Where does the term romantasy come from?
The name is a blend: romance + fantasy = romantasy. You will also see "romantic fantasy" or "fantasy romance", depending on which element dominates. Over the past few years, romantasy has established itself as the umbrella term – and has even become its own shelf label in bookshops.
The idea itself is not new: love stories in fantasy worlds have always existed. What is new is that, since around 2020, the genre has developed its own identity, a huge community and its own bestseller ecosystem – powered by BookTok, where romantasy titles go viral on a regular basis.
How to recognise a romantasy novel
- The love story carries the plot. Remove the central relationship and the story falls apart – it is never interchangeable set dressing.
- A fully built fantasy world. Magic systems, dragons, fae courts or magical academies: the worldbuilding is more than a backdrop.
- Strong female leads. Mostly told from a female perspective, often featuring a heroine who has to stand her ground against a hostile system.
- Beloved tropes. Enemies to lovers, fated mates, slow burn – the community actively searches for books by these storytelling patterns.
- Emotional intensity. Romantasy aims for big feelings: longing, betrayal, loyalty, sacrifice.
The most important subgenres
Dark romantasy
Darker worlds, morally grey characters, higher spice levels. The line to dark romance is blurry – the difference is mainly the amount of fantasy in the setting.
Cozy fantasy with romance
The counter-programme: warm, comforting worlds, little violence, maximum wellbeing. Perfect for readers who find epic fantasy too grim.
Fae and court romantasy
Elven courts, political intrigue, ancient powers – the subgenre shaped by Sarah J. Maas and "A Court of Thorns and Roses".
Academy and dragon-rider romantasy
Magical schools and dragon-rider academies, made famous by "Fourth Wing": training grounds, rivalry and romance in one package.
How to find the right romantasy book for you
- How much fantasy do you want? If you love complex magic systems, go for the epic series. If you mainly want the love story, fantasy-light titles will make you happier.
- Which spice level suits you? Everything from "clean" to very explicit is on the market. Reviews and content notes are your friends.
- Series or standalone? The big hits are usually multi-volume epics with cliffhangers. Standalones are the better choice if you do not want to commit to five books.
A tip from publishing practice: pay less attention to the cover and more to the tropes a book is marketed with. They tell you more reliably than any blurb whether a story will hit your sweet spot.
Romantasy and the book market
Romantasy has long outgrown its niche: publishers launch dedicated imprints, bookshops devote entire tables to the genre, and special editions with sprayed edges sell at premium prices. If you want to explore the wider world of stories beyond romantasy, browse our full catalogue – and if you never want to miss a new release, join our newsletter.