Romantasy books blend the best of both the fantasy and romance genres, delivering high-stakes political conflicts, endless action and plot twists, and, of course, swoon-worthy love. Whether you’re into sizzling enemies-to-lovers banter, marriages of convenience, or reluctant alliances that turn spicy AF, you’re bound to find it in a romantasy book. The romance tropes are endless, and the magic is too.
Part of why romantasy is so popular right now is because of that unique and special genre blend. Both romance and fantasy offer similar appeals on their own: comfort, escapism, and empowerment. Romantasy is no different. A romantasy book can allow a reader to disappear into another world and forget about their own, and at the same time it can also shine a light on very real-world issues. Many times, romantasy books feature arcs of women who fight for their autonomy and reclaim their own power, inspiring their readers along the way. And for the hopeless romantics among us, there’s confessions of love, yearning, and unlikely lovers.
Of course, there’s no shortage of romantasy novels to choose from; take one stroll around any bookstore and you’re likely to spot endless shelves featuring the most popular titles, proving just how much this genre has taken the world by storm.
With that, choosing your next read can sometimes be overwhelming. If that’s your situation, we’ve got you covered. We turned to some bookish reviewers to learn about their favorite romantasy books, and included a few of our own picks as well. So grab your Kindle or take a trip to the bookstore, because your TBR is about to get a lot longer.
When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley
“When the Tides Held the Moon” by Venessa Vida Kelley
Amazon
When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley is a moving and uplifting tale of belonging that is also wonderfully queer. The romance between Benny and Río was so wholesome to read about, filled with so much acceptance and warmth, and is still one of my favorite romantasies today. It also has gorgeous illustrations drawn by the author!
—Patricia of patriciascozyreads
Weavingshaw by Heba Al-Wasity
“Weavingshaw” by Heba Al-Wasity
Amazon
Heba Al-Wasity’s debut interrogates legacy on all fronts, and the ghosts that follow us generation after generation. It’s a stunning portrait of desperation, exploitation, and the nature of home, livened by an unlikely romance between a woman with the ability to see the dead and a dangerous purveyor of secrets. Weavingshaw is everything I’ve come to crave from this genre: fiercely political with a romance that initially seems impossible but soon becomes inevitable.
—Robin of literaryrobin
This Safe Darkness by Alexis Maragold
“This Safe Darkness” by Alexis Maragold
Amazon
This Safe Darkness is a dystopian romantasy that follows a 30-year-old FMC who is a symbol of resiliency and strength as she attempts to fight against the discriminatory underground society she grew up in. It features disability representation, arranged divorce, found family, and a second-chance romance with a circadian rhythm magic. It’s a mix of The Hunger Games and Snowpiercer, with compelling relationships throughout.
—Emma of bookclub.emma
The Entanglement of Rival Wizards by Sara Raasch
“The Entanglement of Rival Wizards” by Sara Raasch
Amazon
This book has the best of romance and fantasy elements brought together in a rivals-to-lovers academia story that is müddet to be a hit with fans of Dungeons & Dragons. The academic rivalry that eventually brings Seb and Elethior together is a lot of fun as theoretical magical problems are worked out in interesting ways.
—Jeremy of sparks_books
A Stage Set for Villains by Shannon J. Spann
“A Stage Set for Villains” by Shannon J. Spann
Amazon
Set in a world where “the magic of the theater” becomes a tangible and dangerous thing, characters enter a cutthroat competition in order to win a spot in the illustrious Playhouse. The deadly trials paired with a romance for the ages had me flipping the pages as fast as I could! And that plot twist!
—Julia of juliarachellebooks
The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala
“The Tiger at Midnight” by Swati Teerdhala
Amazon
Set in a world as lush as it is brutal, this book is perfect for fans of true enemies-to-lovers stories. Everyone in this book is morally gray and hides their own secrets that kept me guessing until the very end.
—Julia of juliarachellebooks
Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan
“Immortal” by Sue Lynn Tan
Amazon
Inspired by Chinese mythology, Immortal follows the story of a mortal queen attempting to protect her kingdom from an unknown enemy, which brings her directly in the path of the God of War. It’s the perfect blend of mythology, epic fantasy, and romance with immersive world-building and characters that will stick with you. Plus, it’s a standalone, so it’s the perfect entry point into romantasy.
—Emma of bookclub.emma
In the Veins of the Drowning by Kalie Cassidy
“In the Veins of the Drowning” by Kalie Cassidy
Amazon
We all need a bit of female rage in these trying times, and this romantasy debut about a siren starved of power and connection reaching for both is the cathartic book you’ve been longing for. Kalie Cassidy not only delivers a captivating plot but also a romance between two people caught between duty and desire who can’t help but misunderstand each other. In the Veins of the Drowning is its own siren’s song that lured me down into its watery depths. Add in a yearning, groveling man and I was lost.
—Robin of literaryrobin
A Vow in Vengeance by Jaclyn Rodriguez
“A Vow in Vengeance” by Jaclyn Rodriguez
Amazon
With political scheming, enemies to lovers, and a tarot card magic system, Rune and Draven are the new Jude and Carden. The banter, tension, and tenderness will leave you begging for more.
—Jules of wordspagesbooks
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
“The Everlasting” by Alix E. Harrow
Amazon
This is a six-star read for me. It reads like an epic, heartbreaking ballad. It features my favorite character archetype ever: a physically strong yet emotionally vulnerable woman who has been used as a symbol of her country’s strength for decades. When all you’ve known is how to be wielded as a weapon, how do you learn to accept love you don’t think you deserve?
—Kat of kityeskat
Our Vicious Oaths by N. E. Davenport
“Our Vicious Oaths” by N. E. Davenport
Amazon
This is a recent favorite of mine as the attraction and love between Kadeesha and Malachi develops despite all of the tension between them as rulers of different peoples. We get some fantastic banter and things get very steamy. It is a perfect example of enemies to lovers and getting both Kadeesha and Malachi’s POVs made the story more immersive.
—Jeremy of sparks_books
A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena
“A Dance of Lies” by Brittney Arena
Amazon
A disabled dancer must overcome her body’s pain to spy for her king, or risk her freedom if she fails. This book ultimately asks the question: Who is the real monster?
—Jules of wordspagesbooks
Lore of the Wilds duology by Analeigh Sbrana
“Lore of the Wilds” duology by Analeigh Sbrana
Amazon
Lore must face mankind’s captors in order to find the secret of their great library, but a power chooses her, as do the fae friends she makes along the way. Now she is armed with the ability to take back her people’s freedom from a tyrant king.
—Jules of wordspagesbooks
An Arcane Inheritance by Kamilah Cole
“An Arcane Inheritance” by Kamilah Cole
Amazon
Perfect for fans of dark academia and romance brimming with tension, An Arcane Inheritance follows Ellory Morgan as she settles into her new life at Warren University. But when familiar sightings make her feel like she’s lived all of this before, she turns to the brooding Hudson Graves to help her recall her past.
The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields
“The Honey Witch” by Sydney J. Shields
Amazon
Marigold Claude is cursed. The price of learning magic as the Honey Witch? No one can fall in love with her. But when Lottie Burke appears, claiming not to believe in magic at all, Marigold is hell-bent on making her see that magic is real. And when emotions begin to develop amid a sinister evil, Marigold must try not to lose her powers or her heart.
The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri
“The Isle in the Silver Sea” by Tasha Suri
Amazon
The Isle in the Silver Sea is romantasy for the ages, featuring sapphic romance, knights, witches, and folklore. This novel follows a knight and a witch who are fated to repeat the past: fall in love and doom one another, over and over, in every lifetime. As they’re determined to break the cycle, they must face an even darker evil, one that threatens to ruin everything they know.
Phantasma by Kaylie Smith
“Phantasma” by Kaylie Smith
Amazon
With high-stakes trials and no shortage of spice, this romantasy novel follows Ophelia, who is on a quest to save her sister. The only way out is through…through the twisted corridors of Phantasma, that is, a nightmarish contest inside a haunted house. The prize? One wish. When the mysterious Blackwell offers his assistance in exchange for 10 years of Ophelia’s life, she’s tempted to trust him. As long as she abides by the rules: Stay alive, and don’t fall in love.
Her Soul for a Crown by Alysha Rameera
“Her Soul for a Crown” by Alysha Rameera
Amazon
If slow-burn romantasies inspired by history are your reading vibe, this one is for you. Inspired by Sri Lankan mythology, Her Soul for a Crown follows skilled poisoner Anula Ramanayake, who is forced to make a bargain: offering her soul to the cursed gods in exchange for the crown. The bargain ends up tethering Anula to Reeri the Blood Yakka, forcing them to be linked until they each achieve their goals. But as unlikely emotions develop, Anula must face all the ways her bargain might risk both her soul and her heart.
Heavenly Bodies by Imani Erriu
“Heavenly Bodies” by Imani Erriu
Amazon
Inspired by Greek mythology, Heavenly Bodies is a romantasy brimming with celestial worlds, passionate romance, and high-stakes politics. The first book in this series follows Elara, who has been cursed to follow a prophecy that predicts she will fall in love with a Star that will lead to her death. When her kingdom is under attack, she is forced to flee…right to an enemy prince. As she’s trained to become a weapon herself, Elara must navigate a star-crossed love that could bring her entire world to ruin.
The Book of Autumn by Molly O’Sullivan
“The Book of Autumn” by Molly O’Sullivan
Amazon
Dark academia meets fated mates in this gorgeous and eerie novel. The Book of Autumn follows anthropologist Marcella “Cella” Gibbons as she returns to her alma mater to investigate a mysterious supernatural occurrence on campus. There, she’s forced to work with Max Middlemore, the magician she’s tried to forget, partially because he’s the other half of their powerful, fated pair. As Cella and Max reignite the romance that they evvel left behind, Cella must also face her own past and the ghosts that still haunt her.
The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon
“The Hurricane Wars” by Thea Guanzon
Amazon
With gorgeous world-building and explosive enemies-to-lovers romance, The Hurricane Wars is a must-read for romantasy fans. The main character, Talasyn, has grown up an orphan in a land ruled by the vicious Night Emperor, but she’s been hiding secret light magic from her found family—a magic that could bring the Night Emperor to ruin. But when her magic is discovered by the Night Emperor’s son, she’s forced into a reluctant alliance with the enemy. Together, they must peel back the secrets of their world, before it destroys them both.
Evocation by S.T. Gibson
“Evocation” by S.T. Gibson
Amazon
The first book in a series, Evocation follows David Aristarkhov, a powerful attorney by day and secret medium by night. When an old Faustian bargain comes to collect, David turns to his ex-boyfriend and secret society rival, Rhys, for assistance. Together with Rhys’s wife, Moira, the three are thrown into an emotional whirlwind, all while trying to outrun a nightmarish fate.
Half City by Kate Golden
“Half City” by Kate Golden
Amazon
In Half City, we meet demon hunter Viv Abbot, who has been forced to work alone ever since her father’s murder. She enrolls at Harker Academy for Deviant Defense to sharpen her skills and hopefully find community with other hunters, but when strange happenings begin to affect her classmates, she’s forced to tackle her own past and secrets. Add in an alluring demon she has trouble resisting, and Viv suddenly has a lot more on her plate than just a class schedule.
Kiss of the Basilisk by Lindsay Straube
“Kiss of the Basilisk” by Lindsay Straube
Amazon
For fans of the extra, extra spicy, Kiss of the Basilisk (and the follow-up, Between Two Kings) absolutely delivers. Tem is one of 13 girls competing for a prince’s hand in marriage. As part of the process, she must train with a basilisk to learn the arka and power of seduction. When Tem is paired with Caspen, the Serpent King, she finds herself thrust into a tumultuous love triangle between him and Prince Leo. Her heart is being pulled in two directions, just as political tensions between worlds hit their peak—and it hits far closer to home than Tem ever expected.
Daggermouth by H.M. Wolfe
“Daggermouth” by H.M. Wolfe
Shop at
Simon & Schuster
This dystopian fantasy romance has taken BookTok by storm, and for good reason. With true enemies-to-lovers romance and high-stakes action, Daggermouth takes place in a world drenched in corruption and follows Greyson and Shadera, who are forced into a political marriage brimming with loathing and passion. Greyson is the heir to the presidency, and also Shadera’s mark. But when her planned assassination goes wrong, she ends up as his wife, and together they must either uncover secrets of their world…or end up killing each other instead.
What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez
“What the River Knows” by Isabel Ibañez
Amazon
Set in 19th-century Egypt, What the River Knows follows Inez Olivera, who sails from her hometown of Buenos Aires to Cairo after her parents’ tragic deaths. There, she goes to live with her mysterious new guardian, equipped with a ring her father gave her. But soon she discovers that the ring is more than just an antique, and its magic leads her down a rabbit hole of secrets. She’s desperate for answers, but her guardian’s frustrating (and handsome) assistant keeps getting in her way. Inez must untangle the secrets of her past, all while trying not to lose her heart.
Blood Moon by Britney S. Lewis
“Blood Moon” by Britney S. Lewis
Amazon
Blood Moon is the romantasy fix for those who still haven’t left their Vampire Diaries era. In the first book in the Blood Chronicles series, we meet Mirabella “Mira” Owens, a freshman at Lakeland University. Her college life seems relatively average until she meets Julian Santos, who is not at all what he seems. Add in a mysterious letter from her long-disappeared mother, an ancient war of magic, and old town legends, and Mira is suddenly immersed in a tangled web of secrets that put her family at the center.
De Elizabeth is a journalist and author. Her YA dark fantasy novel This Raging Sea was published in 2025, and her upcoming adult debut, She Haunts Me Still, will be published in August 2026. You can follow her on Instagram @WordsByDe.
