Spoiler-Free Blog

I recently saw this reel from @books_n_betches. If you don’t have an Instagram, here’s a quick rundown: basically, she lists several fantasy romance series that are popular on social media that she thought would be spicier than they are because the fan art is spicy AF. Crescent City and The Cruel Prince being two notable ones.

I don’t blame her. These days, fantasy romance reigns supreme – it’s one of the most recommended genres on any platform. But more than that, fervor for smutty fantasy romance seems to have reached a fever pitch. Many reviewers today include spice ratings alongside their star ratings so readers know what they’re getting into.

So, that really means the fantasy romance genre has fallen into two distinct categories: plot-heavy and romance-heavy. Let’s dive in.

The first type: Plot > Romance

In a plot-centered fantasy romance, the romance is only relevant based on how it impacts the plot.

It definitely should play a role in character development as well – but that will also impact the plot. In this case, the romance is, first and foremost, a storytelling device. It might add intrigue, excitement, or wholesomeness as well. Romance is one of the most effective tools to fill out a story, add nuance and character growth, or create complex layers, sometimes forcing the main character to make difficult choices.

Take A Court of Mist and Fury, for example. The romance adds tension (and some steaminess). Feyre must make some really hard decisions. But her romantic plotlines add richness, directly impacting the main plot of preparing for war. She has a unique role in trying to stop the war, which is influenced by her need to overcome PTSD and grief, which is also influenced by the tumultuous nature of her love life.

The second type: Romance > Plot

Conversely, in a romance-centered fantasy romance, the external story is only relevant based on how it impacts the characters and their relationship.

There is still a plot. There is always an external story being told, even if it’s on the back burner. But it’s only when that plot directly impacts their character development or relationship dynamics that it matters to the story. These kinds of plot elements add the necessary tension, create obstacles for the characters to overcome, or force them to face their demons head-on.

To keep with the theme, we’ll use A Court of Silver Flames for this example. Compared to the previous example, this installment of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series is more character- and romance-centered. It’s about Nesta’s journey. I wrote a whole blog about it (which you can find here), but here’s the gist: Nesta must overcome deep-seated internal struggles, find meaning and purpose in her new life, and accept new friendships. She must also open herself up to romance – and it’s by far the smuttiest book in the series.

So in this case, Nesta is on a path toward personal growth and new romantic prospects, which is influenced by her new routine of Valkyrie training, which is also influenced by a new authoritarian leader trying to claim power.

Why does this matter?

In the grand scheme of things – it doesn’t. But it can matter if you prefer one over the other or if you find your expectations frequently at odds with the book’s reality. A great example of this is my tumultuous experience with the Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy – which I discuss here.

Follow me on Instagram to get real-time updates on my to-be-read list, so you’re first to know when I pick up a new fantasy romance to review!

Check out some of my other recent blogs:

• The Heart of the World (Book 2): A bit slow
• The Will of the Many (Hierarchy 1): A top read
• Everything I read, watched, listened to, or played in October 2024
• The Death of Jane Lawrence: Strange and speculative
• She Started It: Mean girls and murder