I have flung myself headfirst into Sarah J Maas’s romantasy universe and I find myself a changed woman

Some dismiss books like A Court of Thorns and Roses as mere genre fiction. But reading for pleasure has its own magical power

Fitness influencers love to inform us that “summer bodies are built in winter”, and boy oh boy have I spent the last three colder months in the southern hemisphere in a deep phase of preparation. I had a meticulous spreadsheet. I tracked everything with military precision. I committed to my grindset and sacrificed for my goals.

However, my end result wasn’t a six-pack of abs and a back strong enough to carry a dinner convo with the most punishing of acquaintances. It was to consume the entire back catalogue of Sarah J Maas – 16 books in total (including the novellas) – in anticipation of the long-awaited sixth book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series.

I have flung myself headfirst into the Maasverse and like many readers I find myself … a changed woman.

Unless you have been living under a rock, or are Nobel prize for literature recipient Anne Carson (who mostly reads books written in 500BC), it has been impossible to miss the chokehold that the romantasy genre has had over (mostly) millennial women for the last several years. Characterised by blending elements of fantasy and romance together and catapulted into our hearts and nethers by its wild popularity on BookTok, romantasy is all over our bestseller lists and our social media.

Sarah J Maas is expected to crack 100m copies sold after this week’s release of A Court of Splintered Harmony and is arguably romantasy’s biggest superstar. Unfortunately, this feels exceptionally radical in 2026, with global literacy rates at an all-time low. (The vice-president of the US failed to pronounce “English proficiency” at a recent press conference, and Alix Earle, an influencer, proclaimed two weeks ago she has “never read a book … maybe Dr Seuss”.)

The flipside of the coin is the category of readers I affectionately call “The Man Bookers”. Their tastes are academic, bordering on performative; they do not read for pleasure, but for knowledge and masochism. They’ll have as many opinions on the Booker prize and the state of contemporary literature as tote bags full of physical media; their bookshelves are stacked with volumes from Fitzcarraldo Editions, the New York Review of Books and Dalkey Archive.

I adore Man Bookers in all their pretentiousness. My boyfriend falls into this category and politely informed me this morning – in an extremely performative male final boss move – that he has read “approximately eight single sentence novels” which is a shocking thing to hear at any time, let alone when one is half asleep and still in bed.

These literary consumers are generally the No 1 haters of romantasy lovers. They see us as basic and are quick to sneer and chide us for chugging down “faerie porn” on our Kindles.

To this I say: what the hell is wrong with you? Genre fiction is exceptionally important! Why is it globally acceptable to be a massive fan of Tolkien or George RR Martin or Frank Herbert, and yet Sarah J Maas is met with derision?

Obviously we all don’t have to like everything (as you will no doubt remind me in the comments) but when a subgenre dominated by female authors and consumers is judged for the same things male authors are celebrated for (rabid fanbase, elaborate world-building, scantily clad magical females), I cannot help but cry misogyny.

Speaking of, it only takes one look at the news to see why it’s no wonder women are turning to fictional faeries for entertainment. On TikTok and Reddit there is an entire theory (with many videos) on the supposed ACOTAR-to-divorce pipeline. Quite simply, the theory goes, women are reading these books, observing the complicated yet ultimately healthy relationships depicted in them, and leaving their shitty husbands. Shocking to realise that being treated with kindness and adoration is a fantasy in 2026!

My friend Rosie Dent – a prominent Maasverse expert and BookTok sensation – says, “Reading romantasy is actually an act of rebellion in this puritanical hellscape.” Rosie is among multiple BookTokers who have entire treatises on this series; her musings are articulate, insightful and thorough and probably researched enough to warrant a PhD. I messaged her throughout my strict reread and was grateful for her deep knowledge of the lore.

I have never been a part of an adult fandom before and this one is spectacular. I’m currently in a romantasy book club with some of New Zealand’s most successful and intelligent comedians. Surprise! The smartest and funniest women you know are reading smut!

And so, as I finally dive into A Court Of Splintered Harmony (after months of hard work), I can’t help but notice I’m a bit more excited, a bit more alive and a bit more connected than when I started. The power of fiction! I’m now reading nonstop. Every day. And definitely enjoying my literary wares more than my significant other (it’s not a competition but it’s true).

As my favourite fit man Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson says: “Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency.” And to that I say – consistent reading for pleasure? Not a fantasy any longer.