If you’re looking for the best romantasy books filled with magic, action, and love, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’re sharing must-read books from the romantasy genre, including spicy romance books, tales of adventure and intrigue, and so much more.
What is romantasy genre vs. fantasy with romance?
The difference between romantasy (or romantic fantasy) and fantasy with romance comes down to how prevalent the romance in the story actually is. Romantasy books have fantastical plots enriched with a heavy dose of romance, while fantasy with romantic elements uses that romance as a subplot to spice up the plot and characters.
For example, if a fantasy book’s primary storyline and characters are based on those characters’ romance, it’s a romantasy novel. If a fantasy book’s plot isn’t entirely about a love story — but rather about war, politics, and adventure, it’s a fantasy with a romantic subplot.
Must-Read Romantasy Books
From a fantasy romance reminiscent of The Hunger Games to award-winning modern novels, there’s something from the romantasy genre for almost any kind of reader here. These books are nearly impossible to put down, and many are debuts of a compelling series that you’ll want to dive straight into and never surface.
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
The Hunger Games meets vampires in The Serpent and the Wings of Night, a heartbreaking, intriguing romantasy book with dark magic.
Oraya, an adopted human daughter of a vampire king, made her way into a world designed to kill her. The only chance she had to be more than prey was Kejari, a renowned tournament held by the goddess of death. Winning would be nearly impossible with cruel warriors, and Oraya must find an ally in a mysterious rival, Raihn.
Raihn, a dangerous, vicious vampire, is Oraya’s greatest competition. However, Oraya is strangely enticed by him. The Serpent and the Wings of Night reveals what happens when Oraya and Raihn are lured toward each other.
Buy a copy of The Serpent and the Wings of Night here!
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
If you’re looking for spicy romantic books, the BookTok sensation Fourth Wing is a must-read. This award-winning book was almost impossible to get hold of when it first came out and ticked all the boxes for a suspenseful, sexy, and adventurous romantasy novel.
Fourth Wing tells the story of Violet Sorrengail, who was meant to enter the Scribe Quadrant for a quiet life of books and history. Instead, her mom, much like a commanding general, ordered her to join a war college for dragon riders.
Violet, a person much smaller than others, was up against dragons, and her chances of surviving were slim. With every new sunrise, Violet must face friends, enemies, and lovers while doing whatever she can to prevail. If you enjoy it, then the next installment, Iron Flame, is already out and ready to read.
Buy a copy of Fourth Wing here!
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrou
From Blood and Ash is one of the spiciest reads of the romantasy genre. It’s filled with action, sexy, and nearly impossible to put down. Poppy was born into a life barely her own. As the Maiden, she couldn’t be touched, looked at, or spoken to. She couldn’t experience pleasure and spent her days with a duty to usher in a new era.
As a maiden with a heart, soul, and longing, her duty becomes tangled with her desires and needs when a guard, Hawke, enters the picture to ensure her Ascension. Hawke provokes her anger, makes her question everything, and seduces her with the forbidden.
Discover what happens when Poppy’s life starts unraveling as she faces the possibility of losing her heart and being considered unworthy by the gods.
Buy a copy of From Blood and Ash here!
A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross
Experience a magical world with A River Enchanted, a Scottish-inspired fantasy novel that showcases enemies-to-lovers romance, magic, and a thrilling mystery. A River Enchanted starts with a letter and journey across dark waters. Jack Tamerlaine is sent home to Cadence after ten years on the mainland to help find missing people from the island.
Jack must work with his childhood nemesis, Adaira, to solve the missing person mysteries. Eventually, they find a dark secret about Cadence that might be unstoppable.
Buy a copy of A River Enchanted here!
A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Mass
A Court of Thorns and Roses (the first book in the series) is seductive and filled with action. Feyre, a young adult, kills a wolf in the woods when a horrifying creature comes for revenge. When Feyre is taken to a precarious magical land, she learns the creature, Tamlin, isn’t a beast but really one of the immortals that used to rule her world.
As Feyre starts feeling more at home in her new land, her hostility towards Tamlin grows into a fiery passion. As she fights this passion, she must figure out what’s wrong with this dangerous world and how to stop it.
Buy a copy of A Court of Thorns and Roses here!
Sun Serpent by Geneva Monroe
The first book in a romantic fantasy series, Sun Serpent is the story of a cursed kingdom, a Fire Singer looking for revenge, and a prince who isn’t what he seems.
Elyria Solaris dances with fire and disguises her skills as showmanship, and she craves answers about why she has a power no one else does. Prince Cal is looking for the girl who burns the brightest, and only Elyria can stop the horror his kingdom is facing.
When Cal shows up in Elyria’s life, she’s on a path of vengeance over a loved one’s death. He’ll do anything to protect his people, including giving Elyria the answers she wants and lying to her about who he is. But what happens if Elyria trusts their undeniable spark? Will it be the one fire she can’t tame?
Buy a copy of Sun Serpent by Geneva Monroe here!
The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon
It’s easy for romantasy book lovers to pick up The Hurricane Wars and not want to put it down until the last page. The Hurricane Wars shows us the heart is a battlefield as the fates of two enemies with opposite magical powers are brought together. This debut of a fantasy romance trilogy is set in a Southeast Asia-inspired world destroyed by storms.
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Talasyn grew up as an orphan in a world under siege by the cruel Night Emperor and only ever knowing the Hurrance Wars. She found family in the soldiers fighting for freedom while leading a deadly secret.
The emperor’s son and heir, Prince Alaric, is responsible for destroying any threats to the Night Empire’s rule with his armies’ strength and shadow magic. When he learns Talasyn is the greatest threat of all, he tries to kill her. But when their powers create an unmatched force together, do they join forces or destroy each other?
Buy a copy of The Hurricane Wars here!
A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
A Marvellous Light, the first book of a three-book series, won the 2022 Romantic Novel Award in Fantasy. This spicy romantasy tells the story of Robin Blythe, who must contend with magic’s danger and beauty, a deadly curse, and the terrifying visions of the future.
As Robin learns about unsettling truths, he faces unexpected dangers with his unfriendly counterpart in the magical bureaucracy, Edwin Courcey. Robin and Edwin go on a journey to discover a conspiracy that threatens every magician in the British Isles and the secret someone has already died to keep.
Buy a copy of A Marvellous Light here!
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
Follow the dark, gothic romantic fantasy of Elspeth Spindle in One Dark Window. Elspeth doesn’t need luck to stay safe in her home, an eerie, mist-locked kingdom. She needs a monster.
When she meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, who turns out to be the King’s nephew, her life drastically changes. She becomes part of a world of shadow and deception and joins a dangerous pursuit to cure the dark magic infecting the kingdom.
Elspeth and the King’s nephew, Captain of the Destriers, have until Solstice to collect the keys to the cure, twelve Providence Cards. The problem? As her attraction to the Captain and the stakes intensify, she must face her darkest secret.
Buy a copy of One Dark Window here!
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
The Cruel Prince is a romantic fantasy story of Jude, who was a child when her parents were killed, and she and her sisters were abducted to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie.
When Jude becomes a teenager, she wants nothing more than to belong there despite her mortality. But the fey detests humans, especially the king’s son, Prince Cardan. To be welcome at the Court, Jude must rebel against Cardan and face the consequences.
Buy a copy of The Cruel Prince here!
A Market of Dreams and Destiny by Trip Galey
Set in London during the 19th century, A Market of Dreams and Destiny takes place just below Covent Garden, where everything has a price. When Deri was a child, he was sold to a power merchant. Now, years later, Deri falls into the path of a runaway princess and has a chance to buy his freedom and a place with the Market’s elite.
As news of the missing princess spreads, Deri meets Owain, who becomes the love of his life. Owain’s employers are using the Market for their own schemes, and Deri is faced with the high price of selling the royal destiny, making a name for himself, and saving Owain.
Buy a copy of A Market of Dreams and Destiny here!
The Book of Azreal (Gods & Monsters) by Amber Nicole
The Book of Azreal (Gods & Monsters) is a dark story of enemies to lovers. When Dianna gave up her life in the deserts of Eoria to save her dying sister, she called on anyone who would listen. What Dianna didn’t expect was a monster to answer.
Once Samkiel, now Liam, one name remains. He’s the World Ender, a myth to his enemies and a saviour and King to those who are loyal. After the Gods War, the World Ender hid from the world. Now he’s back and must face an old enemy and even put their differences aside to work together to save their world.
Buy a copy of The Book of Azreal here!
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