In the fiction world, romantasy is all anyone can talk about at the moment. It’s the blending of romance and fantasy genres, with its signature “spicy” content (read: mature exploits between otherworldly beings) and out-of-this-world plot points.
TikTokkers buy these books en masse to review, like a beauty haul but with more rating of explicit sex scenes. There are even subscription boxes offered by a company called FairyLoot that will provide romantasy obsessives with direct deliveries of new novels to try out.
But that’s the romantasy loyalists, what about someone looking to get into the genre? Here, we break down the biggest and best books to try out for a first time romantasy reader looking to dip their toe into the magic pool. And lucky for you, if you enjoy your first book, nearly all of them have sequels, so you’ll be fed for months.
The ten best romantasy novels to test out:
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas
The queen of the genre is Sarah J Maas, and this is her magna carta. Following the sex-fuelled faerie lands of Prythian, there are currently six books in this series with more to come. The protagonist is “huntress” Feyre, who sets a wild series of events in motion after killing a seemingly unimportant wolf, and is taken hostage by a sexy captor.
2. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Another must-read entry point for the genre, and this one happens to be the highest rated on GoodReads. It focuses on the “brutal and elite” world of dragon riders and, yes, it’s the one with the lightning orgasms that you’ve probably already heard about.
3. Faebound by Saara-El Arifi
While romantasy can unlock magical, otherworldly lands, its protagonists are often reliably, depressingly white. For a more diverse offering, try Faebound by Saara-El Arifi, which follows Yeeran, an elven warrior who is exiled with her sister and must navigate the tricky politics of the elusive fae court. Described as “devastatingly romantic,” this series is not one to miss.
4. Lightlark by Alex Aster
Released in summer 2022 and already set to be a major motion picture, this is one of the more recent obsessions of romantasy BookTok. It takes place on Lightlark island, which hosts a deadly game called the Centennial every 100 years, offering six rulers a chance to break the “unique and wicked curses” that have plagued their realms.
5. The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
This book is the first in Broadbent’s Crowns of Nyaxia series, which follows Oraya, an adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king. Oraya forms a bond with ruthless vampire and competitor Raihn who, as in all good romantasy novels, she finds herself “oddly drawn to.”
6. From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Also part of a series, From Blood and Ash is all about Poppy, a “Maiden” who cannot be looked at or touched, and suddenly needs increased protection from supernatural attacks. A mysterious man named Hawke becomes her guard and, well, you get the gist.
7. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
If you’re buying for someone younger, not yourself, City of Bones is your safe entry point. This is the first of the Shadowhunters and The Mortal Instruments book series, which consists of six books, and it was also made into a movie starring Lily Collins and Jamie Campbell-Bower. It’s an older series, released in 2007, for a younger audience — there’s kissing and not much else. So if your 13-year-old niece is begging you for romantasy books, slip them this one to shut them up.
8. Lore & Lust by Karla Nicole
This is book one in a queer vampire romance series that centres around an elite purebred vampire, Haruka, who has given up on living. That is until he meets another vampire who changes everything. “Cautious, innocent and with the warmth and gravitational pull of the sun,” Haruka’s life is transformed.
9. The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle J. Jensen
This series is a classic of the genre. Lara, a princess trained from childhood to be a lethal spy, has only one thought on her wedding day: “I will bring my husband’s kingdom to the ground.” But all is not so simple — is it ever? — and as the book tagline asks: “What if you fell in love with the one person you'd sworn to destroy?”
10. Fortuna Sworn by K.J Sutton
If faery f***ing sounds like your thing, then opt for Fortuna Sworn, the first in a five-part series. The eponymous heroine is the last of her kind, wasting her days away hiding amongst humans. Until she catches the eye of powerful faery… Collith. Ignoring the snort-inducing names, this was a TikTok sensation and is a spicy romantasy read.
