Blending epic fantasy with high-stakes romance at the La Mesa Library

Librarians hear it all the time: “Where are the mysteries?” “Any good rom-coms?” “Do you have cosmic horror?” 

As publishing booms, genres keep splintering into ever more specific (and fun) sub-genres. 

Personally, I am a big fan of fantasy novels, which combine all manner of magic powers, imaginary creatures, and battles of good versus evil. If you also enjoy fantasy, here are a few sub-genres that have recently taken off.

The big breakout sub-genre of late is “romantasy.” As the name suggests, it blends epic fantasy with high-stakes romance. 

The reigning champion of these books is Rebecca Yarros’s The Empyrean series, starting with The Fourth Wing.

A young woman is forced to abandon her chosen path of academics and attend a war college, where she trains to become a magical, dragon-riding warrior. Of course, she forms a rivalry with a brooding older student who pushes her buttons — but could their relationship turn into something more? (It could!)

“Cozy fantasy” novels flip the script on the genre. 

While most fantasy novels are action-heavy with apocalyptic stakes, cozy fantasies center on the struggles of day-to-day life and the relationships of characters living in these mystical lands.

I recently enjoyed A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna. 

Set in a version of modern Britain where magic isn’t uncommon, a young sorcerous prodigy casts a spell too powerful, robbing her of most of her powers and getting her banished from well-heeled magical society. While trying to solve her plight, she lives at her homey family inn, full of eccentric long-time residents who become her found family. It’s warm, character-driven, and lightly romantic.

“Dark academia” often overlaps with fantasy, especially when magic schools are involved. Expect secretive campuses, ambitious students, and morally questionable mentors. I’m currently enjoying Katabasis by R.F. Kuang.

It begins when the advisor for magical grad student Alice Law abruptly dies and goes to Hell. Since Alice needs his approval to graduate, she decides to open a portal to the underworld and convince the King of Hell to release him. 

And you thought final exams were hard!

We’ll end with LitRPG. 

The “lit” is “literary,” and the “RPG” is “role-playing game.” 

In a world where millions of people have played fantasy video games or RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons, LitRPG tells a story in a way that resembles game action.

One of the most popular is the Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman, in which the titular Carl is forced by an evil AI to compete in a virtual reality game, fighting monsters and wizards, alongside his ex-girlfriend’s talking cat.

The series clearly does not take itself too seriously.

Find these and many more genre-bending titles at the La Mesa Library. 

Fixes and clue-solving skills take center stage in May

While you’re here, join us for some great events: Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., we’ll be hosting a Fix-It Clinic, bring one broken item to be evaluated and repaired with help from our Fix-It volunteers. 

And local teens can practice their clue-solving skills during the Escape Room on May 26 at 4 p.m., for grades 6–12.