Romantasy 101: Here's Where to Start Reading the Hottest Genre of 2024 (Exclusive)

Dragons and folklore and smoldering glances — or witches and faeries and blush-inducing scenes? If you've been curious about romantasy but don't know where to start, we've got you covered. PEOPLE asked Claire Legrand, whose latest, A Crown of Ivy and Glass, came out in paperback this week, to recommend her favorites.

"One of the hottest words in the publishing industry right now is 'romantasy,'" Legrand explains. "Romantasy is an umbrella term for books that combine the genres of fantasy and romance. Sometimes these books lean more toward the fantasy side of things; sometimes romance is the primary focus."

So what makes a book fit into the subgenre? "Romantasy books usually have HEAs (happily ever after, a staple of the romance genre), but sometimes they don’t, or they have HFNs (happy for now)," Legrand says. "These genres are beloved for a reason: they allow escape from the everyday into something extraordinary. They fire readers’ imaginations and fill their hearts with hope."

And she should know: Legrand's books have landed on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists and she's been a finalist for a number of awards.

"Romance as a genre has been having a moment  over the past few years. Gone are the days of avid romance readers hiding their Fabio-adorned bodice rippers on the subway," she continues. "Now, the genre has broadened to become one of the most inclusive, joyful, loud-and-proud spaces in the reader community, populated by a diverse legion of women, LGBTQ+ folks and people of color. Throw magic into the mix—who doesn’t love a dash of magic?—and you’ve got something truly special."

Here's LeGrand's introduction to the hottest genre around — pun decidedly intended.