“As messed up as the world is right
now, people just need an escape.” ~ Lauren–my daughter
In 2024, fantasy fiction sales skyrocketed—adult fantasy alone grew by a staggering 85% in the first half of the year, with titles like Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros leading the charge. From romantasy to epic quests, fantasy stories are not just trending—they’re thriving.
According to reports from Circana
BookScan and Publishers Weekly, fantasy is officially on fire. Adult fiction
sales grew by 9.5 million units, with fantasy, thrillers, and romance topping
the charts. Meanwhile, “romantasy”—the love child of fantasy and romance—has
exploded in popularity thanks in part to BookTok and reader communities craving
high emotion and high-stakes adventure.
Why is this happening? Well, the last
few years have been... a lot.
War, climate disasters, political
chaos, inflation, pandemics—we’ve had a front-row seat to a world that often
feels like it’s cracking at the edges. And in response, readers aren’t just
reaching for comfort food fiction. They’re reaching for escape—and empowerment.
Fantasy offers both.
In these stories, the stakes are often
higher than our own reality: a kingdom on the brink, a war between realms, a
magical bloodline in hiding. But there’s something cathartic in watching
fictional characters face overwhelming odds, stand their ground, and win.
Even if they’re wielding a sword
instead of a ballot
There’s also the irresistible pull of
romantasy—where fierce heroines fall in love while saving their worlds. These
books aren’t just about quests. They’re about intimacy, connection, and hope in
the midst of battle.
In a time when we’re more digitally
connected but emotionally exhausted, romantasy gives us something to
feel—deeply.
What Fantasy Gives Us Right Now:
- Escape: A breath away from headlines and heartache.
- Empowerment: Ordinary girls discovering extraordinary strength.
- Justice: Villains get vanquished. Light wins.
To prepare for my writing quest, I listened
to the Blood and Ash series from Jennifer L Armentrout. They were very long
books and didn’t disappoint.
Has a fantasy book saved your sanity this year?
Drop your recommendations in the comments—I need more dragons in my life!
That is a really cool cover. When will Dylan sell her book? Is it done yet? I like the In Death series Nora Roberts writes as J.D. Robb. It is surreal, I guess. There are 60 of them, so when I get going on them I know I will be occupied for a while.
ReplyDeleteDylan is still working on her book- I am amazed at how writer savvy she is for her age. I made both covers on the newest version of chtgpt and it was fairly easy - Thanks for the book recommendations- I will have to check that out.
ReplyDeleteMom finds the In Death books a little gory for her taste. Not gore for gore’s sake, but if you are squeamish, probably not the right books for you.
DeletePretty covers. I seldom read fantasy, but I certainly agree there's never been a better time for it!
ReplyDeleteI oscillate between many genres- but mostly love something with a mystery and happy ending. I also like realistic sci-fi. Too much sex or long runs of violence will cause me to fast forward on audible and a poorly written plot will cause me to dump it off my device. I was honestly shocked at the data but do suspect this BookTok was part of the frenzy.
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