There exists in the world of books a most enchanting corner where magic and love dance together beneath moonlit skies, and this wondrous place is called romantasy. If you have never ventured there before, do not be afraid, for we shall introduce you to the very best doors through which to enter.
Romantasy, you see, is rather like finding a secret garden where fantasy blooms alongside romance, and neither flower overshadows the other. For those who have longed for adventure but feared the overwhelming wilds of pure fantasy, or who have adored love stories but craved something more extraordinary—these books shall prove the most delightful companions.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Many a reader’s journey into romantasy begins precisely here, and there is good reason for it. This tale follows young Feyre, a huntress who kills a wolf that turns out to be rather more than it appeared—a faerie in disguise. Whisked away to the magical realm of Prythian as punishment, she discovers that captivity has a curious way of transforming into something far more complicated.
The story is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, though with considerably more magic and rather more passion than the old tale ever dared. Sarah J. Maas crafts a slow-burn romance that builds with delicious patience, while the fantasy elements remain accessible enough that no reader need fear getting lost. It is, quite simply, the gateway that has led millions into the genre’s embrace.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Now here is a book that arrived like a dragon upon the literary world and set everything ablaze in the most wonderful way. Violet Sorrengail was meant to become a scribe, spending her days among dusty tomes and quiet corridors. Instead, her formidable mother—a general, no less—orders her to the Basgiath War College to become a dragon rider.
The trouble is that dragons are particular creatures, and they prefer to incinerate fragile humans rather than bond with them. Add to this the brooding and dangerous Xaden Riorson, whose father was executed by Violet’s own mother, and you have a tale of enemies-to-lovers that crackles with tension. The dragon academy setting provides familiar structure for newcomers, while the spicy romance builds with such intensity that readers find themselves quite unable to put it down.
The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen
For those who fancy their romance served alongside political intrigue and deception, this tale presents a most ingenious premise. Princess Lara has been trained since childhood for one purpose: to infiltrate the impenetrable Bridge Kingdom by marrying its king and destroying it from within.
What follows is a masterclass in the arranged marriage trope, as Lara and King Aren circle each other with suspicion while something far more tender threatens to bloom between them. Danielle L. Jensen builds the tension gradually, letting readers watch as preconceived notions shatter and enemies become something else entirely. The worldbuilding remains straightforward enough for beginners while offering genuine depth for those who crave it.
Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
Imagine, if you will, a witch who has forsaken her magic to hide among mortals, and a witch hunter devoted heart and soul to the church’s mission of burning her kind at the stake. Now imagine these two forced into marriage. This is the delightfully impossible situation in which Louise le Blanc and Reid Diggory find themselves.
Set in a world reminiscent of seventeenth-century France, where witches and the church wage a brutal war, this story brings together two people who should by all rights despise each other. The magic system proves accessible and intriguing, while the slow-burn romance between irreverent Lou and strait-laced Reid delivers both humor and heat. It is enemies-to-lovers at its finest.
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
This book possesses a quality rather like a beautiful letter one discovers in an old desk—it is tender, achingly romantic, and entirely unforgettable. Iris Winnow is a young journalist competing for a promotion against her cold and handsome rival, Roman Kitt. Unbeknownst to her, when she writes letters to her missing brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, they travel magically into Roman’s hands.
Set against a war between awakened gods, the story has the atmosphere of the Great War while remaining thoroughly fantastical. The epistolary romance, conducted through enchanted typewriters, builds with such sweetness that readers find themselves quite breathless. For those who prefer their romantasy more poetic than perilous, this is an absolute treasure.
Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson
Here we find a legendary thief named Kazi sent to investigate an outlaw dynasty, only to become entangled—literally and figuratively—with its new young leader, Jase Ballenger. The cat-and-mouse game that follows proves utterly captivating, as each tries to complete their secret mission while fighting their growing attraction.
Mary E. Pearson creates a world that feels accessible immediately, with clear stakes and characters who fairly leap from the page. The banter between Kazi and Jase sparkles with wit, and the romance develops naturally alongside the action. Though set in a larger universe, the book stands wonderfully alone for newcomers seeking adventure wrapped in romance.
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Poppy is the Maiden—chosen, sheltered, forbidden to be touched or even looked upon as she awaits her Ascension. Her life is solitude and duty until a golden-eyed guard named Hawke enters it and turns everything she believed quite upside down.
This tale unfolds in a medieval-inspired kingdom where nothing is quite what it seems, and the slow-burn romance between the forbidden Maiden and her dangerous guardian builds with exquisite tension. Jennifer L. Armentrout balances action, mystery, and passion with expert skill, creating a doorway into romantasy that has drawn countless readers into its embrace. The book rewards patience with revelations that leave one desperate for more.
A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair
The gods, it seems, have not finished with us mortals, and in this modern reimagining of Greek mythology, they walk among us still. Persephone, Goddess of Spring, has one rather embarrassing secret: flowers shrivel at her touch. When she sits down for a card game with the hypnotic Hades in his mortal nightclub, she finds herself bound by a contract with impossible terms.
Scarlett St. Clair transplants the ancient myth to a contemporary setting with delicious results. The romance between Persephone and Hades smolders from their very first encounter, while the mythology provides familiar anchoring for readers new to fantasy. It is a guilty pleasure of the highest order—fast-paced, steamy, and utterly irresistible.
A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova
Luella is a healer, content with her quiet life of herbs and remedies, grateful to have escaped the fate of previous generations of women taken from her village to serve as the Human Queen of the elves. Then the Elf King arrives—for her.
This standalone romance draws upon both the Hades and Persephone myth and Beauty and the Beast to craft something wholly enchanting. The forced marriage between the warm-hearted Luella and the cold but handsome Eldas unfolds with all the coziness of a fairy tale, while the magical realm of Midscape provides wonder without overwhelming complexity. It is perfect for readers who desire a complete, satisfying story without committing to a lengthy series.
How to Choose Your First Romantasy
Now that you have before you these nine doors into the enchanted realm, you may wonder which to open first. Consider what draws your heart most strongly. Do you crave dragons and danger? Fourth Wing awaits. Does forbidden love make your pulse quicken? From Blood and Ash shall satisfy. Perhaps you prefer your fantasy with a familiar mythological foundation—then A Touch of Darkness or A Deal with the Elf King shall serve splendidly.
The beautiful truth about romantasy is that it welcomes all who come seeking both adventure and affection. Each of these books has been chosen because it balances its fantasy and romance elements in ways that shall not overwhelm newcomers while still delivering the magic that makes this genre so beloved.
So step through whichever door calls to you most sweetly. The realm of romantasy has been waiting for you, and we do believe you shall find it quite impossible to leave.
