Romantasy where the fantasy half is real
+4 more
The romantasy for readers who also want a map at the front. Sieges, old gods and curses with rules, and a love story that has to share the page.
Hand-picked and sealed. Every book here was chosen on purpose — no votes, no algorithm.
Stacked by Drayfus · Updated 2 weeks ago
The 8 books on this stack
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Uprooted
Naomi Novik · 2015
NEBULA AWARD WINNER • HUGO AWARD FINALIST • “If you want a fantasy with strong characters and brilliantly original variations on ancient stories, try Uprooted!”—Rick Riordan “Breathtaking . . . a tale that is both elegantly grand and earthily humble, familiar as a Grimm fairy tale yet fresh, original, and totally irresistible.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: NPR, BuzzFeed, Tordotcom, BookPage, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life. Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood. The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows—everyone knows—that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn’t, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her. But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose. Includes the new bonus short story “The Lake Witch” Praise for Uprooted “Uprooted has leapt forward to claim the title of Best Book I’ve Read Yet This Year. . . . Moving, heartbreaking, and thoroughly satisfying, Uprooted is the fantasy novel I feel I’ve been waiting a lifetime for. Clear your schedule before picking it up, because you won’t want to put it down.”—NPR
Why this book Drayfus
The Wood is a real antagonist with its own ecology and its own patience. Two systems of magic that don't agree, and the argument between them is what wins the war. Take Agnieszka and Sarkan out and you still have an invaded kingdom and a possessed queen.
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Jasmine Throne
Tasha Suri · 2021
WINNER OF THE WORLD FANTASY AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF 2021 BY PUBLISHERS WEEKLY , LIBRARY JOURNAL , BOOKLIST , AND THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY A ruthless princess and a powerful priestess come together to rewrite the fate of an empire in this “fiercely and unapologetically feminist tale of endurance and revolution set against a gorgeous, unique magical world” (S. A. Chakraborty, author of the The City of Brass ). Exiled by her despotic brother, princess Malini spends her days dreaming of vengeance while imprisoned in the Hirana: an ancient cliffside temple that was once the revered source of the magical deathless waters but is now little more than a decaying ruin. The secrets of the Hirana call to Priya. But in order to keep the truth of her past safely hidden, she works as a servant in the loathed regent’s household and cleaning Malini’s chambers. When Malini witnesses Priya’s true nature, their destinies become irrevocably tangled. One is a ruthless princess seeking to steal a throne. The other a powerful priestess desperate to save her family. Together, they will set an empire ablaze. Praise for The Jasmine Throne : "Suri’s writing always brings me to another world; one full of wonders and terrors, where every detail feels intricately and carefully imagined." —R. F. Kuang, author of Babel "Raises the bar for what epic fantasy should be." —Chloe Gong, author of These Violent Delights "An intimate, complex, magical study of empire and the people caught in its bloody teeth. I loved it.” —Alix E. Harrow, author of The Once and Future Witches "Suri’s incandescent feminist masterpiece hits like a steel fist inside a velvet glove. Simply magnificent." —Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the Sun "A fierce, heart-wrenching exploration of the value and danger of love in a world of politics and power." — Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Lush and stunning....Inspired by Indian epics, this sapphic fantasy will rip your heart out." — BuzzFeed News
Why this book Drayfus
Empire politics and insurrection, plus a magical rot with rules nobody has cracked. That would fill the book on its own. Then Malini and Priya spend it lying to each other and meaning it less every time, and neither half gives ground to the other.
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The Priory of the Orange Tree
Samantha Shannon · 2019
Get ready for Samantha Shannon's new novel, A Day of Fallen Night , coming in February 2023! The New York Times bestselling "epic feminist fantasy perfect for fans of Game of Thrones " (Bustle). NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY: AMAZON (Top 100 Editors Picks and Science Fiction and Fantasy) * CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY * BOOKPAGE * AUTOSTRADDLE A world divided. A queendom without an heir. An ancient enemy awakens. The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction--but assassins are getting closer to her door. Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic. Across the dark sea, Tané has trained all her life to be a dragonrider, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel. Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep.
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Why this book Drayfus
Eight hundred pages and four continents, with two religions that can't both be right about dragons. This is the far end of what I mean by the fantasy half being real. Ead and Sabran are a slow thread through all of it, and they earn the room they take.
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Daughter of the forest
Juliet Marillier · 2000
A magnificent saga set in the Celtic twilight of 10th century Ireland, when myth was law and magic was a power of nature, brilliantly brought to life: the legendary story of an evil stepmother opposed by a seventh child. Lord Colum of Sevenwaters is blessed with seven children: Liam, a natural leader; Diarmid with his passion for adventure; twins Cormack and Conor each with a different calling; rebellious Finbar made old before his time by the gift of Sight; and the young compassionate Padriac. But it is Sorcha, the seventh child and only daughter, whose birth was the cause of their mother's death, who alone is destined to defend her family and protect her land from the invading Britons and the clan known as Northwoods. For Lord Colum has been bewitched by the sensuous and malevolent Lady Oonagh - and Sorcha's six brothers are bound by a spell that only Sorcha can lift. Exiled from Sevenwaters and cast out into the forest and beyond, Sorcha falls into the hands of the enemy. She finds herself torn between the life she has always known and a love that comes only once. And still she must work to lift the spell that has turned her brothers into six vulnerable swans. This is an old Celtic legend in its own right, here brilliantly evoked and brought to life. All of the brothers are beautifully delineated characters, and Sorcha has a unique inner strength that drives the narrative to a startling series of endings. Like Marion Zimmer Bradley's MISTS OF AVALON or Jean Auel's CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR, this is first-rate historical fantasy that can have the widest possible appeal, taking in also the readership of historical fiction writers like Mary Stewart (THE CRYSTAL CAVE), Mary Renault (THE PERSIAN BOY) and Anya Seton (AVALON).
Why this book Drayfus
The curse comes with terms you can count. Six shirts of nettle, and not one word until they're finished. That's the engine of the whole book. The love story works because she can't speak, so every bit of it happens without the conversation that would fix it.
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Hurricane Wars
Thea Guanzon · 2023
THE TOP 5 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING ENEMIES-TO LOVERS FANTASY THAT WILL TAKE THE WORLD BY STORM 'I physically could not stop reading! Mark my words: lives will be changed by The Hurricane Wars trilogy' Ali Hazelwood, author of THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS 'One of my favourite books of this year!' Katee Robert, author of NEON GODS ONE LONE LIGHT WILL STAND AGAINST AN EMPIRE Light wars against darkness. All Talasyn has ever known are the Hurricane Wars. She uses the power of light to fight for her people against the Night Empire. Enemies forced into marriage. All Alaric has ever known is darkness. He wields terrifying shadow magic to crush those who stand in his way. But the moment Talasyn and Alaric clash their lives are changed forever. A storm is coming... Tropes: Enemies to lovers ❤️🔥 Betrayal 🔪 Yearning 🥀 Marriage of convenience 💍 Slow burn romance 🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️ Reader reviews: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'A true enemies to lovers fantasy with the right amount of tension, action, and romance!' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'I loved every single minute of this book ' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'Fans of Fourth Wing and ACOTAR this one's for you' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'delivers on all the hype surrounding it'
Why this book Drayfus
It opens on a battlefield her side is losing, and the war never stops being the point. Light against shadow, two magic systems built to cancel each other out. The forced marriage is real romantasy, and it's still the second thing driving the plot.
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Fate Inked in Blood
Danielle L. Jensen · 2024
A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king—while also fighting her growing desire for his fiery son—in the first book of a Norse-inspired fantasy romance series from the bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom series. Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husband’s back. Freya’s dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the region’s jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son, Bjorn. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret: She possesses a drop of a goddess’s blood, which makes her a shield maiden with magic capable of repelling any attack. It was foretold such a magic would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath the one who controls the shield maiden’s fate. Believing he’s destined to rule Skaland as king, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders Bjorn to protect her from their enemies. Desperate to prove her strength, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods. The greatest test of all, however, may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If Freya succumbs to her lust for the charming and fierce warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect.
Why this book Drayfus
Norse gods who hand out specific, inconvenient powers, and a prophecy being used as a political weapon by everyone holding a sword. Freya is a bargaining chip before she is a love interest, and the book keeps track of the difference.
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Kushiel's dart
Jacqueline Carey · 2002
Sold into servitude in the Night Court as a child, Phedre no Delaunay is a woman who struggles for honour and duty, whose loyalty to the land she loves will take her to the edge of despair, and beyond."
Why this book Drayfus
An invented theology, and a betrayal plot that would carry a spy novel on its own. Phedre's desire isn't a subplot, it's her magic and her job. Written in 2001, before anyone had the word for it, and still more romantasy than most of what carries the label.
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A Marvellous Light
Freya Marske · 2021
Set in an alternative Edwardian England, this is a comedy of manners, manor houses, and hedge mazes - including a magic-infused murder mystery and a delightful queer romance. 'Lush historical fantasy . . . A delightful book, with richly developed characters' - New York Times 'Mystery! Magic! Murder! . . . This book is a confection, both marvellous and light' - Alix E. Harrow, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of JanuaryFor fans of Georgette Heyer or Julia Quinn's Bridgerton, who'd like to welcome magic into their lives . . . Young baronet Robin Blyth thought he was taking up a minor governmental post. However, he's actually been appointed parliamentary liaison to a secret magical society. If it weren't for this administrative error, he'd never have discovered the incredible magic underlying his world. Cursed by mysterious attackers and plagued by visions, Robin becomes determined to drag answers from his missing predecessor - but he'll need the help of Edwin Courcey, his hostile magical-society counterpart. Unwillingly thrown together, Robin and Edwin will discover a plot that threatens every magician in the British Isles.The Binding meets Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell in debut author Freya Marske's A Marvellous Light.'A dazzling debut' - Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the Sun'Prepare to fall in love with the gorgeous Edwardian setting, the sizzling character dynamics, and the murderous enchanted hedge maze' - Emily Tesh, author of Silver in the Wood'An absolute delight . . . If you ever wished Downton Abbey was sharper-edged and full of magic, this is the book for you' - Kat Howard, author of An Unkindness of Magicians
Why this book Drayfus
Edwardian magic with paperwork, and a curse that is physically eating one of them while a conspiracy plot runs underneath. The mystery walks on its own legs across three books. Robin and Edwin are explicit and central, and nothing slows down for them.