There exists, we have come to believe, a second star to the right in the literary firmament — a luminous place where romance and fantasy intertwine so thoroughly that one cannot say where the enchantment ends and the longing begins. They call it romantasy, and if you have arrived here seeking passage, we are delighted to serve as your guides.
We have assembled twenty-eight books that represent the finest the genre offers — beloved favourites that have earned their place in the canon alongside dazzling newcomers arriving in 2026. Whether you crave enemies whispering dangerous vows across a battlefield or gentle souls falling in love over enchanted jam, there is something here that shall claim your heart entirely.
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
The book that launched a thousand reading obsessions, and rightly so. When huntress Feyre kills a wolf that turns out to be an immortal fae, she is dragged into the glittering, treacherous realm of Prythian by a beast-like High Lord named Tamlin. What begins as a Beauty and the Beast retelling unfurls into something far grander — a sweeping saga of faerie courts, ancient curses, and a heroine who refuses to remain a pawn. The romance evolves magnificently across the series, shifting and deepening in ways we shan’t spoil. If you have not yet visited Prythian, consider this your formal invitation.
2. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
The book that made “romantasy” a household word. Violet Sorrengail was meant to be a quiet scribe, but her formidable mother forces her into Basgiath War College to bond with a dragon or die trying. She is smaller and frailer than her rivals, and the brooding squad leader Xaden Riorson has every reason to want her dead. Violet survives not through brute strength but through wit, strategy, and a stubborn refusal to be underestimated. The dragon-bonding lore is magnificent, the military academy setting is relentless, and the enemies-to-lovers tension could set stone alight.
3. From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Penellaphe is the Maiden — chosen, isolated, forbidden to be touched or seen. Her life is ritual and silence until a charismatic new guard named Hawke Flynn shatters every rule she has ever known. Armentrout masterfully blends high fantasy world-building with the breathless pacing of paranormal romance, and the twists woven through this story will leave you gasping. We shall say nothing more, except that you should trust nothing, question everything, and hold on tight.
4. The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
Oraya is a human raised by the Nightborn vampire king — the only mortal in a world of predators. To prove her worth, she enters the Kejari, a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death herself, where only one contestant survives. Her reluctant alliance with Raihn, a mysterious vampire competitor, deepens into something far more dangerous than any trial. Often described as vampires meeting The Hunger Games, this book delivers a romance forged in genuine peril, where every kiss feels stolen from the jaws of death.
5. The Lion and the Deathless Dark by Carissa Broadbent
We return to Broadbent’s Crowns of Nyaxia universe for this 2026 release, and what a return it is. Under an eternal night, bounty hunter Kyrene strikes a desperate deal with Septimus, a silver-tongued vampire prince: together, they will hunt and slay the gods themselves. The scale is epic, the enemies-to-lovers tension is exquisite, and Broadbent remains one of the genre’s finest architects of emotional devastation. This functions as a new entry point to her world, so newcomers may leap in fearlessly.
6. Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli
A gender-swapped Scarlet Pimpernel drenched in romantic tension. By day, Rune Winters plays the vapid socialite among witch-hating elites. By night, she is the Crimson Moth, smuggling hunted witches to safety. When she decides to get close to Gideon Sharpe — the republic’s most relentless witch hunter — she pretends to court him. He, suspecting her secret, pretends to court her right back. Both are lying. Both are falling. The dual-deception structure creates the most delicious dramatic irony we have encountered in years.
7. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Jude Duarte is a mortal young woman in an immortal court, and she is magnificent. Stolen as a child and raised among the treacherous fae of Elfhame, Jude has no magic, no supernatural gifts — only cunning, ambition, and an iron will. Her entanglement with the cruel Prince Cardan is less a romance and more an obsession, built on hate, political scheming, and a tension so thick you could drown in it. Black writes faerie politics with genuine intricacy, and the slow-burn payoff across the trilogy is extraordinary.
8. One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
In the fog-shrouded kingdom of Blunder, magic comes only through Providence Cards — and each exacts a terrible price. Elspeth Spindle shares her mind with an ancient entity called the Nightmare, and when she joins a treasonous quest alongside the masked highwayman Ravyn, the result is dark, lyrical, and utterly bewitching. The magic system is one of the most inventive we have encountered: a card that shows the future but renders you powerless to change it, a card that heals but steals your memories. Gothic, atmospheric, and achingly romantic.
9. The Knave and the Moon by Rachel Gillig
Gillig earns a second place on our list with this 2026 conclusion to The Stonewater Kingdom duology. Sybil Delling is held captive by a cruel king, and her only hope arrives in the form of a nameless knave with no memory who rises through tournament after tournament. The gothic atmosphere is drenched in rain and prophecy, the yearning is almost unbearable, and Gillig has cemented herself as the reigning queen of gothic romantasy. Read The Knight and the Moth first — you will devour both in a single weekend.
10. The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen
Princess Lara has trained her entire life for one purpose: to destroy the Bridge Kingdom from within. Sent as a bride to King Aren under a false peace treaty, she is fully prepared to betray him. But as she comes to understand the people she was sent to destroy — and develops fierce feelings for her new husband — she faces an impossible choice. The dual-POV structure is masterful, letting us watch Lara’s deception and Aren’s growing trust simultaneously. The ache of it is exquisite.
11. A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair
Persephone is living as a mortal college student in modern-day New Athens when she unwittingly enters a binding agreement with Hades himself during a card game at his nightclub. She must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom. This Hades and Persephone retelling transplants Greek mythology into a sleek contemporary setting, and the tension between Persephone’s fierce independence and the inexorable pull of the god of the dead is intoxicating. A self-published phenomenon that became a bestselling sensation for excellent reason.
12. Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa
Seven years ago, a mysterious figure called the Bargainer gave Callypso Lillis favours in her darkest hour. Now each favour is a bead on her wrist, and the Bargainer — who happens to be the devastatingly attractive King of the Night — has returned to collect. The dual-timeline structure, alternating between their charged past and a present-day mystery of vanishing fae warriors, gives this second-chance romance extraordinary emotional depth. The bargain-bead mechanic is a stroke of genius — a tangible measure of power shifting between two people who never stopped wanting each other.
13. Quicksilver by Callie Hart
Saeris Fane is a thief surviving in a harsh desert realm when she discovers an enchanted gauntlet that opens a portal to Yvelia, a frozen Fae kingdom long thought to be legend. Through an accidental magical oath, she binds herself to Kingfisher, a Fae warrior, and the enemies-to-lovers tension that follows is blistering. The unique magic system built around a sentient substance called Quicksilver, the vivid contrast between scorching desert and icy fae kingdom, and Hart’s razor-sharp banter made this an instant bestseller and BookTok phenomenon.
14. The Wolf and the Crown of Blood by Elizabeth May
One of 2026’s most anticipated releases dropped on January 27, and the anticipation is earned. In a kingdom where monarchs are ritually sacrificed and resurrected to appease the gods, an immortal assassin known as the Wolf is sent to destroy a sacrificial princess — and finds he cannot. The gothic atmosphere is thick as velvet, and the enemies-to-lovers dynamic carries genuinely cosmic stakes. Dark, sumptuous, and utterly consuming.
15. These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan
When Brie’s sister is sold to the Unseelie King, Brie will do anything to get her back — including infiltrating the golden Seelie Court while posing as a potential bride for Prince Ronan. Caught between two courts and two devastatingly attractive fae princes, Brie must navigate a world built entirely on deception. The love triangle here is genuinely well-constructed, with both romantic interests compelling enough to divide readers into passionate camps. Fans of fae court intrigue and romantic agony, this one is for you.
16. Belladonna by Adalyn Grace
Equal parts Gothic mystery, murder investigation, and dark romance. Orphan Signa Farrow arrives at the gloomy Thorn Grove estate to find a family haunted by a recent death and a daughter slowly dying of a mysterious illness. To solve the murder, Signa must commune with Death himself — by ingesting the poisonous belladonna flower. Death, personified as a brooding and fully realized romantic interest, gives this love story genuinely unique stakes. The Victorian atmosphere is lush, the mystery is propulsive, and the romance is unlike anything else in the genre.
17. King of Ravens by Clare Sager
A darkly seductive Hades and Persephone retelling featuring something rare in romantasy: a thirty-three-year-old heroine with chronic illness. Rhiannon’s quiet life is shattered when Drystan, the fae King of the Dead, offers a brutal choice — descend to the underworld as his bride, or watch her family perish. The representation is refreshing, the unseelie court is richly atmospheric, and the enemies-to-lovers tension simmers with dangerous promise. This 2026 release launches a duology that ends on a cliffhanger — you have been warned.
18. Daggerbound by T. Kingfisher
When scholar Learned Edmund unsheathes an ancient sword, instead of a blade he gets Dervish — an alarmingly handsome, furiously cranky immortal warrior who has been imprisoned in enchanted steel for centuries. Now magically bound to protect the sweet, brilliant Edmund from bandits, cultists, and dragons, the Dervish finds it considerably harder to protect his own heart. Kingfisher’s signature blend of warmth, sharp wit, and genuine emotional stakes makes this 2026 M/M romance an absolute treasure. Cozy fantasy at its most charming.
19. Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
When witch Emilia’s twin sister is found murdered on a Sicilian street, Emilia does the one thing her grandmother forbade above all others — she summons Wrath, one of the seven demon princes of Hell, and strikes a dangerous bargain to hunt the killer. Set against a lush backdrop of midnight markets, dark magic, and Sicilian folklore, the enemies-to-lovers tension between Emilia and the infuriatingly composed Wrath builds to an almost unbearable pitch. He is arrogant, secretive, and maddeningly unwilling to play by her rules. She is brilliant and completely unwilling to play by his. Wholly irresistible.
20. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
For readers who want their romantasy steeped in scholarly depth. Professor Diana Bishop has spent her life rejecting her witch heritage — until she calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in Oxford’s Bodleian Library and attracts the attention of every supernatural creature in existence, including the brooding, centuries-old vampire Matthew Clairmont. Harkness is herself a historian of science, and that authenticity saturates every page. This is romantasy for those who find rare manuscripts as seductive as forbidden romance — and here, you may have both.
21. The Book of Azrael by Amber V. Nicole
The female lead is unapologetically a villain — a powerful, monstrous shapeshifter with no damsel-in-distress energy whatsoever. The male lead is a tortured god who would watch the world burn. When these two enemies, whose species have warred for centuries, must work together to find a celestial artifact, the tension is explosive. Originally a viral BookTok sensation, this dark fantasy romance features seamless LGBTQ+ representation and a sprawling mythology of fallen kingdoms and warring gods. Not for the faint of heart, and all the better for it.
22. Blood Mercy by Vela Roth
A richly world-built high fantasy that treats its vampire-like Hesperines as a fully realized culture rather than simple monsters. Royal bastard Cassia meets Hesperine ambassador Lio during a tense diplomatic summit, and their forbidden connection across political lines builds with exceptional tenderness. The emphasis on emotional intimacy, consent, and genuine cultural exchange sets this apart from darker entries in the genre. The slow burn is glacial and absolutely worth every patient page.
23. Filthy Rich Fae by Geneva Lee
Imagine fae politics set against modern-day New Orleans, with a crime-family energy that makes it feel like ACOTAR meets a supernatural mafia thriller. When nurse Cate Holloway must bargain with Lachlan Gage — a devastatingly attractive fae prince running the city’s criminal underworld — to save her brother’s life, she is pulled into the Otherworld with only thirty days to break a dangerous curse. The dual-world structure, gritty New Orleans atmosphere, and morally grey hero make this an addictive, spice-filled ride.
24. A Court This Cruel and Lovely by Stacia Stark
In a world where the gods strip humans of magic at birth, anyone who retains their powers is publicly executed. Prisca has hidden her forbidden abilities her entire life — until she is exposed and must flee. Her desperate bargain with the mysterious, morally grey Lorian sends them on the road together, and the forced proximity does its inevitable, glorious work. The opening execution scene immediately establishes the stakes, and the pacing never relents. An excellent entry point for romance readers new to fantasy.
25. Songbird of the Sorrows by Braidee Otto
This 2024 debut (with a sequel in 2026) blends espionage with romantic longing. Princess Aella, raised by a covert spy network called the Aviary, is sent undercover to compete in deadly bridal trials in a foreign kingdom. Her team leader and former flame, Raven, complicates everything with their unresolved history. The spy-network premise gives this a distinctly thrilling flavour, and the layered world-building sets up an epic saga. Second-chance romance fans, take particular note.
26. Heir of Illusion by Madeline Taylor
Iverson Pomeroy possesses the power of illusion but is bound by an enchanted collar to a ruthless king who keeps her as assassin and captive. When a mysterious reaper named Thorne arrives seeking the same artifact that could free her, their unlikely alliance crackles with banter and yearning. The collar serves as a powerful symbol of control and the fight for autonomy, and the twists genuinely subvert expectations. A 2025 debut with wit, darkness, and a satisfying slow burn.
27. The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
For those who prefer their romantasy served with a cup of tea and a contented sigh. When revolution burns the Great Library, introverted librarian Kiela flees with armfuls of stolen spellbooks and her sentient spider plant assistant to a remote island. She opens a secret spellshop, grows enchanted berries for jam, and tries very hard to ignore the handsome neighbour who keeps building her bookshelves. There are winged kittens. There are merhorses. The stakes are gentle, the community is warm, and the friends-to-lovers romance is pure comfort.
28. Phantasma by Kaylie Smith
Ophelia Grimm inherits necromancer abilities and enters Phantasma — a deadly contest inside a haunted mansion — to save her missing sister. The nine trials are inspired by Dante’s Inferno, each more dangerous than the last, and the bargain she strikes with the enigmatic Phantom called Blackwell carries a devastating catch: falling in love inside Phantasma means being cursed. A gorgeously gothic New Orleans setting, a ghost cat companion, and own-voices OCD representation make this dark, propulsive, and wholly original.
How to Choose Your Next Romantasy Read
With twenty-eight books before you, the question becomes: where to begin? We offer this gentle guidance.
If you crave enemies-to-lovers intensity: Start with The Cruel Prince, Heartless Hunter, or The Wolf and the Crown of Blood. Each delivers the exquisite agony of wanting someone you should despise.
If you want epic world-building: A Court of Thorns and Roses, One Dark Window, and The Serpent and the Wings of Night offer fully realized fantasy worlds you can lose yourself in for weeks.
If you prefer cozy warmth: The Spellshop and Daggerbound prove that romantasy need not be dark to be deeply satisfying. Enchanted jam and cranky immortals await.
If you love a good mystery woven in: Belladonna and Phantasma blend romance with genuine puzzles that will keep you turning pages well past midnight.
If you are entirely new to romantasy: Fourth Wing, A Court This Cruel and Lovely, or From Blood and Ash offer accessible entry points with great hooks.
Whatever you choose, know this: the door to this genre, once opened, is remarkably difficult to close. We say this not as a warning, but as a promise.
