Romantasy Books That You Need To Read
Over the last few years, there has been a rise in popularity for romantasy books. In my opinion, romantasy books have romance be the primary focus of the book. Yes, the plot and fantasy elements still exist in the book, but without the romance, it may fall short. Below you find popular romantasy books, alongside a few of my personal favorite romantasy reads so far.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
I couldn't have a complete guide to romantasy books and not include the most popular romantasy book on the market right now — A Court of Thorns and Roses.
In the Beauty and the Beast retelling, teenage huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods that results in a terrifying beast at her doorstep demanding retribution. Feyre is taken to a magical land that she only knows about from legends. Not only is her captor a beast, but he is also the most lethal immortal faire who once ruled her world.
While adapting to her new home, her feelings for the faire, Tamlin, begin to change as well. However, in the background, something ancient and treacherous is brewing. In a tale as old as time, Feyre must figure out a way to stop it and save Tamlin and his court from their own demise.
If you’re looking for a romantasy book series that blends romance, faire, and adventure, then look no further. A Court of Thorns and Roses is part of an ongoing adult romantasy series. While the series is incomplete, the main plotline of the series is wrapped up in the first three books.
2. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
The romantasy book that has taken over every book community since 2023 (feels like yesterday, right?) is Fourth Wing. Seriously, this book is so talked about on every social platform.
Violet only wanted to enter the scribe quadrant and live a quiet life surrounded by her interests — books and history. However, since her mother is the commanding general, that will never happen. Violet is ordered to instead join the war college to become a dragon rider.
Within the war college, there are basically no rules. Violet is smaller and her body is more brittle than her fellow cadets, which paints an easy target on her back. Whether it be because the cadets want to better their chances of bonding with a dragon by removing Violet from the competition, or because the most ruthless wingleader Xaden hates Violet’s war general mother and therefore hates Violet as well.
While Violet is trying to use her wits to survive, there is a war growing in the background. Wards are failing. Death toll continues to rise. And Violet begins to suspect that leadership may be behind it all.
Fourth Wing is an incomplete series (as of the date this blog was published) that combines exhilarating adventure with an enemies-to-lovers romance.
3. Powerless by Lauren Roberts
Not to be confused with small town romance Powerless by Elsie Silver (which is another great book, but I digress), Powerless by Lauren Roberts is a young-adult romantasy book series.
In the kingdom of Ilya, the Elites possess powers that were gifted to them by the Plague, resulting in their rise to power. If you’re not Elite, then you’re Ordinary. All Ordinaries are banished from society to preserve the Elites, making Paedyn a felon.
Paedyn has been trained by her father to be observant from a young age, she uses that skill to pose and survive as a Psychic. While the best that Paedyn can do is stay out of trouble, this is a romantasy book so of course she will do no such thing.
Paedyn unknowingly saves one of Ilya’s princes and finds herself to be nominated in the Purging trials. The Trials exist to showcase Elite powers, which is a problem for Paedyn. Not only will her opponents kill her if they find out, but the prince will certainly kill her if he discovers that she’s only an Ordinary.
Powerless is like if your favorite young-adult 2010’s book series like The Hunger Games, The Selection, and The Red Queen had a baby together. Fair warning, the Powerless series is still being written at the date this blog is published. Based on the endings of the books, you’re going to want to be picking up the next one.
4. One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
Easily one of my favorite romantasy duologies out there in the world of books, One Dark Window combines a dark and gothic setting with adventure and romance that works so well.
Inside of a mist-locked kingdom, Elspeth finds herself trying to hide her deepest secret — a mercurial and ancient being that lives in her head that she calls the Nightmare.
When Elspeth meets a mysterious (and handsome) highwayman, her life is changed forever. She is thrown into the world of magic — those with cards are able to use their powers — and into a quest adventure to save her kingdom from the dark magic that is infecting it.
As previously mentioned, this romantasy book is part of one of my favorite duologies by one of my favorite authors. The atmospheric and gothic setting will give you eerie vibes, while the found family will warm your heart and the romance will have you cheering them on.
5. Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
One of the last blogs that was published, Best Fantasy Books For Beginners, recommended one of my favorite young-adult romantasy series, Caraval by Stepanie Garber. Once Upon A Broken Heart is the spin-off trilogy of Caraval that is also magical, whimsical, and fairytale-like.
Evageline has a broken heart and those with broken hearts make bad decisions.
When Evageline learns that the love of her life is marrying another, she strikes a deal with the Prince of Hearts. In exchange for his help, he asks for three kisses in return. After the first promised kiss, Evageline quickly learns that it’s a dangerous game to strike a deal with an immortal fate and the Prince of Hearts wants more than what was bargained for.
Will it be a happy ever after or a tragedy?
The romance is both beautiful and devastating (the perfect combination!) and the plot feels like a fairytale, making it another one of my favorite romantasy books and series.
6. Belladonna by Adalyn Grace
If you want a romantasy book that has mystery components, then look no further than Belladonna.
For all her life, Signa has only known Death. As an orphan, she has been raised by several guardians, each of which have passed away. After the death of her most recent guardian, Signa is sent to live with a distant family member at their gothic estate — Throne Grove.
Upon arrival, Signa discovers that the matriarch of the family has also mysteriously passed away and now the daughter is suffering from a mysterious illness as well. Signa strikes an alliance with Death himself in order to solve the mystery and uncover the murderer.
Although Death has made Signa’s life miserable for as long as she can remember, their growing connection may change everything for them.
In my opinion, Belladonna has all of my favorite elements for a romantasy book — romance, murder, and mystery. Belladonna is part of a young-adult and completed trilogy making it the perfect addition to your romantasy bookshelf.
7. The Serpent & The Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
Did anyone else have a Twilight phase? If so, The Serpent & The Wings of Night is the perfect book to read to get back into the world of vampires.
Oraya has never belonged. As a young child, she was taken in by the Nightborn vampire king Vincent and had to grow up in a world that wanted her dead.
Her only chance to belong with vampires is to join the high-stakes competition called Kejari, in which the winner of the tournament would be granted a wish by the goddess. However, winning will of course not be easy. Oraya is the only human amongst the most vicious vampires. To survive, she is forced into taking an alliance with her rival. An enemies-to-lovers moment?
Everything about her rival, Raihn, sets off alarm bells. He’s dangerous. He’s the enemy. And yet, Oraya is drawn to him (this is a romantasy book!)
Their attraction may be their downfall, since nothing is more deadly than love.
As of the date of this blog being published, The Serpent & The Wings of Night is part of an uncompleted adult romantasy series.
8. This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi
Stephanie Garber herself has said “prepared to be destroyed” when speaking about This Woven Kingdom, so heed the warning and prepare yourself to be destroyed.
To the world, Alizeh is a servant, but in secret she is the long lost heir to the ancient Jihn kingdom.
There are prophecies that foretold the death of the king, which the crown prince Kamran has always been aware of. But he could have never predicted that the servant girl could uproot the entire kingdom.
If you’re looking for a romantasy book that has politics, forbidden romance, and a secret heir, then look no further with the completed young-adult trilogy.
9. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Get ready to be invested in the Grishaverse!
Alina is an expendable and orphaned soldier who knows that she might not survive the trek across the Shadow Fold that is dark and full of monsters. When her regiment is attacked, she releases powers that she never knew she had.
She is now thrown into royalty and expected to train with the Grisha, the magical elite military. Alina is quickly under the spell of their notorious leader, the Darkling. He believes that Alina can destroy the Shadow Fold, but only if she can master her powers.
Shadow and Bone is the first book part of the Shadow and Bone completed young-adult trilogy. The perfect romantasy series to sink your teeth into and follow up with the adapted Netflix show!
10. Heartless Hunter by Kristin Ciccarelli
A witch and witch hunter romantasy? Sign me up!
Rune’s life changed forever. The aftermath of the revolution resulted in witches being outcasted and hunted, and now Rune must hide who she is.
In the day, Rune pretends to be a vapid socialite, but at night, she is the Crimson Moth who rescues witches from witch hunters. After a rescue that went wrong, Rune decides to go undercover and gain intel from Gideon — the infamous witch hunter — under the ruse of a courtship.
Gideon hates everything that Rune represents. However, when he discovers that Rune is connected to the Crimson Moth, he pretends to court Rune right back. However, as we all know by now, pretending to have feelings in romantasy books eventually results in real feelings.
Inherent enemies in love? Sounds like a fantastic disaster.
Heatless Hunter (or The Crimson Moth outside of the U.S.) is part of an incomplete young-adult romantasy series.
11. The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
Seventeen-year-old Kiva has spent the last decade of her life in a death prison working as the prison healer.
When the Rebel Queen is captured and sent to prison, Kiva is charged with keeping the Rebel Queen alive so that she can face her trial — a series of elemental challenges that no one survives.
After Kiva receives a coded message from her family to keep the Rebel Queen alive, Kiva will do anything to do so — even if that means volunteering in her place for the trial.
The deadly trial, the mysterious illness plague amongst inmates, and the new inmate who can’t stay away from Kiva, are all the components of a perfect storm.
The Prison Healer is a completed young-adult romantasy trilogy that is exciting and will keep you on your toes until the very end!
About the Author
Madi is an avid reader at heart. When she doesn't have her nose buried in a book, she enjoys creating social media content and watching romantic comedies. However, nothing beats a cozy night-in spent reading a book.
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