Romantasystories blend sweeping romances with epic fantasy worldbuilding, although it’s not always easy to get this balance right. Some stories that lean too heavily into the romantic aspect of this genre just feel overly sappy and melodramatic, while novels that are too focused on their fantasy worldbuilding lose the emotional core ofwhat makes a good romantasy work.
From excitingenemies-to-lovers journeysto high-stakes political intrigue,romantasy books have the difficult task of getting the balance between genres just right. However, notable authors likeRebecca Yarros and Sarah J. Maashave not only pleased longtime readers of romantic fantasy but have actually managed to break through into the mainstream and become bestselling BookTok hits.
10Five Broken Blades (2024)
By Mai Corland
The Korean-American attorney-turned-romantasy-writerMai Corland has enthralled readers with herBroken Bladesseries. With three books in the series,Five Broken Blades,Four Ruined Realms, andThree Shattered Soulshave taken readers on a journey where treason is the season and dangerous liars come together to kill God King Joon.
With the perfect balance of romance and fantasy, well-paced storytelling, and unique characters,Broken Bladesis a fun trilogy packed with refreshing ideas. Told from the point of view of several different characters, it’s interesting to see how mistrust is imbued into every situation as everyone pushes forward their own conflicting agendas.
9Reign & Ruin (2020)
By J.D. Evans
Political intrigue and a slow-burn love affair makeReign & Ruinby J.D. Evans a must-read romantasy release. With a beautifully realized world, a well-thought-out magic system, accomplished flowery writing, and political undertones, Evans does not fall into the traps and cliches that can make some romantasy books feel underwhelming.
Instead,Reign & Ruinkicks off theMages of the Wheelseriesin a way that feels accomplished and engrossing. Naime isn’t a typical snarky protagonist who embodies so many tropes it’s impossible not to groan at the page. Instead, we’re greeted by a cold and composed hero whose journey we’re excited to go along with.
8Faebound: A Novel (2024)
By Saara El-Arifi
Faebound: A Novelis an epic romantic fantasyfrom the best-selling author ofThe Ending Fire Trilogy, Saara El-Arifi. Telling the story of two elven sisters imprisoned in the intoxicating world of the fae, danger and love await their journey as they discover the secrets of this magical world under the backdrop of battles and warfare.
With a classic rivals-to-lovers storyline, the exceptional romance of this novel was only topped by the jaw-dropping twists throughout.Faebound: A Novelkickstarted El-Arifi’sFaeboundtrilogy, and just as siblings Yeeran and Lettle were thrust into a seductive world of myth and magic, readers will also find themselves equally drawn in by the power of El-Arifi’s writing.
7From Blood And Ash (2020)
By Jennifer L. Armentrout
As the story of a maiden whose life is categorized by a duty to her kingdom,From Blood and Ashtells the complex tale of a woman whose existence was never her own. Poppy was born waiting for the day of her Ascension to arrive, yet her heart, soul, and longing reveal themselves when she meets the golden-eyed guard Hawke.
With the perfect balance of fantasy and romance,Jennifer L. Armentrout encourages us to examine the pressure of loyalty and the burden of unasked-for responsibility.From Blood and Ashis mesmerizing, heart-racing, and sexy all at the same time, and readers should prepare themselves for action, violence, passion, romance, friendships, and betrayal to turn their reading worlds upside down.
6Heartless Hunter (2024)
By Kristen Ciccarelli
Kristen Ciccarelli struck a chord with romantasy readers with herCrimson Mothduology, which kicked off withHeartless Hunterbefore being followed byRebel Witch. Set in a supernatural world where witches have been ruthlessly outcast by powerful leaders,Rune must hide her true nature in order to get by.
As a secret witch masquerading as a clueless, vapid socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a vigilante witch protecting her kind from being purged. However, romance enters the picture when she encounters the notorious witch hunter Gideon Sharpe, and she’s forced to confront the fact that she’s falling for a man who, by all estimations, she should loathe.
5The Hurricane Wars (2023)
By Thea Guanzon
The Hurricane Warsis an exciting Goodreads Choice Awards nominee for Readers Favorite Romantasy. Coming from author Thea Guanzon, this story of a war-torn protagonist, Talasyn, who never knew anything except the hardships of the Hurricane Wars, possesses a deadly secret as the thought-to-be-eliminated power of light magic courses through her veins.
With the emperor’s son, Prince Alaric, tasked with destroying all threats to the Night Empire’s rule. Alaric’s enemies-to-lovers encounters with Talasyn revealThe Hurricane Warsas a romantic page-turner like few others. This grand story of love in the most trying of circumstances makesThe Hurricane Warsa must-read for fans of slow-burn tension, political intrigue, and star-crossed lovers.
4The Bridge Kingdom (2018)
By Danielle L. Jensen
In a classic story of a person falling in love with the one that they were sent to destroy,The Bridge Kingdomtapped into everything romantasy readers love about this subgenre. Coming from author Danielle L. Jensen, this BookTok sensation told the story of the warrior princess Lara and her quest to kill King Aren.t
The Bridge Kingdomsees Lara question whether Aren is truly the villain she always believed him to be in a fascinating book that blends enemies-to-lovers tropes with a marriage of convenience plotline. With so many interesting character relations and overlapping desires to cling onto, romantasy readers will find themselves devouring this book before quickly reading the rest of the series.
3When The Moon Hatched (2024)
By Sarah A. Parker
When the Moon Hatchedtold an exciting story of survival and discovery in a magical world as Raeve and Kane are drawn together by fate, ancient powers, and a shared struggle against the darkness threatening their realm. As a fast-paced story that balances romance and fantasy perfectly, what makes Sarah A. Parker’s writing stand out is wit and immersive worldbuilding.
With two characters whose love and bond grow deeper through the novel,When the Moon Hatchedblends heartfelt romance, steamy tension, and high-stakes adventures. As a character-driven story that’s elevated by emotional depth and layered characterization, it’s no surprise thatreaders are anxiously anticipating what comes next in theMoonfallseries.
2A Court Of Thorns And Roses (2015)
By Sarah J. Maas
Incredible worldbuilding and the questionable romance ofBeauty and the Beastcome together inA Court of Thorns and Roses, a must-read romantasy novel. As the first entry in theACOTARseries, experiencing Feyre’s journey into the magical land of Prythian as she’s held captive by the High Lord of the Spring Court, Tamlin, was truly a whirlwind affair.
WithACOTAR,Sarah J. Maas laid the foundations for an outstanding fantasy world, and it was thrilling to watch how Feyre’s relationship and connection with Tamlin grew and changed throughout the novel. Through plenty of twists and turns,ACOTARfeatured many jaw-dropping chapters, and the series only became more fascinating as it went on.
1Fourth Wing (2023)
By Rebecca Yarros
Even those entirely unfamiliar with the romantasy genre will surely have come acrossFourth Wing, the best-selling novel that has taken the reading world by storm. As the first book in theEmpyreanseries, Rebecca Yarros had the lofty task of introducing us to a whole new world while also balancing the complexities ofViolet Sorrengail’s slow-building relationship with Xaden Riorson.
As a novel that is equally informed by the consequences of warfare as it is by spicy sequences,Fourth Wingwalks the fine line between fantasy and romance in a way few other books have managed to. With theEmpyreanbooks being some of the most popular novels of recent years, regardless of genre, it wasFourth Wingthat turnedromantasymainstream.
