Romantasy novels like “A Court of Thorns and Roses,” “Fourth Wing,” and “From Blood and Ash” have collectively sold tens of million copies, with “Onyx Storm” becoming the fastest-selling adult fiction title in the past 20 years. The success of these novels can be attributed to their explicit sex scenes, which have earned the genre nicknames like “faerie smut” or “horny dragon books.” These novels have not only sold millions of copies but have also transformed the way we think about sex. Some of the reasons behind the popularity of romantasy novels can be attributed to the increasing interest in explicit sex scenes. According to Julianne Buonocore, the owner of The Literary Lifestyle, her search data shows a rise in searches for sex scenes and spicy chapters from these novels. This data indicates that sex matters to women, and these books have made it feel more mainstream to think and talk about their sex lives. The explicit sex scenes in current popular romantasy novels are often readers’ first encounter with written erotica. While some habitual erotica readers may scoff at the idea of books like “A Court of Thorns and Roses” being called “smut,” these titles have helped a new audience encounter the genre in a low-stakes environment. One reader, Julie T., who posts on TikTok and Instagram as @thenycbookworm, was immediately hooked by the idea of combining high fantasy plots with a sexy edge. She found that the fantasy plots made the romantasy genre less intimidating to pick up than erotica or non-fantasy romance novels. “There’s often a misconception about romance as a genre,” Julie says, “but when you mix in elements like world-building, magic systems, quests, mythical creatures, and intense plots, it creates a space where talking about sex, likes, and dislikes doesn’t feel as intimidating.”
The fantasy plots in romantasy novels have also helped to create a community where conversations about sex, kinks, and desires can happen without the usual seriousness or pressure. According to Julie, “Romantasy has opened up a community where conversations about sex, kinks, and desires can happen without the usual seriousness or pressure.”
The romantasy genre has also helped readers to explore their sex lives and desires in a more open and honest way. According to Christine Barbetta, who posts on TikTok as @thundernoblechristine, reading romantasy novels has helped her “find out things that I didn’t know I’d like, and things I know I definitely dislike.” She also notes that growing up in a deeply religious environment and being a late bloomer in terms of sexual awareness made it difficult for her to know what to expect when she became sexually active. Another reader, Jasmine, who posts as @marvelousjazzhands, says that reading romantasy novels has helped her realize that she prioritizes the emotional aspect of relationships over all else. “On the side of TikTok I’m on, the sex aspect of it is mostly supplementary,” Jasmine says. “Sure, there would be jokes here and there about how the descriptors are, but most people focus on the emotional aspect that is tied to it.”
It’s worth noting that all these reactions are by design. Sarah J. Maas, the author of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, has said that she was inspired by her own early encounters with smutty books. “Books were the one place — especially romantic fantasy — where I could see these adult relationships play out and I got a sense of what a loving adult relationship could be like,” Maas said. Maas’s own writing has also been influenced by her positive representation of sex and relationships. “I feel really lucky that my editor saw that and saw that we needed positive representations of sex and that it’s OK not to just have sex, but to enjoy it,” Maas said. Overall, the romantasy genre has changed the way we think about sex in several ways. It has made sex feel more mainstream and acceptable to discuss and explore. It has also created a community where conversations about sex, kinks, and desires can happen without the usual seriousness or pressure.
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Benefits | Increased awareness and acceptance of sex, creation of a community for open and honest conversations about sex, and a low-stakes environment for exploring sex and desires. |
| Impact on readers | Helped readers to explore their sex lives and desires in a more open and honest way, and to prioritize the emotional aspect of relationships over all else. |
| Author’s influence | Positive representation of sex and relationships in novels, and the creation of a low-stakes environment for readers to engage with explicit content. |
“I feel really lucky that my editor saw that and saw that we needed positive representations of sex and that it’s OK not to just have sex, but to enjoy it.” — Sarah J. Maas
It’s worth noting that while the romantasy genre has had a significant impact on the way we think about sex, it’s not without controversy. Some critics argue that the genre objectifies women and perpetuates unrealistic expectations about sex and relationships.
But overall, the romantasy genre has opened up a space for open and honest conversations about sex, and has helped to create a community where readers can explore their sex lives and desires without the usual seriousness or pressure. Key Takeaways:
* The romantasy genre has made sex feel more mainstream and acceptable to discuss and explore. * The genre has created a community where conversations about sex, kinks, and desires can happen without the usual seriousness or pressure. * Reading romantasy novels has helped readers to explore their sex lives and desires in a more open and honest way. * The author’s influence has created a low-stakes environment for readers to engage with explicit content.
*
A genre that combines elements of romance and fantasy. *
A genre that focuses on explicit descriptions of sex and sensual content. *
A colloquial term for explicit and often graphic descriptions of sex.
