In the book world, the term romantasy is a notoriously slippery designation. Is it a genre? A subgenre? A hybrid? Does it matter?
 
Also referred to with squishy terms like fantasy romance and romantic fantasy (helpful, no?), the concept refers to books that combine elements of the romance novel with the setting and tropes of fantasy literature—epic, urban, cozy, what have you. It might be a standard fantasy superstructure with a handful of super-spicy scenes and real-world swear words. It might be a more heavily romance-driven plotline dropped into a fantasy setting. Or it might just be a witchy rom-com. (We find that the covers tend to give away whether the book tilts more heavily toward the fantasy or the romance, erm, end of things.)
 
Whatever the case, the adult fantasy romance thing is enjoying a surge in recent months, largely due to one particular book. Let’s just say this collection is, in part, for those wondering what to read until the Fourth Wing sequel comes out in November.
 
Otherwise, we’re cutting a very broad swath through the general concept with this collection. The books gathered here reach back a few years, to as early as 2019, but overall the list is heavily weighted toward 2023 books, with some forthcoming titles through the first few months of 2024 at the end. You’ll find titles from romantasy godmothers like Jennifer L. Armentrout and Sarah J. Maas, along with love stories of varying intensity featuring witches, vampires, fae folk, angels, demons, and the occasional occult investigator.
 
Oh! And we'd be remiss not to add that next year STEMinist romance specialist Ali Hazelwood crosses over to the romantasy side with a vampire/werewolf romance. Didn’t see that one coming. Click through the cover images below for more details about each title, and feel free to add any good leads to your Want to Read shelf.

 

Do you love to read romantasy? Share with us your favorite books or series in the comments below!