By Brittany Holness, Lucy O’Neill, Kelsey Liddell and Gemma Mathers
Romantasy is a subgenre that has recently become more popular in the reading community. This genre is an overlap of two other popular genres: romance and fantasy. It is difficult to determine which genre is weighted more in these novels, as each novel is different and emphasises different themes. As the years have gone by, this genre has only become more loved, particularly hitting its peak over the last few years. Booktok and Bookstagram have been swept up in this perfect combination of romance and fantasy, so much so that even adverts catered to social media users will publicise these genres and help authors cultivate more readers as these ads are geared to fans of the genre. The fantasy section is also often the most popular in shops, but even more so these days when there is the beloved romance element. This week, there will be a deep dive into all that encompasses this genre, from its development to tropes that are typically specific to romantasy and even some recommendations.
The use of the term romantasy has exploded in the past couple of years, with the subgenre's hashtag on TikTok containing over 380,000 posts. But how did it come about? This amalgamation of fantastical kingdoms holding dragons, fairies and magic with classic romance tropes - such as enemies to lovers, love triangles and fake dating - reflects an evolving literary landscape that embraces diverse storytelling and complex character arcs. This subgenre has emerged as a direct result of the surge in popularity of epic fantasies and lustful romantic fiction. Romantasy taps into a reader’s desire to be immersed in an unfathomable world and grounds its characters with emotional, and sometimes even relatable, relationships.
Romantasy's success lies in its versatility and broad appeal. Whether it's the thrill of forbidden love, the tension of a love triangle or the charm of a pretend relationship that turns real, this subgenre caters to varied tastes and backgrounds, making it a dynamic and inclusive subgenre that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere just yet. The personal growth and romantic entanglements of romantasy characters set against the backdrop of imaginative worlds provide readers with both an escape from reality and a reflection of their own hopes, dreams and struggles, ensuring romantasy’s place as a beloved genre in contemporary fiction where readers can see themselves reflected in fantastical narratives.
Within the realm of romantasy novels, readers have come to expect the inclusion of certain tropes. Fan favourites include enemies to lovers, fated mates, soulmates and the ever-prominent feisty female as the main character with a pining male lead. These tropes have become staples to readers and are often what have people reaching for romantasy novels as their next read. The subgenre of romantasy lends itself to the use of these tropes due to the suspended reality of the world and the intense and often intricate worldbuilding - think dragons, magic and gods. Fantasy readers understand a level of distinction between our reality and the world concocted between the pages where the impossible is possible and the inconceivable is to be expected. It is a subgenre where these tropes thrive. Enemies to lovers work exponentially better in a novel where the stakes are high and the male main character is willing to let the world burn to save his love interest. Tropes like fated mates, where everything in that universe has aligned to bring two souls together, simply wouldn’t work in an everyday contemporary romance novel. Fantasy has the space, the stakes and the worldbuilding to make these tropes not only thrive but be desired.
Currently, romantasy is taking over bookshops, so there are plentiful examples of books and authors who are very popular in this genre. Arguably, the most well-known writer is Sarah J. Maas, who has released three different romantasy series, including A Court of Thorns and Roses series, and is still publishing. She has set a precedent for what romantasy should be, and many writers have followed in her footsteps, such as Rebecca Yarros with the Empyrean series and Jennifer L. Armentrout with the Blood and Ash series. Readers are devouring these quickly, and there is consistently high demand for more books in this genre for them to sink their teeth into.
This genre has taken over the reading community, and the love it has been receiving has only contributed to the ever-growing treasure trove of fantastical worlds that have their own unique world-building and rules. There are so many worlds that have been created and so many worlds that have yet to be created. It is no surprise that with all that can be done with this genre so many authors have dipped their pens and let their creativity guide them, producing beautiful worlds that readers can escape to. It is exciting to explore what has been done, but it is just as exciting to see what could be done with romantasy.