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- While most books fall into major genres, some authors mix them for fun twists on classic tropes.
- The novels below blend fantasy and romance for magical love stories.
- We used bestseller lists and Goodreads recommendations to find the best fantasy romance books.
While many books fall into one major genre, like historical fiction or horror, authors also cross genre lines to mix elements from different tropes into one great story. Fantasy romance novels still have the mythical creatures, unique worlds, and magic we expect, but also contain sweet or steamy romance plots intertwined with plenty of adventure.
To collect the best fantasy romance novels, we searched award-winning titles, bestsellers, and favorites among readers on Goodreads and TikTok. So whether you're looking for a high fantasy adventure with a little romance sprinkled in or a swoon-worthy romance lightly laced with magic, here are the best fantasy romance novels to read in 2022.
The 19 best fantasy romance books in 2022:
"We Hunt the Flame" by Hafsah Faizal
Available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $9.39
Zafira and Nasir are both legends in their kingdom, though Zafira disguises herself as a man to be the Hunter and Nasir keeps his compassion quiet as the Prince of Death. When both are sent to retrieve an artifact that can stop the darkness closing in, an epic, Middle Eastern-inspired high-fantasy romance unfolds.
"Six Crimson Cranes" by Elizabeth Lim
Available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $8.79
Though Shiori carries forbidden magic, she's usually able to hide it well — until her stepmother takes notice and banishes her, turning her brothers into cranes with a curse that for every word she speaks, one of her brothers will die. On her quest to find them, Shiori discovers a tightly woven conspiracy to overtake the throne and must team up with the boy she once fought against to save the kingdom, her brothers, and herself.
"An Ember in the Ashes" book cover
Available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $8.38
Set in a fantasy world inspired by ancient Rome, Laia's family is enslaved to the Martial Empire; but when her brother is arrested for treason, she must risk everything to spy on behalf of the rebels in exchange for her brother's rescue. In the Empire's military academy, Laia meets Elias — a soldier, but a slave in his own right — and the two find that together they may be able to change the fate of the brutal Martial Empire.
"These Violent Delights" book cover
Available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $10.99
"These Violent Delights" is a fantastical "Romeo and Juliet" retelling set in 1920s Shanghai where Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov are poised against each other as heirs to rival gangs. Despite their painful romantic history and generations-deep feud, the two must set everything aside to fight the growing mayhem that's threatening their city.
"Cemetery Boys" book cover
Available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $10.99
Though his family has struggled to accept his gender, Yadriel is determined to prove himself to his family as a real brujo and attempts to summon the ghost of his murdered cousin but instead conjures Julian Diaz, a bad boy from Yadriel's school whose death is still shrouded in mystery. In exchange for finding his cousin, Yadriel reluctantly agrees to help Julian find out what happened to him in this heartwarming queer paranormal fantasy.
"A Song of Wraiths and Ruin" book cover
Available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $8.49
In "A Song of Wraiths and Ruin," Malik's younger sister is kidnapped and he strikes a deal to kill Karina, the Princess of Ziran, for her freedom. But as Karina narrows in on a mission of her own to resurrect her mother using ancient magic, the two are set on a fast-paced collision course to kill each other in this story of magic, murder, and magnetism.
"A Court of Thorns and Roses" book cover
Available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $4.99
"A Court of Thorns and Roses" began as a retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" but has since taken off as an adored fantasy romance series all its own. In this first book, Feyre unwittingly kills a protected wolf while hunting and is dragged to a legendary magical land, ruled by one of the most lethal beasts in her world.
"The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches" book cover
Available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $11.99
This cozy fantasy about an isolated witch finding love and family follows Mika Moon, a member of the Secret Society of Witches, who must stay away from other witches so their powers don't draw attention. When online videos of her pretending to be a witch lead to an unexpected message, Mika finds herself at a mysterious home, teaching three young witches how to use their powers under the cautious supervision of their handsome caretaker, Jamie.
"From Blood and Ash" book cover
Available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $7.99
This steamy paranormal romance is about Poppy, who was chosen from birth as the Maiden, the Chosen, and her kingdom's only hope — destined to live a life of solitude until the day of her Ascension. But when Hawke, a member of the Royal Guard sworn to ensure her Ascension, becomes tangled in Poppy's desire to live her own life, a swoon-worthy and page-turning romance develops in this first novel of the "Blood and Ash" series which ends with a major cliffhanger.
"Malice" book cover
Available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $11.99
In this queer retelling of "Sleeping Beauty," Princess Aurora is the last heir to the throne and shows great kindness to Alyce and her dark magic, even though it was magic like her that caused the infamous curse. With less than a year to find her true love's kiss before it's too late, Alyce receives an invitation to Aurora's ball and is thrust into the princess's path once again.
"The Ex Hex" book cover
Available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $9.99
When Vivienne Jones cast a seemingly harmless spell on her ex nine years ago, she didn't think it would cause any major problems until he returns to Graves Glen, Georgia and a series of disastrous events prove otherwise. In this witchy fantasy romance, Vivi and Rhys have to ignore the lingering feelings between them to break the curse and save their town.
"Silver Silence" book cover
Available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $5.98
Set in a future fantasy world of Humans, emotionless Psy with psychic powers, and shapeshifting Changelings, "Silver Silence" is a fan-favorite paranormal romance about Silver merchant, a director of a worldwide emergency response network, and Valentin Nikolaev, alpha of the StoneWater bears. Though Silver has no room for chaos in her life, Valentin can't help but be drawn to her and protect Silver when a shadowy figure nearly succeeds in his assassination attempt.
"The Charmed List" book cover
Available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $10.99
Ellie has made an Anti-Wallflower List with 13 things to help get her out of her shell again. But when one of the items (getting revenge on Jack Yasuda) goes terribly wrong, her punishment includes a road trip with him to a magical convention in this cozy and sweet fantastical romance read.
"Payback's a Witch" book cover
Available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $9.99
When Emmy Harlow finally decides to return to her magical hometown for her family's spellcasting tournament, she's hoping to avoid Gareth Blackmoore — the guy who broke her heart. She soon runs into Talia and Linden, both of whom have just had their own sour experiences with Gareth and are ready for revenge. This book is a witchy, steamy, and delightfully queer romantic fantasy read.
"The Cruel Prince" book cover
Available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $9.34
"The Cruel Prince" is a young adult fantasy romance about Jude, who was taken away 10 years ago to live in the High Court of Faerie as a mortal. Desperate to belong, Jude knows she must earn her place by defying Prince Cardan in this first trilogy novel of dangerous alliances, trickery, and suspense.
"Scarlet Princess" book cover
Available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $12.99
After being caught smuggling, Princess Rowan finds herself trapped in an enemy barbarian kingdom awaiting a punishment that will certainly mean death. But as she spends more time with those she was taught to hate, she reconsiders everything she thought she knew about her home, this distant kingdom, and herself.
"The Wolf and the Woodsman" book cover
Available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $11.99
Évike is the only woman in her pagan village without powers, believed to be abandoned by the gods for her corrupted bloodline. When soldiers come to take a pagan girl for sacrifice, Évike is surrendered until an attack leaves her alone with the disgraced prince, Gáspár Bárány. With more in common than they think, the two must team up to survive and stop Gáspár's brother from stealing the throne.
"The House in the Cerulean Sea" book cover
Available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $10.54
Linus Baker is a caseworker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth who has just been assigned to investigate and report back on a mysterious and highly classified orphanage where six dangerous children live under the care of a man named Arthur Parnassus. Though this fantasy novel is largely about finding family and speaking up for those that don't have a voice, there is also a sweet, slow-build romance plot — one of the many reasons readers can't get enough of this novel.
Katherine Fiorillo is a freelance content writer specializing in books, lifestyle, and e-commerce.Katherine has a B.A. in Journalism from Marist College and previously wrote for BuzzFeed's Shopping and Products beat. She is an Army veteran, an avid reader, and designs book-themed stickers for her Etsy shop.Say hi to Katherine at [email protected].
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