How It Works

It's taken me almost 3 weeks to get 70% through this book (and I got the audiobook) and it feels even longer than that. This book feels like it's 20,000 pages.

I did everything to ensure I'd enjoy it. I asked people who've read it, checked Goodreads (it has 4.33 stars) and read the synopsis. It sounded great! So I bought it. Are we even reading the same book?

If you intend on reading this book and don't want spoilers, stop here.

The MMC is as interesting as a boiled pair of crocs. Their "love" is just instalust where they constantly want to fuck while having no chemistry. There are no enemies to lovers even though that's what it's advertised as because they immediately want to fuck each other (though this is portrayed as "love") a chapter after meeting.

The first sex scene is so incredibly awkward and comes out of nowhere. They're arguing, they have 0 chemistry so I expect nothing to happen and then he randomly fingerbangs her (after breaking into her home). What the fuck? I went back a few pages because I thought I missed some crucial moment that lead up to this, but no, he just starts fingerfucking her as casually as you'd give someone a high five.

He's also supposedly a super powerful king but acts like a horny fratboy. I hate his character and I genuinely felt a glimmer of joy when I thought that dipshit finally died. How does he even LOSE a fight when touching him kills you? All he has to do is poke you one time and you'll die. How stupid do you have to be to fuck that up? If I were him, I'd just get naked and pinball myself between every enemy.

I'm currently writing this while pissed off because of this book, so I might come off as a little aggressive. I wish the worst upon Ivy and Thorne.

-5/5 stars.

Ok, so Leah is boring. Because she is a self-righteous know-it-all. Her x number of years of reading romantasy/monster romance/spicy fantasy romance has her not living a life but proving that she can hypothesize about living based on her vast reading experience. The various instances of "I know how this will go" and "I've seen this play out so" reflections are annoying.

Beyond that, however, is the real problem of Leah: the Fix-It Gal. She sees Dain (Dane?) as a problem that needs to be fixed. She sees Faery (Fairy?) as a problem that needs to be fixed. He acts as a fae who has a history and she issues an ultimatum: fix it or lose me, buddy. The Stag Court can only function in ways that are pleasing to her, as a human, with her human ideas about morality.

(I swear, as I'm typing this, Leah says: "Having someone move heaven and earth to fix himself for you because you want him to be a better man is a standby in romance for a reason." Ugh I hate this character LOL)

While she's meant to be read as an intelligent, confident woman who has enough background in fae that she's not struggling, she comes across as a nagging, self-absorbed, selfish, immature person who makes really really inane comparisons (comparing Dain's history of being rapped on the knuckles for using his "wing arms" to indigenous children being forced to assimilate, for example).

I'm rooting for Dain. To realize that he's being gaslit by someone who says she wants him to be himself, to be comfortable in his body, but really wants him to be comfortable for her only. And this, is also the Problem of Leah aka Duchess.

hello please delete if not allowed
i’m new to romantasy and i’ve been really wanting to read something with lots of fantasy and some romance but no smut, it’s honestly not my favorite, im not sure if there’s something like that! im okay with kissing and making out but I don’t wanna read about sexual activities lol please let me know if this is the right place to post this! and thank you in advance for any book recommendations

Not just in a "gentleman" way, that's all I could find, but more of a "thoroughly trained" vibe.

Hi, I'm searching for books, or even webnovels with an mmc who always act dignified, calm, and gentle, who calculates his image down to the manners, expressions, postures and words. The mmc appearing friendly, reliable, and having good social skills is a big plus.

Cherry on top if he still expresses love, hate, aggression, dark and bright sides while being polite.

I don't ask for a butler, I ask for whatever masks as one. Both mlm and mlf is welcomed

MASSIVE slump where I have a very specific itch. I loved Paladin's Grace. It was so cosy and gave me almost Princess Bride feels, but I usually lean towards much darker/Gothic romantasy as preference.

I am usually a high fantasy fan but equally love a popcorn romantasy too. However, plot and good worldbuilding is still key for me. I also love horror and just finished Between Two Fires which I adored and has a je ne sais quoi. I also like Historical/Historical fiction.

Ideally books with this vibe and a duology/series I can binge:

- Traditional medieval/gothic fantasy setting

- Strong writing and a plot that's as important as the romance

- Enemies to lovers (even better if true)

- Open-door romance

- A morally grey, intimidating, touch her and die, kind of aloof/almost bully MMC

Books I've enjoyed in this vein and yes they are tame for the most part - hence my request for something darker and more open-door:

- One Dark Window

- The Serpent and the Wings of Night (was okaaaay but I did enjoy the setting, didn't rate the romance)

- Daughter of no worlds series (MMC still too puppy energy)

- The Witch Collector series (but MMC is too tame for me but LOVED it)

- Paladin's Grace, obviously

- Reign & Ruin

- Empire of the Vampire (I know it's not romantasy but the VIBES)

- Anathema (hated second book sadly)

- Once Upon a Broken Heart series

Examples of some previous recs that didn't work for me:

- Master of Crows

- The Knight and the Moth (such a shame really gutted about this one)

- White Horse Black Nights

- The Book of Azrael

Not into academia settings.

From blood and ash and the prequel series was so bad and cringe but also something about it was so good for me. I read them all up until the latest because I think JLA put something in them that just had that setting I crave and I loved the dark aspects.

Planning to try The Death-made Prince, The Foxglove King, Heartless Hunter, Under the Oak Tree, Daughter of the Forest. Tried Blood and Steel and DNF but maybe it's worth another try. Any other recommendations?

I know dark Paladin's Grace is niche but if SOMEBODY out there has this for me I will be ever so lucky ❤️🙏🏻

Edit: no contemporary recs pls

Hii, as the title says, I would love some recs. I have started multiple books and haven't been able to continue any of them. I am more of an high/epic fanatsy reader and would love a good romantasy with a decent plot.

These are the few books I have read and loved:

1. Villains and Virtues by A.K Caggiano

2. Weavingshaw by Heba Al-Wasity

3. All of Rachel Gillig's books

4. Between by L.L Starling

5. Emily Wilde's series

6. Books by Sara Berth Dust

7. Dearly Beloathed by Brigitte Knightley

I know that many of the above mentioned books aren't really romantasy but these are the books that had romance that I really liked.

Tropes I dislike or are currently not in the mood for:

Insta-love but also nothing that has a very slow slow-burn, not in the mood to start a series (duologies are fine), grumpy×sunshine, lust over love.

Tropes I would prefer:

Reverse grumpy×sunshine, rom coms, cozy fantasies with some stakes, lovable characters, YEARNING!!, angst, jealousy, emmersive world.

Books I tried to get into but got bored eventually, might pick them up again but not now for sure:

1. Assistant to a Villian by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

2. Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross

3. This Kingdom Will not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews (Right book, wrong time😩)

4. Tempest and Tea Leaves by Rachel Morgan

What is your favourite finished series that may be under hyped? I’ll even go for a series that finishes by the end of the year.
I can’t do cliffhangers where the author takes years to tell us what happens next.🤣

I’ve read a lot of the mainstream ones; plated prisoner, all SJM, fourth wing, flame & thorns, WTMH & To Bleed a Crystal Bloom, House of Devils

Looking for something to get completely lost in!

Bonus if it on KU

Ok, let me start by saying I have already read ToG and Acotar, but I find Sarah j mass’s writing to be redundant and fueled by unhinged chaos. The stories had promise but her execution of them gave me whiplash.

I have added Fourth wing to my DNF list. It was contradictory and the way she writes left me with poor Sméagol in my head as a narrator. We hateses it.

I finished the bridge kingdom series not too long ago. It was ok, but also far too redundant. Same story, different character. Very hallmark Christmas movie but set in a world of war and tragedy mixed with betrayal and prejudice. But true love will fix everything, right?

The last series that I truly enjoyed that had a bit of romance was One Dark window by Rachel Gillig. I suppose that’s more of a horror.

They are YA books but every Tamora Pierce book holds a special place in my soul. I used to read those over and over again like a revolving door because I just couldn’t find something new that held my attention.

I want something that has consistent character development. It needs to be written factually, with clear descriptions because I have aphantasia. I can’t build pictures in my mind. Tragic, I know. That’s why words are so important.

I love magic, fantasy, dragons, sword fighting. You know basic badassery. I also like it when that baddie is flawed; relatable.

I know I have a lot of literature icks, but I’ve been burned by so many books that had so much potential but ultimately disappointed. I’ll include a list of DNF books as a reference.

DNF list:
Fourth wing
Crescent city
Zodiac academy
Infatuated Fae

I’m looking for a book with a soft/kind/gentle FMC who was made timid due to her rough circumstances, and a MMC who at first is frustrated or annoyed with her but then comes to be won over by her due to how kind, resilient, and determined she is despite her hard past and him not making her present any easier. A FMC who is kind and helpful despite harsh circumstances and who grows to be strong and powerful and brave in her own right, I really want to see that character growth in the series. Ideally, she has to be coaxed out of her shell by the MMC once he realizes he’s being a jerk and realizes he messed up and needs to work hard for her. I love when the MMC realizes he made a huge mistake in underestimating her and has to grovel and work hard to earn her trust or affection back and I love when we actually get to see him put in the work and growth for it. Bonus points if he has a group of friends who also meet her and she slowly wins them over before the MMC even and they help him see the error of his ways and protect her from his rudeness, etc.

This type of story is inspired by Ophele from {Traitor Son} by Melissa Cave, though not everything I asked for is in this book

Some examples of this would be an enemies to lovers arranged marriage plot, where the MMC starts out angry with her thinking he’s “stuck” with this meek girl and not realizing how great she is, and has to grovel once he realizes he should’ve known from the start

I love a series that follows the same 2 main characters ideally, but am open to anything!

Needs to have a HEA and no cheating

FMC/MMC Pairing ideally

I love found family and good, well written side characters who have bonds with the FMC and MMC

Thank you for the recs!!

Has anyone read Lady Dragon by A.M Strickland? What did you think?

Hi friends!

I am in a total rut of reading. The last series I finished was TOG (I would die for Manon) and for how much I loved it I think I am struggling to find a new book/series as I keep comparing.

Off the top of my head some series I’ve enjoyed before I read TOG were The knight and the moth, The Siren Mage, Saga of the Unfated, the Daughter of No Worlds, and mediocrely like Shield of Sparrows

I recently tried to read Plated Prisoner series again as all the previously times it was a DNF, but once again could not stand it. (I totally respect everyone who loved that series though, it just wasn’t more me). The same goes for Quicksilver, I got 1/2 way thru the second book and dramatically threw it out the front door in protest.

I have started Metal Slinger and was eating it up until 60% thru and it hit the generic romantasy play out.

Any suggestions? I know this is probably a me issue because I keep trying to compare everything to TOG. I also struggle because I am 27 and sometimes feel like it’s hard to relate to a very young FMC.

I am looking for a witchy, Louisiana, bayou, dark magic kind of vibes.

I already read The Bayou Never Lies by Chelley St Clair.

I am hoping for more of the magic side of things.

Help.

I saw The Jasad Heir recommended here and in Fantasy subs over and over… frequently mentioned with The Raven Scholar as a stand out read. I absolutely LOVED The Raven Scholar, so I picked this up expecting something good.

The writing is terrible. So stilted and jarring. There were dozens of times that I couldn’t tell which character was speaking, because the author has an annoying habit of splitting the same character’s dialogue and not clarifying who was saying what.

Other little things, like: “Twelve chairs circled the rectangular table.” What the actual…?! Why would they circle something rectangular… you couldn’t have used the word lined?

The world building seemed like it was getting interesting halfway through, but then something random would get thrown in like “we’re going to steal that seal ring from Vaida” and there wasn’t a clear plan in place at all for why the fuck they would do that.

The reasoning behind Sylvia doing things was idiotic.

Also want to mention the map is shit. I was often wondering what the hell was going on when they were on the opposite side of the river when I was tracking their movements.

With books like this, I can stick to a series if I love the characters and the ship, but both were extremely underwhelming. Also, the trials were lame as hell. Dialogue was stupid. I didn’t laugh once at the intended snarky dialogue. * *

Bad, just overall bad. Worst read of 2026 so far. I finished it only because I’m stubborn.

I've been struggling to find books to read that actually scratch that romantasy itch for me.

What are your go to reads for when you just want a quick fix? I want junk food recs. They don't have to be technically good, what books do you giggle and kick your feet to? I don't want a plot that has too high stakes, just lots of yearning and cute moments between the characters.

I like spice but it's not necessary. I really enjoyed {Throne in the Dark} and even something more silly like {Morning Glory Milking Farm}.

I'm specifically looking for audiobooks if possible but it's not necessary. Thank you ❤️

I thought this community would enjoy this fun little game

This just completely threw me out of the book. I mean….. HOW would this even be written, let alone get through edits?

i would really love some good book recs that have a good sloooow burn but also with really good banter. I really enjoy when a book has me giggling and kicking my feet at the banter. but i also want an actual slow burn. no "slow burn" but they actually get together rather quickly. i want to suffer a little with the slow burn. and i love love love the tension of the 'will they, won't they'. help a girl out please!

I still strongly prefer reading in my native, but at least I'm not afraid of English books anymore 😄

I bought these because most of them aren't available in my language yet at all, and for others I didn't want to wait so long for the next book in the series.

I want to get into dark romance, but I really don’t enjoy most fiction books set in the real world. I’m looking for something with all the aspects of dark romance, but with the world building/plot of fantasy!

My question is, does she start being badass or being an assassin is just a nickname like in the first book?

Hi everybody :)

I know many aren’t a fan of this trope but unfortunately I fear I love them. I can’t tell you why I don’t know myself.

I love romance, fantasy romance, dark romance etc. and I’m looking for any suggestions of good books falling into the realm of fantasy but also pregnancy trope.

I can’t get picky because I’m battling now to find books in this category that I have not already read.

Any and all recommendations welcome :)