Reading list · Romantasy
Best spicy fantasy books for romantasy lovers
By Craig Dugas · Updated May 2026 · 5 min read
The best romantasy gives you a world worth getting lost in and a romance worth staying up for. The picks below range from gateway reads to full-on spice, all with the tropes that made the genre explode. Each link opens an Amazon search so you land on the right edition.
A Court of Mist and Fury
by Sarah J. Maas
The fan-favorite ACOTAR sequel. The Night Court, the slow burn, and the spice all level up.
View on Amazon →Fourth Wing
by Rebecca Yarros
Dragon riders, enemies-to-lovers, and a war college that wants you dead. The BookTok obsession.
View on Amazon →From Blood and Ash
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
A chosen maiden, a forbidden guard, and a slow burn that absolutely ignites.
View on Amazon →A Touch of Darkness
by Scarlett St. Clair
Hades and Persephone, retold modern and steamy. A gateway romantasy for a reason.
View on Amazon →The Serpent and the Wings of Night
by Carissa Broadbent
A human competing in a deadly vampire tournament, with a rival she can't resist.
View on Amazon →House of Earth and Blood
by Sarah J. Maas
Urban-fantasy Crescent City: a murder mystery, a slow-burn partnership, and a killer payoff.
View on Amazon →Kingdom of the Wicked
by Kerri Maniscalco
Witches, a wickedly handsome prince of Hell, and a sister's murder to avenge. Atmospheric and seductive.
View on Amazon →Serpent & Dove
by Shelby Mahurin
A witch and a witch-hunter forced to marry. Enemies-to-lovers with real bite.
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What makes a romantasy "spicy"?
Heat in romantasy is a spectrum. "Spicy" usually means open-door scenes and a romance that drives the plot, not just decorates it. If you're shopping by heat:
- Want it steamy? Reach for A Court of Mist and Fury or A Touch of Darkness.
- Want plot-forward with payoff? Fourth Wing and The Serpent and the Wings of Night.
- Want a slower simmer? Serpent & Dove keeps the tension high and the doors mostly closed.
Hungry for more like this? Browse our romantasy book ideas or go darker with dark romance.
Frequently asked questions
What is romantasy?
Romantasy is the blend of romance and fantasy, with a fully built magical world and a central love story that carries equal weight to the plot. Think fae courts, dragon riders, and enemies-to-lovers with high stakes on both the battlefield and the heart.
Which of these is the spiciest?
Heat varies. A Court of Mist and Fury and A Touch of Darkness are reliably steamy; Fourth Wing and The Serpent and the Wings of Night land in the steamy-but-plot-driven middle; Serpent & Dove is lighter on open-door content. Always check the author's content notes if heat level matters to you.
Do these make good Blind Date With a Book picks?
Absolutely. Romantasy has strong, clear vibes that a teaser can sell without spoiling. Hint at the tropes ("fae bargain, enemies-to-lovers, slow burn") and let the reader fall for the mood. Use our free generator to write the teaser.