The 6 Best Romantasy Series of All Time

Callie Hart made a massive splash on the romantasy scene with Quicksilver, the first in her Fae & Alchemy series, and her place was cemented with the recent release of Brimstone. Not only did both books hit the New York Times Bestseller lists right out of the gate, but Quicksilver has been optioned (in a seven-figure-deal) and is being produced for television by Netflix. In the same vein as A Court of Thorns and Roses, it focuses on slow-burn romantic arcs, powerful heroines, and worldbuilding that skews dark and mystical.

A Court of Thorns and Roses is probably the most talked-about romantasy series, both online and offline. It often occupies entire display tables and features prominently in very possibly every bookstore around the country. It’s also one of the most reviewed romantasy series, with millions of fans across various platforms. It’s particularly popular on BookTok, with hundreds of thousands of book-focused accounts reading, reviewing, and raving about it.  

There are a lot of critics of Fourth Wing and The Empyrean series, but I am not one of them. Fourth Wing is arguably one of the most addictive and best-constructed Book 1s in any romantasy series, and I will never be mad about the dark tone, high stakes, and action-heavy plot.

Some of the character work is particularly impressive (Dain f****g Aetos), and there are some truly spectacular gut punchy moments in every book. It took the world of romantasy by storm, selling millions of copies in just a few years, and year-to-year outsells A Court of Thorns and Roses.  

From Blood and Ash is one of the most recognizable names in romantasy. The series has made its mark for being a brilliant blend of steam/spice alongside solid action, clever political intrigue, and worldbuilding that feels like it could have been taken from any epic fantasy series. The series and author are so popular that they’re now the center of ApollyCon, an annual convention in Washington, DC.

Carissa Broadbent took a wildly different path than many of her cohorts. Her first works were self-published, and became so popular (thanks to her efforts on social media) that they sold in numbers significant enough to attract the attention of the biggest traditional publishers. The Crowns of Nyaxia is her most beloved series, widely regarded as being among the darkest series around, with rich worldbuilding and intense scenes that don’t just tug on your heartstrings—it’ll outright yank on them!

In terms of pure quality, I have yet to find a romantasy series better than The Mages of the Wheel. This indie gem delivers a story that balances cleverness and emotional intelligence, character strengths and weakness, romance and worldbuilding in a way I have not seen in any of the romantasy series I’ve read. It won the Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off in 2022, and is the romantasy series I personally recommend for men who are looking to dip their toes into the genre.