Magical Forest Fantasy Books with Love Stories with Elly Blake episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 2, 2026 · 20 MIN

Magical Forest Fantasy Books with Love Stories with Elly Blake

from What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.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 BlakeJoin the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review!

NOW PLAYING

Magical Forest Fantasy Books with Love Stories with Elly Blake

0:00 20:42

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Big Old Life: Heather Blackbird interviews people on planet earth. Heather Blackbird loves asking questions. This podcast is a learning experience. Join me, Heather Blackbird, as I talk to people about their lives. Frequency of new episodes is a little all over the place and I'm learning as I go. Big Old Life is a small way of talking about the vastness of life, one person at a time. If you are reading this or found this podcast it's probably because someone you know gave you a link to it. :) Explicit Tales Of A Superstar DJ The Insomniac Spun seemingly out of nowhere from her complacent life in the corporate world, turned seemingly overnight from 16-Hour shift work and into the life of a literally starving artist and working musician, The Protagonist navigates her supposed rise to fame and superstardom on a journey through spiritual awakening, coming-of-age, and intimate self-realization--guided by an omnipresent force and equipped with the power of love, magic, and music. {Enter The Multiverse.} [The Festival Project] The Festival Project, Inc.™ is a multidimensional multimedia platform which encompasses exploratory and artistic social personifications and expressions on cosmic theory, spirituality, growth, health & wellness, philosophy and theoretic dynamics in entertainment such as music, design, film, television, radio, dance and festival culture, art, fashion, literature, and science. The Festival Project™ and its subsidiary Non-Profit, The Collective Complex © aims to challenge modern artistic and philosop Explicit Bitcoin Is Dead Trey Carson Welcome to Bitcoin is Dead, the ultimate Bitcoin variety show where host Trey takes you on a journey through the ever-evolving world of Bitcoin. Each episode brings new personalities, fascinating locations, and insightful conversations with politicians, educators, and innovators shaping the future of Bitcoin. Whether you're a seasoned Bitcoiner or just starting your journey, tune in for thought-provoking discussions, unique perspectives, and a deep dive into the ideas and people driving the Bitcoin revolution. Explicit The Sacred +Profane Podcast nephtaragrace The Sacred + Profane Podcast is a provocative conversation dedicated to cementing a better future for all. We specialize in unpacking the nuances of what is considered sacred and profane, particularly focusing on sex, death, and all that pertains to the circle of life. Our aim in focusing on such ”taboo” subject matter is to demystify what is unconscious, bring to light what has been known for centuries as ”the occult,” and empower the rapid transformation that is occurring on the Planet. Explicit

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show?

This episode is 20 minutes long.

When was this What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show episode published?

This episode was published on April 2, 2026.

What is this episode about?

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.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...

Is there a transcript available for this episode?

Yes, a full transcript is available for this episode. You can read the complete transcript on the episode page.

Can I download this What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!