The Reading Vent & Rant Thread - Page 258

DNSB · 06-02-2025, 08:47 PM

I've seen the term applied to romances that utilize a fantasy setting without the mix of vampires/shifters/Fae/etc./etc. that seems to be common in "paranormal" books. Though like most genres, it seems to be a matter of what the publisher uses and little to do with the content of the book.

OTOH, one "reviewer" called Ursula K. LeGuin's EarthSea books romantasy since they involve magic which was fair enough. OTOH, you have to stretch to see them as romances.

Sirtel · 06-02-2025, 09:04 PM

I'd guess "romantasy" is a romance taking place in a fantasy world, while "paranormal romance" is a romance taking place in our world with fantastic elements (like witches, vampires et al) added (so-called urban fantasy).

kandwo · 06-03-2025, 02:15 AM

I think both terms - Romantasy and Dramedy - should be in the Reading and Delight thread. They sound so ridiculous that they put a smile on my face every time I hear them

(I would actually be inclined to get a book with that on the cover just to have something within such a funny sounding genre.)

hildea · 06-03-2025, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

OTOH, one "reviewer" called Ursula K. LeGuin's EarthSea books romantasy since they involve magic which was fair enough. OTOH, you have to stretch to see them as romances.

Ugh

Earthsea is obviously fantasy, but there's no romance at all in at least the first three books. (I don't remember the newer ones that well.) I'd guess this is related to how SFF written by women tends to be miscategorized as Young Adult. If it's got girl cookies, it can't be real SFF

DNSB · 06-03-2025, 03:59 AM

I would agree that any romance elements would be found in the 4th book Tehanu where there is a relationship between Ged and Tenar.

JSWolf · 06-03-2025, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solitaire1

What's wrong with the genre "Romantasy?" It seems similar to "Dramedy" (drama and comedy) on television (such as the show The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd).

It means romance trying to hide as a fantasy and they are usually terrible.

And fortunately I've never seen The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd.

JSWolf · 06-03-2025, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kandwo

I think both terms - Romantasy and Dramedy - should be in the Reading and Delight thread. They sound so ridiculous that they put a smile on my face every time I hear them

(I would actually be inclined to get a book with that on the cover just to have something within such a funny sounding genre.)

I think genre's that are a mix of words need to go away forever. They do not bring joy to reading.

Sirtel · 06-03-2025, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It means romance trying to hide as a fantasy and they are usually terrible.

How are they trying to hide when they have part of the word "romance" in their genre? They would be trying to hide if they'd only list "fantasy" under the genre, but they don't. They don't hide the fact that they're romances at all.

I get that you don't like romances, but your disliking them doesn't make them objectively terrible. Plenty of people love fantasy romance, paranormal romance, even green humanoid alien romance.

hildea · 06-03-2025, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I think genre's that are a mix of words need to go away forever. They do not bring joy to reading.

So, no more "science fiction"?

Solitaire1 · 06-03-2025, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I'd guess "romantasy" is a romance taking place in a fantasy world, while "paranormal romance" is a romance taking place in our world with fantastic elements (like witches, vampires et al) added (so-called urban fantasy).

Romantasy seems similar to Isekai. It is an manga/anime where an individual (often someone ordinary) is transported to another world. As an example, there's one named Dragon Ball: That Time I Got Reincarnated as Yamcha!. In it an ordinary student is accidentally transported into the world of Dragonball as Yamcha. Knowing the story of Dragonball/Dragonball Z and thus what is coming, he trains to become the strongest fighter in the series.

Another one (although it is a U. S. comic book series) is Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld. It's about a young girl who discovers she is actually Princess Amethyst from Gemworld and is transported back to that world to fight the villain who killed her parents, Dark Opal. Due to the time difference between Earth and the Gemworld, Amethyst goes from being an early teen to a young adult.

Solitaire1 · 06-03-2025, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kandwo

I think both terms - Romantasy and Dramedy - should be in the Reading and Delight thread. They sound so ridiculous that they put a smile on my face every time I hear them

(I would actually be inclined to get a book with that on the cover just to have something within such a funny sounding genre.)

Funny-sounding genres are not unusual. The following are all music genres (all are listed in Wikipedia):

Wonky Pop
Speed Core
Crunkcore
Psychobilly
Punkabilly
Darkstep
Phonk
Twee pop
Cringe Pop

JSWolf · 06-03-2025, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

How are they trying to hide when they have part of the word "romance" in their genre? They would be trying to hide if they'd only list "fantasy" under the genre, but they don't. They don't hide the fact that they're romances at all.

I get that you don't like romances, but your disliking them doesn't make them objectively terrible. Plenty of people love fantasy romance, paranormal romance, even green humanoid alien romance.

Oh you mean the sort of books where it looks like a romance novel's cover except the man's skin s green to show he's an alien.

Solitaire1 · 06-03-2025, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

How are they trying to hide when they have part of the word "romance" in their genre? They would be trying to hide if they'd only list "fantasy" under the genre, but they don't. They don't hide the fact that they're romances at all.

I get that you don't like romances, but your disliking them doesn't make them objectively terrible. Plenty of people love fantasy romance, paranormal romance, even green humanoid alien romance.

I occasionally dip into the romance genre and have found many excellent romance novels. One of my favorites is Valentine Bachelors. In it, three men are sitting in a bar on New Year's Eve, none of them have dates. During a conversation with the Bartender, they hit upon the idea of advertising for a date in the Personals, and make a bet over who will have the best date. Let's just say that what happens with each of them is a surprise. It's the type of romance stories I like, set in the present and is a combination of romance and humor.

JSWolf · 06-03-2025, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hildea

So, no more "science fiction"?

I mean genre's like romtasy or dramady.

ownedbycats · 06-03-2025, 05:39 PM

downloading older book covers in Calibre, getting a high-res one, turns out to be a tiny one that was upscaled until its a blurry mess. Ugh.

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06-02-2025, 08:47 PM	#3856
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 46,902 Karma: 169810634 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	I've seen the term applied to romances that utilize a fantasy setting without the mix of vampires/shifters/Fae/etc./etc. that seems to be common in "paranormal" books. Though like most genres, it seems to be a matter of what the publisher uses and little to do with the content of the book. OTOH, one "reviewer" called Ursula K. LeGuin's EarthSea books romantasy since they involve magic which was fair enough. OTOH, you have to stretch to see them as romances.

06-02-2025, 09:04 PM	#3857
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,627 Karma: 241126341 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	I'd guess "romantasy" is a romance taking place in a fantasy world, while "paranormal romance" is a romance taking place in our world with fantastic elements (like witches, vampires et al) added (so-called urban fantasy).

06-03-2025, 02:15 AM	#3858
kandwo Evangelist Posts: 471 Karma: 11708254 Join Date: Dec 2020 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 3	I think both terms - Romantasy and Dramedy - should be in the Reading and Delight thread. They sound so ridiculous that they put a smile on my face every time I hear them (I would actually be inclined to get a book with that on the cover just to have something within such a funny sounding genre.)

06-03-2025, 03:59 AM	#3860
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 46,902 Karma: 169810634 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	I would agree that any romance elements would be found in the 4th book Tehanu where there is a relationship between Ged and Tenar.

06-03-2025, 05:39 PM	#3870
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 11,085 Karma: 76037135 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	downloading older book covers in Calibre, getting a high-res one, turns out to be a tiny one that was upscaled until its a blurry mess. Ugh.