YA vs Adult Fantasy: The Real Differences

Hello readers, and welcome to the next installment of my unboxing reading jargon series!
Today, we’re going to get things straight because, to be honest, not even I know the real difference between YA (young adult) and adult fantasy.
Until now!
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Hey, I’m Gina 👋 If you like video commentary on books, you're in the right place!
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[@GinaLuciaReads]

Do you have a preference? Young adult or adult fantasy?

[@mahinaquantummanifestation2938]

Love your take on this! I agree! And I love both genres, to be honest! I think YA allows us to feel like our inner child again, and the most important component for me is to have characters who grow throughout the stories, and I agree, it's about the here and now too! I relate to both, and love fantasy in general! awesome video!

[@GinaLuciaReads]

Yes you're so right. YA is all about growth and transformation. I find that so satisfying to read!

[@mahinaquantummanifestation2938]

@@GinaLuciaReads yess absolutely!

[@kari3504]

@@GinaLuciaReadsyou are absolutely right! However, could an adult fantasy book focus growth and transformation?

[@scheitahnberg]

this is a really great exploration. because simple arguments like "it's about how graphic the book can get, so just no sex and blood" and "it's arbitrary and shouldn't matter" really don't do justice to why this distinction was created ("oh, it's just marketing") and continues to flourish..

[@GinaLuciaReads]

Yes! Exactly why I wanted to put this video together. There's much more to it than that

[@Roseliatv]

I prefer adult fantasy most of the time, but YA sometimes if they grow along with the book

[@GinaLuciaReads]

I've been surprised recently because a few books I thought were young adult fantasy were actually adult fantasy. Hard to tell sometimes haha

[@dukewhisky]

Probably a preference for adult fantasy here, although I do sometimes struggle with the classic fantasy books.

[@GinaLuciaReads]

I do too honestly. They were written for a reader with more time and attention haha

[@stschubs]

I'm here because of Matt D'Avellas newsletter (slowgrowth) So glad yo have found you!!

[@GinaLuciaReads]

Hello! Thank you so much for saying that. So lovely to have you!

[@melanieparker8992]

I love both. I've found some YA that have better plots than Adult. I've also found that some YA should not be YA. Blood Scion for example, is YA but I completely think it should be labeled as Adult. I also love Adult for how honest and free the author can be with the story. Sooo, i love both 😂.

[@GinaLuciaReads]

Ohhhhh interesting! I've actually not read Blood Scion yet but it's on my list for next month because I've heard good things. There is talk of a new in-between which I might do a video on soon. YA like that might fit into that category

[@CheskySorcha]

As with most things, what I prefer depends a lot on the current circumstance - my frame of mind, the weather or even how much sleep I had last night! Which I guess is me saying - both please!

[@GinaLuciaReads]

Haha yup, I'm exactly the same.

[@ashleyboyd1286]

I like adults fantasy and sci-fi novels. I just start reading novels in the last half of 2020. I like adults novels because it a challenge for me and now that I am a adult now. I like reading other adults story's.

[@GinaLuciaReads]

Ah yeah I get that. I've not read nearly enough sci-fi this year. I need to get back into it! Got any good recommendations?

[@ashleyboyd1286]

@@GinaLuciaReads hello Gina, I have not read a lot of sci-fi this year. They one that a action and comedy sci-fi duo called 'will save the galaxy for food' and 'will destroy the galaxy for cash'. I hope you enjoy this stories.😁📚

[@GinaLuciaReads]

@@ashleyboyd1286 ooooo that sounds fun. I'll look it up!

[@raindrops21_9]

Great analysis! I tend to prefer YA fantasy overall because I love coming of age stories (which is often the case in YA fiction), but *mostly* because I loathe what GRRM has done to adult fantasy as a genre. I may be wrong in blaming Martin here, but I had not come across his 'gritty' style of fantasy writing until the GoT books, and it appears to be everywhere now. I don't care for the OTT violence and (IMO) gratuitous sexual content - and I'm no prude, but I just find it to be a bit gimmicky in that it seems to be there mainly for shock value. I think it's possible to write perfectly solid adult fantasy without going to those lengths - case in point Robin Hobb's Farseer, Liveship and Tawny Man trilogies, which are my favourite works of fiction of any genre.

[@GinaLuciaReads]

Ahhh yes I can see that for sure. If something works and is popular, you often see it all over the place don't you? Shock factor seems to be all over TV series now too.

[@Ricky_Evans1611]

Could you imagine if GRRM wrote LotR. Now I'm just imagining Gandalf dressed like Hugh Hefner 😂

[@RustBrand777]

I’d say I definitely prefer Adult fantasy

[@GeekofMordor]

Good writing is important to me. That's why YA is a no go.

[@GeekofMordor]

Robin Hobb has very YA style of writing. Very bad example to use for Adult Fantasy