15 Romantasy Books To Start Reading Now

Rooted in the world of paranormal romance, Ali Hazelwood’s first book to veer off from her usual STEMinist romances is a must-read. To continue the long-standing alliance between the Vampyres and the Weres, Misery Lark, daughter of a powerful Vampyre councilman, agrees to a marriage of convenience between herself and Lowe Moreland, the Were’s Alpha. Much like their two groups, Misery and Lowe are untrusting of each other … at first. The two soon form a powerful (and sexy) connection – but Misery is hiding the secret of why she agreed to the marriage in the first place, which may risk everything.

Seventeen-year-old Quell has been trying to hide her dark and deadly magic her entire life. But when someone discovers her secret, she enters the Order – a deadly society of magical social elites – to protect her mother. If she’s able to pass the rites and master the Order’s “proper” form of magic, she’ll be able to suppress her own forever. But debutante training proves more challenging than Quell thought, especially when she’s constantly distracted by her brooding assassin-in-training tutor, Jordan. The stakes are high as Quell decides whether to embrace her own magic at the risk of losing everything – including her heart.

Ashley Poston, author of The Seven Year Slip and The Dead Romantics, is back with a new fantasy about a woman who finds herself slipping into the pages of an actual novel. When Eileen’s car breaks down on her way to her annual book club retreat, she finds that she’s stranded in Eloraton – the town where her favorite romance series is set. Elsy knows this town – and she’s sure she’s here to finish the late author’s last story. But when she meets the grumpy bookstore owner she doesn’t recognize from her favorite pages, she suspects the town’s happily ever after and her own are more connected than she thought.

A fresh take on Polish fairy tales, Naomi Novik’s Uprooted centers on a quiet village protected by a mysterious wizard known only as the Dragon from the terrible power that lurks within the Wood on its border. The price for this protection? Every 10 years, the Dragon takes one young woman to serve him. Agnieszka and the rest of the village suspect that the Dragon will take Kasia, her beautiful best friend, next. But when he instead chooses Agnieszka and she uncovers powers of her own, the young woman will learn just how she’s connected to the Wood and drawn to the Dragon himself.

Rosalinda and Mariano are both looking for an escape from Sinner’s Isle. Rosa, one of the Majestics – beautiful witches with dangerous magic, who have been trapped there for years – destined to become the prized commodity at this year’s Offering, where wealthy men will vie to use her for harm. Prince of Pirates, Mariano, finds himself marooned on Sinner’s Isle after his ship is attacked by the king’s fleet – left with only an enchanted chain that will lead him to his heart’s desire. He ends up falling right into the hands of Rosa. The two have different ideas, but the same goal: escape the isle before it’s too late. Romantic and funny, this debut is a gem.

This story about love, magic, and found family follows Mika Moon – an isolated witch in Britain who is used to being alone … apart from her online account where she “pretends” to be a witch. One person takes her claims seriously and enlists her help to teach three young witches how to control their powers at the mysterious and remote Nowhere House. There, she meets a cast of quirky characters – including Jamie, the grumpy and handsome librarian who sees Mika as a threat to the children’s wellbeing. But when danger surrounds her new friends, Mika will have to decide what she’s willing to risk for love.

This paranormal romance takes place in our modern world. My Roommate Is a Vampire follows artist Cassie Greenberg – a woman in desperate need of a new place to live. She knows the deal offered by her new Chicago roommate, Frederick J. Fitzwilliam, is too good to not come with a catch … but she’s not in a position to turn it down. Frederick has some strange tendencies – like sleeping all day and being out all night on “business.” He’s also incredibly charming – leaving her sweet notes, complimenting her art– and his looks don’t hurt either. But when Cassie discovers Frederick is a vampire, will she accept his proposition?

When Freya is betrayed by her husband and forced to fight to the death against the son of a power-hungry jarl, she’s forced to reveal her deepest secret: she’s a shield maiden, possessing a drop of a goddess’s magic and capable of repelling any attack. It’s been foretold that the shield maiden will unite the fractured kingdom of Skaland under the one who controls her. Believing himself to be that ruler, the jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders his son, Bjorn, to protect and train her. But will Freya and Bjorn be able to resist their fierce attraction to each other? The first in a new Norse-inspired duology is sure to keep readers captivated.

Katee Robert’s new Crimson Sails series starts with Hunt on Dark Waters. Evelyn is a witch who falls through a portal and into the magical Threshold sea after stealing from her vampire ex. She’s picked up by the Cŵn Annwn, pirates led by their telekinetic captain Bowen, sworn to protect the sea between realms. Evelyn has two choices: join the pirates or die. Though Evelyn chooses the former, she has no intention of keeping her promise. This romantasy is full of spice, banter, and adventure – with the second in the series coming soon!

The first book in the completed An Ember in the Ashes quartet introduces us to Laia, who lives an impoverished existence with her grandparents and older brother in a world inspired by ancient Rome. They know not to challenge the Empire, but when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, she strikes a bargain with the rebels who intend to save him: she’ll act as a rebel spy from within the Empire’s military academy. There, she meets Elias, the academy’s best soldier who secretly wants to be free from its tyranny. They realize their goals are more aligned than they first thought in this gripping story full of action, suspense, and, of course, romance.

At the center of this beautiful fantasy novel is a circus, Le Cirque des Rêves. It appears in new towns without warning and is only open at night. Celia and Marco, two of the illusionists, have been trained since childhood to perform. But what they don’t know is that they’re in a fierce competition, started by their instructors, and only one of them can be left standing. Matters are complicated when they fall head over heels in love in this stunning debut from Erin Morgenstern.

Originally published in 1968, the first book in the 20-plus book Dragonriders of Pern series, introduces readers to the world of Pern – a planet colonized by humans where they’ve learned to ride and telepathically communicate with the indigenous dragon population there. There are originally six Weyrs – communities of dragons and their riders – who protect the planet against the infestation of the deadly Thread, but because there has been an unusually long time between Thread attacks, only one Weyr remains, led by wingleader F’lar. To save the planet from the next attack, he enlists the help of Lessa – the sole survivor of a noble ruling family. Throughout this high fantasy / sci-fi crossover series, F’lar and Lessa’s romance grows as they bond together to protect their world.

The first book in The Sacred Stones series, A Dawn of Onyx is an enemies-to-lovers romance, full of worldbuilding and witty banter between Arwen Valondale and King Kane Ravenwood. Arwen is taken prisoner after she sacrifices herself for her brother’s crimes, forced to use her powers as a healer for the Onyx – her enemy. Arwen’s desperate to escape back to her family but finds herself drawn to her captor in the meantime. Full of tension, pining, and many secrets, this book is sure to leave readers grasping for the next in the series.

Though The Queen’s Price is technically the 12th book in the longstanding Black Jewels series, the book can be read as a standalone. This dark fantasy series is set in a world where those born with dark magic powers rule in a predominantly matriarchal society. The story follows three women: Zoey, a young Queen-in-training; Jillian, a witch preparing for her Virgin Night to retain her powers and Jewels; and Saetien, daughter of the High Lord of Hell. The three women will uncover what it means to pay the Queen’s price in this epic fantasy of dark magic, female empowerment, and some good old-fashioned lusting and pining.