What “hottest” means: popular or spicy?
When people search for the hottest fantasy romance novels, they usually mean one of two things. Some want the books everyone is talking about right now. Others want the most explicit, high-heat reads. This list covers both and flags which is which.
A caution before you start: heat levels are subjective and are mostly reported by readers, not set by any official rating. Two readers can describe the same book differently. Treat every label below as a rough guide and check reviews or content notes for the specific book.
What is a fantasy and romance book called?
Books that mix the two genres are most often called romantasy or fantasy romance. The terms overlap. Romantasy usually implies that the romance and the fantasy plot carry about equal weight, while fantasy romance is sometimes used for books leaning more toward the love story. If the setting is close to our world with supernatural beings, it is more likely labeled paranormal romance. See our romantasy tropes guide for how the labels differ.
The most talked-about fantasy romance series
These are series that come up again and again when readers ask for good fantasy romance book series.
- A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas: A human heroine is pulled into a dangerous fae world. It began as a loose take on Beauty and the Beast and grew into a long series of court politics and romance. It is often cited as a gateway to the genre, and later books are generally described as more explicit.
- Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros: Dragon riders, a brutal war college, and a rivals-to-lovers romance. It is known for its fast pace and was one of the biggest recent hits.
- From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout: A long-running series with a hidden identity, fated mates, and slow-building tension that readers often describe as high spice later on.
- The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen: A trained assassin bride is sent to destroy a kingdom and finds herself drawn to the man she is supposed to ruin.
- The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent: A human raised by a vampire lord enters a deadly competition among vampires.
Higher-heat picks that still have a plot
Several recommendation lists focus on “spicy books with a plot,” meaning the heat does not replace the story. Titles that frequently appear on these lists include:
- Quicksilver by Callie Hart: A gritty setting with underworld bargains and sharp banter, often described by readers as high spice.
- Gild by Raven Kennedy: A dark fae-inspired story about a heroine who has been kept captive and slowly claims her own power. It is a darker read and may call for content warnings.
- The Road of Bones by Demi Winters: A Norse-inspired setting with hidden identity and forbidden magic. One reviewer describes the heat as present but not constant.
- One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig: Gothic forest magic and a soul-bonding romance, more atmospheric than explicit.
- Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli: Trials, fae courts, and a heroine who has to survive.
Readers who search for the spiciest romance books also run into darker romance and “monster romance” shelves. Those vary widely in content, and some deal with heavy themes. Read reviews and content warnings first.
Slow burn and lower-spice picks
Not every great fantasy romance is explicit.
- The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley: A healer and an assassin in a very slow-burn enemies-to-lovers duology. One reviewer describes the first book as having little to no spice.
- Reign and Ruin by J. D. Evans: A marriage of convenience between a sultan’s daughter and a prince, with political intrigue and moderate heat.
- The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow: A standalone about a historian and a legendary knight, with time travel and a forbidden love.
Cozy fantasy romance
If you want warmth and low stakes rather than steam, these are popular:
- Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett: A scholar studies folkloric faeries. The romance is a quiet thread.
- A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna: Found family, a magical inn, and a gentle slow-burn romance.
- Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater: A Regency-flavored fae tale with a cozy tone and a lower-heat romance.
- Paladin’s Grace by T. Kingfisher: Adult leads, humor, and a tender romance with a small amount of spice.
- The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna: A found-family story with a slow-burn romance.
How to judge heat level before you buy
- Look for the terms “closed door,” “open door,” or “fade to black.” Closed door means intimate scenes happen off the page. Our guide to what steamy romance is explains these labels.
- Read several reader reviews rather than one. Many reviewers describe the number and placement of scenes.
- Check content notes on author or publisher pages. Themes such as violence, captivity, or dubious consent are often listed there.
- Check the age category. Young adult and adult books are labeled differently, and “romantasy” covers both.
- Do not rely on cover style. Covers rarely tell you the heat level.
Choosing by trope
If you already know what you like, match it to a trope:
- Enemies to lovers: The Bridge Kingdom, The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy.
- Fae courts: A Court of Thorns and Roses, Gild. See what is fae romance for a primer.
- Dragons and academies: Fourth Wing.
- Marriage of convenience: Reign and Ruin.
- Sweet, supportive leads: Look at the cinnamon roll hero guide.
For the full list of tropes, read our romantasy tropes guide.
What these books teach writers
If you write in the genre, notice how the most popular books handle three things: they establish a trope early, they tie the romance to the plot stakes, and they pace emotional and physical intimacy to the characters’ trust. Heat on its own rarely carries a series; readers tend to return for the characters, the world, and the tension between them. For craft advice on building that tension, see our tips for writing a romance novel.