Episode Zero
Embark on an enchanting journey through the intertwined paths of romance and fantasy with your guides Mari, Kelly, Ashley, and Jonathan! We delve into what “romantasy” truly means. In this introductory episode, we review what this podcast will be about as we begin the journey with our listeners as our lively discussion paints a portrait of a genre that defies the mundane.
With our unique rating system, we will meticulously assess everything from the authenticity of cover art to the depth of fantasy and romantic elements that make a narrative irresistible. We also share our insights on how romantasy even includes the ‘bromances’ that define iconic films. Join us for a heart-stirring exploration that promises to leave you spellbound, as we celebrate the inclusivity that allows love to bloom in the most unexpected places, all while discovering how these tales resonate with our diverse literary palates.
Our Rating System
Overall (1 to 5 stars) – How many stars overall the book is would give the book, based off of story, plot, narrative, character development, and so on. A five-star book is one that is very exceptional while a one star book was somewhat disappointing but maybe still worth a read for some elements.
Fantasy Elements (0 to 5 swords) – Things like the magic system, how well-developed the world is, creatures that may exist in the world, how overpowered or realistic certain things are, how believable some political ideas or ideologies are in the book. How well is the world ‘built’?
Romance (0 to 5 hearts) – How strong is the romance in it, how well-developed, and that could be whether or not it was something believable, or whether there was romance in it at all, or whatever we thought of the romance element of the book.
Spice (0 to 5 peppers) – How much spice (naughtiness, sexy times, erotic elements, you get the idea…) there is or isn’t, or how well done it is or isn’t. This is not always in every book, and that’s fine. That doesn’t make it a better or a worse book. It’s just something that sometimes people are interested in, like if they’re deciding whether to read a certain story or book or whatever, how much spice is in it may factor in to their decision making.
Cover Art (0 to 5 paintbrushes) – The cover art that the author or publisher chose to portray their work. Not necessarily how good or bad the art itself is, but how well it syncs up to what’s in the inside, does it relate to what the story is about? Does it go with what the story is about? Would it compel you to pick this book up from the shelf?
Is this a kissing book (is it romantasy)?
Does this fall into what we think a romantasy book is after we read it? Because something can be labeled romantasy and we can disagree or agree. Does the story or plot fall apart without the romantic elements? In my head I hear the little boy’s character from Princess Bride asking, “is this a kissing book?”