Most fans of thefantasyand romance genres are well aware of the tropes and formulas that authors use. This is what makes it so exciting when writers subvert expectations and spin a tale about the darkest parts of love. In all of these books, the protagonist finds themselves drawn to the dangerous villains of the piece, who are as alluring as they are duplicitous. Even though these characters know the antagonists can’t be trusted and might have awful plans for the world,this doesn’t change the budding romance between them and the explosive tension that emerges.
Many of theupcoming romantasy books to readincorporate these interesting twists on the classic romantasy narratives that see the protagonist and hero end up together. Though not every main character ends up with the villain in the end, they do more than dabble with the dark side before the stories are over. These writers understand that forbidden love and enemies-to-lovers tropes are popular for a reason and are a great opportunity to shake up the genre, giving readers something to talk about.
10Shadow And Bone (2012)
Written by Leigh Bardugo
After living most of her life thinking that she isn’t special or meant for greatness, Alina Starkov, the protagonist of Leigh Bardugo’sShadow and Boneseries, unlocks her power. The long-awaited Sun Summoner, Alina, is whisked away to a training ground for Grisha, the magical beings of the story, and encounters the Darkling. As the books progress,it becomes clear that Alina was always meant to fight against him, but this doesn’t stop her from feeling his pull.
Though Alina and the Darkling don’t end up together, their romantic arc inShadow and Boneis one of the most compelling and forbidden parts of the first book.
Bardugo’s follow-up duology,Six of Crows, is just as engaging, asSix of Crowshas one of the best romantasy enemies-to-lovers arcs. However, inShadow and Bone, the Darkling isn’t Alina’s enemy yet. Despite this, she knows in her heart it’s right to fear him, even if the power inside her knows that he can match her. Though Alina and the Darkling don’t end up together, their romantic arc inShadow and Boneis one of the most compelling and forbidden parts of the first book.
Shadow and Bone
2012
Siege and Storm
2013
Ruin and Rising
2014
9The Contortionist (2020)
Written by Kathryn Ann Kingsley
Cora Glass is a classic romance protagonist, as she’s easy for the reader to empathize with and see themselves in. She’s a great window into the world of theHarrow Faireseries because she’s never encountered the world of magic and mayhem that sucks her in through the wonderful and terrible circus.Using a dark carnival or circus is an iconic tropewithin the fantasy genre, andThe Contortionistuses this formula effectively.
The author, Kathryn Ann Kingsley, is known for writing dark fantasy stories where the villain is as entrancing and attractive as he is dangerous. In theHarrow Faireseries, it’s interesting to see Cora and the world develop alongside each other, and Kingsley isn’t afraid to leave the reader on a shocking cliffhanger.Though Simon, her love interest, is undeniably unhinged, he’s a compelling characterto get to know alongside Cora.
2020
8The Serpent And The Wings Of Night (2022)
Written by Carissa Broadbent
Carissa Broadbent might not be quite as well known within romantasy circles as Sarah J. Maas or Rebecca Yarros. However, she’s been putting out some of the most consistent fantasy romance stories of the past few decades. Her recentCrowns of Nyaxiaseries begins withThe Serpent and the Wings of Night,a vampiric tale that follows Oraya as she attempts to navigate the world of bloodthirsty killersto which she belongs. Out of all the many vampire kingdoms she inhabits, Raihn might be the most formidable enemy.
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However,Oraya also knows that Raihn developed this skill for killing through training and practice,and she needs this expertise as she prepares to enter the fight of her life. Oraya is a great main character who draws you into the story because she has clear wants and goals, and Raihn just happens to be one of these desires.The Serpent and the Wings of Nightis action-packed and full of fight sequences that uplift the dangerous romance angle.
The Serpent and the Wings of Night
2022
2023
2024
7King Of Battle And Blood (2021)
Written by Scarlett St. Clair
Marrying a vampire is a dangerous business, especially for Isolde,Scarlett St. Clair’s determined protagonist who hates nothing more than the undead. However, marrying Adrian, the vampire king, is a means to an end for Isolde, who plans to cut down the vampiric king and get her revenge. Unfortunately, things don’t go according to plan, and Isolde is forced to learn how to survive in his court or risk becoming a vampire herself.
Like all thebest romance book series about vampires,King of Battle and Bloodtackles the passion and hunger of the genre, especially in the moments when the tension between Isolde and Adrian heats up.King of Battle and Bloodis a spice-forward romantasy bookthat dives headfirst into the chemistry between Isolde and Adrian. However, there’s still a strong enough plot to propel the story forward and give readers something to invest in.
King of Battle and Blood
2021
Queen of Myth and Monsters
6Kingdom Of The Wicked (2020)
Written by Kerri Maniscalco
Emilia is a powerful witch who hides her identity from the humans around her for her safety and theirs. However, her twin sister isn’t so lucky, andKingdom of the Wickedbegins with her gruesome murder, leaving Emilia devastated. To solve her murder and get her revenge,Emilia will have to align herself with a demon, Wrath, who claims to be on her side.Though making a deal with the devil is dangerous, Emilia dives headfirst into this challenge.
Teaming up with a prince of hell doesn’t seem like a good idea to Emilia, but she doesn’t have much of a choice, and Wrath has a certain undeniable charm.
Teaming up with a prince of hell doesn’t seem like a good idea to Emilia, but she doesn’t have much of a choice, and Wrath has a certain undeniable charm. As theKingdom of the Wickedseries progresses, Emilia learns the truth about Wrath and the deceitful kingdom he comes from, but that doesn’t stop her from wanting him. Full of betrayals, dark magic, and explorations of hell itself, theKingdom of the Wickedseries shows that Kerri Maniscalco knows romantasy.
Kingdom of the Wicked
Kingdom of the Cursed
Kingdom of the Feared
5Throne In The Dark (2022)
Written by A K Caggiano
Throne in the Darkthrows a wrench into the perfectly terrible and calculated dark plans of its protagonist, Damien Maleficus Bloodthorne,who’s as dangerous as his name suggests. However, Amma, a thief who puts herself right in the middle of Damien’s evil plan, makes him start to question who he is and what he wants. A classic case of opposites attract,Throne in the Darksees Damien and Amma soften each other and build trust along the way.
Taking grump-sunshine to its extreme, a half-demon and an aggressively cheerful human make for the perfect pairinThrone in the Dark. Though the first book in theVillains & Virtuesseries is a slow burn, the remaining installments explore where their relationship goes and how Damien and Amma change each other for the better. ThoughThrone in the Darkisn’t the most spicy romantasy book out there, it still scratches the same itch.
Throne in the Dark
Summoned to the Wilds
Eclipse of the Crown
4Furyborn (2018)
Written by Claire Legrand
Claire Legrand intertwines two timelines inFurybornas two women lead parallel lives of romance and rebellion spanning generations.Rielle and Eliana might live in different eras, but they face similar challengesand are prophesied to rise and become queens. There are many exciting plot points that rely on fate and destiny, which is a common aspect of the fantasy genre, but this doesn’t make it any less compelling, especially because both Rielle and Eliana have epic love stories on the path to fulfill their destinies.
Eliana’s love story with Simon, the mysterious and morally ambiguous character who appears in her life, brings in the right amount of villainy.
Though incorporating multiple points of view in a romantasy book can be polarizing,Furybornmakes it work because the romances are effective in different ways.Furybornis a darker addition to the romantasy genre, especially throughout Eliana’s chapters, as she’s become a bounty hunter with deadly skills. Eliana’s love story with Simon, the mysterious and morally ambiguous character who appears in her life, brings in the right amount of villainy.
2018
2019
3Uprooted (2015)
Written by Naomi Novik
Naomi Novik is a prolific fantasy writer who weaves compelling romance into her stories. However, the reason we keep returning to Novik’s work is because she crafts such compelling protagonists with clear voices and strong convictions.Agnieszka, our hero inUprooted, isn’t cowed by the harsh and selfish ways of the Dragon,the wizard who takes her from her home and makes her work for him as his apprentice. This helps put them on an equal footing when their relationship takes a sudden turn.
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While there are plenty of classic fantasy novels that are perfect to revisit today, many modern additions are on track to join the fantasy canon.
Novik also penned one of thebest fantasy books about magic school,A Deadly Education, the first in theScholomancetrilogy. However,Uprootedis an incredibly satisfying romantasy book because it isn’t the first in the series, telling the full love story of its characters by the end of the novel. Agnieszka has a life and story of her own, andshe comes to understand why the Dragon hid himself away and became a villain, but she doesn’t let him off the hook for his actions.
2Cruel Beauty (2014)
Written by Rosamund Hodge
Ignifex is the tyrannical and unforgiving ruler of Nyx’s world inCruel Beauty, and she was born to hate and kill him, not get sucked into his entrancing world.Rosamund Hodge’sCruel Beautyis a fantastical retelling ofBeauty and the Beast,but it updates this classic tale with elements of fictionalized Greek and Roman history. The setting of Igifnex’s castle is a fantastic backdrop for the story, as it’s a magical and winding place for Nyx to explore.
The atmosphere ofCruel Beautyis one of the best parts of the story, as it immerses the reader in Nyx’s world and shows how easy it is to be sucked into the charm and dark promise of the magical kingdom.
The atmosphere ofCruel Beautyis one of the best parts of the story, as it immerses the reader in Nyx’s world and shows how easy it is to be sucked into the charm and dark promise of the magical kingdom. While the arranged marriage trope is everywhere in the romantasy genre, it doesn’t feel out of place inCruel Beautyor take the reader out of the narrative. Though the dynamic between Nyx and Ignifex is fraught, it’s impossible not to get invested.
1Bow Before The Elf Queen (2022)
Written by J. M. Kearl
J.M. Kearl, the author ofBow Before the Elf Queen, clearly has a lot of love for classicfantasy, as the novel is in conversation with some of the best works of the genre. However,Bow Before the Elf Queentakes some of the mythology and lore that makes these familiar works so popular and infuses them with forbidden romance. While romantasy books that center on villainous love stories often have an element of the forbidden,Bow Before the Elf Queentakes this even further.
Layala, the protagonist, has always known the Elf King was coming, and she was ready to strike him down and get her revenge. However,they each have secrets that simultaneously push them apart and make their attraction all the more undeniable.Kearl has mentioned that the legends of Hades and Persephone inspiredBow Before the Elf Queen, and this is clear in every moment of the story. Though Thane, the villainous love interest, seems like the ultimate evil, his redemption is satisfying.
