Inside the rise of romantasy — books where magic meets love
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.
We explore romantasy's rise, with roots in fan fiction, online communities and personal storytelling. Host Julia Dixon Evans and producer Anthony Wallace 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.
We explore romantasy's rise, with roots in fan fiction, online communities and personal storytelling. Host Julia Dixon Evans and producer Anthony Wallace 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.