28 must-read romantasy books and series

There's nothing quite like losing yourself in a world of magic, sharp dialogue and slow-burn romance. That’s the allure of romantasy – where fantasy fiction meets love stories infused with heart, drama and even a little spice.

In recent years, this hybrid genre has seen a boom in popularity thanks to its TikTok renaissance, but this is no fad: romantasy is here to stay, encompassing everything from spicy enemies-to-lovers arcs to dark twists, impressive battle scenes and intrigue. Whether your preference is dragons, faeries, or magic in general, here’s our pick of the best romantasy books for adults, from cultural phenomenons to the latest must-read novels.

4. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (The Empyrean series)

Violet has trained her whole life to become a scribe at Basgiath War College, but then her mother orders her to switch and become a dragon rider – and you don’t ignore your mother when she’s the commanding general. Violet worries her body is too frail to succeed, but she doesn’t count on finding as many friends as she does enemies – and one giant supporter in particular.

Read it if you like: Heroines with a competitive streak, stories about friendship, How to Train Your Dragon.

6. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas (ACOTAR series)

Feyre is 19, human, and starving. When she kills a wolf for food, she is taken to the Fae world to compensate for a life she didn’t realise she’d taken. This Beauty and the Beast retelling is the first in Maas’s ridiculously moreish and relatively spicy series, and once you’ve joined Feyre among the Fae, you’d better have the other four books lined up. The second, A Court of Mist and Fury, really shakes things up.

Read it if you like: Wisecracking ancients, fated mates, intense spiciness.

12. Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater (Faerie Regency series)

A curse at birth has left Dora Ettings with half a soul – which means a lack of awareness when it comes to potential scandal during the London Season. When the Lord Sorcier, handsome Elias Wilder, clocks her condition, Dora is brought into affairs in faerie politics that will affect her more than she imagined possible.

Read it if you like: Bridgerton, Sophie Irwin, reimagined worlds.

14. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

Mika Moon is a witch hiding in plain sight through her YouTube channel. When she is summoned to a remote house to teach three young witches, she finds kindred spirits among the household – and a spark with the house’s sexy librarian, Jamie. But can they keep the outside world at bay for long enough to keep her young charges safe, and their nascent romance alive? This romantasy read is super cosy and perfect for spooky season.

Read it if you like: Practical Magic, Ballet Shoes, golden retrievers.

23. The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty (The Daevabad Trilogy)

The first book in this bestselling trilogy is a spellbinding tale of magic, myth and political intrigue set in a richly imagined Middle Eastern-inspired world. When con artist Nahri accidentally summons a warrior djinn during a healing ritual, she is pulled into the hidden city of Daevabad, where ancient grudges, royal rivalries and forbidden magic threaten everything she thought she knew.

Read it if you like: Magical healers, richly drawn worlds, serious stakes.

25. A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske (The Last Binding trilogy)

In Edwardian-era England, the young aristo Robin Blyth realises there has been a huge admin error when his new governmental job turns out to be parliamentary liaison to a secret magical society. He’ll need all the help he can get – but his magical counterpart, Edwin Courcey, is distinctly unfriendly. With mysterious visions getting in the way, however, they’ll need to figure out how to work together, fast.

Read it if you like: Enemies to lovers, secret societies, Red, White & Royal Blue.

26. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (Folk of the Air trilogy)

Jude was only seven when she and her sisters were stolen away to the High Court of Faerie following their parents’ murder. Ten years on, Jude is desperate to belong there, despite some of the Fey loathing humans – and none more than Carden, the beautiful and wicked youngest son of its High King. If Jude is to win her place at Court, she will have to defy him and face the consequences.

Read it if you like: Young adult fiction, political intrigue, worldbuilding.

27. Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett (Emily Wilde series)

It’s 1909, and Cambridge professor Emily Wilde has travelled to the far north to research faerie folklore. She’s great at the academic side of her job, but less so with people, so when a university colleague appears and starts charming the whole town – including her – she is at a loss. In order to unlock the secret of the fae, Emily may have to work on her heart first.

Read it if you like: Cosy fantasy, slow-burn relationships, very large dogs.

28. What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez (Secrets of the Nile series)

Inez Olivero is 19 when her parents die in mysterious circumstances, leaving her with a large fortune and a mysterious archaeologist guardian. She sets out from Argentina to Cairo, bringing a ring her father sent to her before his death. But when the ring awakens the old-world magic of the city, Inez is drawn down a strange path – one which neither her guardian nor his annoyingly handsome assistant seem to want her to explore.

Read it if you like: Ancient Egypt, rivals to lovers, 19th-century setting.

Frequently asked questions

What are romantasy books?

Romantasy is where fantasy meets feelings. This sub-genre of romantic novels and fantasy blends magical worlds, mythical creatures and epic stakes with a central love story that drives the plot. Think sweeping romance with dragons, fae courts or ancient curses in the background – and a relationship you’re rooting for front and centre. Often ending in a hard-earned happily-ever-after, romantasy has exploded in popularity thanks to social media and a new wave of readers who want their magic with a side of longing.

What is the most popular romantasy series?

When it comes to the best fantasy book series with a side of romance, two names come up again and again. Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series is often credited as the romantasy classic that helped define the genre. Meanwhile, The Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros (starting with Fourth Wing) has also soared to viral success. 

Danielle L. Jensen’s Unfated and K.A. Tucker’s Fate & Flame series are also rising stars, beloved for their immersive worldbuilding, strong female leads and sizzling, high-stakes romance. Together, these series continue to dominate bestseller lists and are TikTok fan favourites.

Why are romantasy books so popular?

While fantasy romance has long been a staple of fiction, the rise of BookTok helped catapult romantasy into the spotlight. Its winning formula? Rich worldbuilding, powerful heroines and emotional story arcs that keep readers hooked from the first page to the last kiss. With everything from enchanted courts to star-crossed lovers, romantasy offers both escape and connection – and has quickly become the defining genre of the 2020s.

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