The Jezebel Summer Romantasy Reading Guide

Summer is made for book lovers. The days are longer, the weather is warmer, and an afternoon poolside or posted up in a park starts to sound a lot more appealing than facing the ever-present horrors of the real world. And as temperatures start to rise outside, it’s only natural that your reading material might get a little steamier than normal. 

For those who’ve somehow missed out on the megapopular romantasy trend, the publishing subgenre that mixes the elaborate worldbuilding of fantasy with the complex relationship dynamics and spicy sex of romance, it’s a phenomenon that’s busy reshaping almost everything you’re seeing on bookstore shelves today.

Full of complicated characters, lush escapism, and pleasure of all stripes, these are books that not only put women in charge of their own satisfaction, but female readers as well. Wanna ride a dragon, marry a fae prince or princess, or hook up with a sworn enemy? This is the genre for you. And given the largely awful state of, well… basically everything at the moment, it’s not much of a stretch to see why such stories are so popular right now, and growing more so every day. After all, taming a mystical beast can’t be all that much harder than some of the things young women are asked to deal with regularly in our world right now.

However, romantasy is so hot right now that it can be a bit difficult to know where to start. That’s where this list comes in. Whether you’re a new fan or a season romantasy pro, we’ve got recommendations across new releases, big-name sequels, and the classics everyone’s still talking about to boost your summer reading into seriously steamy territory.

New Releases

Thanks to the sheer number of new romantasy books arriving at a bookstore near you this summer, it can feel impossible to know what to try first. These are a handful of the most intriguing new summer romantasy releases to fill out your TBR list in the months ahead.

A Kiss of Crimson Ash by Anuja Varghese

A lushly realized debut romantasy that takes its inspiration from medieval Indian epics, A Kiss of Crimson Ash is a propulsive, fast-paced read that mixes familiar fantasy tropes with political intrigue, religious strife, ancient gods, and a complicated quartet of POV characters whose stories don’t always follow the same path. Varghese’s brisk prose features colorful worldbuilding, as well as a dedication to Indian culture and mythology that feels downright refreshing in this space.

The story initially centers on Taara, the naive new queen of the city-state of Abhaya, who’s forced to enter an arranged marriage to the prince of a neighboring kingdom in the hopes of hiding her mother’s madness. Her new spouse, Garaj, is reluctant to leave the homeland he loves behind — particularly the courtesan who has stolen his heart—but is nevertheless determined to do his duty. Left behind in Nandapore, Behdiya finds herself in grave danger thanks to her hidden abilities as a spellcaster, a situation. And the thief Roland is basically just looking for the easiest  (and most profitable) way to survive. But when they each stumble upon pieces of a dangerous, potentially world-changing conspiracy involving a long-simmering feud between gods and goddesses and a powerful ancient weapon, they find themselves drawn together by destiny in the hopes of stopping it. 

 

Dominion by Jean Kwok

Bestselling author Jean Kwok, a writer best known for literary titles like Girl in Translation, Searching for Sylvie Lee, and Mambo in Chinatown, makes her romantasy debut with Dominion, the first installment in a Chinese mythology-inspired trilogy that ticks pretty much every box a fan of this genre could want. 

Described as Fourth Wing meets The Hunger Games—which is, for the record, a surprisingly popular comp in publishing at the moment, so buckle up—its story has a little bit of everything: Romance, action, magic, politics, a broody hero, a heroine coming into her own, and a fierce mythical companion animal. Set in a world divided into four rival Dominions, the story follows a young woman named Rubi Morningtail, a refugee who has lost her memory in the wake of a cataclysmic event. Scraping by and determinedly hiding what little magic she still possesses, her life is thrown into chaos when she is chosen as a rider by one of the Silver Dominion’s prized battle tigers. What follows is a battle against a demonic threat, an ancient prophecy, and her own heart, as she seeks the truth of her own magic and finds herself pulled into a slow-burning romance with a ruthless metal mage.

 

Immortal Rose by Alexandra Bracken

The adult debut from Alexandra Bracken, the bestselling author of the popular Passenger and The Darkest Minds YA series, Immortal Rose is the first installment in a Regency-era romantasy series set in a world where perfumes can be imbued with magic. When the King of Albion is poisoned, Violet Lockbourne, the last living heir of the Rosebourne family—who, thanks to a faerie ancestor, can create such magically infused fragrances—is forced to join up with the royal spymaster to concoct a perfume to save him (and keep herself out of prison). As Viola and Hugh scour the kingdom for an array of fairy relics, they discover there’s more to each other than they expected—and that Albion has plenty of dark secrets of its own.

The book’s truly unique magical system helps it stand out from the pack, as does its deliciously slow-burning central romance, deftly told across dual POVs that see two difficult and frequently guarded people slowly open up to one another.

Steelborn by Taylor J. LaRue

Many romantasy books draw comparisons to the works of Sarah J. Maas, who is, as this list will later discuss, one of the foundational figures of the genre. Most of those comparisons are…usually a little off. But Taylor J. LaRue’s Steelborn has Throne of Glass vibes down to the ground. 

The story follows Reya, professionally known as the notorious Crimson Thief, as she’s forced to pull off one last impossible heist or face a decade of imprisonment. There’s dangerous magic, a lot of female rage, and, of course, a broody immortal warrior who’s suffering from a deadly curse and has plenty of secrets of his own. While this is, in many respects, a very trope-heavy story, it’s still a remarkably well-executed one, and Reya makes for a fierce and compelling heroine. 

Buzzy Sequels

While standalone novels exist in the romantasy space—and several appear on this list—this is a genre that loves sprawling sagas spread over multiple books. These are a few of the biggest sequels of summer (which come with a built-in recommendation to try the first book in their respective series if you haven’t yet).

 

Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry

Last year’s Shield of Sparrows was the first romantasy novel from popular romance author Devney Perry, who hit the ground running with a twisty, action-packed adventure that followed a princess pledged in a treaty marriage to a rival kingdom in the place of the younger sister who’d been preparing her whole life for the role. A positively swoon-worthy enemies-to-lovers romance and an emotionally devastating cliffhanger later, and we were all ready to see where this story would go next.  

Happily, sequel Rites of the Starling is a banger from start to finish, pushing the initial story beyond the bounds of where we all thought it was headed. Perry deftly adds in an unexpected second POV character (and no, it’s not Ransom), builds out the larger world of her fictional universe and its politics in fascinating new ways, and pulls off a surprising structural twist that reframes almost everything that’s come before. Despite its hefty size, it’s an addictively fast read that will almost certainly leave readers counting the days until the trilogy’s conclusion.

Fury Bound by Sable Sorensen

Sable Sorenson’s previously indie pubbed romantasy, Dire Bound, got a splashy trad publishing debut late last year, arriving at mainstream booksellers to serious buzz (and strong sales) among readers. Set in a brutal kingdom where humans bond with enormous direwolves to fight off the terrifying threat of Siphons (a.k.a. vampires), the first installment in the Wolves of Ruin trilogy is fast-paced, deliciously immersive, and one of those books you’ll inevitably look up and be surprised to find you’ve torn through in a day. 

Fury Bound, its highly anticipated doorstopper of a sequel, hit shelves earlier this spring and determinedly raises the stakes of Sorenson’s world with bigger action sequences, messier politics, and an extra helping of intense yearning. (Plus, lots and lots of spice. Whew!) Meryn, a former street fighter from the slums, has won a crown, and with it a bunch of responsibilities she never asked for, including a deadly war that is tearing the Kingdom of Nocturna apart. Of course, the one person who can help her is none other than Stark Therion, the dangerous (and potty-mouthed) Alpha whose loyalty is unshakeable. A middle installment that boasts a prodigious amount of plot twists—some of which don’t always make sense if you think about them too hard—this sequel is another propulsive ride. 

The Ballad of Falling Dragons by Sarah A. Parker

The pre-release hype surrounding the release of The Ballad of Falling Dragons, the highly anticipated second installment in Sarah A Parker’s Moonfall series, was…let’s just call it intense. The sequel’s release date got pushed back a couple of times, and everyone was nervous about whether that meant this installment would be able to live up to the lightning-in-a-bottle that was the surprise hit first novel. Turns out, none of us needed to worry, and this sequel was more than worth the wait. 

Featuring new POVs, extended world-building, extended lore drops, and a thoughtful, thorough expansion of both the series’ politics and its characters’ narrative arcs, The Ballad of Falling Dragons is full of surprising twists and rich, emotional payoffs (that, fair warning, will hit harder if you’ve done a bit of a refresher on everything that went down in the first book.) Though its dense size and frequently sprawling storylines mean that there are some pacing issues here and there, the central romance is so well done that it’s hard to care about anything else. Keep a box of tissues close.

 

The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley

The conclusion to author Brigitte Knightley’s Dearly Beloathed duology, The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy, is full of the same witty banter, dark whimsy, and delicious yearning that made the first book in the series such fun. The chemistry between the gleeful assassin Osric and the determined healer Aurienne remains top-notch, and the forbidden attraction turned slowest of slow burn relationships that’s (ever so slowlyyyyy) blossoming between them is the kind of satisfying that will leave you giggling and kicking your feet with glee. (Also, yes, for those who were curious, the spice part of romantasy arrives in this installment.) 

Knightley’s prose is delightfully quick, light, and ever so slightly unhinged in the best of ways, laced with dry humor and a refreshingly lighthearted feel—for all that the story is about stopping a potentially deadly plague—that’s all too rare in this genre space. 

Recent Hits 

Since romantasy is basically the biggest thing in publishing right now, it’s okay if you can’t keep up with the positive deluge of titles hitting shelves pretty much every week.  These are a few recent releases from earlier this year that are worth checking out.

 

The Wolf and the Crown of Blood by Elizabeth May 

A steamy dark romantasy from the author of the very underrated The Falconer trilogy, Elizabeth May’s The Wolf and the Crown of Blood is not a story for the faint of heart. With dark fairytale elements, a determinedly gothic sensibility, and an array of trigger warnings you absolutely must make sure you heed, this is a romantasy where love is more often deadly than anything else.

The story follows a princess who must die as a sacrifice to a storm god every 14 days so that her blood can be used to keep the human and immortal realms separate. But when rebellion stirs, and Bryony loses the god Alexios’ protection, he sends an immortal assassin to take her life. If you know anything about this genre, you know that killing each other is the last thing these two are going to be doing. (And you’ll be just fine with that, promise.)

The Wolf and the Crown of Blood features a multifaceted, appealing heroine who’s full of rage alongside an array of tantalizing tropes like enemies-to-lovers romance, forced proximity, villain-gets-the-girl, and, yes, a literal death pact. If you think you’ve seen this story before, you haven’t. And that’s what makes it so much fun.

The Second Death of Locke by V.L. Bovalino 

One of the best trends within the world of romantasy in recent years has been the rise of the “lady knight” phenomenon, fantasy stories that regularly feature women in armor and brandishing swords, gleefully subverting expected stereotypes, shaking up traditional gender roles, and frequently putting queer and marginalized characters front and center. And few do it better than V.L. Bovalino’s The Second Death of Locke, a lush, lyrical, and achingly romantic story about the bond (magical and otherwise) between a knight and her mage.

Gorgeously written and full of incredibly detailed worldbuilding, the story follows Grey Flynn and Kiernan Seward, former childhood friends who now fight together in a seemingly unending war. Kier is a Mage, and Grey is his Well—not just the physical source of the magic he wields, but his healer, protector, and closest confidante. Tasked with protecting a child believed to be the heir to the lost island of Locke, the source of all magic, the pair must transport the girl safely through dangerous enemy territory, with the fate of all Idistra in the balance. The only problem is that Grey knows this child isn’t the heir everyone’s so desperately looking for—she is. And this mission could very well mean not only her death, but the end of all magic, entirely. 

Come for the well-written quest and multidimensional characters, stay for the slow-burning friends-to-lovers romance and weapons-grade yearning. 

Weavingshaw by Heba Al-Wasity

One of the least traditional offerings on this list, Heba Al-Wasity’s Weavingshaw is not a typical romantasy, in that it probably skews closer to dark academia than high fantasy. (Technically, it’s being marketed as a “fantasy romance”, which may or may not have something to do with the audience that is usually presumed to be reading such things.) But the story features plenty of tropes romantasy readers love—an enemies-to-lovers romance, plenty of yearning, and a painstakingly slow burn relationship—and Weavingshaw blends these familiar elements in a way that somehow manages to feel refreshingly new. 

The story follows Leena, a young woman who can see the dead. To save her brother’s life, she’s forced to strike a deal with the mysterious purveyor of dark secrets known as the Saint of Silence, one that requires her to track down the ghost of Percival Avon, the last lord of Weavingshaw, or lose her freedom forever. (No one will be surprised if I tell you that this journey isn’t entirely what it seems or that Leena and the Saint start getting a bit closer than either of them expected, right?) Al-Wasity’s prose is lush and lyrical, and the story offers a surprisingly deft exploration of familiar real-world issues, from mental health to the immigrant and refugee experience.

Dragon Cursed by Elise Kova

Thanks to the wild success of Fourth Wing, dragons are suddenly a huge thing in the world of romantasy, so it’s not all that much of a surprise that Elisa Kova, author of such genre favorites as Arcana Academy and A Deal with the Elf King (itself a classic in the romantsy space!) would take this particular story element out for a spin. And while Dragon Cursed has a relatively low spice level and skews more toward the YA end of the storytelling spectrum, it’s still an entertaining, fast-paced adventure full of action-packed trials and dragon lore. 

In the last remaining human city of Vinguard, eighteen-year-olds are forced to undergo a brutal series of tests to determine if they are one of the unfortunate “dragon cursed,” doomed to ultimately transform into a mindless beast bent on destroying everything they once loved. Thanks to miraculously managing to survive a dragon attack when she was twelve, all of Vingard now believes young Isola to be the reincarnation of a great hero who once fought the Elder Dragon, and the city’s power-hungry vicars are grooming her accordingly. There’s just one problem—Isola herself is afraid they’re wrong, and she’s actually becoming one of the monsters she’s been warned about all her life. 

Genre Classics

These are the bangers that helped define the whole idea of romantasy — and they’re pretty great reads, too. 

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

If you’re at all familiar with the romantasy genre, you’ve almost certainly heard of Sarah J. Maas. The grand dame of the genre, her sprawling A Court of Thorns and Roses saga is one of romantasy’s defining texts, and with at least three more books headed our way, there’s still plenty of time to dive in. 

A Court of Thorns and Roses follows the story of Feyre Archeron, who finds herself journeying to the magical world of Prythian after she accidentally kills a fairy wolf to feed her family. What follows is a sprawling, frequently surprising tale of magic, royal fae courts, bonded mates, ancient curses, and complex political intrigue that, while it may take a while to really get going, quickly becomes irresistible catnip. The first four books (or, technically, three and a novella) follow Feyre’s story, while the fifth focuses on her sister, Nesta. We still don’t know who Book 6 will be about yet—though the smart money’s probably on Feyre’s other sister, Elain—but there are plenty of intriguing options when it comes to where this world can go next. 

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros 

If Sarah J. Maas is the author who started the romantasy trend, Rebecca Yarros has subsequently launched it into the stratosphere. Her Empyrean series—currently sitting at three books with at least two more on the way—is wildly popular. Third installment, Onyx Storm, sold nearly 3 million copies in its first week when it hit shelves in early 2025, becoming the fastest-selling adult novel in two decades. It is, as the kids say, the moment, and with a Prime Video series now in development, the franchise doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

A sprawling story set at a war college for dragon riders, Fouth Wing has it all: A physically fragile but emotionally ferocious heroine whose indomitable spirit keeps pushing her to stay alive; an entertaining assortment of compelling supporting characters that are easy to relate to; high-stakes political intrigue, fast-paced competitions and training exercises that see our faves pushed to their limits; a near constant threat of death, and a scorching enemies-to-lovers romance. And that’s all before we get to the actual dragons, who are as interesting and developed as any of the humans who ride them.

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

Author Rebecca Ross has been writing in what would be considered the romantasy space for some time—her Elements of Cadence duology is particularly lovely. But it’s her Letters of Enchantment series that truly catapulted her into rock star status. 

Divine Rivals follows a pair of rival journalists who fall in love with the aid of a pair of magical typewriters while both are busy covering a devastating war. From gods eager to use humans as pawns in their ancient conflict to the trauma their seemingly never-ending battles inflict on ordinary people, the story deftly explores the impact of armed conflict on everything from relationships and professional opportunities to class struggles and family strife. And it’s all told through an incredibly charming You’ve Got Mail-style rivals-to-lovers romance. 

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

Carissa Broadbent’s sprawling Crowns of Nyaxia series follows multiple lead characters and central relationships through several interconnected duologies and standalone novellas. Set in a world ruled by vampire houses and watchful (occasionally vengeful) gods, Broadbent’s books contain political intrigue, dark curses, forbidden romance, and lots (and lots!) of spice. But it was The Serpent and the Wings of Night that started it all, and that remains one of the most popular vampire romantasies in the space today.

The story follows Oraya, the adopted human daughter of the Vampire King, who enters a deadly centennial tournament to win a goddess’s favor. As part of the competition, she finds herself teamed up with Raihn, a turned vampire from a different house than her father’s. They should be enemies, but (obviously) end up falling in love instead. Their relationship is both complicated and compelling, and their choices drive everything that comes later in the world of the larger series.

Quicksilver by Callie Hart

Callie Hart’s Quicksilver is another genre-defining romantasy title, if only because it’s the book that really made the “Shadow Daddy” archetype a thing. Sure, lots of similar stories can be said to have gleefully partaken in this particular trend, but all roads really do lead back to a tortured, morally questionable 1,700-year-old faerie warrior named Kingfisher. 

Quicksilver follows a thief named Saeris who is whisked away to the fae realm when it’s revealed she has a particularly special brand of alchemical powers and finds herself unwillingly drawn into an ancient and potentially deadly conflict. As she navigates the world of fae politics, she also falls in love with the aforementioned Kingfisher, with whom she shares plenty of chemistry and witty banter, despite his obvious emotional damage and need for therapy. This is a classic for a reason, though, and Hart smartly fills her story with atmosphere, tension, and genuine emotional stakes.