Featured here are just a few of my favorite romantic fantasy books! Though these reads differ a lot in setting and style, they're united by one thing: a swoonworthy romance perfect for Valentine's. **this post features affiliate links, and Spiral earns a small comission off any purchase you make. Thanks for supporting our work!**
THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR
A sapphic sci-fi full of heart-wrenching yearning. Time travel hasn't been this sad since the Doctor and Rose. Fair warning that though this book is slim in page count, it absolutely packs an emotion punch. A must-read. Standalone novel.
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THE HOLLOW PLANE
Queer gaslamp high fantasy with stunning prose. What if the lovers forgot they had been enemies once? And what if saving their city from a series of mysterious, deadly fires was dependent on remembering who their past? Also, get ready to cry about queer platonic romance. Part one of The Aethereals Duology.
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FAERIE HOUNDS OF YORK
Local Aragorn-coded man tries to save idiot city boy from the Fair Folk, but then everything gets a lot fucking sadder. God, I love doomed things. Bonus points: really has that Susanna Clarke feel. Standalone novella.
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THE FALL THAT SAVED US
Urban fantasy with a cozy bookshop setting that helps balance the darker themes of leaving an abusive household. Sapphic romance that scratches the Supernatural itch. Plus, a favorite trope of mine: a character is sent to seduce and kill, but whoops, they fall in love for real instead. Standalone novel.
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SONG OF THE FOREVER RAINS
Immersive high fantasy with incredibly lush world building. Don't you hate when you're sent to stop a bad guy and his son is hot??? The dual POV structure is perfect for this slow burn, grumpy x sunshine romance. Book one of The Mousai Trilogy. Bonus points: in my opinion, the second book is even better. The bath scene!!! IYKYK.
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DAUGHTER OF THE MOON GODDESS
An epic high fantasy with storytelling like you've never experienced it before. Fair warning, the food in this book is written so beautifully and deliciously that you're going to find yourself ordering a lot of Chinese takeout. A sweet, tender friends to lovers romance is paired with tons of high-stakes action and a fantastic plot twist that still zings even if you see it coming. Book one of The Celestial Kingdom Series.
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FAEBOUND
There are sword lesbians who fight each other and then kiss. Honestly, I don't think most of you need anything else, but just in case: this tale is a gorgeous high fantasy featuring elves and fae, but in fresh new ways. The Afro-Arab world building absolutely shimmers, and few things make me happier than queernormative writing this good. Book one of the Faebound Trilogy.
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MUSIC OF THE NIGHT
Because who in their right mind doesn't want a gothic fantasy retelling of Phantom of the Opera?! This fast-paced romance is anchored in a perfectly dark and gloomy world setting, which helps the super-hot romance sizzle even brighter. This FMC is so fun and easy to root for, which never hurts. Book one of The Tower Knights Series.
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THE HURRICANE WARS
On the topic of retellings, how's a little Reylo romance for you? But this high fantasy book is so much more than that---the political intrigue feels incredibly real, which makes the political marriage feel even more real. Well, it starts as a political marriage, but he falls first, and he falls hard. Southeastern Asian-inspired world building make this even more special, and yes, there's dragons, which is always good. Book one of the Hurricane Wars Trilogy.
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