There exists, in the great boundless library of romantasy, a most delightful species of tale—one wherein a creature of storm clouds and thorns discovers that sunshine has crept through the cracks in their carefully constructed walls. The grumpy sunshine trope, as BookTok’s devoted chroniclers have named it, pairs a brooding soul with one who radiates warmth, and the alchemy between them is nothing short of enchanting.
Should you find yourself bereft of such stories after devouring certain beloved series, fear not. Herein lies a carefully curated collection of romantasy treasures, each one promising fae courts, forbidden magic, and that delicious tension when opposites discover they are, in fact, two halves of the same extraordinary whole.
Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent
Here is a tale of a young woman named Tisaanah, who purchased her freedom from slavery with a thousand pieces of gold earned through wit, magic, and determination most fierce. Her journey leads her to the Orders—great organizations of magic Wielders—where she must complete an apprenticeship with Maxantarius Farlione, a reclusive fire wielder who wants nothing to do with anyone at all.
Max is wonderfully grumpy, readers report, though never cruel to Tisaanah. Their romance unfolds with exquisite patience, focusing on emotional depth and trust before venturing into deeper waters. She is sunshine incarnate—funny, clever, stubborn to her own detriment—and watching Max soften under her influence is, as one might say, rather beautiful indeed.
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
Picture, if you will, a curmudgeonly professor of faerie studies named Emily Wilde, who travels to a remote village to research the local fae for her encyclopaedia. She is wonderfully antisocial, academically obsessed, and perfectly content with footnotes as companions. Then arrives Wendell Bambleby—her academic rival, an incorrigible flirt, and the sunshine to her perpetual overcast.
Wendell has been compared to Howl from that beloved castle of moving persuasion, and the comparison holds true. This is cozy fantasy at its finest, with sharp-tongued academia, mischievous faeries, and a slow-burn romance that warms like mulled cider on a winter’s evening. The Guardian itself proclaimed it “a thoroughly charming academic fairytale.”
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
Oraya is human—a rather precarious condition when one has been raised as the adopted daughter of a vampire king. To prove herself worthy of survival, she enters a deadly tournament where only one contestant emerges alive. There she encounters Raihn, a vampire whose grumpy exterior masks a rather inconvenient vulnerability.
Library Journal called it “a haunting, action-packed political fantasy with a doomed romance at its center.” The trials are brutal, the betrayals cut deep, and the romance is that delicious slow-burn variety where allies become friends become something far more dangerous. Readers describe it as Hunger Games meets fae courts, and they are not wrong.
Zodiac Academy by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti
Twin sisters Tory and Darcy Vega believed themselves ordinary until a stranger whisked them away to the Zodiac Academy—a cutthroat school where only the strongest survive. This is no gentle magical education; it is Hogwarts if Hogwarts had teeth and wasn’t afraid to use them.
The series spans twelve books of enemies-to-lovers tension, fae politics, and bully romance that somehow transforms into something far more tender. Darcy is the quieter romantic; Tory refuses to take nonsense from anyone. The Heirs who torment them—particularly one Darius, described as “the kind of grump you want to be sunshine for”—become entangled in their fates in the most deliciously complicated ways.
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Penellaphe Balfour has spent her entire existence as the Maiden—chosen, veiled, untouchable. Then Hawke Flynn arrives as her guard, all golden eyes and sardonic wit, and everything Poppy believed about her destiny begins to crumble like ancient stone.
This Goodreads Choice Awards winner for Best Romance (2020) earned its accolades through phenomenal world-building and dialogue that shifts effortlessly between humor and heartache. The chemistry between Poppy and Hawke crackles on every page, and the plot twists—though some readers spot them early—deliver gut punches nonetheless. Fair warning: this tale runs deliciously spicy.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Jude Duarte was seven years old when murder stole her parents and faeries stole her away to the treacherous High Court. Ten years hence, she desires nothing more than to belong in this world of immortal cruelty—though Prince Cardan, youngest and most wicked son of the High King, has dedicated himself to ensuring she never shall.
What unfolds is enemies-to-lovers at its most exquisite. Cardan is cruel, yes, but also wonderfully misunderstood, and watching Jude match his cruelty with cunning creates tension enough to fuel three magnificent books. Their romance is slow-burn perfection, requiring the full trilogy to appreciate its devastating evolution.
Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
When Emilia’s twin sister Vittoria is murdered by dark forces, Emilia strikes a bargain with Wrath—one of the seven princes of Hell—to hunt the killer. He is arrogant, snappy, and delightfully infuriating. She is determined, reckless, and unwilling to be intimidated.
Their dynamic recalls Jude and Cardan, with witty banter, slow-burn tension, and a rich Italian setting complete with witches, demons, and family recipes. Booklist praised the “propulsive story” threading together food, family, magic, and romance. If you enjoyed 2015-era romantasy, this delivers exactly that nostalgic yet fresh delight.
Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater
Since a faerie stole half her soul in childhood, Theodora Ettings experiences neither fear nor embarrassment—conditions making her rather prone to accidental scandal during the London Season. Enter Lord Sorcier, the grumpiest sorcerer in service to the King, who is harsh, insulting, and utterly fascinating.
Described as “Bridgerton meets Howl’s Moving Castle,” this Regency fantasy offers neurodivergent representation wrapped in cozy magic and low-stakes charm. Elias and Dora serve the grumpy-sunshine trope magnificently, and watching him soften while she remains gloriously unflappable is pure delight. The romance is sweet, closed-door, and perfect for readers seeking tender-hearted tales.
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
Elspeth Spindle survived a mysterious fever that left her with dangerous magic and an ancient spirit lurking in her mind. In Blunder, such survival marks one for death, so Elspeth hides—until she becomes entangled in a perilous quest involving Providence Cards and a brooding love interest named Ravyn.
This BookTok sensation earned its acclaim through gorgeous gothic atmosphere, an original magic system, and writing described as “beautiful in parts.” The romance leans enemies-to-lovers with satisfying slow-burn development. One reader expected a four-star experience and discovered instead an easy five-star devotion.
Bonded by Thorns by Elizabeth Helen
Rosalina O’Connell is a bookworm trapped in poverty while her father searches obsessively for the fae lands where her mother vanished. When Rosie stumbles into a realm of cursed princes—four beastly fae who transform into wolves each night—she discovers a Beauty and the Beast retelling with significantly more princes.
This Sunday Times bestseller offers why-choose romance with delicious spice, fae politics, and one particularly grumpy prince named Kel who refuses Rosie’s help at every turn while clearly falling for her regardless. Readers devoured it in single sittings, praising its pacing and enchanting descriptions of the fae world.
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Meghan Chase discovers on her sixteenth birthday that her father is none other than the Summer King of Faerie. Thus begins a journey through treacherous fae courts where she encounters Prince Ash—gorgeous, cold, and determined to fulfill his duties to Winter regardless of inconvenient feelings.
This beloved series launched over a decade ago and remains a cornerstone of fae romance. Ash is the quintessential grumpy prince, and watching him warm toward half-human Meghan satisfies that primal need for brooding heroes undone by love. The world-building blends faerie mythology with modern settings in ways that feel fresh even now.
The Witch Collector by Charissa Weaks
Raina Bloodgood cannot speak but communicates through her own sign language—and she has nurtured years of fury toward the Witch Collector who stole her sister. When circumstances force Raina and Alexus (the Collector himself) to become reluctant allies, their journey becomes one of enemies-to-lovers perfection.
Award-winning author Juliet Marillier praised its complex magic, intriguing protagonist, and powerful romance. The magic system is wonderfully creative, and Raina’s fierce determination despite her disability makes her a heroine worth cheering for. This Best of BookTok selection scratches that ACOTAR itch while offering something entirely its own.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, not the brutal dragon-riding war college where only the strongest survive. Yet survive she must, despite her chronic condition making her body fragile—and despite Xaden Riorson, the ruthless wingleader with excellent reasons to want her dead.
This phenomenon offers everything romantasy readers crave: drama, betrayal, forbidden romance, and dragons. But the truly delightful grumpy-sunshine dynamic exists between Violet and her dragons—Tairn, the “grumpy dad dragon,” and Andarna, the sunshine princess. Their bond hits differently, readers insist, and they are absolutely correct.
Finding Your Perfect Grumpy Sunshine Match
For those seeking closed-door sweetness, Half a Soul and Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries offer cozy enchantment without explicit content. Should spicier adventures call to you, From Blood and Ash, Bonded by Thorns, and Fourth Wing deliver heat alongside their fantasy.
Fans of dark academia shall find kindred spirits in One Dark Window and Emily Wilde, while those craving deadly competitions should devour The Serpent and the Wings of Night and Fourth Wing. For fae court politics most intricate, The Cruel Prince and Zodiac Academy reign supreme.
Whatever your heart desires—brooding warriors, reluctant mentors, cursed princes, or dragon riders—this collection offers passage into worlds where sunshine always finds a way to illuminate even the grumpiest of souls. Happy reading, dear adventurer, and may you discover within these pages the magic you seek.
