"How fantasy subgenres have changed in the last decade" according to Nicola Alter.
Pulling out a few choice quotes.
"Fantasy romance becomes romantasy": "Interestingly, I think due to the sheer popularity of romantasy and the eagerness of everyone to get on the band wagon, I've seen books I would have previously labelled as paranormal romance being put under the romantasy umbrella."
"Young adult fantasy cedes some limelight to adult romantasy": "Ten years ago, it was mostly YA fantasy authors like Laini Taylor, Leigh Bardugo, Kristin Cashore, Maggie Stiefvater, and Sarah J. Maas where I was getting my romance + fantasy fix (at the time Maas was still categorised as YA) plus a few adult authors such as Anne Bishop (Daughter of the Blood), Grace Draven (Master of Crows), and Jacqueline Carey (Kushiel's Dart) where the content was just too adult and explicit to be slapped with a YA label. Now, it feels like the focus has very much moved to the adult space, with new adult or adult characters and, of course, more spice."
"Cosy fantasy emerges": "I feel like cosy fantasy (spelled cozy fantasy in the US) was perhaps the natural flip side to grimdark fantasy as people looked for more uplifting and comforting stories."
"Dark academia gains popularity": "It could be categorised under a pre-existing subgenre -- namely gothic fantasy -- but it's unique enough and has gained enough popularity that I feel it now merits its own category."
"Speculative fiction shifts in meaning": "Now, I often see 'speculative' used as an adjective to describe a certain kind of 'grounded' science fiction or fantasy, I guess you could call it 'fantasy-lite', where a story is set in the real world or adheres more to the conventions of non-SFF genres, but still contains supernatural elements, strange phenomenon, or an impossible premise -- think The Midnight Library, The Time Traveller's Wife, The Power, or Piranesi."
"Dark fantasy remains confusing": "The confusion is, however, further compounded by a new combination I've sometimes seen being used, 'dark romantasy', which leaves people not entirely sure if what they're in for is a dark fantasy + romance, or dark romance + fantasy (quite different things!), or darkness on both fronts."
"Diverse representation and author identity": "Another thing that has increased over the last decade across several genres, but especially in fantasy, is books by authors from traditionally underrepresented communities, as well as books that include representations of a broader range of cultures, sexualities, genders, disabilities and experiences."
How fantasy subgenres have changed in the last decade
Explore the evolving landscape of fantasy sub-genres over the last decade, including the rise of romantasy and the emergence of cosy fantasy.Nicola | Thoughts on Fantasy (Thoughts on Fantasy)
