Reading Recommendations: Romantasy
A new month means another batch of reading recommendations! May’s theme is Romantasy where the romantic and fantasy aspects of the story are equally important. I hope you enjoy these picks!
Binding Shadows
Hunting down lost books is more than a job, it’s a way for Barbara to conceal her powers in the mundane world of the university library. One misstep and she risks exposure to ruthless necromancers willing to destroy anything supernatural they cannot control. But when the prickly new professor in charge of her latest assignment proves more than he seems, rules and reason are no match for her growing fascination.
After years of battling to cage the beast within him, Tobias returns to Prague and the safety of his pack of brothers. Unfortunately, his new job handling a collection of rare editions comes with a research assistant irresistible to both beast and man. Revealing his secret could endanger his entire family and he refuses to risk passing on the curse in his blood.
When the discovery of an enchanted book of spells triggers unpredictable surges in Barbara’s magic, unleashing the beast within himself may be the only way to free her. Trapped between a witch and a necromancer, they must survive a perilous reckoning with the past, or neither will have a future.
Like Silvera’s other series, I found it easy to get hooked in to this story. It’s fast-paced, and the constant suspense factors had me guessing who or what was behind certain incidents. The characters were easy to connect to and I appreciated how in-depth they were. They struggle with issues such as acceptance, grief, and self-discovery making them feel very realistic! There was a good balance of quiet, tender moments and highly action-packed battle scenes full of magic. The lore of the world about the concept of an old, but not forgotten gods war is so intriguing.
Stolen Ice Bride
When spring breaks the unforgiving grip of winter, the mages arrive to steal a bride. . .
Solvay is known for her talents with mixing potions but she hides a treacherous power. She’s avoided the watchful eyes of the mages until now. . .
When Solvay is chosen as a bride for the mage king, she’s terrified he’ll discover her secret and use it to bring war to the northern lands.
To protect the people she flees only to fall into the hands of a ruthless ice lord. He intends to use her as a hostage to secure peace between the mages and ice lords.
As Solvay travels into the heart of the mountains with the ice lord, she discovers there’s more to him than his savage ways.
But even love can’t change the course of fate. To prevent a war, she’ll sacrifice herself to save the man she loves. . .
Once reading one of Ford’s books back in 2021, I’ve been hooked on her stories ever since. This read while a Romantasy novel is also great for a seasonal read during the colder months of the year. Ford’s descriptive writing whisks readers to a land filled with frozen tundras and danger lurking behind caverns filled with ice. It’s an enemies-to-lovers romance that has the two leads break down their walls and work together to protect the peace of their lands. Though the novel is short the story packs a great punch and the action and romance will have you entertained the entire time.
That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon
All I wanted to do was live my life in peace. Maybe get a cat, expand my spice farm. Really anything that doesn’t involve going on a quest where an orc might rip my face off. But they say the Goddess has favorites. If so, I’m clearly not one of them.
After saving the demon Fallon in a wine-drunk stupor, all he wanted to do was kill an evil witch enslaving his people. I mean, I get it. Don’t get me wrong. But he’s dragging me along for the ride, and I’m kind of peeved about it. On the bright side, he keeps burning off his shirt.
It’s very entertaining from start to finish and I appreciated the smooth pacing throughout the story. This story is romance at its core, but I love the high adventure aspect of the novel. The story takes us through Cinnamon’s journey with Fallon from her small village through scary swamps, mysterious islands, and more. It’s action-packed and full of witty banter. Cinnamon is a fun main protagonist who is outspoken, and sassy, and we get to experience this wild quest through her eyes. I also enjoyed the secondary characters met along the way that brought even more entertainment to the story.
Duel With The Vampire Lord
Floriane’s position as the forge maiden of Hunter’s Hamlet is one of reverence, for it is her skill that arms and protects the vampire hunters. She knows her place and is a faithful servant to the Master Hunter and her community… until the night of the blood moon. Until her brother is dying at the hands of the Vampire Lord Ruvan.
Wanting to defend her home at all costs, Floriane fights the vampire lord, ready to give her life if it means taking his. But Ruvan doesn’t want to take her life… he wants her.
Kidnapped and brought to the vampire castle, Floriane is now blood sworn to the vampire lord. She is bound in mind and body to her worst enemy. But Ruvan isn’t the fiend she thought he was. She learns the truth of the vampires: They are not mindless monsters, but a proud people, twisted and tortured by an ancient curse.
Ruvan believes that Floriane might be the key to ending his people’s suffering. All Floriane wants is to defend her home. Loyalties are tested and the lines between truth and lie, hate and passion, are blurred.
When her dagger is at his chest, will she be able to take the heart of the man who has claimed hers?
If you haven’t read the Married to Magic series, it’s one I highly recommend. Out of the novels I’ve read so far in this series, this one is my favorite. Floriane is a main character who is intelligent and strong-willed. Her confidence and quick thinking in times of danger makes her a character to root for. I thought the concept of a forge maiden was unique along with the vampiric elements Kova chose to write into the story. The plot twists were pretty surprising and I appreciated the coming-of-age themes when it came to Floriane’s journey. The castle and village setting was mysterious and some of the creatures that emerge from the darkness of night spooked me when it came to the battle scenes. This Romantasy reads like one great epic adventure!
A Witch’s Handbook of Kisses and Curses
Nola Leary would have been content to stay in Kilcairy, Ireland, healing villagers at her family’s clinic with a mix of magic and modern medicine. But a series of ill-timed omens and a deathbed promise to her grandmother have sent her on a quest to Half-Moon Hollow, Kentucky, to secure her family’s magical potency for the next generation. Her supernatural task? To unearth four artifacts hidden by her grandfather before a rival magical family beats her to it.
Complication One: Her grandfather was Mr. Wainwright and the artifacts are lost somewhere in what is now Jane Jameson’s book shop.
Complication Two: her new neighbor, Jed Trudeau, who keeps turning up half naked at the strangest times, a distraction Nola doesn’t need. And teaming up with a real-life Adonis is as dangerous as it sounds, especially when he’s got the face of an angel and the abs of a washboard—can Nola complete her mission before falling completely under his spell?
It’s a fish-out-of-water tale with magic, wit, romance, and mystery. She has a huge dose of culture shock but feels at home with the help of friends and newfound family that make her feel welcome. Nola is a strong main character who is sassy and confident. Though she goes through many obstacles on her quest she shows that she can hold her own. Nola and her hunky neighbor, Jed, are too cute with their flirty banter and steamy encounters. I loved the dialogue between them. Will be reading more of this series in the future I want to see more of these loveable characters!
No Man Can Tame
After a failed courtship in an ally kingdom, twenty-one-year-old Princess Alessandra returns home to a land torn apart by mutual hatred between the humans and the dark-elves. The “Beast Princess,” as Aless is known by courtiers, confidently sets her mind to ways of making peace, but her father has already decided for her: she is to marry one of the mysterious and monstrous dark-elves to forge a treaty, and go on a Royal Progress across the kingdom to flaunt their harmonious union. While she intends to preserve the peace, the Beast Princess has plans of her own.
Prince Veron has been raised knowing his life is not his own, but to be bargained away by his mother, the queen of Nozva Rozkveta, to strengthen the dark-elf queendom. When his mother tells him he is to marry a self-absorbed, vile human, he is determined to do his duty regardless of his personal feelings. After arriving at the human capital, he finds the “Beast Princess” rebellious and untamed—and not to be trusted.
Aless and Veron face opposition at every turn, with humans and dark-elves alike opposing the union violently, as well as their own feelings of dissonance toward each other. Can two people from cultures that despise one another fall in love? Can a marriage between them bond two opposing worlds together, or will it tear them apart for good?
This is a fantasy that leans more towards the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast. While the story is mainly focused on the couple’s blossoming romance along with many politics that blend into the landscape of their travels (along with multiple culture clashes). Aless and Veron are fantastic characters. Though flawed at the beginning of the novel they grow from their mistakes as the plot progresses. There are many rollercoaster moments due to growing tensions in the land which added a layer of suspense and intensified the action. This Romantasy was enthralling from beginning to end.
That concludes my reading recommendations for Romantasy! What books do you recommend or what are your favorites? Comment below!
