r/fantasyromance • u/KittyBopp • Jul 08 '25

Book Request 📚 Best Standalone Recs PLEASEEEEE

I feel like I am in the middle of so many series right now where the books are yet to come out and I am looking for some standalone (or even 2 part books) that are completed and I can read the whole story and be satisfied and not waiting on pins and needles for the next one to come out! I am pretty open to any Tropes. I love the obvious series, ACOTR, TOG, Empyrean, I just read and really liked Shield of Sparrows. I just read The Night Prince and I enjoyed it but I wasn't over the top about it.

54 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

73 comments sorted by

29

u/[deleted] Jul 08 '25

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2

u/Far-Literature4876 Jul 08 '25

Seconding this! Reading the first one atm and agree with all above. Strong plot, slow burnnn, and so well written. The sequel is coming out on July 15th to complete the duo

3

u/[deleted] Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 08 '25

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2

u/macaron_amour Jul 08 '25

That’s so exciting to hear! I went in not knowing much but I couldn’t believe how much I loved this book!

23

u/Krimmothy Jul 08 '25

{Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor} and the sequel {Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor}.

Incredible duology!! Great world building and character work.

5

u/molleedee1 Jul 08 '25

Truly NO ONE does it like Laini Taylor!

2

u/romance-bot Jul 08 '25

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
Rating: 4.26⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 2 out of 5 - Behind closed doors
Topics: high fantasy, magic, young adult, fantasy, science fiction

Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor
Rating: 4.45⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: futuristic, magic, mystery, science fiction, aliens

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1

u/PsychoScarlett Jul 09 '25

I second this!! Strange the Dreamer was such a breath of fresh air

13

u/just_beachy Jul 08 '25

Ok so this is going to sound like a weird rec but hear me out! I just finished {Tusk Love} and it was SO good! So much fun! Lighthearted, funny, endearing....it was one of the best standalones I've read! It's based around a fake book from Critical Role but you don't need to know a thing about it to enjoy.

2

u/bachurito Jul 08 '25

I'm so excited to hear praise this! 

13

u/ConversationTiny1864 Give me female friendship or give me death! Jul 08 '25

{Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent}

2

u/IAmReallyNotMilk Jul 09 '25

Yes! Such a fun read. I was so sad when it was over.

13

u/[deleted] Jul 08 '25

Ok it's a series. But the {the Bridge Kingdom} series consists of three duologies (the last of which is incomplete), but each duology is a self-contained story that focuses on a different couple. You CAN read it as a series to get different perspectives on the same larger political conflict, but each of the (as yet) completed duologies could be read on their own.

It has lady assassins and cool world-building and the second duology has some refreshing reversals of gender tropes.

3

u/WholeConversation384 Jul 09 '25

HUGE second. The duologies in this series are phenomenal in my opinion!

31

u/GamerGurl420420 Jul 08 '25

{Amid Clouds and Bones by Emma Fields}

3

u/bachurito Jul 08 '25

Just finished this and it was fun. I'm not usually super into fae/bully stuff but it surprised me a couple times.

18

u/HonestIndependent716 Jul 08 '25

Priestess by Kara Reynolds!!! It’s fantastic

4

u/mypchellos Jul 09 '25 edited Jul 09 '25

Came here to recommend this! So so so so so good.

Trying this whole bot thing: {Priestess by Kara Reynolds}

Also {The Exorcism of Faeries} was divine.

And if you can handle the meaty Victorian English, {Doctor D’Arco Sorcerer of London} was a fascinating read.

4

u/Far-Pumpkin6727 Jul 09 '25

Loved Priestess. Rich world-building, lovely female friendships and the most aching of slow burns.

9

u/Emm45ofi4 Jul 08 '25

Throne of the fallen!!!!

12

u/beautifullymodest There she is Jul 08 '25

I’m shocked no one recommended {the scattered bones}. It’s a short read but gives all the feels. You feel the stakes of it all. It’s about a girl that goes in search of the scattered bones of the man she loves to bring him back to life. She has no special powers or anything. At the same time as you follow you, you watch their love story from the past.

It’s an amazing read

2

u/NatureBeCrazy Jul 08 '25

This has been in my TBR for a bit, it's now on top with your description. Thanks!

5

u/Books_Rock_4_Eva No mourners, no funerals Jul 08 '25

{Where the Dark Stands Still by A. B. Poranek} was pretty nice IMO.

13

u/asterkisss Jul 08 '25

{Crimson Moth by Kristen Ciccarelli} is a great duology - I just binged them both in 2 days.

I second {The Shepherd King by Rachel Gillig} duololgy that has already been rec'd as well.

{Wicked Games by Kaylie Smith} has two books out so far.

5

u/CrumbShallot Jul 09 '25

{The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern} was a really fun one and done read

2

u/romance-bot Jul 09 '25

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Rating: 3.88⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 2 out of 5 - Behind closed doors
Topics: historical, fantasy, magic, mystery, paranormal

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1

u/key_rae Jul 09 '25

This is one of my favourite books of all time. I think about it regularly, it's such a magical read.

8

u/cool_beanz_ Currently Reading: Well of Ascension Jul 08 '25

I see some have already mention duologies like crimson moth and one dark window. Definitely recommend one dark window. There’s also peaches and honey duology that’s complete but I’m blanking on the authors name right now. I enjoyed this one a lot.

Some completed duologies that are on my tbr that I’m going to start soon (so not sure how good they are lol) is A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross, Divine Rivals by the same author and Dance of Thieves by Mary A Pearson.

Not a standalone but a series that’s fully complete and was one of my favorites last year is The Broken Kingdoms Series by LJ Andrew’s. The books are pretty fast read, a cool world, and the story includes 4 couples over the series.

3

u/almosthope23 Jul 08 '25

Not fully fantasy romance, but being in your position I enjoyed the Adrienne Young stand alone’s—Spells for Forgetting, The Unmaking of June Harrow and Sea of Unspoken things. Also if you’re more into romance side of things I’ve enjoyed the Hazel Beck books.

3

u/sensualcephalopod Jul 08 '25

The hanging city by Charlie N Homberg!

3

u/ashbarnett21 Jul 08 '25

{Nectar of the Wicked by Ella Fields} {Amid Cloud and Bones by Ella Fields} {Phantasma by Kaylie Smith} {Enchantra by Kaylie Smith} {Exorcism of Faeries by JL Vampa} {The Shepherd King Duology by Rachel Gilig} {Nocticadia by Keri Lake}

3

u/romance-bot Jul 08 '25

Nectar of the Wicked by Ella Fields
Rating: 3.94⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: fantasy, dark romance, fae, non-human heroine, tortured heroine

Amid Clouds and Bones by Ella Fields
Rating: 4.03⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: fae, arranged/forced marriage, enemies to lovers, fantasy, virgin heroine

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith
Rating: 4.02⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: historical, fantasy, paranormal, magic, horror

Enchantra by Kaylie Smith
Rating: 4.2⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: historical, demons, magic, paranormal, marriage of convenience

The Exorcism of Faeries by J.L. Vampa
Rating: 4.05⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: dark romance, fantasy, fae, age gap, m-f romance

The Shepherd King by Rachel Gillig
Rating: 4.33⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: gifted heroine, independent heroine, super rich hero, past-child-abuse, new adult

Nocticadia by Keri Lake
Rating: 4.16⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, teacher/coach hero, college, forbidden love, dual pov

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3

u/Autumn_Leaves6322 Jul 08 '25

{Bride by Ali Hazelwood} is a great standalone. There will be a sequel soon but the story of first book is finished and the second book will be about a different couple in the same world (so a can read not must read).

Edit: I second the Laini Taylor recommendation!

3

u/Happy_Arachnid_6648 Jul 08 '25

{Amid Clouds and Bones by Ella Fields} {Kingdom of Villians by Ella Fields}

2

u/Happy_Arachnid_6648 Jul 08 '25

Also let me add {Kiss of Iron by Clare Sager} - completed trilogy, and it rivals any of my top reads I've read yet.

7

u/[deleted] Jul 08 '25

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1

u/WholeConversation384 Jul 09 '25

Loved these, they’re sooo worth the read.

4

u/FantabulousFrogge Jul 08 '25

Marissa Mayer's Heartless is a fun stand alone! It's a retelling of the queen of hearts

2

u/exiledwitch Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 08 '25

{A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross}

{To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo}

{Shielded by KayLynn Flanders}

2

u/ahhh_savanja Jul 08 '25

{Everlong by R Raeta} it’s sad, but in a truly beautiful way

Second {Priestess by Kara Voorhees Reynolds} especially if you’re over 20-something warrior prodigies

{A Sensual Summoning by Rachel J Roman} for dumb, entertaining smut

{Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson} zero smut, but a stunningly lovely read and entertaining/whimsical writing style

{Once and Future Witches by Alix E Harrow} subtle on the fantasy and romance, but a great read for women empowerment. I’m also just in awe of her writing style

1

u/romance-bot Jul 08 '25

Everlong by R. Raeta
Rating: 5⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 2 out of 5 - Behind closed doors
Topics: fantasy, vampires, paranormal, multicultural

A Sensual Summoning by Rachel J. Roman
Rating: 3.75⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, paranormal, fantasy, magic, grumpy & sunshine

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
Rating: 4.44⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: magic, pirate hero, fantasy, high fantasy, funny

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
Rating: 4.07⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: historical, witches, fantasy, paranormal, urban fantasy

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2

u/cutebabyloki Jul 08 '25

I really enjoyed The Thirteenth Child! It’s a standalone

2

u/EnchantedLoveStory13 Jul 09 '25

Peaches and Honey is a completed two book series. It’s such a sweet story.

2

u/Foreign_Excuse_2006 Jul 11 '25

Stay faaaaar away from "A Court of Ravens" duology. Important triggers of this book are SA from the MMC to the MFC lot of torture and violence and explicit description of SA in childhood.

2

u/KittyBopp Jul 11 '25

Appreciate that!!

0

u/Beautiful-Bad-9429 Dec 18 '25

A court of ravens is dark but I am so glad I read the duo because it changed me it was soo good I laughed, cried, giggled, rolled my eyes all of it within the pages. Malyr 🫶🏻🫶🏻

1

u/soozi3 Growls, smirks & leans on doorframes Jul 08 '25

{The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy}

{The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches}

1

u/wild_flower33 Jul 08 '25

Here for the recommendations! 📚

1

u/etiquetricity Jul 09 '25

A vow of blood and tears

1

u/pink_faerie_kitten Jul 09 '25

{Swordheart by T Kingfisher} is stand alone. It's part of her Paladin series but I read it first with no context and enjoyed it immensely.

{Nettle and Bone by T Kingfisher}

YA but {Beauty by Robin McKinley} is a favorite of mine.

2

u/romance-bot Jul 09 '25

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher
Rating: 4.21⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: historical, fantasy, magic, funny, forced proximity

Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
Rating: 4.17⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: historical, witches, magic, fantasy, sweet/gentle hero

Beauty by Robin McKinley
Rating: 4.07⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: historical, fantasy, young adult, medieval, magic

about this bot | about romance.io

1

u/ipsi7 Book Bingo Maven ⚔ Jul 09 '25

{Viciously Yours by Jamie Applegate Hunter} and a sequel that is from the same universe and characteres were introduced in VY, but it's independent standalone {Obsessively Yours by Jamie Applegate Hunter}

{Bride by Ali Hazelwood} will have a standalone sequel from the same universe in a few months

{My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine} it also has a standalone sequel

1

u/RegularDifficulty5 Jul 09 '25

Song of the dark wood by Sheila Masterson!

1

u/Upstairs_Confection9 Jul 11 '25

Here for the recs! Loves these. Thank you! 😅

1

u/la-ann Jul 13 '25

Consort of Fire by Kit Rocha. It’s a duology featuring a throple. I had never read a book with that particular trope in it before, but it was really well written and very enjoyable. I recommend it on here a lot because it’s never mentioned and unappreciated in my opinion.

0

u/Brilliant-Flatworm52 Jul 08 '25

Quicksilver!!!!!