Is Romantasy Ruining Welsh (and Scottish and Irish) Culture?
Don't get me wrong—I love romantasy as much as the next gal. That said, I think Jimmy makes a valid point in his video. In recent years, there’s been plenty of discussion about cultural misappropriation and misinterpretation, and while I firmly believe authors should feel free to write about cultures beyond their own, they have a responsibility to approach them with proper research and respect.
We’ve all seen the discussions about representing minorities in books—holding authors accountable for poor research or harmful stereotypes—but why don’t we extend that same energy to European cultures? Cultures like Welsh, Scottish, Irish, Slavic, and Greek etc. have deep histories and living traditions that aren’t just window dressing for a magical aesthetic.
These cultures are not “fantasy playgrounds.” They’re rich, layered, and real. People still live these traditions every day. Yet, I keep seeing romanticized or cherry-picked elements in books where it feels like authors didn’t even try to understand the cultures they’re borrowing from.
This isn’t a call to shame authors—mistakes happen, and no one can know everything. But as someone who dreams of writing historical fiction and fantasy, I feel a responsibility to learn about and respect the cultures I’m portraying (tho it is still my biggest fear I will get something wrong). It’s about effort, care, and respect.