On Romantasy Suffocating Fantasy

Is spice the death of literature?

The last few days I was surprised to read many articles on how romantasy is supposedly killing fantasy, with some critics even dubbing it "p0rn." I shouldn't be surprised by seeing these takes, since I'm the one clicking them on social media, telling the algorithms to feed me more, but still, the intensity of the backlash is noteworthy.

Let me preface this by saying the words you'll read are not some professional opinion on the matter, just the rambling thoughts of one random woman in the universe. One that fully acknowledges there is a genuine issue that many of these articles highlight: romantasy is taking over bookshelves and makes it harder to find traditional fantasy books as well as many other genres.

And I'll set aside the fact that some romantasy books are absolute garbage (and some deal with matters that are genuinely problematic), as this can be said for a portion of books in any genre.

The Real Culprit: Economics, Not Agendas

But I will make one thing clear from the start. It's not romantasy that's hindering your chances to get your epic fantasy novel, one that's better than anything else ever written, onto the bookshelf. It's not the gatekeeping some articles claim to be in place, pointing out that lead positions in publishing are now in the hands of women. It's not because you are a man (or a woman writing epic fantasy). The reason is far simpler and a lot less tin-foily: Money.

Romantasy sells. Publishers' main goal is to get money, not tap you on the shoulder for the wonderful world you have crafted and the life you poured into your characters. Don't believe me? You have a greater chance to get representation if you have a weak story and a huge social media following (which you can gain if you're crafty; you don't need to be a writer for it) than an enticing story and no social media presence. I'm not saying the doors are closed to you if you don't have a social media presence, but you can believe me an agent and a publisher will give your pitch a little bit more attention if you have it.

It. All. Comes. Down. To. Money.

The Enduring Appeal of Romance

Which brings us to another question: Why romantasy? Romance has always been one of the best-selling genres since almost forever. These books have offered escape from the bleak world, inspired hope, and given readers the very much needed happily ever after. I hate to cling to the word patriarchy, but I do think it fits as to why this genre was so popular in the past. The personal freedom of women was limited, and romance was escapism. I love modern men, but there should be no arguing that even two, three generations ago how many men viewed women and treated them was horrible — take a look of these vintage ads that would never pass today but they give us a gloomy, yet lighthearted glimpse of that reality.

But do we still need this today? Not in the same sense, no. That does not change the fact that romance and romantasy books still resonate in the same way: we can go on an emotional journey with these books, relate to characters, cheer for them, and gush when the couple finally gets together. And now with dragons!

Breaking Down Barriers

The popularity of ACOTAR and FOURTH WING bridged the gap between fantasy and romance for many readers. BookTok broke the nurtured stereotype that fantasy and sci-fi are for men. It made many women realize they can get lost in magical worlds too. Also taking this chance to bow to both Sarah J. Maas and especially Rebecca Yarros — love her writing or hate it (I’ve read both takes), she singlehandedly made thousands of people, mostly women, pick up a book for the first time in a long time and fall in love with reading again.

The Gender Divide

Which now brings me to the gripe I have with all of this. Why aren't men picking up more books? And why are (mostly) men the ones that have an issue with romantasy? Why can I enjoy a book written "for men," yet the same is rarely the case the other way around?

Good romantasy is more than just smooching and smut. It has a story. Characters have depth and dimensions. The worlds are rich. It's just that emotions take a larger part of the book (and it's not even that big of a percentage in many of these books). I refuse to believe men can't relate to a woman protagonist with feelings by some grand natural design — as some of the articles I've read seem to claim. That's insulting to men.

I see this in video games as well. I've spent my life playing games made "for men". Never had an issue with it, as this was my only option. It's only been in recent years that video game industry started becoming more inclusive and I can enjoy a good female protagonist with a good story. Only to be left feeling bitter by all the comments on the internet tearing up her looks or people complaining they won't be picking the game up because they can't immerse themselves in a female character. And a little rant here — if you pay attention to reviews a bad game with a male protagonist is bad because of the story, the bugs or any other technical issue, a game with female protagonist is bad because of female protagonist (I slowly exhale).

I also can't really fault men here. Women didn't really have much choice but to learn to enjoy a different perspective, while men were catered in receiving theirs and conditioned (to some extent) that they shouldn't enjoy a feminine one.

On that note, very early on, reading gets the label as a feminine hobby, ferociously cutting the number of male readers.

Reading Is Not Zero-Sum

What's often overlooked in this debate is that the publishing industry isn't static. The massive success of romantasy has brought new readers into bookstores and libraries. New brick-and-mortar stores have been popping up because of it. Many of these readers, after discovering their love of reading through romantasy, will expand their horizons to other genres, including traditional fantasy.

Rather than viewing romantasy as fantasy's competitor, perhaps we should see it as fantasy's gateway drug. The emotional engagement that romantasy offers can create lifelong readers who eventually explore the full spectrum of speculative fiction.

Beyond the Binary

The romantasy debate often frames the issue as a binary choice: traditional fantasy or romantasy. But the reality is more complex. Many readers enjoy both. Many books contain elements of both. And the market is large enough to support a diverse range of subgenres.

The real question isn't whether romantasy is killing fantasy, but whether publishers are diversifying their catalogs enough to serve all readers. When a trend becomes dominant, it's natural for other styles to feel marginalized. But this is a problem of market dynamics, not a “feminism” conspiracy (yeah, also read this take in one of the articles).

The Complex Reality for Authors

While readers are benefiting from more diverse options, the reality for authors, particularly male fantasy authors, has become more challenging. The market shift toward romantasy has created real obstacles for writers of traditional fantasy. Some talented male authors who have crafted incredible worlds and compelling narratives are struggling to get publishing deals in this current environment.

It would be dishonest to frame this entirely as positive evolution. Like any significant market shift, there are winners and losers. The romantasy boom has created opportunities for some writers while closing doors for others. This isn't about blaming romantasy authors or readers, it's simply acknowledging the reality of how publishing economics work.

But don't blame the genre for the faults in the system. It's not the author writing smut taking up space for other books you deem more worthy.