Why fantasy novels made a comeback in 2024
Move over, thrillers and crime novels – a wildly popular genre and its offshoot promise to dominate reading lists in 2025.
Throughout 2024 the fantasy genre experienced a resurgence in popularity, driving an upward trend in overall book sales. This uptake shows no signs of slowing down, with fantasy novels topping the year’s bestseller lists internationally.
Popular online trend BookTok, where avid readers share reading recommendations to social media platform TikTok, has given new life to older titles while embracing a new generation of fantasy writers.
The internet’s fascination with the genre points towards the increasingly popular “romantasy” subgenre, which blends traditional fantasy tropes with a female protagonist-driven plot and handsome love interests.
It has generated a significant amount of traction, breeding a following of its own.
Rebecca Yarros, who has written the immensely popular Empyrean series – which includes Fourth Wing and Iron Flame and will be followed up by third book Onyx Storm in January – has become one of BookTok’s darlings since 2023.
Lillian Kovats, sales director at Hatchette Australia, which publishes Yarros’s novels, says: “Romantasy has been the fastest growing sub-category (of the romance genre) since Yarros’s Fourth Wing was published in 2023 as readers look for higher stake scenarios.”
Sarah J. Maas is another leading fantasy author holding strong at the top of bestseller lists with popular series she has written such as A Court of Thorns and Roses, which is coming up to the 10th anniversary of the release of the first book in 2025.
Series such as hers are indicative of market appetite for the genre; Nielsen BookScan Australia reports that six of Australia’s top 10 bestsellers are romantasy titles in 2024.
Apart from Yarros and Maas, other leading authors include Sarah A. Parker and Ali Hazelwood.
Nielsen BookScan reports that as of November 2024, Australian book buyers were spending an extra $27m year on year on the combined categories of romance and science fiction/fantasy.
This increase places growth rates for the genre well into the double digits, surpassing crime and thriller novels that previously have performed the best among Australian consumers.
TikTok continues to play a pivotal role in boosting sales figures by forging a sense of community among readers.
Vicky Leech Mateos, publishing director at Bloomsbury, says a large part of the appeal for readers is the community feel and fan activity when it comes to these books.
Also, fantasy and romantasy novels continue to attract significant numbers of female readers who previously may not have been catered to by traditional fantasy stories.
“We are lucky to be in a golden age for fantasy,” Leech Mateos says. “The genre is dominating the charts and has never felt more inclusive, or exciting.
“Increasingly fantasy publishing is drawing from and representing a wider range of perspective and stories – broadening the genre and recruiting new authors and readers to tell stories that are ever more immersive and addictive.”
The uptake in fantasy literature also translates to audiobooks.
In the year to November 2024, Audible recorded a 36 per cent year-on-year increase in customers listening to science fiction and fantasy titles when compared with 2023.
“Fantasy listening has surged on Audible in 2024 … largely driven by the booming popularity of the romantasy subgenre,” says Karen Appathurai Wiggins, the head of regional content for Audible, APAC. “There are currently seven fantasy titles in our top 25 bestsellers.”
Audible has refocused its attention on the growing fantasy genre by evolving its audio storytelling to satisfy consumer demand.
“Fantasy audiobooks now incorporate music, full sound design and talented multi-cast voice actors to build an atmosphere of total immersion for listeners,” Appathurai Wiggins says.
While many audio series previously have been released with only a single narrator, the service has started to re-release titles in a “graphic audio” format with multicast narration as it seeks to expand its consumer base.
As consumers look to the year ahead in publishing, they can expect hotly anticipated releases from favourites such as Yarros.
Yarros’s new Empyrean novel Onyx Storm will be ushered in with midnight openings across Australia, and RF Kuang makes a return to the fantasy genre with her upcoming novel Katabasis, following her highly successful satirical novel Yellowface that criticised a lack of diversity in the literary industry.
Find a selection of upcoming releases as well as the top picks from 2024 below.
BEST FANTASY BOOKS OF 2024
Wind and Truth
By Brandon Sanderson, $34.99
One of high fantasy’s most prolific voices returns to form with the next instalment of his epic fantasy series The Stormlight Archive, which follows the group of protagonists who challenge an evil god in a contest to claim title over the future of the world they love.
The Sunlit Man
By Brandon Sanderson, $24.99
Sanderson brings to life the story of Nomad, a perpetual planetary wanderer, who traverses the Cosmere Universe when faced with the decision of having a life on the run or staying on one planet where he might be able to make a difference in the fight against a tyrant.
Heir
By Sabaa Tahir, $24.99
This novel interweaves the stories of three young people – an orphan, an outcast and prince – as they grapple with the responsibility that comes with power, the difficulties of love, and the ramifications of unbridled greed.
Blood of Hercules
By Jasmine Mas, $49.99
Set at the Spartan War Academy, this story follows Alexis Hert who seeks to claim her birthright privilege: immortality. As she is honed into a warrior by her gladiator mentors, she is haunted at every turn by her professors and the brooding heirs to the underworld.
WHAT TO READ IN 2025
Katabasis
By R.F. Kuang (September)
Two academic rivals from Cambridge descend on a journey into the underworld to rescue the soul of their adviser. Getting to hell is one thing, but surviving it – and one another – is another thing entirely.
The Dark Mirror
By Samantha Shannon (February)
The fifth novel in Samantha Shannon’s fantasy epic Bone Season series sees readers reunite with clairvoyant heroine Paige Mahoney, who attempts to change the course of the war between immortals and humans – but first she must piece the puzzle together after half a year of her life is wiped from her memory.
Elphie
By Gregory Maguire (March)
This prequel to Wicked, the fantasy novel that inspired the hit stage show and recently released film, follows a young Elphaba as she begins her journey toward fulfilling her destiny of being a witch.
The Prince Without Sorrow
By Maithree Wijesekara (April)
Making a fantasy debut, new author Wijesekara introduces readers to the world of the Obsidian Throne trilogy, which draws on inspiration from the Mauryan Empire of Ancient India.
The Devils
By Joe Abercrombie (May)
A new series from legendary bestseller Joe Abercrombie hits the fantasy scene in 2025, as readers can expect an epic adventure through plague-ridden Europe with monsters and greedy royals.
BEST ROMANTASY BOOKS OF 2024
When the Moon Hatched
By Sarah A. Parker, $34.99
This No.1 bestseller became a phenomenon in 2024 with the novel’s heroine – who is an assassin from a rebel group against the crown – embarking on a journey of revenge with a dragon rider who mourns the loss of his great love.
Immortal Dark
By Tigest Girma, $24.99
The first novel in a trilogy by the Melbourne-based Ethiopian author follows a lost heiress who infiltrates an arcane society to live with the vampire she suspects murdered her family.
Bride
By Ali Hazelwood, $22.99
The New York Times best-selling author of The Love Hypothesis returns with a paranormal romance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha werewolf who is her mortal enemy.
The Black Bird Oracle
By Deborah Harkness, $32.99
Deborah Harkness saw success with A Discovery of Witches, the first book in the bestselling All Souls series, which was turned into a hit series starring Australian actor Teresa Palmer. Now book five follows a new stage in the love story between Diana Bishop, an Oxford scholar and witch, and vampire geneticist Matthew de Clermont.
Long Live Evil
By Sarah Rees Brennan, $32.99
This title is the first adult novel from Brennan, who has always written as a YA author. Against the backdrop of a kingdom on the brink of war, the reader steps into the villain’s shoes as the protagonist realises she is not the heroine in this fantasy world of monsters and scheming courtiers.
WHAT TO READ IN 2025
Onyx Storm
By Rebecca Yarros (January)
Yarros took the internet and broader fantasy community by storm with her first two novels, now she returns with the next in the beloved Empyrean series. Set after protagonist Violet Sorrengail’s formal training at Basgiath War College, it’s time for her to set off into uncharted territory to seek out allies who will help her save what she loves – her dragons, her family, her home, and her true love.
Upon a Starlit Tide
By Kell Woods (February)
Following the success of After the Forest, Kell Woods brings readers a dark tale about mermaids and sea-magic, and the love, betrayal and revenge that lurks below the surface.
The Knight and the Moth
By Rachel Gillig (May)
BookTok sensation Rachel Gillig spins a gothic tale of intrigue about a prophetess who is forced out of her cloister and on to an impossible journey to defeat the gods who haunt her dreams.
Ever Blessed
By Olivia O’Flynn (June)
The Australian author and award-winning podcaster brings an action-packed new romantasy series into the fold with her story of a warrior princess who is promised in marriage to the handsome but insolent heir to the throne of a rival nation.
A Dance of Lies
By Brittney Arena (June)
One of 2025’s most anticipated romantasy debuts brings a spin on the classic courtly betrayal tale. When Vasalie Moran, once a dancer in the royal court, is framed for murder, the king grants her the key to freedom if she agrees to become his spy for one month.
The Ballad of Falling Dragons
By Sarah A. Parker (October)
Parker returns with a highly anticipated sequel to her bestseller When the Moon Hatched, featuring more danger, romance, dragons and vengeance.
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