FANTASY ROMANCE BOOKS ~ that are NOT Sarah J. Maas or Jennifer L. Armentrout 📚 

My recs: *Strange The Dreamer* (any context would ruin the experience, so just read it) *The Bridge Kingdom* (mentioned in the video, a series of duologies following a different enemies to lovers couple every 2 books in a politically-charged world, though it doesn't actually have any magic in it. ) *Dark Shores* (unique world, cool magic, political intrigue, enemies to lovers) *The Folk of The Air* (my favorite enemies to lovers political folklore urban YA fantasy series, full of capricious faeries and angst ❤) *Bitterthorn* (mysterious sapphic witch slow burn standalone) *A Sorcery of Thorns* (magical library protector, mysterious sorcerer and a demonic sidekick) *An Enchantment of Ravens* (dark forest fantasy standalone with gruesome capricious faeries) *This Woven Kingdom* (absolutely delightful, full of banter and Persian mythology) *The Plated Prisoner* (retelling of the myth of King Midas with a twist, unique Fae, smut and a massive trigger warning) *Once Upon A Broken Heart* (magical dark Nutcracker vibes, a slow burn with an interesting, emotionally-repressed love interest antagonist) *Fortuna Sworn* (heart wrenching found family urban paranormal dark adult fantasy ❤) *The Drowned Woods* (Welsh mythology retelling standalone, spy Corgi sidekick 🐕) *The Bone Houses* (more Welsh mythology standalone set in the same world as The Drowned Woods, only after, with a cute zombie goat sidekick 🐐) *Book of Night* (shadows and the underworld dark urban fantasy, unfinished series) *The Bargainer* (urban paranormal fantasy, the first book has a interesting premise and alternating timeline, but the 2nd and 3rd books are meh) *The Infernal Devices* (part of the Shadowhunters franchise, Victorian London, steam punk fantasy with an interesting love triangle) Mmmmm what else?

Grace Draven writes amazing fantasy romance

T. Kingfisher has been my introduction to fantasy romance, and now I've read and loved all of her books that fall into the genre. Amazing fun!

A series I always recommend to people looking for fantasy romance on the steamier side is Kushiel's Legacy by Jacqueline Carey (Kushiel's Dart, Kushiel's Chosen, Kushiel's Avatar). It's very in depth on the lore and world building, political intrigue on par with GRRM, and amazing character development. She has a new book coming out in August called Cassiel's Servant, which is a retelling of the first book from the male love interest's pov and I'm so excited for it!

The way I THANK YOU for this video girl...

I also love, love, love Ilona Andrews (Actually a husband and wife writer teams o the relationships are VERY well balanced) and Jeaniene Frost's work.

I just finished suffering through Fourth Wing and I'm pretty sure the experience made me a worse human being. 😂

Thank you for this video! I was getting sick of ACOTAR and the Fourth Wing recommendations!

Not romance books but the elements of romance in Jade Fire Gold, The Keeper of Night, and Iron Widow were solid

It makes me happy every time you mention This Vicious Grace! That books deserves more hype.

I think this is one of the most helpful book videos I've watched. Your explanations made me actually want to check them out haha, even the ones I didn't have much interest in from just reading about it on goodreads. Thank you!

Thank you!! I actually can’t stand romance books but love fantasy. So to my surprise when I read romance IN a fantasy it doesn’t bother me. This is the perfect video to find the right balance between the two. ❤🎉

Omg thankyou so much for listing them based on spice level!!! As someone who isn't a fan of reading smut, I've found that if I know in advance if there's going to be explicit sex scenes in a book I tend to not mind them as much when I do end up reading them

Happy to see you put FW! Can't wait for your fantasy romance tier list. From other topic are you planning someday to read The Will of the Many?

I try to refrain from ever commenting on people's appearance, but those Marcelinho glasses do look great on you! Of course, we've been seeing you wear them for some time. I know sponsors are an unavoidable (& sometimes uncomfortable) fact of life for content creators; but I very much appreciate when folks are able to work with products/sponsors they actually have positive experiences with. I know that's not always possible and sometimes means more work (or less money); but I'm sure a lot of viewers do appreciate the effort!

I’m really happy that you included FW even if it’s not one of your favs. It makes me trust your reviews more because you acknowledge that there are people that like it. It just makes me so happy! ❤

I love fantasy with romantic subplots, very excited for your video on the topic!

I LOVE your collection of Strange The Dreamer and Muse of Nightmares! I feel like the duoligy is so underated

Read five from these recs solely because you recommended them and I loved all five!

A highly, highly recommend *The Winner’s Curse* series. It’s my all time favorite series- it has romance but so much political intrigue, war, and the two main leads are actually super intelligent. The original cover is ugly as hell but the second edition is better and the limited edition is GORGEOUS.

I've never really warmed to romance themes in fiction. Despite a strong appreciation (even preference) for character work; when that character focus is on pining for or worrying over romance, I always seem to find myself waiting impatiently for the story to get back to other things. Still, I've become a very big believer in the centrality of thoughtful recommendations to the reading process and your channel offers some of the best! So this comment is just a quick diversion to hopefully promote what I consider essential to the hobby.

Love T. Kingfisher. Also really enjoy Ilona Andrews (urban fantasy/romance), Grace Draven, Mercedes Lackey's Five Hundred Kingdoms series, and Lynn Kurland's Nine Kingdoms novels.

Thanks for this! I'd never heard of Paladin's Grace before and I love T. Kingfisher so it's on the library list!

A recently released fantasy romance that I *highly* recommend is The Jasad Heir. Egyptian inspired magical system, true enemies to lovers, beautifully fleshed out side characters, excellent mental health rep, and just all around excellent pacing/plot development.

❤ funny I begin T. kingfisher’s Paladin’s Grace today and I’m really into it … I’ve decided to read it because of your words on her writing 😊

I always enjoy your fantasy romance videos 😊

I've never clicked so fast ❤ I kept waiting for this from you specifically 🎉

I'd never heard of This Vicious Grace before, but now it's definitely on my list!

If someone had told me that half a soul is like howl’s moving castle I would have picked it up a lot sooner

Thank you for this video! I am not fantasy romance reader and except Fourth Wing (of course) I've read none other books from this genre and yes, everyone is talking about SJM so much I plan on never picking up her books (yes, I'm petty like that) 🤣. I've already had few of those books mentioned on my tbr and I never even registered them being fantasy romance haha (except Serpent...). Can't wait for the tier ranking video!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Paladin’s Strength! I hope it’s on your TBR. Thanks for the list ❤

I love half a soul! While technically not a romance, crooked kingdom has my favorite slowburn couple ever. Would love a tier ranking video

I love spicy books of course but I LOVED Half a Soul! Not spicy but the banter was SO GOOD! I was giggling. ♥️

I’m currently reading Dance of Thieves duology and it’s pretty good. Especially if you’re looking for fade to black.

I love the relationship betweern violet and her dragon more than xaden. That dragon was well developed.

I loved This Vicious Grace! One of my favorite fantasy - romance books 😊 also Once Upon A Broken Heart!

I started reading The Bridge Kingdom, because I really liked the review in this video, but sadly it was a huge disappointment and I DNF’d at 25%. For me the MCs behavior felt juvenile, and even though Lara was supposed to be smart, educated, and skilled as a spy, her actions proved she’s the opposite of these. 🙁 Maybe the romance would have been good, but i couldn’t continue.

Is there a list of the the books you spoke of? Would love that. Just found your channel and I subscribed. Like your voice. 👍

The banter in Half of Soul had me laughing out loud. It was a solid standalone and I would definitely re-read.

My recommendation would be The Only Purple House in Town by Ann Aguirre. It's very sweet and it has a found family trope. It's part of a series but it's not necesary to read the rest of them. Love your channel btw. ❤️

Thank you, because I'm tired of hearing about those two authors.

Surprised you didn't mention The Shadows Between Us (or any other of Tricia Levenseller's novels, actually) 🤔

This Vicious Grace reminded me a bit of Tales Of Arise (the videogame), it sounds great 😮

Leigh Ann Edwards writes Historical Fantasy Romance that I've enjoyed in the past. Her books are kind of hard to find, and I think they're only sold as Ebooks. (she might be self-pub, or published through a smaller publisher). There is spice in her books, but it's not really described.

I needed this video and its comments 🙏

Highly recommend Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier.

Paladin's Grace is the first book in a 3 book series (which is set in the same world as the one in Swordheart -- there is a crossover character). There is a story in book one which is completed in book 2. So not exactly a stand alone, though you can of course stop with book one.

I just found your channel and subscribed immediately! I love your videos. Thank you for your reviews. I would love to see a ranked list. I am a big reader of fantasy and it’s difficult for me to find recently-pubbed adult fantasy…seems like everything I find is YA or old or “the same old authors.” *cough*brandonsanderson*cough I don’t mind a little romance in my fantasy (spicy or mild, either is fine) as long as it’s not the focus of the book. Thank you so much for your beautiful, informative videos!

This Vicious Grace sounds so interesting!

I liked Kingdom of the Wicked, but the weird twist it took in the third book was way out of left field. I also really liked Grace Draven's Fallen Empire series, especially the second book.

Please read the Dark Shores series by Danielle L Jensen as well! So complex and so many relationships and political intrigue and leans more to the fantasy side over romance. Extreme enemies to lovers as well. 🔥🔥

Hiiiii I was gonna ask where to get a wall covering bookshelf to save space in a little room. Where would you shop

Have you read The Raven & The Reindeer by T. Kingfisher? Not a full blown fantasy romance but the closest thing to Nettle & Bone that I've read by her so far.

So do your glasses have a bit of Tint to the frames? It always has a bit of a tan/brown tinge to the bridge but the glasses you linked are totally clear.

Here to plug Bitter Medicine by Mia Tsai. Its medium spice, but lots of fun and one of the Fantasy world hidden under our noses in the real world types.

Fourth wing I enjoyed it and it is more adventurous and and romantic fantasy and love this book so much 🌞🏝️🏝️🩵🩵🌞💛💛🏝️🩵📖📖📖🏝️🏝️💛📚📚💛🌞🏝️🩵🩵🏝️🏝️🩵📙📙📙📙📙📖💛💛💛📚📚📚💛🌞🏝️🏝️🌞💛🌞🩵🩵🩵🏝️💛📚📚💛🌞🏝️🏝️🌞💛📚📚📚

Red Winter Trilogy by Annette Marie is swoony and sweet.

Lol, this title. 😂Had to laugh, “NOT Maas.” Her last action with the 5 versions of publishing is ridiculous. In translation will be even worse for her fans.

SO EXCITED!!!🏝️💛🩵🩵📙📙📙🌞🌞🏝️📚📚🏝️🌞🩵🩵🩵💛🩵📙📙📚📚🏝️🏝️🌞💛🩵🩵📙📙📙📙🩵🌞🏝️📚📚📚📚🏝️🌞🩵🩵💛🌞🏝️🏝️🏝️🏝️📚🏝️🏝️🩵📚🏝️📚📚🩵🩵📙📙📙📖🩵🏝️📚🌞💛

I really like K M Shea. The spice factor is very low. I think there is kissing. She writes slow burns so the relationship is very fleshed out before they get to feelings.

Urban Fantasy Patricia Briggs Alpha Omega Series is really good it is lower Spicy. Alpha Omega takes place in the Mercy Thompson series world. The Mercy Thompson series talks about how hot her boyfriend/husband is but it focus isn't romance

Is the new series Jasar Heir more fantasy or fantasy romance?

If you want some magic and some love and cheese - I recommend The Discovery of Witches 🙃

I love half a soul beautifully written and love the story and the characters 🏝️🏝️🩵🏝️🌞🌞📚💛🏝️🩵🩵🌞🌞💛🏝️🩵📙📙📖📖🏝️🏝️🌞📚📚🌞💛🩵🩵🩵🩵🏝️📚📚📚📚💛🏝️🩵🩵🏝️🌞🌞📚🌞💛🏝️🩵🏝️🌞🌞

I love the thorns remain it's bisexual af. (TW for abuse though).

I'd recommend The Phoenix and the Sword by J.C.Snow. It's an Asian cultivation fantasy and has a queer couple. It's a slow burn and no spice, which is my fav type of romance

i recommend sevenwaters trilogy from juliet marillier.

BODYGUARD? YOU HAVE MY ATTENTION

Can anyone recommend me closed door fantasy romances with "guy falls first" trope ?

❤️📚❤️

My favourite romance book is The Way Of Kings by Brandon Sanderson 🤪

Good afternoon Elliot hope you had a great and wonderful and weekend xoxo 😘 📚🏝️🩵🏝️📚💛💛🏝️🩵📙📙🩵🏝️🏝️💛🌞🌞💛📚📚📖📖📖💛💛🌞🌞💛📚📚🩵🩵🩵📙📙📙🩵🩵📚💛🌞🌞💛🏝️🩵🩵🩵🩵🏝️📚💛🌞🌞💛🏝️🩵🏝️

Am I first?

The story of the Fourth Wing is good but the writing is awful.

Nightborn book 1 was so good. I'm starting the sequel soon and just wishing we see more of the gods and their pantheon.