I have a teenager and do not think YA should have spice. I wish they would separate YA from NA so parents could feel like they can count on whatever their kid picks up at the bookstore will be age appropriate if it's from the YA section. Instead I spend time double checking authors she likes and books she's interested in. I agree parents should be aware of what their kids are consuming but I also believe the publishing industry has a responsibility to not treat YA books the same way adult books are treated. Especially when some of these books are including bully romances and making young girls think that's okay. An adult knows it's fantasy but a teen might think it's normal. Also, why do adults want to read spice between teens? That's weird. If you want to age up characters through a series start the characters age 20. That's still young but an adult.
Honestly speaking, I wish that Romantasy had its own section because it's shelved along with other authors like Sanderson and someone who reads romantasy and then goes to read Sanderson is going to experience a lot of whiplash because they might think that Romantasy is what fantasy as a whole is. At the same time, I get why they do it, because people catch a lot of flak for reading romance books. I'm intrigued by the taking off of spice scenes, BookTok, and books like Fourth Wing that took off even though (IMO) the book is terrible and it was poorly researched especially with the Scots Gaelic. I might be too biased though because as a fantasy writer, it's really easy for me to zoom in on things and criticize it that I guess others wouldn't. Idk i got to the gets-you-into-trouble-and-you-like-it-level-of-hot and put the book down because I just couldn't and if I wanted to then I would have read something on Wattpad instead. I have no problem saying that the book wasn't for me even though I love romance, fantasy, and some romantasy. 23:39 Great point. I remember reading Kresley Cole in high school (probably shouldn't have been LOL).
Could you do a detailed breakdown on why Fourth Wing has become such a huge phenomenon? I keep thinking it's not a very good book (it has many elements that I would criticise), but in spite of that, I read it, couldn't put it down, then had to continue immediately with Iron Flame and I've become obsessed with this world & characters. I really would like someone to analyse the elements that made this book such a massive phenomenon 🙂
Sadly there isn’t often a detailed reason why books become phenomenons - ultimately it’s a combination of lots of things working well - ie the cover, the concept, the state of where the market is at that moment in time, but also the book itself! Often, books that aren’t the BEST quality but have a commercial/hooky appeal will take off in a huge way mainly as they’re easy to read, and therefore accessible to a wider range of people, importantly those who aren’t regular readers! Hope that helps ☺️ publishing is a magical art sometimes and often the books you think will do really well don’t, and vice versa!
I love what you said about the plethora of romantacy similar titles and covers being published just bc of the similarities to successful books. That’s why I Love my booktube channels! I count on you guys’s reviews to help me make up my reading list. It’s way too overwhelming to walk into a bookstore and try and pick a good book. I feel like I would pick one that wasn’t that great just bc I liked the cover art 😜
YA deserves love stories and maybe for older teen books to explore sex because it's crazy to exclude that whole part of a young person's reality and as adults I think we forget how often we were thinking about dates, and love, and contemplating sex as teens, but spice isn't necessary imo, especially when it veers into the unrealistic porn tropes that will give youth unreasonable expectations of how sex actually works. Also, as far as the genre remaining popular and lasting, I truly hope so but I'm nervous as someone who has seen too many girl-centric genres fall to the wayside, especially when they start making movies and tv shows about them... It's just too easy for patriarchal societies to see things made for women (especially as a visual media) and make fun of them as 'cheesy, childish, "girlboss" woke DEI trash' simply because men aren't the face 🙄.
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I have a teenager and do not think YA should have spice. I wish they would separate YA from NA so parents could feel like they can count on whatever their kid picks up at the bookstore will be age appropriate if it's from the YA section. Instead I spend time double checking authors she likes and books she's interested in. I agree parents should be aware of what their kids are consuming but I also believe the publishing industry has a responsibility to not treat YA books the same way adult books are treated. Especially when some of these books are including bully romances and making young girls think that's okay. An adult knows it's fantasy but a teen might think it's normal. Also, why do adults want to read spice between teens? That's weird. If you want to age up characters through a series start the characters age 20. That's still young but an adult.
Thanks for your comment! Completely agree ☺️
Honestly speaking, I wish that Romantasy had its own section because it's shelved along with other authors like Sanderson and someone who reads romantasy and then goes to read Sanderson is going to experience a lot of whiplash because they might think that Romantasy is what fantasy as a whole is. At the same time, I get why they do it, because people catch a lot of flak for reading romance books.
I'm intrigued by the taking off of spice scenes, BookTok, and books like Fourth Wing that took off even though (IMO) the book is terrible and it was poorly researched especially with the Scots Gaelic. I might be too biased though because as a fantasy writer, it's really easy for me to zoom in on things and criticize it that I guess others wouldn't.
Idk i got to the gets-you-into-trouble-and-you-like-it-level-of-hot and put the book down because I just couldn't and if I wanted to then I would have read something on Wattpad instead. I have no problem saying that the book wasn't for me even though I love romance, fantasy, and some romantasy.
23:39 Great point. I remember reading Kresley Cole in high school (probably shouldn't have been LOL).
Really interesting points! Thanks for watching ☺️
Could you do a detailed breakdown on why Fourth Wing has become such a huge phenomenon?
I keep thinking it's not a very good book (it has many elements that I would criticise), but in spite of that, I read it, couldn't put it down, then had to continue immediately with Iron Flame and I've become obsessed with this world & characters. I really would like someone to analyse the elements that made this book such a massive phenomenon 🙂
Sadly there isn’t often a detailed reason why books become phenomenons - ultimately it’s a combination of lots of things working well - ie the cover, the concept, the state of where the market is at that moment in time, but also the book itself! Often, books that aren’t the BEST quality but have a commercial/hooky appeal will take off in a huge way mainly as they’re easy to read, and therefore accessible to a wider range of people, importantly those who aren’t regular readers! Hope that helps ☺️ publishing is a magical art sometimes and often the books you think will do really well don’t, and vice versa!
I love what you said about the plethora of romantacy similar titles and covers being published just bc of the similarities to successful books. That’s why I Love my booktube channels! I count on you guys’s reviews to help me make up my reading list. It’s way too overwhelming to walk into a bookstore and try and pick a good book. I feel like I would pick one that wasn’t that great just bc I liked the cover art 😜
Yes this is why I love booktube too! Can always rely on them for the recommendations ☺️ thanks for watching!
I love this video! Thank you for the inside info 😜
Thanks so much for watching! ☺️
I feel like every Romantasy book I read is enemies to lovers 😂
So true… it’s so popular at the moment!
YA deserves love stories and maybe for older teen books to explore sex because it's crazy to exclude that whole part of a young person's reality and as adults I think we forget how often we were thinking about dates, and love, and contemplating sex as teens, but spice isn't necessary imo, especially when it veers into the unrealistic porn tropes that will give youth unreasonable expectations of how sex actually works.
Also, as far as the genre remaining popular and lasting, I truly hope so but I'm nervous as someone who has seen too many girl-centric genres fall to the wayside, especially when they start making movies and tv shows about them... It's just too easy for patriarchal societies to see things made for women (especially as a visual media) and make fun of them as 'cheesy, childish, "girlboss" woke DEI trash' simply because men aren't the face 🙄.
Really great comment, thank you for sharing! ☺️