If you’ve entered a bookstore or been online in the past few years, then you know just how popular romantasy is. It’s not a new genre, but it has taken the world by a storm thanks to beloved titles like A Court of Thorns and Roses. 

And it comes by its popularity honestly — it combines the world’s best-selling genre (romance) with high stakes and magic of fantasy novels. The plot is more focused on the main couple, but it usually has many twists and turns that can keep people interested for multiple installments. 

However, not all romantasy books are worth your time. And you might be getting tired of constantly hearing about Sarah J. Maas or Fourth Wing. Those books may be loved, but I believe there are so many excellent romantasy novels out there that don’t get enough attention but embody the genre much better. 

So, I rounded up my favorite fantasy romance titles — they’re severely underrated, but so unique and swoony. I hope you give them a chance. Happy reading!

1. Whispers of the Deep by Emma Hamm

I’m honestly not sure how Whispers of The Deep isn’t more popular on social media and in general because it’s honestly one of the best romantasy books I’ve read. You have the strong heroine fighting against impossible odds, a competent, handsome hero, and a romance that truly goes from enemies to lovers. 

So, Mira is an engineer of an underwater city called Beta. Humans have had to move under the sea in order to survive, but their intrusion is angering the native Undines, or mermaids, that lived there. One day, while Mira is working in an abandoned area, she spots an undine called Arges spying on her, and a few days later he attacks her city with his pod. 

The two of them end up saving each other’s lives in the attack, which only makes Arges more interested in Mira — mostly just as a source of information at first. So he kidnaps her and takes her away. 

What he doesn’t realize is that humans can’t survive underwater, and that dangerous members of his pod are following. They can’t communicate, and don’t understand each other, but somehow they start becoming friends, and then something more. 

You can read my full review here, but this is a wonderful book with a very believable romance that has to suffer many obstacles. There’s some spice but mostly towards the end, and the main focus is on romance, while the plot is in the background. You also get perspectives from both Mira and Arges. 

2. Bride by Ali Hazelwood

This may not be fully a romantasy book, but if you were a Twilight girlie ever in your life, or if you liked Vampire Diaries, this is the book for you. It’s pretty romance focused, but it does have a plot on the side. And, it can be read as a standalone, which is always a bonus. 

This story follows Misery, a vampire who, as a child, has been sent to humans as collateral in a political deal. Now, her father is asking her to become a collateral once again via a political marriage to a werewolf and she refuses to — until she hears her groom’s name. So, she agrees to go into the dangerous world of werewolves, and finds something really unexpected there. 

I really loved how fun and self-aware this book was. It reminded me of my favorite fanfics in the best way possible. It’s a quick read too. You follow mostly Misery’s POV, but there are snippets of Lowe’s thoughts at the beginning of each chapter. And as I said, it can be read as a standalone, though I cannot wait for part two! For more thoughts, check out my review of Bride. 

3. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

If you’re looking for a beautifully written book, you won’t go wrong with Laini Taylor. I specifically love Daughter of Smoke and Bone because it’s set in Prague and has some of the most atmospheric writing I’ve ever read. 

Karou, the heroine, doesn’t know a lot about her past. She was raised by demons and she works for them but there are things about her that don’t make sense. When black handprints start appearing in the doorways across the world, and a mysterious Akiva appears in her life, Karou will have an opportunity to learn more about herself. But at what cost?

This is a YA book so don’t expect spice — instead, you can expect many swoony moments and writing that is so lyrical you won’t be able to stop reading. 

4. Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong

I really wanted to love Chloe Gong’s These Violent Delights series, but unfortunately didn’t/ But then Immortal Longings came out, and I can finally be a part of the Chloe Gong fandom. 

This story is set in the world where the characters can jump from one person to another. And every year, the kingdom hosts a set of games where people compete to death. Calla, the heroine, is a disgraced princess in hiding, and wants to win the games in order to kill her uncle, King Kasa. 

Anton, the hero, has been spending all of his money keeping his childhood sweetheart alive and wants to win the games in order to get out of debt. 

He and Calla form an alliance, but even as they get closer to having to kill each other, their relationship turns into something entirely different. 

You would think that this book is more generic than others on this list, but it’s really not. It’s full of twists and turns, unique concepts and character arcs. It’s an ongoing series, with part one and two already out, and part three set to come out sometime in 2025. 

5. One for My Enemy by Olivie Blake

While I personally didn’t love this book, many people did and I feel like it’s a unique, underrated romantasy book. It follows two families of witches in New York as they fight for their position in the world of magic-infused drug dealing. 

It’s based on Romeo and Juliette, so the romances in this one are tragic, sad and forbidden. And yes, there are multiple. It’s a beautifully written book, though I found it a bit too much at times. 

However, it might just work for you because it’s really atmospheric and perfect if you already love Olivie Blake’s writing. 

6. Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent

Daughter of No Worlds is a criminally underrated fantasy romance and if you haven’t read it already, you need to read it. You’re probably familiar with its sibling, Serpent and The Wings of Night (by the same author) and let me tell you, that book has nothing on this series. 

The story follows Tisannah, a slave girl who finally collects enough money to buy her freedom and finally make her dream of going to Ara come true. But her owner refuses to set her free and almost kills her when Tisannah’s latent power of mind-bending kills him. She runs off, on the brink of death herself and somehow manages to get herself to Ara. 

There, in order to prove herself and get the people of Ara to help her land and friends, she agrees to apprentice under Max. Now, Max is completely unwilling and seems to have a dark past of his own. But he agrees. And together, the two of them train. 

I don’t want to reveal more in case of spoilers, but Daughter of No Worlds is a unique, tender romance fantasy, with an amazing plot and a relationship that will tug at your heartstrings. Everything develops slowly, and at the beginning this book feels almost cozy. You’ll mostly get Tisannah’s POV, but there is a bit of Max in there as well. 

7. Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew

This book combines horror, romance, and mystery in such a brilliant way that I’m surprised more people aren’t singing its praises. It can be read as a standalone, though I also recommend The Whispering Dark by the same author, and her follow up novel since the characters do converge at some point in each book. 

This one follows Wyatt, whose father just died. She goes to her family home in order to burn it, but then finds her childhood best friend Peter chained up in the basement. The property is falling apart and getting swallowed by the nature around it without someone there to protect it. The only way to do that is for Wyatt to kill Peter. But the only way for Peter to be truly free is to kill Wyatt. 

Trapped in that house, the two of them have to come to terms with their feelings for each other, their childhood, and the secrets that lurk there. 

Your Blood, My Bones is full of nostalgia, tender feelings and creepy eldritch monsters. It doesn’t have any spice since it’s YA, but that doesn’t make the romance any less charming and swoony.