but what IS romantasy?

but what IS romantasy? | a vlog

Рет қаралды 16,395

4 ай бұрын

00:00 Intro
01:17 The Hanging City
06:30 The Jasad Heir
10:47 Throne of the Fallen
17:50 Assistant to the Villain
24:28 The Hurricane Wars
28:30 Final Thoughts
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Пікірлер: 72

@user-zb8qo4oz3s 4 ай бұрын

From my understanding of Romantasy vs Fantasy with romance, is that in Romantasy the romance is the main driver of the story and it just takes place in a fantasy world, where a Fantasy with romance the main driver of the story is not the romance, there just might happen to be some romance in the story as a sub plot.

@GeekyC. 4 ай бұрын

You got it ! I’ve been a Romantasy reader for many years now before it became main stream and honestly I didn’t know there was even a name for it until recently .. I just like to read romance not matter what the genre is along with the fantasy so for years I called it fantasy with romance 😅

@netogrof 4 ай бұрын

This is my understanding also.

@user-zb8qo4oz3s 4 ай бұрын

Fun story, Assistant to the Villain started off as a video series the author did on TikTok and the series became so popular she decided to write the book.

@taylorgayhart9497 4 ай бұрын

For me the difference between Romantasy and Fantasy is that in the former the main driving force of the book is the relationship itself. For example, in A Court of Thorns and Roses Feyre’s actions (and the plot itself) are motivated by her love for Tamlin, and in Throne of Glass Celena’s motivations are survival and desire to get rid of a great evil. Yes Celena has romantic encounters, but they’re not what drives her or the plot.

@fushiforever 4 ай бұрын

I've heard romantasy described as... if you remove the romance does the plot still work? yes? not romantsy. no? that's romantasy.

@indigoswritingcave 4 ай бұрын

Some fantasy romance/romantasy books that I think establish the genre really well are the Book of Azrael, Blood & Steel, Serpent & the Wings of Night. Friends to lovers examples would be Daughter of No Worlds, Song of the Forever Rains, & Blood Mercy!

@SonicAndTrippy 4 ай бұрын

I absolutely love the romanrasy genre because when searching for books, you can search fantasy OR romance. But a ton of fantasies on the list will not have a drop of romance, and a ton of romances will not have a sliver of fantasy. Sure you can filter it down more, but it gets wildly tedious. Romantasy is really all I'm interested in reading anymore and finding good ones before it became a "thing" was HARD.

@totakluska 4 ай бұрын

I've heard the difference between romantasy and fantasy romance described like this: romantasy (short for romantic fantasy, where fantasy is the noun) is first and foremost a fantasy story, with a fantastic world and creatures, magic, battles, villains and so on, and even though the romance part is huge, it's still a subplot. Forthwing and all of Sarah J. Mass are great examples of that. Fantasy romance (romance is the noun) is first and foremost a romance story, with meeting the love interest, getting to know them, developing feelings, third act break-up and all that, and the setting (and often the love interest) happens to be a fantastic one. I think Elise Kova has a series where each book is a romance with a different supernatural creature: elf, vampire, merman ect. I guess sometimes the lines are a bit blurry with some books that start as a fantasy and slowly become fantasy romance. There's also the fact that fantasy romance probably couldn't compete with contemporary in the romance category, so I guess Goodreads just put it all in romantasy and called it a day

@chelsikay13 4 ай бұрын

I feel like romantasy can be more of a "vibe" and I feel like I can point at books and be "yes, that's a romantasy. But not that one even though it should fit"

@NonAnonD 4 ай бұрын

Double video weekend! Nice! I saw authors and agents talking about "what is Romantasy" not too long ago, though their debate was more what's Romantasy vs what's Fantasy Romance.

@jupiterjules83 4 ай бұрын

I read the blurb for Assistant to the Villain and immediately got Ella Enchanted vibes. Which worked for me while reading because I didn’t take it too seriously and I found it an enjoyable little fantasy rom-com.

@elskabee 4 ай бұрын

maybe as an older gen z I just don't 'get it' but more and more I'm of the opinion that romantasy is just fantasy romance and people wanted a fun new name for it. I guess you could argue that romantasy tends to have the romance and fantasy in equal measures, where FanRo is more just about the romance with fantasy for flavour. I also think what people call romantasy tends to be new adult which makes sense given the demographic 🤷‍♀

@dianaandthebookhunt 4 ай бұрын

💯

@GeekyC. 4 ай бұрын

Millennial here and yep you got it right 100% ! I’ve been reading fantasy romance since I was 14 and I’ve never heard it called romantasy before .. I really do think it’s just a social media nickname that didn’t really need to be given in all honesty .. but hey maybe I’m just “old” and don’t get it 😅

@caitlincarter3051 4 ай бұрын

I'll never be able to take romantasy seriously. First, what's wrong with the og title of fantasy-romance? Second, my Barnes & Noble had a sign spelling it "romantacy" & I can never forgive them for this.

@ashdondondon 4 ай бұрын

I think there's a genuine difference between romantasy and fantasy romance. Fantasy romance follows typical romance tropes and conventions in a fantasy setting (including HEA). Romantasy does not. It is a fantasy with the romance central to and inseparable from the plot and may play with the tropes but you are not guaranteed a HEA especially after one book. (This is just my opinion and observation though.)

@caitlincarter3051 4 ай бұрын

@@ashdondondon - I can kind of see what you're saying. In that case, I think romantasy is being misused as a blanket referring to any fantasy with a hint of romance. I think it's a TikTok trigger word being used for marketing rather than accuracy. I guess that's where it bothers my analytical brain - it seems to pigeonhole the novels into one genre, when books can be multiple genres at once (thus the hyphen between fantasy & romance in the original reference). But I also struggle with change & am becoming curmudgeonly in my old age.

@katgreer6113 4 ай бұрын

Romance fantasy vs. Fantasy romance

@beccac6812 4 ай бұрын

I’d argue that ACOTAR ACOMAF and ACOWAR are the “perfect” romantasy: it’s a pretty solid world building fantasy, lots of drama and politics, but the center of the story is the romance and you never wonder where the romance is .

@laurastobbe9331 4 ай бұрын

When you are talking about cleaning and listening but still not understanding and said "I'm stupid", I almost snorted my breakfast smoothy through my nose! Also you are not stupid :)

@lu__libros5015 4 ай бұрын

Ok now I am hyped for Throne of the Fallen 👀

@agnes3421 4 ай бұрын

I feel like Romantasy is what Paranormal Romance was back in the day. Romance with just a different setting and some common tropes. I read and enjoy both romance and fantasy books, and Romantasy just makes me mad. The fantasy part is usually very shallow, and the romance is extremely tropey and underdeveloped. Altogether it just doesn’t mix well for me.

@StellaStars631 4 ай бұрын

I agree that “romantasy” is a bit confusing and nebulous. In the past the categories were fantasy romance ( a fantasy where the romance drives the plot/ it can’t be a story without the romance, a hea, often less world building, & usually more character driven. Basically what you said a romance at its heart) & romantic fantasy ( a fantasy with a romance subplot/ the plot stands if the romance is cut, & not beholdened to romance rules such as a HEA even though most have one) but with tiktok creating the “romantasy” category I feel like the two categories got smashed together and based on vibes. it’s hard for readers to know what they’re getting which can be frustrating.

@AmyTheEarthling 4 ай бұрын

There might be 70 videos in my watch later but chandler skips the queue

@chocolateoreo6489 4 ай бұрын

I’m sending you love and a great year❤❤❤

@eloiseklassen8681 4 ай бұрын

horrified and impressed, excited to hear updates on the revisions and editing process!

@eleanorball7906 4 ай бұрын

If you’re wanting a unique Egyptian-inspired fantasy, try A Master of Djinn by P. Djeli Clark! It’s a sapphic (not super soft and ooey gooey lol), 1920s fantasy mystery. I think you would really enjoy it.

@goshi_yachi 4 ай бұрын

I'd say if the main point of the book is romance and the background has fantasy elements then its a romantasy. As for Jasad Heir that was a fantasy book that just so happened to have buzzword elements for people to think it fits romantsy side. The romance plot was more a side story whereas fourth wing is the best example of what you should use describing this hybrid "genre"

@jessicar2609 4 ай бұрын

If you want a friends to lovers Romantasy (more fantasy with romance, but the relationship is still at the forefront of the plot) Fireborne by Rosaria Munda was so good! I haven't read the other books in the series yet, but I have heard nothing but good things about the entire series.

@emmaskapetis7603 4 ай бұрын

I believe that a romantasy is a book that is half romance and half fantasy. Books like the ACTOAR series and the Zodiac academy series fit this subgenre.

@catchats 4 ай бұрын

"dining on the divine feline" HELLO?

@chandlerainsley 4 ай бұрын

tik tok provides 🙏🏻

@alexisachickennugget3500 4 ай бұрын

29:19 I'm pretty sure early editions of fourth wing had an ad for assistant to the villian. That's how I found out about it other than on Tiktok

@cassiek67 4 ай бұрын

Isn’t romantasy just a tiktok name for fantasy romance? I’m confused. Radiance by Grace Draven is a great friends to lovers fantasy romance!

@katgreer6113 4 ай бұрын

Yes, but romance is the MAIN drive of the story. That's the difference. For example, people say The Cruel Prince is romantasy, but it's not. If you take the romance out, is there still a plot: Yes-- NOT Romantasy. No--- Romantasy!

@cassiek67 4 ай бұрын

@@katgreer6113I get that, I think I’m just confused why it’s being presented like it’s a new genre, when it’s just a new name for an already existing genre. “Romantasy” and “Fantasy Romance” are interchangeable.

@maddyvogel4525 4 ай бұрын

I’m surprised you liked throne of the fallen! I wasn’t gonna pick it up, cuz it’s so long, but now i might have to. I might wait until the sequel comes out though

@allisonmyers5874 4 ай бұрын

Assistant to the villain was so, so painfully cringe to me 😑. I’m definitely going to read throne of the fallen, thanks for the rec!

@700Bonnie 4 ай бұрын

to me The Cruel Prince by Holly Black is a good example of romantasy. though at the forefront of the book are the politics in this fantasy world and Jude's motivations are not driven by romance, Jude's slow burn romance with Cardan is inextricable to the story. Despite her not being a likable character you catch yourself rooting for her and for them

@whisper_dvm5157 4 ай бұрын

Romantasy/Fantasy Romance (interchangeable terms for me) is where the romance is the main plot line… it can be the only plot line where the fantasy aspects are basically window dressing or can share a fantasy plot as well. I think it also follows the HEA/HFN rules of romance as well If the romance is a subplot of the book then that’s just Fantasy. Romantic plots within fantasy is not new and is very common so what separates Romantasy from just fantasy is whether or not the romance is center stage or the plot is. Pretty similar I think to the difference between contemporary fiction (with romantic subplot) vs contemporary romance or historical fiction vs historical romance, etc…

@pauieeepau 4 ай бұрын

I don't get the genre and I don't read it, and I almost felt dread about reading Jasad Heir seeing it on this list. But hearing the romance isn't the main focus, my hopes are up again. I might still like it lol. I also just clicked this video to understand what romantasy is. I kinda agree with another comment that it might be a vibe lol.

@celly589 4 ай бұрын

I’m also trying to get into the romantasy genre. I’ve really only read two and that was last year and I haven’t read any since and I’m still trying to figure it out. It’s very overwhelming. I’m going to dive into Nalini Singh’s books which are a sub genre of this genre. I’ve never read angels or vampires or anything like that so we’ll see. I’ve yet to read one about fae which seems to dominate this genre.

@Katiedora122 4 ай бұрын

I think most romantasy books don't appeal to me because a lot of what I prefer in each genre doesn't often mesh well (and I've been tricked by some awful writing). But I have encountered a lot of fantasy short fictions over the years (mostly on Tumblr) so I think I was primed to pick up Assistant to the Villain once I heard it was based on some TikTok videos lol. I was also in the right mood for the unserious tone and able to ignore the general immaturity so I had a great time, but I was also surprised at how high it ranked in the Goodreads awards.

@sydneysbooks 4 ай бұрын

I bet you couldn’t be happier to finally have this video up 😂

@chandlerainsley 4 ай бұрын

IM FREE

@AlanaClaro 4 ай бұрын

To be fair to Throne of the Fallen, it is way better and smoother than Kerri's other book series in the same universe - Kingdom of the Wicked. I started reading without expecting anything and waiting to bored, but was positively surprised with the plot and storyline. Hurricane Wars has some funky storyline beats and I felt like the first 30% was a whole different book. Worldbuilding overall is super interesting

@riclynsherman2117 4 ай бұрын

If you want friends to lovers… I’d LOVE to see you read The Aurelian Cycle. It’s sooo good and angsty

@DanielaHenriques91 4 ай бұрын

Throne of the Fallen added to the "To Read" list :D

@aouie1246 4 ай бұрын

The best book of the genre I’ve read is Reign & Ruin by JD Evans! Really solid fantasy element with amazing chemistry. You might want to try it. Great video, will try some of the books mentioned ❤

@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm 4 ай бұрын

Okay so what you’re saying is I need to pick up the one of the fallen 👀

@baileyp6266 4 ай бұрын

When I think of Romantasy, I consider it to be a fantasy book with a heavy romance plot that's integral to the story. If it's a romance book with fantastical elements, like if it's about a witch or it includes magic or has goblins, then it's not romantasy in my opinion. It's just a romance book with fantasy elements. The day I find a book with an actually decent fantasy plot along with an actually decent romance that isn't half-baked, I'll believe true romantasy can be found.

@melodyduprilot2538 4 ай бұрын

You should read "a witch’s guide to fake dating a demon". Just finished the second one called "A demon’s guide to wooing a witch" and they’re both so good. Definitely romance first. Lots of sexual tension and it is 🔥🔥🔥

@caslolll 4 ай бұрын

throne of the fallen is ROMANTASY😭😭

@marys1665 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for sifting through these so I know which are worth my time. I’ll definitely be checking out Throne of the Fallen and removing The Hurricane Wars from my cart lol. I think my main issue with Assistant to the Villain was the way it was marketed to me, which was a villain romance. He really was not a true villain, and combined with the immaturity, I just walked away scratching my head about the hype.

@ChanelChapters 4 ай бұрын

Throne of the fallen was my vote for Romantasy

@Carola16 4 ай бұрын

I didn’t read The Hurricane War, but i read the original fanfic it’s based on, and I’m sad to hear the published version was clunky. The fanfic author was actually one of the best in the community, and the story was based on a lot of Star Wars Legends materials, with lots of politics, intrigue, very plot heavy and quite long too. She might have needed a skilled editor to adapt all of that to an original published work, because the idea was there, but you can’t approach it in the same way you would in fanfic.

@Dcong16 4 ай бұрын

Take this rec with a grain of salt because I hardly ever read romantasy but I really enjoyed the bridge kingdom duology on KU. I’ve seen others say they didn’t enjoy it but it worked for me🤷🏻‍♀️

@Dcong16 4 ай бұрын

OH also on KU I love radiance by grace draven but just the first one the sequel was meh and the first had an HEA so the second didn’t really feel necessary

@marmar_16 4 ай бұрын

i loved that duology too!

@celly589 4 ай бұрын

Loved bridge kingdom! Only read the Lara and Aren books. Wasn’t super compelled to read the other books lol.

@jessicah4631 4 ай бұрын

I've read the hanging city and very much did enjoy it, however I do not agree that it belongs in the romantasy category.

@CassidysYT 4 ай бұрын

The way I’ve always looked at romantasy is that it’s where the amount of romance is greater than or equal to the fantasy elements. Also, I bought The Hurricane Wars not knowing it was Reylo fanfiction (I’ve seen Star Wars, my brother is obsessed with it, so I’m very familiar with it and do like it) and when I started it I was SO confused by everything. Nothing made sense to me, the info dumps made no sense to me, it was just chaotic and weird and I was not enjoying it and have not picked it back up since lol

@caslolll 4 ай бұрын

girl fantasy romance does exist. it’s where romance is not the driving plot in a book, and focuses on the fantasy aspect. the reason you probably don’t like fantasy romance is because your looking for surface level romantasy.

@caslolll 4 ай бұрын

you’re.

@chandlerainsley 4 ай бұрын

same thing to me and most 🤪

@Cinia18 4 ай бұрын

Yes ! There is a clear difference surprised she didn't learn the difference but then she is exploring the genre.

@maddyvogel4525 4 ай бұрын

Assistant to the Villain was one of my least favorite books I’ve ever read. I hated it, but also couldn’t stop listening. Like a car crash…

@karensamuel5616 4 ай бұрын

The current iteration of Romance Fantasy all feels very immature to me. I'm older than the target audience for Romantasy, which seems to be 20's, but I'd still try it if I could find something that felt like adult voices, and also had an original story line. Please, no more tournaments to the death, lol. And can there be characters who we like and root for? I've read/listened to nearly all of Holly Black's books and loved them, but DNF'd The Cruel Prince. I hated all the characters.

@katgreer6113 4 ай бұрын

The tournament in TCP was barely needed but I loved that series so much 😭 Also, it doesn't meet the romantasy category. It's more politics than anything and Holly Black said that herself. Romance...very minimal. Especially in the first book.

@MoMacfieXx 4 ай бұрын

Imo ACOTAR = Romantasy, TOG = fantasy with romance

@cori4727 4 ай бұрын

I think people have different opinions. But personally, I think of it this way: if I take out the romance, does this book have a plot? This can be subjective. I actually don't think Fourth Wing is a fantasy romance. This book has other things going on. If you took the romance out, there's still something there. Divine Rivals is a fantasy romance. If you take out the romance, there's basically nothing left.