How to Write Romantasy Power Couples Readers Obsess Over With Jenna Moreci
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Romantasy is everywhere right now. Readers love it, sales are soaring, and more and more writers are curious about how to write Romantasy that actually delivers.
But because it is such a trending genre, there is also a lot of confusion. What counts as Romantasy? How do you balance the fantasy plot with the romance? And how do you avoid the dreaded one-star reviews from readers who feel let down?
To answer those questions, I sat down with award-winning and Amazon bestselling author Jenna Moreci to talk about her upcoming book, How to Write Romantasy. In this blog, I’ll share Jenna’s best Romantasy writing tips so you can create a story that satisfies both fantasy and romance readers.
What Is Romantasy?
Before we talk about craft, let’s define the genre.
Romantasy is a hybrid genre that combines fantasy and romance in equal measure. Readers expect both elements to be present in a 50/50 balance. If you deliver a fantasy with just a small romantic subplot, readers will feel misled. If you deliver a romance with light fantasy window dressing, readers will also feel disappointed.
That balance is what sets Romantasy apart. It is not simply a fantasy novel with some kissing, and it is not a romance novel with a magical backdrop. Readers want both stories woven together.
If you want to dive deeper into understanding the Romantasy genre, you can also check out my article on Writing Romantasy: How to Balance Fantasy Elements and Romance in Your Novel.
Common Mistakes Writers Make in Romantasy
According to Jenna, one of the biggest mistakes is labeling your book as Romantasy when it does not meet the genre expectations. Doing so almost guarantees reader dissatisfaction and negative reviews.
Here are a few other pitfalls to watch out for:
- Treating the romance like an afterthought instead of part of the core story arc.
- Using tropes in an unintentional, predictable, or copy-paste way.
- Building character chemistry through physical attraction alone without emotional depth.
- Letting the fantasy and romance plots compete instead of working together.
Romantasy readers are passionate, discerning, and deeply invested in the genre’s unique blend of magic and love. When you deliver on their expectations—balancing fantasy and romance, creating unforgettable characters, and weaving in fresh takes on beloved tropes—you’re not just writing a book. You’re creating an experience readers will want to return to again and again.
How to Create Romantasy Power Couples Readers Love
Jenna talks a lot about creating what she calls “power couples”—characters who feel believable, complementary, and irresistible together.
A strong romantasy couple usually has three things in common:
- They balance each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
- They both bring baggage and vulnerability to the relationship.
- They share common ground that makes readers believe in their connection.
If you want readers to “ship” your couple, focus on emotional intimacy first. Build the bond slowly through trust, vulnerability, and shared moments.
For more on this, see my article on How to Craft Romantic Chemistry & Tension Between Characters.
How to Handle Romantasy Tropes Well
Tropes are a huge part of Romantasy. Readers love them (or love to hate on them). They come into the story expecting to see familiar character roles, circumstances, and relationship development types—enemies to lovers, forbidden love, or the infamous shadow daddy archetype.
The key is to use Romantasy tropes without relying on them as a crutch. Make sure the trope serves your characters and your story instead of feeling like a copy-and-paste version of someone else’s book.
For example, if you are writing an enemies-to-lovers arc, what makes your characters’ journey unique? What personal stakes do they each bring into the conflict?
Emotional Intimacy vs Physical Intimacy in Romantic Fantasy
Another mistake writers make is focusing only on physical chemistry. Spice sells, yes, but readers want more than attraction. They want an emotional connection.
Jenna explains that emotional intimacy is the real secret weapon in romantasy. She even outlines five types of scenes you should not skip:
- Moments of trust-building.
- Vulnerability reveals.
- Quiet bonding scenes.
- Scenes where characters protect each other.
- Milestones that show growth in the relationship.
When you pair emotional intimacy with physical intimacy, the result is far more satisfying. This is true whether you are writing sweet Romantasy with closed-door scenes or high-spice Romantasy with explicit content.
How to Balance Fantasy and Romance in Your Romantasy Book
One of the trickiest parts of Romantasy is balancing the two romance with the fantasy. Jenna’s advice is simple: treat them as equals.
Think of it as running two arcs side by side. Your fantasy plot should have its own structure, often following the key scenes of the Action genre. Your romance plot should also have its own beats that run right alongside your fantasy plot—attraction, conflict, intimacy, resolution.
When you weave them together, you get a story that satisfies Romantasy readers.
For more on this delicate balance, read this article: Writing Romantasy: How to Balance Fantasy Elements and Romance in Your Novel.
Writing Romantasy in a Series
Many Romantasy books are written as series. This adds another layer of complexity because you need to pace the romance carefully across multiple books.
Jenna explains that you do not need to deliver a full happily-ever-after at the end of each book. Instead, you can build toward the final resolution across the series. Just be sure to give readers satisfying romantic progress in each installment.
If you want to learn more about writing a book series, check out my article 5 Steps To Start Planning Your Book Series.
Final Thoughts: Why Writing Romantasy Should Be Fun
At the end of the day, Romantasy is supposed to be fun to write. It combines the sweeping scope of fantasy with the deep emotions of romance. If you feel bogged down or stressed, remember that joy and passion are part of what readers connect with.
As Jenna says, if you are enjoying the process, it will show on the page—and readers will feel it too.
👉 Want more help right now? Check out these free resources:
- Listen to the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast for weekly writing guidance
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Grab my free Novel Writing Roadmap to transform your ideas into a completed first draft with confidence and clarity.
