Move over crime and thriller, there's a new book genre on the block and we're loving it. If you've been in a bookshop or on public transport lately, you might have noticed people glued to their copy of A Court of Thorns and Roses, £4.98 / $12 (also referred to as ACOTAR) - a Beauty and The Beast-inspired novel that has taken over the bestseller charts.
The popularity of this series marked a complete boom in 'romantasy', a genre that takes everything we love about a good romance novel and puts it in an incredibly detailed fantasy world where the normal rules simply don't apply.
From fae kings, enemies-to-lovers, epic battles and imaginary worlds, to spicy scenes that will have you hot under the collar, this list is the best place to start if you've seen the romantasy hype and want to jump on the bandwagon.
There's a mix of the classic romantasy books everybody should read, as well as the latest releases and I'm here to guide you.
- If you loved ACOTAR: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, £11 / $16
- Spiciest read: Dire Bound by Sable Sorensen, £11 / $29
- Best enemies-to-lovers arc: The Crimson Moth by Kristen Ciccarelli, £12 / $11
- Sweetest romance: Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett, £16 / $15
- Best fantasy world: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, £19 / $11
- Best love triangle: Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer, £13 / $16
- Strongest heroine: Phantasma by Kaylie Smith, £20 / $24
How I chose the best romantasy books
- Reviews: I read around a hundred books every year and 90 per cent of those are romance, fantasy, or romantasy (who wants to read about real life anyway?!). Every book on this list made me gasp out loud, blush, kick my feet in excitement or all three, and offered something fresh to the world of romantasy.
- Paperback / audio options: I don't want anything to get in the way of you reading these incredible fantasy books, so if you prefer to listen to your books, Audible has you covered.
- Popularity: Don't just take my word for it – these books have been charting up a storm on the bestseller lists and, of course, over BookTok.
The best romantasy books for 2026
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
© Bloomsbury PublishingHELLO! Reviews:
"If you found your way here from the A Court of Thornes and Roses series, then I highly recommend reading Sarah J. Maas' first book, Throne of Glass. The book's protagonist, Celaena, is an assassin, and watching her character progress as the book continues is extremely satisfying.
"Readers will be swept into an immersive world of balls, castles, princes and romance, and there is also the backdrop of a vicious tournament between thieves and murderers, where everything is to be gained or lost."
What's It About? Assassin Celaena Sardothien is serving a prison sentence in the mines of Endovier when she is given a chance to win her freedom by entering a deadly tournament to find the greatest assassin in the land, and become the king's champion.
She is beautiful, deadly, and destined for greatness, but nothing in the castle – including Celaena herself – is what it seems.
Listen on Audible UK / Listen on Audible US
Dire Bound by Sable Sorensen
© Wayward TxFHELLO! Reviews:
"This book was an absolute breath of fresh air. A complicated heroine who was actually likeable, a well-built fantasy world, and enough plot twists to drop your jaw mid-page."
What's It About? This spicy, page-turning military romantasy follows Meryn Cooper as she enlists in the army when her sister is kidnapped. Meryn becomes part of the lethal Bonding Trials in a desperate bid to save her sister, where a single mistake could cost her life. Now Meryn must survive four months of training at the castle. She is bound to a feral direwolf who refuses to communicate, and the other trainees would love to spill her common blood. Meanwhile, her cold and beautiful instructor, Stark Therion, is eager to punish any weakness.
Dire Bound excels in its characters and plotting, and the smut in this book will certainly have you blushing. There's simmering tension, a male main character who puts other dark and brooding heroes to shame, and an incredible chemistry between main characters that makes this romantasy very hard to put down.
And if you love Dire Bound just as much as I do, fear not! The sequel, Fury Bound, drops on 5 May so you don't have long to wait for the story to continue.
Listen on Audible UK / Listen on Audible US
The Crimson Moth by Kristen Ciccarelli
© MagpieHELLO! Reviews:
"A romance between a witch and a witch hunter is the perfect place to start if you're looking for your next enemies-to-lovers fix. Rune is the best heroine if you like your main characters to enjoy fashion and also saving the world.
"Gideon is a MMC whose personality goes beyond being surly and brooding, which is a rare thing in a romantasy novel. He's conflicted, has plenty of backstory and can't seem to get over his infuriating attraction to Rune.
"Both books in this duology are out now, so you don't even have to wait for the sequel!"
What's It About? In this world, witches used to be in power before a revolution changed everything. Now witches are persecuted, and their very survival balances on a knife edge.
Rune is a socialite by day, and a vigilante called the Crimson Moth by night, saving her fellow witches from the clutches of witch hunters – like Gideon Sharpe. Gideon has his own reasons for being a witch hunter, but when he starts pursing the Crimson Moth, Rune has to act to keep her identity hidden.
Listen on Audible UK / Listen on Audible US
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
© OrbitHELLO! Reviews:
"If you're a fan of light or dark academia, then Emily Wilde is a must-read. She is a brilliant heroine, wonderfully awkward around humankind and happiest when in the company of her dog and books.
"The story is written through Emily's diaries, which adds plenty of intrigue about our heroine's perspective on matters.
"If you're looking for something more light-hearted with an adventurous flair, then this is the book for you."
What's It About? Emily Wilde is a Cambridge professor who has little tolerance for people and a lifelong obsession with faeries. This light and enchanting fantasy series sees Emily journey north to study the Fair Folk, hoping to make her discoveries in peace.
However, no such luck for Emily, who is soon joined by her academic rival Wendell Bambleby. Wendell quickly charms the locals, muddles Emily's research and cause her much frustration – being unbearably handsome whilst doing so.
Despite his cavalier manner, Emily soon discovers there is more to Wendell – and the faerie population in the north – than meets the eye.
Listen on Audible UK / Listen on Audible US
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
© PiatkusHELLO! Reviews:
"Having a heroine with a chronic illness is a rare choice in fantasy but certainly adds nuance to Violet's character. She is small, frail, and prone to pain and injuries, which don't serve her well in the Riders Quadrant, where survival is the only focus.
"Fourth Wing is the ideal read for fans of training sequences, academy or school settings, dragons and spicy scenes. This is a good one to start after A Court of Thorns and Roses as it plays with different elements of romantasy – besides, who doesn't love a book about dragons?"
What's It About? This multi-million copy bestseller follows Violet Sorrengail, a young girl whose mother and commanding general forces her to join the Riders Quadrant, where candidates learn to ride dragons.
Not only are the other candidates out for Violet's blood, she must also contend with her wingleader, Xaden Riorson, who is not Violet's number one fan. Can she survive to graduation?
Listen on Audible UK / Listen on Audible US
Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer
© HarperVoyagerHELLO! Reviews:
"Warrior Princess Assassin is a great read, not only because of its steamy nature, but also because of the fascinating dynamic between its three main characters. It's a love triangle that evolves beyond the cliché, and leaves readers begging the question: why choose?
"Spicy moments aside, this book also takes place in a really interesting political landscape, where war could threaten all parties. Brigid Kemmerer is a well-established romantasy author, so you know you'll be in safe hands with this one."
What's It About? This bestseller focuses on three main characters whose fates combine when Princess Jory is betrothed to King Maddox Kyronan in order to save both their kingdoms. Asher is an assassin who is given two targets – Jory, the woman he's always loved, and her husband-to-be.
Listen on Audible UK / Listen on Audible US
Phantasma by Kaylie Smith
© Second SkyHELLO! Reviews:
"This fantasy world is simply delicious in its detail and ideal if you're a fan of a dark romance. Set in New Orleans, necromancer Ophelia Grimm is the classic oldest sister: used to holding everything together, and putting herself at the bottom of the list.
"Throughout Phantasma, Ophelia is plagued by a Shadow Voice, which she learns to engage with as the story progresses and she comes into her own. Ophelia is a very competent character, which makes for exciting reading."
What's It About? When Ophelia Grimm's sister goes missing, she is faced with one option: enter Phantasma, a contest in a haunted mansion where the price of failure is death. If she wins, Ophelia will be granted a single wish – but plenty stands in the way.
Handsome and infuriating Blackwell is a mysterious stranger who offers Ophelia a bargain: his assistance through the maze in return for ten years of her life.
Ophelia must take care not to lose the game – or her heart.
Listen on Audible UK / Listen on Audible US
