What is the difference between the Adult and Romantasy subscriptions?

Both the Adult and Romantasy subscriptions feature fantasy stories written for an adult audience (18+). Romance is a core element of the Romantasy subscription and is present in the vast majority of Adult Fantasy selections as well.

In the Romantasy subscription, romance is always central to the story and plays a major role in driving the plot and character development. These titles often place strong emphasis on the romantic relationship and will include more on-page explicit romantic or sexual content.

In the Adult subscription, romance is also very common and appears in the vast majority of selections, but it typically develops alongside the broader fantasy narrative rather than driving the story. The primary focus is usually on elements such as world-building, political intrigue, magical systems, or larger character arcs.

More broadly, romance is a prevalent theme across many of FairyLoot’s subscription lines, including Young Adult, Adult, Cosy and Romantasy, while in Epic Fantasy it is typically less of a central focus.

The key difference between the Adult and Romantasy subscriptions is therefore how central the romance is to the story, with Romantasy titles also often featuring more on-page explicit romantic content.

The fantasy publishing landscape is constantly evolving, and some titles may occasionally sit somewhere between Adult Fantasy and Romantasy. In recent years, the term “romantasy” has also been used more broadly across the industry, and some books may be marketed this way even if the romance is not the primary focus of the story, or is less central or explicit than what we would typically include in our Romantasy subscription. At FairyLoot, we categorise titles by considering factors such as the centrality of romance to the narrative, the book’s tone, themes, and overall feel, as well as the level of romantic or explicit content and which subscription audience we believe will be most excited by the book. As a result, some months may feel closer in tone than others, but each selection is chosen with the spirit of the category in mind.

If you love romance, both subscriptions include it, though there may occasionally be books in the Adult Fantasy subscription where it plays a smaller role. If you prefer stories where the romance is front and centre and leans more on the “spicier” side, the Romantasy subscription may be the best fit for you.