I appreciate Rebecca Yarros and her publisher releasing Onyx Storm in January so that by the time late March comes around her sales volume might have decreased enough that my book might have a chance at popping into the bestseller list at, like, #14 or something www.theguardian.com/books/2025/f... - ThreadSky

scalzi.com • 25 days ago

I appreciate Rebecca Yarros and her publisher releasing Onyx Storm in January so that by the time late March comes around her sales volume might have decreased enough that my book might have a chance at popping into the bestseller list at, like, #14 or something

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/feb/03/romantasy-and-booktok-driving-a-huge-rise-in-science-fiction-and-fantasy-sales?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Comments

erickveil.bsky.social•25 days ago

Bold of you to assume I won't just buy *all* the books.

arhat.bsky.social•25 days ago

I tried Fourth Wing and it just wasn't for me. No shame to those who like the series though, and frankly I'm just happy to hear about people reading books.

More people excited about reading books means more people I can "gently coerce" into reading the things I do like XD.

ronntortuga.bsky.social•25 days ago

I've only read Red Shirts - Luuuurved it! Tell me what to buy next!

karassa.bsky.social•24 days ago

Fuzzy Nation, and then Kaiju Preservation Society, and then Starter Villain. All are fantastic (can be read in any order, really)

the404life.bsky.social•25 days ago

My wife had that book on Amazon preorder for like 6 months. So EVERY time I’d check an order status, or anything in Amazon cart, I’d see that book cover.
I mean, it’s no Scalzi work but she seemed to enjoy it 😉

coccoside.bsky.social•25 days ago

Did you put a love triangle, bad smut and some battle against the higher power that will completely go over the demographic heads because books shouldn’t be political!

songlore.bsky.social•25 days ago

Romantasy is a word? I learned something new.

wlard.bsky.social•25 days ago

LOLOL

chicassie.bsky.social•24 days ago

As someone who reads and enjoys both authors, 😄😄😄

gronah.bsky.social•25 days ago

Personally, I read the first book of the series and I couldn't continue. Good story, but the sex/romance just got in the way.

romallsmith.bsky.social•25 days ago

I think that is true for many of the booktok romantasy stories. The target audience loves that part of it tho.

scalzi.com•25 days ago

(Also, for those who are not clear on my tone: I think it's fabulous Ms. Yarros is doing so well. Her books bring people to stores, where they will pick up other books, and while they are waiting for the next book from her they will read other stuff. Blockbuster books are good for everyone, y'all)

drprofessorsong.bsky.social•25 days ago

I will read them both and be happier for it!

songlore.bsky.social•25 days ago

I miss blockbuster

thetk42one.bsky.social•25 days ago

So great to see legacy/analog media getting some love.

azasloth.bsky.social•25 days ago

Hear, hear!

historyadjunct.bsky.social•25 days ago

100%. Do you know how many people I have to talk about fantasy and science fiction with now? Once upon a time, it was just me and my husband. Now, there is a bookstore that is solely dedicated to fantasy and sci-fi within driving distance of me!

twoandseven.bsky.social•25 days ago

We're going to be moving house in a month. My wife is an avid reader like I am. We're looking long and hard at our books, even though odds are good we can have one bedroom exist as a library. Books are my dear friends that I often want to visit again.

There are tough choices ahead.

simon-lucy.bsky.social•25 days ago

Books stack very well on any flat surface.

djcmission.bsky.social•24 days ago

The habit I'm learning to adopt is to actually pick a well-bound volume to peruse a la Picard.

altairajade.bsky.social•25 days ago

I will give her work a try. I just finished Starter Villains and am waiting on Olivie Blake's Atlas series.

katztration.bsky.social•25 days ago

I like the idea of Blockbuster Books, where the whole family browses for books to take home on a Friday night (but you can't get candy there because it's too much and you have some at home already)

scalzi.com•24 days ago

I mean, the library

katztration.bsky.social•24 days ago

.... you'd think I wouldn't forget the library with the frequency I go but APPARENTLY

bonnielassie.bsky.social•25 days ago

I’m a big fan of both of you despite how different your work is.

commiemachinist.bsky.social•25 days ago

I view "reading" as a superpower at this point. Like LITERALLY any kind of book other than what you're forced to read at uni.

pndrp.bsky.social•25 days ago

Probably won’t read. But hope it makes boatloads of money so publisher may have extra $$$ to throw at projects I might read.

speitsch.bsky.social•25 days ago

I know you well enough to understand that this was exactly what you meant 😃

unmagicalme.bsky.social•25 days ago

Thanks for picking my next series sir!

neeners35.bsky.social•25 days ago

Already pre-order your new one on Audible!

recedingsamson.bsky.social•25 days ago

I am excited for WMHYE regardless.
Reading the recently released excerpt reminded me of the Christmas in July short story with the government response.

kevinstreet.bsky.social•25 days ago

Hopefully a rising tide will lift all the boats. Maybe all those new fans will start looking around for other stuff to read.

207amber-rose.bsky.social•25 days ago

I have read her books❤️, but yours have gotten me through the last quarter in a big way. Starting with Agent to the Stars, which I loved, followed by Starter Villain, Kaiju Preservation Society, Constituent Service, etc. Keep it up, we need them 🙌🏼

liblvr.bsky.social•25 days ago

I don’t read romantasy, so looking forward to your book release

qua12.bsky.social•25 days ago

A beautiful genre is thriving❤️

misseleanor.bsky.social•24 days ago

I need more Interdependency novels. Can you make that happen, please? 😊

zoopaul.bsky.social•25 days ago

I'm starting to think "Romantasy" is what the folks who read Harry Potter as kids took to when they got older.

roenok.bsky.social•25 days ago

Almost correct. Romantasy where we went after growing up on Harry Potter *fanfiction*

hzs2028.bsky.social•24 days ago

I’ll buy both :)

lightchilde.bsky.social•25 days ago

Rebecca read your note and asked 'John who?'

pizzapartyweekend.bsky.social•25 days ago

I read ‘Onyx Storm’ — compared to the first two novels in the series, it’s lackluster. The main characters seem to have forgotten everything they learned, the pacing is all over the place. Characters are introduced, and killed, in the same action scene.

…and don’t get me started on that ending. 😑

bdruk.bsky.social•25 days ago

📌

lincm.bsky.social•25 days ago

Careful what you wish for. Grrm could pop up and drop Winds at any moment.

shifty-boi.bsky.social•25 days ago

Promises promises

lincm.bsky.social•24 days ago

I hope my cope vs cynicism was clear.

bethynyc.bsky.social•25 days ago

Thank you for the reminder! Just placed a pre-order for your book (along with a couple of others) at my sort of local indie @portersqbooks.bsky.social !

I've really enjoyed your last couple of stand-alone books, and looking forward to this one!

cdenning.bsky.social•25 days ago

TLDR: Harry Potter on dragons with a poor attempt at Gaelic.

pizzapartyweekend.bsky.social•25 days ago

Except Harry Potter had an arc.

cdenning.bsky.social•25 days ago

Well yes. And a quasi-interesting story line.

wulfheart.bsky.social•25 days ago

Is this the new Old Man’s War Book?

zaahd-like.bsky.social•25 days ago

GI Joe says,"knowing is half the battle.". Can't wait to read them both. More books, less social media.

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