The secret language of maps in fantasy books

Posted on July 28, 2026 by conjurors

There is a specific thrill that comes with cracking open a brand new fantasy novel. Before you even meet the protagonist or learn the magic system, you turn the page and see a heavily detailed, hand drawn map. It is the ultimate invitation to leave reality behind. But that map is not just a pretty piece of art. It is a literal roadmap of the entire plot.

It is one of the best traditions in the genre. However, a map is rarely just a pretty illustration to look at before the story begins. It is a puzzle waiting to be solved. If you know what to look for, you can analyze the geography to predict exactly what kind of tropes, journeys, and dangers are coming before you even read chapter one.

Here is how to decode the secret language of fantasy maps so you can spot the hidden plot clues in your next read.

The mountains of doom

In fantasy geography, mountain ranges are almost never just beautiful scenery. They are massive narrative hurdles with terrible real estate value.

If a mountain range is jagged, dark, and walls off a specific corner of the world, you can guarantee a villain lives there. A perfect example is the iconic map of Middle Earth found in The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien. Frodo and the rest of the fellowship are forced to journey into the very heart of Mordor, which is completely surrounded by unforgiving, treacherous mountains.

If a map shows a narrow mountain pass blocking the only path forward, you know the characters are going to get trapped there and face something terrible in the snow. Usually without proper winter coats.

Winding rivers versus straight roads

When you look at a map, pay close attention to the transportation routes. They will tell you exactly how the pacing of the story will feel.

Winding rivers almost always mean a slow, character building journey. The characters will likely travel by boat, giving them plenty of time for deep dialogue, bonding, and probably getting attacked by a random sea monster. On the flip side, a direct empire road means high stakes, fast pacing, and imminent conflict.

Look at the map of Westeros in A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. The Kingsroad cuts straight through the continent, connecting the forbidding shores of Winterfell all the way to King’s Landing. That massive, direct road promises immediate political tension, deadly ambushes, and characters who never get a good night of sleep.

The lone island or unusual border

A random, isolated island or a massive dividing line on a map is a huge narrative promise to the reader. Unusual geography always indicates where the most intense parts of the narrative will unfold.

Take the map of Prythian from A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. Right off the bat, you see a massive wall dividing the human lands from the magical courts. You just know someone is going to be forced to cross it. Then you look off the coast and spot the isolated island of Hybern. An island sitting all by itself in the corner of a fantasy map is never just a fun vacation spot. It usually means a major villain is plotting in isolation, just waiting to ruin the protagonist’s day.

The next time you dive into a new fantasy world, take a minute to check out to those jagged peaks, winding rivers, and mysterious isolated islands. You will start seeing the story unfold before the characters even take their first steps.

Animating your book universe with AI video generation (part 2)

Posted on June 30, 2026 by conjurors

In my last post, we talked about using AI image generation to visualize the characters and scenes from your work in progress. It is a fantastic way to bring your story to life in your own mind and give your readers a sneak peek into your world. Now I’m testing ways to take it a step further and bring those worlds to life.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a newbie, and I don’t have any professional video editing software. I use Gemini to generate my images and videos. These materials are not meant to be highly polished, professional advertisements or book trailers. They are simply another creative tool. AI video helps me build out my universe, stay inspired during the drafting process, and share a more immersive glimpse of the story with all of you.

For authors who want to experiment with video, the process can feel overwhelming at first. Here is a simple guide to getting started with AI video generation and a few tricks you might not have heard yet.

Start with a strong foundation image

The easiest way to get a good AI video is not to generate it from scratch. Instead of typing a text prompt and hoping for the best, use the image to video feature available on most major platforms. Take that hyperrealistic character portrait or stunning background you created using the tips from part one, upload it to a video generator, and use it as your starting frame. This guarantees your characters stay consistent and look exactly the way you designed them.

Keep the movement subtle

When we think of video, we usually think of big action sequences. In the AI video world, asking a generator to make your character run across a room or engage in a sword fight often results in a distorted, melty mess. The trick to a beautiful video teaser is ambient motion. Ask the AI to add subtle wind blowing through hair, a slow blink, or a gentle breathing motion. This brings your character to life without breaking the illusion.

Direct the camera instead of the subject

If you want your video to feel cinematic, tell the AI how to move the camera rather than how to move the character. Use photography terms in your prompts. Ask for a slow zoom in, a slow pan to the right, or a drone shot pulling away. This creates a sweeping, professional feel that is perfect for revealing the sprawling cities or magical forests in your fantasy world.

Animate the environment

Sometimes the most effective way to tease a scene is to focus entirely on the atmosphere. If you are writing a tense scene in a dark alley, use your prompt to add falling rain and rolling fog. For my Super Santa project, adding gently falling snow and flickering neon lights to a static image instantly transformed it into a living, breathing location from the book.

Creative ways to use your new videos

Once you have a few beautiful and subtly moving clips, there are plenty of ways to use them to intrigue your readers.

Post them on social media. Short, atmospheric clips are perfect for platforms like Instagram Reels or TikTok. You can add a trending audio track and a quote from your current chapter to get people clicking without ever having to dance on camera.
Upgrade your newsletter. Many email platforms allow you to embed looping GIFs. You can convert your short video into a GIF to use as a stunning header for your next author update.
Enhance your website. A softly looping video of your book’s primary setting makes a fantastic, eye catching background for your website’s home page.

Creating visual teasers is all about having fun and letting your readers step directly into the world you are building. Grab your favorite character portrait and see what happens when you press play.

Bringing my book universe to life with AI image generation (part 1)

Posted on June 7, 2026 by conjurors

As writers, we spend months or even years living with characters entirely inside our own heads. We know exactly how the light catches their eyes, what their hometown looks like at dusk, and the exact smirk they give right before doing something reckless. Translating that vision into text can sometimes feel like trying to explain a dream.

Lately, I have found a new way to bring my stories to life in my own mind even more vividly. I started using AI image generation to visualize the characters and scenes I’m currently drafting.

To be clear, I am not generating these images to use as final book covers or interior novel illustrations. This is simply a creative tool. It inspires me during the drafting process and helps me lock down my world building. Most importantly, it gives my readers a direct peek into the world exactly as I see it.

Right now, I am deep into the development of Super Santa, a superhero spoof novel. I wanted to share a few of the hyperrealistic images I have created for the project and give you a breakdown of how to generate consistent, repeatable character models to inspire your own writing.

A sneak peek at the Super Santa universe

Because this project leans heavily into superhero tropes, the visuals needed to carry a cinematic, blockbuster weight. I also spoofed famous images from other superhero movies. I focused on hyperrealistic image and video generation to capture the grit, the action, and the very specific aesthetic of a Santa-themed hero.

How to create a repeatable AI character model

If you want to use AI to visualize your protagonist, you have likely hit the biggest roadblock. It is easy to generate a beautiful character once, but it feels impossible to get the AI to recreate that exact same face again.

If you want to build a consistent visual reference board for your novel, you need character consistency. Here is how you build a repeatable model.

Write a master character prompt. Do not just type “a man in a superhero suit.” You need to lock down the exact facial architecture. Write a master prompt that includes highly specific descriptors like jawline shape, exact eye color, skin texture, age, hair parting, and specific blemishes or scars. Use this exact text every time.
Embrace imperfections. Real humans are not perfectly smooth. To avoid the plastic AI look, add prompts for skin texture, visible pores, slight asymmetrical features, or environmental weathering like dirt, sweat, or windblown hair.
Establish a base uniform. Keep their clothing consistent in your prompts. If your protagonist wears a specific style of armor or a signature jacket, describe it exactly the same way in every single generation.
Utilize character reference features. Most advanced AI tools now have a character reference parameter or a way to upload a base image. Feed your absolute best and most accurate generated image back into the system to force the AI to use it as the blueprint for all future generations.

Tips for getting hyperrealistic results

Getting your character to look the same is step one. Getting them to look like a living, breathing person instead of a plastic doll is step two. To get those stunning, hyperrealistic results to share with your readers, you have to prompt the AI like a film director.

Use photography terminology. Instead of simply asking the generator to make it look real, use specific camera directions. Add terms like 50mm lens, shallow depth of field, cinematic lighting, 8k resolution, volumetric fog, or shot on 35mm film. Don’t know this terminology? Don’t worry, you can ask AI to create the prompt for you, explaining what you’re looking for.
Control the lighting. Lighting dictates the mood of your scene. Specify golden hour lighting, harsh neon studio lights, dramatic shadows, or soft ambient glow depending on the tone of your chapter.
Leverage background reference images. Finding the perfect setting can be tricky. If you have an image with the exact environment you want, you can upload it to use purely as a background reference. Many AI platforms have an inpainting tool or image to image feature that lets you mask out the original person in the photo and replace them directly with your own character model.

Visualizing your novel is an incredible way to keep yourself motivated during the drafting process and to build excitement with your readers. Have fun playing the role of casting director, set designer, and lead photographer for your own universe.

Step inside The Conjurors Series with an Animal Crossing New Horizons island tour

Posted on May 5, 2026 by conjurors

World building is my favorite part of writing fantasy. When I first outlined The Conjurors series, I wanted a setting totally disconnected from our reality. That is exactly how The Globe was born. It is a magical land tucked away in the center of a black hole where the rules of physics give way to pure magic.

Because this world is so unique, I thought a lot about classic video games when I created it. Games almost always have distinct landscapes like an ice world, a desert world, or a water world. I built that exact concept directly into the lore of the books to make exploring The Globe feel like advancing through levels.

For those who have never played it, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a popular Nintendo Switch video game where players are given a deserted island to completely customize. You can build cliffs, dig rivers, and decorate inside and outside to design your own perfect world. Translating The Globe into this game felt like a perfect fit because my books already shared DNA with video game maps.

I spent the last few months physically mapping out the land. I designed the layout to be a sequential journey. If you follow the path, you will walk through the first book of The Conjurors Series, The Society of Imaginary Friends, in the exact order Valerie does.

Walking the story beats

Your journey starts the moment you leave the airport. You land right in Arden. I wanted to capture the feeling of a deeply magical forest, so I used the game’s glowing moss and mushroom items to surround you with the vibrant magic of the Society. If you want to try making your own, check out this guide on how to build a magical forest in ACNH.

As you follow the path forward, you will catch a quick sneak peek of Plymouth, the underground city beneath Arden. The camera angle in the game is usually fixed, so I used a design trick called forced perspective here. By placing smaller items on cliffs far away, it creates an optical illusion that makes looking down at Plymouth seem like a peek underground. Here is a great tutorial on forced perspective if you want to see how the illusion works.

Next, you can explore the colorful, horseshoe-shaped path at the heart of Arden (right above Plymouth), which has the biggest of the guilds on the Globe, including The Society of Imaginary Friends, Knights of Light, and Guardians of the Boundary. They are all decorated inside and out! From there, you get to travel by rollercoaster straight into the desert. You all know how much I love rollercoasters in real life, so building this was one of the most rewarding parts of the game.

You then continue your journey into the futuristic city of Messina. In front is a suburban neighborhood, but behind it visitors can see the city skyline. To bring this area to life, I used glowing servers and neon lights. You can watch this how-to video on building city skylines to see the creative process.

Next comes my favorite interactive part of the island tour. The game features special warp pipes that instantly teleport your character across the map. I used one of these to represent the Where-O-Well Valerie jumps in to escape her enemies. You jump in, and the pipe transports you directly to Elsinore. This area is a pure ice world. I used the game’s frozen ice block items to build a massive, shimmering ice castle.

Finally, the terrain shifts. You move from Elsinore to the bleak, purple land of Dunsinane, where the atmosphere grows heavy. This is where the final battle takes place at the Black Castle. If you go inside and find the dungeon, you’ll even find the sword Cyrus infused with light from a glowing flower.

Experience the world of The Conjurors in a whole new way

If you have a copy of the game, you can visit the island right now. Just hop into a bed, go to sleep, and enter the dream address below.

Dream Address: DA-5087-9288-3488

If you have not started The Conjurors series yet, now is the perfect time. You can grab a free copy of book one, The Society of Imaginary Friends, and walk through the island as you read along with Valerie’s journey.

I would absolutely love to see your characters exploring the desert or braving the dungeons of the Black Castle. Please take pictures if you visit and tag me so I can see them. Thank you for always supporting this series and letting me share these creative side projects with you.

Happy traveling!

Decoding fiction age categories from middle grade to adult

Posted on April 24, 2026 by conjurors

I spend a lot of time reading across the entire sci-fi and fantasy spectrum, bouncing from middle grade adventures to sprawling adult space operas depending on my mood. But as an author, I know firsthand that pinning down exactly where a manuscript fits can be a headache.

When I sit down to draft, the boundaries between Middle Grade, Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult fiction aren’t always clear-cut. Does a middle grade adventure lose its classification if the emotional stakes get too dark? If a YA protagonist is tackling intense, systemic rebellion, does that bump the book into New Adult territory?

Whether you’re a reader trying to find the right maturity level and pacing for your weekend binge, or a fellow writer trying to figure out how to pitch your current work-in-progress to an agent, knowing the industry standards is crucial. Ultimately, the differences between these categories come down to four main pillars: the age of the protagonist, the thematic focus, the target word count, and the level of mature content allowed on the page.

Here is a breakdown of what makes each age category unique, what readers expect, and what we need to keep in mind as writers.

Middle Grade (MG)

The target audience: Readers aged 8 to 12.

The protagonist: Usually between 10 and 13 years old.

Middle Grade fiction is characterized by a sense of wonder, fast pacing, and a focus on the protagonist’s immediate world. The central conflicts usually revolve around family dynamics, friendships, and figuring out where you fit in. While the stakes can be high, the emotional lens is focused on a child stepping slightly outside their comfort zone for the first time.

Writing guidelines: Word counts sit on the lower end (usually 35,000–65,000 words). Romance is limited to a first crush, and on-page swearing or graphic violence is strictly off-limits.
Reader expectations: High adventure, deep friendships, and clean content.
Classic example: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan — A perfect showcase of a 12-year-old protagonist dealing with family issues while trying to survive mythical monsters.

Young Adult (YA)

The target audience: Readers aged 12 to 18.

The protagonist: Typically 15 to 18 years old.

Young Adult fiction is intense and emotional. This is the age of first true love, first major heartbreak, and the first time realizing the adults in charge might actually be wrong. The themes shift away from the internal family unit and focus heavily on identity, rebellion, and society at large.

Writing guidelines: Word counts generally sit between 60,000 and 90,000 (often pushing 100,000 for sci-fi/fantasy). Romance can be a major subplot, but the heat level usually “fades to black.” Swearing and violence are present but shouldn’t be gratuitous.
Reader expectations: High-stakes action, emotional angst, and intense romantic tension.
Classic example: Cinder by Marissa Meyer — A brilliant blend of sci-fi and fairy tale where a teenage protagonist challenges a galactic empire.

Navigating the line between MG and YA

The boundary between Middle Grade and Young Adult can sometimes be blurry, especially in science fiction and fantasy. When I was writing The Conjurors series, I had to carefully consider where it fit. It has the wonder, pacing, and friendship dynamics that appeal heavily to Middle Grade readers, but as the characters face increasingly complex moral dilemmas and darker stakes, it naturally bridges the gap into early Young Adult territory. My hope is that the series matured alongside its readers.

New Adult (NA)

The target audience: Readers aged 18 to 25.

The protagonist: Typically 18 to 25 years old.

New Adult bridges the gap between YA and Adult fiction. These characters are out of the house, away from their parents, and navigating the messy transition into true independence, college life, and first careers. While originally known as a contemporary romance category, NA has recently exploded in the sci-fi and “romantasy” spaces.

Writing guidelines: Explicit content, heavy swearing, and mature situations are fair play and often expected. Word counts vary wildly but usually mirror adult fantasy (80,000–120,000+ words).
Reader expectations: The fast pacing and emotional intensity of YA, combined with the explicit content and complex life problems of older fiction.
Classic example: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros — A massive romantasy hit featuring a college-aged protagonist, lethal trials, and high heat.

Navigating the line between YA and NA

Finding the right label can be just as tricky at the older end of the spectrum. My Joan the Made series walks the razor-thin line between upper Young Adult and emerging New Adult. The protagonist is grappling with themes of intense systemic rebellion and autonomy that resonate deeply with older YA readers, but the grit, emotional maturity, and complex consequences push it right up against the boundaries of New Adult fiction.

Adult Fiction

The target audience: Readers aged 18 and up.

The protagonist: 20s through the golden years.

Adult fiction is unrestricted. The themes here tackle every phase of life: marriages, career burnout, parenthood, existential crises, and expansive world-building. The pacing can be more deliberate, allowing for deeply layered plots and massive, sprawling casts of characters.

Writing guidelines: No restrictions on content. It can be entirely clean or incredibly explicit, depending on the specific sub-genre. Word counts usually range from 80,000 to 120,000+ for sci-fi and fantasy.
Reader expectations: Layered prose, complex moral gray areas, and characters who often have significant life experience before the story even begins.
Classic example: The Martian by Andy Weir — A highly technical sci-fi survival story starring an established professional, featuring themes of resilience and adult humor.

Quick reference category guide

If you need a fast breakdown, here is how the industry generally separates the age categories:

Category	Protagonist Age	Core Themes	Romance & Heat Level
Middle Grade	10–13	Fitting in, family, discovering the world	None to mild crushes
Young Adult	15–18	Identity, rebellion, challenging society	Moderate (usually fades to black)
New Adult	18–25	Independence, college, early adulthood	High (explicit content expected)
Adult	20+	All phases of life, complex gray areas	Varies entirely by sub-genre

Where to find real science to build your sci-fi worlds

Posted on April 20, 2026 by conjurors

If you’ve read Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary (and if you haven’t, please drop everything and go read it right now), you know the absolute thrill of believable science fiction. Watching Ryland Grace use actual physics, chemistry, and biology to solve interstellar problems didn’t just make for a gripping story. It made the impossible feel entirely real.

When your technology is rooted in reality, it anchors the reader. It builds a bridge of suspension of disbelief so strong that when you do introduce the aliens or the faster-than-light travel, the reader follows you without a second thought.

So where do you find inspiration that feels like the future but is actually happening today? Here are my favorite goldmines for real-world sci-fi world-building:

1. DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency)

If you want to know what the military tech of the future looks like, look no further than DARPA’s current projects. This is the US agency responsible for developing emerging technologies for the military. They are the ones funding research into mind-controlled prosthetics, self-healing materials, and autonomous swarm drones. Browsing their news feed feels like reading the prologue to a cyberpunk thriller. If you need a piece of tech that sounds crazy but is actively being prototyped, this is your starting line.

2. arXiv.org

Pronounced “archive,” arXiv is an open-access repository of electronic preprints. It is essentially where physicists, astronomers, and computer scientists drop their newest and most mind-bending theories before they hit mainstream journals. Want to read a brand-new paper on theoretical warp drives, quantum entanglement, or the atmospheric composition of a newly discovered exoplanet? It is all here. The papers can be incredibly dense, but skimming the abstracts is a phenomenal way to spark a “what if?” scenario for your next novel.

3. MIT Technology Review

While arXiv gives you the raw data, MIT Technology Review offers beautifully curated journalism about the tech that is actively reshaping our world. They cover everything from CRISPR gene editing to artificial intelligence breakthroughs. It is perfect for understanding not just how the technology works, but how it will impact human society, ethics, and daily life. That intersection is exactly where the conflict in a good YA sci-fi novel lives.

4. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) News

For the space opera writers out there, JPL is a must. These are the folks building the rovers and the deep-space probes. Following their updates gives you a realistic look at the logistics of space travel. You can learn about the delays in communication, radiation shielding, and the incredible engineering required just to land a hunk of metal on another rock. It is the perfect place to figure out how your intrepid young heroes are actually going to keep their ship flying when the engine goes out.

Building a universe takes a lot of imagination, but a little bit of reality makes the stars shine just a bit brighter. What about you? Writers, where do you go to find your world-building inspiration? Readers, what is your favorite piece of sci-fi tech that you wish existed in real life? Let me know in the comments!

How the world building in Scythe changed the way I write

Posted on April 10, 2026 by conjurors

I’ve been in a total book hangover since turning the last page of the Scythe trilogy. You know that feeling where the real world looks a little bit blurry because you’re still half-submerged in the one you just left? That was me for three days straight. As I read, I found myself constantly reaching for my highlighter, not just because the plot was a total roller coaster, but because Neal Shusterman managed to make a “perfect” future feel so hauntingly inevitable.

It’s exactly the kind of balance I’m constantly chasing in my own novels: that sweet spot where big, “what-if” science meets the messy, complicated hearts of the people living through it. I’ve been noodling on why this world felt so real to me, and since I always process things better once I get them down on the page, I wanted to share the world-building shifts I’m making in my own work after spending time in the Scythehood.

Give your “perfect” world a price tag

In my own drafts, I’m always tempted to make things go smoothly for my characters once they find a portal or a piece of tech. Scythe reminded me that the most interesting stories happen when the science is flawless but the people are still a mess. Shusterman gives humanity immortality, but then shows us the weird, psychological rot that sets in when no one is afraid of the end anymore.

If I’m building a utopia, I need to find the “emotional tax” my characters have to pay to live there. If there’s no friction, there’s no story.

Let the world be a silent witness

The “Thunderhead” (the AI that runs the world) is probably the most fascinating character I’ve encountered in years. It’s a literal god-machine, but its choice to stay out of the Scythes’ business creates more tension than a killer robot ever could. It made me rethink how I handle power in my own books.

Sometimes the most effective element in your world is the one that refuses to help. It forces your characters to grow (or fail) on their own terms, which is way more satisfying to read.

Keep a foot in the real world

Even in a future where you can “reset” your age and live forever, people in this book still care about the color of their robes and the status of their journals. It’s a great reminder that world-building isn’t just about the big ideas, it’s about the small, human vanities.

No matter how far into the future or a fantasy realm I go, I need to bring a piece of home with me. Whether it’s a character’s favorite mug or a specific tradition, those tiny details are what make a world feel like a place I’ve actually visited.

I’m already looking at my current work-in-progress with fresh eyes. I’m asking myself: Where is the human cost? What are the rules my characters can’t break? If you’re a reader, these are the details that make you stay up until 2:00 AM. If you’re a writer, these are the tools that help you build a world worth staying up for.

How to write smart comedy for middle grade readers

Posted on March 31, 2026 by conjurors

Have you ever noticed what happens when adults try to write funny books for 10-to-12-year-olds? It’s like they suffer sudden, total amnesia about what it’s actually like to be in middle school.

Because I’m raising my own middle-grade (MG) humans here in California, I spend a ridiculous amount of time thinking about my audience. When I write YA sci-fi and fantasy, the instinct is to push the boundaries with massive stakes and sharp banter. But when writing MG comedy, too many adults default to sanitizing the world, dumbing down the jokes, and delivering a heavy-handed moral.

Kids hate that. (Me too, as it happens.)

Middle grade readers are incredibly smart, deeply empathetic, and they can spot condescension from a mile away. Right now, I’m elbow-deep in drafting my newest MG comedy, currently titled Super Santa. Working on this delightfully wild premise has been a daily reminder of the golden rule of kidlit: You have to write up to your audience, never down.

If you’re tackling the MG fiction space, here’s how to keep your readers laughing without ever patting them on the head.

1. Let Diverse Characters Just Exist

Kids today are growing up in a complex world, and they understand it way better than adults give them credit for. They don’t need a lecture to explain reality.

For example, in Super Santa, my protagonist has a nonbinary sidekick. I didn’t write a heavy-handed, four-page monologue explaining their pronouns. Why? Because 11-year-olds don’t need me to. They just accept that their friend uses they/them, and then they immediately get back to the actual problem at hand: saving the North Pole. Pandering is the absolute enemy of comedic pacing. Trust that your readers understand the world, and let your diverse characters just exist and be funny.

2. Never Explain the Punchline

There’s a reason kids absolutely inhale series like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Dog Man. It’s not just because they’re hilarious—it’s because the authors trust their readers to understand irony, visual gags, and the sheer absurdity of growing up.

A fatal mistake adults make is setting up a brilliant joke and then over-explaining the punchline just to make sure the kid “got it.” Kids are masters of sarcasm. Give them dialogue that crackles and let the joke stand on its own.

3. Treat the Absurd with Absolute Sincerity

The fastest way to ruin a comedic MG concept is for the author to wink at the camera to show that they know it’s silly.

Whether your protagonist is dealing with super-powered Santa Claus powers, a sentient toilet, or an alien invasion in the cafeteria, the characters inside the book have to treat the situation as life-or-death reality. The humor comes from how seriously they take it, not from you mocking your own premise.

4. Acknowledge That Middle School is Terrifying

Comedy is usually just a coping mechanism for anxiety, and being in middle school is objectively terrifying. Your body is weird, your friendships are shifting, and the world feels huge.

When writing funny middle grade books, you don’t need to shield your readers from dark, messy emotions. Often the comedic magic is just a vehicle to explore very real feelings. Show them characters who use humor to mask how scared they are and then show those same kids finding the courage to save the day anyway.

The 5 best YA science fiction and fantasy books with top-tier romantic banter

Posted on March 16, 2026 by conjurors

Let’s be honest. Saving the world from impending doom is great and all, but we’re really here for the banter. The snark and spark that keeps us turning pages. My favorite part of any book is that electric, snappy dialogue between two characters who refuse to admit they like each other (and are fooling no one).

A common misconception is that “banter” is just two characters insulting each other until they fall in love. But true, top-tier banter is so much more than that. It’s a verbal dance between two partners who are intellectual equals and can’t help but respect each other. It can be a non-cheesy way to share those vulnerable, mushy feelings that we secretly yearn to witness. And most importantly, it shows the deep attention that two characters show each other. We all want to be seen and known, and watching two brilliant characters do just that is a heady experience.

If you love a snappy, sparks-flying, fast-paced dialogue as much as I do, here are the best young adult science fiction and fantasy books for top-tier romantic banter, mixing my all-time favorites with some of my newer obsessions.

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

The main characters in this story break up hours before their planet is invaded. Because the story is told entirely through hacked documents and instant messages, their banter carries the emotional weight of the story. It’s hilarious, desperate, and deeply affectionate mix of teenage angst and life-or-death survival.

Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong

This is the fake-marriage trope at its best. Rosalind is a rigid assassin; Orion is a charming flirt. Their banter works because Orion uses humor to disarm Rosalind, but underneath the sharp retorts, they are both fiercely intelligent and highly observant of each other’s hidden trauma.

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

If you’ve read it, you get it. Two rival journalists writing magical, anonymous letters to each other during a war between gods. The banter is sharply intelligent, competitive, and highly observant. They push each other to be better writers and braver people, making the transition from rivals to lovers incredibly soft and believable.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder is a sarcastic cyborg mechanic with zero time for royal protocol, and Prince Kai is utterly charmed by someone who doesn’t treat him like a porcelain doll. Their back-and-forth is rooted in mutual respect and curiosity, grounding their romance is reality.

In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan

This is a portal fantasy that pokes fun at portal fantasies. The main character, Elliot, is an unapologetic, pacifist, know-it-all who uses his biting wit as both a weapon and a shield. His banter with his love interest, Serene, is a masterclass in challenging fantasy tropes while building a tender connection.

SIDE QUEST: From the journal of Lord Malakor the Unforgiving

Posted on October 25, 2025 by conjurors

Welcome to Side Quest, a series of posts I share on my blog from time to time that give you a peek into the weird ‘what if’ scenarios and playful thought experiments I use to keep my imagination fired up when I’m taking a break from my latest novel.

Day 482 of the Eternal Gloom

I am this close to scorching the entire Eastern province. Not because of their pathetic rebellion. Not because of their overdue tithes. But because that gilded buffoon, Sir Gideon the “Gleaming,” just ruined a perfectly good batch of Shadowberry & Ghost Pepper Preserve.

Do you know how hard it is to get ghost peppers to grow in a cursed climate? The soil pH has to be exactly 4.5.

I was at the most crucial stage. The jam had just reached a 211-degree rolling boil. I was performing the wrinkle test on a frozen plate. The set was looking exquisite. I was already picturing the blue ribbon at the All-Kingdom Confectionery Contest.

And then, he bursts in.

“By the Light of Zorath!” he yelled, probably waking the entire crypt. “Fiend! Your bubbling Plague of Eternal Blight is at an end!”

I tried to stop him. “Gideon, you oaf, watch the jars! They’ve just been sterilized!”

But no. He just had to swing that ridiculous, glowing broadsword. Smashed my copper cauldron right off the fire pit. Two gallons of premium, pectin-balanced preserve, splattered all over my rare, hand-carved despair-stone floor. It’s going to be a nightmare to clean.

“The world is safe once more, Malakor!” he shouted, pointing the sword at me.

I just… I couldn’t.

“You… you… blond-haired menace,” I sputtered. “That was my submission batch! Do you have any idea how difficult it is to achieve a consistent flavor profile?”

Did he pause to really listen? To hear me? No! He threw the pot out the window and left, looking smug.

This is the fifth time this month. He thinks my canning operation is an “alchemical weapons lab.” He “liberated” my prize-winning apricot-habanero last week, thinking it was “liquid gold” to fund my armies. I bought those apricots from a mortal farmer. A mortal farmer, Gideon! His name is Stan!

I will have my revenge. And I will win “Best in Show” for my Spiced Blood-Orange Marmalade. Just as soon as I can re-sterilize my equipment.

Kristen Pham

YA Science Fiction & Fantasy for the adventurous