“Romantasy” is a recently coined term for a pre-existing and popular subgenre of books that combine elements of fantasy and romance, but there’s still some debate about exactly which books qualify. Does the term “romantasy” encompass standalone romance novels with fantasy elements (like supernatural romances This Spells Disaster by Tori Anne Martin, My Roommate Is A Vampire by Jenna Levine, or my own book A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon?) Or does it apply to fantasy novels with romantic subplots (like the Kushiel’s Legacy series by Jacqueline Carey, the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas, or my newest book Servant of Earth?) Should it only be used for fantasy novels whose main plots wouldn’t function if the romance was removed, or can it be used when the love story is prominent enough to be a major subplot?
There’s no definitive rule about what can be called a romantasy, but the debate is a lively one! For these recommendations, I’m going to go with my own personal definition: books that are fantasy novels first and foremost, but with strong romantic subplots that are essential to the story.
Romantasy is a vibrant, thriving subgenre, however one chooses to define it. These five books are just a tiny fraction of the amazing books out there, and I hope you discover some new favorites at the intersection of the romantic and the fantastical!
Happy reading!
The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon
Warrior Talasyn, a user of rare light magic, meets her shadow-wielding enemy Alaric on the battlefield. Their nations are at war, with Talasyn fighting for Sardovia and Alaric the heir to the brutal Night Empire. But Talasyn comes from a far different background than she was led to believe, and she’ll soon have to marry her greatest enemy in the name of peace.
An enemies-to-lovers arranged marriage? Say less! Thea Guanzon is a phenomenally talented writer who excels at poetic prose and immersive worldbuilding, and she’s a master of slow burn romance and the exhilarating thrill of enemies-to-lovers. I adored Talasyn and Alaric and can’t wait for the sequel, A Monsoon Rising!
The Last Dragon of the East by Katrina Kwan
Humble teahouse worker Sai has a side job as a matchmaker–he can see the red threads of fate connecting people to their soulmates. His own thread is gray and frayed, though, so he assumes a fated love isn’t for him. When he’s sent to hunt down a rare dragon, he soon realizes there’s someone on the other end of his thread, after all–and that their love story spans lifetimes.
I loved the grumpy-sunshine dynamic of Sai and Jyn (she’s the grump). Katrina Kwan’s writing is compulsively readable, and the heart of this book is a beautiful romance that will rip your heart out before stitching it back together. I can’t wait for Kwan’s next book!
Tales of a Monstrous Heart by Jennifer Delaney
This one is for the Gothic romance lovers. Scholarly Katherine Woodrow has always struggled with the prejudice humans have against the fey. When the council of the Institute of Magic threatens her position, her salvation comes in the form of a partnership with Lord Emrys Blackthorn, who doesn’t mind her Fey heritage. Together, the two have to unravel a magical mystery involving a series of disappearances and deaths… but both are hiding dangerous secrets of their own.
Jennifer Delaney’s writing is vivid and luxurious, and the pages are dripping with atmosphere (think candlelit libraries, possessed books, and a sentient, matchmaking house.) Kat is a competent and sympathetic heroine, and the romantic tension between her and the brooding Lord Emrys is exquisite. I’m eagerly anticipating the sequel, Tales of a Deadly Devotion.
Blood Beneath the Snow by Alexandra Kennington
This enemies-to-lovers romantasy comes out in March 2025 and stars a princess named Revna who is mistreated by her family for her lack of magic. Her country is at war, and no one on the opposing side is as feared as the deadly (and magically powerful) Hellbringer. Revna wants to end the war and change her country for the better, so she decides to compete in a high-stakes competition for the throne–a competition she’ll have to win against her own brothers. But this plan is complicated when the Hellbringer abducts her and reveals he might have his own reasons to want her on the throne.
This is for everyone who’s ever loved a villain in a mask. Kennington’s writing is fast-paced and full of sensory detail, and Revna is a tough and compelling heroine. I can’t wait for the sequel!
The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley
I was lucky enough to read an early copy of Brigitte Knightley’s debut novel (coming July 2025), and I loved it! It’s set in an alternate version of reality where the Norman Conquest failed and the British Isles are divided into rival kingdoms where magic abounds. Two magic users from rival orders–snarky gentleman assassin Osric and scholarly, no-nonsense healer Aurienne–reluctantly team up to cure Osric of a deadly condition and end up discovering a larger conspiracy along the way.
Knightley is a wonderfully witty writer with a fantastic imagination. This is delightfully original, full of wicked banter, whimsy, and a delicious slow burn as these two enemies fall for each other. It’s the first in a duology, and I’m already desperate for the second.
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