20 Spicy Fantasy Romance Books: More than JUST Good Smut
Bella Rose Emmorey
book editor, rogue behaviorist, digital marketer, writer, brand builder, plant aunt, and cheese enthusiast.
The romantasy genre has exploded in the last couple of years, thanks to the popularity of A Court of Thorns and Roses, and readers are eager for more. But if you want more than just good smut, with a story that extends beyond the bedroom, these spicy fantasy romance books are highly loved for just that.
It’s one thing to enjoy spice with some magic sprinkled in. It’s another if the plot is actually good, and the author isn’t solely relying on smut to keep readers engaged.
If that sounds up your, uh, alley, here you go:
1. $ The Serpent & the Wings of Night$ by Carissa Broadbent
This spicy fantasy romance book is about a human girl, raised by a vampire king, entering a deadly tournament to gain immortality, but an alluring and dangerous vampire warrior becomes both her greatest ally and her biggest distraction.
What readers say they love most about this one is the tension-filled romance, ruthless world-building, and high-stakes action mixed with emotional depth.
Does this mean vampires are making a comeback? Probably!
2. $ The Book of Azrael$ by Amber V. Nicole
A centuries-old warrior is bound to protect a deadly relic, but when a godlike being comes into the picture, their forbidden attraction threatens to unravel everything.
Readers say they love morally gray characters, the intense slow-burn romance, and dark, lush world-building. It seems death and spice go hand-in-hand.
3. $ Powerless$ by Lauren Roberts
This spicy $ romantasy$ is set in a kingdom where power means everything, and a powerless girl fakes her abilities to survive, only to become entangled with a powerful prince who sees through her deception.
The forced proximity $ romance trope$ along with the tension-filled enemies-to-lovers romance, and steamy yet emotional character dynamics is what readers claim is intriguing about this book.
4. $ Blood Mercy$ bu Vela Roth
A human woman with a secret healing ability falls for a powerful, exiled vampire prince as political turmoil threatens to tear them apart. Heck yeah for more vampires! They are, indeed, sexy (even when they don’t glitter).
The lush writing, slow-burn but rewarding romance, and an emotionally rich love story with incredible world-building are the highlights most readers point out. So if you’re into any of that, give it a shot!
5. $ What Hunts Inside the Shadows$ by Harper L. Woods
This spicy fantasy romance book deals with a young woman who finds herself drawn to a mysterious and dangerous fae male while uncovering secrets about her own dark power. Naturally, the fae world has picked up and many romantasy novels tend to fall in this $ subgenre$ /category.
What readers love about this one is the gothic fantasy vibes, intoxicating romance, and tension-filled banter. We love some sharp wit to go with our smut!
6. $ Trial of the Sun Queen$ by Nisha J. Tuli
A girl imprisoned in a deadly tournament must rely on her wit and the attention of a powerful king to survive. Does she sleep herself to the winner’s circle? Eh, maybe! But who cares because it’s a spicy fantasy romance and we live for that—in fiction.
The cutthroat competition, courtly intrigue, and slow-burn romance with a touch of spice is why readers keep coming back to this one.
7. $ The Bridge Kingdom$ by Danielle L. Jensen
Technically listed in the "fantasy" genre, but without much actual magic, this book involves a warrior princess who is sent as a political bride to the enemy kingdom, but as she plans to betray the king, she finds herself falling for him instead.
Readers love the tension-filled enemies-to-lovers dynamic, an intelligent and strong-willed heroine, and deliciously slow-building steam.
8. $ Queen of Snow$ by Laura Byron & Jessie Cal
We love a good $ retelling$ ! This one is a spicy fantasy romance that’s a dark reimagining of Snow White, where the princess is lured into a dangerous realm of fae and magic, with a shadowy prince vying for her heart.
The reviews point to the $ dark fairytale retelling$ elements, detailed descriptions, and a romance full of tension and passion.
9. $ Glow$ by Raven Kennedy
A continuation of the Plated Prisoner series, where Auren, the woman who was once King Midas’s golden pet, begins to reclaim her power and love. Fair trigger warning that the Plated Prisoner series does have some graphic, not consensual forced situations. The spicy doesn’t come until later.
That said, readers love the deep character growth, steamy romance, and an empowering journey from captivity to strength.
10. $ Daughter of No Worlds$ by Carissa Broadbent
A former slave with powerful magic is taken in by a reluctant mentor, and together they face a war that could reshape the world.
If you’re looking for a well-developed slow-burn romance, a unique mentor-student dynamic, and heart-wrenching character growth, this is the spicy fantasy romance for you.
11. $ The Dawn of Onyx$ by Kate Golden
This fantasy romance follows a woman who is kidnapped by a brutal fae king and taken to his kingdom, where she discovers her own dark powers and an undeniable attraction to her captor. Stockholm syndrome, anyone?
Readers tend to point to the morally gray love interest, intense spice, and dark but compelling romance as a reason they love this one.
12. $ House of Pounding Hearts$ by Olivia Wildenstein
More fae smut for you! In this book, a half-fae, half-human girl is forced into a deadly competition that could change her fate, but an alluring enemy stands in her way. There’s just something about death that makes people horny.
Readers love the unique magical politics, slow-burn tension-filled romance, and heart-racing action of this spicy romance book.
13. $ The Marked Princess$ by E.P. Stavs
In this romantasy, a princess with a magical mark must flee her kingdom and seek help from a dangerous and brooding warrior with secrets of his own. We love a good brooding, unhappy love interest to make us root for the romance.
If you enjoy banter-filled romance, a fierce heroine, and a high-stakes plot with steamy chemistry, this is the book to pick up next.
14. $ Bound by Honey$ by Jamie Dalton
This one focuses on a cursed beekeeper who is forced to make a deal with a mischievous fae prince who might be more than he seems. As we already know, fae and spicy fantasy just go together.
Reviewers specifically point out the whimsical world-building, grumpy/sunshine romance, and a slow-burn love story full of tension as reasons they loved the book.
15. $ Heart of the Raven Prince$ by Tessonja Odette
Another retelling for the win! This one is a Cinderella retelling where the heroine is bound to a cruel fate—unless she can outwit the dangerous Raven Prince.
A fresh, dark twist on fairytale romance, sharp dialogue, and a deeply satisfying love story are all reasons readers recommend this spicy fantasy romance.
16.$ The Dark One$ by Nikki St. Crowe
A dark Peter Pan retelling where Wendy finds herself in the clutches of a seductive, power-hungry Pan who is nothing like the stories told. Clearly, this one is for those who love a man in tights.
Evidently, readers also love the villainous love interest, darkly enticing romance, and fast-paced storytelling of this spicy fantasy romance.
17. $ Winter’s Captive$ by Elle Madison & Robin D. Mahle
A girl destined to marry a prince is instead kidnapped by a brutal king, and their chemistry becomes impossible to deny. It seems there should be a "stockholm syndrome" romance subgenre/category because readers are loving it! Specifically, readers like the dark fantasy setting, $ enemies-to-lovers$ tension, and strong female lead.
18. $ The King’s Captive$ by K.M. Shea
Quite simply, a woman wakes up in a fae court, bound by magic to a dangerous king who holds her fate in his hands. I’m sure he also holds other parts of her in his hands, too.
If you love a forced proximity trope that includes witty banter and tension-filled romance, check this one out!
19. $ Crown of Crimson$ by Karissa Laurel
A warrior princess teams up with an exiled prince to reclaim their lost kingdom, but their partnership soon turns into something much more passionate, and steamy! The action-packed storytelling, strong female lead, and an angsty but rewarding romance is listed as reasons readers love this book.
20. $ The Savage and the Swan$ by Ella Fields
This spicy fantasy book centers on a forbidden romance between a ruthless warrior and a swan princess whose love could change the fate of their warring kingdoms. Once again, the enemies-to-lovers angst is highly mentioned along with lyrical writing and sizzling chemistry.
The list of quality spicy romance books is only growing! Grab a few of these and enjoy the magical smut.
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