Geneva Lee: Reigning in Magic, Power, and Heartbreak
- Romantasy Illustrated
- 6 hours ago
- 5 min read
From the gilded penthouses of immortal billionaires to the shadowed courts of fae mafia dynasties, Geneva Lee’s worlds are where fantasy seduces reality—and leaves readers breathless. With her Filthy Rich Vampire and Filthy Rich Fae series, Geneva has carved a signature blend of glamor and grit, wrapping sharp-edged power struggles inside velvety romance. But beneath the lush scenes and addictive twists lies a deeper drive: to tell stories that don’t flinch away from vulnerability, growth, or the very real work of becoming whole.
"These Are the Books I Like to Read"
When asked what inspired her to blend billionaire heat with supernatural danger, Geneva’s answer is disarmingly honest: “This is very self-serving,” she laughs. “I had been writing billionaire romance when it was peaking—think Fifty Shades. But I wanted to do it differently.”
Though she was warned against it, Geneva couldn’t shake her fascination with vampires and dark fantasy. Her readers didn’t want it—at least, not according to the polls. “Vampires always came in fucking dead last,” she recalls. “But I wanted to write them. So I leaned in.”
The result was the Filthy Rich Vampire series—a sleek, seductive saga that lures readers in with familiar billionaire tropes before spoon-feeding them magic. “By book four,” Geneva says, “you’re in a full-on fantasy novel.”
Her approach to Filthy Rich Fae followed suit: gritty, sexy, and deeply emotional. At the heart of both stories is the same ache—characters who take care of everyone but themselves. “Then they meet someone who gets it. Who sees them. And they take care of each other.”
We all love Lore, Legacy, and Luxuries and within Geneva’s world of Filthy Rich we are deliciously immersed in it.
Geneva’s world-building is exhaustive—by choice. Her vampire mythology draws from years of research: Byron, Stoker, Freud, folklore. “I studied vampire myth in undergrad and grad school. Then I took five more years before I ever started writing the series.”
When Entangled Publishing invited her to spin up a Fae world, she dove into centuries of Celtic and Germanic traditions and turned them on their heads. “I’m a trained academic,” she explains. “It was important to me that the lore felt grounded. If I say something exists in a city—I promise you it does.” But it’s not just about maps and monsters. Luxury, in Geneva’s hands, is a metaphor. “When we take away the mundane—bills, errands—we’re left with a canvas where anything can happen. That’s where the danger hides. That’s where the real story starts.”
Romance With a Pulse
From capital “S-E-X” to slow-burning tension, Geneva’s romances are anything but formulaic. “I came from erotic and contemporary romance,” she says. “But what I learned is that how people behave in the bedroom tells you everything about their relationship.”
Sometimes the chemistry is immediate. Sometimes it’s suspicious, guarded, hard-won. And sometimes the characters don’t show up at all—at least, not until Geneva begs them to clock in. “I once sat at my desk and said, ‘Does anyone want to come to work today?’” she laughs. “If the characters aren’t talking, we’ve got a problem.”
For her, writing romance is intimate and intuitive. “Each couple is different. Their intimacy grows book by book, because their stresses, their context—everything changes. Sex is never the same between two people. It’s part of who they are.”
Real Women, Real Power
Geneva’s heroines are fierce, flawed, and undeniably real. And that’s by design. “In this industry, readers can be quick to criticize a character for making a ‘bad choice.’ But real people make bad choices all the time.”
For her, a compelling heroine isn’t perfect—she’s self-aware. “I want my characters to fail, to fuck up, and then try again. That’s where the power lies.”
Her stories are about the rise of queens: women who come from nothing and choose to become something. The love interests? They don’t just tolerate that strength—they bow to it. “The greatest gift in a partner is someone who kneels first and says, ‘I support your power. It doesn’t scare me.’”
HOW TO AVOID SECOND BOOK SYNDROME—WITH GENEVA LEE
For many authors, the second book in a series is a daunting hill. But Geneva reframes the challenge: “You have to look at a trilogy like a three-act story,” she explains.
Act I: Introduce characters, build the world, plant the stakes.
Act II (Book 2): “Fun and games”—raise the tension, deepen the conflict.
Act III: Bring everyone together. Deliver resolution with earned emotional payoff.
What derails writers most isn’t the story—it’s the noise. “We hype ourselves up after book one, especially if it’s successful. You start thinking about reader expectations, industry chatter, demographic spreadsheets… it’s paralyzing.”
Her solution? Tune it all out.
“Stop trying to please everyone. Think of one person. Someone you know. Write to entertain that one reader. Not to please. Just to keep them reading all night. That’s your job.”
A second book, she insists, is no different from a first—except now, “you already know the people.” Focus on character development, not pressure. “It’s all just noise in your head. You have to block it.”
Romantasy With Purpose
For Geneva, romantasy isn’t just a genre—it’s salvation. “I don’t say ‘reading is an escape’ lightly. Books became my safe space when there wasn’t one for me in the real world.”
She writes for readers who carry heaviness. For those who crave magic in the mundane. And for herself. “Reading fantasy is my escape. Writing it is my gift.”
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Filthy Rich Fans?
The third installment of Filthy Rich Fae is in progress, and Geneva promises it’ll bring an organic conclusion to the current arc—assuming the book doesn’t surprise her mid-draft. As for Filthy Rich Vampire 5? “It’s third in line,” she admits. “I wouldn’t expect it until 2027.”
Her publishing schedule may be tight, but her vision is long-term. “We’re in a bubble right now. One day, it’ll burst. But if you’ve been writing the whole time, the readers will come back.”
Romantasy Isn’t Just a Trend. It’s a Movement.
The genre may be surging, but Geneva isn’t chasing hype. “I focus on putting out the best stories I can. That’s where the nuance comes in.”
She credits pioneers like Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer L. Armentrout for paving the way for women-led fantasy. But Geneva’s goal isn’t to follow—it’s to contribute.
“We’re seeing a saturation point, but also a beautiful one. These aren’t just books. They’re stories of growth, healing, power. They’re stories about becoming.”
Final Thoughts from the Queen of Cliffhangers
Geneva Lee’s readers are known for their loyalty—and their sense of humor. “One of them sent me a sign: Geneva Lee, Queen of Cliffhangers,” she says, grinning. “Now they text me things like, ‘I have the greatest news’… and then disappear.”
But beneath the teasing lies deep trust. Geneva delivers worlds readers want to get lost in, characters they root for, and stories that challenge them to grow.
Because for Geneva Lee, romantasy isn’t just escapism. It’s transformation—with fangs, flames, and one hell of a slow burn.
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