Beyond Romance: What Readers Actually Crave in Romantasy Stories
When people hear 'romantasy,' they usually think romance—fated mates, forbidden kisses, and maybe a few spicy scenes set in a world of castles and magic.
Yes, the longing, the slow burn, and the emotional payoff matter. But for many romantasy fans, what actually keeps them turning pages late into the night isn't just the romance; it's the world. Not because they've outgrown romance, but because they want more. More magic. More lore. A world so layered and vivid, it feels real.
Romantasy fans aren't just here for the love story; they're here for a world where fantasy matters just as much as the love story.
Yes, Romance Still Matters But It Has to Be Earned
With the rise of mainstream smut, romantasy fans are clearly still here for the spice. But again, it's not just about the steamy scenes. They’re suckers for slow-burn tension and emotional payoff—like when a character chooses love, fully aware of what it might cost them in their world.
The fantasy amplifies the romance, not distracts from it. Emotional tension should heighten the stakes of the world, and the world should push the characters to their limits. Because in the end, romantasy is at its best when the romance and the fantasy enhance each other, not compete for the spotlight.
When Romance Takes Over and the Magic Disappears
Sophia Valchine, in her opinion piece "I Want More Fantasy in My Romantasy", wrote about her frustration with how the genre often sidelines magical elements in favor of repetitive romantic tropes. She had high hopes and was drawn in by the promise of rich, mystical worldbuilding in When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker. But once the love interest appeared, the focus shifted, and the 300 subsequent pages mostly featured the heroine swooning over his abs and jawline.
As Sophia puts it:
"Where did the magic go? What happened to the beautiful world, without any romantic thoughts tainting it?"
Her frustration echoes a broader concern: authors often lean too hard on familiar tropes (enemies to lovers, brooding kings, hidden powers) without continuing to develop the world surrounding them. The fantasy setting shouldn't just be window dressing, but the foundation supporting the romance—not something shoved to the side when a hot MMC (male main character) walks in.
Readers Want to Live in the World, Not Just Glimpse It
Romantasy readers don't just want a quick peek at a magical world. They want to live in the world to understand its lore, feel its politics, and follow fantastical systems that unfold with depth and purpose.
For many, romantasy isn't just an escape from real life, but also from predictable worlds in mainstream romantic-fantasy tales. They wish for stories with both dragons and social dynamics. Kingdoms shaped by power struggles. Magic that obeys its own logic and not just convenient spells dropped in when the plot needs saving.
It's not just the love story that keeps them hooked. It's the thrill of slowly uncovering a world that feels just as real as the characters themselves. That's what makes readers feel like they're truly inside the story and not just looking in from the outside.
The Best Heroines Aren't Always the Strongest Ones
Worldbuilding isn't just about maps, kingdoms, or magical systems. It also shapes the characters who live in that world, especially the main character. And lately, more and more romantasy readers are tired of the cliché 'chosen-one' FMC (female main character).
As one avid romantasy reader put it:
"I don't love stories where the FMC is the strongest character, and she has some hidden power inside her that gets revealed in the second book."
It's not that readers don't want strong female leads; they just want them to feel relatable. Maybe the heroine isn't a royal, an assassin, or someone with ancient powers. Maybe she's shy and quiet at first, but grows as the plot develops—and that growth feels earned because we've watched it happen.
This preference ties back to the idea that romantasy readers want to live vicariously through characters who feel like real people navigating those worlds.
The Worldbuilding Tool for Romantasy Fans
We've noticed the frustrations of romantasy readers all over the internet, as well as the rise of smut in online communities like BookTok.
We created Smitten to help romantasy fans create layered worlds, cultures, belief systems and characters that reflect what feels real to them. You decide how the romance unfolds, what tensions drive the plot, and how the fantasy fits into it all. That's precisely why Smitten resonates deeply with those of you who want to build the kind of world you wish more romantasy books explored.
Whether you're imagining an FMC torn between duty and desire or a kingdom unraveling under the weight of forbidden magic, Smitten helps you bring that world to life.
Build the realm where love and magic collide.
Start your story here.