This is the hardest collection I’ve curated for The Nora Theory thus far, because this is among my favorite romance subgenres, and there are just so many incredible stories to choose from. Romantasy is a genre that no one quite has a perfect definition for and it’s often debated in online bookish spaces. The general idea, though, is obvious. It is a fantasy novel with a romantic element to the plot. There is usually some spice involved, to varying degrees. The combination is utterly magical. The books listed below are some of my favorites in the genre and are perfect for reading when you just need to escape to another world where love conquers even the most treacherous circumstances.
Saga of the Unfated by Danielle L. Jensen
A Fate Inked in Blood is one of the best romantasies I have read so far this year. It’s a beautiful story and takes inspiration from Norse mythology instead of the usual Britannic and Greek sources. It’s a classic enemies-to-lovers tale, with lots of action and intense tension. It features a sassy heroine, and a growly hero, both of them fiercely figthing in a world that values strength over all else. The storytelling in this book is impressively efficient, and it moves quickly with every chapter a fascinating journey.
I read this book through the library, but I loved it so much that I want to get the hardcover for my trophy shelf. Saga of the Unfated is an ongoing series, and the second book will be here sometime in 2025.
The Kindred’s Curse Saga by Penn Cole
The Kindred’s Curse Saga is a character-driven, plot-heavy, enemies-to-lovers romantasy that I will read over and over again for years to come. It’s heart-wrenching, and exciting, with an expansive magical system and a world full of things to love. The series is a slow burn of the highest order, and as a result isn’t super spicy, at least not yet. I was on the edge of my seat reading this series with some incredible twists and shocking cliffhangers. Any romantasy fan will love this series.
There is one more book in this four-cook series coming on July 1st, and I’ll be reading it the second it hits the Kindle store at midnight.
Rogue x Ara by J.D. Linton
Rogue and Ara are a romantasy pairing for the ages. These two and their love story are so enthralling, that you can’t help but fall in love with their tortured souls. Fated mates and enemies-to-lovers tropes make this book an immediate perfect romantasy. There are incredible character dynamics combined with thoughtful world-building and magical systems that are easy to catch onto. All kinds of twists and turns add a richly layered history and feel to these books, making them feel like an adventure to read.
J.D. Linton is an indie author, and she paints a vivid picture of a dangerous world with magic, dragons, and intrigue to keep her readers hooked on every page. If you loved Fourth Wing, you will love these books. There is at least one more book coming in this ongoing series, and hopefully, it will hit shelves by the end of this year, or early next year.
The Empyrean by Rebecca Yarros
The hype is justified. Everyone has been talking about this series, anxiously awaiting the next installment coming in 2025. The iconic line, “My house. My chair. My woman,” had us all collectively screaming while reading the second book this year. This series has everything, political intrigue, enemies-to-lovers, and dragons. Xaden and Violet have a dynamic that is so filled with tension and angst, and it is everything. Fighting injustice with dragons and a nice thorough sprinkling of spice mixed in? What more could a romantasy reader ask for?
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
I put off reading this series for years because it is a commitment. Seven books, each longer than the last, seemed like a significant project to tackle. I read all seven, neglecting all else, for two weeks. Each book gets better and better, and by the end of the third, this series became one of my essential reads. If you like romantasy but haven’t yet read this series, what are you doing? Stop scrolling and run to whatever bookstore you favor right this very second. It will be worth it, I promise.
There is more than one relationship to root for in this series, interspersed with trauma, danger, and intense action. This series is the least spicy of Sarah J. Maas’ works, skating the edge between young adult and adult fantasy.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
I would be remiss if I didn’t include A Court of Thorns and Roses on this list, although I discuss it obsessively, all the time. The series starts out as a Beauty and the Beast retelling, and spirals into something much more. The world-building in this series is immaculate, and the characters will stay with you long after you finish the last page. The first three books have a plot that concludes by the end of the trilogy, and then the next part of the series begins with its own plot and new perspectives. There are still many questions left to be answered, and at least 3 more books are coming in this universe.
The Crimson Moth by Kristen Ciccarelli
Heartless Hunter is a high-stakes enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance between a witch and a witch hunter in a world filled with danger. Rune and Gideon are both so easy for a reader to fall in love with, and the author evokes so much empathy for these characters. You might be unsure how these two will ever get past their differences and get to being lovers, but you will be rooting for it with your whole soul as you read. Romance-wise, this is definitely a slow burn, but absolutely worth every second of the wait. The spice is pretty tame, all things considered, but it’s the perfect level for this story. There is something truly beautiful in the magic system that the author builds in this fantasy world, and it feels so different from everything else on this list, but with the same kind of magical feeling you get while reading.
Book two, The Rebel Witch, concludes the series in February 2025.
Of Flesh and Bone by Harper L. Woods and Adelaide Forrest
If you are a fan of ACOTAR, then this series is for you. Of Flesh and Bone is such an enchanting romantasy series that I fell in love with it almost immediately. This fantasy world is reminiscent of Sarah J. Maas, but a little spicier and very much with its own unique mythology.
An ancient Fae god has one last chance, one last life cycle to find his fated mate, who just happens to be a human girl on the other side of a magical veil dividing their worlds. These books play on well-loved tropes that will forever be my favorites, fated mates and enemies-to-lovers, in a way that still feels exciting and new.
This series is ongoing, with no release date announced yet for the fourth book in the series. The third book ends on an absolutely brutal cliffhanger, so you have been warned.
Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti
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