Despite how objectively terrible it is, I love Twilight. From the awkward scenes marked by a lack of chemistry between cast members, to classic lines such as “Bella! where the hell have you been, loca?”, since I was a tween I have loved everything “romantasy”. Like many of you, I was saddened by the declining numbers of vampires, faeries, and witches on screens and in books across the last decade or so, but it seems that we’re entering another golden age of supernatural stories, paired with a renewal of interest in the classics of the genre, like Twilight.
So, what is “romantasy”? Well, it is defined as a subgenre of (mainly literary) fiction which blends fantasy and romance while employing many features of Arthurian literature, including themes of chivalry, social class, and hierarchy, sometimes putting a modern twist on these. Although this term has been coined fairly recently, it can be applied to many examples in the media, which have had an impact on the genre, including The Vampire Diaries, The Witcher, True Blood, and Lucifer to name a few. Goodreads called romantasy the “hottest genre of the year” and I for one would be inclined to agree, because it’s all that TikTok seems to recommend to me. I admit, I was sceptical due to my distaste towards Colleen Hoover’s writing and “booktok” (as a self-awarely pretentious English Literature student). However, my curiosity got the better of me. I decided to cave, and read the entire A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J Maas over the course of a couple weeks, and I promptly fell down an endless rabbit hole of magical realms, epic journeys, and tall, dark, and handsome strangers.
How can this be defined as a resurgence though? Well, we can see the influence of the genre becoming more popular everywhere. Notably, Bershka and Dolls Kill, two extremely popular retailers have both come out with Twilight collections featuring merchandise such as bags and jumpers, as well as socks adorned with “I heart Edward”. Although films like Twilight have been popular since their release, I believe that it is because of the recent fascination with romantasy that we have begun to pay attention to the genre again, with a new appreciation of the classics that paved the way.
Having examined the phenomenon and why I believe it is having its time once again, it leads me to consider what is next for the genre. With growing popularity I think we will see some of the bigger titles in romantasy adapted for cinema or TV, which I personally cannot wait for. These adaptations will surely skyrocket the genre into mainstream popularity, even more than it already is, so I hope these future filmmakers do them justice. While we wait for these new releases, if you enjoyed this article or are curious about the genre, give it a go. I didn’t think I would like it but here I am—obsessed, in all honesty — and the same fate will befall you when you take the plunge into romantasy.