Summary: In this article, I have compiled 20 of the best romance fantasy books for adults, offering a mix of magic, adventure, and love. My top 3 choices:
- A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Romance fantasy books for adults offer the perfect escape into worlds of magic, adventure, and love. These stories transport you to fantastical realms, exploring deep emotions, complex characters, and intense romances. Whether it’s a love story set against ancient prophecies or a forbidden romance with mystical creatures, these books blend excitement and passion in a way that sparks both the heart and the imagination. If you enjoy rich world-building and emotional depth, romance fantasy for adults is an unforgettable experience.
TOP 20: Best Romance Fantasy Books for Adults
- A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
- Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
- The Wrath & the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
- From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
- The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
- The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen
- Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan
- Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
- The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
- Radiance by Grace Draven
- The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
- Uprooted by Naomi Novik
- A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet
- The Black Prism by Brent Weeks
- The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington
- An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
- The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses
- Author: Sarah J. Maas
- About: Feyre is taken to the Fae realm after killing a faerie, where she learns of dark secrets.
- Style of writing: Lush, descriptive, strong character development.
- Length: ~125,000 words
- Year written: 2015
- Emotional impact: High. Intense romance and emotional growth.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: For fans of enemies-to-lovers and fantasy romance.
2. The Night Circus
- Author: Erin Morgenstern
- About: A magical competition between two illusionists inside a mysterious circus.
- Style of writing: Poetic, atmospheric, slow-burn narrative.
- Length: ~95,000 words
- Year written: 2011
- Emotional impact: High. Enchanting, immersive.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: For lovers of magical realism and whimsical romance.
3. Outlander
- Author: Diana Gabaldon
- About: Claire, a WWII nurse, time-travels to 18th-century Scotland and falls in love with Jamie Fraser.
- Style of writing: Rich, historical, detailed.
- Length: ~305,000 words
- Year written: 1991
- Emotional impact: Very high. Deep emotional connection between the protagonists.
- Difficulty level: High
- Why read it: For epic historical romance with time travel and rich world-building.
4. Serpent & Dove
- Author: Shelby Mahurin
- About: Witch Louise is forced to marry witch hunter Reid; their relationship grows amidst dark forces.
- Style of writing: Fast-paced, witty, romance-driven.
- Length: ~106,000 words
- Year written: 2019
- Emotional impact: High. Chemistry and character growth.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: For fantasy romance with tension and strong character dynamics.
5. The Wrath & the Dawn
- Author: Renée Ahdieh
- About: Shahrzad seeks revenge on the king who murdered her best friend, but finds herself falling for him.
- Style of writing: Lush, poetic, suspenseful.
- Length: ~105,000 words
- Year written: 2015
- Emotional impact: High. Romance and betrayal create strong emotional depth.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: For fans of retellings and forbidden romance.
6. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
- Author: V.E. Schwab
- About: Addie makes a deal to live forever, but is forgotten by everyone she meets, until one day someone remembers her.
- Style of writing: Reflective, lyrical, nonlinear.
- Length: ~120,000 words
- Year written: 2020
- Emotional impact: High. Thought-provoking and deeply emotional.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: For a moving story about love, memory, and the passage of time.
7. From Blood and Ash
- Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
- About: Poppy, a maiden destined to live in isolation, uncovers secrets that change her world forever.
- Style of writing: Fast-paced, emotional, with action-packed scenes.
- Length: ~100,000 words
- Year written: 2020
- Emotional impact: High. Intense romance and twists.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: For an exciting, action-driven romance in a fantasy world.
8. The Priory of the Orange Tree
- Author: Samantha Shannon
- About: A world threatened by dragons and political intrigue, where a dragon-rider, a sorceress, and a queen must unite to save it.
- Style of writing: Epic, detailed, intricate world-building.
- Length: ~250,000 words
- Year written: 2019
- Emotional impact: High. Diverse characters and strong themes.
- Difficulty level: High
- Why read it: For epic fantasy with strong female leads and dragons.
9. The Bridge Kingdom
- Author: Danielle L. Jensen
- About: Lara is sent to infiltrate the kingdom of Ithicana, but falls in love with its ruler, risking her mission.
- Style of writing: Fast-paced, romantic, and suspenseful.
- Length: ~90,000 words
- Year written: 2019
- Emotional impact: High. Forbidden love and deception create tension.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: For an engaging romance with political intrigue and strong emotional stakes.
10. Wicked Saints
- Author: Emily A. Duncan
- About: In a war-torn world, three characters with magic must decide how far they’ll go to change the fate of their world.
- Style of writing: Dark, gritty, atmospheric.
- Length: ~100,000 words
- Year written: 2019
- Emotional impact: High. Dark, intense, and morally complex.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: For fans of dark fantasy with a strong sense of morality and magic.
11. Kingdom of the Wicked
- Author: Kerri Maniscalco
- About: Emilia, seeking vengeance for her twin sister’s murder, gets entangled with a prince of Hell.
- Style of writing: Dark, atmospheric, with mystery and romance.
- Length: ~95,000 words
- Year written: 2020
- Emotional impact: High. Romance and intrigue create a gripping read.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: For a blend of murder mystery, magic, and romance.
12. The Cruel Prince
- Author: Holly Black
- About: Jude, a human girl living in the Fae realm, must navigate political intrigue, power struggles, and dangerous alliances.
- Style of writing: Dark, with sharp dialogue and intricate world-building.
- Length: ~100,000 words
- Year written: 2018
- Emotional impact: High. Tension-filled romance with morally gray characters.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: For a dark fantasy with complex characters and relationships.
13. Radiance
- Author: Grace Draven
- About: Princess Brishen is married to a man of another race, but their union grows into something deeper and more beautiful.
- Style of writing: Romantic, with a focus on emotional depth and cultural contrasts.
- Length: ~90,000 words
- Year written: 2015
- Emotional impact: High. A tender, slow-burn romance.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: For fans of cross-cultural romance and fantasy.
14. The Bear and the Nightingale
- Author: Katherine Arden
- About: Vasilisa, a young girl in medieval Russia, must protect her village from dark forces through ancient magic.
- Style of writing: Atmospheric, fairy-tale-like, lyrical prose.
- Length: ~105,000 words
- Year written: 2017
- Emotional impact: High. The rich, haunting atmosphere stays with you.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: For lovers of folklore, magic, and atmospheric fantasy.
15. Uprooted
- Author: Naomi Novik
- About: Agnieszka is chosen to serve a wizard known as the Dragon, and together they must fight dark forces.
- Style of writing: Rich, descriptive, and immersive with a fairy-tale tone.
- Length: ~120,000 words
- Year written: 2015
- Emotional impact: High. A compelling story of courage, magic, and growth.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: For fans of dark fairy tales and slow-burn romance.
16. A Promise of Fire
- Author: Amanda Bouchet
- About: Cat, a powerful sorceress, is thrust into a political power struggle and develops a romance with a warrior.
- Style of writing: Fast-paced, romance-heavy, with strong world-building.
- Length: ~100,000 words
- Year written: 2016
- Emotional impact: High. Intense, character-driven romance.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: For fans of romance and action-packed fantasy.
17. The Black Prism
- Author: Brent Weeks
- About: Gavin Guile, the world's most powerful person, must confront a growing rebellion, while struggling with personal demons.
- Style of writing: Epic, fast-paced, with multiple perspectives.
- Length: ~190,000 words
- Year written: 2010
- Emotional impact: High. A story of power, sacrifice, and morality.
- Difficulty level: High
- Why read it: For those who love complex world-building and political intrigue.
18. The Shadow of What Was Lost
- Author: James Islington
- About: A young man discovers he is tied to ancient powers that could reshape the world’s fate.
- Style of writing: Epic fantasy with layered world-building and magic.
- Length: ~150,000 words
- Year written: 2014
- Emotional impact: Moderate. Somewhat slow but rewarding character development.
- Difficulty level: High
- Why read it: For epic fantasy lovers who enjoy intricate plots.
19. An Ember in the Ashes
- Author: Sabaa Tahir
- About: Laia, a slave, and Elias, a soldier, navigate oppression and rebellion in a brutal, Roman-inspired empire.
- Style of writing: Fast-paced, with strong emotional stakes.
- Length: ~150,000 words
- Year written: 2015
- Emotional impact: High. Powerful themes of resistance, friendship, and love.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: For readers who enjoy dark fantasy with strong characters.
20. The Song of Achilles
- Author: Madeline Miller
- About: A retelling of Achilles and Patroclus’ love story set in ancient Greece.
- Style of writing: Lyrical, evocative, and emotional.
- Length: ~85,000 words
- Year written: 2011
- Emotional impact: Very high. A heartbreaking and beautifully written romance.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: For those who love historical romance with a tragic edge.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I think romance fantasy books for adults are the perfect mix of magic, adventure, and deep emotional connections. Out of all the amazing options, A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Night Circus, and Outlander really stand out to me, each offering a unique and unforgettable experience. Whether you're drawn to a fiery romance in a magical world, a slow-burn love story, or an epic time-travel adventure, I believe these books will sweep you off your feet and leave you craving more.
