A sense of mystery is at the heart of every story, regardless of genre. At the outset, you don’t know where the story is going or how it will end. Even the most formulaic genre writing will switch it up now and then. Engaging the reader’s curiosity is what it’s all about.
In a post on CrimeReads, writer Ryan Van Loan says this is doubly true for the fantasy genre. For example, Tolkien creates mysteries about the source of evil in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, as well as the mystery of the golden ring. The Harry Potter novels are heavily dependent on secrets and mystery, and other well-known bestsellers use murder, political intrigue, hidden treasures, and magical secrets to fuel their plots.
“It’s the bedrock of fantasy, really, and it’s a reason why I think there’s quite a bit of crossover between the genres, both on the writing and the reading side,” Van Loan writes. “It’s that mysterious in-between that leaves us coming out the other side changed, transformed.”
