It’s official — the young adults are now ditching the blue light screens and immersing themselves in the pages offantastical worlds, filled with magic, romance, and adventure.
Alright, that may be somewhat of an exaggeration, seeing that social media apps such asTikTokand Instagram are still being used plenty, but it’s undeniable that thereadingcommunity is seeing an uptick in consumers again.
HighlightsRomantasy novels are getting young adults back into reading.A few of these popular works include Fourth Wing, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Throne of GlassFor many readers, these worlds can provide them with a safe world to escape into.
Most noticeably:the romantasy genre, where books combine the elements of romance and fantasy in equal measure. From tropes such as found family and enemies-to-lovers, romantasies create stories based on the most unhinged and unrealistic imaginations.
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Welcome to the world of romantasy: where magic, romance, and adventure are encouraging people to get back into reading
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And not only that, but it seems that the very medium that encouraged those to turn away from the art of reading is bringing people back. Coined as ‘BookTok,’ this specific corner of TikTok features thousands of creators recommending their favorite reads from stories likeA Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR)toFourth Wing, all featuring their fair share of spice, romance, and fantasy.
To some, these kinds of books are the reason they decided to pick up on reading again.
A few authors who have gained attention include Rebecca Yarros and Sarah J. Maas
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And it’s not hard to see why. For many, romantasy books are seen as their safe spaces.
“Being able to tuck into a good book is a sense of safety andescapeand living in a world that is familiar,” she said.
Image credits:Audible
To put it simply, these immersive escapes bring readers a sense of safety and comfort
Moreover, the characters of said novels play a vital role in attracting romantasy’s prime demographic: young women.
“To be immersed in a book which creates a world where strong women are revered and respected and are allowed to express themselves sexually” is a powerful thing, Christina stated.
Onyx Storm, the third book ofTheEmpyreanseries, came out earlier in January
For Damanjit, an avid lover of romantasy based inVancouver,Canada, almost every aspect of these novels create a sense of protection she can immerse herself in.
“I love that I can truly escape reality. I’m entering a new world with its own rules and beings,” she said. “More so, I’m not really a subtle person so I love the extremes that come with this genre.”
And while other contemporaries, thrillers, etc. have these “out-of-pocket” moments like grand, questionable gestures, thesefantastical worldsaren’t limited to any “norms” we’re used to.
#BookTok has also helped in romantasy’s growing popularity
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“Readers don’t have to look for logic. They can just turn that part of their brain off and enjoy the story for what it is,” she shared.
And yet, many young readers see themselves in women like Aelin, whether it be because they aspire to be her or because they see their resilience and independence reflected in her personality.
These stories “allow you to kind of imagine yourself as that central character, the character that you want to be,” said Christina.
It’s also no new revelation thatGen Zhas somewhat of a reputation of possessing a “reticence and reluctance” when it comes to things such as relationships. But in romantasy, these barriers are broken down and relinquished when authors create the epic, powerful love stories this genre is known for.
And from the safety of wherever they’re reading from, audiences are able to fully “become” these characters however they wish.
Readers can see glimpses of themselves in the protagonists who take on these epic adventures
With #BookTok’s growing popularity, it’s also a common phenomenon for readers to go into these series or standalones with a certain mindset that might make them enjoy these narratives more.
Xaden and Violet are the main characters in Rebecca Yarros’sThe Empyreanseries
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Of course, this endorsement doesn’t necessarily mean this genre is immune from critics — after all, there’s always bound to be somenegative noisesurrounding every aspect of art. With romantasy, this might be even more heightened given the sex scenes that may be present.
But as Larissa Cambusana, known better as @larryreads on TikTok, put it, “One thing that will never cease to amaze me is people trying to make other people feel bad for what they read.
“Mind your business — it is really not that hard.”
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