Home · Editing Services · Blog · Free Quote · Deutsch
Dragons, fae, vampires and princes: romantasy combines fantasy with a love story and is one of the most successful genres of recent years. Here are eight popular romantasy and fantasy books, with what readers love and what they criticize.
How we chose: We analysed every book on this list in its own meta review, summarising what readers praise and criticize in reviews, blogs and rating sites. The order is not a ranking.
1. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
A deadly war college for dragon riders and a love interest who wants the heroine dead at first.
- What readers love: Pace, dragons with personality and the tension between Violet and Xaden.
- Worth knowing: According to critics, the worldbuilding stays thin, and the modern language does not suit everyone.
Read the full Fourth Wing review
2. Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
The third Empyrean book, with a bigger world and more action.
- What readers love: For many, the strongest book in the series.
- Worth knowing: Very long, with many plotlines. Without the earlier books fresh in mind, it is hard to get into.
Read the full Onyx Storm review
3. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
A huntress in the fae land of Prythian. For many, their way into romantasy.
- What readers love: The fae world, the side characters and the last third. Many say the series gets better from book two.
- Worth knowing: A slow start and love scenes whose consent readers debate.
Read the full A Court of Thorns and Roses review
4. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
A mortal girl at the fae court and a prince who despises her.
- What readers love: A dark fae world, intrigue and a morally grey heroine.
- Worth knowing: The opening is slow, and in book one fantasy clearly comes before romance.
Read the full The Cruel Prince review
5. Quicksilver by Callie Hart
A thief with a hidden gift and a dangerous fae warrior, over more than 600 pages.
- What readers love: Strong characters and witty banter.
- Worth knowing: The plot is seen as simple, the world as rather generic.
Read the full Quicksilver review
6. The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
The human daughter of a vampire king in a deadly tournament.
- What readers love: The vampire world, a careful slow burn and the father and daughter relationship.
- Worth knowing: Some miss depth in the world and characters, and the tournament chapters feel short.
Read the full The Serpent and the Wings of Night review
7. Powerless by Lauren Roberts
A girl without powers in deadly trials and a prince who would have to kill her.
- What readers love: The chemistry between Paedyn and Kai and a fast pace.
- Worth knowing: Many comparisons to The Hunger Games and Red Queen, plus thin worldbuilding.
Read the full Powerless review
8. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Red against silver blood and a girl with a forbidden power. A young adult fantasy classic.
- What readers love: Twists, betrayal and an ending fans still talk about.
- Worth knowing: Many familiar building blocks and a heroine not everyone likes. Romance plays a small part.
Read the full Red Queen review
Conclusion
For pace and dragons, pick Fourth Wing. For fae and court intrigue, try ACOTAR, The Cruel Prince and Quicksilver. Vampires await in The Serpent and the Wings of Night, and a young adult fantasy classic in Red Queen. Powerless is fast entertainment for anyone who likes trials and princes.
Writing romantasy yourself?
In an edit we check whether your world holds, whether romance and fantasy are in balance and whether your opening grips. Try our sample edit: 20 pages for €99.
Legal notice and privacy policy are available in German: Impressum · Datenschutzerklärung