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It’s almost Valentine’s Day, which means it’s time to (commercially) celebrate love! So get your heart eyes ready, because this post contains five SFF books with great romances. (Hashtag romance goals.) Romantasy rules the fantasy genre these days, and I have no quarrel with that. But since it is so prevalent and being talked about everywhere, I instead picked science fiction or fantasy novels that happen to also include romance, or older fantasy romance titles.
My favorite romance in SFF would be in Gideon the Ninth, but I don’t want to say who it’s between, because I don’t think the novel is old enough to spoil. But I will say that it’s not exactly an example of what one might consider a healthy romance, even if it is freaking great. (Also you should just read all the available Locked Tomb books. Like, right now. I’ll wait here.) Now my little cupids, prepare your TBR for these other marvelous titles with great romances.
No Shelter But the Stars by Virginia Black
File under “only one moon”: This is an exciting sci-fi adventure about warring worlds in space! As the last heir to her forgotten planet, Kyran Loyal tries to lead her people as they attempt to escape a brutal opposing regime. Davia Sifane is the daughter of a terrible leader, though not acknowledged as such. When the two end up stranded together on a desolate moon after battle, they will have to rely on one another to survive—and possibly create peace between their two worlds.
The Magpie Lord (A Charm of Magpies, #1) by KJ Charles
In this series starter, a disgraced son must return to his familial estate after the deaths of his father and brother. The new Lord Crane is back after two decades of exile and starts to look into the mystery behind the sudden deaths of his family. When he realizes that the causes are supernatural, he enlists the help of magician Stephen Day. What Crane doesn’t know is that Stephen secretly hates the Crane family. But in close proximity, it might be hard for Stephen to keep up his animosity with all the sparks flying around. (Must resist…making…wand joke.)
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Paladin’s Grace (The Saint of Steel) by T. Kingfisher
Here is a great fantasy from the amazingly prolific T. Kingfisher about two weary people who find their way to one another amid fighting, assassins, and political intrigue. Stephen is a paladin without a god to serve, and Grace is a perfumer and fugitive fleeing an abusive marriage. When they meet, at first they team up to survive the killer hot on their heels, but the longer they spend time together, the more they fall head over heels.
Witchmark (The Kingston Cycle) by C. L. Polk
Polk has several novels with great romances (see: Even Though I Knew the End and The Midnight Bargain), but let’s start with their award-winning debut! Set in an alternate Edwardian England, it follows Miles Singer, a doctor, war veteran, and witch hiding from his family. Miles works at a veteran’s hospital, where he hides his magical abilities from everyone, until the day a dying patient exposes him. Now, with the help of a VERY handsome stranger named Tristan, Miles must figure out how the patient knew of his magic and find out who wanted the patient dead, all without winding up back in the clutches of his family. But clutches with Tristan are totally allowed. (Nudge-nudge, wink-wink, know what I mean?)
Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri
And last, but not least, is this fantasy epic inspired by the Mughal Empire of India, with a fantastic slow-burn romance. Mehr is an outcast, the daughter of an exiled Amrithi mother, whose magic powers attract the attention of the Emperor’s court. They are looking to control Mehr and wield her power as their own. To use for evil, of course. Mehr will have to escape court politics, cults, unwanted attention, and more, all while navigating a forced marriage to Amun, who turns out not to be so bad…
Make sure to also check out 8 Cozy Fantasy Romance Books to Warm Your Heart This Winter, 8 of the Best Romantasy Covers, and the romantasy that became the fastest-selling adult title of the last two decades.
Okay, star bits, now take the knowledge you have learned here today and use it for good, not evil. If you want to know more about books, I talk about books pretty much nonstop (when I’m not reading them), and you can hear me say lots of adjectives about them on the Book Riot podcast All the Books! and on Bluesky and Instagram.
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