Romantasy vs fantasy romance: What's the difference? | Rachel Rowlands, Editor & Author

Romantasy and fantasy romance are incredibly popular genres in fiction right now – for both readers and writers! But the terms can be confusing because they’re so similar.

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First of all, there are a lot of different opinions floating around about this very topic. Some people consider them to be the same thing, with “romantasy” just being a new, trendy buzzword for “fantasy romance” that’s gained popularity and traction.

It doesn’t help with the confusion that many retail outlets like Waterstones and Amazon will lump these genres together for marketing reasons (to give books strong visibility) or for practicality (such as limited shelf space). And sometimes they will throw them in the general fantasy/sci-fi sections, which can irritate readers who would prefer a fantasy book without any romance.

It can also be hard for algorithms or retail websites to separate things like fantasy romance, romantasy, paranormal romance, YA fantasy… It’s often easier to keep things together.

Anyway, confusion and marketing choices aside, there are lots of readers, editors, and publishers who are drawing a distinction between these two terms.

I think it’s helpful for writers especially to be aware of this distinction. Retail outlets may not bother to distinguish between very niche genres but knowing this yourself can make it much easier to pitch and market your book to agents and publishers.

Let’s look at the definitions of romantasy vs fantasy romance, and the general consensus on the differences between the two.

Romantasy and the difference between fantasy romance

Romantasy defined

In their article on the genre, The Guardian describes romantasy as: “a portmanteau of romance and fantasy applied to novels that blend elements of both genres”. Bloomsbury apparently coined the term because they wanted to better identify the genre that Sarah J. Maas (arguably the queen of romantasy) was writing.

The term romantasy has also been added to the Collins English Dictionary, thanks to its surge in popularity. They define it as:

a literary genre that combines romantic fiction with fantasy

Romantasy, then, is a hybrid of romance and fantasy.

When we read romantasy, what we usually see is a solid balance between the two elements. There’s a strong fantasy plotline driving the story, as we would expect for fantasy (such as a war against a villain or a major quest). The romance occurs alongside this and has an equally strong focus.

In this genre, the story doesn’t need to follow the typical beats we’d expect in a romance, such as a happily ever after for our characters.

Examples

Fantasy romance defined

Fantasy romance is also a blend of the two genres but the focus is different. It evolved as an offshoot from paranormal romance – a subcategory of romance fiction.

In this genre, the romance is the primary focus, not the fantasy plot. These books are written for the romance market specifically. As a result, they adhere to the expected beats of a romance novel (for example, having a happy ending).

You can think of this genre as a romance story taking place in a fantasy setting. The romance story takes centre stage. The fantasy setting is the backdrop.

Examples

How to determine where your book fits in

A good way of testing out which genre your book falls into would be to think about what would happen if you removed a certain element.

If you removed the romance from your book, would the novel completely fall apart? Then you probably have a fantasy romance.

You can also think about the goal you’re aiming for and the main hook or focus of the story. Is the novel primarily about a couple reaching a happy ending and overcoming trials to be together, albeit in a fantasy world? Then you have a fantasy romance.

If the novel is largely focused on a wider fantasy conflict (such as winning a war or defeating a villain), but also happens to have a strong romance, you have a romantasy.

I hope this post helped you understand the differences between romantasy vs fantasy romance! If you would like to work with me on your book, check out my editorial services.