Why I Write Clean YA Fantasy

Why I Write Clean YA Fantasy

And why I believe magic shines brightest when the story is safe, hopeful, and true.

When people first step into my books — the Fate Series, the Matching series, the Dragons’ Series— one of the questions I’m asked most often is:

“Why clean YA?”
Why not follow the trend?
Why not add more darkness, more spice, more shock value?

And the answer is simple:

Because I want fantasy to feel magical.
Safe.
Hope-filled.
And honest in a way that doesn’t require breaking anyone down to tell a powerful story.

Here’s what that means for me — and for the worlds I create.

1. I Believe Hope Is a Kind of Magic

Life can be hard.
Dark.
Heavy.
Messy.

But stories don’t always have to be.

I write clean YA because I want readers — teens and adults alike — to have a place where the world feels safe enough to breathe. A place where the characters fight real battles, face real fears, and push through real pain… but still choose courage, kindness, and light.

I believe in hope that survives.
Hope that matters.
Hope that feels like a spark in your chest when you close the book.

2. Emotional Truth Doesn’t Require Graphic Detail

My stories deal with deep things:

  • fear

  • trauma

  • loss

  • betrayal

  • love

  • identity

  • destiny

  • healing

But I choose to explore those themes without graphic content, explicit scenes, or language that pushes readers away from the heart of the story.

Clean doesn’t mean shallow.
Clean doesn’t mean simple.
Clean means focused on the emotional journey, not the shock factor.

The truth is powerful enough on its own.

3. I Want My Books to Be Safe Spaces for Big Feelings

I want readers of all ages to be able to reach for my stories and feel:

  • comfort

  • wonder

  • connection

  • inspiration

  • escape

without worrying about content that feels jarring or overwhelming.

Clean YA lets the emotion, the magic, and the heart shine through without distraction. It creates a place where readers can explore deep, powerful themes in a story that feels safe enough to trust.

4. Clean Fantasy Lets the Magic Breathe

In my worlds, magic matters.

The elemental magic of Aberron.
The dream-bonds in the Matching Series.
The singing spells of the dragons.
The soul-deep connections between destined mates.
The Spirit Forest, the Great Den, the Ever-flame…

Clean fantasy gives space for wonder.
It lets the magic take center stage.
It lets relationships unfold through trust, tension, longing, and destiny — not explicit scenes.

The romance is still powerful, emotional, and heart-gripping… but it’s rooted in connection, not content.

5. Because Goodness Is Powerful — Not Boring

Some people hear “clean” and assume the story is watered down.

Not mine.

Clean doesn’t mean “quiet.”
It means intentional.

It means the tension comes from:

  • heartfelt connection

  • deep emotional stakes

  • destiny pulling two people together

  • magic unraveling at the worst possible moment

  • loyalty tested

  • courage called for

  • choices that change everything

Clean romance can hit harder precisely because it’s rooted in emotional truth.

6. And Honestly? This Is the Kind of Story I Love to Read

I write clean YA fantasy because it’s what I love. These are the stories I reach for, the worlds I want to escape into, the books I feel proud to hold and share.

And the messages I receive from readers are the reminder I need that this path matters.
When someone tells me a book felt comforting, or magical, or gave them hope on a hard day…
When a parent says they were excited to hand my books to their teens…
When a reader says the world felt safe, but still gripping and emotionally rich…

Those moments confirm exactly why I choose to write the way I do.

Fantasy should feel magical.

Hopeful.
Brave.
And clean enough that anyone can step inside.

That’s why I write the way I do — and why I’ll keep creating worlds where light wins, love heals, and courage is worth fighting for.

And as always…
may your reading be magical. ✨