Core Best Fantasy Lists
- Top 25 Fantasy Books
- Top 100 Fantasy Books
- Best Fantasy Series
- Best Stand Alone Fantasy
- Best Young Adult Fantasy
- Top 25 Best Indie Fantasy
- Best Fantasy Audiobooks
- Best Fantasy You've Never Read
- Most Influential Fantasy
- Best Non-English Fantasy
- Great Fantasy Books
- Good Fantasy Books
- Worst Fantasy Books Ever
Best Yearly Lists
Best Decade Lists
- Best Fantasy Since 2010
- Best Fantasy of the 90's
- Best Fantasy of the 80's
- Best Fantasy of the 70's
- Best Fantasy of the 60's
- Best Early Modern Fantasy (30's-50's)
- Best Pre-Tolkien Fantasy
Best Thematic Lists
- Best Anti-Hero Fantasy
- Best Asian Fantasy
- Best Feel Good Fantasy
- Best of the Tolkien Clones
- Best of the Dresden Clones
- Fantasy That Will Blow Your Mind
- Best Fantasy Books for Women
- Best Fantasy Books by Female Authors
- Best Fantasy Books for Children
- Best Vampire Books for YA
- Best Vampire Books for Adults
Best Subgenre Lists
- Top 50 EPIC Fantasy
- Best Grimdark Fantasy
- Best Military Fantasy
- Best Urban Fantasy
- Best Steampunk Fantasy
- Best Literary Fantasy
- Best Vampire Fantasy
- Best Sword and Sorcery
- Best Fantasy Mysteries
- Best Romance Fantasy
- Best Paranormal Romance
- Best Vampire Romance
- Best Dragon Fantasy
Fantasy Award Winners
Fantasy Guides
- Guide to Fantasy Genres
- How to Find Your Next Read Here
- Guide to Vampire Books
- Beginner's Fantasy Guide
Movies & Games Lists
- Best Science Fiction Books
- Best Fantasy Games
- Best Sci-Fi Games
- Best Sci-Fi Movies
- Best 'Thinking' Sci-Fi Movies
Fantasy Subgenres
- Epic Fantasy
- High Fantasy
- Low Fantasy
- Mundane Fantasy
- Hard Fantasy
- Young Adult Fantasy
- Juvenile Fantasy
- Quest Fantasy
- Coming-of-Age Fantasy
- Heroic Fantasy
- Sword and Sorcery Fantasy
- Swashbuckling Fantasy
- Wuxia Fantasy
- Gods & Demons / Shenmo Fantasy
- Grimdark Fantasy Books
- Colonial Fantasy Books
- Silk Road Fantasy Books
- Flintlock Fantasy Books
- Gunpowder Fantasy Books
- Military Fantasy
- Gritty Fantasy
- Dark Fantasy
- Vampire Fantasy
- Urban Fantasy
- Contemporary Fantasy
- Paranormal Fantasy
- Fantastic Romance
- Romantic Fantasy
- Erotic Fantasy
- Classical Fantasy Books
- Medieval Fantasy
- Court Intrigue Fantasy
- Fantasy of Manners
- Science Fantasy
- Sword and Planet Fantasy
- Dying Earth Fantasy
- Futuristic Fantasy
- Steampunk Fantasy
- Arcanepunk Fantasy
- Gaslamp Fantasy
- Weird West Fantasy
- Political Fantasy
- Literary Fantasy
- Magic Realism
- New Weird Fantasy
- Weird Fiction
- Fantastic Poetry
- Fantastique
- Comic/Humorous Fantasy
- Magical Girl Fantasy
- Series Fantasy
- Super Hero Fantasy
- Media-tie-in Fantasy
- Prehistoric Fantasy Books
- Historical Fantasy
- High Historical Fantasy
- Alternate History Fantasy
- Alternate World Fantasy
- Crossworlds Fantasy
- Portal Fantasy
- Christian Fantasy
- Celtic Fantasy
- Arthurian Fantasy
- Mythic Fantasy
- Mythopoeia
- Legend-Retelling Fantasy
- Allegorical Fantasy
- Fables/Fairy Tale Books
- Anthropomorphic Fantasy
- Dragon Fantasy Books
- Bangsian Fantasy Books
- Assassin Fantasy Books
- Arabian Fantasy Books
Romantic Fantasy
These stories are more traditionally romantic than those in the Fantastic Romance category. Romantic Fantasy may also put more emphasis on the plot events than a Fantastic Romance. Quite a few other fantasy subgenres will incorporate elements of Romantic Fantasy in them, especially Epic Fantasy and Paranormal Fantasy.
There are several “typical” storylines, but they all share the common element that the heroine has lost her home or place in society in some way, and comes to find completion and acceptance in another group. Thus, various relationships are important parts of the story: social, political and—of course—romantic relationships.
While searching for these new relationships and discovering/developing her powers, the heroine is likely to fall in love with a man who also possesses the gift of magic. The magic in these stories is usually of a gentler, more innate type than in other fantasy. Things like strong intuition and empathy, or mastery of one of the elements, are typical.
As the two lovers (or they may remain just friends or traveling companions for some time) travel the kingdom and perhaps beyond, they will gradually discover that their powers are necessary to right some huge wrong, or restore something important that has been lost. They will need to learn about each other in intense ways so that together they can fulfill this responsibility.
Make sure you look out our Best Romance Fantasy Books List for specific romance fantasy recommendations.
Characteristics of Romantic Fantasy

- Level of Magic
Varies, but as mentioned, magic is considered a positive part of a character's nature, innate and not alien or frightening.
- Level of Characterization
The heroine and hero will change quite a bit throughout the book, but the characters are usually simply drawn.
- Level of Plot Complexity
There is a lot of variety in plot, even given the 3 or 4 archetypal plots for this sub-genre. There is the potential for unhappy endings.
- Level of Violence
Violence is low in these stories, although there can be quite a lot of non-graphic sex.
Related Fantasy Subgenres

- Coming-of-Age Fantasy is related because one of the common plot lines concerns a teenage girl who is forced away from home and who discovers that she has magical powers and a fabulous destiny to fulfill.
- Quite a few Epic Fantasy books also include a heavy dose of Romantic Fantasy in them as well.
- Fantasy also tends to include elements of the Heroic Fantasy subgenre too.
- Fantastic Romance and Paranormal Fantasy are also related.
- Of course, Romantic Fanasy is also a subgenre of the Romance Genre itself (see our sister site: bestromancebooks.net for romance book recommendations).
Romantic Fantasy Isn’t For You If...
...Paranormal romance is more your style. The trend is for Romantic Fantasy to add more Fantasy and ease back on the romance, so if you prefer a sweeter, gentler story, make sure you look carefully at any selections that are recent.
Also avoid if you don't like the main focus of the story about romantic relationships.
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222
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163
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175
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- Kushiel's Dart ()
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156
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123
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84
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62
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64
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53
- 25
- The Bone Doll's Twin ()
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42
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43
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23
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