Ditch Rom-Coms — Read Romantasy this Valentine’s

As a kid who grew up with her nose constantly in a “Harry Potter” or “Hunger Games” book, it was my destiny to become an adult “romantasy” book reader. The walls of Hogwarts seamlessly shifted into Bagiath’s war college in Rebecca Yarros’ “Fourth Wing,” and the fire of Katniss Everdeen passed on to Sarah J. Mass’s Celaena Sardothien in “Throne of Glass.” 

The last thing anyone wants to do after a long day of classes is pick up a book on entrepreneurship or self-help, or even a classic. When it comes to reading, audiences need a world they can fall into headfirst, leaving them wondering where it all could have gone when they reach the last page — as it feels like they’re saying goodbye to a part of them. 

Romantasy is the unrivaled genre for anyone needing a spell-casting story full of fantastical worlds. When you open a novel and there’s a map of imaginary lands with stories waiting to be shared on the pages ahead, you know it’ll be a good one. 

As a blend of romance and fantasy, the genre quickly became one of the most popular book genres in recent years, boasting an over 116% growth in sales since 2020, according to Bloomberg. 

Rebecca Yarros, best known for her series “Fourth Wing,” broke genre records with the release of the third book in the series, “Onyx Storm,” which sold 2.7 million copies within a week of its release, according to The New York Times. 

“Fourth Wing” is like “How to Train Your Dragon” meets “Harry Potter” meets “The Hunger Games.” Set at a military academy for dragon riders, the story is a textbook enemies-to-lovers plotline that’ll leave readers’ standards sky-high by the last chapter.

Yarros’ success proves romantasy is a genre here to stay, yet there still seems to be a lingering negative stigma around these types of books. TikTok has helped break this barrier and allowed people to find communities where they can share their passions for these stories. 

It’s impossible to mention the word romantasy without bringing up its quintessential contributor, Sarah J. Maas — the genre’s Michael Jordan. Her unparalleled ability to create a universe out of nothing but words has amassed — no pun intended — a cult-like following. 

Every character she creates is complex, with subplots rich enough to spin off into their own books. Her novels are chock full of moments that may have readers crying out in delight or slamming their heads against their pillow in frustration. With over 55 million copies sold globally, Maas has cemented herself as one of the greats. 

Maas’ second series, “A Court of Thorns and Roses” — known by fans as ACOTAR — is the perfect introduction for any reader looking to get into romantasy. 

ACOTAR is a captivating blend of romance, magic and danger that takes readers into the world of Prythian — a continent divided by feuding courts and sadistic rulers. The first installment is a drop in a bucket compared to the rest of Maas’ fantastical world, which is filled with a plot and characters as deep as the Atlantic Ocean.

BookTok has become a powerful machine for propelling novels into the spotlight. It’s become a part of my reading routine to immediately jump on TikTok after I finish a series to watch fan edits and theories. It’s almost like an online book club, where I’m able to share little inside jokes and interpretations that would only make sense to readers of the books. 

Any romantasy novel offers bookworms the ultimate Valentine’s Day escape. If anything, the genre works so well, setting romantic standards extravagantly high, that the real holiday almost pales in comparison.