The romantasy genre, which blends romance with fantasy, has seen significant growth and cultural influence in recent years, emerging as one of the most popular literary categories worldwide. Characterized by narratives set partly or entirely in fantasy worlds with romance at their core, these stories typically promise a happy ending. The genre, often traced back to historical romance literature, gained notable contemporary momentum following the 2015 release of American author Sarah J. Maas’ "A Court of Thorns and Roses" (ACOTAR).
Maas’ series, which includes sequels such as "A Court of Mist and Fury" and "A Court of Wings and Ruin," ascended rapidly from modest beginnings to record-breaking sales, fueled in part by platforms like BookTok on TikTok. By 2024, the ACOTAR franchise had sold over 40 million copies globally, with worldwide sales surpassing 84 million by 2026. These figures underscore a broader surge in romance literature, with Circana BookScan reporting over 44 million romance print books sold in the United States in 2025 alone. Australia's market reflects this trend, with Nielsen BookScan citing a 49 percent rise in romance book sales over three years, reaching three million copies sold in 2024.
Amid this expansion, retail spaces dedicated to romantasy have appeared, including Romancing the Novel, a bookshop founded by Australian author Scarlett Hopper in Sydney in 2024 and now operating in Brisbane. Hopper highlights the genre’s ability to provide both representation and escapism, noting the community’s warmth and inclusivity. The genre often addresses themes such as anxiety, chronic illness, and body image, offering readers relatable yet fantastical narratives.
Academics and cultural commentators credit the COVID-19 pandemic as a key factor in romantasy’s rise. The increased time spent indoors drove many toward books offering comfort, empowerment, and hope amid uncertainty. Dr. Kate Cuthbert, host of the podcast Enough Trope, emphasized the genre’s quiet rebellion in openly portraying consensual, pleasure-positive sexuality, a shift that challenges longstanding societal norms. Some novels within the genre now carry explicit content warnings, reflecting evolving cultural attitudes toward female sexual agency.
The genre’s popularity has also sparked wider discussions about contemporary relationships and gender dynamics. A panel at the 2026 All About Women Festival in Sydney examined how romantasy intersects with “hetero-fatalism,” a term used to describe a growing pessimism toward heterosexual relationships. Dr. Lisa Portolan, a researcher and author who participated in the discussion, linked this attitude to the alienation experienced in modern dating culture, especially on apps characterized by ambivalence, ghosting, and low commitment. Romantasy, she argued, offers an alternative narrative centered on destiny, recognition, and emotional depth, elements often absent from today's dating scene.
Nonetheless, experts acknowledge that romantasy’s blend of romance and fantasy raises questions about the nature of idealized relationships and the balance between escapism and reality. While the genre provides solace and connection for many, ongoing debates continue about how these stories influence expectations and perceptions of love in an evolving social landscape.