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Once every generation, the Elf King enters the local village to take a bride to be his Human Queen. Luella never thought she’d be that woman. Independent, caring, and fiercely devoted to her people, she’s content in her quiet life as a humble herbalist. But when the Elf King arrives—icy, proud, and dangerously handsome—he claims her, and everything changes.
Now, Luella finds herself in the Elf King’s domain, Midscape. But Midscape is dying, and only she can save it. Luella didn’t choose to be the Human Queen. But will she choose to love . . .?
I’ve been a fantasy romance reader since I first began reading fairy tales as a kid. I love submerging myself in fantastical worlds, but I’m also a sucker for a good love story, too. As the popularity of the fantasy romance and romantasy subgenres has grown, it’s given me much to think about in terms of what makes them so special.
Fellow Book Rioter Lyndsie Manusos digs into the distinction between the two, stating that while happily-ever-afters (HEAs) are requirements for romantasy, they’re not for fantasy romance. Romantasies are more romance-focused, and fantasy romances are more fantasy-forward. Fantasy romance doesn’t have to have a HEA, but often does.
As for what makes a fantasy an epic fantasy, you can check out this primer on the many subgenres in fantasy. Epic fantasies take place in another world and often have an epic event to get the story rolling and another to resolve the conflicts.
So, with this in mind, I’ve gathered together a collection of epic fantasy romance novels below. These swoon-worthy stories take place in different worlds, include immersive fantasy world-building and epic plots, while also promising a strong romance. I hope you fall in love with each one!
Epic Fantasy Romances
Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan
This epic fantasy romance by Sue Lynn Tan is steeped in Chinese mythology. It has the most gorgeous cover and pink sprayed edges, too. When Liyen, the heir to Tianxia, gets poisoned, her grandfather steals a lotus from the immortals to heal her. In retaliation, the immortal queen sends the God of War to attack their kingdom. When Liyen ascends the throne, her presence is requested in the Immortal Realm. There, she’ll try to form an alliance with the God of War himself.
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
Tasha Suri interweaves political intrigue with elements from Indian history into this epic fantasy romance series set in an India-inspired fantasy world. After she gets forced into captivity in an ancient temple by her dictator brother, Princess Malini begins planning her escape. Things take a turn, and sparks begin to fly, when Malini meets maidservant Priya.
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
This classic fantasy romance by Jacqueline Carey takes place in the land of Terre d’Ange, where angels and humans created a race that lives by the rule Love as thou wilt. The protagonist of the story, Phèdre nó Delaunay, has a scarlet mote in one of her eyes. When a nobleman buys her indentured servitude, he realizes she has the rare gift of being pricked by Kushiel’s Dart. As she gets trained as both a spy and a courtesan, Phèdre uncovers a plot that could jeopardize everything she holds dear.
Paladin’s Grace by T. Kingfisher
T. Kingfisher excels at building compelling fantasy worlds and interweaving romance within them. I also love how relatable Kingfisher’s characters are. They’re often awkward, average-looking, and trying their best rather than being beautiful and perfect protagonists. It’s one of my favorite things about her writing. After Stephen’s god dies, he lives as a paladin trying to find purpose again. When he saves a fugitive named Grace in an alley, the pair soon get caught up in a twisty assassination plot with a killer trailing behind them!
Song of Blood & Stone by L. Penelope
L. Penelope’s epic fantasy romance focuses on a feud between two kingdoms and the wall between them. For as long as a magical veil called the Mantle has separated the two kingdoms of Elsira and Lagrimar, a tentative peace has lasted. Due to the color of her skin and her gift of Earthsong, Jasminda has lived as an outcast for most of her life, but when the Mantle begins to crack, she’ll team up with an Elsiran spy to find the legendary Queen Who Sleeps and save the Mantle.
This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews
Written by bestselling author duo Ilona Andrews, this new epic fantasy romance has such a fun premise. When Maggie wakes up in the city of Kair Toren, she’s in for a shock. She’s somehow been transported into the world of the famous yet unfinished fantasy book series she loves. Despite the dangers, Maggie knows how to survive, thanks to all of her reading. As she grows closer to an eccentric cast of characters, including an intriguing soldier, she’ll do whatever it takes to keep her new friends alive and save the kingdom from war!
Before You Get Swept Off Your Feet…
Epic fantasy romances provide the perfect escapism. You get to go live inside a fairy tale world every time you slip between the pages, and you get to fall in love with fictional characters. My favorite pastimes! For more sweet stories like these, check out these new romantic fantasies too.