Book genres are a convenient shorthand for describing our tastes or for figuring out where to put a book on our shelves. But broad terms like “fantasy” or “memoir” don’t always fully describe what a book is about. That’s why portmanteaus like “romantasy” (romance + fantasy) and “tragicomedy” (tragic + comedy) exist. They try to define the in-between and overlapping spaces that so many of our favorite reads occupy.
The books listed below all fit comfortably in multiple genres and, in so doing, become much more than the sum of their parts. An infinite array of combinations is possible, I’m sure, but we’re just going to look at six titles that play with romance, mystery, and horror. By plucking elements from different genres and moods and reimagining them in new ways, each is a refreshing twist on established literary conventions. In some cases, they reveal aspects of familiar tropes that you might not have considered before.
Far Sector by N.K. Jemisin and Jamal CampbellTake one part superhero sci-fi, add one part noir-ish murder mystery, sprinkle some social commentary on top, and you’ve got Far Sector. This exquisite book follows Jo Mullein, the newest member of the Green Lantern Corps, as she takes her post on an alien planet. She arrives just in time for a shocking murder to rock the planet’s supposedly peaceful society, whose rulers are determined to maintain law and order at any cost. |
GalaXic Baseball League Volume One by Acky BrightTime for sports drama…IN SPACE! Earth’s baseball team has made a poor showing against their intergalactic rivals, prompting them to take extreme measures to attract star players and avoid being expelled from the League. Meanwhile, a threat to the galaxy itself gives the players something else to worry about. Can they be champions of the galaxy and save it at the same time? |
Love Me to Death Volume One by ToonimatedThis gorgeous, Frankenstein-inspired webtoon combines romance, fantasy, and a dash of horror. When Mercedes dies mysteriously right before her wedding, her powerful fiancé illegally hires a necromancer, Victor, to bring her back to life. The spell works, technically, but the trio is soon pulled into the teeth of a decades-old conspiracy that could end with all three of them in the grave. |
Prometheus Graft: The Slayings at Death’s End #1 by George Northy and Caitlin Yarsky (Dec 9)Given how Frankenstein himself is stitched together from different sources, I guess it’s not surprising that ol’ Frankie is so popular in genre-blending graphic novels. Debuting in December 2026, this murder mystery series has Frankenstein–now going by the name Prometheus Graft–trying to shed the horrors of his past by reinventing himself as a gentleman detective on the trail of a mysterious killer. |
R.I.P.D. by Peter Lenkov and Lucas MarangonFor those who like their detective thrillers with a hefty dose of the supernatural, R.I.P.D. is the graphic novel for you! The Rest in Peace Department (thus, R.I.P.D.) consists of undead police officers now in service to The Big Guy himself. Among their number is Nick Cruz, a murdered officer who agrees to join the force in exchange for a chance at catching his own murderer. You can also check out the sequel, R.I.P.D.: City of the Damned. |
Spent by Alison BechdelAutofiction blends the factual nature of autobiography with the fictional elements of a novel. Unlike Fun Home, which was pure memoir, Spent takes parts from Bechdel’s own life and spins them into an incisive, original story about a successful graphic novelist wracked by professional jealousy, frustration, and a desperate (and possibly impossible) desire to save the world through her art. |
If genre-blending is your jam, check out this guide to even more genre-blending comics, these genre-blending short stories, and these genre-blending books set in space.