The best romantasy books to read right now

Why read this: If you crave lethal trials, simmering tension and a bodyguard who would burn the world for her, Iron & Embers delivers. Wren Embervale – alchemist turned assassin – earns a place at the ancient academy of Drevenor, where survival means conquering the brutal Gauntlet. But the greatest danger may be Torj Elderbrock, the silver-haired war hero assigned to protect her – and the man who has every reason to despise her. As political tensions ignite and dark magic stirs, vengeance collides with desire in a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romantasy that aches as much as it burns. With over 7,000 five-star Goodreads reviews, this is a gripping start to the Ashes of Thezmarr series.

If you’re looking for: Bodyguard romance, academy setting, forced proximity, touch-her-and-die hero, deadly trials, slow-burn tension, enemies-to-lovers.

Great for fans of: The Witcher, Danielle L. Jensen’s The Bridge Kingdom.

What the experts say: ‘Fast-paced, gripping, and devastatingly romantic’ – Penn Cole, author of Spark of the Everflame. ‘Torj’s gentle patience and touch-her-and-die energy kept me reading late into the night’ – Stacia Stark, author of A Court This Cruel & Lovely.

Why read this: Think deadly tournament, vampire politics and a romance sharp enough to draw blood. Oraya, the human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, enters the Kejari – a brutal competition held by the goddess of death – to prove she is more than just prey. Her uneasy alliance with Raihn, a ruthless rival and enemy to her father’s crown, ignites a connection neither can afford. Dark, intense and emotionally devastating, this bestselling opener to the Crowns of Nyaxia series balances savage trials with a heart-stopping enemies-to-lovers arc that has taken BookTok by storm.

If you’re looking for: Vampires, deadly trials, enemies-to-lovers, morally grey hero, high-stakes competition, political intrigue, angst.

Great for fans of: The Hunger Games, Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout.

What the experts say: 'Morally grey men, vampires who bite, and a heroine who bites back twice as hard . . . Smoldering with heat, Broadbent leaves us begging for more in the best way!' – K. A. Linde author of The Wren in the Holly Library.

Why read this: This Norse-inspired fantasy romance from Rachel Van Dyken is filled with ancient secrets and perilous desire. The Gods aren't dead, they're merely sleeping in mortal bodies, and Rey Stjerne's ruthless father is the most powerful of them all. He sends Rey to Endir University, a place steeped in ancient bloodlines and deadly secrets, with one mission: to steal the legendary hammer, Mjolnir. But Aric Erikson, the distant and dangerous heir of her family's nemesis, wasn't part of the plan. He's the one person she absolutely cannot afford to fall for, and now a war that will decide the world's fate stands between her and the man she was never meant to love.

If you’re looking for: Norse-inspired fantasy, fantasy romance, myth retelling, hidden gods and magic, enemies-to-lovers, secret mission, high-stakes, university setting.

Great for fans of: Neon Gods by Katee Robert.

What the experts say: 'Rachel Van Dyken will tear your heart out, slice it in half with a machete and hand it back. Then, you‘ll thank her.' Kristen Proby, author of Come Away with Me.

Why read this: Academic rivals, fading magic and yearning you can practically feel in your bones: this new duology is perfect for those who like witches, dark academia and a bit of cosiness, as well as romance, of course. Aurelia Schwartz is a witch at Cambridge trying to keep her powers – and her identity – hidden. But when witches begin losing their magic, she must team up with insufferably brilliant Theodore Ingram. Retreating to his family’s remote town, their rivalry softens into something achingly tender as danger closes in. 

If you’re looking for: Academic rivals to lovers, witches, cosy fantasy, found family, yearning, contemporary setting.

Great for fans of: A Discovery of Witches, Olivie Blake’s The Atlas Six.

What the experts say: ‘Lush and atmospheric, full of magic and yearning’ – Olivie Blake, author of The Atlas Six.

Why read this: A street thief. A monster with too much power. A job she cannot refuse. When Kierse breaks into a hidden library, she finds herself bound to Graves – dangerous, magnetic and very much not human. Instead of killing her, he offers employment, drawing her into a shadow world of ancient treaties and simmering war. Loosely inspired by Beauty and the Beast, this No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller delivers forced proximity, heists and ferocious chemistry in an addictive dark romantasy series opener.

If you’re looking for: Enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, morally grey hero, heists, monsters in modern cities, spice.

Great for fans of: V. E. Schwab, Leigh Bardugo.

What the experts say: ‘Extraordinary!’ – Rebecca Yarros, author of Fourth Wing. ‘Fantasy, twisty action and spice – everything I want in a book!’ – Amanda Bouchet, author of The Kingmaker Chronicles.

Why read this: For readers who love their romance slow-burning and their heroines unbreakable. Tisaanah escapes captivity determined to master her magic and save the friend she left behind. Her path leads to brooding fire-wielder Maxantarius Farlione, a reluctant mentor with scars as deep as her own. As war looms and dark forces gather, their partnership deepens into something tender, fierce and profoundly hard-won. Lush, character-driven and emotionally rich, this Sunday Times bestseller launches the War of Lost Hearts trilogy with a romance built on trust, healing and shared defiance.

If you’re looking for: Mentor-to-lovers, slow-burn romance, political fantasy, found family.

Great for fans of: The Crowns of Nyaxia series.

Why read this: Fae bargains, long-buried secrets and a romance laced with danger. This is the long-awaited adult debut from bestselling YA author Mary E. Pearson. When Bristol Keats learns her father may have been taken to the fae realm, she strikes a perilous deal with the enigmatic fae king, Tyghan. But Tyghan has his own secrets – and may be responsible for her family’s suffering. Sweeping, dramatic and deliciously addictive, this novel blends enemies-to-lovers tension with lush faerie politics.

If you’re looking for: Fae courts, deadly bargains, enemies-to-lovers, family secrets, banter, high emotional stakes.

Great for fans of: Leigh Bardugo and Sarah J. Maas.

What the experts say:  ‘Mary E. Pearson is the new queen of faerie’ – Stephanie Garber, author of Once Upon a Broken Heart.

Why read this: A bold, sensual romantasy with apocalyptic stakes, Fall of Ruin and Wrath is pure, immersive escapism. In a shattered world ruled by guardians who feed on mortal pleasure, Calista survives by trusting her flawless intuition, trading information for protection. Led by instinct to save a prince in trouble, she now finds herself in danger. And so comes a choice: follow her intuition to safety, or follow her heart to her downfall . . . This is a story that’s as steamy as it is suspenseful. Armentrout’s world-building is lush, her romance addictive and the emotional tension relentless.

If you’re looking for: High heat, intuition magic, decadent worlds, rebellion.

Great for fans of: From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Sarah J. Maas, Katee Robert and Marissa Meyer.

What the experts say: ‘Imaginative and seductive’ – Rebecca Yarros, author of Fourth Wing. ‘A masterpiece from the queen of romantasy’ – Laura Thalassa.

Why read this: Star-crossed witches collide in magical Manhattan. Two rival crime families – the Antonova sisters and the Fedorov brothers – have held an uneasy truce for years. But when forbidden attraction sparks between their heirs, old grudges threaten to erupt into all-out war. Darkly glamorous and razor-sharp, this Sunday Times bestselling Romeo and Juliet retelling blends criminal intrigue with lyrical prose and devastating romance.

If you’re looking for: Rival families, forbidden love, witchcraft, urban fantasy, morally complex characters, tragic romance.

Great for fans of: Our Violent Delights by Chloe Gong, Vicious by V. E. Schwab.

Why read this: A sumptuous blend of court politics and slow-burn romance, A Taste of Gold and Iron is fantasy at its most emotionally intelligent. Inspired by the Ottoman Empire, it follows a reluctant prince and his rather cold bodyguard as they investigate a conspiracy that could topple the kingdom. With its tactile magic system, sharp humour and tender exploration of anxiety, duty and love, this is a deeply satisfying, character-driven fantasy romance.

If you’re looking for: Historical fantasy, YA crossover, fantasy romance, court intrigue, LGBTQIA+ characters.

Great for fans of: A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske and The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan.

What the experts say: ‘A delicious tangle of romance, fealty and dangerous politics’ – Tasha Suri author of The Jasmine Throne . ‘Witty, clever, and sexy’ – Jenn Lyons, author of The Ruin of Kings.

Why read this: If you like your fantasy romance with a healthy dose of humour, or love Bridgerton and Downton Abbey but would like to introduce a little magic to your country (and reading) pile, then Freya Marske is for you. In an alternative Edwardian England, a Baronet and a magician must unravel a murder mystery together, whether they want to or not. The first in a trilogy, A Marvellous Light is a hugely entertaining comedy of manners, manor houses and hedge mazes.

If you’re looking for: Queer romance, rivals to lovers, historical fantasy, murder mystery, secret societies, sharp wit.

Great for fans of: The Binding by Bridget Collins, The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman, Bridgerton.

What the experts say: 'A magical world of exquisite refinement, where peril skims beneath manners, interiors bespeak both faultless taste and deadly secrets, and the sexual tension crescendos until it literally makes sparks fly.' Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the Sun.

Why read this: Tender, aching and fiercely loyal, Wolfsong is a love story that grows with its characters. Ox Matheson has always felt on the outside – until the Bennett family move in next door, bringing secrets of wolves and wild magic. As Ox and Joe Bennett’s bond deepens over years marked by violence and separation, their connection becomes something primal and unbreakable. The first in the beloved Green Creek series, this is romantasy rooted in found family and queer love.

If you’re looking for: Friends to lovers, shifters, found family, small-town setting, emotional angst, queer romance.

Great for fans of: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske.

What the experts say: 'Wolfsong is so well written that I'm in awe of TJ Klune's talent [...] The complex and startling world of Green Creek is the perfect setting.' Charlaine Harris, author of the Sookie Stackhouse series.

Why read this: Called 'Fourth Wing meets Throne of Glass' and from No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author K. A. Linde, House of Dragons is the start of a new series filled with magic, mayhem, and a thrilling enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romance. Half-Fae, half-human Kerrigan Argon has trained at the elite House of Dragons. But when everyone else is chosen by one of the twelve tribes of Alandria, Kerrigan is left behind. So, she strikes a bargain: convince a tribe to select her, or lose her birthright forever. She finds an unlikely ally in Fordham Ollivier, the cursed Fae prince. Together, they must chart her destiny and reshape their world.

If you’re looking for: Enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn, Fae and magic, elite training programme, high-stakes bargain.

Great for fans of: Sarah J. Maas, Holly Black and Rebecca Yarros.

What the experts say: 'An epic foray into a world of power and mystery that caught me from the first page.' – Carrie Ann Ryan, author of The Elements of Five series.

Why read this: This unforgettable YA fantasy debut blends a high-stakes, secretive competition with romance. Ninety-nine suitors have already died trying to win Princess Mariama's hand in marriage, and she has had enough. Her new servant, Amie, has been framed for a crime and lost everything, including her childhood sweetheart. Forced together by circumstance, the two girls begin to work together to try to end the secretive, murderous trial that takes place behind palace walls as part of the competition for Mariama. But will Amie choose to stay with the Princess to help her fight, or run away with the boy she loves?

If you’re looking for: YA fantasy, courtly intrigue, forbidden romance, high stakes, deadly competition, political mystery, strong FMC.

Great for fans of: Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald, The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

What the experts say: 'A sweeping fantasy novel imbued with darkness but full of heart. Mina Fears breathes life into a sprawling and treacherous world.' Alexis Henderson, author of The Year of the Witching and An Academy for Liars.

Why read this: For readers who love morally tangled magic and sharp-tongued thieves, The Beasts We Bury is your next YA romantasy obsession. Mancella, heir to the throne, returned from the Broken Citadel changed – cursed or blessed with the power to summon spectral beasts, but only by killing them first. When her father pushes her towards darker and more ruthless acts, she begins to see just how trapped she is. Enter Silver, a charming thief with a dangerous plan of his own. What begins as manipulation twists into something far more complicated as rebellion sparks and feelings deepen.

If you’re looking for: Enemies-to-lovers, morally grey heroine, dark magic, court politics.

Great for fans of: A Curse So Dark And Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer.

What the experts say: ‘Full of compelling twists and high-stakes magic. . .a captivating romantic fantasy’ – Kelly Andrew, author of Your Blood, My Bones.

Why read this: This lovers-to-enemies fantasy debut is a fierce tale of revenge and forbidden magic. Dania seeks retribution after being betrayed by her ex and falsely imprisoned. When a fellow prisoner grants her forbidden Jinn magic, Dania seizes her chance to escape, determined to protect her family and confront those who wronged her. However, her path to vengeance is hindered by the very man who signed her life away. As she falls deeper into a web of lies, will she let her anger consume her, or will she give in to the undeniable fire still burning between her and the only boy she has ever loved?

If you’re looking for: Lovers-to-enemies, revenge plot, Jinn magic, dark fantasy, forbidden power, moral ambiguity, betrayal, Count of Monte Cristo retelling, Pakistani-inspired world.

Great for fans of: Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong, Godkiller by Hannah Kaner.

What the experts say: 'Unabashedly furious and vengeful, For She Is Wrath is a brilliant retelling set in an imaginative Pakistani-inspired world. Varga has crafted a love letter to angry girls. If you ever wished for an Arya Stark spinoff with a fiery enemies to lovers romance, this is the book for you.' Vaishnavi Patel, bestselling author of Kaikeyi.

Why read this: If you want lush, Arabian-inspired world-building with slow-burn tension and razor-edged stakes, We Hunt the Flame is a total escape. Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man to keep her people alive. Nasir is the Prince of Death, a feared assassin bound to his father’s will. When Zafira sets out on a perilous quest to restore magic to a dying land, Nasir is sent on a mission that pulls their paths violently together. Across deserts, ruins and ancient secrets, they must face monsters – and the parts of themselves they’ve been forced to become. Epic, romantic, and fiercely atmospheric, it’s the start of the Sands of Arawiya duology.

If you’re looking for: Arabian-inspired fantasy, quest adventure, hidden identity, morally grey assassin, slow-burn romance.

Great for fans of: Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone series.

What the experts say: ‘With fierce characters, deathly challenges, and world-building both lyrical and spellbinding, We Hunt the Flame is unputdownable’ – Marieke Nijkamp.