Best Romantasy Books for Beginners in 2026 (Ranked by Trope)
You’ve probably noticed it on your TikTok: dragons, fae courts, unhinged morally grey MMCs, they’re everywhere right now. (If you’re looking for the best romantasy books for beginners, you’re in the right place).
Romantasy is having a moment. Actually, the genre has been having a moment for a couple of years now, thanks to BookTok.
And it makes sense why the genre is so popular. Romantasy gives us a double dose of escapism, the immersive fantasy worlds, and the emotional gut-reaching romance. It’s the kind of genre that pulls you in with one awesome recommendation and keeps you there forever.
It’s my favorite genre. I started way before BookTok with the first books of the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. Well, Throne of Glass is more fantasy than romantasy, but we will get to that. But after that first book, I was completely hooked.
So, what is romantasy? And where exactly should you start as a complete beginner?
Here are my must-read romantasy books for beginners, ranked by the trope that makes each one worth your time.
What is Romantasy?
Romantasy is exactly what it sounds like, Romance + Fantasy, with both playing an important role in the story.
In this particular genre, romance isn’t in the background. In romantasy books, the romance is central to the story. The romance is just as important as the external conflict, whether that’s war, a magical threat, or power struggles. It drives the plot, character decisions, and yes, the ending.
That’s why, like traditional romance books, romantasy books typically follow one key rule: there’s a Happy Ever After (HEA) or, at the very least, a Happy For Now (HFN)
Romantasy Vs Fantasy Vs Fantasy with Romance
The differences between these genres come down to the “amount” of romance in the story, how prevalent it is.
As mentioned, in romantasy books, or sometimes called romantic fantasy books, the romance is central to the story.
However, in fantasy with romance books, the romance is merely a subplot to spice up the plot and the characters. A fantasy book with no romance subplot, or with only a very small dose, is merely a fantasy book.
These categories often overlap, but this particular guide is for people who want books where the romance is just as high-stakes as the external conflict, if not more.
So, What are the Popular Romantasy Tropes Right Now?
There are so many romantasy tropes right now, I am actually beginning to lose count.
But some popular ones that every beginner should know include:
Enemies to Lovers
This is where the two main leads start on opposite sides, different kingdoms, different loyalties, sometimes literally trying to kill each other, and then gradually develop feelings.
The thing is, it’s often so high-stakes, with the romance playing out against a backdrop of political tension or conflicting loyalties, making these books really gripping from start to finish.
It’s awesome to read the slow shift from “ I’ll kill you” to “ I’ll burn the world for you.”
Slow Burn
This is for someone who likes the tension that builds over time. It’s among my favorite tropes.
Instead of instant romance, the relationship develops very slowly over chapters and sometimes even across multiple books.
You’ll get the lingering looks, the unresolved tension, and finally an emotional payoff that feels completely earned.
Morally Grey Love Interest
This is another of my favorite romantasy tropes. I absolutely adore morally grey MMCs, also known as “shadow daddies.”
A shadow daddy isn’t fully good, is definitely not innocent, and brings a whole lot of dangerous vibes.
And that’s the appeal.
Fated Mates
This used to be among my favorite tropes, but I feel it’s become so popular that it’s verging on overdone.
But there’s a reason it’s in every book; it works.
Who doesn’t like the idea of two characters meant to be together, whether through magic, prophecy, or a deeper bond?
The romantic in all of us wants this.
Strong Female Lead( FMC)
This is Her Era Now. Of course, I am going to mention this trope.
A strong female lead might start off underestimated or powerless, but always rises to the occasion.
It’s part of the escapism, an ordinary girl transforming into a strong main character.
Forced Proximity
This is my current favorite trope.
It’s all about two characters stuck together by circumstances, survival, or some magical situation.
Maybe they travel together, or are forced into an alliance, or they’re trapped somewhere.
Either way, they can’t avoid each other, which makes for some awesome tension.
Found Family
Another one that just works. It’s not always romantic, but it’s a big part of the emotional core.
Basically, characters build their own “family.” Friends or unlikely companions turn to family.
It works particularly well when the character’s family is absent or complicated.
15 Best Romantasy Books for Beginners
1. Fourth Wing (Book 1 of the Empyrean Series) by Rebecca Yarros
This is one of the most popular romantasy books out there right now and for good reason. If you want a romantasy book that pulls you in almost immediately, this is the one.
Fourth Wing begins with our FMC enrolling in a war college where she’ll either learn to bond with a dragon or die trying. There’s not much of a middle ground. And our FMC, Violet, isn’t some chosen-one prodigy either; she’s smaller, weaker, and not built for any of this. She doesn’t even want to be there. So every single trial she survives actually feels earned instead of a foregone conclusion.
And that’s honestly part of the reason Fourth Wing is one of the best romantasy books for beginners. You’re not stuck untangling a super complicated magic system before anything happens. Yarros keeps the plot moving fast enough that you’re hooked before very early on.
Some might argue that Fourth Wing is just like any other romantasy series. Some people online heavily claim they don’t get the hype, but I think it deserves to be number one on our list. I’ve yet to read another series where dragons are the main characters. The dragons in Fourth Wing have their own agendas, personalities, and actually help drive the story forward. They’re far from just sidekicks to their humans.
Fourth Wing also hits several of the most popular tropes right now: forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers, and high-stakes survival. It’s incredibly easy to get into it.
Yes, if you’ve never read romantasy before, this is one of the safest and most addictive places to start. You can’t go wrong with this one.
So far, three out of five books have been released: Iron Flame (book 2) and Onyx Storm (book 3). And we are all eagerly waiting for book 4. Threshing Day, The Empyrean 3.5, came out recently, and I absolutely loved seeing deeper into the different bonds between dragon and rider.
2. A Court of Thorns and Roses (Book 1 of ACOTAR Series) by Sarah J. Maas- Best for Fated Mates & Slow burn
There is a reason this series comes up in almost every romantasy conversation.
A Court of Thorns and Roses is often the book that turns casual readers into full-on romantasy fans. So, it’s basically a beginner must-read. A lot of people cite it as the book that got them into the genre. You could be one of those people.
It starts with a familiar fairy-tale-inspired setup, a loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Our FMC, Feyre, is a huntress who kills a wolf in the woods to feed her family, only to find out it was actually a faerie in disguise. To pay for that mistake, she’s dragged off to live in a magical land she was raised to fear, under the roof of the very faerie whose friend she just killed. From there, it turns into a whole thing involving a dying curse, a masked court, and a whole bigger story.
ACOTAR quickly outgrows the Beauty and the Beast retelling and expands into something much bigger and much more entertaining. Layered relationships, political tensions, and a world that keeps evolving with each book.
One thing to know going in, the first book is slower. But it works for beginners. The slower pace is intentional; it builds the foundation, and this becomes a much more intense and addictive series later on.
The series leans into fated mates, slow burn, and emotional payoff, which is exactly why it’s among the best romantasy books for beginners and why so many readers get attached to it.
And we are getting books 6 and 7 on October 27th and January 12th, 2027. The whole BookTok is ablaze right now.
Related: Sarah J. Maas Reading Order: Where to Start the Maasverse
3. From Blood and Ash (Book 1 of From Blood and Ash Series) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
This is one of those OG series that I only got into recently. If your priority is romance, especially something more intense and emotionally driven, this is the place to start.
Our FMC, Poppy, has basically been groomed her whole life for one specific role. And, unfortunately, it means giving up pretty much everything else. No real friends, no freedom, barely any say in her own life, all in the name of duty. You can imagine how a girl in a position will react when she meets a new guard who has her questioning everything.
And this is where the story really begins. But of course, no spoilers.
The romance is central from early on, tension builds quickly, making it one of the more romance forward romantasy books for beginners.
From blood to Ash is especially appealing if you like forbidden romance and protective love interests. The later books get a lot of judgment online, but it’s a great series to get you into the genre.
If you read romance and want something that still feels familiar, just with a fantasy setting, this is an awesome start.
Personally, I feel like this series dragged on, a lot of filler stuff, but that shouldn’t be an issue until book 4 or so. Just a small heads up going in.
4. The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Book 1 of Crowns of Nyaxia Series) by Carissa Broadbent
This is one of my favorite reads. This story follows a human girl raised among vampires who enters a deadly tournament where only one person can win. Oraya’s the adopted daughter of the vampire king who raised her, but she’s still just human in a world that sees humans as basically food, so she’s spent her whole life training just to not get killed by her own family.
The tournament promises the winner a literal wish from the gods, and Oraya sees her one shot at actually becoming powerful. To survive, she formed an alliance with someone she absolutely shouldn’t trust. You can imagine, this setup alone gives you constant tension, survival stakes, and a relationship built on total uncertainty.
What makes it one of the best romantasy books for beginners is that it’s still very readable, just slightly on the edgier side. Carissa Broadbent is a fantastic romantasy writer.
This series has one of my favorite tropes: enemies-to-lovers, then back to enemies-to-lovers.
This series is split into two separate duologies, making it a total of four books. So, after finishing the first two books, you’ll have a complete story, but then you get to get deeper into this fantastic world in the Songbird and the Heart of Stone duology.
There are also several standalone romantasy books in the Crowns of Nyaxia series you’ll definitely love.
5. Gild (Book 1 of The Plated Prisoner Series) by Raven Kennedy
This is one of those love-it-or-hate-it books. There’s no middle ground. It’s just different from the others, so it’s important to go in with the right expectations.
Gild is a reimagining of the King Midas myth. Our FMC, Auren, was rescued from a rough life as a teenager by King Midas and has spent the last ten years living in his golden castle, entirely dependent on him and convinced it’s love. She’s literally gold-touched, skin and all, and holds a “favored” position above the other women in his court, even as she’s kept confined to a gilded cage. When war threatens the kingdom, Auren finds herself as a bargaining chip, handed over to a rival army, forcing her to reckon with everything she thought she knew about Midas and finally start becoming her own person.
I enjoyed it. In fact, it has one of my favorite MMCS of all time. Top-tier bookboyfriend. I love Slade Ravinger.
So the first book (Gild) starts slower and leans heavily into character perspective and emotional depth. It deals with genuinely dark material around manipulation and control. Some people can’t get past the first book, and I get it.
I’m just saying Auren is insufferable in the beginning, but trust me, she grows into her own. Her character growth will inspire you and is worth sticking around for.
6. Throne of Glass (Book 1 of TOG Series) by Sarah J. Maas – Best for Strong Female Lead
While a lot of people cite ACOTAR as the book that got them into the genre, for me, it was Throne of Glass. And it’s still one of my favorite romantasy books for beginners.
Some people argue Throne of Glass is not exactly a romantasy, and I agree. It is more of a fantasy with romance. But I included it in this list because it’s the book that got me into the genre. And yes, the series is complete, with a happy-ever-after, so I think it qualifies. And if you are going to read any of the Sarah J. Maas books, you might as well read all of them. The Maasverse is real, and you need to read all three series.
Throne of Glass begins with Celaena, an assassin given a chance to win her freedom if she competes against other killers and actually wins. It’s high stakes from the start, but as this series unfolds, the world expands. I mean, magic, kingdoms, and the expected allies. The whole nine yards.
I enjoyed this series from the very beginning. As I mentioned, I first read it years ago when I was a lot younger, so I enjoyed it. Some people say the series only got good in book three, so I’ll ask you to stick with it. And before you say you need a book to start good, Sarah J. Maas started this series as a teen; she’s allowed to grow as a writer, and we all love her writing now. The book basically levels up with her.
The romance? It develops over time, and trust me, it gets so good. This book is classified as YA, so don’t expect much spice, but it’s well worth it.
With 8 books in the series, it’s definitely a big commitment, but trust me when I tell you it’s worth it. In fact, I wish I could read this series again for the first time.
7. House of Earth and Blood (Book 1 of Crescent City) by Sarah J. Maas- Best Urban Fantasy
Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas is one of the best urban romantasy books for beginners. If your go-to option is modern cities, technology, and murder mysteries over medieval castles, then this is the book for you.
Bryce Quinlan is a half-fae party girl working a dead-end job at an antiquities gallery, more interested in nightclubs than saving the world, until her best friend Danika and her entire werewolf pack are brutally murdered. Two years later, when a nearly identical murder happens again, Bryce gets pulled into the investigation and paired with Hunt Athalar, a fallen angel enslaved to the city’s ruling Archangel as an assassin. Together they have to figure out who’s actually behind the killings, all while untangling a much bigger conspiracy involving a stolen magical relic and a demon that shouldn’t exist.
House of Earth and Blood is part murder mystery, part slow-burn romance, and instead of ACOTAR’s medieval fae courts, it’s modern cities with phones, nightclubs, and cars, which makes it a completely different reading experience even if you’re already deep into the Maasverse.
While the Crescent City series is far from beginner-friendly, I had to include this on our list simply because it’s a Sarah J. Maas book. She practically breathed life into the romantasy genre. And as I said, the Maasverse is a thing, so you need to read all three series.
Fair warning, there’s a heavy info-dump in the first 200 pages, but stick with it if you can; it definitely pays off.
I would do Crescent City Last in the Sarah J. Maas reading order. It’s heavier compared to ACOTAR and Throne of Glass.
8. Spark of the Everflame (Book 1 of Kindred’s Curse Series) by Penn Cole
Now, this is a slow burn series you’d love. It’s a real slow burn, not just marketed as such, only for the MMC and FMC to get together in the first few pages. There’s real yearning for a couple of books.
And Luther is among my top ten book boyfriends. Spark of the Everflame follows Diem, a mortal girl living in a world ruled by cruel magical descendants of the gods. When her mother disappears, she has to infiltrate their world to do absolutely everything she can to bring her home.
The book is a good mix of several popular romantasy tropes, including forced proximity, political intrigue, enemies to lovers, and the ultimate slow burn.
And Book 4, Burn of the Everflame, is out! We’ve been waiting forever, so you are getting in the series just at the right time.
9. The Cruel Prince (Book 1 of the Folk of the Air Series) by Holly Black
If your first question is, ” Is the Cruel Prince spicy? The answer is no.
Yes, it’s better to set this expectation early. This is a zero-spice, pure plot, and psychological warfare.
Holly Black’s faes are cruel, tricksters, and absolutely dangerous. Our FMC, Jude, is a human girl trying to survive in the far court. She has to be sharper and meaner than everybody else, including Cardan, the unhinged prince who hates her.
This is a true enemies-to-lovers. Some books these days are marketed as enemies-to-lovers, only to have them lust and fall in love within the first 300 pages. That’s not the case in the Cruel Prince.
10. Quicksilver (Book 1 of Fae & Alchemy Series) by Callie Hart
Okay, if you’re chronically online in any romantasy corner, you already know about this one. Quicksilver was the book that broke BookTok in 2024, and I totally get why.
Saeris is a thief living in a desert city where water is basically currency, and the Queen is straight-up evil. She’s got a secret power she’s been hiding her whole life, and after a run-in with a mysterious dark figure, she gets yanked into Yvelia, a whole other realm of ice, snow, and Fae. That’s when we meet Kingfisher. He’s broody, he’s a legendary warrior, and he’s also slowly losing his mind to the very magic he’s supposed to be teaching her to control. Not suffering enough on his own, apparently, he has to babysit her, too.
Quicksilver is also full of some of the most popular tropes out there. Enemies-to-lovers, fated mates, shadow daddy, and the whole forced proximity thing going on since they’re bound by an oath. And yes, it gets spicy.
This one leans a little ACOTAR-coded if I’m being honest (the vibes are giving Rhysand, don’t @ me), but it still carves out its own identity with the whole alchemy/quicksilver magic system, which I thought was genuinely unique. Great pick if you want the immersive world-building without needing five books to get invested.
11. The Wolf King (Book 1 of the Wolf King Series) by Lauren Palphreyman
The Wolf King and The Night Prince (the second book in the Wolf King series) have been living rent-free in my FYP for months, and yes, they deserve it and definitely earn their spot on this list.
Aurora is a Southlands princess raised to fear werewolves her entire life. Then, as it usually goes, she gets captured by the actual Wolf King himself and dragged into his territory, and suddenly everything she was taught turns out to be, well, propaganda. Callum is a fierce alpha who challenges everything she thought she knew about werewolves and starts chipping away at the walls she didn’t even know she’d built.
The Wolf King reminds me of Outlander, you know, Jamie Fraser vibes, but with werewolves. It’s most probably the Scottish thing. But it’s got that same slow burn, culture-clash tension where our FMC is thrown into a world that’s supposed to be her enemy’s, only to realize it’s a lot more complicated than that.
There’s no denying it, Aurora’s got the classic sheltered-princess-finds-her-power arc, which I’m definitely a sucker for, and the tension between her and Callum is oooh so sweet.
It’s a great entry point if you want werewolf romantasy specifically, since a lot of beginner lists lean heavily fae/dragon. And once you finish The Wolf King, you’re set up perfectly to get into The Night Prince, book two, where things get so much messier (in the best way).
By book two, she’s caught between two alphas, Callum, who’s sweet but a little suffocating, and Blake, the shadow daddy to end all shadow daddies, who she’s now magically bound to.
If you love a morally grey love interest who’s clearly hiding something (aren’t they always), this series is going to wreck you in the best way.
And I am team Callum, let’s get that clear. But alas, I know team Callum won’t happen.
12. Bride by Ali Hazelwood
I know, I know, Ali Hazelwood usually writes STEM rom-coms, not fangs and claws. But she tried paranormal with Bride, and absolutely killed it. She did it just right.
Misery is a vampire, Lowe is a werewolf alpha, and their marriage is a political arrangement to keep an uneasy peace between their species. Misery only agrees because she thinks Lowe might know something about her missing best friend. What follows is werewolf politics, a slow burn that’s more “vaguely-distrustful to lovers” than a true enemies-to-lovers, and Hazelwood’s signature humor woven through all of it.
This one’s a great pick if you want romantasy without insane amounts of world-building to keep track of. It’s fast, it’s funny, and it’s got a marriage-of-convenience trope done really well. Fair warning, though, some readers find some parts a little cringy, but I’d say it’s worth it.
This is a standalone, making it perfect if you want something quick to get you into the romantasy genre.
Bride has a sequel, “Mate,” that follows a different couple.
13. Dire Bound (Book 1 of The Wolves of Ruin Series) by Sable Sorensen
The comparisons just write themselves, lol: Dire Bound reminds me of Fourth Wing and the Hunger Games, but wolves instead of dragons. But I still think it earns its own spot on this list.
Meryn is a street fighter just trying to survive in poverty when her little sister gets kidnapped by the monsters her country’s been at war with for centuries. So she does what any unhinged romantasy FMC would do, she joins the deadly Bonding Trials to try to save her. She ends up bonded to a feral direwolf who won’t even talk to her, which is honestly relatable. Meryn will have you rolling your eyes at her.
It’s got the academy trial trope, forced proximity, rivals, and a whole lot of morally grey side characters. It’s darker and more violent than some of the other books on this list, so know that going in. But if you loved the trial structure of Fourth Wing and want something with a similar addictive quality, this is a great next read.
Book 2, Fury Bound, is already out.
14. The Jasad Heir (Book 1 of The Scorched Throne Duology) by Sara Hashem
This one flies a little under the radar compared to the others on this list, but it deserves way more BookTok love than it’s gotten.
Sylvia is the last surviving heir of a kingdom that got wiped off the map for its magic, and she’s spent a decade hiding in plain sight in a tiny village, pretending she’s nobody. That plan falls apart the second Arin, heir to the kingdom that destroyed hers, shows up hunting rebels and catches her using magic she shouldn’t have. Instead of turning her in, he strikes a deal: help him hunt down the rebels, and he’ll let her live. The catch is she can never let him find out who she actually is, all while whatever’s brewing between them gets harder and harder to ignore.
It’s Egyptian-inspired, it’s got a genuinely political plot instead of just vibes, and the enemies-to-lovers here actually earns it, since these two have real reasons to hate each other. Fair warning, the first hundred pages or so lean a little info-dumpy while Hashem sets up the world, but once it clicks, it clicks hard.
15. The Knight and the Moth (Book 1 The Stonewater Kingdom Series) by Rachel Gillig
This one is one of the few newer romantasy books for beginners in this list. Book 2, The Knave and the Moon, was released on 1st September 2026.
Sybil has spent nine years as one of six Diviners, girls who get literally drowned in a cursed spring so they can dream up prophecies for the people who come begging for their futures. She’s never even allowed to use her real name. With her decade of service almost up, a rude, godless knight named Rodrick shows up with zero respect for what she does, and normally, she’d be thrilled to never see him again. Except her fellow Diviners start disappearing one by one, and he’s the only one willing to help her find out why.
This one’s giving gothic cathedral, drowned prophecy magic, and a slow burn that takes its time. It’s a little more subtle on the romance than some of the others on this list, so go in knowing the mystery and the world are doing just as much heavy lifting as Sybil and Rodrick’s tension. If you love your romantasy dark, weird, and a little unsettling, this is it. And the end literally broke my heart. I am super excited to get into book 2!
Romantasy FAQ
What is the best romantasy book to start with?
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is generally the most beginner-friendly pick thanks to its fast pacing, straightforward world-building, and mix of popular tropes like forced proximity and enemies-to-lovers.
Is romantasy the same as fantasy romance?
Yes, romantasy and fantasy romance are generally used interchangeably, though “romantasy” has become the more common BookTok term for the genre.
What romantasy books for Beginners have the least spice?
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black and Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas are both super low-spice, plot-driven picks, great if you want the tension without the heat.
What’s the difference between romantasy and fantasy with romance?
It comes down to how central the romance is. In romantasy, the romance drives the plot as much as the external conflict does. In fantasy with romance, the romance is a subplot rather than the main event.
What romantasy books for Beginners are similar to Fourth Wing?
Direbound by Sable Sorensen is the closest comparison in terms of academy-trial structure, while Quicksilver by Callie Hart and A Court of Thorns and Roses offer a similar level of immersive world-building.
Final Thoughts on Best Romantasy Books for Beginners
Honestly, there’s no wrong door into romantasy. Whether you start with Fourth Wing because it’s everywhere, or you go straight for the emotional gut-punch of a Sarah J. Maas book, you’re going to find your way to your comfort tropes eventually. That’s kind of the beauty of this genre, it rewards you for going down the rabbit hole.
My biggest piece of advice for any romantasy beginners out there is to figure out what tropes you actually like. The earlier you do this, the better. I mean, are you a slow burn girl, or do you need the tension resolved by chapter ten? Do you want your love interest totally unhinged and morally grey, or are you more of a golden retriever MMC person? Once you know that, the recommendations basically pick themselves.
Now go pick up one of these romantasy books for beginners and get completely, hopelessly obsessed. You’re welcome in advance.
One Comment