The article discusses the rise of the 'romantasy' genre, a blend of romance and fantasy that has skyrocketed in popularity since the pandemic. Key titles like Sarah J. Maas's series and Rebecca Yarros's 'Onyx Storm' are highlighted for their success. Critics are joined by writer Katy Waldman, who discusses how platforms like BookTok allow authors to adjust their narratives to meet reader desires. The genre's appeal largely stems from its themes of escapism and self-affirmation, offering readers a comforting fantasy where they are always desirable and powerful.
The reason that I think they're so powerful and they provide such solace to us is because they tell us, 'You're perfect. You're always right. You have the hottest mate. You have the sickest powers.' I totally get it. I fall into those reveries, too. I think we all do.
Monitoring readers' reactions on BookTok, a literary corner of TikTok, allows writers to tailor their work to fans' hyper-specific preferences.
Collection
[
|
...
]