Romantasy. A word I had never even heard before 2024. Many other readers still haven’t heard of it. As a genre, however, Romantasy has been around for thousands of years in folklore and myth. Long predating Disney, Hans Christian Andersen, and the Brothers Grimm fairy tales.
But nowadays, Romantasy has grown up.
All the way up. And may come with trigger warnings.
What is Romantasy?
Romantasy is a literary genre: a romance first, fantasy second. Stories set in worlds of myth and magic, featuring all manner of mortal and immortal, natural and supernatural, star-crossed or fated lovers. It combines the whimsy of our favorite childhood tales, the darker elements of the Grimm stories, and the spice of adult romance novels. I’ve heard it referred to as fantasy smut, new adult, spicy fantasy, and even fairy porn.
Romantasy can be further divided into five subgenres: Cozy/Light-Hearted, Epic, Dark/Gothic, Historical, and Creature. Yet no matter how we label these works of fiction, their growing popularity is very, very real. One could credit Stephenie Meyer with striking the match of the Romantasy flame, Sarah J. Maas with setting it ablaze, and BookTok with keeping it burning. {Fire metaphor 100 percent intentional.}
I’ve never read Romantasy. Where do I start?
I was hoping you’d ask! If you are just stepping into the Romantasy book world, welcome! We read and we don’t judge. Begin with the Romantasy Series Starter Pack and continue on with the series recommendations that follow. Click the series titles for links.
Romantasy Series Starter Pack
These series are a time commitment, but the brick-by-brick character development over several books will ultimately leave you feeling like you are part of the story, not just along for the ride. Two of the biggest names in Romantasy are Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros because their books are quintessential Romantasy; Romantasy 101; a rite of passage; the gateway drug.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Synopsis: A young huntress, Feyre Archeron, struggles to provide for her poor family. She breaks an ancient treaty by killing a fae who came to human lands. As punishment, Feyre is taken to the fae realm of Prythian, to live with the High Fae of the Spring Court. She leaves her starving family behind to find her place in her new world.
5 Books*: A Court of Thorns and Roses – pictured, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, A Court of Frost and Starlight, A Court of Silver Flame
Hot Take: My first ever Romantasy series experience. It’s Beauty and the Beast meets female-led Tolkien. The writing is…honestly not the best — which becomes one of the series’ most endearing qualities. Feyre is instantly likeable. The setting, plot, and the remaining characters are imaginative and captivating. After book one, you’ll likely be all in.
*A rumored sixth book may release in 2025 or 2026 with the Cauldron’s blessing {ACOTAR reference}!
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Synopsis: Celaena Sardothian, a young assassin and prisoner, is forced to compete to become the Champion of the king who killed her family a decade earlier. Celaneana fights her way through the competition, and uncovers long-buried secrets about the kingdom, her ancestry, and what it means for her future.
8 Books*: Throne of Glass – pictured, Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire, The Assassin’s Blade, Queen of Shadows, Tower of Dawn, Empire of Storms, Kingdom of Ash
Hot Take: My Top 5 romantasy series to date. Kill Bill in fairy-tale romance form. After the halfway point of the first book, Throne of Glass, the momentum picked up and I barely breathed again for the remaining 7-1/2 books. Milder on the spice overall, though there are some surprises mid- to end-of-series.
*There are options for reading the TOG series. I recommend the romantic order {as listed above} and the tandem read of Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn.
The Empyrean by Rebecca Yarros
Synopsis: Violet Sorrengail is forced to enter a war college to become a dragon rider after she trained her whole young life to become a scribe like her father. Though small in stature and frail in build, Violet’s intelligence becomes her greatest weapon in the competitive college where both enemies and allies are in attendance.
5 Books: Fourth Wing – pictured, Iron Flame, Onyx Storm. Books four and five to be released.
Hot Take: Fourth Wing, I instantly loved. Violet is a force. Iron Flame is a strong sequel. Onyx Storm, book 3, is my least favorite of the series, but the cliffhanger has me excited for the next book.
More Romantasy Series Favorites
These complete series {all books have been released} tick many boxes of traditional romantasy: compelling main characters, enemies-to-lovers plots, mature content, epic world-building, supernatural elements, the occasional broody shadow daddy, and Fae-kind.
Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas
Synopsis: Bryce Quinlan, half-human/half-fae, leads a semi-charmed party life until her closest friends are murdered by a demon. Bryce partners with a fallen angel, Hunt Athalar, to solve the murders. While discovering dark secrets in the city’s underbelly, Bryce and Hunt discover each other.
3 Books: Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood – pictured, House of Sky and Breath, House of Flame and Shadow
Hot Take: Epically epic in true SJM-style world-building, the first book is nearly 800 pages! The Crescent City series features some overlap with the ACOTAR and TOG worlds, so I recommend reading the other two series first.
Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Synopsis: Poppy is The Maiden, her kingdom’s symbol of godly devotion. She’s never to be spoken to. Never to be touched. Never to be unveiled. It’s a role she was forced into and is not certain she really wants. When an ancient and fearsome rebel force rises up, Poppy must choose to fight or flee.
6 Books: From Blood and Ash – pictured, A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire, The Crown of Gilded Bones, The War of Two Queens, A Soul of Ash and Blood. Book 6 to be released June 10, 2025: The Primal of Blood and Bone.
Hot Take: I am still reading this series, but it is earning a spot in my Top 5. The Maiden herself has won my loyalty and I’m rooting for her.
The Ever Seas by L. J. Andrews
Synopsis: A bitter young king of the seas, Erik, captures Livia, the daughter of his greatest enemy – an attempt to avenge his father’s death. He will stop at nothing to right the wrongs of his past, unless Livia’s growing earth powers stop him first.
3 Books: The Ever King – pictured, The Ever Queen, The Mist Thief
Hot Take: Yes, yes, and yes. A retold Peter Pan adventure. This series has all the elements of traditional fantasy world-building and magic, and all the spice of a dark romance.
Budding Romantasy Series
These series are young and still releasing books. I’ve read the first and excitedly await the next installments.
Fae & Alchemy by Callie Hart
Synopsis: Saeris Fane lives a life of theft and secrecy in her desert world of Zilvaren. After a brutal fight with a queen’s guard, she reopens a portal to another realm and is escorted there by Death itself. As the only mortal in a land of Fae, Saeris must use her knowledge of alchemy to find her way home.
2 Books: Quicksilver – pictured. Book two, Brimstone, will be released in late 2025.
Hot take: Another instant favorite with an unexpected ending for mortal Saeris. So ready for the second book!
Wicked Games by Kaylie Smith
Synopsis: After her mother dies suddenly, Ophelia inherits the skill of necromancy, passed matrilineally from generation to generation. Ophelia discovers her mother was keeping secrets, and the clues lead her to entering Phantasma, a competition that will either end in her victory or her death.
Books: Phantasma – pictured. Book two, Enchantra, releases April 8, 2025.
Hot Take: This is a gothic, more macabre romantasy story with a neurodivergent female main character {FMC}. Read at your own risk. And if you do risk, then enjoy! I did!
On the Top of My Romantasy To-Be-Read (TBR) List
In addition to the next installments of the Budding Romantasies mentioned above, these next two books/series are at the top of my TBR list. They come highly recommended in my reading circles.
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig {The Shepherd King series: Book 1 of 2}
Synopsis: Elspeth Spindle embarks on a quest to cure the kingdom of Blunder of dark magic. She partners with an unlikely traitor, the king’s nephew. While he is notoriously dangerous, Elspeth herself carries a secret – the monster inside her.
Rain of Shadows and Endings by Melissa K. Roehrich {Legacy series: Book 1 of 4}
Synopsis: The Fae serve the children of the gods of six kingdoms. Each kingdom selects a Source. Tessalyn Asura finds herself the personal Source to the Heir of Endings, the darkest kingdom of all, and discovers she will do anything to escape this fate.
Do you read romantasy? What are your favorite books and/or series?
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