2024 saw plenty of great additions to the romantasy subgenre—a mix of bothromanceandfantasy—with several standalone novels and series sequels hitting the shelves. Thanks to severalpopular books on BookTok, the romantasy subgenre has seen a huge surge in popularity, and many of the social media platform’s recommendations have even become worldwide bestsellers. While some of these books come from household names like Sarah J. Maas, others feature debut authors, or authors new to the genre itself.
Romantasy is the perfect subgenre to contribute to, as both the romantic and fantastical elements can reach a greater audience of readers, andBookTok is a great place for spicy romance book recommendations. Several of thebest romance books released in 2024have been nominated forGoodreads Choice Awards, and even more have made notable bestseller lists. While these are just a handful of the best romantasy books from this past year, their popularity among readers and critics helps them stand out among the rest.
15House Of Flame And Shadow
Written By Sarah J. Maas
Maas' third installment in theCrescent Cityseries,House of Flame and Shadow, was one of the most-anticipated releases of 2024, kicking off the year with a stellar sequel to an already beloved series. The third book was also named the top romantasy book of the year according to theGoodreads Choice Awardresults, in which thousands of fans nominated and voted for the novel in the romantasy category.
This is the eighth Goodreads Choice Award for author Sarah J. Maas, and fans of her work should definitely look into beginning theCrescent Cityseries. The third book is full of surprises, and even introduces the first crossover with Maas' other popular series,A Court of Thorns and Roses.
14A Fate Inked In Blood
Written By Danielle L. Jenson
The first in a romantasy duology,A Fate Inked In Bloodwas one of the most-read romantasy novels of 2024, with over 70 percent of reviews giving the book four or five stars. Inspired by Norse folklore,A Fate Inked In Blood’s storyline offers readers a distinctive fantasy rich with Viking lore.
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TheSaga of the Unfatedseries follows Jensen’s best-sellingBridge Kingdomseries, and adds yet another powerful female character to Jensen’s roster. And with so much hype surrounding the first book’s release, the second novel,A Curse Carved In Bone, will undoubtedly be another romantasy hit.
13Quicksilver
Written By Callie Hart
Quicksilverby Callie Hart was quick to rise in popularity since its June 2024 release, andit’s no surprise the novel has become one of the most popular books on BookTok.Quicksilverwas acquired by Netflixearlier this month in a massive seven-figure deal—and the studio has plans to adapt the planned fantasy trilogy into a TV series or a set of movies.
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Quicksilverwas also a top-nominated romantasy novel on the Goodreads Choice Award list, with nearly 50,000 fans praising Hart’s novel. Hype around the first book in theFae & Alchemyseries has a lot to do with its beloved characters and unique storyline—but Kingfisher, the novel’s male protagonist, is what truly makes the book impossible to put down.
12Zodiac Academy 9: Restless Stars
Written By Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti
Restless Starsis the ninth and final installment in theZodiac Academyseries—and while the series is quite far along, the newest sequel proves to be a top pick among romantasy readers. Once again,Zodiac Academyhas been nominated for awards, and has received an average rating of 4.29 on Goodreads, keeping up with its predecessor’s successes.
TheZodiac Academyseries has always been well-loved—thanks to its unique plot and beloved characters—andPeckham and Valenti continue to deliver compelling storylines throughout each subsequent novel.Restless Starsis no different from the rest of the series, and has proved to be a brilliant finale to the authors' five-year-long series run.
11When The Moon Hatched
Written By Sarah J. Parker
AfterFourth Wing’s quick rise in popularity,it’s safe to say readers are becoming obsessed with dragon storylines in their romantasy narratives—andWhen The Moon Hatchedis theperfectFourth Wingreplacement. Not only does this element add higher stakes and intrigue to the typical romantasy plotline, but the unique creatures themselves build upon classic elements found in the fantasy genre.
When The Moon Hatched’s sequel,The Ballad of Falling Dragons,is set to release in October 2025.
When The Moon Hatched, based on Goodreads statistics, has nearly 150,000 ratings and reviews. Not only has this book been mentioned consistently on social media over the last several months, but it has also made both the New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller lists since its publication.
10Bloodguard
Written By Cecy Robson
Bloodguardoffers a fresh dynamic from the typical romantasy narrative, andinstead of featuring a young female protagonist, it follows the life of a young male gladiator, Leith. This departure from classic storylines in the fantasy romance genre is what helpsBloodguardstand out among the rest. Having only been published in October, Robson’sBloodguardwill surely rise in readers' ranks.
Additionally, the powerful “Fae” character throughout the novel is held by Maeve, Leith’s enemy and love interest—another deviation from romantasy trends of late.Bloodguardis the first in theOld Erthseries, and subsequent novels are sure to equally surprise readers with their originality.
9A Song To Drown Rivers
Written By Ann Liang
A Song To Drown Riverswas one of thebiggest romantasy books to release in October 2024, and since, it has garnered plenty of attention on social media and among top reviewers.The romantic plot found in this story is both beautiful and tragic, and the subtlety of the main character’s relationships was a refreshing change from typical romantasy novels.
From its short amount of time on shelves,A Song To Drown Rivershas made a large impression among readers of the romantasy genre.
The standalone historical romantasy was also nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award, and was a Good Morning America Book Club pick in the month of October. From its short amount of time on shelves,A Song To Drown Rivershas made a large impression among readers of the romantasy genre.
8Heartless Hunter
Written By Kristen Ciccarelli
Heartless Hunter, the first book inThe Crimson Mothseries, gained a huge amount of traction among readers on social media, and its success has catapulted it as one of the best romantasy books of the year. The first in a duology, the best-selling romantasy will also receive a sequel in early 2025.
Following the lives of both a witch and a witch hunter,the narrative encapsulates some of the best romantasy themes, and is one of thebest enemies-to-lovers fantasy booksof the year.Heartless Hunteralso incorporates other fan-favorite tropes, including forbidden love and the classic love-triangle dynamic.Heartless Hunteris the culmination of all things romantasy—and the first installment does not disappoint.
7Phantasma
Written By Kaylie Smith
Phantasmais a dark fantasy romance that checks all the boxes from a romantasy perspective. With a set of high-stakes trials, mysterious circumstances, and a budding romantic tension to carry the plot forward—the novel has hit the top of the leaderboard among romantasy readers.
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The first in theWicked Gamesseries, Smith’s adult romance debut has captured the hearts of readers, and anticipation for the next novel in the series is at an all-time high. The Gothic romance also has many similar themes to that of Stephanie Garber’sCaraval, although it reads much more adult with its many spicy scenes.
6Where The Dark Stands Still
Written By A.B. Poranek
Known to be perfect for fans ofHowl’s Moving Castle,Where The Dark Stands Stillis a charming, romantic fantasy filled with sentient houses, magical creatures, and plenty of tension. The novel was also nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award, and has accumulated nearly 17,000 ratings since its release.
The novel itself is labeled as a young adult fantasy, and its closed-door romance makes it agreat fantasy book with little to no spice. Since the romance is a bit more subdued on the page,the banter and tension are palpable between the two main characters. This has quickly become a reader favorite, and helps to categorize it as one of the best romantasies to release in 2024.
