Get me out of here!

The world is frying… most rulers are suspect… society is broken and the machines may well give up on us and take over. Is it any wonder that one of the most popular genres right now is fantasy?

Strangely, it’s my least popular “go‑to” for reading — but I’ll dwell on that a bit later. First, let’s talk about escapism, because it’s having a moment. A big one.

Why We’re All Secretly Yelling “Stop the world i want to get off”

Escapism gets a bad rap, as if stepping out of reality for a few hours is some kind of moral failure. But honestly? It’s survival. When the news cycle feels like a dystopian prequel and the weather is auditioning for a disaster film, slipping into another world is not avoidance — it’s oxygen.

Stories give us:

• Distance — a safe vantage point from which to process chaos.

• Possibility — worlds where problems can be solved, even if dragons are involved.

• Relief — a break from the relentless “now”.

• Re-enchantment — a reminder that wonder still exists, even if it’s fictional.

And fantasy, in particular, offers the biggest escape hatch of all.

The Fantasy Boom (and the Romantasy Reign)

You probably know this, but fantasy divides into subgenres. Do I detect the dark hand of a certain retail giant carving up the category into bite‑sized pieces? Probably. But I covered that issue in another recent blog, so I won’t digress.

Instead, let’s focus on the most popular subgenre: Romantasy.

With sales in the millions, clearly this is something readers want. And it’s not hard to see why. Romantasy blends:

• High stakes

• High emotion

• High magic

• High swoon factor

It’s the ultimate escape: danger, desire, destiny — all wrapped up in a world that doesn’t resemble ours in the slightest. You can fall in love, fight a demon, save a kingdom, and still be home in time for dinner.

But Here’s the Twist: I Don’t Read Much Fantasy

I know. Shocking.

My escapism tends to be rooted in history, mystery, or character-driven drama. I like worlds that feel like ours but slightly sideways — familiar enough to anchor me, strange enough to intrigue me.

Maybe it’s because I write fiction grounded in real human messiness. Maybe it’s because my imagination prefers the shadows of the past to the spells of the future. Or maybe it’s simply that I’m contrary. Who can really tell?

But even I can appreciate the gravitational pull of fantasy right now. It’s not just entertainment — it’s emotional refuge.

Escapism Isn’t Running Away — It’s Running Towards Something

This is the part we forget.

When we escape into fiction, we’re not abandoning reality. We’re seeking:

• comfort

• clarity

• connection

• control

Fantasy worlds may be filled with monsters, but they’re monsters with rules. They can be defeated. They can be understood. They can be named.

Real life? Not so tidy.

What I’m Escaping Into This Week

While everyone else is diving into Romantasy, I’ve been escaping into:

• the final tweaks of The 16th Earl's Only Love

• the ongoing post‑publication swirl of The Earl's Daughter

  painterly Victorian visuals (because apparently that’s my escapist aesthetic now)

• and the quiet, steady rhythm of writing — which remains my favourite portal out of the world and back into myself.
  

A Thought for You, Dear Reader

Whatever you’re escaping into this week — dragons, dukes, detectives, or dystopias — I hope it gives you exactly what you need. A breath. A break. A moment of magic.

And if the real world gets too loud, remember: the door to another one is always just a page away.