10 Romantasy Book Series You Need to Start Reading in 2026

Romantasy isn't exactly new, but it has exploded in popularity over the past few years. Thanks to Rebecca Yarros' Empyrean series, the genre has dominated Kindle charts and bestseller lists, introducing mainstream audiences to what fantasy readers have known for decades: romance and fantasy belong together.

If you're new to romantasy and looking for where to start, here are ten series that represent the best the genre has to offer—from dragon riders to vampires to magical tarot cards.

Fourth Wing (The Empyrean)

Rebecca Yarros' Empyrean series is arguably the most popular romantasy series available right now, and for good reason. It's got magic, dragons, sex, danger, and an academic setting bringing it all together.

The story follows Violet Sorrengail as she's forced to join the elite academy of dragon riders, following in her family's footsteps. Survival is no guarantee as she endures constant threats from her mother's enemies, deadly dragons, and unexpected romantic feelings.

There are currently three books in the series, with Yarros recently confirming she's already working on the fourth. A Fourth Wing TV series is in development for Prime Video, and a companion card game was released last year. The cultural phenomenon shows no signs of slowing down.

A Court of Thorns and Roses

ACOTAR is the first of three Sarah J. Maas picks featured here, because she's truly a master of the genre. The series follows Feyre Archeron, a human girl from a riches-to-rags family who finds herself dragged into the magical land of faeries after a hunting incident.

It's a fantastical story of self-discovery and romance with an unexpected fairy tale twist. There are currently five books in the series with a sixth on the way, though no release date has been revealed yet. The series was supposed to receive a Hulu adaptation, but unfortunately the project was scrapped early last year.

The Twilight Saga

Twilight wasn't the first romantasy series, but it was the first to become a household name. The movies got a lot of flack for being overly cheesy, but the books themselves are actually incredible. Stephanie Meyer's romantic tale of a high school girl falling in love with a vampire is hard to put down once you start.

There's so much depth captured in the books that never made it to screen. If you're basing your opinion entirely on the film franchise, you owe it to yourself to go back to the source material. The saga consists of four novels told from Bella's perspective, plus a fifth companion book from Edward's point of view.

Quicksilver (Fae and Alchemy)

Callie Hart's Fae and Alchemy series exploded onto the romantasy scene with Quicksilver in 2024 and hasn't slowed down since. The story follows 24-year-old Saeris Fane with strange alchemical powers and a penchant for picking pockets. After an unfortunate run-in with Death himself, she gets transported to the icy land of the Fae where she becomes intertwined with a handsome Fae warrior and a centuries-long conflict.

There are currently two books in the series, with the third confirmed for November 2026. The series is set to receive a Netflix adaptation following a seven-figure bidding war for the rights. The adaptation is still in early stages without a release date yet.

Throne of Glass

Another epic romantasy from Sarah J. Maas. There's intense debate online about whether ACOTAR or Throne of Glass is the better series—you'll need to read both fully before deciding which side you're on.

The story follows Celaena Sardothien, an assassin with a traumatic past who's pulled from slavery to win back her freedom by becoming the king's champion. She must contend with nobles, killers, and a hidden magical world while navigating feelings for the men surrounding her.

The series consists of seven books and one prequel, and is already complete. A TV adaptation called Queen of Shadows was supposedly in the works from Hulu, but there hasn't been an update for years.

The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia)

The simplest description of Carissa Broadbent's series would be "Hunger Games meets vampires," but there's much more to it. The series is planned as three distinct duologies over six books, each following a different main character.

The first pair, the Nightborn Duet, follows Oraya—a human raised by a vampire king whose only chance of survival is entering a deadly tournament held by the goddess of death. She teams up with vampire Raihn from a different vampiric house, and a slow-burning romance ensues.

The Nightborn Duet is complete with books one and two. The Shadowborn Duet begins with book three, with the final Shadowborn book set for July 2026.

From Blood and Ash (Blood and Ash)

Jennifer L. Armentrout's Blood and Ash series has action, adventure, and all the sexy moments you'd expect from modern romantasy. What really sets it apart is the unique fantasy world and just how truly spicy things get after the first book.

From Blood and Ash tells the story of Poppy, a girl caught between gods and mortals whose role as a Maiden leaves her forbidden from experiencing pleasure. She was born to ascend and be found worthy by the gods, but that doesn't stop her from longing for more.

The series currently has six books, with a seventh on the way for 2026. Armentrout has confirmed the final book will be titled The Throne of Bone and Ash.

A Shadow in the Ember (Flesh and Fire)

If you like Blood and Ash, check out the prequel series Flesh and Fire. The first book, A Shadow in the Ember, follows another Maiden named Seraphena Mierel, chosen to be the Consort to the Primal of Death.

The series is now concluded with four total books, and characters from Flesh and Fire make welcome appearances in the Blood and Ash series. It's the perfect complement to expand your understanding of Armentrout's world.

House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City)

The last Sarah J. Maas pick is her Crescent City series. Unlike Throne of Glass and ACOTAR, House of Earth and Blood is more tame (in terms of romance) and rooted in urban fantasy setting.

The story kicks off with Bryce Quinlan, a half-fae and half-human girl who teams up with angel Hunt to track down the demon who killed her friends. The series has a nice blend of mystery, magic, and slow-burning romance wrapped up in epic fantasy world-building.

There are currently three books with a fourth planned for sometime in the future, though Maas hasn't given details about when it will be released.

Powerless

If you're looking for YA romantasy that doesn't get as spicy as the more adult books on this list, Powerless is a great starting point. It's about a society divided between "Elites" with powers and "Ordinaries" who are powerless.

The story follows Paedyn Gray, an Ordinary who poses as an Elite psychic to avoid banishment from the kingdom of Ilya. When she unsuspectingly saves one of the kingdom's princes, she finds herself thrown into a brutal competition for Elites and falling into forbidden romance that could end in her doom.

The Powerless trilogy is now complete as of April 2025 with the release of Fearless.

Arcana Academy

Elise Kova's Arcana Academy is one of the newest books on this list, with currently only one book available. Kova isn't new to romantasy, however—you may know her from her Married to Magic series or more recently, Saga of the Unfated.

Arcana Academy breaks away from usual tropes of faeries and vampires with a main character who wields magical tarot cards in a fantastical academy setting. The second book, Prince of Swords, is currently set for release on July 21, 2026.

Why Romantasy Works

The explosion of romantasy isn't surprising when you consider what the genre offers: epic fantasy world-building combined with emotional character development and romantic tension. It's the best of both worlds—literally.

Fantasy provides the escape, the magic, the adventure. Romance provides the emotional stakes, the character growth, the relationships that ground all that fantastical action. When done well, as in all the series on this list, romantasy delivers stories that are both thrilling and deeply satisfying.

Whether you're looking for spicy adult romance or YA forbidden love, dragon riders or vampire tournaments, urban fantasy or high fantasy epics, there's a romantasy series waiting for you. The genre has something for every reader, which explains why it's taken over bestseller lists and spawned multiple adaptations.

Where to Start

New to romantasy and feeling overwhelmed by options? Here's a simple guide:

Want maximum spice? Start with From Blood and Ash or Fourth Wing.

Prefer slower burn? Try House of Earth and Blood or The Serpent and the Wings of Night.

Looking for YA? Powerless is your best bet.

Want something classic? Go back to Twilight or start with ACOTAR.

Need something fresh? Check out Quicksilver or Arcana Academy.

No matter where you start, the romantasy genre has exploded for good reason. These stories combine everything readers love about fantasy and romance into addictive, binge-worthy series that are impossible to put down.

So pick a series, clear your schedule, and prepare to fall down the romantasy rabbit hole. Your TBR pile is about to get a lot longer.