Romance meets fantasy, and the internet can’t get enough. From morally gray fae kings to TikTok tears, here’s why Romantasy is the genre rewriting every rule in 2025.
What Even *Is* Romantasy?
Romantasy = Romance + Fantasy. Think: enemies-to-lovers with swords, magic pacts sealed with kisses, dragons guarding emotionally unavailable princes.
It’s the genre where you fall in love and also maybe die for a kingdom. Or save it. Or burn it. Depending on your trauma arc.
Why 2025 Is Its Year
Romantasy isn’t new — Throne of Glass walked so Fourth Wing could fly. But 2025? It’s a full-on cultural takeover.
- #Romantasy passed 1.2 billion views on TikTok
- Top 5 books on the NYT Bestsellers list? All romantasy
- Merch boxes like Fairyloot and Owlcrate sell out instantly
- Fan art commissions booked through fall — especially for morally gray antiheroes with pointy ears
The Tropes That Keep Us Hooked
- “Touch him and you die” energy
- Magical trials that are somehow always romantic
- Soul bonds that literally glow
- Warrior queens who don’t need saving but still get kissed in the rain
- Dark academies where everyone wears cloaks and tension
One TikTok summed it up perfectly: “Romantasy is just therapy with swords and hot people.”
Books You’ve Definitely Seen on Your Feed
- “Wings of Ash and Oaths” by Reya Vale – enemies-to-lovers in a haunted sky kingdom
- “The Court of Thorns Rewritten” by A. L. Marris – spicy fae politics, trauma, redemption
- “Dagger & Devotion” by Liorne Night – morally gray assassin x sunshine warlock
- “Heir of Nothing” by K. J. Thorn – gaslight-gatekeep-girlboss but make it royal prophecy
From Page to Merch to Screen
- Velvet bookmark drops tied to magical kingdoms
- Scented candles: “Dark Castle Library” or “Forbidden Bond”
- TV deals: Three major studios adapting fan-fave series (casting debates are chaos)
Some predict Romantasy will be the next Marvel-level franchise pipeline — just with more kissing and fewer explosions (maybe).
Why Now?
It’s hitting because we’re craving:
- Emotional intensity
- Escapism with stakes
- Romance that feels earned
- Magic systems that double as metaphors for trauma and growth
And, let’s be honest: We want to read about people who would burn the world down for us, then cry about it under a blood moon.
Final Word from Nia
Romantasy isn’t a genre. It’s a lifestyle. It’s the reason we’re tired at work. It’s why our For You Pages are full of battle-worn soft boys and dagger queens. It’s how we cope, dream, and feel a little dramatic on purpose.
Your Turn
What’s your ultimate Romantasy ship? What trope makes you weak every time? Are you pro or anti map-in-the-front?
Tag us on Threads or X with #WonderinePulse, or drop your “I just finished it and I need a minute” face on TikTok.
