Bookish Memes for Bookworms Hooked on Fantasy and Romantasy

Giuliana Tiscioni • Writer

Aug 29, 2026 12:00 PM EDT

Who else reads fantasy as a way of escapism?

People think that when we say we like to read, we mean something like philosophy, classic literature, or essays about society's debacle. And yes, those can be very interesting to read if you have the mental clarity to follow along, but as it happens, we don't always have it. Sometimes, we just want to unplug our brains and get hooked on the story about the medieval-inspired world where the protagonist has to learn to ride a dragon and marry the prince to save her family from poverty. Indeed, fantasy books are as dramatic and exaggerated as they sound, and that's what we like about them. They have so many things happening at once that they seem the literary equivalent of scrolling on Instagram for 6 hours in a row. They are addictive like that.

There's a different kind of fantasy for every reader, and even though they have their own official sub-genre, branding, and target audience, I like to make up my own names to identify them.

First, there is 'snob fantasy.' Think (don't come at me about this one) Game of Thrones. Over-complicated sub-plots, an endless list of unlikeable and questionable characters, a pseudo-philosophical argument about the meaning of right and wrong, and the intention of underlying social critique. It's a great series, don't get me wrong, but we always try to overexplain it and justify it when, in reality, we love it because of the dragons. It's always about the dragons.

Second comes, 'Brandon Sanderson type of fantasy': slightly lighter than the previous one, with some moments of comedic relief and sarcasm. It's still dark, complicated, and a little bit pretentious, but with an interesting balance between the heavier subjects and how the author chooses to talk about them. Here, they make jokes about their childhood trauma, and we love it.

Finally, there's the '2000s romantic comedy fantasy.' I would just put the entire romantasy genre here. Let's face it, the plot is just an excuse. We want the drama, the tension, the romance, the pining, the swooning… The addendum of magic, superpowers, and mythical creatures is a plus, and it gives that little extra touch of je-ne-sais-quoi that makes the entire book feel absolutely delicious.

No matter what you're looking for in a fantasy book, there's definitely one out there perfect for your taste. And, there are also memes perfect for all fantasy fans who are desperately trying to escape reality!