Exclusive: First Look at Emma Macdonald’s ‘Romantasyland’

When I’m reading a book, no matter how beautifully an author paints a character in the opening pages, the honest truth is I’m picturing myself as the main character. Or, at the very least, someone around my age who, from a couple hundred feet away, could maybe be mistaken for me. I’m the one falling hopelessly in love with my academic rival or slaying beasts in a romantasy novel—not whatever manic pixie dream girl the author cooks up. While I may be guilty of a little self-inserting, thanks to the countless relatable bookish memes that have popped up on my Instagram feed over the years, I know I’m not alone in the habit. So much so that an entire subgenre has emerged as a new book trend to answer the question: What would happen if a reader or author actually found themselves in the worlds they’re consuming or creating? That’s exactly what Emma MacDonald explores in her fabulously chaotic, heartwarming novel, Romantasyland.

“I started writing Romantasyland as a satirical take on what would happen if a queer romantasy lover with ADHD accidentally found herself cast as the main character in one of her books,” Emma said. “It allowed me to be delightfully unhinged, flip beloved tropes on their heads, and stitch together self-deprecating humor with genuine heart. It was the most fun I’ve ever had writing, and I hope readers have just as much fun following Eve’s (mis)adventures while also finding a little of themselves in her.”

While we unfortunately have to wait until April 7 to get a copy of Romantasyland in our hands, The Everygirl is bringing you an exclusive cover reveal, along with a never-before-seen excerpt, to tide you over until its spring release. Below, everything you need to know about Romantasyland by Emma MacDonald.

What is Romantasyland about?

Everything in Eve Lockwood’s life is grey—and not in a fun, morally ambiguous kind of way. No matter how much soggy takeout she orders or how many Friends reruns she binges, the only place she can truly escape is between the pages of her beloved romantasy novels. So, when an advertisement for a romantasy-lovers retreat crosses her path, Eve jumps at the chance to play out her favorite bookish fantasies with like-minded readers. What could go wrong?

Quite a lot, as it turns out. Namely, that while doing a retreat activity in the middle of the woods, she somehow trips and falls through a portal into a real-life fantasy world—and straight into the arms of a (ridiculously attractive) grumpy, woodland fae prince. Just her luck, honestly. At first, Eve is convinced it’s all part of the retreat, until she survives a monster attack, unlocks forgotten magic that apparently makes her The Chosen One, and is shipped off on a quest to break an ancient curse, all before lunchtime. Wonderful.

Unsurprisingly, it doesn’t take long for her quest to go off the rails, and Eve soon finds this storyline isn’t as perfect as her novels. With her newfound magic wildly out of control, her enemies-to-lovers arc with the prince staying firmly in the enemies stage, and a hot, mysterious, shadowy figure lurking in her dreams, the curse seems more likely to break Eve than the other way around. Armed with only her knowledge of book tropes and a misguided belief that the main character can’t die, Eve must rise to become The Chosen One she was (probably not) destined to be, save the world, and get home… if she even wants to?

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Exclusive cover reveal of Romantasyland

Read an exclusive excerpt of Romantasyland

When Eve woke up, it was completely silent. Well, maybe not completely, but way too quiet for her tastes. Her pulse thrummed beneath her skin, head spinning like she’d taken several shots as she slowly opened her eyes. And promptly found herself face to face with . . . a fairy?

Eve blinked at the figure crouched over her, their golden eyes boring into hers. Honestly, they looked a little like if movie Legolas and a woodland fairy had a love child. Beautiful but delicate, their silver-blond hair falling in silken strands around delicately curved elk- like horns and standing out starkly against their olive- brown skin. And the leafy wings protruding slightly over their shoulder blades.

What the fuck? She scrambled away from them. What the actual fuck??

But the fairy (fae— fever dream??) only stared at her as she struggled to her feet, swaying unsteadily.

What the hell was going on here? She remembered falling and the voice in her ear, but then . . . had she really just passed out like one of those fainting goats? Her throat went dry. Or had this weirdo drugged her?

She sucked in a sharp breath, inching away from the figure slowly. But they still did nothing more than stare. Why didn’t they say anything? Clenching her jaw tightly, Eve scanned her surroundings, desperately seeking an escape route.

Except not a single thing looked familiar. Which wasn’t exactly a shock, but she remembered enough to know that she’d blacked out in some boggy monstrosity at midday, not this weird- ass campsite they sat in now, where it was clearly not daytime anymore. Her heart skipped a beat. Fuck. How long had she been out?

Because apparently, she had the survival skills of a Victorian housewife, and she could’ve been dragged halfway across the forest while unconscious, for all she knew. Still, she didn’t plan to stick around and ask. So, instead, Eve turned on her heel and fled right back through the underbrush. In the dark. Like an idiot.

“Wait!” The cry rang over her shoulder.

But she didn’t stop. She didn’t care if she ran right back into the path of the bear or anything else that might be lurking out here. At this rate, the bear was looking pretty good in comparison. At least it would have the dignity to kill her outright.

She only made it a short distance before something clamped down on her shoulder, yanking her back, as a hand curled over her mouth, muffling her scream. Fuck. She thrashed futilely. She was really going to die out here, wasn’t she?

A spiteful little twinge took root at the back of her mind. If that were the case, she could at least make it difficult for them. Swallowing hard, Eve did the only self- respecting thing she could do and bit down hard on their hand.

“Agh!” Her captor shoved her away roughly.

Eve stumbled forward, only to collide with another figure. A very tall, solid figure. She gulped as they reached out to steady her.

“What is going on here?”

Her stomach dropped. Much like the first, this second one didn’t even look real—all lithe, lean lines and otherworldly beauty. Eve’s breath caught in her throat. Eyes the color of an oak, and skin a deep shade of brown, they towered over her, their thick, corded muscles holding her steady. Like some gorgeous guardian of the forest.

She barely even registered the ebony horns that curved sharply through their tight, graying curls, or the leafy wings resting at their back. Didn’t even care. They could’ve absconded with her right then and there, and she’d have probably said thank you.

Until the blond one stepped forward, rubbing their hand. “It bit me.”

Eve sneered at them. Serves them right, she thought. Still, she struggled against the grip of the taller one.

“Let me go!”

“Very well.” They released her with a small grin, letting Eve fall flat on her ass with a soft “oof.” “If you’d like to run right into the lair of the bochrinn, that’s your prerogative.”

“The what?” Eve panted, eyes darting between the pair as she slowly pushed herself to her feet once more. “What are you talking about?”

They exchanged a glance as the blond one sheathed their sword. Wait, since when had they had a sword? Seriously, what the hell was going on?

“The beast whose territory you foolishly charged into.” They flashed her an empty smile. “You’re welcome for saving your life, by the way.”

“Rowan.” The older one held up a hand to silence them before turning back to eye Eve. “How did you come to be here? Humans haven’t been seen in these woods in nearly a century.”

Humans? Eve’s eyes narrowed. Wait a minute . . . Holy shit.

“Oh my god. This is all part of the retreat, isn’t it?”

Like, duh, how could it not be? The fantasy costumes, the supposed beast— it all had to be part of this stupid quest. They were even speaking with posh English accents, like it somehow made them sound more fantastical.

The one called Rowan raised an eyebrow. “Retreat?”

“Let me guess”— Eve tugged at her mud- caked skirt— “this was all meant to be some peril on the path to the Seeing Stone?”

“I’m afraid I don’t follow.”

She frowned. Well, they didn’t break character easily, she had to give them that much. Which, like, made sense. The costumes alone had probably taken them forever to put together. Their wings looked like they’d hand-stitched them rather than pulling them out of the bargain bin at a Halloween shop, and there were even groove patterns in the horns if she peered closely enough. Still, the commitment to the bit didn’t change how fucked up it was.

Excerpted from ROMANTASYLAND by Emma MacDonald. Copyright © 2027 by Emma MacDonald. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lauren Blue, Associate Editor & Book Club Co-Host

As an Associate Editor for The Everygirl, Lauren ideates and writes content for every facet of our readers’ lives, from must-read books and behind-the-scenes interviews to beauty products she can’t live without. When she isn’t sitting in an AMC watching the latest buzzy release, she can be found scouring Goodreads for the perfect pick for The Everygirl Book Club. There, she co-hosts discussions with members, debating plotlines, fancasting characters, and, of course, tossing in her own recommendations.

READ LAUREN’S FULL BIO

Feature graphic images credited to: Paige N McNaney | Dupe

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