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The best romantasy books of 2026

The romantasy books of 2026 that readers keep talking about, in the order we would hand them over. Each one shows its spice level and tropes, and where it sits in its series, so you know whether to start here or go back to book one. We update this page every month.

Updated November 2026

  1. Cover of Threshing Day

    Threshing Day

    Rebecca Yarros · The Empyrean, anthology

    Rebecca Yarros returns to Basgiath for a deadly trial, in a companion to The Empyrean that reads well on its own or between Onyx Storm and whatever comes next. Lighter on spice than the main series.

  2. Cover of Starside

    Starside

    Alex Aster · Starside, No. 1

    Alex Aster’s first adult fantasy: an immortal realm, a mortal one and a contest held every fifty years. The year’s biggest new series opener.

  3. Cover of Tempest

    Tempest

    Victoria Aveyard · The Lyrian Sea, No. 1

    Victoria Aveyard goes to sea: a widow running a pirate tavern, a second life she cannot keep hidden and a slow burn that takes its time.

  4. Cover of The Ballad of Falling Dragons

    The Ballad of Falling Dragons

    Sarah A. Parker · Moonfall, No. 2

    The second Moonfall book, and the dragon romance readers waited two years for. Read When the Moon Hatched first.

  5. Cover of Rites of the Starling

    Rites of the Starling

    Devney Perry · Shield of Sparrows, No. 2

    Devney Perry’s second Shield of Sparrows book, for everyone who finished the first one and immediately needed more.

  6. Cover of Bromantasy

    Bromantasy

    Máire Roche

    A slacker, a quest he volunteered for by accident and a friends-to-lovers story that is funnier than anything else on this list.

  7. Cover of Daggerbound

    Daggerbound

    T. Kingfisher · The World of the White Rat, No. 4

    T. Kingfisher back in the World of the White Rat, with her trademark mix of dry humour, kindness and a romance for grown-ups.

  8. Cover of Sea of Charms

    Sea of Charms

    Sarah Beth Durst · The Spellshop, No. 3

    The third Spellshop book, cosy and closed door, for readers who want their fantasy warm rather than wrenching.

  9. Cover of The Last King of Faerie

    The Last King of Faerie

    Cassandra Clare · The Wicked Powers, No. 1

    Cassandra Clare opens The Wicked Powers on 3 November, billed as the final Shadowhunter series and the one readers have waited a decade for.

  10. Cover of Lightwing

    Lightwing

    Caroline Peckham · Crown of Hearts and Chaos, No. 2

    Peckham and Valenti’s follow-up to Hollow, out 3 November. Enemies to lovers, and a cliffhanger from book one to recover from first.

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