Enjoy the romantasy trend by escaping into a fantasy world where the romance drives the plot.
Below are ten books to get you started:
Sleep Like Death by Kaylynn Bayron
Princess Eve knows all too well how the wishes of the Knight go wrong–one of her own mothers was cursed by him to be a songbird. So she has trained all her life to get revenge. But when her mother the queen begins to act strangely, Eve begins to wonder if she is as prepared as she once thought.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Ten years ago, Jude and her sisters were stolen away to live in the High Court of Faerie. Jude longs to stay there, despite the hatred many fey harbor for humans. But to win her place, she will have to fight for it–even if it means opposing Prince Cardan, one of the king’s wickedest sons.
Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen
Aihui Ying dreamt of becoming an engineer like her father. Then he was killed. Determined to find his murderers, Ying disguises herself as her brother to infiltrate the all-male Engineers Guild. But can she trust the eighth prince of the High Command, with whom she has allied herself?
Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer
King Harristan and Prince Corrick rule the kingdom of Kandala with an iron fist. It is the only way to keep control of a country where sickness is rampant and the only cure comes from the rare Moonflower. Tired of watching her neighbors die, apothecary apprentice Tessa decides to break into the palace to confront the king. But what she learns there changes everything.
Song of the Six Realms by Judy I. Lin
Orphaned at a young age, Xue was placed in a musician apprenticeship by her kindly uncle. But when he, too, dies, she finds herself alone and without a patron. To her surprise, Duke Meng offers to set her free from her indentured servitude if she serves him for one year. But the duke is not what he claims to be.
Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
Only men can become tailors, but that fact is not enough to deter Maia Tamarin. When her father receives a summons from the palace, she goes in his stead, posing as his son. She just has to compete against twelve others for the honor of becoming the imperial tailor, while avoiding the attention of the charming court enchanter.
This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi
Alizeh may be the heir to the lost Jinn kingdom, but for now she is only a servant girl. Kamran is the Crown Prince, but he finds himself inexplicably drawn to Alizeh, despite her lowly status. Their destinies are about to be intertwined and their forbidden love challenged.
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
Isobel paints portraits for the fair folk, who cannot create Craft themselves and thus crave it insatiably. But when she makes the mistake of painting mortal sorrow in the eyes of Prince Rook, she is taken to stand trial. However, all is not well in the land of the fair folk, and Isobel and Rook will have to make an alliance to survive.
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
As the gods war, eighteen-year-old Iris dreams of one thing: winning the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette. But little does she know that when she writes letters and slips them into her wardrobe, they fall straight into the hands of Roman, her rival at the paper. Soon, however, Roman is writing back and the rivals are falling for each other.
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
No one challenges the Empire–not if they want to live. But when Laia’s brother is charged with treason, Laia accepts a deal from the rebels. She will spy on the Empire from within its military academy if the rebels set her brother free. She doesn’t expect to fall in love there, though.
