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The Romantasy genre - a portmanteau of the Romance and Fantasy literary genres, has exploded in popularity in recent years. The genre grew out of young adult fiction, and has grown to include stories aimed at both adult and young adult audiences. As Romantasy author Carissa Broadbent joked at a Romantasy Authors Brunch at New York Comic Con 2024, stories of this genre often involve a lot of “kissing and magic.” 

During an audience Q&A at the Romantasy Authors Brunch, an attendee asked the panel of writers if they were aware of the trope where Romantasy protagonists are often “21 year old heroine[s].” Carissa Broadbent expressed that as she has aged, so have her characters. “I am seeing more [older heroines],” the author said, speaking to the state of the industry for Romantasy today. 

Broadbent’s next female main characters in her Crowns of Nyaxia series are all in their “late 20s at the youngest,” noting that 21 year-olds lack a certain level of life experience that can be jarring to consider the older you get. We are in agreement with Broadbent on this one, and think there’s quite a lot to be said for protagonists who don’t fit in the expected, youthful box that has dominated Romantasy in the past. 

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