Best Romantasy Books to Read Right Now

Looking for your next romantasy read? Here's a curated list of the best romantasy books worth picking up right now, across different tropes and tones.

7/22/20263 min read

Books and coffee sit together on a chair.
Books and coffee sit together on a chair.

Best Romantasy Books to Read Right Now

Romantasy has exploded over the last few years, which means there's no shortage of options — but also no shortage of overhyped disappointments. Here's a curated list organized by trope and tone, so you can find your next read based on what you're actually craving, not just what's trending.

This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

If You Want Fae Courts and Political Intrigue

Look for romantasy set across rival fae courts, where alliances shift constantly and the romance is tangled up with political stakes. This sub-style tends to reward readers who enjoy slow-building trust between characters who start as political rivals rather than instant allies.

Try: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas — the book widely credited with kickstarting the modern romantasy boom, following a huntress dragged into the political world of the Fae after killing a wolf in the woods.

Amazon link: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

If You Want a Brutal War College Setting

For readers who loved the survival-school setup of Fourth Wing, look for romantasy set in military or magical academies with real physical stakes — not just social drama, but genuine danger tied to failing or dropping out.

Try: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros — one of the biggest BookTok phenomenons in the genre's history, following a cadet forced into the deadliest dragon-rider academy in her kingdom. Read our full review here.

Amazon link: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

If You Want Slow-Burn Enemies to Lovers

This is the trope most associated with the genre, but execution varies wildly. The best examples build tension through repeated forced proximity and gradually shifting trust, rather than the characters simply deciding to like each other partway through.

Try: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black — often cited as the series that defined the modern faerie romantasy renaissance, following a human girl scheming her way to power in a treacherous Faerie court against the vicious prince who tormented her.

Amazon link: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

If You Want Morally Gray Love Interests

For readers drawn to love interests who aren't clearly "good," look for romantasy where the love interest's morality is genuinely ambiguous throughout, not just brooding on the surface while secretly being safe and heroic underneath.

Try: From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout — following a sheltered "Maiden" bound for a sacred ritual whose world (and heart) is upended by her secretive, dangerous new guard.

Amazon link: From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

If You Want Fated Mates

The fated mates trope divides readers — some love the instant, undeniable pull; others prefer romance built purely through choice. If you're in the first camp, look for books that still give the relationship room to develop emotionally, rather than treating the "fated" bond as a shortcut past character development.

Try: Quicksilver by Callie Hart — following a young woman bound by fate to a powerful, brooding Fae warrior as she navigates a centuries-old conflict where her magic becomes both weapon and liability.

Amazon link: Quicksilver by Callie Hart

If You Want Higher Stakes, Lower Spice

Not every romantasy reader wants explicit content — plenty of the genre's best books keep romantic tension high while keeping content on the closed-door side. If that's your preference, look specifically for reviews mentioning "low spice" or "closed door" before picking up a new title.

Try: Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber — a fairytale-inspired romantasy following a girl who strikes a dangerous bargain to win back the life she thought she'd have, with tension-heavy romance and minimal explicit content.

Amazon link: Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

If You Want Something Darker and More Political

For readers who want romantasy with real political weight and a bleaker tone (closer to the overlap between romantasy and dark fantasy), look for series built around court betrayal, war, and morally complicated rule rather than pure romance-forward plotting.

Try: Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco — following a witch who summons a powerful demon prince to help hunt her sister's killer, blending dark magic, political scheming, and slow-burn tension.

Amazon link: Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

How to Find Your Next Read Without Overhyped Disappointments

  • Search by trope, not just genre. "Enemies to lovers romantasy" gets far better, more specific results than "romantasy books."

  • Check spice level before starting, especially if content preferences matter to you — most romantasy communities tag this clearly in reviews.

  • Read the first chapter before committing to a full series purchase, especially for longer trilogies.

Final Thoughts

The best romantasy pick depends entirely on which version of the genre you're craving — political fae courts, brutal war colleges, or something darker and more morally complex. Rather than chasing whatever's trending on BookTok this week, matching the book to the specific trope and tone you actually want tends to lead to far fewer disappointing reads.