10 Romantasy Books That Are Perfect From The First Page To The Last

Some of the best romantasies in the genre, based on fan-favorite selections, include A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sara J. Maas and Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. There’s no doubt that both have strengths that appeal to a wide audience. However, I wanted to highlight some books that don’t get nearly as much appreciation. These ten underappreciated and underrated books are perfect from the first page to the last, providing top-notch entertainment and characters to invest in.

10 Tales of the Monstrous Heart by Jennifer Delaney

Most romances feel modern, but Tales of the Monstrous Heart feels like the perfect blend of Gothic fantasy, romance, and dark academia. It’s deeply reminiscent of Jane Eyre. The story follows Kat, a half-fey scholar living in a society prejudiced against fey. She’s lovable and fierce, making it easy to invest in her. She forms a mage partnership with the brooding, traumatized Lord Emery. These two share the ultimate “nerdmance,” where they respect and find each other’s intellect attractive.

Besides crafting a compelling story and lovable characters, the romantasy book masterfully builds emotional intimacy and yearning between two characters. The slow-burn romance enables character growth and bolsters the main couple, making sensual scenes more earned. Combined with the atmospheric ambiance, it keeps readers engaged from start to finish.

9 For Whom The Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn

For Whom the Belle Tolls is one of the most refreshing books I’ve read in a long time because the story features love interests with surprisingly healthy relationship dynamics. In the book, Lily dies and discovers the afterlife is filled with fantastical beings such as deities, fae, and souls. She explores the realm and finds herself drawn to Hell, where she takes on a job sending demons to the right circles.

Lily develops strong friendships with women who build each other up. She finds herself drawn to Bel, a sexy demon, with whom she develops a slow-burn romance. The two are both openly bisexual without any internalized biphobia or self-hatred, which is incredibly refreshing. Lily and Bel have open communication about fear, trauma, and their desires. Ultimately, when the spicy scenes happen, they feel earned and mutually beneficial.

8 This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede

The romantasy series The Vicious Grace follows Alessa, who has a gift from the god meant to enhance the magic of her romantic partner, but it’s unintentionally killing every romantic suitor. A group of vicious demons will destroy her island if she doesn’t find a partner, so a priest convinces the faithful soldiers to assassinate her. Alessa hires Dante to protect her and help her hone her power.

Anyone who enjoys rom-com repartee, strong chemistry, and dark comedy will enjoy This Vicious Grace. The worldbuilding is strong, and the fact that Alessa is trying to stop the apocalypse increases the stakes. On top of everything else, I enjoy the prose quite a bit, with descriptions that draw on the senses.

7 Charmed And Dangerous by Shelly Page

Cozy romantasy has grown in popularity over the years. The book Charmed and Dangerous is a perfect sapphic romance that embraces the low-stakes cozy feeling that makes the genre comforting. The story follows a teen mystic trying to solve a love-charm mystery throughout her high school, including by faking a relationship with her boss’s daughter.

Charmed and Dangerous has a 90s romcom vibe with a sapphic fantasy twist. It’s a great opposites-attract romance with strong chemistry and a black cat/golden retriever dynamic. The masc-and-femme lesbian romance will bring all the warm fuzzies, and it’s a perfect romantasy choice for younger readers and those who prefer a heartwarming, clean romance.

6 Reign & Ruin by J.D. Evans

Reign & Ruin is a deeply underappreciated romantasy that provides everything necessary to captivate audiences. Inspired by Middle Eastern and Ottoman Empire cultures, the story follows Naime, the heir to the Sultanate in the kingdom of Tamar and a brilliant mage. She’s being pressured into marrying someone in the nobility. Meanwhile, Prince Makram is the leader of the military in the neighboring kingdom and a formidable mage. Hoping to make an alliance, he travels to Tamar, where he meets Naime and romance begins.

Rather than having a single perspective, Reign & Ruin uses dual POV, and each character has a distinctive voice. The story includes plenty of political intrigue and scheming, adding drama. The strong magic system keeps audiences interested in the fantasy. On top of everything else, the prose in Reign & Ruin is flowery but not over the top or distracting.

5 A Rival Most Vial: Potioneering for Love and Profit by R.K. Ashwick

The cozy romantasy book A Rival Most Vial: Potioneering for Love and Profit is a fun enemies-to-lovers story between the owners of two potion shops. The half-elf Ambrose Beake runs the only potion shop in the city, making him the go-to for everything magical. However, everything changes when a handsome new shopkeeper named Eli opens a potion shop across the street, creating a heated rivalry.

Within the first few weeks, the two become engaged in a business war, with Ambrose’s knowledge being pitted against Eli’s charisma. However, love turns to hate when the mayor forces them to work together on a potion. Ambrose and Eli are absolutely swoonworthy, and their contrasting personalities make for an entertaining dynamic. Both go through incredible character arcs that feel satisfying. Plus, the worldbuilding feels extremely detailed, sucking audiences into the D&D-esque world.

4 The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a creative reimagining of classic Korean folklore in a truly beautiful and magical story. Mina’s homeland gets completely destroyed by deadly storms, and her community believes the Sea god is punishing them with death and suffering. Each year, a young maiden is sacrificed to the sea, believing that one day a “true bride” will end the pain. In an attempt to save her brother and his beloved, Mina throws herself in and is swept into the Spiritual Realm.

The story has a Ghibli-esque magical ambiance, making the entire journey feel as if it could exist in folklore. The romance in The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea uses the Korean “red string of fate” belief. Ultimately, the book stands out for its brilliant writing and incredible worldbuilding.

3 A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair

The romantasy book A Touch of Darkness reimagines the myth of Persephone and Hades, and it’s a delightful read. In the story, Persephone, a journalism student, enjoys her freedom in New Athens. However, she retains that freedom only if she agrees not to associate with the gods. One night, she attends Nevernight, Hades’ nightclub, where Persephone strikes a deal with the god of the underworld, complicated only by her growing attraction.

Because A Touch of Darkness is such a short book, it won’t take long to enjoy the romantasy. For those who enjoy spicy romantasies, A Touch of Darkness includes plenty of steamy moments, though they don’t kick in until the last section of the book. This allows plenty of time for character development and the romantic connection to grow. They develop strong chemistry, making it clear why Hades and Persephone would fall for each other.

2 The Dragon Next Door by Vanessa Ricci-Thode

The asexual sapphic romantasy The Dragon Next Door is one of the absolute most entertaining books, complete with a baby dragon that’s too cute for words. Set in a queernormative world, the story follows an aquamancer mercenary named Tollar who steals a dragon egg to return to his kin; however, the egg hatches and imprints on her. She enlists the help of her pyromancer best friend, Beleena, to keep the dragon alive.

In the dragon story, Tollar and Beleena are absolute badass women, which makes their more nurturing side an unexpected side of their personalities, but it works. Additionally, it’s sweet to see them finally start to admit to themselves that they love each other. Ultimately, the adorable story is part cozy romantasy, part found family story, and part low-stakes adventure.

1 The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst

After spending time as a wooden statue, Terlu Perna wakes up in the dead of winter on an almost deserted magical island filled with greenhouses. Starving and cold, Terlu discovers the only other person on the island is a grumpy gardener, Yarrow. The two must work together to save the island, and this leads them down the path of romance. The duo has the perfect sunshine-and-grumpy relationship dynamic.

Aside from the lovely cozy romance, the world in The Spellshop book series feels extremely well-developed. The sentient plants and the sorcerer add to the feeling of wonder. From start to end, The Enchanted Greenhouse is a delight, and the good news is that anyone who loves the romantasy has one more book already out and another one on the way at the end of July.