Book recommendations: Five books to read if you love romantasy

Whether you are new to the bookish community or consider yourself a seasoned veteran, chances are you have heard the whisperings of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Fourth Wing, and Throne of Glass. What do these books have in common? Besides the fact that two of them are written by the same author, they are all part of an up-and-coming genre—romantasy. As you can probably guess, these are books that tend to focus equally on fantasy and romance elements within the story. If you are a romantasy reader and you are looking for some recommendations, or you are new to the genre and are wanting to dive in, here are five must-read romantasy books I think everyone should try.

1. One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

This is a duology that lives rent-free in my head. One Dark Window follows Elspeth and the mysterious voice in her head—which she calls the Nightmare—in the kingdom of Blunder. The magic system in this book is so unique, as it revolves around a deck of twelve cards—Providence cards—which vary in number and magical ability. The writing in this duology is nothing short of brilliant, and I highly recommend this one if you’re looking for a mysterious gothic fantasy with beautiful prose, loveable characters, and a unique story.

2. Heartless Hunter by Kristen Kristen Ciccarelli

This book has everything you could possibly ask for in a romantasy. Enemies-to-lovers? Check. Found family? Check. Forbidden romance between a witch and a witch hunter? Double check. The story in this one was SO good and the game of cat and mouse between Rune and Gideon had me on the edge of my seat. Heartless Hunter features several whiplash-worthy plot-twists, and while the book does end on a cliffhanger that had me on my knees, the second book releases in February!

3. Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

This is my favourite romantasy to recommend to anyone who is new to the genre, but also to romantasy readers who are just looking for a good time. The dialogue and plot in this one had me laughing out loud SEVERAL times while I was reading, and the world-building is pretty straightforward which makes it a very easily-digestible fantasy read. Assistant to the Villain follows Evie, who develops an attraction to her boss—who is the notorious villain in their kingdom of Rennedawn—while simultaneously trying to figure out who in the office is working to sabotage him. If you need any more convincing, one of the characters is a frog named Kingsley who communicates strictly through one-word wooden signs—enough said. This one also ends on a juicy cliffhanger, but not to worry, because the next book—Apprentice to the Villain—releases August 6th.

4. Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

Once Upon A Broken Heart is for the readers who believe in true love, happy endings, and always following your heart. This magical trilogy follows Evangeline Fox and Jacks—the Prince of Hearts—as they fight against curses, betrayal, an unavoidable longing for one another, and above all else, learning how to heal from a broken heart. I recommend you read this series if you are looking for a whimsical story that feels like a fairytale. As a little bonus, if you love this trilogy, I also suggest reading Stephanie’s debut series Caraval, which is just as magical and is set in the same world and features some of the characters you meet in Once Upon A Broken Heart.

5. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

True to its name, Divine Rivals is a stunningly divine romantasy that follows Iris and Roman who form a magical connection in the midst of a war between gods. Starting out as rival journalists competing for the same job, the tension between these characters was absolutely delightful. Filled to the brim with enemies-to-lovers, banter, pen pals, angst, and hidden identity, this is such an incredible romantasy duology to dive into. It has a perfect blend of love, hope, heartache, and despair, and will surely have you yearning to keep reading.