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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFantasy romance—often called romantasy—pairs speculative worlds or magic with a love story. There is no single required setting or tone: the books below range from fae courts and dragon-rider schools to mythology, historical mysteries, and cozy magic. This is an editorial shortlist, not an objective ranking: it brings together established, widely discussed titles and varied moods, tropes, and entry points. Series status is included only where it is established by the cited publisher pages. For a broader genre overview, see Penguin Books UK’s romantasy guide, Pan Macmillan’s recommendations, and the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Fantasy Romantic Novel Award.
What makes a fantasy romance book worth picking up?
Romantasy combines fantasy fiction with a love story, but the balance differs from book to book. Some recommendations below foreground romantic tension amid magic, politics, or danger; others are lighter or aimed at younger readers. The Romantic Novelists’ Association’s award category also encompasses romantic novels featuring science fiction, paranormal elements, magical realism, time travel, timeslip, or ghosts, so the label can cover more than one kind of fantasy setting.
Use the list as a mood and premise guide, not a promise that every title has the same level of romance or intimacy. Publisher descriptions are the basis for the specific hooks noted here. Penguin’s 7 April 2026 guide identifies the Daevabad and Folk of the Air series as complete; other series labels below are limited to what the cited recommendation pages establish.
The 18 best fantasy romance books
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
A familiar entry point for readers drawn to fae and romantic fantasy. Penguin Books UK calls it one of the biggest romantasy sensations, making it a natural anchor for a shortlist spanning the genre’s better-known territory. Penguin’s guide is organized around reader-facing tropes and settings.
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2. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Choose this for dragons, a competitive military-school premise, and high-stakes fantasy. Penguin likewise identifies it as a major romantasy sensation and highlights its dragon-rider setting. It is a strong fit if you want adventure and danger to share the page with romantic tension.
3. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
A lighter, more welcoming option among books with darker magic or lethal trials. Penguin recommends it as an introduction to romantasy, and its place on the list gives readers a change of pace from court intrigue and battlefield stakes.
4. The Daevabad Trilogy by S. A. Chakraborty
For readers who want an intricately built fantasy world and a series they can finish, Penguin identifies the Daevabad books as a complete trilogy. Its publisher recommendation supports the world-building and series-completion appeal; it does not establish that romance is as prominent here as in every other title on this list.
5. The Folk of the Air trilogy by Holly Black
Fae politics and a complete-series commitment make this a useful choice for readers who want to follow a story across multiple books. Penguin lists the trilogy as complete. Check the edition’s age-category information if you are choosing specifically for an adult or younger reader, since category and edition can vary.
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Viking-inspired fantasy, political betrothal, hidden magic, and complicated attraction shape this recommendation. Penguin’s guide also points readers to the sequel, A Curse Carved in Bone, so start here if you want a continuing story rather than a standalone.
7. Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald
This Persephone-and-Hades reimagining is a good pick for mythic romance and enemies-to-lovers tension. It also has a specific recognition attached: the Romantic Novelists’ Association named it the 2024 Fantasy Romantic Novel Award winner. That award is one notable signal, not a universal verdict on the genre’s best books.
Rank #3
8. The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
Vampire politics and a deadly competition bring danger to the center of this fantasy romance. Pan Macmillan recommends it for its enemies-to-lovers tension, making it a fit for readers who like attraction tested in a perilous contest.
9. Iron and Embers by Helen Scheuerer
An academy, deadly trials, and a bodyguard relationship provide the setup; Pan Macmillan highlights slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers tension. The same publisher page quotes author Penn Cole describing the book as “Fast-paced, gripping, and devastatingly romantic.” The quote is an attributed endorsement, rather than an independent comparative assessment.
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For a younger-reader angle, Penguin describes a teen protagonist in a divided Italian city, caught amid clan conflict, magic, and competing romantic possibilities. The YA audience and love-triangle element are central to its particular appeal; it is not simply an adult romantasy recommendation.
Rank #4
11. Silver Elite by Dani Francis
Penguin’s description pairs a dystopian military programme and hidden psychic powers with attraction between a recruit and her commanding officer. If audience category or relationship dynamics matter to your choice, check the publisher’s current title information for the edition you plan to read.
12. Riftborne by Bree Grenwich
Political intrigue, hidden powers, and romantic tension make this a choice for readers who want fantasy with a political thread. Penguin’s guide listed a sequel, Duskbound, for July 2026; because that date has passed, check the publisher’s current title page for its actual publication and availability status rather than relying on a scheduled release date.
13. Where the Dark Stands Still by A. B. Poranek
Choose this for folklore, a bargain in a magical forest, and found-family appeal. Penguin’s recommendation makes it a useful alternative to stories built around military academies or court politics.
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14. The Lady of the Lake by L. T. Shearer
A sapphic Arthurian retelling offers a queer-romance option grounded in mythic material. Penguin’s description identifies that combination directly, making this a clear pick for readers seeking both.
15. What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez
Historical Egypt, an archaeological mystery, and romantic tension give this book a different flavor from fae courts and dragon schools. Pick it if you want the adventure and setting of a historical mystery alongside the relationship thread.
16. The Curse of Saints by Kate Dramis
A queen’s spymaster and her rival investigate dark magic in this enemies-to-lovers fantasy. Penguin also flags chosen-one appeal, so it suits readers who want romance threaded through a magic-driven political or investigative plot.
17. The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten
Hachette includes this title in its romantasy series recommendations. That makes it a publisher-backed candidate for the genre, but the list alone does not establish every reader-facing detail, such as its precise tone, audience, or series context. Check the publisher’s title information to decide whether its premise suits you.
18. The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
Hachette includes this title on a list of standalone romantasy books, making it a useful choice if you want a single-book commitment rather than a series. Its listing establishes the standalone classification, but does not by itself specify the exact balance of fantasy and romance or the tone.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose your next romantasy
- For fae and courtly fantasy: start with A Court of Thorns and Roses or The Folk of the Air.
- For dragons and danger: try Fourth Wing; for a deadly contest with vampire politics, choose The Serpent and the Wings of Night.
- For myth and retellings: consider Girl, Goddess, Queen or the sapphic Arthurian The Lady of the Lake.
- For a lighter or folklore-led mood: look at The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches or Where the Dark Stands Still.
- For historical or political intrigue: try What the River Knows for an archaeological mystery, or The Curse of Saints for dark magic and a rival pairing.
- For a completed series: Penguin identifies both The Daevabad Trilogy and The Folk of the Air as complete. For other series or sequel status, check current publisher information.
Sources and availability
The recommendations draw on publisher guides from Penguin Books UK (7 April 2026), Pan Macmillan (20 February 2026), and Hachette Book Group and its Must Read Romantasy list, alongside the Romantic Novelists’ Association award page. They are recommendation sources, not comparative reviews of every fantasy romance book. Formats, editions, and retailer availability vary by title and market, so check the publisher or retailer for the specific edition you want.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
