Fantasy prologue hot take: your fantasy novel might not need that prologue. Controversial? Maybe! But it opens up an important conversation about how to enter your story in ways that hook readers without overwhelming them with lore or slowing the pace.

Common Fantasy Prologue Pitfalls

As an editor, I see many prologues used as “lore dumps” where a flood of worldbuilding, history, or magic system rules try to get plugged in all at once. Readers don’t need a full rulebook or royal family tree right at the start – they need a reason to care about characters and plot first. Long, info-heavy prologues can make readers skim, skip, or even put down the book entirely.

Prologues also risk disconnecting from the main story arc, especially if written from a peripheral character’s perspective or far removed in time. This can dilute narrative momentum and create confusion about whose story is central. Some fantasy authors acknowledge this, preferring to bake worldbuilding and backstory into early chapters through natural dialogue and action.

When Prologues Work

That said, prologues are not inherently bad. When done well, they:

• Deliver a short, gripping scene that foreshadows main conflicts
  • Example: In The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, the prologue “A Silence of Three Parts” sets a quiet, mysterious tone and hints at deeper layers of the story surrounding the protagonist. It draws readers in with atmosphere rather than heavy info-dumping.
• Introduce a key event or character from a different POV crucial to understanding the story
  • Example: Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson opens with a prologue featuring the Lord Ruler, establishing his power and the dark world the main characters live in, setting the stakes from a broader perspective before shifting to the protagonist’s viewpoint.
• Set tone or mood effectively if the first chapters don’t
  • Example: The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch begins with a prologue revealing the harshness and danger of the city of Camorr through an intense, gripping event, setting up the style and tone readers can expect throughout the book.

Think of it as earning your prologue’s place – if it can’t stand on its own as an engaging part of the story, it might be better folded into chapter one or elsewhere.

Alternatives to Prologues

Instead of a lengthy prologue, consider:

• Starting with an action or intrigue-filled scene that plunges readers in.
  • Example: A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin skips a traditional prologue and starts with an immediate suspense-filled ranger patrol beyond the Wall, immersing readers in the world and its threats. Later chapters drop worldbuilding naturally.
• Distributing worldbuilding details gradually, embedded in characters choices and dialogue.
  • Example: The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson begins without a prologue, revealing important worldbuilding through the POV characters’ experiences and conversations, layering information organically.
• Using “breadcrumbing” to reveal your magic system or history a bit at a time, keeping readers curious without over-explaining.
  • Example: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien doesn’t use a prologue; instead, it weaves subtle hints about history and magic of Middle-earth through the journey and dialogue, inviting readers to discover the world at the same pace as Bilbo.

Fantasy Developmental Edits with Wheeless Edits

In a developmental edit, we explore together what’s working in your story’s structure, pacing, magic systems, and yes, that prologue! We’ll look objectively at whether it invites readers in or slows them down – and explore alternatives that strengthen your opening.

If you’re unsure whether your prologue helps or hinders your story, I offer fantasy-focused manuscript evaluations, developmental edits, and coaching to guide you. Send me your questions and we’ll take a look together and find your best way to start the journey.