One of my favorite genres for a “feel good” read is Fantasy Romance. I mean, who doesn’t like a fantastical setting with a strong heroine and a hero who is hunky enough to make you swoon? It can’t just be me, right?
So, I got to thinking of my top five fantasy romance books, at this current moment. Some of them may surprise you, but give them a try and you won’t be disappointed. Perhaps you can add your own favorites in the comments?
Oh my, this is a magical story between two beings from different races. They are immediately repulsed by each other’s physical appearance when they meet on their wedding day. The marriage is arranged to strengthen the alliance between their people, but there is immediate chemistry between Ildiko and Brishen. Grace Draven has crafted a love story like no other in this beautiful series beginning.
I’m reading this as we speak and looking forward to the second in the series. Aldara is sold to the royal family, by her mother, as Companion to Prince Tyron. But even this seemingly esteemed position is unendingly dangerous. And that’s without the threat Tyron poses to her heart. I found this unusual pairing of two lovers from the very top and bottom echelons of society irresistible.
The heroine will take your breath away with her toughness and spirit. Shea is a Pathfinder, a guide trained in keeping others safe in the wilderness. But after being betrayed by her community, Shea must rely on every ounce of cunning and strength she possesses to stay out of the clutches of an invading warlord. This is another series beginning and I found the world-building and characters memorable.
In this series, women run the politics of the country, Angland, and men own the magic. But Cassandra Harwood is determined to turn the neat order of things on its head. Cassandra is the first woman magician in Angland but has lost her magic pushing the boundaries of her control. She must find a way to happiness with the love of her life, despite the threat of a malevolent elven lord bent on destroying her. I loved this unique twist on the Regency era and its magic.
I’m a huge fan of Archer’s work, and this series is her latest offering; it’s a little different from her previous historical fantasy series, plural. In The Palace of Lost Memories, a mysterious palace, complete with a king, nobles, and servants, suddenly appears near a poor seaside town. Josie is the daughter of the local healer and is immediately drawn into the mystery. She is attracted to Hammer, the head of the palace guards. She soon discovers that none of the palace inhabitants have any memory of the time before they came to live there. I’m enjoying the development of the relationship between Josie and Hammer as they battle palace intrigue and politics in their search for the truth.
And there they are! My five favorite fantasy romance books as of this moment. You’ll notice several themes running through my choices:
- All are the start of series. As far as I’m concerned, if I’m going to invest time in getting to know characters, I want them to continue entertaining me in subsequent books. I want to stay in that world as long as I can.
- All the heroines are strong and refuse to be pigeon-holed. They push the boundaries and continue to do so even when threatened.
- All have unusual world building where the rules are different from anything I’ve read before.
- None of the authors are household names, but I believe their offerings will delight and enthrall you.
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Happy Reading!
Originally published at https://mybookcave.com on July 18, 2019.
