Romantasy 101: Here's Where to Start Reading the Hottest Genre of 2024 (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

All the romantasy books to read right now.

Dragons and folklore and smoldering glances — or witches and faeries and blush-inducing scenes? If you’ve been curious about romantasy but don’t know where to start, we’ve got you covered. PEOPLE askedClaire Legrand, whose latest,A Crown of Ivy and Glass, came out in paperback this week, to recommend her favorites.

“One of the hottest words in the publishing industry right now is ‘romantasy,'” Legrand explains. “Romantasy is an umbrella term for books that combine the genres of fantasy and romance. Sometimes these books lean more toward the fantasy side of things; sometimes romance is the primary focus.”

So what makes a book fit into the subgenre? “Romantasy books usually have HEAs (happily ever after, a staple of the romance genre), but sometimes they don’t, or they have HFNs (happy for now),” Legrand says. “These genres are beloved for a reason: they allow escape from the everyday into something extraordinary. They fire readers’ imaginations and fill their hearts with hope.”

And she should know: Legrand’s books have landed on theNew York TimesandUSA Todaybestseller lists and she’s been a finalist for a number of awards.

Here’s LeGrand’s introduction to the hottest genre around — pun decidedly intended.

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Amazon

You know the tried and true “heroine moves back home and sparks fly between her and the guy from her past who broke her heart” trope? Well, combine that delicious romantic tension with a dash of botanical magic, family curses and a few ghosts for good measure, and you’ve got the gorgeousWitch of Wild Things.

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This one’s a classic, and a great choice for readers of young adult (YA) fiction who prefer minimal spice in their love stories. (Quick romantasy vocab lesson: “spice” = sexual content). The plot centers on Fire, a “monster” who can influence people’s minds and reluctantly becomes a key player in her realm’s growing civil war. The tender, slow-burn romance between her and Prince Brigan is to die for, the writing is stunning and the themes of beauty, power and found family are timeless.

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But if youdoprefer spice in your romance stories, and lots of it? Look no further than the staggeringly prolific Katee Robert, whose fun, sexy Dark Olympus series begins withNeon Gods, a fast-paced Hades and Persephone retelling that will have you fanning yourself, um, quite often.

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This one’s for the dark academia girlies who devouredNinth HouseandThe Atlas Six. An isolated women’s college, a Gothic aesthetic that would make the Brontë sisters proud, an all-consuming passion between sapphic academic rivals…what’s not to like here? Light a candle to maximize the moody vibes and dive in.

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Picture this: the showVikings, but completely centered around Viking ruler Lagertha. Now add a scorchingly sexy slow-burn romance, Norse mythology-inspired magic and cinematic action scenes. The pacing is propulsive, and the twists and turns are truly gasp-worthy; you won’t be able to put this book down.

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Sourcebooks Casablanca

This one’s a particular favorite of mine and the series is only getting started (book 2 comes out this June). Epic battle scenes? Check. Dynamic, vivid writing? Check. Gods and magic and holy wolves? An unforgettable, lion-hearted heroine? An electric, enemies-to-lovers romance for the ages? Check, check, check. Mark my words: this series will become a modern classic.

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If you’ve fallen in love with the intoxicating world of the fae after reading Holly Black’sThe Cruel Prince, you’ll adore this epic romantasy. When two elven sisters are exiled to the wilderness, they discover the duplicitous, seductive fae. What follows is a sweeping story of love, desire, betrayal, divided loyalties and jaw-dropping plot twists.

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The first book in the Witches of Thistle Grove series,Payback’s a Witchis the perfect choice if you want to try a contemporary romantasy—that is, it takes place in an off-the-map magical place within our actual world. This is a smart, sassy rom-com about queer witches, full of crackling sexual tension and sparkling dialogue that’ll leave you cackling in delight.

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Yes,thatNora Roberts: One of the most famous and prolific romance writers in the world writes romantasy, too. This book holds a special place in my heart as my long-ago intro to the genre. A cozy, small-town island community + a touch of ancient, witchy magic + a gentle, quietly brave heroine + rich friendships between women + mild spice level = a go-to comfort read and a great first step into classic romantasy for newcomers.

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This whole series is just…everything. The first book is about a spice trader who accidentally saves a demon, after which all kinds of hijinks ensue. If you want a sexy, romantasy rom-com with lots of heart and a narrator that will make you laugh out loud, this is the book (and series) for you.

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Personally, I can’t get enough witchy romantic comedies, especially when the protagonist a) is the owner of an indie bookstore; b) is, unbeknownst to her, secretly a witch;andc) falls in love with a hot curmudgeonly farmer who was also her bestie back in the day. Yes. Yes, please.

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If you, like me, are waiting with bated breath for season 3 ofBridgerton, might I suggest picking up J. Elle’s exquisiteHouse of Marionnein the meantime? This YA romantasy novel is a decadent fever dream of a book, replete with masked balls, scheming debutantes and a delicious love story. Grab your popcorn and curl up with your favorite fluffy blanket to devour all the glittering drama.

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This sweeping epic fantasy features dragons as ancient gods, a queer-normative society, twisty palace intrigues and a smoldering (pun-intended) enemies-to-lovers forbidden romance. In other words, it’s the book of your dragon-loving dreams.

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Fans of Neil Gaiman and V. E. Schwab, take note of this bewitching contemporary romantasy novel about gods, monsters and hidden worlds. The story of Violet Summers—sole survivor of a cursed family, desperate to find her lost mother, fighting her attraction to a quietly mysterious man with dubious motives—is exactly the kind of lush, dark fairy tale that will have you reading late into the night.

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Listen, if someone says the words “handsome and prickly librarian” to me, I’m already invested. But throw in an outwardly sensible witchy heroine who secretly has a bit of a thing for breaking the rules, a magical house that serves as a haven for witches in trouble, cozy found-family vibes, and—I can’t stress this enough—a romance with aforementioned prickly librarian? I’m gonna be a fan for life.

source: people.com