After spending any time in the bookish community you have probably wondered at one point: what is fantasy romance? Okay, but what is romantic fantasy? Can the two be interchanged?
The short answer is: no, they are both very separate sub-genres, and, depending on which you desire, you might be sorely disappointed that the book you picked didn’t meet your expectations for the category you were looking for. Knowing the difference will help you to pick up books that you enjoy that fit your expectations, and perhaps enhance your reading experience overall.
So, just what is the difference between Fantasy Romance and Romantic Fantasy, and which one is the sub-genre you’re looking for? Let’s take a closer at the two!
Fantasy Romance, in a nutshell, is a romance in a fantasy setting. The predominant plot will be the romantic storyline, and an added element will be whatever aspect gives the book a fantasy vibe (perhaps the characters are elves or fey, or there’s some magic thrown into the mix). Generally speaking, fantasy romance will fall into the same expectations as the romance genre will, including the need of having a HEA or Happy For Now ending.
Romantic Fantasy, on the other hand, is just as it sounds: a romantic sort of fantasy novel. It is a fantasy first, with a romantic subplot. A great way to tell if a book is a romantic fantasy? Take out the romantic plot, and consider whether it has a strong enough story to stand on its own. If so, you are most likely holding a romantic fantasy instead of a fantasy romance. Such stories also do not adhere to the requirement of a HEA or Happy for Now, though it is a nice touch.
A common disappointment that I see are from readers who do not understand the distinction between the two genres, or pick up a romantic fantasy thinking it’ll be a fantasy romance, and are sorely disappointed when the romance doesn’t live up to the expectation of, say, a fantasy romance. Such is one of the reasons that I really wanted to write this blog post: to illustrate the differences, and help the bookish community navigate the bookish terms and determine which it is (fantasy romance or romantic fantasy) that they are really wanting to read!
And what is romantasy, you ask? I . . . am not honestly 100% certain on this. I’m not so sure there’s an official category for “romantasy,” and the books that I’ve seen labeled as such seem to be a blend of romantic fantasy and fantasy romance. My opinion is that romantasy covers both genres and could go either way, but this is not the official answer (and I’m not sure there is one).
Just to clarify: She Who Chose War is a romantic fantasy. A fantasy first and foremost, with a romantic subplot and yet still tells a whole story even if the romance was taken out (but it would so not be as much fun without the romance! ;)).
What is your take on romantasy? Let’s chat about it!