The literary fusion of fantasy and romance, aptly called ‘Romantasy’, has been stealing readers’ hearts lately. Soaring in demand and dominating social media platforms like TikTok, where enthusiasts are affectionately termed #BookTok, this genre is having its moment under the spotlight.
Romancing the Data, a romance-focused analytics site, sifted through 53 elite lists to single out the crème de la crème of romantasy reads. Securing the crown in the romantasy realm was the beloved A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas. Fans well-acquainted with the genre will hardly be startled by this outcome, knowing all too well the series’ towering stature.
The team at Romancing the Data wrote: “A captivating fantasy where a huntress enters a faerie realm, facing romance, danger, and a deadly curse. Beauty and the Beast meets dark magic.”
It turns out that Maas’s authorial magic wasn’t confined to just one series, as her name graced the list yet again with Throne of Glass securing the eighth spot and Crescent City squeezing in at number 19, reports themirror.com.
The second spot went to the immensely successful Fourth Wing series authored by Rebecca Yarros, boasting close to three million marks of approval on Goodreads, earmarking it with an impeccable 4.58-star average rating.
The fervent approval from readers echoes in one glowing five-star review, stating: “This book is a rollercoaster of twists and had me so hooked from the start!
“Not once did it feel boring or like I should just skim something, and for once, I know the hype was so worth it!”
Another fan wrote: “I am officially OBSESSED with this book! Having turned the last page over an hour ago, I’m still staring into the void, having no idea what to do with myself, and genuinely considering going back and re-reading it again straight away. It’s THAT GOOD.”
In third place came Jennifer L. Armentrout’s viral TikTok favourite series, From Blood and Ash, which the curators summarised as follows: “A fierce maiden destined for divinity breaks free from duty, facing forbidden love, dark secrets, and a kingdom on the brink of war.”
Completing the top five triumphs were Carissa Broadbent’s The Serpent and The Wings of Night alongside Rebecca Ross’s acclaimed Divine Rivals, the latter snagging the coveted Goodreads Choice Award in the Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction category for 2023.
The top 20 romantasy books/series
- A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
- Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
- From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
- The Serpent and The Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
- Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
- The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen
- The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
- Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
- A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet
- Radiance by Grace Draven
- Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
- Bride by Ali Hazlewood
- One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
- Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa
- Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
- The Book of Azrael by Amber V. Nicole
- Gild by Raven Kennedy
- House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City) by Sarah J. Maas
- Uprooted by Naomi Novik
