that one might find in a popular Romantasy today. The biggest strength this book had to me was the explanation of the 5 things you need to create to provide emotion intimacy for the characters. The author is also very good at including little examples of what each situation could look like through the whole book.
Lastly, I want to touch on the inclusivity that was included in this book. I think for the most part the author tried really hard to be aware and cognizant of relationship that might be outside of the "normal" perspective and for that I applaud her. However, I think if you're looking to write a book with a why choose or a reverse harem, you might want to look for specific detail for that somewhere else.
In the end, this book felt like a really easy, fun, and entertaining way to get introduced to something's that make a great Romantasy but you might need more guidance on how specifically plot and write a book beyond the fairly basic plot devices shared in this book.
Thanks to NetGalley, Jenna Moreci, and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for the eARC of this book and I would still highly recommend checking it out when it gets released on October 21, 2025!
October 24, 2025
I preordered this book and was super excited about the possibility of a substantive guide on writing romantasy. I really wanted to love this book and give it rave reviews, but honestly, it was underwhelming for me. I did enjoy the author's wit and humor that was scattered throughout, but that wasn't enough to garner a higher rating.
While this book may be a helpful starting point for someone brand new to the romantasy genre, I found it somewhat disappointing overall. The content felt quite surface-level and much of the information could easily be found through a quick online search.
I was hoping for a deeper exploration of genre conventions and the structural nuances of both romantasy standalones and series. Unfortunately, the discussion of plot structure was quite vague and lacked the depth needed for writers serious about crafting a well-developed novel.
I was also hoping for more practical insight into how to weave romantic elements naturally into fantasy-driven plots. Aside from a few brief paragraphs and a rather generic diagram, this topic was only lightly touched upon. Given the book’s description—particularly the promise that it would take readers “from your first kernel of inspiration through the resolution of your novel”—I expected a more comprehensive treatment of plot and structure specific to the romantasy genre.
In short, while this may serve beginners looking for a very general overview, it fell short of expectations for anyone seeking substantive guidance on the craft of writing romantasy.
While this book may be a helpful starting point for someone brand new to the romantasy genre, I found it somewhat disappointing overall. The content felt quite surface-level and much of the information could easily be found through a quick online search.
I was hoping for a deeper exploration of genre conventions and the structural nuances of both romantasy standalones and series. Unfortunately, the discussion of plot structure was quite vague and lacked the depth needed for writers serious about crafting a well-developed novel.
I was also hoping for more practical insight into how to weave romantic elements naturally into fantasy-driven plots. Aside from a few brief paragraphs and a rather generic diagram, this topic was only lightly touched upon. Given the book’s description—particularly the promise that it would take readers “from your first kernel of inspiration through the resolution of your novel”—I expected a more comprehensive treatment of plot and structure specific to the romantasy genre.
In short, while this may serve beginners looking for a very general overview, it fell short of expectations for anyone seeking substantive guidance on the craft of writing romantasy.
September 8, 2025
As a reader of Jenna Moreci's previous craft book, I was rather delighted to see that she wrote a "How to Write Romantasy" book. I wanted to see how she would give advice and how she would address this subgenre of fantasy that is sometimes also considered a subgenre of romance. Once again, I feel like she wrote a pretty comprehensive guide for beginners and also gave something for veteran romantasy writers to think about.
She takes the time to talk about the different subgenres that are similar to this one and what tropes are often used in the genre, the varying levels of spice, the things that make a good love interest, and how both the plot and the romance have to intertwine a bit more in romantasy than they would in a romantic fantasy or a fantasy romance. The thin line between different genres can be hard to navigate and I think that Jenna does a great job of showcasing that and different ways that this could better be facilitated. When diving into the varying spice levels and the different ways that romantasy can be written, often involving different supernatural creatures or magic, she does a good job of balancing some of the key pieces that need to be covered.
Overall, I rather liked this book. The only complaint that I have would be how monster romance is sort of described as odd if it goes too far outside of the humanoid norms. Other than that? No complaints at all.
She takes the time to talk about the different subgenres that are similar to this one and what tropes are often used in the genre, the varying levels of spice, the things that make a good love interest, and how both the plot and the romance have to intertwine a bit more in romantasy than they would in a romantic fantasy or a fantasy romance. The thin line between different genres can be hard to navigate and I think that Jenna does a great job of showcasing that and different ways that this could better be facilitated. When diving into the varying spice levels and the different ways that romantasy can be written, often involving different supernatural creatures or magic, she does a good job of balancing some of the key pieces that need to be covered.
Overall, I rather liked this book. The only complaint that I have would be how monster romance is sort of described as odd if it goes too far outside of the humanoid norms. Other than that? No complaints at all.
September 9, 2025
How to Write Romantasy delivers on its titular promise, and while I think this will be a valuable asset for writers, I think readers, too, can enjoy this.
Moreci takes readers through the nitty gritty of plotting and crafting a romantasy story: choosing the 'spice' level, developing a crisis, worldbuilding, character development, and how to approach major plot points like the climax (no pun intended). Interwoven with the tips is Moreci's humorous tone which makes the book genuinely FUN to read. She uses examples from her own romantasy series to illustrate some points, although there are a few mentions of other books/authors (Tolkien, Maas, and The Bridge Kingdom come to mind). I understand with copyright issues she may not have been able to use other popular works, but I think including more examples from other books would have illustrated some of her concepts even better.
I am not planning on writing a romantasy book, yet I still found many of her tips and suggestions to be useful for other genres of writing. I also recommended this book to some friends who are not writers because it helps you analyze the romantasy you read and maybe identify what tropes/elements you gravitate towards and are repelled from. Overall, a great book for writers and readers alike!
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital ARC in exchange for review!*
Moreci takes readers through the nitty gritty of plotting and crafting a romantasy story: choosing the 'spice' level, developing a crisis, worldbuilding, character development, and how to approach major plot points like the climax (no pun intended). Interwoven with the tips is Moreci's humorous tone which makes the book genuinely FUN to read. She uses examples from her own romantasy series to illustrate some points, although there are a few mentions of other books/authors (Tolkien, Maas, and The Bridge Kingdom come to mind). I understand with copyright issues she may not have been able to use other popular works, but I think including more examples from other books would have illustrated some of her concepts even better.
I am not planning on writing a romantasy book, yet I still found many of her tips and suggestions to be useful for other genres of writing. I also recommended this book to some friends who are not writers because it helps you analyze the romantasy you read and maybe identify what tropes/elements you gravitate towards and are repelled from. Overall, a great book for writers and readers alike!
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital ARC in exchange for review!*
October 4, 2025
Unfortunately I was short on time and didn't finish the book before the Netgalley deadline. I got in about 20% of the book before it disappeared. So this review is more how I think the overall book would be based on what I've read so far.
As an aspiring author I think this book would be a great resource to have on your shelf. Either to read in one go or to be able to pick it up when you're running into something specific. I very much liked the writing style of the author, I was laughing quite a bit already in the beginning of the guide. She writes very understandable and thorough text.
Of course, writing very thoroughly can also work against you and I did think that the text had the tendency to be a little bit repetitive, could be either good or bad, depending on what you like in a guide. For me, this resulted in a 4 star review. Again, I didn't read a lot of this guide, but if you want to take anything away from my short review let it be this: I will 100% buy this book when it gets published!
I received an E-ARC of this book through Netgalley, many thanks to them and the author! All of my opinions are my own.
As an aspiring author I think this book would be a great resource to have on your shelf. Either to read in one go or to be able to pick it up when you're running into something specific. I very much liked the writing style of the author, I was laughing quite a bit already in the beginning of the guide. She writes very understandable and thorough text.
Of course, writing very thoroughly can also work against you and I did think that the text had the tendency to be a little bit repetitive, could be either good or bad, depending on what you like in a guide. For me, this resulted in a 4 star review. Again, I didn't read a lot of this guide, but if you want to take anything away from my short review let it be this: I will 100% buy this book when it gets published!
I received an E-ARC of this book through Netgalley, many thanks to them and the author! All of my opinions are my own.
November 4, 2025
If you’re a Jenna Moreci fan you’ll love this book. The book is chock full of her quippy humour and showcases her personality. Think her YouTube videos in book format. As a fan of her YouTube series, I enjoy her snarky personality and this book exudes it in spades.
This is a useful book for novice writers, fans of the genre, or readers who are unfamiliar with the art of writing. At times the book is a bit repetitive and I didn’t always feel it had anything new to contribute. The book relies heavily on her humour and witty delivery style while at times being slim in substance. Sometimes I wanted more of the nitty gritty writing tips.
The book is divided into 16 chapters. Each chapter has a bulleted summary of the content covered therein. The summary sections are highly helpful but would be even more useful if the formatting was better. Maybe that will change with publication. I had access to an uncorrected proof copy.
Overall, if you’re looking to write this genre or are a fan of Jenna then I highly recommend picking up this book. She also includes a nice list of additional resources to investigate at the end.
This is a useful book for novice writers, fans of the genre, or readers who are unfamiliar with the art of writing. At times the book is a bit repetitive and I didn’t always feel it had anything new to contribute. The book relies heavily on her humour and witty delivery style while at times being slim in substance. Sometimes I wanted more of the nitty gritty writing tips.
The book is divided into 16 chapters. Each chapter has a bulleted summary of the content covered therein. The summary sections are highly helpful but would be even more useful if the formatting was better. Maybe that will change with publication. I had access to an uncorrected proof copy.
Overall, if you’re looking to write this genre or are a fan of Jenna then I highly recommend picking up this book. She also includes a nice list of additional resources to investigate at the end.
July 9, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Ten Speed Press for providing this eARC.
This was a very well-structured and easy-to-follow guide. The author explains some basic genre-related concepts and covers the general storytelling flow and structure. While it is very beginner-friendly, it is still better geared toward people who have taken some sort of writing course before and have some general understanding of storytelling.
Overall, this is a well-structured, easy-to-follow book that will be interesting for beginner writers of fanfiction or romantasy books, as well as for people who may still be lurking on the outskirts of the writing community but want to learn more about how romantasy books are constructed and what makes a good book.
The book puts emphasis on crafting inclusive and reader-friendly stories (which is much needed, in my personal opinion!). Super grateful for this ARC and totally recommend if you want to improve your writing.
This was a very well-structured and easy-to-follow guide. The author explains some basic genre-related concepts and covers the general storytelling flow and structure. While it is very beginner-friendly, it is still better geared toward people who have taken some sort of writing course before and have some general understanding of storytelling.
Overall, this is a well-structured, easy-to-follow book that will be interesting for beginner writers of fanfiction or romantasy books, as well as for people who may still be lurking on the outskirts of the writing community but want to learn more about how romantasy books are constructed and what makes a good book.
The book puts emphasis on crafting inclusive and reader-friendly stories (which is much needed, in my personal opinion!). Super grateful for this ARC and totally recommend if you want to improve your writing.
August 15, 2025
Love, love, love!
First off, let me please thank Netgalley and the author for the ARC. I have just finished the first draft of my debut romantasy and read this book as I was writing it.
If you have ever wondered what it takes to write a romantasy, or if you are indeed writing one, please please grab this book immediately and read it before you do anything else. Entertaining, witty and to-the-point. Not a single word is wasted and it makes me feel like the author took so much care not to waste my time. and in a world where time is so precious, this is a gold mine 'how to' book that any romance writer or would-be writer needs to have.
There is very little to nit-pick about this book. But if I had to, I would say: yeah, no. There is nothing to say!
Because it was the perfect guide on how to write a romantasy!
What I loved the most – The summaries at the end of the chapters + Clear and concise writing style.
First off, let me please thank Netgalley and the author for the ARC. I have just finished the first draft of my debut romantasy and read this book as I was writing it.
If you have ever wondered what it takes to write a romantasy, or if you are indeed writing one, please please grab this book immediately and read it before you do anything else. Entertaining, witty and to-the-point. Not a single word is wasted and it makes me feel like the author took so much care not to waste my time. and in a world where time is so precious, this is a gold mine 'how to' book that any romance writer or would-be writer needs to have.
There is very little to nit-pick about this book. But if I had to, I would say: yeah, no. There is nothing to say!
Because it was the perfect guide on how to write a romantasy!
What I loved the most – The summaries at the end of the chapters + Clear and concise writing style.
June 24, 2025
If you're looking to try your hand at writing a Romantasy story, this is a great start. Moreci does an excellent job of breaking down the nuance between all the various subcategories, as well as defining the tropes. As I read through this book, I often found myself drawn back to my own WIP to see what I could apply and utilize. Written in a way that makes it easily accessible, this book is a great start on a writer's journey to understanding this genre that has taken of booktok. My one caveat is that my understanding of the emergence of the Why Choose trope was that it was created to replace 'Reverse Harem,' due to RH being considered an offensive term for a culture that most do not study or follow. I could be wrong, but I found myself wishing there was a more in depth look at those two specific terms. Otherwise, overall a good basis of knowledge to have when looking at this genre.
September 28, 2025
This is an excellent resource for anyone interested in creative writing, especially aspiring Romantasy authors. It clearly distinguishes between fantasy and Romantasy, showing that they are not interchangeable, and treats the genre with respect and depth.
The book provides practical tips for developing the stories writers have been holding back, from understanding different types of Romantasy to exploring story structures and common tropes. It breaks down the writing process step by step, helping writers think critically about character, plot, and world-building while giving tools to craft compelling, original stories.
I even applied many of the insights and advice from this book while working on my own novel, and it made a noticeable difference. This is a must-have guide for anyone looking to write Romantasy with confidence and creativity.
The book provides practical tips for developing the stories writers have been holding back, from understanding different types of Romantasy to exploring story structures and common tropes. It breaks down the writing process step by step, helping writers think critically about character, plot, and world-building while giving tools to craft compelling, original stories.
I even applied many of the insights and advice from this book while working on my own novel, and it made a noticeable difference. This is a must-have guide for anyone looking to write Romantasy with confidence and creativity.
October 2, 2025
Shoutout to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an EArc of Jenna's book guide.
As a follower of Jenna's youtube channel, I was intrigue because her videos were very helpful to me (She gives the best pep talks). But, as a writer and person that tries to learn new things everyday, this book wasn´t the kind of book that I expected.
I think it's the best book for an apprentice, a novice in the art of writing, or a person that wants to learn certain things for the first time. For me, someone that read and watched a bunch of things, it didn't say anything new.
However, I want to congratulate Jenna for writing this perfect beginner's guide to romantasy. It's catchy, funny and goes straight to the point. Such a great book for starters.
As a follower of Jenna's youtube channel, I was intrigue because her videos were very helpful to me (She gives the best pep talks). But, as a writer and person that tries to learn new things everyday, this book wasn´t the kind of book that I expected.
I think it's the best book for an apprentice, a novice in the art of writing, or a person that wants to learn certain things for the first time. For me, someone that read and watched a bunch of things, it didn't say anything new.
However, I want to congratulate Jenna for writing this perfect beginner's guide to romantasy. It's catchy, funny and goes straight to the point. Such a great book for starters.
October 7, 2025
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this on Netgalley, but I’ve just ordered my own copy to have to refer to, because this is amazing.
I find so many craft books to be full of waffle when what I am always looking for is practical, specific advice, and this goes above and beyond, running through the structure of romantasy and how the romance and fantasy plots should interact at every point of the story; but also going over things to avoid or pitfalls you can fall into, depending on what you’re doing, to make sure not to disappoint readers. It includes info on how to use the advice for a series, or for what SORT of romantasy you’re writing (YA, cosy, etc).
It's all done with Moreci’s signature irreverent, engaging humour, so if you like her youtube channel, you’ll like this.
I find so many craft books to be full of waffle when what I am always looking for is practical, specific advice, and this goes above and beyond, running through the structure of romantasy and how the romance and fantasy plots should interact at every point of the story; but also going over things to avoid or pitfalls you can fall into, depending on what you’re doing, to make sure not to disappoint readers. It includes info on how to use the advice for a series, or for what SORT of romantasy you’re writing (YA, cosy, etc).
It's all done with Moreci’s signature irreverent, engaging humour, so if you like her youtube channel, you’ll like this.
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