Just a Few More Pages discussion

This is a totally free for all club right now, so don’t hesitate to post a topic when you want to dive into discussions!

Recently I went to the UK, and one of my best friends and I went to a Waterstones almost every day. We love to browse and check curated tables. We also rate which are the best bookstores based on overall vibe, organization, but most importantly how good their curated tables are.

ANYWAYS, because we can’t ignore a good deal, this one table had a buy 1 take 1 on something in a genre called “romantasy” which we have never really explored before. Of course we had to buy 2 of the same book so we could read together on our holiday. I HAVE NEVER LOOKED BACK. Contemporary romance? No thank you. Dragons, Magic, adventure, bloody battles and a little spice? Uhhh yes please. I love fantasy, but it is often missing such a big part of the human experience - romance. I couldn’t be happier finding my gateway to the genre. I devoured Fourth Wing and Iron Flame so quickly, too quickly, and I’m starving for more like this. I want world building, I want lore, I want thrilling adventures, I want dragons, elves, magic, sages, and a really gripping romance that has me rolling around with giddiness.

So, as I’m on my new adventure into this whole new genre… I would love a must read list if you have them! But also bear with me while I read my adventure smut for a while 😂😂😂

I tend to like fantasy with romance elements or characters I can crush on so I'm not the best for recs but "half a soul" by Olivia Atwater was awesome and a quick read. I have a bunch of her other books queued. also I'm about to start "the spellshop" by durst. she has a pet plant which won me over

also Atwater is a DND fan

I’m so happy we found Romantasy together! I’m re-reading Serpent and the wings of night again and already downloaded the 2nd book on my kindle to dive right in when I’m done!!! I mean Jacqui, Ive been just adding your list to mine so on this journey with you! I’m thinking from and and blood (is that the series) or ACOTAR after this…..

Spellshop was that really beautiful looking book Carmen and I saw at the store! We added it to our TBR list purely because of the cover 😂 very cottage core, I was sold.

I had a major reading slump last year, mostly because work got really busy. I was stressed constantly, never taking slow moments to myself. I am now making it a point to do things like this to just take it easy and read. So of course, to make up for the guilt of not reading for so long, my TBR list is insanely long haha

flower wrote: "also Atwater is a DND fan"

SAY NO MORE

I’m thinking to read Spellshop in Octoberwhen it’s fall so I can be all cozy while reading a cottagecore fantasy book haha. Plus it will balance out all the horror games I’ll be playing and horror films I’ll be watching

I don't think I can quote reply on this app but yes Atwater did a Reddit AMA and she seems like a huge dork in the best way.

I agree, spellshop is cozy (the cover is basically glowing!) and would be great when stressed or during the fall.

Ive spent too many hours picking out books as some ocd thing, lol. another top of my romantasy queue would be t kingfisher. apparently she writes romantasy with actual adults. I'm pretty old myself so that's nice.

I've read Emily wildes encyclopaedia of the fairies (haven't read second book yet) but it's romantasy with kind of a found family trope which I love. I think I'm drawn to books where the female main character is a bit neurodivergent I guess (??) or just different. both half a soul and Emily wilde are similar in that regard, without getting spoilerish

https://youtu.be/SIWHYIWONcA?si=gNSUX... (elliot brooks). I don't agree with all of her reviews but they're very thoughtful and she's read a ton of fantasy and romantasy

oops I was trying to link to her actual channel https://youtube.com/@ebnovels?si=GN5X...

prob should've done this at a computer

ooooh, romantasy... one of my friends is in the process of publishing their romantasy novel, which i beta'd! though, thinking, it's more of a contempromance (it's fun to mash genres lol) with historical/fantasy elements

tbh, it sounds like a super interesting genre... im still dipping my toes into reading atm, essentially, and i really want to read more genres... actually... this gives me an idea for a thread...

I love characters who are slightly neurodivergent too! I think it adds so much more of a challenge and insight for the characters. To see them finally thrive or conquer makes me feel like I need to give everyone a high five 😂😂

The other character types I love to read about are people who are an absolute hot mess. I don’t know why lol it would be far too chaotic for me to be around that person IRL but reading about it is just so entertaining. Characters getting into hot water all the time because they’re such a screw up is my jam.

You need to drop your friend’s Romantasy novel here as soon as it’s published! Let’s support friends

yeah it's funny coincidentally the spellshop main character is an introvert!

i think part of my issue with romantasy is like... the smut isn't good? so I'd rather it be off cam or whatever. I'm saying this based on acotar though. I won't say anything else it might be spoilerish

oh I like romance when it's like a bunch of tension build up and barely any release I guess haha

Oops, finished the spellshop and I loved it but def cozy fantasy not romantasy

Cozy fantasy is perfect for this monsoon season we’re getting now! I might just get it myself

reading swordheart now, like 30 percent through but it's absolutely romantasy and the woman is in her 30s which is nice. great so far. it's my first t kingfisher book

Oooo adding that to my TBR list!! I like books with characters closer to my age 😂

Man… I got sucked into the ACOTAR series >.>

hahha I binged on acotar hardcore then after acowar quit completely but it gets great reviews on good reads so I'm in the minority.

yeah always I'm on the lookout for any "older" romances

I’m also in the middle of binging ACOTAR. About to start the 3rd book haha.

If ACOTAR is same as her Throne of Glass, where each new male character is handsomier than previous, then I feel sorry for girls readers :)

https://youtu.be/iPBD2WybXrs?si=SDZ-L...

I swear im not just like shilling this person's channel lol. but it's a fun meta discussion about romantasy marketing etc, like a podcast

holly wrote: "yeah it's funny coincidentally the spellshop main character is an introvert!

i think part of my issue with romantasy is like... the smut isn't good? so I'd rather it be off cam or whatever. I'm s..."

I LOVED THE SPELLSHOP! I will take no criticism on this book haha. I finished it last night at 3am. It just left me feeling all warm and cozy, and she is just as introverted and awkward as I am haha. It was just such a heartwarming book

I'm glad you liked it! it got me out of a reading slump. I'll definitely read her next book, enchanted greenhouse or something.