25 Best Romantasy Books That You Should Pick Up Next

A captivating story unfolds in this novel by Holly Black. It's about a girl named Jude who, along with her two sisters, was taken to live in the High Court of Faerie when she was seven. Ten years later, Jude still wants to belong there, even though she is human. But the fey, especially Prince Cardan, don't like humans. To earn a place in the court, Jude has no choice but to defy Cardan and face the consequences. The Cruel Prince is a remarkable first book, part of the Folk of the Air trilogy, and had everything I ever wanted from a fantasy enemies-to-lovers book. 

Goodreads rating: 4/5

Author: Holly Black

Published year: 2018

Number of pages: 400

Trope: Enemies-to-lovers

If action-packed stories with a supernatural twist are your vibe, then you will love this bestseller by Carissa Broadbent. It follows Oraya, a princess who allies with a mysterious rival named Raihn during a legendary tournament called the Kejari. It creates a dark and intricate world that you'll absolutely adore and kinkily want to be a part of. With this book, you are signing up for romance, dark magic, and intrigue with undertones of heartbreak. It is a slow-burning romance which is mildly spicy. It is the first instalment, part of the Crowns of Nyaxia novel series, and the first of a duology called the Nightborn Duet.

Goodreads rating: 4.3/5

Author: Carissa Broadbent

Published year: 2022

Number of pages: 464

Trope: Enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity

Type 'romantasy' and this book will be splashed on your screen. Its ambivalent presence in recommendations is not why we are also recommending it, though. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, the Goodreads 2024 winner for the best romantasy book, features compelling characters, romance, and adventure. The story follows Violet Sorrengail, who was meant to have a quiet life with books, but instead is ordered by her general mother to become a dragon rider. Now, Violet has to work her way to the top and face her powerful and ruthless enemy, Xaden Rioson. The book explores themes of strength, knowledge, trust, and love. It will definitely leave you feeling deeply immersed in the world created, and will give you access to the online cult following of The Empyrean trilogy that this book is a part of. 

Goodreads rating: 4.6/5

Author: Rebecca Yarros

Published year: 2023

Number of pages: 512

Trope: Enemies-to-lovers, forbidden romance

Chloe Gong, the author of These Violent Delights, has a fairly new book called Immortal Longings. The story is an adult fantasy inspired by Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. It follows Calla Tuoleimi, who is hiding after her parents were killed, and the palace of Er was left empty five years ago. She meets Anton Makusa, who was exiled from the palace, and together with the new king's adopted son, August Kasa, they decide to team up to win a set of games for unimaginable riches. This is a fierce and twisty tale that will keep you guessing. Romance, politics, and power intertwine in this book full of bloodshed and betrayal. 

Goodreads rating: 3.5/5

Author: Chloe Gong

Published year: 2023

Number of pages: 384

Trope: Tragedy

This captivating and thrilling story by popular author Jennifer L. Armentrout follows Poppy, an important member of the royal court. Poppy has always been destined to be ‘The Maiden,’ and the future of the entire kingdom depends on her, but she's not sure if she wants this responsibility. As she gets ready for Ascension, a guard named Hawke with golden eyes comes into her life, and soon destiny becomes intertwined with duty and desire. It's an exciting adventure involving vengeance, love, and destiny in another world. Full of bravery, suspense, loyalty, curiosity, vengeance, and friendship, you will fall in love with the detailed world the author has built. There are also some familiar fantasy creatures you will learn more about. Some parts of the plot are easy to predict, but the book is a satisfying read. Heads up, this is the first book in a series of six books, so if you get addicted to this one, you have a long way to go, thankfully! 

Goodreads rating: 4.2/5

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Published year: 2020

Number of pages: 496

Trope: Enemies-to-lovers, forbidden romance

Sarah J. Maas is known for blending fantasy and romance in her books and is often referred to as the queen of Romantasy. This is her debut novel that shot her to fame. This book follows the story of 19-year-old huntress Feyre, who is kidnapped and taken to a magical land after she kills a wolf to feed her family. Her captor, Tamlin, is a powerful faerie. Throughout the story, Feyre begins to see Tamlin as more than a monster, but something still feels wrong in this enchanted place. The book unfolds slowly, but you will love how the writing creates vivid scenes in your mind. And yes, it is part of a long-running series that has seven books in it, so you get to read to your content! 

Goodreads rating: 4.2/5

Author: Sarah. J Maas

Published year: 2015

Number of pages: 448

Trope: Enemies-to-lovers

Transport yourself to the magical island of Lightlark in this captivating saga. Every 100 years, Lightlark hosts the Centennial, a game played by the rulers of the six realms, aiming to break the curses that plague their lands. Isla Crown, the young ruler of Wildling, is relied upon by her people to end their sufferings. This is a touching fantasy story filled with secrets, deception, surprises, and true love. From the beginning, each chapter leaves you longing for more and yearning to build your emotional connections with the characters. The relationships, although fantasy, are so realistic and relatable, you will shed tears for them. This is the first book of the The Lightlark Saga trilogy. 

Goodreads rating: 3.8/5

Author:  Alex Aster

Published year: 2022

Number of pages: 448

Trope: Enemies-to-lovers, love triangle, chosen one

In the Elven lands, two Elven sisters go on a long journey in this exciting book by Saara El-Arifi. Due to a serious mistake, Yeeran is forced to leave the Elven Lands, and her sister, Lettle, goes with her into the wilderness. They soon encounter the Fae court, which hasn’t been seen for a thousand years. Now, as they are drawn into the alluring Fae kingdom, the sisters will have to do everything they can to find their way back home. It is an engaging story, with an excellent writing style and a unique magic system. The book includes war, politics, love, betrayal, hidden meanings, prophecies, and characters with a god complex, so annoying you'll be intrigued to give them a chance too. 

Goodreads rating: 3.5/5

Author: Saara El-Arifi

Published year: 2024

Number of pages: 400

Trope: Enemies-to-lovers

When Inez's parents pass away, she inherits their large fortune and a mysterious guardian. In search of answers, she travels to Cairo with a golden ring her father had sent her. As she arrives, the magic connected to the ring helps her uncover secrets and the truth about her parents' disappearance. This book is the first in a series called The Secrets of the Nile. You will be impressed by the vivid descriptions of the settings and grow attached to Inez in no time. 

Goodreads rating: 3.8/5

Author: Isabel Ibañez

Published year: 2023

Number of pages: 416

Trope: Rivals-to-lovers

A Song Of Wraiths And Ruin is a popular fantasy book inspired by West African folklore. The story follows Malik, who wants to win a festival competition to start a new life for himself and his sisters. However, his plans change when his sister is taken by a spirit. He is forced to make a deal: he must kill Karina, the Crown Princess of Ziran, to free his sister. But Karina also has her own plans. The book ticks all the boxes for mystery, humour, action, and immersive world-building. It is the first in a duology by the author. 

Goodreads rating: 3.9/5

Author: Roseanne A. Brown

Published year: 2020

Number of pages: 466

Trope: Enemies-to-lovers, fated to kill

Kerri Maniscalco's Kingdom of the Wicked is the story of Emilia and her twin sister, who are witches living in Sicily. When her sister is found dead, Emilia is determined to find the killer. Along the way, she meets Wrath, one of the princes of Hell, and is unsure whether she can trust him. The book is a fast read and has a lot of exciting elements, like demons, witches, and other supernatural creatures. The book can be polarising and has a slow plot, but it is one of those reads that will tip you into the fantasy genre more. 

Goodreads rating: 3.9/5

Author: Kerri Maniscalco

Published year: 2020

Number of pages: 448

Trope: Enemies-to-lovers, slow burn romance

This Scarlett St. Clair's romantasy novel blends steamy romance with danger and thrills. Isolde de Lara is forced to marry her enemy, vampire king Adrian Aleksandr Vasiliev, to end a long-lasting war. Isolde plans to kill him, but when things don't go as expected, Adrian threatens to turn her into a vampire. Isolde must now navigate lies, rebellion, and survival amid an unexpected attraction. This is the first book of a trilogy and is a steamy pick. It blends all the different romance tropes in different degrees, like forced proximity, arranged marriage, and enemies-to-lovers. 

Goodreads rating: 3.7/5

Author: Scarlett St.Clair

Published year: 2021

Number of pages: 400

Trope: Enemies-to-lovers, arranged marriage 

Caraval is a world of its own. Stephanie Garber goes out of her way to make this spell-casting fantasy book become a steady obsession amongst romantasy readers. For a lot of people I know, Caraval is the first fantasy book they read, and it helped them ease into the romantasy genre. The story follows Scarlett and Tella, who have not left their island ever. Scarlett dreams of going to Caraval, an annual festival where the audiences are the participants. Their cruel father forces Scarlett into an arranged marriage, and she believes her Caraval dreams are over. But by some miracle, she reaches the festival with her sister and realises, everything is not as it seems. Tella is kidnapped by the organiser Legend, and this year's festival is all about the participants finding Tella, failing which Scarlett may never see her sister again! This is the first of a trilogy, and is a book that captures love (the tension between Scarlett and Julian will have you racing thro0ugh pages), anger, and competition in the finest.

Goodreads rating: 4/5

Author: Stephanie Garber

Published year: 2016

Number of pages: 416

Trope: Found family, star-crossed romance, reluctant heroes

This book follows Evangeline Fox, who makes a deal with the Prince of Hearts, Jacks, to stop her lover, Luc, from marrying her stepsister Marisol. The deal involves three kisses, each with dire consequences. Jacks and Evangeline embark on a journey to the Magnificent North, uncover hurdles, and grapple with the domino effect of their deal. The book also captures the angst and romantic tension between Evangeline and Jacks, and also features a love triangle involving Prince Apollo. As somebody who hates love triangles, a lot of my reader friends did not mind this trope as it did not overdo it. They also loved the audiobook version of the book. Heads up, you might have to read Caraval before this one! 

Goodreads rating: 4.1/5

Author: Stephanie Garber

Published year: 2021

Number of pages: 400

Trope: Enemies-to-lovers, fated love, and morally gray love interests

Divine Rivals, winner of the Goodreads Choice Award 2023, is a heartbreaking book (don't say we didn't warn you), and a number of my friends picked it up to get out of a reading slump after Fourth Wing crushed them. It is a historical romantasy featuring Iris and Roman, who compete for a position at the local newspaper, Oath Gazette. This comes on the back of Iris's brother going missing after he was forced to fight on the frontline for the Gods. She keeps writing her brother letters, but they fall into Roman's hands. Set in the backdrop of a mystical war, with magical typewriters in tow, they form an unlikely connection to find her brother, and in the process, fall for each other. It is part of a duology by the author. Sweet romance read with a brutal cliffhanger? Yes. 

Goodreads rating: 4.2/5

Author: Rebecca Ross

Published year: 2023

Number of pages: 368

Trope: Enemies-to-lovers

This trilogy has had Bookstagram reeling for a while now. It's the debut novel of Lauren Roberts, who captures the 'who did this to you' boy and 'why do you care' girl trope very well. It follows the kingdom of Ilya, where the people are divided into Elites (who have different superpowers) and Ordinaries (who are powerless). A plague divides the kingdom and banishes the Ordinaries because they were rumoured to lessen the Elite's magic. It captures the romance between Paedyn Gray (an Ordinary) and Kai Azer (an Elite). Paedyn robs Kai while visiting town, and Kai is smitten by Paedyn's courage, despite being 'powerless.' What follows is an angsty, slow-burning romance that at times can feel draggy. The ending was predictable, but this book is something you pick for the feelings and not the plot. 

Goodreads rating: 4.2/5

Author: Lauren Roberts

Published year: 2023

Number of pages: 528

Trope: Mutual romance, angsty 'who did this to you?' 

Le Cirque des Rêves, or The Night Circus, is a black-white striped tent that appears without any announcements. Behind the curtains is a battle like no other, where Celia and Marco, two magicians who have learnt magic together since childhood, battle it out, and unbeknownst to them, only the winner shall survive. Celia and Marco fall for each other, but will love be enough to help both of them survive? This book is told in POVs, so you will love knowing what different characters feel by actually living in their shoes. Sure, it gets confusing at times, but once you finish the book, you'll realise these are the parts that mattered the most to help you remember the story. 

Goodreads rating: 4/5

Author: Erin Morgenstern

Published year: 2011

Number of pages: 512

Trope: Forbidden love, star-crossed lovers

Based on the legend of the moon goddess Chang in Chinese mythology, the story follows Xingyin, who lives on the moon alone, unaware that she was being hidden from the Celestial Emperor, who had banished her mother for stealing his elixir. But when Xingyin's magic blooms, her existence puts her in trouble, so she flees the moon and enters the Celestial Kingdom to free her mother. Disguising her identity, she works alongside the king's son and falls for the prince, while mastering archery and magic. This story is the first of a duology by the author and is an enchanting book that takes you on a wild love triangle while inspiring you with the MC's struggles for freedom. The love triangle doesn't drag its course and is bearable, thanks to the author's immersive world-building. 

Goodreads rating: 4.1/5

Author: Sue Lynn Tan

Published year: 2022

Number of pages: 528

Trope: Quest for freedom, love triangle

This book is a strong contender for the romantasy book of 2025, and we are not complaining. This vibes? Like The Cruel Prince meets The Selection. This book follows a bargain in England, where everyone is offered one bargain with the Fae queen. The high society ladies are expected to bargain for skills that will fetch them a suitor: a talent for playing piano in exchange for their fondest childhood memory, or a perfect smile in exchange for their ability to taste. The bargains are cruel and incredulous. Until Ivy Benton debuts her season with an evil bargain: a competition to secure the heart of the Queen’s fae son, Prince Bram. The union could help her family monetarily and reverse the bargain that destroyed her sister, but what happens when feelings get in the way? This is a YA book you absolutely will race through and await the second book for. Fans of Stephanie Garber and Holly Black will love this one! 

Goodreads rating: 4/5

Author: Sasha Peyton Smith

Published year: 2025

Number of pages: 400

Trope: Forbidden romance, one room only

This book is addictive, in all caps. You'll be glued to each page through the night. The story follows a siren, Callypso Lillis, who has a black beaded bracelet up her wrist to keep count of the favours she has received from the Bargainer. But everyone knows the Bargainer always collects, but he hasn't asked anything from Callie... until now.  The Bargainer and Callie have a connection, a subtle twinkle in the eye, a bated breath, but this book goes beyond this sexual tension. The Bargainer knows things are changing in the Otherworld. Fae women are disappearing and are being returned dead in a glass casket with babies clutched to their chest. Can the Bargainer and Callie solve the mystery and save the Otherworld? 

Goodreads rating: 3.9/5

Author: Laura Thalassa

Published year: 2016

Number of pages: 400

Trope: Fated-mates, enemies-to-lovers

This book might remind you a little of Acotar, given that it follows the 'god playing with mortals' trope heavily. If you don't want too much romance or spice but still want fantasy with undertones of love, then this is the perfect pick for you. In this book, every century later, a new Olympian god takes the throne of Olympus. This year, Hadus nominates Lyra, a girl cursed by Zeus. The book follows the contest and captures the adorable, slow-burning romance between Hadus and Zeus. If you love Greek mythology and The Hunger Games, this is an immediate pick for you. 

Goodreads rating: 4.1/5

Author: Abigail Owen

Published year: 2024

Number of pages: 592

Trope: Enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity

This book is name-dropped on every Reddit thread and discussion forum, but if they are not enough to convince you, you should pick it up and read a bit before you get completely hooked on it. It follows Raeven, an assassin for a rebel group, who gets caught as a pawn for the Guild of Nobles. Enter, Kaan Vaegor, who wants to ease his past trauma and pain by collecting moon shards to tear him. Their worlds intertwine, and they must each find out how to save themselves while confronting their traumas. This is a world of dragons, magic, and where the moons hatch and fall to the Earth. 

Goodreads rating: 4/5

Author: Sarah A. Parker

Published year: 2024

Number of pages: 576

Trope: Enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, star-crossed lovers

This trilogy is much-acclaimed for its world building and is one of those few romantasy books with Middle Eastern influences. A lot of my friends DNFed this quite a few times, but the more they kept reading, the less they wanted to quit, either. The first book, City of Brass, is somewhat slow, but it picks up pace from the second book. Set in the streets of 18th-century Cairo, the books start with Nahri, who has a superpower and accidentally summons a djinn warrior who tells her the story of Daevabad, the city of brass, to which Nahri is bound. And when Nahri finds herself transported to the city, she realises there's more to it than meets the eye. It's the kind of trilogy that makes you feel gutted because you have to say goodbye to the characters and get out of this world. 

Goodreads rating: 4/5

Author: S. A. Chakraborty

Published year: 2017 to 2020

Number of books: 3. The City of Brass, The Kingdom of Copper, The Empire of Gold

Trope: Friends-to-lovers

This is the first in a series of six books that have all made my friends happily cry. This book blends political intrigue with slow-burning romance. She is the Sultanate's heir, and he is an unwanted, powerful prince. The book gently glides through a lush fantasy world, with bits of Middle Eastern influence. If you have loved romance or fantasy separately and want to give romantasy a fair read, this is the book to begin with. Let me hold your hand as I say this, some of the quotes will have you sobbing, feeling as if somebody peered into your soul. Naime and Makram have a beautiful romance that is kindled by political wantings, with two kingdoms coming together. The author has been a military officer and spent time in Beirut, so a lot of that experience also gets transferred to the FMC, who you'll adore. 

Goodreads rating: 4.2/5

Author: J.D. Evans

Published year: 2020

Number of pages: 414

Trope: Slow burn, enemies-to-lovers

The story follows Halla, who comes into some unexpected inheritance from her dead uncle. But money-hungry family wants to take her share away: relatable, yes. While rummaging through her room and head for ideas, Halla accidentally removes an age-old sword from its sheath and then emerges Sarkis, an immortal warrior trapped in a prison of enchanted steel. Sarkis protects Halla from her family, other outwardly magical and demonic forces, and ends up falling for her. They both grow closer, but unbeknownst to them, the sword has its own magical powers, too. Will Sarkis ever be free to be with Halla?

Goodreads rating: 4.1/5

Author: T. Kingfisher

Published year: 2018

Number of pages: 448

Trope: Reluctant hero, forced proximity