Discover the best fantasy romance series of books to binge-read here. The list includes a variety of spice levels, settings, and tropes, but one thing is common: they are all insanely popular with readers worldwide! You’ll lose yourself in these popular book series in a very good way. Let’s get literary!
About Fantasy Romance Fiction Books (Also Known As “Romantasy”)
about
Fantasy romance books (also known as “romantasy”) heavily blend elements of both fantasy and romance genres. They feature imaginative worlds, magical elements, and a central love story.
In other words, fantasy romance prioritizes the romantic storyline within a fantasy setting. On the contrary, romantic fantasy focuses on the fantasy world and plot, with romance as a significant but secondary element. Both blend magic and love, but the emphasis differs.
Three fantasy romance book series that are very popular with readers worldwide are A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, and Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross.
The Best Fantasy Romance Series of All Time
A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) by Sarah J. Maas: Spicy Enemies to Lovers for Adults
Plot: A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) is the first in a bestselling fantasy romance series of five great books to escape reality by Sarah J. Maas. It is a loose re-telling of the fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast, but it expands beyond this story and offers several differences.
Feyre Archeron is a nineteen-year-old huntress who lives as a peasant with her father and two sisters, Nesta and Elain, after her mother’s death and some financial troubles.
After killing a faerie wolf, she is taken to the magical land of Prythian by a masked faerie, Tamlin, as a form of retribution. In Prythian, she discovers a world that is as beautiful as it is dangerous. She navigates her growing feelings for the powerful Tamlin and seeks a way to break a dark spell threatening the faerie and human realms.
The remaining books continue the story AND follow other characters.
Review: The writing style in ACOTAR is captivating — like poetry — and this draws you into the magical world at its core. The open-door romance scenes begin limited but grow over time, so it’s up to you whether to continue.
The fantasy world is also breathtaking, with magical “Courts” themed by seasons and time of day (i.e., Spring and Night), and, while detailed, it still doesn’t feel too complicated to learn.
For these reasons, it’s the best fantasy romance series for adults to start with.
Read More: ACOTAR Printable Bookmarks | ACOTAR Cell Phone Wallpaper | ACOTAR Character Guide | ACOTAR Map | ACOTAR Spicy Chapters | ACOTAR Quotes
Divine Rivals (Letters of Enchantment) by Rebecca Ross: Workplace Rivals Romantasy for Young Adults
Plot: This first book introduces the reader to young journalists Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt, two workplace rivals who become lovers after exchanging magical letters while covering a war between the gods, Dacre and Enva.
Ruthless Vows is the second part of the story of Iris and Roman, more deeply exploring the difficulties of war and the challenges it brings to their relationship.
Review: It’s actually romantic (beyond the “spice”) for those who love deep connections in their protagonists– like a sweeping, cinematic romance. The magical letters offer charm, and the wartime setting is also educational.
This is a good “starter” romantasy series for young adult readers. The romance burns slowly and is both limited and mild. The fantasy world-building is also very basic and easy to understand.
Reading Tip: I most highly recommend the audio version, as the reading style enhances the fantasy elements of the narrative.
Note that you absolutely must read Ruthless Vows or you will be left knowing only half of the story. It’s more like a “Part Two” than a sequel. Ultimately, the plot twists make these books unputdownable!
Read More: Letters of Enchantment Series
Fourth Wing (The Empyrean) by Rebecca Yarros: Spicy Enemies to Lovers Dark Fantasy for Adults
Plot: Violet Sorrengail is a 20-year-old resident of Navarre. Like her father, she’s about to enter Basgiath War College in the Scribe Quadrant, studying books and history. But, her mother, the General, has other plans and orders her to seek entry into the elite Riders Quadrant, which is extremely dangerous and deadly.
Violet is petite and frail, so she must fight extra hard to survive. This is especially true since people like the powerful Wingleader Xaden Riorson have it out for her.
Review: It’s a heart-stopping journey of dragon-riding plus magical powers, symbols, powerful books, a deadly bridge, a gauntlet, a Squad Battle, War Games, mythical creatures, and, of course, love. Beyond the intrigue, an overarching theme about the retelling of history begins to reveal itself.
This is a more advanced fantasy series, though beginners can still read it if they want a challenge. It’s not always spicy, but where there is romance, it’s very spicy. The fantasy world is complex, and there are a lot of characters and creatures to master as well. That said, it’s the guiltiest of all pleasures and worth it!
Reading Tip: I recommend the ebook or print format so you can take notes! (I did–lots of them.)
This series is universally successful because it balances the escapism of fantasy, romance, and dragons with the harsh realities of the real world. The books also end in massive cliffhangers that leave you with the best book hangover.
Read More About The Empyrean Series: Empyrean Series in Order | Onyx Storm Theories | Feathertail Dragons
Read More About Fourth Wing (Book 1): Fourth Wing Character List | Fourth Wing Map | Fourth Wing Book Club Guide | Fourth Wing Book Review | Quotes From Fourth Wing | Fourth Wing Cell Phone Wallpaper | Fourth Wing Spicy Chapters | Fourth Wing Printable Bookmarks
Read More About Iron Flame (Book 2): Iron Flame Book Review | Quotes from Iron Flame | Iron Flame Dragons | Iron Flame Characters | Iron Flame Signets | Iron Flame Map | Iron Flame Discussion Guide | Ending of Iron Flame |
Recap
The best fantasy romance series transports you to another world and fully immerses you in it for the span of more than one book you can’t put down. To recap and help you decide what to read first or next, the top 3 are:
- A Court of Thorns and Roses: for adults who want an easy-to-follow and somewhat spicy faerie tale
- Divine Rivals: for young adults (and adults) who want a mythological and magical story of true love during a time of war
- Fourth Wing: for adults who want a spicy, raw, complex, and action-packed dark adventure about love, war, and talking dragons
