When I first set out to find my list of agents on QueryTracker, the first step was obvious: filter for my genre—Fantasy, High/Epic.
And I only found 5 agents.
I panicked.
Then I did some quick research, finding out that many agents add Fantasy in general to their wishlists, often referring to it as “SFF”, or “Science Fiction & Fantasy. It makes sense: they’re choosing not to narrow their search down further than they need to.
So I did another search—this time with the Fantasy (Any) box checked.
And that’s how I found my list of 213 potential agents.
Find out how how I narrowed that list from 213 to 143 in my previous article.
But in this post, I take the time to sort through the various fantasy subgenres on QueryTracker, what types of stories they are, and how The Valkyries relates.
But before diving into the subgenres, what classifies a story as a Fantasy to begin with?
A Fantasy includes elements that could not exist within the real world, like magic, the supernatural, mythological creatures or worlds. From there, a writer can drill down into one or more subgenres depending on how they plan to share their story.
Below are the 11 Fantasy subgenres users can use to filter agents on QueryTracker.
Want to jump ahead and see where The Valkyries fits in? Click here!
High / Epic Fantasy
In High Fantasy, the story takes place in a completely fictional world with its own history, magic systems, religions, deities, etc—like the world of Norse mythology, the home of The Valkyries.
In Epic Fantasy, the story usually revolves around a large-scale, world-ending conflict or a life-defining journey—like the Valkyries protecting the realms from an ancient evil.
Just like a square is a rectangle but a rectangle isn’t a square, an Epic Fantasy is usually a type of High Fantasy, but not all High Fantasy is Epic.
But rest assured, The Valkyries is firmly rooted in both High Fantasy and Epic Fantasy.
Contemporary / Urban Fantasy
Urban Fantasy stories bring the magic and other fantasy elements to modern day settings.
Imagine a wizard with a wand in one hand and an iPhone in the other.
Because The Valkyries is completely set in a world inspired by Norse myth, no relation exists between Kaelva, Astrid, and Freyna’s story and Urban Fantasy.
Although, had I stuck with my first draft, The Valkyries would have checked the Urban Fantasy box.
Dark Fantasy
Dark Fantasy blends the standard Fantasy elements with a darker (obviously) tone, showcasing morally ambiguous characters, bleak fates, and even hints of horror.
I didn’t intend for it at first, but over the course of writing The Valkyries, I naturally included themes of Dark Fantasy—and Kaelva, Astrid, and Freyna desperately claw their way through them.
Historical Fantasy
Historical Fantasy mixes Fantasy elements with historical events.
While not a Historical Fantasy by definition, Kaelva, Astrid, and Freyna’s lives on Midgard are inspired by traits of real Norse culture between 800 and 1100 A.D.
Customs like guest-right, the types of armor and weapons, and the common social structures in The Valkyries are based on the real world.
Does that make The Valkyries a Historical Fantasy? I wouldn’t say so, but we could say it carries themes of the subgenre, at least.
Magical Realism Fantasy
Similar to Contemporary/Urban, Magical Realism Fantasy presents worlds where magic is part of the everyday modern life we recognize today with little to no explanation. Everyone just goes with it.
Because The Valkyries is set entirely in a mythic Viking-era world, it doesn’t fall under Magical Realism Fantasy.
Even the magic systems Kaelva, Astrid, and Freyna come into contact with leave them speechless at first.
Middle Grade Fantasy
Middle Grade Fantasy presents general Fantasy elements to readers aged from 8 to 12 years old through simpler prose and coming-of-age adventures that may include themes like friendship, family, courage, and perseverance.
While The Valkyries touches on those themes, it is far from a Middle Grade audience.
Kaelva, Astrid, and Freyna endure the brutally violent Viking Era as mortals as long as they can—but even ascending as Valkyries offers no freedom from the horrors lurking in the shadows, nor the trauma they carry from their own failures.
New Adult Fantasy
Similar to Middle Grade Fantasy, New Adult Fantasy targets a general age group.
In this case, New Adult Fantasy caters to readers between ages of 18 and 25 and typically explores identity, trauma, and purpose.
Freyna’s struggle between a healer and fighter, the Valkyries’ trauma after their fall, and the overwhelming hollowness left after losing their purpose—all foundational themes in The Valkyries.
Because New Adult Fantasy tends to focus on characters within the same age range as the target audience, I would not classify The Valkyries as a New Adult Fantasy.
However, the Valkyries’ struggles surely fall in line with the themes under the New Adult Fantasy banner.
Paranormal Fantasy
Paranormal Fantasy pits supernatural creatures—vampires, werewolves, ghosts—front and center.
The Valkyries rests entirely within the bounds of Norse myth, including creatures from Norse mythology like elves, dwarves, and giants.
So no, The Valkyries is not a Paranormal Fantasy.
But, I’d have to admit, the thought of Kaelva, Astrid, and Freyna hunting vampires or werewolves could make for a fun side project!
Romance Fantasy
Romantic Fantasy, often called Romantasy, are fantasy stories where a central romantic angle drives the plot, but the fantasy elements themselves influence the romance.
The foundation of The Valkyries rests the relationship between Kaelva, Astrid, and Freyna, first as sisters-in-arms, then simply as sisters of bond instead of blood.
So, although romance is not a central theme in The Valkyries, I can’t say it’s entirely absent from their story either.
Steampunk Fantasy
Steampunk Fantasy resides in Victorian-era industrial settings with magic mixed with technology and steam-powered mechanical aesthetics.
The Valkyries does not include any Steampunk Fantasy traits, relying entirely on the ingenuity of the dwarves of Nidavellir to craft their armor and weapons.
Young Adult Fantasy
The bridge between Middle School and New Adult Fantasy, Young Adult Fantasy targets readers between ages 13 and 18, but still follow most of the same themes as Middle School Fantasy—coming-of-age stories through the experiences of teenagers.
The violence and emotional depth of The Valkyries pushes beyond the typical bounds of the Young Adult Fantasy subgenre—but the themes of self-discovery and relationships are shared between the two.
Fantasy Subgenre Roundup
The Valkyries is a High/Epic Fantasy, but also carries themes from other subgenres such as:
- Dark
- Historical
- New Adult
- Romance
But The Valkyries does not cross over into any of these subgenres:
- Contemporary / Urban
- Magical Realism
- Middle Grade
- Paranormal
- Steampunk
- Young Adult
Am I saying any of the subgenres The Valkyries ignores are bad?
Absolutely not!
Stories are subjective. Everyone has their own taste.
And while I know there are stories under each of those subgenres I would love, they simply did not fit my vision for The Valkyries.
Whether you’re a reader or writer, I hope my breakdown of the various Fantasy subgenres helps you find your future favorite reads or helps guide you in brainstorming your next story.
Do you disagree with how I related The Valkyries with any of these subgenres?
Please let me know! Throughout my revisions, I found numerous nuggets of gold I didn’t even realize I buried, so maybe you see something else I missed!
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