When it comes to fiction, we’re all looking for an escape. If we didn’t want to escape, we’d read non-fiction, right? As simple as it seems on the surface, the choice between fiction or non-fiction doesn’t simply come down to whether you want to escape reality.

If you look closer at fiction, dozens of genres are contained within that one simple phrase. If someone says they’re reading ‘fiction’ what do you think they’re reading? It could be high fantasy, murder mystery, romance fantasy or science fiction to name a few options. There could be dragons, knights or fairies. The book could be set on our planet or another – in ancient times or modern history.

The variety is huge, but is all fiction escaping to a fantasy world? Not necessarily. There are many fiction books set in the modern world. Take Alice Oseman’s books. Radio Silence, for example, follows teenagers about to finish sixth form and embark on adult life. It is a fictional story but sticks closely to reality. There are no hidden worlds, secret powers or dragons.

Fiction encompasses such a wide range of books, that it’s easy to assume all fiction is in far-off lands with magic, yet some of the most popular fiction books blend both. Look at Harry Potter or Percy Jackson. Books set in the modern day which have several real-world, relatable problems, but they combine fantasy elements that make the impossible feel tantalisingly close.

It’s the middle ground of fantasy and reality, and an area I hope my Power Wielders Series also occupies.

Whatever your preference, there’s sure to be a fiction book that suits it, whether you’d like to disappear to a distant land or prefer fiction closer to home.

What do you prefer? The more fantasy the better, or fiction based on our everyday reality?