Fall of Ruin and Wrath

“Romantasy” (a portmanteau of “romance” and “fantasy”) is a distinct subgenre of literature that borrows elements from both its parent genres. Although War for the Oaks (1987) by Emma Bull is commonly cited as an early romantasy novel, it wasn’t until the early 21st century that the genre began to grow in popularity, heralded by books like the Twilight series (Nassor, R. “What Exactly Makes a Romantasy—And What Are Your Favorite Examples?” Reactor, 23 Jul. 2024). In the early 2020s, romantasy gained increasing traction through online social media platforms like BookTok—a subsection of the video sharing platform TikTok—Goodreads, and Reddit, resulting in the widespread popularization of the term. Since then, popular authors like Jennifer L. Armentrout, Sarah J. Maas, Rebecca Yarros, and more have produced dozens of series that have transformed the romantasy genre.

While traditional fantasy novels often contain love stories, romantasy tends to center them. For example, Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series features elements that are common in fantasy literature, including vampires, werewolves, magical abilities, and immortality. However, at the core of the series is the love triangle between Bella, Edward, and Jacob, with the fantasy elements serving to add drama, tension, and allure. 

Romantasy works often employ recognizable tropes, such as the idea of forbidden love. The protagonists may fall in love with each other despite being of different species, fighting on opposite sides of a war, or coming from different social classes. For example, in Fourth Wing (2023) by Rebecca Yarros, the primary romance is between Violet and Xaden. Initially, Xaden is portrayed as violent and angry, isolated by his family’s history as rebels. Despite this, as Violet gets to know who he truly is, they form a romantic connection that helps Violet learn to use her powers and become a stronger soldier. In Fall of Ruin and Wrath, Lis and Thorne come from different social classes: While Thorne is a wealthy, powerful Hyhborn, Lis is a lowborn who struggles just to survive for much of her life. Despite this, neither is able to ignore their instant romantic attraction, pursuing their relationship despite the politics involved.

Another common trope is the idea of fated mates—a bond and connection that goes beyond typical human love. In A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015) by Sarah J. Maas, the protagonist, Feyre, initially falls in love with the Fae Lord Tamlin. However, after he abuses and manipulates her, she flees, ending up with his enemy, Rhysand. In the second book of the series, Rhysand reveals that he and Feyre are mates, a bond found in the Fae world that connects two people eternally. In Fall of Ruin and Wrath, a similar bond exists between Lis and Thorne. At the end of the text, it is revealed that Lis is starborn, a mortal who is bonded at birth to a Deminyen to ensure the Deminyens’ humanity. This leaves the reader to wonder how much of their connection is love and how much is fate.

Lis, as a seemingly average human throughout much of the text, also resembles the female protagonists found in many romantasy novels. Although she has supernatural intuition, she is largely uninterested in the broader events of the kingdom of Caelum. Despite this, the end of the novel positions her to become a hero of the realm, as she forms a connection with Thorne that could change the entire social class system. This elevation of a “normal” character to a position of great power is also seen in Carissa Broadbent’s The Serpent and the Wings of Night (2022). The protagonist, Oraya, is a human who is the adopted daughter of the Nightborn King, ruler of the powerful vampires of the House of the Night. Like Lis, Oraya is initially believed to be human. However, throughout her journey, she learns her true ancestry and discovers the power that she could wield in the kingdom if she realizes her true potential.