Zainah Yousef

In fantasy, maps are one of the most important parts of the world building process, no matter what sort of project you’re taking on. A well-designed map can transform your fantasy world from a rough idea into something that feels real. Maps give readers a sense of scale, geography, culture, and movement. They help you […]

Fantasy is full of many common elements, and one of the most popular forms of government in the fantasy genre has always been the kingdom. There’s obviously a reason for that: Towering castles, scheming nobles, kings on ornate thrones, knights patrolling the countryside… It’s all visually compelling. But here’s the problem that a lot of

Fantasy stories rarely exist in a bubble. Behind every kingdom, rebellion, or magical academy, there’s a political system that shapes how the entire world functions. Governments determine who holds power, who enforces laws, how wars start, and how ordinary people go about their daily lives. When writers skip over political structure, the world inevitably ends

Viking inspired fantasy has been a huge niche within the fantasy world, with TV shows like Vikings and video games like God of War. Viking fantasy typically includes elements like harsh northern landscapes, longships cutting through icy seas, oath-bound warriors, vengeful gods and more. The atmosphere practically builds itself. The problem is that a lot

Grimdark is one of those subgenres that gets misunderstood a lot. Most people hear grimdark and picture relentless suffering, violence, and a general attitude of “nothing matters and everyone dies.” And sure, some grimdark fiction leans hard into all of that. But darkness alone does not make a compelling grimdark story. What actually defines the

Knights are one of the most enduring figures in fantasy fiction, and honestly, it’s easy to see why. With knights are things like armor, swords, banners, oaths, tournaments and these are all staples of the fantasy genre. I was inspired to write this post after the show A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms released and

Feudalism is one of the most commonly used political structures in fantasy. You’ve seen it everywhere: castles, knights, hereditary titles, sworn oaths, and kings sitting on thrones. It’s practically the backbone of the fantasy genre at this point. However, a lot of fantasy writers use feudalism more as a visual aesthetic than as a functioning

Throughout human history, one of the most powerful forces has always been religion. It has shaped law, influenced systems, and helps to give people hope and answers many important questions for many people. Religion has also been used as a justification for many things from forging nations to going to war. Just as in the