Davi Lancett

13 - Characters who are three steps ahead on a plan going wrong in five different ways. Picturing SIX OF CROWS meets the DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS movie (okay, maybe we just like heists).

12 - Anything set in a magical house/bookshop/library/artisan’s shop. Give me alchemy and potions, arcanery and mystical knick-knacks.

11 - Actual enemies to lovers. None of this rivals to lovers where they barely had a misunderstanding one time. Villain as the love interest also works.

10 - Horror and dark fantasy – don’t be afraid to let it get weird. Thinking mushrooms growing out of reanimated rabbits à la T. Kingfisher. Aiming for the more atmospheric side of things than all-out gore.

9 - Fantasy with a main character dysfunctional enough to need therapy (looking at you, Harrow).

8 - Couples (or throuples) ready to take a stand and burn down the world for each other. Bonus if they’re queer!

7 - AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER. If your book feels like Zuko/Katara fan fic, Daphne will love it. I’m more of an Uncle Iroh guy myself.

6 - Books featuring disabled or chronically ill characters written by disabled or chronically ill authors.

5 - Fantasy romance spicy enough to make me blush in public. Think Kimberly Lemming, Scarlett St. Clair or Elise Kova.

4 - Queer fantasy, queer SF, queer dark academia, queer Gothic, queer roadtrips, queer retellings, queer… you get the gist.

3 - Non-Western epic fantasy like THE JASMINE THRONE and THE FINAL STRIFE. We’re looking for authenticity, a strong voice, and something that feels fresh.

2 - Speaking of Ghibli... Cosy fantasy! From HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE (film or book) to LEGENDS & LATTES and the MONK AND ROBOT series, we’re here for chill, low-stakes, slice-of-life adventures.

1 - First up, anything with a Ghibli vibe, whether it’s the magical bathhouse world of SPIRITED AWAY, the warring nature spirits of PRINCESS MONONOKE, or the heartwarming atmosphere of KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE.

With so much amazing genre writing out there, I want to share a glimpse of the kind of diverse, smart, and engaging SFFH we’re looking to publish at @Daphne_Press #MSWL #LBF23

If anyone has any book recommendations (or submissions 👀) that have an Over The Garden Wall vibe, please hit me up #MSWL