Sarah J. Maas is the author phenomenon that has taken TikTok by storm. She combines romance and fantasy, romantasy, which has become an immensely popular literary genre.
– It is very timely, says Samuel Karlin from the Science Fiction bookstore.
Sarah J. Maas dominates bestseller lists worldwide. To date, she has written 16 books, in three different book series that have sold millions of copies. Her books have been translated into 38 different languages and the latest book is the third fastest selling sci-fi and fantasy novel ever.
– She writes very well and it is very accessible. Many younger readers have her as a gateway to the genre, says Samuel Karlin.
The combination of romance and fantasy is not new, but the genre is growing.
– In a time where we otherwise see that fewer people read a lot, this is instead a genre where there are more people who start reading, and more people who read who become very engaged in their reading, says Karlin.
That is why Maas has become so successful
Sarah J. Maa’s writing started online and on social media – a type of author that is becoming more and more common, according to Tuva Haglund, researcher at the Swedish Children’s Book Institute.
– She has built her writing in these digital environments. Even before she was traditionally published, she was a well-read author online. And those readers have followed her, she says.
Her texts are spread on social media, not least on BookTok, the subgroup of the app TikTok that focuses on literature. But what is it that attracts? Precisely the mixture between fantasy adventure and romance, with a sprinkling of sexual scenes, may be what appeals to readers, according to Samuel Karlin.
– The genre is filled with magical beings, which are often full of allure. A little dangerous! It could be vampires or fairies and the like, he says.
Stream After five on TV4 Play
Swedish current affairs program where we get to meet interesting guests and get updated on the most engaging news of the day.