Romantasy books worth your time
Romantasy is romance plus fantasy where neither side is decoration. Every book below is one I've read and reviewed on this site, so there's a full review behind each pick.
At a glance
Last updated:
- 10 books on this list, every one read and reviewed on this site.
- Every pick is a book I've finished and reviewed myself — no scraped bestseller lists.
- Best starting point: A Court of Thorns and Roses (Sarah J. Maas) or Fourth Wing (Rebecca Yarros).
- Most of this shelf is adult romantasy, spice level 3–5 out of 5; ACOTAR book one is the mildest at 2.
- Series lengths here run from 3 books (Crescent City, ongoing) to 8 (Throne of Glass).
- Typical page count: 400–800 pages per book, so budget a week each if you read on the commute.
- Every title links to a full review with content warnings and a spoiler-free section.
Empire of Storms
Sarah J. Maas
5.0“Enormous, romantic, devastating. The high point of the whole series.”
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Kingdom of Ash
Sarah J. Maas
5.0“Nine hundred pages of grief, war and payoff. It sticks the landing.”
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Queen of Shadows
Sarah J. Maas
5.0“Aelin walks back into Rifthold and takes the city apart. Perfect.”
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Heir of Fire
Sarah J. Maas
4.0“Grief, training montages, and the best new characters in the series.”
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Throne of Glass
Sarah J. Maas
4.0“A competition, a castle full of secrets, and a heroine who knows exactly how good she is.”
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Crown of Midnight
Sarah J. Maas
4.0“The one where the series stops being a competition and starts being a war.”
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The Assassin's Blade
Sarah J. Maas
4.0“Five novellas that turn Celaena from a name into a wound you feel.”
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Tower of Dawn
Sarah J. Maas
4.0“The healing book. Slower, gentler, and far more necessary than people expect.”
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Want it wrapped? Tell me your tropes and I'll build a personalised book parcel from this same shelf — €19.99 pre-loved, €29.99 new, hand-packed in Wexford with a handwritten note and Bella's paw print. Check Irish postage times and costs before you order.
Reading these in order
If a series here has you lost, these author pages lay out every book and novella in the right order: Sarah J. Maas books in order, Cassandra Clare reading order. You can also browse all my reading guides or start from every review on the site.
Frequently asked questions
- What does romantasy mean?
- Romantasy is fantasy where the romance carries equal weight with the magic and plot. Take the love story out and the book falls apart — that's the test.
- What's the best romantasy book for a beginner?
- A Court of Thorns and Roses or Fourth Wing. Both are fast, high-stakes and don't ask you to learn a hundred names in chapter one.
- Is romantasy the same as YA fantasy?
- No. Plenty of romantasy is adult, with explicit scenes and darker themes. Check the spice rating before you gift one.