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Our Romantasy BookCon Orlando 2025 recap takes you inside Orlando’s packed romantasy gathering—where authors, panels, and pop-up shops turned a sprawling venue into a surprisingly smooth reader playground. We break down what scaled well, what didn’t, and the small fixes that could make next year even better.

We start with the basics: travel, check-in, and how the con split across two ballrooms without losing flow. Ticket talk gets real—why guaranteed panel and author slots mattered more than early access—and we share how no-shows created last-minute wins for savvy attendees. From planned signings with Sarah Beth Durst and Hannah Nicole Maeher to elevator hellos and booth banter with Grace Draven and Juliet Cross, the best moments stayed personal, photographed, and unhurried.

On the vendor side, candles, stickers, and lore-inspired jewelry delivered, but we make the case for more inclusive, non-binary-leaning merch: regulation-sized mugs, ear cuffs, leather goods, and costume pieces like tiaras and horns for the ball crowd. We also spotlight the rise of on-site trading and argue for a dedicated swap zone to keep hallways clear and community buzzing. Then we wade into the night-events debate: the ball earned praise, while the high-priced Disney add-on drew mixed reviews on value and logistics. Our suggestion—keep special programming on property with thoughtful theming and shared meals that center authors and readers—aims at better experience per dollar.

You’ll also hear what creators want more of in romantasy right now: horror romance, humor and banter, real enemies-to-lovers, strong-from-page-one heroines, diverse representation, and slow burns that pay off. Our verdict: same tier next year, arrive a day earlier, pace the panels, and bring space in your bag for surprise finds.

If you enjoyed this debrief, follow Of Swords and Soulmates on Instagram and TikTok, subscribe for future episodes, and leave a quick review. What do you want more of at book cons—cozy or monstrous, mugs or tiaras? Tell us and we’ll take that wishlist to the floor.

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