Latest news with #RebeccaYarros
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Another Year of Romance, with a Dark Twist, Circana BookScan Reports
CHICAGO, IL, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The market for romance books has been growing since 2021 and remains hot, according to Circana, LLC. In the U.S., year-to-date print sales for romance books are up 24%, versus the same period last year. The volume for romance books has more than doubled compared to four years ago, with 51 million units sold in the past 12 months. Circana BookScan data reveals that romance stands out among the adult fiction subjects showing the most growth in 2025. In fact, romance is the leading growth category for the total print book market thus far in 2025. Fastest growing romance subjects include romantasy and sports romance, each experiencing triple-digit growth, as well as suspense romance and contemporary romance. Romance readers are particularly desirable for the book industry. According to the latest findings from Circana's Future of™ Books study, 26% of romance book buyers report that they are reading 'much more' compared to a year ago – a behavior that is contributing to the growth for romance book sales. While Rebecca Yarros' latest release Onyx Storm – the fastest selling adult title in its opening week, in the 20-year history of BookScan – is a key factor in the romance sales growth, a lot of activity is happening beyond one major author. Even when excluding Yarros from the romance market, the category is still showing double-digit growth. H.D. Carlton, Rina Kent, and Elsie Silver are among the top growing romance authors this year. One key similarity among them is that their stories explore dark romance, including paranormal and anti-hero themes. A desire for dark subjects is surfacing within the romance book market. This trend aligns with other growing segments in adult fiction including psychological thrillers (+29%), dark fantasy (+23%), and horror (+13%). 'This year, I am watching a shift away from rosier romance subjects like romantic comedy and new adult romance in favor of authors and titles with darker themes,' said Brenna Connor, U.S. books industry analyst at Circana. 'Combined with the growth in other more intense fiction subjects like horror and dystopian, a new trend has emerged that's marked by darker escapist themes. These subject matters provide an outlet for readers to safely explore negative emotions such as sadness, anger, or anxiety – allowing them to feel connected and perhaps even comforted. I expect to see continued interest in these darker subjects in the year ahead.' About Circana Circana is a leader in providing technology, AI, and data to fast-moving consumer packaged goods companies, durables manufacturers, and retailers seeking to optimize their businesses. Circana's predictive analytics and technology empower clients to measure their market share, understand the underlying consumer behavior driving it, and accelerate their growth. Circana's Liquid Data® technology platform is powered by an expansive, high-quality data set, and intelligent algorithms trained on six decades of domain expertise. With Circana, clients can take immediate action to future-proof and evolve their growth strategies amid an increasingly complex, fast-paced, and ever-changing economy. Marissa Guyduy Circana +1 312-731-1782 [email protected]
ABC News
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Romantasy isn't just hot, it's shaping modern day fairy tales
Some describe it as a full-blown escape. For others, they'll jokingly tell you it's cheaper than therapy. For millions of devoted readers, romantasy is a world unto itself and a way of life. Romantasy-themed balls and book clubs, romantasy sweatshirts and tote bags, flowing romantasy-inspired gowns and even romantasy-inspired tattoos are a small part of a growing community. Its home is predominantly on social media, courtesy of TikTok hashtag #BookTok, where impassioned fans rave about their favourite romantasy characters with videos that achieve viewing numbers in the millions. It's where devotees whipped themselves into a frenzy over the long-awaited release of Onyx Storm earlier this year, the third book in the Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros. The latest misadventures of Xaden and Violet sold 2.7 million copies in its first few weeks of release and is now the fastest-selling adult novel in 20 years. And fellow romantasy author Sarah J Maas, who wrote the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, was the highest-grossing author in 2024, contributing $16 million to the Australian publishing industry according to her publisher Bloomsbury. But what is romantasy and why does it attract such a loyal fanbase? And is it just about the sex lives of elves and fairies? Or something more? Romantasy is a portmanteau of romance and fantasy or, as romance author and academic Jodi McAlister likes to describe it, "a collision of these two genres". "A romance novel only has two rules. It has to have a central love plot, and it has to have a happy ending," she explains. "In romantasy, we are thrown into a fantasy world. It's [the fictional kingdoms of] Navarre in Fourth Wing or Prythian in A Court of Thorns and Roses." While the often-explicit sex scenes make it seem like these books are preoccupied by impressive wingspans and skilled swordplay, complex world-building sits at the heart of romantasy. Much like Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, romantasy features fantasy worlds with sophisticated political systems and unique cultures. Referred to as "secondary world fantasy", it's what makes it so distinct from romance stories. But according to Dr McAlister, romantasy is not a new phenomenon. "We only have to look back as far as Twilight to see it, but it goes back so much longer than that." It's this secondary world fantasy that drew Sabine Paglialonga to romantasy stories. "I love getting completely swept up in a place that feels so real that I'm still thinking about it while I do the dishes or in the middle of work meetings," says the romantasy influencer who is known as @spellboundpagess online. "It's a world that cannot exist in our reality, but we so desperately want it to be real", says Alexandra Squires, who runs romantasy-inspired social media account @readingandrapture. "It sparks a feeling in me that reminds me of being a kid where you would imagine something into existence and have the most fun with it. "We lose that as we get older so to be able to read something as an adult, which has those adult themes too … but which also sparks a childlike sense of joy and wonder? That is so special for me." Fantasy and romance are a "natural marriage" that raises the stakes of the other, according to Dr McAlister. "The romance genre is necessarily quite intimate because you focus on a central couple or a central throuple, but at the core of the romance is the relationship. But put that in a fantasy realm and you can crank the stakes up to 100 because now we're in the realms of life or death. The reverse can be said for fantasy, which is often so expansive and complex it obscures the human element. "It can get so big, so political, so concerned with the machinations of power and geopolitical intrigue, that you forget about the people at the heart of it. And no one cares about the people at the heart of it until they care about the people. "Romance is a really good way to do that." Steamy, graphic sex dominates much of romantasy fiction, often referred to by fans in online discussions as a novel's 'spice' rating. One chilli pepper signifies low-level sex, while three chilli peppers (or more) often means abundant explicit sex. Female protagonists are vocal and enthusiastic participants when it comes to steamier scenes, but according to Dr McAlister, this centring of women's pleasure is "not new". "Sex has been in romance forever so romantasy is not newly explicit," she says. "Romance is a genre that's by women for women, so women's lives and pleasures have been centred in romance for a long time. As we've moved into the 21st century, this has really started to come to the fore with sex." Tattoos as a declaration of love and loyalty however feels entirely contemporary. Main male characters (MMC) are usually described as being swathed in large, inked markings that often cover their torsos and creep up their necks. They signify loyalty to a people or unbreakable mateship and fated love. "Tattoos and the idea of magical marking is interesting … If you know someone is your mate because it's written on their body, that kind of bone-deep certainty is something I think people crave a lot in their real life," says Dr McAlister. Our romantasy influencers are unequivocal about their love for the genre. For Alexandra, it's escapism in its "most pure form". Sabine enjoys romantasy because "real life doesn't cut it". "While contemporary or urban fiction is great and all, it doesn't take me far enough. I want a full-blown escape. "Send me to live with the Fae, teach me healing magic, and throw in a dangerously attractive, brooding ancient MMC who falls hopelessly in love with a seemingly ordinary female lead. Bonus points if he's ready to burn the world down for her. "It's the ultimate fantasy."
Daily Mirror
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Top 20 romantasy books - including ACOTAR, Fourth Wing, and more
The romantasy genre, which combines romance and fantasy, has been booming in popularity in recent years, and now readers have voted on the best books in the genre 'Romantasy', the enchanting blend of fantasy and romance, has been sweeping readers off their feet and into otherworldly love stories, becoming a viral sensation especially on TikTok's #BookTok community. Romancing the Data, a site dedicated to the heart-fluttering genre, crunched numbers from 53 top romantasy book lists to reveal the crème de la crème of these novels. The A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas reigns supreme at the pinnacle of the list, a revelation that will hardly raise eyebrows among romantasy readers who are well-versed with its widespread acclaim. The team at Romancing the Data wrote: "A captivating fantasy where a huntress enters a faerie realm, facing romance, danger, and a deadly curse. Beauty and the Beast meets dark magic." Sarah J. Maas proves she's no one-hit wonder in the realm of romantasy, as her Throne of Glass series nabs the eighth spot, while Crescent City also graces the list at number 19. Hot on the heels of Maas's success is the Fourth Wing series by Rebecca Yarros, which boasts nearly three million ratings on Goodreads and an impressive average of 4.58 stars out of five, reports the Mirror US. One glowing five-star review raves: "This book is a rollercoaster of twists and had me so hooked from the start! Not once did it feel boring or like I should just skim something, and for once, I know the hype was so worth it!" Another reader exclaimed: "I am officially OBSESSED with this book! Having turned the last page over an hour ago, I'm still staring into the void, having no idea what to do with myself, and genuinely considering going back and re-reading it again straight away. It's THAT GOOD." Jennifer L. Armentrout's popular From Blood and Ash series was another fan favourite. The TikTok-trending series was summarised by the list-makers as follows: "A fierce maiden destined for divinity breaks free from duty, facing forbidden love, dark secrets, and a kingdom on the brink of war." Completing the top five roster were Carissa Broadbent's The Serpent and The Wings of Night alongside Rebecca Ross's Divine Rivals, the latter clinching the coveted Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction in 2023. The top 20 romantasy books/series A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout The Serpent and The Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen The Cruel Prince by Holly Black Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet Radiance by Grace Draven Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco Bride by Ali Hazlewood One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig Outlander by Diana Gabaldon Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin The Book of Azrael by Amber V. Nicole Gild by Raven Kennedy House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City) by Sarah J. Maas Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Los Angeles Times
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Rebecca Yarros answers only the most Very Important Questions
Author Rebecca Yarros sits down at the L.A. Times Festival of Books to answer your Very Important Questions.
USA Today
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
You could win $100 just by reading: How to enter USA TODAY's Spring Book Challenge
You could win $100 just by reading: How to enter USA TODAY's Spring Book Challenge The flowers are blooming, the weather is warming and it's time for another round of our book bingo challenge. Back by popular demand, you could win a $100 gift card just by reading this spring. Our printable bingo card has categories across genres to expand your reading goals and is open from now until June 30. Our last winner was Alison Vornsand, a reader from New Jersey, who was able to cross off bingo squares after reading "Onyx Storm" by Rebecca Yarros (a 2025 release), "Reckless" by Lauren Roberts (in a series) and "The Spanish Love Deception" by Elena Armas (set in a country you've never visited), among others. Now if your TBR pile has you feeling lucky, we'd love to see your submission. Here's how to enter USA TODAY's Spring Book Challenge. Click here for a printable version of the bingo board. How to participate in USA TODAY's Spring Book Challenge To submit your bingo card, fill out this entry form and let us know your contact information and what books you've read to complete the challenge. Be sure to read all instructions and only fill the form out once. Our Spring Book Challenge runs through June 30. Anyone who participates and submits their bingo card will be entered into a gift card giveaway. The winner will be notified via email within five business days of the drawing. Check out the full contest rules here. You must be 18 or over to enter. The challenge includes intentionally varied bingo spaces so readers of all genres can participate. For example, you could read five books and clear the entire top row, or take advantage of the free space in the middle and check off four other boxes. Just know that each box needs to correspond to a different title – no counting one book in multiple boxes! Here's an example of how I would fill it out: Romance: "Story of My Life" by Lucy Score About wildlife: "Raising Hare" by Chloe Dalton Free space Suggestion from a friend: "Everything is Tuberculosis" by John Green AAPI author: "Boat Baby" by Vicky Nguyen We'd love it if you also tagged us on social media (@usatodaylife) with your filled out bingo card yourself (here's how I made this on my Instagram story with screenshotted photos of book covers), but remember you still have to fill out the entry form for a chance at the giveaway. Looking for your next great read? USA TODAY has you covered. Taste is subjective, and USA TODAY Books has plenty of genres to recommend. Want a buzzy new title? Check out these new books released in March. Are mysteries your thing? Try these titles similar to "Verity" by Colleen Hoover or see if you're brave enough for one of our favorite horror novels. Or if you want something with lower stakes and loveable characters, see if a "cozy mystery" or "cozy fantasy" book is for you. If you want the most popular titles, check out USA TODAY's Best-selling Booklist. Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@
