Plot Over Porn: Why We’re Keeping the Clothes On - Clean fantasy for adults

Let’s have a chat. Pull up a chair, pour yourself a tea (or a sparkling elderflower, if you’re joining me in the non-alcoholic corner), and let’s talk about the state of modern fantasy.

If you’ve spent any time on "BookTok" or scrolling through fantasy recommendations lately, you’ve likely noticed a trend. It seems you can't throw a mythical dagger without hitting a three-page description of a hero’s abdominal muscles or a "spice level" rating that requires a fire extinguisher.

Don't get me wrong—there is a massive audience for that. But as an author, and as a reader, I found myself searching for something different. I wanted the darkness, the grit, and the morally grey characters, but I wanted the tension to stay in the plot, not just the bedroom.

The Art of the "Slow Burn" (Without the Fire)

When I decided to become a no-spice fantasy author, it wasn't out of a sense of prudishness. It was out of a love for the "long game."

I believe there is an exquisite kind of torture in a well-written, non-physical intimacy. It’s the brush of a sleeve in a crowded ballroom. It’s the way a villain looks at a heroine when he thinks she’s not watching. It’s a shared secret that carries more weight than a physical encounter ever could.

By removing the "spice," we make room for layered emotional stakes. When Spark (our favourite snarky Tyrian Wing) critiques Elara’s choices, the tension between them is intellectual and spiritual. When Elara faces a betrayal in a domestic setting, the "suspense" comes from the psychological fallout. We are trading the physical for the visceral.

Why "Adult" Doesn't Have to Mean "Smutty"

There is a common misconception that if a book is "clean" or "no-spice," it must be for children. I am here to politely (and perhaps a bit wickedly) disagree. I believe that clean fantasy is for adults.

My target audience—women like us, in that 25–40 bracket—are living complex lives. We understand domestic suspense. We understand the high stakes of a career, a family, or a social reputation. We want stories that reflect that complexity. We want detailed world-building that feels "smart" and descriptive language that feels "flowery" and indulgent.

We want to be treated like adults who can handle dark themes, dirty jokes, and sharp-edged humour without needing a graphic sex scene to prove the book is "mature."

The "Wicked Edge"

Just because the clothes stay on doesn't mean the "grit" isn't there. In fact, I’d argue that keeping the focus on the plot allows the "darker side" of the story to shine.

In the Ascendia Chronicles, the danger is real. The fire—like the "searing lilac-white" flame of the Tyrian Wing—is meant to purify and reveal. When a character is engulfed in flame, it isn't a metaphor for passion; it’s a high-stakes moment of transformation and sacrifice.

I want you to finish a chapter feeling breathless because of a plot twist you didn't see coming, or a line of dialogue that cut you to the quick. I want the "snarky humour" to be the release valve for the genuine dread of a mystery unfolding.

A Sanctuary for the "Spice-Fatigued"

The new website (the Inner Sanctum) was built for those of you who are, frankly, a bit "spice-fatigued." It’s a place where we can celebrate the "Domestic and the Dreadful." It’s a place where we can discuss the lore of phoenixes and the etiquette of magical contracts without being interrupted by a smutty trope.

I’ve always believed that the most seductive thing in a story is a well-placed rhetorical question. Wouldn't you agree?

Join the conversation around clean fantasy for adults

I’m curious—what made you seek out no-spice fantasy? Was it a specific book that felt "too much"? Or do you, like me, just prefer the intellectual chess match of a character-driven drama?

Let’s chat in the comments. And if you’re looking for a seat at the table where the plot always comes first, don't forget that Beta Reader applications are still open for a few more days. I’m looking for smart brains to help me ensure the tension in Book One is exactly where it needs to be.