Swoon-Worthy YA Romantasy Books To Obsess Over
by Dena McMurdie
YA has always had an excellent selection of fantasy romance books, and the rest of the reading world is catching on to how amazing they are. It’s no surprise that romantasy has become the latest “it” craze in the book world. It combines the best of both genres — fast-paced plots, breathtaking magic, and swoon-worthy romance. So, the next time you’re in the mood for something that will keep you turning pages late into the night, reach for one of these young adult romantasy novels!
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Sinner's Isle
Available from:Pirates, witches, and forbidden love — this romantic fantasy has everything you could want. Rosa needs to escape Sinner’s Isle before someone else harnesses her magical powers and forces her to become a weapon of destruction. So, when Mariano’s pirate ship gets attacked, and he washes up on the shore, Rosa believes he is her ticket off the island. Don’t miss this author’s next romantasy, A Cruel Thirst, about a new vampire and a vampire hunter forming an unlikely bond.
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The Encanto's Daughter
Available from:Dive into an enchanted world inspired by Filippino mythology with this heart-pounding romantic fantasy from a #1 New York Times bestselling author. MJ Rodriguez is half human and half encanto — and heir to her father’s throne. When he succumbs to a curse and dies, MJ must win over her father’s council, claim the throne, and find the sorceress responsible while navigating an unexpected yet all-consuming first love.
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Beasts of Prey
Available from:Monsters, magic, and a touch of romance combine in this award-winning series opener about two teens hunting a terrifying beast. Zookeeper and magic wielder Koffi joins forces with aspiring warrior Ekon to track down a monster in the jungle of Africa. This action-packed and swoony fantasy series will keep you on the edge of your seat!
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Heir
Preorder from:The newest romantasy from the #1 New York Times bestselling and National Book Award-winning author of An Ember in the Ashes will keep you reading well past your bedtime. This story follows the lives and loves of three young people — a prisoner, an assassin, and a prince. One longs for vengeance, another seeks a paycheck, and the last longs for courage. Their stories weave together in an unforgettable tapestry of magic and romance.
(On sale: 10/1/2024)
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Song of Silver, Flame Like Night
Available from:Lan spends her days researching the mark her mother burned into her arm before she died. When she meets a magic practitioner named Zen, they team up to search for answers among a group of magicians deep in the mountains. Magic, romance, and adventure combine in this breathtaking epic fantasy inspired by Chinese mythology. The story continues in the sequel, Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White.
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The Beautiful
Available from:Vampires, murder, and romance make this swoony fantasy series from the bestselling author of The Wrath and the Dawn a must-read. Celine runs away from her home in Paris to make a new life in New Orleans and quickly becomes enamored with Sébastien Saint Germain — the leader of the city’s underworld. At first, it looks like everything will work out for her. But when dead bodies start piling up, Celine suspects Sébastien is behind the grisly murders.
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Ferryman
Available from:This otherworldly Scottish romantic fantasy reimagines the Greek myth of Charon. When Dylan dies in a car accident, her soul needs the Ferryman’s help to cross a wraith-infested wasteland to the afterlife. As they make their way across the desert, Dylan and the Ferryman grow closer and start to wonder if the dead can fall in love — and return to the land of the living.
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House of Marionne
Available from:Magic, romance, and betrayal collide in this atmospheric romantasy that became an instant bestseller. To keep her dark powers hidden, Quell must complete three dangerous tasks and earn her place in a secret magical society. As she learns how to wield “good” magic, Quell also spends time with Jordan, her assassin-in-training. Soon, Quell must choose between staying silent and safe or exposing the Order’s corruption and her dark magic at the same time.
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The Isles of the Gods
Available from:When Selly sets sail in search of adventure, she doesn’t expect a prince to commandeer her ship. Now, she is stuck escorting the prince to the Isles of the Gods to perform a sacred ritual. But treason, war, and newly-awakened ancient gods throw their ship off course and force them to lean on each other. This captivating romantasy continues in the sequel, The Heart of the World.
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Spice Road
Available from:In a monster-infested world, 16-year-old Imani’s talent with iron is her city’s greatest hope against the djinn roaming the desert. But when her traitorous brother becomes the country’s most wanted enemy, Imani and Taha, a boy with the power to control falcons, set out to find him. Their mission to capture her brother turns into an unforgettable adventure filled with monsters, magic, romance, and secrets.
RELATED: Diverse YA Romance Novels To Swoon Over
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Violet Made of Thorns
Available from:A prophecy gone wrong leads to an accidental curse and a kingdom’s precarious fate in this stunning fairy tale. Now, prophet Violet and Prince Cyrus find their destinies linked in a way neither of them likes. With a growing attraction between them and a cutthroat court to navigate, Violet and Cyrus must root out corruption, break the curse, and save their kingdom.
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