The fantasy genre has always been an extremely popular category in literary fiction, serving a wide variety of readers through its many sub-genres. The romantasy subgenre in particular has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, as readers enjoy an equal blend of classic fantasy elements alongside a strong romantic plot. Many popular books on BookTok fall into this category, but a large selection tends to lean heavily upon graphic content that some readers don’t enjoy in a fantasy book series.
While romance is often an important element to fantasy adventures, there are those who would prefer the book’s central plot not be overshadowed by the inclusion of explicitly detailed scenes. In some cases, such scenes can prove to build context to a character’s romantic arc, but they can also be detrimental to a book’s overall story-telling if focused on too heavily. Readers looking for books that perfectly blend fantasy and romance can instead opt for some degree of ambiguity that will still deliver a compelling relationship dynamic, with little or no spice included.
10 Throne of Glass (2012)
Written by Sarah J. Maas
Maas’ Throne of Glass follows the journey of Aelin Galathynius (also known as Celaena Sardothien), a skilled assassin and fire-wielder, as she seeks to reclaim her throne and defeat those who have corrupted her kingdom. The series may focus heavily on its action sequences and political world-building, but there is still a strong romantic element found in much of the plot. And while Maas is well-known for her spicy romances in both the A Court of Thorns and Roses and Crescent City series, she instead takes more of a closed-door romantic approach throughout most of the Throne of Glass series.
This in no way takes away from the budding tension brewing between each of its characters, with much of Throne of Glass being driven by some of the book’s sweetest and tender moments. However, the later books in the series—specifically Empire of Storms, Tower of Dawn, and Kingdom of Ash—do include scenes that are a bit steamier. These go into more detail than the fade-to-black scenes found in the first few books, but there are not too many nor are they overly descriptive.
9 Mistborn (2006)
Written by Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson follows the characters of Kelsier and Vin, a powerful mistborn and his protégé, as they attempt to overthrow the tyrannical reign of the Lord Ruler. While Sanderson’s Mistborn could be classified as more of a classic or epic fantasy, the romance plot that is found throughout is not to be ignored. Sanderson does an incredible job of using his characters’ relationships—such as Vin and Elend’s—to add a bit of levity to the complex political dynamics and unique magic system built throughout the series.
The Throne of Glass
- Character(s)
- Celaena Sardothien , Dorian Havilliard , Rowan Whitethorn , Chaol Westfall , Manon Blackbeak , Nehemia Ytger , Aedion Ashryver , Lysandra , Elide Lochan
Summary
The Throne of Glass franchise is a high fantasy series centered around Celaena Sardothien, a young assassin with a hidden royal lineage who embarks on a journey of self-discovery, power, and rebellion against oppressive forces. The series, written by Sarah J. Maas, spans eight books, including prequels, and has garnered a large following for its complex characters, intricate world-building, and epic storyline.
The romantic elements may begin rather slowly for some, as Vin and Elend don’t meet until Chapter 12—but the resulting payout is worth the wait. The romance written into the story is very mild, as Sanderson prefers to allude to a character’s intimacy with another, rather than explore the moments in descriptive detail. While his writing is full of action, he makes sure to deliver a swoon-worthy romance, without any distractions from the main plot.
8 Divine Rivals (2023)
Written by Rebecca Ross
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross follows the story of two young writers who fall in love through the magic of their typewriters, and their correspondence becomes somewhat of a therapeutic process for them both. Most of the romance found within this duology is built upon the foundation of trust each character finds in the other through their letters, adding a magical quality they feel through each other’s words. The level of intimacy Ross is able to emulate through unspoken words is truly astounding, and their romance begins far before anything physical transpires.
The level of intimacy Ross is able to emulate through unspoken words is truly astounding, and their romance begins far before anything physical transpires.
Their unique dynamic is incredibly endearing and makes the moment they finally get together in Divine Rivals all the more special. The intimate scenes in this series are far and few between, with many of them being strictly kissing scenes, with very little else disclosed to the reader. Ross does take more of a fade-to-black approach to her writing and alludes to the book’s more intimate moments without going into explicit detail.
7 Once Upon A Broken Heart (2021)
Written by Stephanie Garber
Known for being an extremely popular choice on BookTok, the Once Upon A Broken Heart trilogy is the epitome of a must-read cozy fantasy romance. Once Upon A Broken Heart is about a young woman, Evangeline, whose broken heart leads her to make some risky decisions—all of which set off a series of events that have her chasing after true love. While the series definitely leans heavily upon its romance plot, the world-building fantasy elements are quintessential in driving the story forward.
The Once Upon A Broken Heart trilogy was intended to be classified as a young adult series. However, many of the readers who enjoy this series are of adult age. The romantic scenes that are included are very mild, with all three books in the series containing some kissing scenes, but Garber never expands upon any further intimacy. The overall writing is very clean, focusing on a more wholesome romance between its main characters—which only helps to make the book impossible to put down.
6 The Prison Healer Trilogy (2021)
Written by Lynette Noni
The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni is a young adult fantasy series following Kiva Meridan, a young girl who is forced into a deadly prison at only 10 years old. The series kicks off with Kiva, now seventeen and the prison’s healer, who somehow finds herself entering a series of dangerous trials to save a woman’s life. The Prison Healer is a combination of the classic fantasy, dystopian, and romance genres, with something unique to offer every type of reader.
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The series, while full of action, spends an incredible amount of time building trust and tension between its main love interests. The tension built in book one of The Prison Healer series is further carried into book two, and constantly teases the reader as to what will transpire. Due to the series being written for young adults in mind, nothing aside from a few kissing scenes will ever be mentioned in detail—but the limited intimacy does not detract from the books’ romance in the slightest.
5 What The River Knows (2023)
Written by Isabel Ibañez
What The River Knows is a historical fantasy romance set during the late 1800s, following the journey of Inez, a young woman who sets off alone to Egypt in order to find out more about her parents’ mysterious disappearance. Ibañez does an incredible job building out a magical element to the story and tying it into what is a very accurate historical depiction of Egypt at the time—blending both fact and fantasy perfectly.
Like many fantasy romances, the main love interest proves to be broody and difficult to work with. While their relationship may begin as a hostile one, the two find they have more in common than they initially believed and watching their love story play out is incredibly endearing. The book only includes a single intimate moment between the couple, but it is not overly descriptive and rather short. Now that the sequel, Where The Library Hides, is published, we’re sure to see more of their romance develop.
4 Cinder (2012)
Written by Marissa Meyer
Cinder by Marissa Meyer focuses on a young mechanic named Cinder, who is half human, half cyborg, as she attempts to solve a mysterious disease that has overtaken Earth. The first book in the series takes inspiration from the original classic fairytale, Cinderella, but gives it a futuristic/fantastical twist. As the series continues, each book in The Lunar Chronicles takes creative liberties with a few other fairytales, including Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White.
While each book in the series focuses on a new heroine and a love story, the books do an incredible job of jumping around between each character’s romantic arcs and giving them the necessary time to grow. While The Lunar Chronicles makes sure to focus on the romance between its characters, Meyer keeps the romantic scenes to a minimum, with scenes only ever describing some kissing or embracing.
3 Powerless (2023)
Written by Lauren Roberts
Powerless by Lauren Roberts quickly became one of BookTok’s most popular reads. The story follows Paedyn Gray, an ordinary young woman without any power, who finds herself thrown into a brutal competition with the world’s most powerful Elite. The Powerless series quickly rose in popularity, not only due to its entertaining plot, but through Roberts’ ability to create romantic tension and banter with ease.
The romantic plot found in the story is a strong focus, with tension budding between more than one character. However, with as much banter and tension Roberts has infused into her writing, it will come as a bit of a surprise to readers to find that no characters engage in any sort of intimacy throughout the first book. While this might seem unusual for a fantasy series with a heavy romantic plot, it helps to keep readers engaged and builds anticipation for what’s to come in the subsequent books.
2 The Cruel Prince (2018)
Written by Holly Black
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black is one of the best enemies-to-lovers fantasy books, and one of the only series that uses the popular trope properly. The book follows Jude, one of the only humans living in the High Court of Faerie, as she attempts to rise to power and finds herself embroiled in political intrigue with her worst enemy. And as the title suggests, she hates the said prince, Cardan, more than anyone. The romance throughout The Folk of The Air trilogy begins rather slowly, with subtle details hinting towards the romantic tension between its two characters.
As this is a true enemies-to-lovers story, much of the first book tip-toes around its romantic plot.
As this is a true enemies-to-lovers story, much of the first book tip-toes around its romantic plot. However, the first book does an incredible job setting up the foundation of their relationship, while the rest of the series explores it in more depth. Most of the intimate scenes throughout the books are rather mild, with some kissing. However, in Queen of Nothing there’s one more detailed romantic scene that adds value and helps to grow their relationship.
1 One Dark Window (2022)
Written by Rachel Gillig
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig is a dark fantasy romance duology following Elspeth, a young woman with an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped inside her head. Elspeth is quickly thrust into a quest to save Blunder from dark magic alongside the king’s nephew, and captain of the guard, Ravyn. The Shepherd King duology’s world-building lends itself to its unique magic system, and helps to create a believable threat against its main character’s romantic journeys.
The romantic tension between both Elspeth and Ravyn is carried throughout most of One Dark Window, but as things progress in their relationship, Gillig adds more intimacy to their dynamic. Most of the first book only includes a few kissing scenes, but Gillig does later add a scene that could be categorized as spicy to some. While the language used is not overly explicit, it is not a fade-to-black romantic encounter either—as Gillig conveys the situation with a bit more detail than the earlier romantic scenes in the fantasy book.
