(In the video, you can hear me wondering aloud where ONYX STORM was. Of course, that’s what drove me to an actual physical bookstore. 😂)
The most striking thing I noticed during a recent visit to a Barnes & Noble bookstore in search of romantasy was that these books weren’t labeled as such. I started in the fiction section but couldn’t find any romantasy titles there. Next, I tried the fantasy shelves, where I found a few books, but surprisingly, most were shelved in the Young Adult section. Wait, what? I’m in my fifties. Am I even allowed to read these?
The answer, of course, is a resounding yes! Romantasy isn’t reserved for teens, twenty- or thirty-somethings—it’s for anyone who enjoys an escape into magical worlds filled with adventure and romance.
But it did leave me wondering: is the Young Adult section really the best place for these books? Many of them contain mature themes and some seriously steamy scenes that seem more fitting for adult readers. I’m not a bookseller, but it feels like romantasy deserves its own dedicated section. It’s not just fantasy and not just romance—it’s a unique blend of the two, combining magic, danger, and swoon-worthy romance into something truly special.
A clearly labeled Romantasy section would not only make it easier for readers to find their next favorite book, but it would also recognize the genre as the powerhouse it has become. Why shouldn’t romantasy get the same spotlight as other genres?
Have you found bookstores having a section specifically for Romantasy? Are you as lost as I was looking for these books?
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