Culture | Feeling horny

Romantasy brings dragons and eroticism together. At last

Novels starring hot fairies are selling millions of copies

A bow and arrow made from an open book and a golden, heart shaped arrowhead.
Illustration: Ricardo Rey

Perhaps it is Frodo’s hairy feet. Perhaps it is because orcs are not that erotic. Perhaps it is because too many characters sing songs containing words like “merry-o” and “deedle-dum-diddle”. Whatever the reason, one thing is clear: J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” is rarely considered an erotic romp.

This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “Feeling horny”

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