Genre Guide
What is romantasy? A beginner's guide to fantasy's spiciest genre
July 23, 2026 · 7 min read read
Everyone's talking about romantasy — but what actually counts, where did it come from, and which book should you start with? Here's the friendly, no-gatekeeping guide.
If you've been on BookTok for more than five minutes you've heard the word romantasy thrown around like everyone was born knowing what it means. Fair warning: I wasn't. So here's the guide I wish I'd had.
What romantasy actually is
Romantasy is fantasy where the romance is a load-bearing part of the plot, not a subplot. If you took the love story out, the book would collapse. That's the test.
A few practical markers:
- Two (or more) POVs — usually the heroine and her love interest
- A fantasy world — fae, dragons, magic academies, vampires, gods
- Slow-burn tension that pays off (yes, usually with spice)
- Emotional stakes tied to the romance — the fate of the world tends to run through the couple, not around them
It sits between traditional epic fantasy (where romance is optional garnish) and paranormal romance (where the fantasy is really just wallpaper for the love story).
Where it came from
Romantasy didn't appear in 2023 no matter what TikTok tells you. Its DNA runs through:
- Anne McCaffrey's Pern books (1960s) — dragons + bonded riders + soul-mate energy
- Sherrilyn Kenyon, Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews — paranormal romance that leaned harder into worldbuilding
- Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Dart (2001) — arguably the mother of modern adult romantasy
- Sarah J. Maas — who took the formula mainstream with Throne of Glass and then broke the internet with A Court of Thorns and Roses
- Rebecca Yarros's Fourth Wing (2023) — the book that made "romantasy" a shelf label in physical bookshops
The tropes you'll keep meeting
Once you've read a few, you'll spot these everywhere:
- Fated mates / bond magic — the universe ships them, and honestly so do we
- Enemies to lovers — usually across a political or magical divide
- Only one bed — a cliché because it works
- Morally grey love interest — he's murdered people. He would murder for her. That's the appeal.
- Trials, tournaments, or war college — a structured way to force proximity
- Chosen one heroine who'd rather not be, thanks
Where to start (depending on your vibe)
If you want the phenomenon: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. Fast, propulsive, dragons.
If you want the modern classic: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. Book one is the setup — book two is why the fandom exists.
If you want something short and standalone: A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova.
If you want darker / sharper: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black.
If you want cosy romantasy: Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett.
If you want very spicy: From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout, or Zodiac Academy by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti.
A note on spice levels
Romantasy runs the full range — from closed-door (nothing on the page) to very explicit. If you're not sure what you're getting into, the StoryGraph content warnings are your friend, and honestly so is the comment section of any BookTok review. Nobody in this community will judge you for asking.
Romantasy is having its main-character moment for a reason: it takes the emotional core of a great romance and gives it stakes big enough to match. Once you're in, you're in.
Start with whichever of the above sounds most you — and come tell me on Instagram which one hooked you.