Romantasy vs Fantasy Book with Romance – A Reader Perspective

Somehow I could not work on this post over the weekend or on Monday, so I am a bit late to this discussion post, but better late than never. The prompt, “What do you think of romantasy as a category? What makes something romantasy vs fantasy book with romance?”, is part of Fantasy with Friends: A New Discussion Meme at Pages Unbound, and the short answer is this: I do not mind romantasy at all, as long as the book delivers both fantasy and romance honestly.

If you have known me for a while, you already know that fantasy and romance are my comfort genres. I love both, and naturally, combining them feels like the best of both worlds for someone who enjoys emotional stories as much as immersive ones.

I have seen readers fall very strongly on both sides when it comes to romantasy. Some absolutely love it, some avoid it like a cursed object, there is definitly audience divided in Romantasy vs Fantasy Book with Romance. For me, the label matters far less than whether I am reading the right book for my taste. I have read many kinds of fantasy over the years. I love epic fantasy that is deeply focused on worldbuilding and long character journeys or quests, like The Lord of the Rings. I also enjoy fantasy with little or minimal romance such as Harry Potter, Mistborn, The Winternight Trilogy, the Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo, and The Priory of the Orange Tree.

Then there are books where fantasy and romance feel genuinely balanced, where neither overshadows the other. Elizabeth Lim’s books fall neatly into this space for me. And yes, I have also read romance-heavy fantasy that I genuinely enjoyed and even loved, like The Folk of the Air by Holly Black, Bride by Ali Hazelwood, and most recently The Crowns of Nyaxia by Carissa Broadbent. I still have several romantasy titles on my TBR, but that said, not every romantasy has worked for me. Some were average, like Hunt on Dark Waters and Damsel, and some simply did not click, like The Lord of Stariel by A. J. Lancaster.

So, here is Reader Perspective basically what I think What makes something romantasy vs fantasy book with romance–

What Makes Fantasy With Romance Different From Romantasy

Fantasy with romance is usually more world and character journey focused. The world feels vast, layered, and older than the main characters or their romantic relationship. There are systems, histories, politics, and conflicts that exist independently of the romance. These elements raise the stakes. There are real costs and consequences that have nothing to do with love but everything to do with survival, power, belief, or duty. Romance exists, but it is usually subtle, quiet, or not center stage.

Characters in this kind of fantasy can survive without romantic subplots or intimate scenes. While we may see moments of connection, most of the time the plot is driven by the characters’ goals, the challenges they face, and the world itself. Characters have full lives outside their relationships, including friends, mentors, rivals, and responsibilities. At some point, they may choose to walk the same path, but the story does not depend on them being lovers.

For me, I enjoy all kinds of fantasy as long as it is well written. I do lean slightly toward fantasy with less or balanced romance, but that does not mean I avoid romantasy entirely. I simply have different expectations for how the romance is integrated.

What Makes a Good Romantasy

I often see fantasy readers dismiss romantasy, and I understand why. For me, the quality of a romantasy book depends entirely on how well the author handles both the fantasy and romance. Based on the romantasy books I have enjoyed, I do not want authors to compromise on worldbuilding or character depth. I want consistent themes, clear rules, political intrigue, and characters whose emotions feel earned and believable. The romance should matter but should also feel essential, not something that could be removed without affecting the story.

I also prefer romantasy that is less trope-dependent. The romance genre already has enough tropes, and I do not want romantasy to rely solely on them. Fantasy is a vast genre that offers endless creative possibilities, and romance should be thoughtfully blended, not dominate the story entirely.

What I want from romantasy is complexity. I want relationships filled with tension, danger, flawed decisions, and emotional consequences. I want payoff that feels earned. Whether the romantic arc ends happily or not, it should make sense within the world and its rules. For me, The Crowns of Nyaxia excels at this, especially in how the romantic resolution aligns with the world, the power dynamics, and the character arcs.

In the end, romantasy is not enemy. They serve different reading moods and expectations. As long as the writing is strong and the story knows what it wants to be, I am happy to read it.

What’s your opinion on this?
What Makes better romantasy for you?
What’s your favorite romantasy book?

Just in case you missed,,,

• Romantasy vs Fantasy Book with Romance – A Reader Perspective
• Storybook Ending by Moira Macdonald – cozy and slow burn contemporary
• Revolve (Off the Ice #3) by Bal Khabra – emotional and entertaining sports romance

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