The Romantasy boom and what it means for Swedish-written fantasy
We’re in the middle of a global romantasy boom—and we’re thrilled to see how it’s also boosting interest in Swedish-written fantasy and romantasy!
Sales have been rising steadily, and it’s such a joy to witness more and more readers falling in love with stories inspired by Nordic folklore, deep Swedish forests, and mysterious creatures rooted in our rich mythological tradition.
Our Swedish authors have incredible stories to tell, filled with heart, magic, and originality—and we’re so happy to see Swedish readers discovering and embracing them. We truly hope these stories will find their way to international readers soon as well. There’s a whole world of Nordic romantasy waiting to be explored!
Swedish Romantasy Is Claiming the Spotlight
In recent months, several Swedish romantasy authors have been recognized in national media—proof that the genre is not only gaining ground with readers, but also earning its place in the cultural conversation.
Stina Rundqvist was featured by SVT Västernorrland when her haunting debut The Dark Song climbed to the top of Sweden’s bestseller lists, even surpassing Stephen King.
A gothic, emotionally charged fantasy inspired by Swedish folklore, her novel explores obsession, mental illness, and the supernatural with a lyrical, eerie tone.
Stina describes the book as “a symphony of blood and desire”—and readers have embraced it with enthusiasm.
Linnéa Engman, a 21-year-old author from Tyresö, was interviewed by SVT Stockholm for her work in the romantasy genre, which has exploded in popularity on TikTok’s BookTok community.
Influenced by Norse mythology, her worldbuilding was sparked by a simple winter image: a snow-covered tree that reminded her of Yggdrasil, the world tree. From that spark, a full fantasy realm grew.
Linnéa sees the genre as a natural evolution of what used to be called YA: “Now we just call it romantasy,” she explains, “and BookTok helped give it a name people recognize.”
Meanwhile, Olivia Reimhagen, author of the sapphic Cinderella-inspired Wishing Stars Made of Glass, was featured in a national segment on Sveriges Radio exploring the rise of romantasy.
Her gothic fairytale retelling is part of a wave of inclusive, emotionally rich stories that are capturing the hearts of readers—especially young women.
Olivia described the genre as “the best of both worlds. A bit of magic, a few dragons, and lots of love.”
Romantasy has gained significant traction on TikTok, with many readers embracing the trend—sometimes without even realizing it.
Together, these authors reflect the strength and diversity of Sweden’s emerging romantasy scene: rooted in local myth, fearless in emotion, and deeply attuned to what today’s readers are longing for.
And if this wave continues—there’s every reason to believe Nordic romantasy will soon find its place on bookshelves all over the world.
