Burly, tattooed inmates have been pictured reading romantic-fantasy novels beloved by millions of female fans worldwide, much to the delight of Aussies online. NSW Corrections Services shared photos on Facebook this week of men reading books from the 'romantasy' genre — a portmanteau of romance and fantasy. Titles included globally popular books such as Rebecca Yarros' Empyrean franchise and Sarah J. Maas' two series: Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses. 'When it comes to inmates, images of tough, tattooed men often come to mind. The corrections service said it recorded a 'huge surge in romantasy requests' in 2025 and that it was easily the most popular genre behind bars.

Source: Daily Mail December 30, 2025 16:08 UTC