If you’re anything like me, then you know how alluring the “Romantasy” genre is! From forbidden love to magical realms, unique abilities, and quests full of thrills and betrayals, you never quite know what you’ll end up with throughout this genre of novels; not a single one is quite the same! Here are some of my favorite Romantasy novels: stories where rules aren’t quite relevant and where love knows no boundaries!
Heartless by Marissa Meyer
“Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland and a favorite of the unmarried King, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, she wants to open a shop and create delectable pastries. But for her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for a woman who could be a queen.
At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the King’s marriage proposal, she meets handsome and mysterious Jest. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into a secret courtship.
Cath is determined to choose her own destiny. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.”
Heartless takes after the world of Alice in Wonderland and reimagines the backstory of the brutal Queen of Hearts before she became the villain we know her to be. Heartless is a bittersweet tale that dives into the life of Catherine–a girl filled with hopes and dreams–all the while capturing her harrowing descent into madness.
One of my favorite aspects of the novel is its portrayal of Catherine’s character. Instead of being shown as a sort of lovesick damsel in distress, she is cast as a young woman forced into an impossible situation. Catherine is torn between the role she is expected to play and the life she wants to live, while desperately trying to outrun her fate.
Heartless takes hold of your heart before shattering it in an unexpectedly beautiful way.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
“Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there––but many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.
To win a place at the Court, Jude must defy him—and face the consequences.”
The Cruel Prince takes place in a world heavily dominated by court politics, secrets, and a strong heroine who never backs down from a challenge. This novel is a personal favorite, an absolute must-read. The first in a trilogy, Holly Black opens the series by establishing a highly immersive faerie world where tricks and deception hide in every corner, shadowed by beauty and eccentrics.
Similar to Catherine, Jude is the farthest thing from a damsel in distress. Her past trained her to become fierce and ambitious, desperate to make a stake in a world that views her as despicable and inferior. The Cruel Prince is a story with endless twists and complexity and is the type of book that leaves you gazing at your wall trying to figure out what the heck just happened!
The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
“My lovers all feel the need to give me nice things. Very expensive things. It’s been a fun game. Learning their secrets. Seducing them. Getting them to shower me with gifts.
But to be Honest?
I’m bored with it.
I have a new game in mind.
I’m going to woo the king.
I suspect it won’t be longer than a month before he’s helplessly in love with me.
And when he proposes, I will say yes for the first time.
For once the marriage is official and consummated?
I will kill the Shadow King and take his kingdom for myself.”
The Shadows Between Us is a story full of ambition, romance, and power. Alessandra, a cutthroat heroine, is absolutely determined to seduce, marry, and kill the Shadow King. She has no intentions of letting anyone, most definitely not her timid, clumsy father or her messy dating life, ruin this for her. The novel is full of witty banter, twists, and several reflections on power. Despite its dark portrayal, The Shadows Between Us never really feels overwhelmingly heavy. The novel itself is fast-paced, but its unique play on romantical motive and intrigue keep you absorbed in each page.
A few other quick suggestions that are a little less romance-focused are:
The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid
Furyborn by Claire Legrand
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Dive into these books and let the twists and magic take you on an adventure! Each of these worlds promises a unique mix of romance and fantasy, and I promise, you will not want to put them down. Happy Reading!
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