You may have heard terms like “romantasy,” “cli-fi,” and “cozy sci-fi” when referring to book genres and wondered what that means. Is this a trendy, new type of fiction or a book type that's here to stay? Join me for an exploration of some of the new sub-genres hitting the shelves of a library near you.
What is a sub-genre?
Most readers are familiar with the major genres such as: mystery, horror, romance, fantasy or sci-fi. Where things get a little confusing is when we start talking about sub-genres, or books that fall under the heading of a major genre like mystery, but they are a little more specific. You might be familiar with the popular sub-genre "cozy mystery" – it’s a mystery, but it’s usually light-hearted, focused on a small town or community and often with an excellent pun in the title.
Sub-genres can help readers find exactly the type of story they are looking for, and publishers use their popularity to gauge interest in what will sell. The prevalence of certain sub-genres can wax and wane, sometimes with entirely new genres emerging or an old idea returning with a fun new name. Which sub-genres are currently enjoying their time in the sun?
Popular sub-genres
One you might have heard of recently is romantasy. This is a sub-genre of fantasy that focuses more on the romance or “spice” in the story, with less attention paid to the traditional high fantasy elements of world-building and dense plotlines. Much of the current craze for this genre stems from the success of Sarah J Maas’ Court of A Court of Thorns and Roses series.
Another sub-genre that might be familiar to social media users is “Instapoetry.” Instapoetry is poetry but packaged to be quickly consumed in the format of an Instagram post or story, or even a TikTok. The poems are usually short, without a defined meter or rhyme scheme, usually shared with a drawing or photograph as the background and haunting music as the soundtrack. Perhaps the most famous Instapoet is Rupi Kapur whose Milk and Honey has been traditionally published to great commercial success.
How do sub-genres get started?
Often popular sub-genres follow the general cultural trends, people like to read stories about topics and ideas that are already a major part of their lives, like climate change. Enter – “cli-fi” the catchy nickname for “climate fiction.” This has been a sub-genre since Frank Herbert’s 1965 Dune (enjoying a recent resurgence of its own with the film franchise), but it has become more and more of a presence in speculative fiction in the past few years. Richard Power’s The Overstory and upcoming novel Playground are recent outstanding examples.
Sometimes sub-genres get their own sub-genres (sub-sub-genres?) For example, in “quozy mystery” all the cozy mystery elements are there but this time the main characters are LGBTQ+. Other genres are having a cozy moment as well. Cozy fantasy and cozy sci-fi are on the rise.
Discover your new favorite sub-genre
Truly there are endless sub-genres for readers to explore and have fun with! Want to check out some of them for yourself? Here are some lists to get you started:
Is it sci-fi? Is it fantasy? Is it mystery? No, it's all three! Check out these books that bend the laws of genre, mixing and matching elements to create stories that defy classification. An excellent way to introduce yourself to a new genre or step outside your comfort zone!
Everyone's talking about romantasy! The trendiest new genre often combines traditional fantasy elements with a heavy focus on the romance aspects. Including everything from light and fun to heavy and dark, this list has something for every one who wants to give romantasy a try! October 2024
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Cli-fi or climate fiction is a genre which focuses on the climate crisis and provides motivation for us to take action.
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Cozy fantasy often features found family, a comforting narrative and feelings of joy and hope.
This blog was written by Kelsey, one of Arapahoe Libraries Reference Librarians.
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