Less known fantasy or sci-fi with a romance subplot.

[Anna]

I am looking for some good but less known fantasy and/or sci-fi books to read. I prefer books that include a romance subplot, but it would be great if the romance wasn't the only thing that happens there. As for the "less known" part - I am not sure what would be the best indicator... perhaps no more than 100-200 ratings on Goodreads? Thanks in advance!

[Jess]

I really enjoyed Fires of the Faithful it has a F/F romance as a small part of the plot which is about a music conservatory where magic can happen with music.

It has 400 ratings on Goodreads so is fairly obscure.

[Anna]

This sounds exactly like what I was looking for, thanks.

[MJ]

C Gockel, Archangel Project series. First one is Archangel Down... 5th is coming out next month. Most of the first story line is wrapped up in the first 3.

Not sure how many GR's it has.

[Jeremy]

This has a few more GR ratings than you specified (about 550 for book #1 of the series) but I'd suggest the Ecolitan Matter series by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
It's a four book series consisting of two two-book story arcs, each of which has a romantic interest as a major subplot.
(Sorry, I'm using the app rather than the website, so can't provide links).

[Anna]

The number of GR's isn't that important to me on itself, I just thought that it would be easier to find some completely new reads that way. I read a lot and sometimes it's hard to find something new when some of the most rated series pop up at the top of about every search. Fortunately this series is one I'm not familiar with AND looks very promising. Thanks! EDIT: well, both series. I try to reply to every suggestion separately but looks like I have been bamboozled by my slow connection. Anyway, I am grateful for every reply, just so you all know.

[Jeremy]

Hope you like it. If you wind up reading them, shoot me a PM when you're done and let me know if you enjoyed the series.

[Anna]

Jeremy wrote: "Hope you like it. If you wind up reading them, shoot me a PM when you're done and let me know if you enjoyed the series."

I will definitely read the series. I remember I liked the Recluce Saga back when I was a kid. I couldn't find Polish translations of Modesitt's other books (and didn't speak English back then) so I kind of forgotten about him. I am quite curious how I will like his books as an adult.

[Amy*skye.rhyme]

Anna wrote: "I am looking for some good but less known fantasy and/or sci-fi books to read. I prefer books that include a romance subplot, but it would be great if the romance wasn't the only thing that happens..."

I'm not sure if this would be something you'd like but I read a lot of stuff from fantasy, romance, and science fiction and found this one unique series that is unlike all the rest, not well-known and totally addictive! It seems to be really well-liked by those who've tried it, but many people haven't heard of it. It's also available with Kindle Unlimited if you have it.

Death Becomes Her is the 1st book of The Kurtherian Gambit series by Michael Anderle. It straddles a few genres and is an interesting mix of paranormal/uf, military sci-fi-fantasy and even some space opera type battles late in the series. The one thing it doesn't have much of though is romance. It's far more action adventure based, even though there are several couples.

Anyway, book 1 starts a little slower to set the back story, but by the end of the second book which is Queen Bitch I was completely addicted and read straight through to book 12 or so within a couple of days.

I'm curious, has anyone else read this series?

[Amy*skye.rhyme]

Anna wrote: "I am looking for some good but less known fantasy and/or sci-fi books to read. I prefer books that include a romance subplot, but it would be great if the romance wasn't the only thing that happens..."

This series is not very well-known at all and it's become one of my favorite science fiction romance series but it reads a lot like a paranormal romance as well. All of the books are available with Kindle Unlimited. The concept of these books is hard to explain so this is probably going to be a really wordy and fangirl sounding intro. Sorry. I've read all of them, with my favorites being Finding Jess (First Wave #2) and Viper (Second Wave #1).

Hunting Cari by Mikayla Lane is the 1st book in the series.

It's a science fiction romance series with a really unique concept about alien warriors, who are not very alien at all, but have a symbiotic "beast" lying dormant in their minds, because they've rejected that part of themselves over their political and cultural history for some stupid reason. Then, one by one, they meet their human mates and discover that some humans from Earth also have a latent beast that has decided for itself that it's time for the beast species to rise again and bring back the psychic abilities that come with it to assist Earth thru some new-agey type evolutionary stuff in order for the planet to survive the coming fight against another species. This leads the alien warriors to embrace their own dormant beasts and rebel against the norm to change their outdated culture. The conversations with the beast in their head are intriguing and endearing and the symbiont personalities are very wise and compassionate. They remind me somewhat of an animal familiar, but an internal one. They can't shapeshift but have other powers. There's a lot of great relationship building, learning about their new powers, and a lot of romance between the new mated pairs. I loved it! It's a unique and wonderful series.

Hunting Cari is a bit slow to start, because the beast stuff doesn't really start taking off until book 2, which is Finding Jess.

[Gillian]

Halting State by Charles Stross is sci-fi.
Most books by Tamora Pierce have romance as a subplot in an amazing fantasy setting.
Howl's Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones is fantasy.

[Brittany]

Doesn’t exactly fall under “fantasy” but Act of Defiance was good. Might be more paranormal, but it’s been years since I read it. I just remember liking it and it was different from other books in its genre. Only 194 ratings, too.

[Rosa]

Gates Of The Universe

[Nora]

Famous Men Who Never Lived

The People in the Castle: Selected Strange Stories

A Warrior's Path

Archivist Wasp

Rumo & His Miraculous Adventures