I’ve spent this month knee-deep in the Jinn Realms and unexpectedly discovered why I almost never finish high-fantasy novels.
As you might know, I usually write contemporary fantasy (“low fantasy”), where the magical world is familiar and I don’t have to re-invent physics just to get Ari through a doorway. But the next Relic Hunter book takes us into Egypt, and that’s where Sidaffri can slip back home and orchestrate our first adventure in the Sand Fire series.
And when Sidaffri’s sister kidnapped us, I had to start describing the Jinn Realm.
At first, I did what any history geek would do: I dove into ancient lore from the surrounding region, conveniently tucking the gateway to Na’har somewhere near Egypt. That research was fun, but as research generally does, it began multiplying.
Place names. Magical systems. Cultural structures. Mythic hierarchies. Suddenly, I had a cheat sheet to help me remember my own notes.
Which is when I realized something important:
That’s EXACTLY why I rarely make it through a high-fantasy book.
So… I U-turned.
The second draft (which is technically still a first draft) is cleaner, lighter, and far more “me.” I’ve been listening to Brandon Sanderson’s brilliant lectures on worldbuilding, and while some writers have the patience to spend years constructing a universe, I absolutely do not. I admire that level of detail from a respectful distance – with a cup of coffee and no pressure to write that sort of book.
For me, the Jinn Realms need to stay familiar, with just enough magic to twist reality in fun ways without requiring a glossary. And technology – because when the realms divided, the jinn certainly didn’t stay stuck in the dark-ages. Think sunlit sandstone archways in Na’har with cool tech that makes life better in the desert.
The goal is simple:
- Names you can remember.
- Magic that feels exciting, not exhausting.
- A world that sweeps you in without ever making you feel lost.
It’s been more challenging than I expected. But challenge usually means growth, and this world has definitely made me a sharper writer. Everything I add has to serve double-duty: deepen the world and push the story forward. If it doesn’t, it gets cut.
(And yes, there’s been a lot of cutting.)
But all that trimming is so I can deliver a book you’ll disappear into without actually getting lost.
In my next post, I’ll bring you into Na’har and introduce you to the Court of the Enira – Balsara, Sidaffri’s sister and queen of the Jinn. There’s one reveal in particular that made me smile and think, “Oh. So that’s who she really is.”
And keep an eye on my sidebar and Instagram because I’ll be sharing some Jinn-Realm eye candy very soon.
R. Leonia Shea 