A rose by any other name may smell as sweet, but Shakespeare’s point that names don’t matter is not the philosophy libraries use when it comes to helping readers find books. This is why the team of book experts behind NoveList Plus has dug in to define a new subgenre, Romantasy, and distinguish it from Fantasy romances so that you can help readers find exactly what they’re looking for.
While we love a blurb as much as the next person, it’s also clear that Romantasy has become a marketing term added to any book that might have a bit of romance, a bit of world-building, a bit of political intrigue or warfare, or maybe a dragon or two. We think it’s a bit more nuanced than that.
What is Romantasy?
Romantasy is a portmanteau between two genres, Romance and Fantasy, held in near-perfect balance.
In Romantasy, intense romantic feelings build over time, frequently between enemies or at least two people without reason to trust each other. But unlike Fantasy romances (or Romances in general), the happily-ever-after ending is not guaranteed.
Also in Romantasy, detailed world-building is key. The book must have a richly imagined world, often on quite a grand scale and with quite high stakes (think wars, betrayal, epic quests, or battles between good and evil).
The important thing is that these two ideas appear in equal measure. The relationships unfold against the backdrop of whatever is happening in the richly imagined world. Not only is it a setting, but it provides the central tension for the people involved.
In addition, the stories are far more likely to be suspenseful than sweet. Cliff-hangers and major impediments to a developing relationship are common, as these books often (but not always) appear in series. These series follow the same main characters and their fraught relationship across all titles. Genres like Epic fantasy or Dark fantasy might also appear on these records within NoveList Plus. Paranormal romances or Fantasy romances will not.
How to find Romantasy books
To find these books in NoveList Plus at both the adult and teen levels, do a genre search for Romantasy. If books by Rebecca Yarros and Sarah J. Maas appear at the top of the results page, you’re on the right track!
We also have two Recommended Reads lists, one for teens, and one for adults that you can find from the home page, under the Fantasy umbrella.
Lastly, if you’re looking to browse, head over to our genre browse carousels, select Fantasy, and scroll down until you hit Romantasy.
Here's a freebie to help you recommend Romantasy books! Download this LibraryAware flyer and use it wherever you interact with readers.
Shauna Griffin is Senior Collection Development Librarian for NoveList and is currently reading Seveneves by Neal Stephenson for fun and Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield for a book club.
