Dude, where’s my books?

If you don’t understand the reference, you must have been living under a rock for the last couple of weeks. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where it started, but I think it all began with a viral video of a reader visiting Target. They pointed out that the fantasy book section prominently featured women’s fantasy books, sparking the question: do traditional publishers still push male fantasy authors? This was further amplified by popular BookTubers discussing why modern fantasy no longer seemed to capture their interest. With everyone talking about it, I thought I’d throw in my two cents.

There’s no denying that there are far more women writing fantasy today than there used to be. The rise of authors like N.K. Jemisin (The Broken Earth), Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Thorns and Roses), and Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing) has propelled women to the top of bestseller lists—once dominated by names like Joe Abercrombie, Brandon Sanderson, and John Gwynne. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

For a long time, fantasy was overwhelmingly one-sided, with male authors monopolizing the genre while only the occasional masterpiece by Robin Hobb or Ursula K. Le Guin broke through the norm. The genre thrives on diversity—in themes, styles, and voices—and the fact that the industry once catered almost exclusively to white male audiences is, at best, bad business and, at worst, grossly biased.

However, as with many cultural shifts, the pendulum may have swung too far in the other direction. Instead of a gradual realignment, traditional publishers appear to have made a dramatic pivot, heavily favoring women writers. The rise of “romantasy” has become one of the genre’s defining trends, and publishers seem primarily interested in feeding that demand. Some cynics argue that this is an overcorrection, with male fantasy authors being pushed aside by women-dominated publishing houses. But businesses don’t operate based on social justice alone—they follow the money. And the reality is, romantasy sells. Sarah J. Maas has reportedly sold over 40 million books. Rebecca Yarros? 12 million.

So yes, the industry is favoring women authors at the moment, but not out of charity—out of demand. Female readers, who were underserved for years, are now getting the books they’ve been asking for. And these books aren’t just for women. Many male book influencers are openly enjoying them too. Sure, they may contain more romance than traditional fantasy fans are used to, but not every female character needs to be a tavern wench.

Let’s not pretend that fantasy is only catering to women now. Some of the best epic fantasy in years is still being published. John Gwynne, James Islington, and Ryan Cahill are consistently delivering top-tier fantasy, while juggernauts like Sanderson, Abercrombie, and Steven Erikson continue to release books. Maybe some of us guys are just feeling a little snarky because we now have to share our bookshelves. And as for the viral Target video—well, considering Target statistically has more female shoppers, it makes sense that their fantasy section would reflect that audience.

Are we getting fewer high-quality books than before? Yes. But that’s not because of women. It’s a broader issue with traditional publishing as a whole. With all major publishing houses consolidated under five massive corporations, there’s less room for risk-taking. The focus has shifted toward chasing the next Game of Thrones, The Name of the Wind, or—dare I say it—Fourth Wing.

But there are alternatives. Indie books are an excellent way to find fantasy that aligns with your taste, free from corporate publishing mandates. Revisiting classic fantasy can also help you reconnect with the books that first made you love the genre. Or maybe, just maybe, you should give some of these newer books a try. You might actually enjoy them. And if not? Sit tight. The market will eventually balance itself out. Trends come and go. But fantasy? Fantasy is forever.