Is real world romance just not cutting it for you? Do you wish your crush would storm across a battlefield clad in armour and declare their undying love for you while dragons breathe fire in the distance? Well this blog post is perfect for you! Here are our romantasy reading recommendations to transport you to a more romantic and dangerous world.
Sarah’s picks
Who doesn’t adore a fairy tale? Naomi Novik’s Uprooted is one of my favourites and looks to Eastern European folklore for its inspiration. The story feels familiar in that comforting way but without falling into unoriginality. It follows Agneiszka who lives in a village protected by a sorcerer from a corrupted woodland – a sorcerer who demands a sacrifice every ten years from the village. Another slow-burn enemies to lovers with a morally grey love interest, this will appeal to fans of The Bear and the Nightingale and Among the Beasts and Briars.
I love this book so much! It’s so immersive and whips you up into the world Rogerson creates thoroughly and completely. The story focuses on Elisabeth, who is raised in a magical library which houses magical grimoires that can transform into monsters of ink and leather. When one of the most dangerous grimoires goes missing, she has to team up with sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn and his demonic servant to bring it back – what unfolds is a story of adventure, horror, and the bizarre. It’s a slow burn YA romantasy and is truly for the girlies who love books about books. The way I wish I could visit the magical libraries Rogerson paints and speak to the books like Elizabeth! Bonus points for being a standalone with such a wicked redemption arc.
Demi’s picks
Sultry. Sensuous. Sapphic. Saara El-Arifi has managed to breathe life into another fae, and elf based romantasy, adding spice to an crowded genre. Set in an Afro-Arabic world where humans and fae are extinct and only the elves, living in squalor and violence, remain. Humans and fae are beings of legend until elf Yeeran, cast out by her ruler, stumbles across a truth that changes everything. Yeeran and her sister Leetle must fight for their freedom, their life and to right a millennium’s worth of mistakes. Faebound is perfect for anyone who wants a fast-paced read filled with magic, sisterhood and passion.
Though it’s considered YA, don’t let this category fool you, Skin of the Sea is filled with romance, yearning and a slow burn that will leave you frustrated. Inspired by Nigerian mythology, Simidele is a Mami Wata, a mermaid who follows slave ships and collects the souls of the enslaved who die at sea. She is meant to simply observe, collect and never intervene… until she decides to save a boy’s life. This romantasy is rich with West African folklore, enriching the story and creating an entirely unique and original perspective, I haven’t read anything like it. For anyone wanting to see their culture reflected in fantasy or simply learn about myths that aren’t always in the public eye, Natasha Bowen does a great job of introducing you to a new world of possibilities and reimagining the old one.
Jade’s pick
This is the third series of Sarah’s that I have read and honestly, the third time’s the charm! I loved this book so much, it’s definitely my favourite of Sarah’s work. I laughed, I cried, and my jaw dropped on several occasions. The story follows Bryce Quinlan as she deals with the sudden murder of her best friend Danika. After years of thinking that the man guilty of Danika’s death is behind bars, Bryce soon discovers that murders are happening around Crescent City that are awfully similar to the way Danika was killed. She pairs up with feared fallen angel Hunt Athalar to find the killer and finally bring Danika justice. What ensues is a story of love, friendship and found family. For the girlies who love being immersed in an incredible fantasy world with a mix of top tier romance, this book and this series is definitely for you! Be prepared to cry though – don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Tracy Deonn, the woman that you are! This is a spellbinding retelling of the classic Arthurian legend. After the sudden passing of her mother Bree Matthews escapes to UNC-Chapel Hill, enrolling in a residential program for bright high schoolers. However, after witnessing a magical attack on her very first night, Bree becomes entangled in the secret society of ‘Legendborns’ Bree discovers that there might be more to her mother’s death than she initially thought. This novel does an excellent job of weaving the famous legend that we know and love with modern aspects, making this a standout book for me. Additionally, I loved how Bree’s background as an African-American plays a key role in her journey of self-discovery and realising her own strength. Merlin stans, our time has come. I promise you that you won’t be able to put this book down!