It’s almost Valentine’s day, so romance is in the air. The perfect time to drop a list with some of the best Fantasy Romance books your way!
I tried my best to make it as diverse as possible, both in terms of types of stories, sexuality and ethnicity.
So, enjoy the list of the best Fantasy Romance books below; I’m certain there will be some swoon-worthy books in there for you.
Or scroll down for an overview of the books in this list.
Overview of the Fantasy Romance books
- Serpent & Dove ( Serpent & Dove #1) by Shelby Mahurin: New Adult Fantasy Romance, Witches
- Soul Bearer by Elexis Bell: Adult Action Epic Fantasy Romance, Dragons
- Clan of the Skyriders – Survivors (Skyryders #1) by Florence Phillips: New Adult Dystopian Fantasy Romance, friend-to-lovers
- Captive Prince (Captive Prince #1) by C. S. Pacat: Adult Historical Fantasy Romance, LGBTQ
- Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood #1) by J. R. Ward: Adult Paranormal Romance, Vampires
- The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller: Adult Historical Fantasy Romance, Mythology, LGBTQ
- Radiance (Wraith Kings #1) by Grace Draven: New Adult Paranormal Romance
- Affairs of the Dead (The Reanimation Files #1) by A. J. Locke: Adult Urban Paranormal Romance
- Ascension (Tangled Axon #1) by Jacqueline Koyanagi: Adult Sci-Fi Fantasy Romance, LGBTQ
- Venomous (Alien Warrior #1) by Penelope Fletcher: Adult Sci-Fi Fantasy Romance
- A Curse So Dark and Lonely (Cursebreaker #1) by Brigid Kemmerer: Young Adult Fantasy Romance, Beauty and the Beast retelling
- Graceling (Graceling Realm #1) by Kristin Cashore: Young Adult Adventure Fantasy Romance
- Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust: Young Adult Fantasy Romance, Snow White LGBTQ retelling
- Crier’s War (Crier’s War #1) by Nina Varela: Young Adult Sci-Fi/Fantasy Romance, LGBTQ
- Of Fire and Stars (Of Fire and Stars #1) by Audrey Coulthurst: Young Adult Fantasy Romance, LGBTQ
- The Wild Orchid by Cameron Dokey: Young Adult Historical Fantasy Romance, Mulan retelling
- Girls of Paper and Fire (Girls of Paper and Fire #1) by Natasha Ngan: Young Adult Fantasy Romance, LGBTQ
- Daughter of the Forest (Sevenwaters #1) by Juliet Marillier: Young Adult Historical Fantasy Romance, Fairy tale retelling
- Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days #1) by Susan Ee: Young Adult Sci-Fi/Fantasy Romance
Adult Fantasy Romance
Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove #1) by Shelby Mahurin
Genre: New Adult Fantasy Romance, Witches
Publisher: HarperTeen
Louise le Blanc is many things: a thief, a loyal friend, and excellent at disguises. And she’s a witch. But in the city of Cesarine, witches are hunted and burned at the stake. The ones who hunt them are called Chasseurs, all sworn to the Church.
Reid Diggory is one of them and a fierce believer that ‘thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.’ Through a wicked twist of fate, Lou and Reid meet and are forced to marry. Even though they’re sworn enemies, Lou’s feelings start to grow, even as she’s being hunted by her most dangerous enemy: her mother. But can she trust Reid with her deepest secret, or will he burn her instead?
I absolutely loved this book and its sequel. It has tantalizing romance, some pretty steamy scenes, some great action, and a solid plot.
Soul Bearer by Elexis Bell
Genre: Adult Action Epic Fantasy Romance, Dragons
Publisher: Self-published
The first fantasy romance book I’ve read and the one that converted me into reading more romance books.
One day, the marks of the Soul Bearer appear on Aurisye’s flesh, identifying her as the illegitimate daughter of the last Soul Bearer, a hero who died after killing the last dragon. Or what they thought was the last dragon. But Aurisye is not a mere human; she’s part Orc, making it difficult for other humans to tolerate her.
Enter Rafnor: a soldier sent by the human monarchs to teach Aurisye all things combat so that she can kill the dragon that has risen. Rafnor finds himself slowly falling for the woman, but Aurisye has built up too many walls. Can she trust Rafnor? Or is he just as appalled by her as the rest of the humans?
Clan of the Skyriders - Survivors (Skyriders #1) by Florence Phillips
Genre: New Adult Dystopian Fantasy Romance, friends-to-lovers
Publisher: Self-published
In a world with an unforgiving environment, one small group of people have survived through living according to a strict code. But then disaster strikes, and their way of life is threatened.
Efalaa was never too keen on their rules anyway, and this might be the perfect opportunity to get away. But can she leave Morgunn behind?
It’s a delightful story, with a good friends-to-lovers romance and some nice excitement here and there. And they ride giant birds, which is pretty cool.
Captive Prince (Captive Prince #1) by C.S. Pacat
Genre: Adult Historical Fantasy Romance, LGBTQ
Publisher: Viking: Penguin
Damen goes from being a warrior hero and the rightful heir to the throne of Akielos to captured and stripped of his identity after his half-brother seizes power. He’s sent to serve the prince of an enemy nation as a pleasure slave.
His new master, Prince Laurant, is the epitome of the worst of the court at Vere. Damen finds himself caught up in a play for the throne, and he needs to work together with Laurant to survive and save his country.
Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood #1) by J.R. Ward
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance, Vampires
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Wrath, the only purebred vampire left and leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood has a settle to score with his parents’ slayers. But his most trusted fighter is killed, leaving behind a half-breed daughter whose utterly unaware of her heritage. So, Wrath must put down his dagger and usher the woman called Beth into another world.
Beth feels helpless against Wrath, the dangerously sexy man who comes to her at night. Yet his tales of the Brotherhood and blood frighten her.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Genre: Adult Historical Fantasy Romance, Mythology, LGBTQ
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Patroclus was exiled to the court of King Peleus and his son Achilles. They soon become friends, and as they grow into skilled young men, their bond blossoms into something more profound. But then Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, and Achilles is sent to travel to Troy.
Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus journeys with him, not knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.
Radiance (Wraith Kings #1) by Grace Draven
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Grace Draven
Prince Brishen has lived a pretty content life as the spare heir to the throne. A political alliance with the human kingdom of Gaur sees him married to a Gauri woman, and Brishen agrees.
However, he discovers his bride is both as ugly as he expected and more beautiful than he imagined. Ildiko, the new bride to the prince, leaves behind everything she knows to embrace a man shrouded in darkness but with a soul forged by light.
Affairs of the Dead (The Reanimation Files #1) by A.J. Locke
Genre: Adult Urban Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Etopia Press
Selene Vanream is a necromancer who helps ghosts settle their affairs so they can move on. But then she breaks some rules, and she’s bumped down to just tracking ghosts who’re trying to avoid the afterlife. One of those ghosts is Ethan Lance, who claims he was kicked out of his body when someone else jumped in.
But that just isn’t possible.
Then the whole mess puts Selene’s life in danger, and she needs to get Ethan’s body back. Between her comfortable relationship with Micah, her partner, and problems with her boss, Selene finds out how much trouble it causes to break the rules.
Ascension (Tangled Axon #1) by Jacqueline Koyanagi
Genre: Adult Sci-Fi Fantasy Romance, LGBTQ
Publisher: Masque Books
Alana Quick is an amazing sky surgeon, but repairing starship engines barely pays the bills. So, when a crew stops by her shipyard looking for her spiritually advanced sister Nova, Alana stows away, hoping to get a long-term gig on the crew.
But it proves to be more challenging than she thought. Let alone that she can’t keep her eyes off the beautiful captain. There’s little time for romance, however. Nova is in danger.
Venomous (Alien Warrior #1) by Penelope Fletcher
Genre: Adult Sci-Fi Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Stephenson & Fletcher
Lumen finds herself shackled, naked, and put on display before an alien horde when she was abducted from Earth and transported to a slave planet. The males will battle for the right to slake their lusts with her body. One of these males is Venomous One: a warrior who has given up hope of returning to his homeworld and finding a life mate.
And so he claims Lumen after winning her by Right of Might. He vows to protect her and be a good provider, no matter how ugly her human appearance is. Together, they face space pirates, the condemnation of an alien government, galactic war, and an even deadlier threat from within the warrior’s own kindred.
YA Fantasy Romance
A Curse So Dark and Lonely (Cursebreakers #1) by Brigid Kemmerer
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance, Fairy Tale retellings Beauty and the Beast
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
Harper has learned to survive with her father gone, her mother dying, and her brother constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy. But when she tries to save a stranger on the streets of Washington DC, she’s pulled into a magical world. She doesn’t know what to believe: a prince? A curse? A monster?
A powerful enchantress cursed Prince Rhen to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year. He thought the solution would be easy: get a girl to fall for him. But then he turned into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction and destroyed his castle, family, any last shred of hope.
But with Harper, Rhen realizes she’s is not just another girl to charm, and his hope comes back. However, it might take more than breaking a curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from total ruin.
Graceling (Graceling Realm #1) by Kristin Cashore
Genre: YA Adventure Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Harcourt
Katsa is a Graceling: one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. Hers? To kill a man with her bare hands. As the niece of the king, she should live a life of privilege, but instead, she’s forced to work as the king’s thug.
Things get more complicated when she falls in love with the beautiful Prince Po. And even more so as she starts to uncover the truths behind her Grace and the terrible secret that lies hidden far away. It could destroy all seven kingdoms with only a word.
Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance, Fairy tale retellings Snow White, LGBTQ
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Mina has no mother and a vicious magician for a father. Her heart has never beat with love—or beaten at all for that matter. She never knew her father cut out her heart and replaced it with glass. When Mina meets the king for the first time, she has a plan: win the king’s heart, become queen, and finally know love. But she would have to become a stepmother.
Lynet, the daughter, looks just like her late mother. At her father’s order, a magician created her out of snow in the dead queen’s image. Lynet would rather be like her fierce and regal stepmother. She gets her wish when her father makes her Queen of the southern territories, displacing Mina.
Now Mina looks at Lynet with something like hatred. And thus, the strive between them starts: only one can win everything, and the other will lose it all. Or can they reshape themselves and their story?
Crier's War (Crier's War #1) by Nina Varela
Genre: YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy Romance, LGBTQ
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Two girls: one human, one Made. One impossible love. After the War of Kinds, the Automae—the playthings of royals—took over their owners’ estates and bent the human race to their will. Now, Ayla is a servant rising the ranks and dreaming of avenging her family’s death by killing the Sovereign’s daughter: Lady Crier.
Crier is Made to be beautiful, flawless, and take over from her father. She’d prepared to do just that, but that was before she was betrothed to Scyre, who seems to have a thousand secrets. Not unlike her father. And that was before she met Ayla.
Of Fire and Stars (Of Fire and Stars #1) by Audrey Coulthurst
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance, LGBTQ
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Princess Dennaleia has been betrothed to the prince of Mynaria since childhood. The alliance would protect her people from other hostile lands. But Denna has a secret: possession of an Affinity for fire. It’s a dangerous gift in a kingdom where magic is forbidden. She has to learn the ways of her new home while hiding her growing magic at the same time.
To make matters worse, the unconventional princess Amaranthine, the sister of her betrothed, is very intimidating. But when a shocking assassination happens, Mare and Denna are forced to join forces to find the culprit.
However, they find themselves growing closer, and a blossoming friendship threatens to become something more. Feelings that could be deadly if acting upon.
The Wild Orchid: A Retelling of The Ballad of Mulan by Cameron Dokey
Genre: YA Historical Fantasy Romance, Fairy tale retellings
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Mulan can wield a sword as deftly as an embroidery needle. When the emperor summons a great army, and each family must send a male to fight, Mulan is determined to spare her father and bring her family honor. So she disguises herself and answers the call.
She never expected to find a friend and soulmate in the commander of her division: Prince Jian. Is she brave enough to share her true identity and feelings with the prince?
Girls of Paper and Fire (Girls of Paper and Fire #1) by Natasha Ngan
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance, LGBTQ
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson Books
Each year, eight girls are chosen as Paper Girls to serve the king. It’s both the highest honor and the most demeaning. But this year, there’s a ninth girl. And she’s made of fire.
Lei is still haunted by the image of her mother being snatched away by royal guards into an unknown fate when the guards come for her: the girl with the golden eyes whose beauty piqued the king’s interest. After weeks of training in the palace, the unthinkable happens: Lei falls in love.
But it’s a forbidden romance that becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens her world’s entire way of life.
Daughter of the Forest (Sevenwaters #1) by Juliet Marillier
Genre: YA Historical Fantasy Romance, Fairy tale retelling
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Sorcha is the seventh child and only daughter of Lord Colum of Sevenwaters. Sorcha is the light in her brothers’ lives. But her joy is shattered when her father is bewitched by his new wife, an evil enchantress who binds her brothers with a terrible spell. Sorcha can lift it, but only by staying silent. If she speaks before she completes the quest set by the Fair Folk and their queen, the Lady of the Forest, she will lose her brothers forever.
But when the enemies of Sevenwaters kidnap Sorcha, she is torn between the desire to save her beloved brothers and a love that comes only once.
Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days #1) by Susan Ee
Genre: YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton
It’s been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world—street gangs rule by day, and fear rules by night. The warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, and her sister Penryn will do anything to get her back. So she makes a deal with an enemy angel.
Raffe is a broken and wingless warrior, and he finds himself rescued by the half-starved teenage girl. Together, they journey toward the angels’ stronghold in San Francisco, where Penryn will risk everything to save her sister. Raffe puts himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies, only for the chance to be made whole again.
Those were the best Fantasy Romance books
In my opinion. And it’s definitely not a complete list.
I hope you enjoyed this list with the best Fantasy Romance books for adult and young adults!
Which one drew your eye?
Any book you’re particularly excited about reading?
Or have read?
I’d love to know your thoughts!
And, if you’re missing a book on this list that you feel should be on here, please let me know.
