Romantasy rising: How a dismissed book genre became a publishing powerhouse

Romantasy has become one of the fastest-growing book genres in publishing — a blend of epic love stories and magical stakes that's capturing the imaginations of readers. Once dismissed as unserious or overly indulgent, the genre is now being embraced by a new wave of fans, thanks in part to #BookTok, viral buzz and social commentary that touches on real-world issues through fantastical stories. 

On this episode of The Finest, we explore romantasy's rise, with roots in fan fiction, online communities and personal storytelling. We talk with San Diego authors, booksellers and fans, and hear from a professor who studies popular romance and romantasy fiction to understand what makes the genre so powerful — and why it's resonating so deeply across the culture. 

"This idea that romance trivializes is not new," says Netta Baker, an advanced instructor of English at Virginia Tech. "All the way back in the 18th century, Ann Radcliffe novels were thought to stir improper passions in young women."

We also take you inside Comic-Con 2025, where romantasy panels drew some of the longest lines of the weekend, and unpack the genre's biggest misconceptions — that it's unserious, overly steamy or somehow not "real" fantasy. What we found instead was a powerful form of storytelling — one that reflects the real world, often giving women power and agency they don't always feel in daily life, and bringing thousands of people back to books.

Romantasy might just surprise you.

Guests:

• Netta Baker, Advanced Instructor of English at Virginia Tech
• Adalyn Grace, #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling fantasy author of the "Belladonna" series
• Kaylie Smith, #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling dark fantasy romance author of the "Wicked Games" series
• Comic-Con 2025 attendees we met during romantasy panels and signings, including Autumn Mitchell and Julia

Books mentioned in this episode:

• "Flame and Thorns" by Marion Blackwood
• "A Court of Thorns and Roses" by Sarah J. Maas
• "Fourth Wing" by Rebecca Yarros
• "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas
• "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
• "A Curse Carved in Bone" by Danielle L. Jensen
• "Fifty Shades of Grey" by E.L. James
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