TIER RANKING EVERY FANTASY ROMANCE BOOK I'VE READ 

“I’m surprised this is for anyone” just took me out 😭💀

"everyone has their own tastes and apparently poppy tastes like honeydew" I DIED

Regarding too much sex in books -- I've said before in book commentary: sex isn't a plot. :)

I started Divine Rivals and i’ve never been hooked so quickly by a book. This is high quality writing straight up

I would recommend radiance by grace draven, the two main characters enter an arranged marriage to secure an alliance between their two kingdoms,however they are not of the same species, the fmc is human, the mmc is not and the funny thing is they find each other ugly 😂but then the two of them are wonderful and so a friendship develops between them and we just follow them. It’s so so good

I think ACOTAR is actually often in the middle as a standalone and the feelings are more for the series as a whole. Either you thought the first one was fine, but the rest were amazing, or you think the first one was surprisingly decent and then it tanked.

Now that Fourth Wing’s sequel is on the horizon I just smile and say “thanks I’m good.” Sometimes I flip through Ikea catalogues and think about Violet’s coital collateral damage and just sing “In the Arms of the Angel” to myself. Many desks and chairs and armoires lie in splinters because she goes UNLIMITED POWERRRRR in bed.

Your story about Enchantment of Ravens is so great! It makes me happy.😅 That’s a lovely memory with a fantastic book.

I just finished One Dark Window and its sequel and, wow, this duology! It's quite dark and wow the magic system!

Love your rankings! Thank you!

We agree on so many of these, it's hilarious to me. I feel like an underrated fantasy romance is the Spellbreaker duology by Charlie N. Holmberg. I really enjoy her writing. It is a historical so maybe that's why it's less popular but it was my introduction to fantasy romance and I LOVE it. I already loved romance and fantasy as separate categories so it really worked for me. Plus I love the magic system.

Daughter of No Worlds! I just finished the second book in the War of Lost Hearts trilogy by Carissa Broadbent. So far I like it WAY more than Serpent and the Wings of Night. It’s very political and the romance is slow burn and believable. And there are very few love scenes.

It’s funny because I fell in love with EOF because of your recommendation and so I have added all of your top tier books to my TBR as well, I can’t wait!

I don’t share all of your opinions on these books but I really appreciate how you described your thoughts here. Sometimes tier rankings get so exhaustive that they become honestly boring.

❤📚📚♥️ I haven't read Fourth Wing, but the rest are so in sync with my own preferences...another reason I love your channel!

If you liked Once Upon a Broken Heart, you should definitely read the Caraval trilogy too. It kind of surprised me how much I liked it and I liked how the first two books focused on each sister and the third book focused on both of them. It’s not perfect but it felt unique and this year I’ve been really into reading books that don’t remind me of other things. Also the Empirium trilogy was so good, actually a series without flaw in my eyes. It’s so well written and the world building and character relationships made me wish it never ended. And it is YA which I enjoy even at 24 but this felt way more mature than any other YA so I can’t recommend it enough.

I just got through the first 2 books in the Marvelous Light series and feel like they totally caught me off guard with how great they were and am now eagerly awaiting the third one to come out. Very sweet, a bit of spice, queer romance, historical fictiony goodness with a fun and interesting magic lore that had me innnn it! Highly recommend

Thank you so much for sharing your favorite books in this genre. As soon as you mentioned Final Fantasy 10 as being one of your all time favorite games, I knew I could trust your opinion. I am just getting back into reading and had a hard time picking between your two top tiers. Starting with OUABH and hoping to read them all eventually.

Oh my goddd. I was just thinking the other day that I don’t know any booktuber with exact or very similar taste to mine. All the booktubers I love have somewhat of different likings. I’m aware that a good portion of their favourites are not something I would love. But this is the most similar video with my thoughts and favourites😭I’m so happy. In fact I’m currently reading half a soul and it’s such a charming book! I’m loving it. The whole time I was scared that what is she gonna rank that book😬 Really glad to have found this video today ♥️looking forward to more videos from you!

I think we have very similar tastes. You rated everything I've read the same as I would have. I love this!

I highly recommend Fable by Adrienne Young (The World of the Narrows duology). So beautifully written, the romance is a fairly plot-forward element while still remaining understated and letting the main story shine. So tastefully done and meaningful, while also exploring various familial relationships that were beautiful. It’s set mainly at sea too and the atmosphere was great.

This was a fun one! Your videos alerted me to Half a Soul, which I hadn't heard of. We're on the same page with Fourth Wing, From Blood and Ash, and Serpent and Dove. At least with Fourth Wing, I find it to be entertaining trash. 😂

This was very helpful! Thank-you

omg i'm so glad i found this channel you have such similar reading tastes!! nodding along the whole time. I'd really recommend strange the dreamer by laini taylor it's SO good so magical, the fantasy aspect is very present and the romance still is amazing and protagonical. Second book is a little bit more normal, just like a well-written YA, but strange the dreamer is just its own category to me and everything I wanted in a fantasy romance tbh

I love this. Its fun to see where our reading opinions overlap and where they differ. For instance I love fourth wing, serpent and the wings night and the acotar series ( but not the first book acotar very much). I also have some issues with from blood and ash especially the next couple books.

Radiance by Grace Draven is a great fantasy/romance book and I really loved Howls moving castle book. The love story and interactions between characters I felt was even better in the book and I love the movie. Also, Olivia Atwater has a new Victorian fairy tail book called The Witchwood knot coming out 11/28. I preordered that one right when I heard about it ☺️

I’m just getting back into reading, thank you for this list you have. I have added a few to my TBR list. For you have you read the Crave series? I’m on book 3 and really enjoying it

You should read the Bone Season series! The pairing in that is very slow burn and intense, but each character is given such great depth individually and the plot of the story never takes a backseat to make room for the romance.

your setup is giving me oldschool booktube and i'm obsessed

I so relate to your enchantment of ravens story! Bands and orchestras have a lot of downtime :) thank you for the video, got some good recommendations!

Have you ever read the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning? It's been awhile since I read it, but I remember the world building and plot more than the romance. It is a bit dark though (it has fae, but they are more in-line with the actual lore, as in evil and untrustworthy). It has many morally grey characters and is not the sweet/cozy type at all.

I feel you on trying to find a romance that’s similar to one like FFX (or just FF love stories in general) and it’s hard to find in western literature. I honestly really loved Carissa Broadbent’s “Daughter of No Worlds “ series (author of serpent sings of night) it’s the closest that I’ve read that feels final fantasy esque and I find it more enjoyable then the serpent series overall

I know it's not exactly fantasy romance, but I thought you would mention Yumi and the Nightmare Painter when you talked about Final Fantasy X, since it's inspired by it. If anyone else also likes FFX, definitely try it, it's really sweet.

LOL! Your tier 4 was my tier 1!!! Loved Blood to sh and Fourth Wing!! lol

The Red Winter series by Annette Marie is a really good one. It's got a Japanese theme with yoki, slow burn, and unique mystery plot.

I love picturing you in the pit reading An Enchantment of Ravens during the dialogue in a musical.

Everyone talks about ACOTAR but people rarely ever mention TOG. I think TOG is SJM’s best series. Wish people would talk about it more ♥️

Great Video!

Looking forward to trying some of these books I haven't read. I love Lindsay Buroker's Emporer's Edge series. She is an indie author and this is by far my favourite series of hers. The romance is slow burn. They don't really get together until the end of the series but there are interactions along the way building up to it which I love. It is quirky with a lot of humour, kind of steam-punk/fantasy and can be a corny at times but I love the characters and character development. Each book has the main character's POV and the POV of one other character - the secondary POV changes with each book so you get to know one of the characters better in when it is their POV. I thought that was a really cool way of getting to know the team members better and I have never seen anyone else do it. I preferred the Danielle L Jensen's Malediction series over the Bridge Kingdom series. I really liked her take on the trolls.

I've only read about half of these, but I agree with your thoughts!! I love romance that makes sense, that's sweet, and takes it's time to develop as well. Half a Soul is one incredible example, I get happy just thinking of those characters! ❤ Divine Rivals & OUABH are amazing as well 😍

I'd put An Ember in the Ashes (and all the sequels) in S-tier for the romance between Elias and Laia. There's a lot of tragedy attached to that romance, but I still love it. The romance in Ice Massacre (Mermaids of Eriana Kwai) is also really great.

Of the books in your video that I have read, I agree with you on their rankings, so I've added a few of the others to my TBR, thanks! I recently read and enjoyed Little Thieves by Margaret Owen and just started the sequel, Painted Devils. I think they may be YA, but they're quirky and fun but also deal with some serious topics.

Did you read the standalone Six Scorched Roses in the Nyaxia series? I think I enjoyed it more than the Serpent and the Wings of Night.

Would definitely love to recommend One Dark Window Books, it’s a duology and it’s so good I continuously think about these books

I loved This Vicious Grace so much!! I'm super excited for the next installment....

You should check out What Lies Beyond the Veil. I came to it for the romance BUT I stayed for the fantasy/plot. It's a really good series. I'd consider it more a fantasy with a romance subplot so for me, the best of both worlds ❤

OUABH and it's follow-up are forever a go-to read when I want to feel swept away.

As always, your video have a jovial nature that refresesh the tired and sored angles of daily life and stress. I was surprised about Wicked King, I should give it a try. I wish you would read Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray and let us know what you think about the romance in there. Thank you again and have a great week!

My favorite fantasy romance series is Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat. Personally, I do not consider it as a romance but a political/war fantasy with VERY dark and tabooed relationships. I have a soft spot for Laurent even after all he did. It's a personal story for me, I read it during a really dark time in my life, and it resonated deeply with me.

This is the content I need ❤❤❤

You've got a lot of the same books in your top tier that I do, so maybe I can recommend something good. With Christmas coming soon, I'd recommend "The Enchanted Sonata" by Heather Dixon Wallwork. It's a lovely take on the Nutcracker with an adorable couple. And I think it's even more appreciated if you have a knowledge of music due to some of the concepts within it.

This is so helpful lol i think our preferences might be similar so i have some new ones to try. Really been trying to find some more great sweet fantasy romance I would highly highly recommend the Red Winter Trilogy by Annette Marie. I've never seen any booktuber review her, maybe because you can only get her books if you go out of your way to buy them online... but Red Winter is one of my favorite series ever. Slow burn, characters really growing into themselves, not really any spice but i still felt all the feels. I re-read this pretty often for cozy feel-good times. Most of us fans consider it a good winter read (perfect time!). I would say this series is like... 60% plot and 40% romance? Not sure, the plot definitely comes first but romance is definitely part of it too without letting the plot drop off I hope you can read them some day!

Fourth wing being compared to Too Hot to Handle really resonates

This was a fun one! We have books on the same tiers and then some that are completely opposite! 😂 I specifically avoided fourth wing because of your review and I am ever thankful that I didn’t pick it up lol Edit: what about the All Souls Trilogy? I consider it fantasy romance. I think I have rated the same as Acotar though.

Have you read The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea? It’s YA fantasy romance that’s sweet and cute, and the story feels very magical. It gave me Studio Ghibli vibes! Also, I read Half a Soul based on one of your videos and I loved it so much! Thank you for the recommendations :)

Hi, was wondering your thoughts on the Crave series, I just finished the first book. Thought it was good and the ending was unexpected to me. Great video, I have a few more things to read now 😊

I would call Emily Wilde fantasy romance! I think we will definitely get more romance as the series goes on. It always makes me happy when you talk about This Vicious Grace because that book is so underhyped! Loved hearing your thoughts on all of these!

I recently enjoyed The Book of Azrael and A Court This Cruel and Lovely! The relationship between the main characters and the even the supporting characters are great~

I think you might like These Broken Stars (and the whole Starbound trilogy), nominated for the Goodreads Choice Awards back in the day. It's a little sci-fi fantasy romance, but I really enjoyed them. Especially book two - each book follows a different couple, but they all intertwine kind of like the Lunar Chronicles.

You should try the Blood Grace series, sweet love interest and a very unique take on vampires, epic fantasy meets romance.

I don't read a lot of fantasy romance anymore, but I still consider The Remnant Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson my favorite in this genre. And I also really enjoyed her Dance of Thieves duology. It's both YA, though

I am a violinist and have also played in pit orchestras, so I know exactly what you mean. I disagree with you on ACOTAR, I think it should be top tier, but thoroughly enjoyed your video and hope to see much more from you!

If you like sweet romance you need to try Charlie N Holmberg. I particularly love the Spellbreaker duology by her.

Please read The Remnant Chronicles, by Mary Pearson. It's a trilogy that starts with The Kiss of Deception. Then there is a follow-up duology that starts with Dance of Thieves.

I'm so happy to see Emily Wilde in the top tier! I loved it so much ❤ the love interest for fell into the category of "I would never get along with you" but I shipped them with the main character so much 😅

I also liked This Vicious Grace and Half a Soul and I always come to your channel for recs because I feel you're the closest booktuber to my reading taste (most others I tried are either full YA, full adult epic fantasy, or full spicy romantasy). But most books I liked are YA and I know you've read most known authors like Tricia Levenseller, Margaret Rogerson, etc. My most enjoyable YA fantasy of this year was definitely Sing Me to Sleep by Gabi Burton. However, the romance is a fairly small side plot. One YA fantasy with a lot of romance that was super cute and I wish more people knew about it is Cast in Firelight by Dana Swift. Another YA fantasy that I feel is very underrated and unknown is Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee, it's so funny and unique take on Chinese mythology in urban fantasy setting. I'd actually wish to read more adult romantasy but like... one that isn't all spice no plot. I wonder what are your recs for that except Half a Soul / Emily Wilde / One Dark Window / Hart & Mercy, etc. I bounced back off the writing style in Hurricane Wars hard, and I dnfed Jasad Heir (hah I reckon you had a dnf video about that one too). Oh I remember what's cute and on my tbr: the mead mishaps series by Kimberly Lemming (the one where one book is called something like "That Time I Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf", or something). Also, did you know Tricia Levenseller is releasing a companion novel to her Pirate series soon? That took me by a surprise.

Maybe you could try the Book of Tea duology? It’s a YA duology but it mixes court politics, YA drama, and the romance in a very cute and thrilling way! It’s one of the very few YA series I appreciate for its romance that I’ve read as an adult. And it includes a tournament arc like Serpent and the Wings of Night

I just loved the cute dragon conversations and the funny mind shares in fourth wing

I've read only bridge kingdom (only first book) and I really enjoyed it, although it's not very original story and it seems predictable, but it's really enjoyable book. I'm planning to read The traitor queen in the future to end that duology.

i read "red winter" by annette marie recently and surprised me so much! great japanese mythology and the couples dynamic reminded a bit of evajacks. the only flaw is the ugly cover 😭

OMG I used to be obsessed with Final Fantasy X and it’s romance. It’s one of my favs! ❤️

I've been looking for a new channel for fantasy/romantasy recs and you just won my entire devotion because the NUMBER OF TIMES they same names in Fourth Wing is out of control. I ranted to friends that if I never heard his stupid name ever again it would be a day too soon.

There’s a really sweet romance in A study in Drowning by Ava Reid. It’s fantasy-lite and dark academia.

I love this. Agreeeeeeee

You should try Carissa Broadbent’s previous trilogy the World of Lost Hearts, which starts with Daughter of No World, I like it even more than the Serpent and the Wings of Night, plus it’s a complete series

I was wondering if you would make a category just for 1 book and you did 😂

You killed me with A Game of Fate. 😂 I actually really like that book and prefer it over Persephone’s PoV in A Touch of Darkness, but I get what you’re saying. I think it’s actually classified as erotica now that I think about it. 😅

Can you do a tier list for charismatic/witty characters?

We have very similar taste (including loving FFX!) Have you read the Prison Healer trilogy? I picked them up recently and was hooked

I think you would really enjoy Blood & Steel/ Vows & Ruins. It’s a fantasy romance with Witcher vibes. One of my fav series of the year!

The Mercy Thompson series and Anita Blake series should be part of this list. As well as the Alpha Omega and Merry Gentry series. However the series didn't start this year.

love your recommendations always

when you said fantasy isn't known for romance I was like whaaaatttt? (I've read mostly ya fantasy, which is pretty much all romance haha!)

I have two trilogies for you-one complete, one not; both are indie published but excellent. 1. On these Dark Sands trilogy(at least that’s the first book) by Vanessa Rasanen it’s a pirate fantasy with fae dove in an interesting way and political intrigue. And romance. 2. The Gate Chronicles by Alli Earnest will be completed next year I believe. Steampunk romance on a different planet.

I felt the same way about ACOTAR! I enjoyed it well enough, but I was left feeling like I was good and didn't need to move into reading any of the other books in the series. I haven't loved Sarah J Maas' other books though so I think I just decided to quit while I was ahead haha

Please try Forcing Fate I liked it a looot, would love to know what you thought of it ❤

Please read Belladonna. It’s so good! Best read of 2023

Thank you for these videos! I really like the way you explain your rationale behind the tiers and ranking! That being said, I so hoped that Irregular witches would be tier 5 😅. I really did not find this book special, cute, endearing... Didn't like the love interest, either. Everyone was mostly annoying 😂

I'm reading the sequel to Paladin's Grace, it's a new love story in the same world but with other characters, so far it's really good and so funny, I already like it better than the first one, highly recommend.

I trust this list because I played FFX and totally get what you're looking for in a romance. I am genuinely surprised a lot of these books didn't scratch your itch. Heck you might as well try looking for Japanese fantasy novels.

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross is a sweet fantasy romance that I think you would enjoy. You’ve Got Mail was my favorite movie as a kid (lol) and it encapsulates the essence of that movie. It’s got the mysterious pen pals, enemies to lovers, a good balance of romance/fantasy plot, and the romance is sweet/loving (not spicy). The second book in the duology comes out in December, too!

I'm surprised you didn't include "The Binding" on the list. I'd put it in A or even S tier =) Also Warbreaker, by Brandon Sanderson is a beautiful and sweet story.

Have you tried the other series by Stephanie Garber, Caraval, it’s one of my favourites (especially the very first one)

Totally checking out this vicious grace .. since our tastes seem similar.

I'm surprised that you have not included Yumi and the Nightmare Painter in your list! I'd say is fantasy romance, but I hardly ever read romance so maybe I'm wrong.

I felt that way about ACOTAR but really loved the second and third one. I really found them to be different.

The Fourth Wing and the sequel Iron Flame I enjoyed them and looking forward to the next book. The Serpent and The Wings of the Night, I read it in one night, and can't put it down, currently reading Ashes and Star- Cursed King.

You should consider kimberly lemmings books! the first one is called " that time I got drunk and saved a demon " ! One thing I really am dissapointed with alot of fantasy romance is is the complete lack of diversity, it is soooo hard to find romance books in the fantasy genre with black female leads! so finding her books was such a treat for me, I dont mind reading fantasy with white female leads but sometimes it gets exhausting when the main character is always thin and delicate and has skin as white as snow. The series has some very interesting lore and I enjoyed the worldbuilding as I found it easy enough to understand quickly on a first read, and there were also some stakes so it wasnt like, completely stress free either. each book has a different main character and each one is diverse and has a very unique personality that is fun to read I think. I'd be super interested in hearing your thoughts on one of her books or the series in general.

my recommendation kind of fits into both the things you really like and things you really don't 😅 the blood grace series really impressed me with how well built the fantasy and political elements are, and the couple is very sweet and nontoxic (but also definitely wanna get in each other's pants constantly once they get together, lol)

Have you read Fortuna Sworn? I think you might like that based on your rankings. I’m surprised it’s rated so low on Goodreads, though, so maybe I’m just odd in that I liked it.