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Romantasy before it was cool? In this episode, I sit down with Elly Blake to talk about her journey writing fantasy romance—and how the genre has completely transformed over the years.

We chat about the evolution from YA fantasy to adult romantasy, what readers really want (hint: it’s the romance), and how Elly built her newest Thirstwood series from fairy tales, folklore, and a haunting “bloodthirsty forest” idea. If you love enemies-to-lovers, forbidden romance, and magical worlds with high emotional stakes, this episode is for you.

📚 Books Mentioned

Frostblood by Elly Blake — Buy on Amazon | Fantasy Romance | Audio ✅

Forest King’s Daughter by Elly Blake — Buy on Amazon | Romantasy, Fairy Tale Inspired | Audio ✅

Curse Queen’s Daughter by Elly Blake — Buy on Amazon | Romantasy, Enemies-to-Lovers | Audio ✅

Until the Clock Strikes Midnight by Alicia Dow — Buy on Amazon | YA Fantasy Romance, Fairytale | Audio ✅

⏱️ Timestamps

[00:00] Introduction to Elly Blake

[01:00] Her journey into fantasy & romantasy

[02:30] What “romantasy” really means

[04:30] How romance reshaped the fantasy market

[06:00] YA vs adult fantasy—what’s changing

[08:00] Overview of Thirstwood series

[10:00] The bloodthirsty forest concept

[11:30] Book 1: friends-to-enemies-to-lovers setup

[12:30] Book 2: Hades & Persephone vibes + mystery

[14:30] Coming-of-age themes in fantasy

[16:00] Reading habits: paper vs audiobooks

[17:00] Book recommendation: Alicia Dow

[19:30] Where to find Elly Blake

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