Hello, enchanting readers and dreamers of magical worlds! Are you ready to go on a journey where the lines between fantasy and romance blur into a tapestry of adventure, magic, and heart-fluttering moments? If you’ve been spellbound by tales of young love set against the backdrop of fantastical realms, then you’re in the perfect place.
We’re diving into the mesmerizing universe of YA Fantasy Romance Books, where dragons soar, spells bind hearts, and every turn of the page brings you closer to your next fictional crush. From star-crossed lovers to quests that unite souls, we’ve curated a list of stories that promise to whisk you away to worlds where love knows no bounds. So, grab your enchanted cloaks and prepare to fall in love as we set off on an adventure to discover the magic of young adult fantasy romances that will leave your heart spellbound!
7 YA Fantasy Romance Books (Paranormal/Magical Love Story)
YA fantasy romance features intense and emotionally charged relationships between the protagonists. These books focus on the personal growth and development of the protagonists as they face the challenges of love, identity, and destiny.
Many feature strong, independent, empowered female protagonists who defy stereotypes and challenge traditional gender roles. These heroines are resourceful, courageous, and determined, serving as role models for readers and inspiring them to accept their strength and resilience.
Here are seven YA fantasy romance books that typically feature rich and immersive world-building, where magic and mythical creatures coexist with human characters. Let’s talk!
| Name | Key Focus | Rating (Goodreads) |
|---|---|---|
| Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger | A mind-reader girl finds another mind-reader boy, and they form a relationship. | 4.4/5 |
| Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller | A pirate kidnaps a girl for a mission, and their adventure develops more feelings. | 4/5 |
| Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi | A girl has the magical power to kill anyone by touch and struggles with it. | 3.9/5 |
| The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen | A girl has to marry a King for a mission, but they form something unexpected. | 4/5 |
| Entreat Me by Grace Draven | A father and son deal with a curse, and a woman falls in love with the son. | 4.1/5 |
| Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas | An assassin girl fights for a championship. | 4.1/5 |
| The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni | A prison healer tries to save a kingdom and forms a romantic relationship. | 4.2/5 |
1. Keeper of the Lost Cities
Keeper of the Lost Cities YA magical fantasy romance series, which won the California Young Readers Medal for Middle School/Junior High. The main character, Sophie, can read minds, and she thinks she is the only person ever to be able to read minds until she’s on a field trip with her class. Here, she meets another boy who can read minds also. He whisks her into a magical world where she discovers that everything she knows isn’t everything to know. That’s the best way to describe it.
The whole series has so much heart, magical powers, adorable names, and cute little romances, but it also has a layered plot. If you haven’t read the series yet, pick up the annotated copy because that will include annotations from the author and illustrations. I recommend it to everyone who wants an adventure with magic and romance.
Author: Shannon Messenger
Narrator: Caitlin Kelly
Publisher: Audible Studios
Tropes: Adventure, Magic, Love-triangles, Sci-fi, Mystery
Number Of Pages: 496
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD
2. Daughter of the Pirate King
Daughter of the Pirate King is an excellent series to get you into the fantasy world that achieved Evergreen Teen Book Award Nominee. If you grew up or loved Pirates of the Caribbean, you will love it. Our heroine, Alosa, allows herself to be captured by pirates and taken aboard their pirate ship. She let it happen because she had a secret task. She is trying to get a pirate map aboard the pirate ship because we learn there is the best banter in the duology.
Also, it’s so light and fast-paced you will burn through the entire duology. There’s a little bit of romance which is rememberable. The storyline, plot, dialogues, narration, characters, and world-building are excellent for enjoying a fantasy romance. From the first page, the story makes you interested, and cliffhanger to read the last page. So, please take it.
Author: Tricia Levenseller
Narrator: Marisa Calin
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Tropes: Slow-burn, Enemies-to-lovers, Fairytale-retelling, Dark
Number Of Pages: 311
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle
3. Shatter Me
Shatter Me is a dystopian fantasy love story for young adults, which won the Arab American Book Award Nominee for Children’s/Young Adults. It’s a very good segway into this genre. Our main character, Juliet, can’t touch anyone without potentially killing or hurting them in a major way. The re-establishment takes her, and she’s put into an asylum where she can’t hurt anyone. One day, she wakes up, and someone is in her cell. The whole series is so good to get you into fantasy magic.
The author gets you into ships, and if you need to learn what ships are, that’s when you want people to characters to be other. So you’re going to have some ships in this series. I acknowledge that writing isn’t for everyone, but I think it is addictive. The character growth is excellent. You will want to read all of it. There are six main books and then novellas in between. All the books have their purpose and different fantasy elements, making the series trending on BookTok.
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Narrator: Kate Simses
Publisher: HarperAudio
Tropes: Dystopian, Love-geometry, Superheroes
Number Of Pages: 338
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Mass Market Paperback
4. The Bridge Kingdom
The Bridge Kingdom is a young adult fantasy romance series and the first book’s title. Our heroine (Lara) has been training with all her sisters since birth to be a spy to infiltrate the rival kingdom. It’s because they’ve been promised a wife from their realm to the leader of the other kingdom who owns the bridge. So Lara is the one chosen to marry King Aren.
From the start, it’s her goal to take him down and kill him. But she starts learning things and falling for him, which is a slow burn. There’s one moment when he thinks he’s sleeping, and nothing happens in 200 pages. They like each other but don’t want to because they’re rivals and married from the beginning. We have a marriage of convenience, and there’s a cliffhanger at the end. Moreover, there’s a lot of political intrigue and connections with people. If you love a strong female lead, then pick it.
Author: Danielle L. Jensen
Narrator: Lauren Fortgang, James Patrick Cronin
Publisher: Audible Originals
Tropes: Arranged marriage, Action, Politics
Number Of Pages: 356
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD
5. Entreat Me
Entreat Me is a YA paranormal steamy romance with fairy tales that won the RT Award. It is a friend-to-lover and slow-burn standalone love story. I found similarities with Beauty and the Beast retelling, but it’s unique. In the beginning, we get to see a father and a son. They’re both cursed, and it’s in cycles where it hits them, and they become beasts and want to kill everybody around them. Our heroine’s (Louvean) sister is in love with the hero’s son. That draws them together because her father is in debt to someone and to pay it off.
So they go to their kingdom, and Louvean goes with her sister, where she falls in love with her dad. Louvean is a widow, so she’s already lost someone. Her husband died from an illness. They fell for each other physically first, and they had great chemistry. But there’s a lot of complexity to the curse.
I listened to the audiobook and would recommend this one from the same author next time. I found some quality issues with the hardcover, but the paperback is good enough for font size, color, cover, binding, and page quality.
Author: Grace Draven
Narrator: Stacey Holmes
Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC
Tropes: Horror, Arc, Witches-wizards, Strong-woman, Possessive-hero
Number Of Pages: 323
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
6. Throne of Glass
Throne of Glass is an epic fantasy romance, dystopian, and mystery series for young adults. The series is quintessential YA fantasy, which is so fun. The first book follows Celaena, who is an assassin. She is put into a harsh jail where she is left there to die because of her crimes. One day, she’s pulled from her jail duty tasks and thrown into a room with the prince and the captain of the guard.
One day, the king hosts a competition to find the King’s champion. So Celaena competes in the games esque to be the champion. There is fantasy and romance, which are so exciting. We are growing with Sarah J. Mass throughout the series. The audiobooks are fantastic to listen to at any moment, especially at night. I want to reread this so that I can continue on the series. I recommend this if you’re a beginner or new to fantasy romance.
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Narrator: Elizabeth Evans
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Tropes: Mystery, Demons, Royals, Fae
Number Of Pages: 406
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Flexibound
7. The Prison Healer
The Prison Healer is a high fantasy and dark YA romance. I love the series with my entire being. The story follows Kiva, who is sent wrongfully to prison, and she happens to have a natural knack for healing. So, she becomes the prison healer. One day, the rebel queen was captured and brought to jail, which is a big deal. She is tasked with keeping the girl alive.
The queen has to compete in these trials so she can live. So it’s bananas characters in these books that are straight-up wholesome. Before the series, I have never cared so much about the characters’ well-being in a book. I love Kiva for being a YA female lead and fierce.
The worldbuilding and magical elements are engaging, and the slow-burn angsty romance makes the story more lovable. I recommend the audiobook after the main book. This helps you to feel and enjoy the mystical vibes and magical background.
Author: Lynette Noni
Narrator: Jeanette Illidge
Publisher: HMH Young Readers Audio
Tropes: Arc, Mental health, Family
Number Of Pages: 416
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD
More Young Adult Fantasy Romance Novels You Might Love:
The Selection by Kiera Cass: This series takes place in a dystopian future where girls compete for the prince’s heart and have a chance to become the next queen. The story follows America Singer, who falls in love unexpectedly.
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo: The story follows Alina Starkov, a young orphan. She discovers her latent magical abilities and is thrust into a world of power. So, she struggles to control her newfound powers and face the dangerous politics of the kingdom.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black: This first book in The Folk of the Air series tells the story of Jude. She is a mortal girl raised in Faerie’s unsafe world after her parents are murdered. She struggles with her feelings for the cruel Prince Cardan and complex politics.
Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin: In this story, a young witch flees her coven and settles in Cesarine, where witches are hunted and forced into an arranged marriage with a witch hunter. She hides her true identity while struggling with growing feelings for her enemy-turned-husband.
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir: This novel is set in a brutal world inspired by Ancient Rome, where a slave seeks to free her brother from imprisonment by infiltrating the military academy as a spy. Meanwhile, a soldier dreams of escaping the oppressive regime. Their paths cross; together, they face difficult choices, dangerous adversaries, and a simmering romance.
5 Enemies To Lovers YA Fantasy Romance Books
- “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas
In this enthralling series opener, huntress Feyre Archeron kills a wolf in the woods, only to be captured and taken to the magical land of Prythian by a faerie lord named Tamlin. Initially hostile and distrustful, Feyre’s feelings for Tamlin transform as she learns about the curse that looms over Prythian. Maas skillfully weaves a tale of danger, magic, and romance, where love must overcome curses and the prejudices of two worlds.
- “Serpent & Dove” by Shelby Mahurin
Set in a world where witches are hunted by the Church, “Serpent & Dove” follows Lou, a witch hiding in plain sight, and Reid, a witch hunter bound to the Church. Their lives are intertwined when a twist of fate forces them into a marriage neither of them wants. Mahurin crafts a captivating story of survival, secrets, and the unexpected paths to love, marked by witty banter and a slow-burning romance.
- “The Wrath & the Dawn” by Renée Ahdieh
Inspired by “The Arabian Nights,” this novel introduces Shahrzad, who volunteers to marry Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan, known for taking a new bride each night, only to have her executed at dawn. Shahrzad plans to avenge her best friend’s death, but her mission becomes complicated as she finds herself falling for the very man she intended to kill. Ahdieh delivers a lush, magical tale of betrayal, revenge, and the redemptive power of love.
- “An Ember in the Ashes” by Sabaa Tahir
In a brutal world inspired by ancient Rome, Laia, a slave, and Elias, a soldier serving the empire, find their destinies intertwined. Both are enemies by circumstance, fighting on opposite sides of a war that consumes their world. As they face their roles and the oppressive regime seeking to control them, they discover that their greatest strength may lie in each other. Tahir’s narrative is filled with action, intrigue, and a complex exploration of loyalty and love.
- “To Kill a Kingdom” by Alexandra Christo
This standalone novel is a dark twist on “The Little Mermaid.” Lira, a siren princess, and Elian, a siren-hunting prince, are natural enemies in a world where both are legends in their own right. When a twist of fate forces Lira to become human, she must win Elian’s trust to achieve her goals. Christo weaves a tale of adventure, deceit, and love, exploring what happens when the line between hunter and hunted blurs.
5 Ya Fantasy Romance Series
- “The Folk of the Air” by Holly Black
Starting with: “The Cruel Prince”
Overview: This series introduces Jude, a mortal girl living in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Jude desires power and belonging in this dangerous world despite her mortal status. Her ambitions draw her into the palace intrigues and battles for power, including her complex and evolving relationship with the wicked prince, Cardan. Holly Black masterfully weaves a tale of deception, political intrigue, and unexpected love.
- “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas
Starting with: “A Court of Thorns and Roses”
Overview: After murdering a faerie wolf in the woods, Feyre Archeron is dragged to the magical kingdom for retribution. She discovers that her captor, Tamlin, is not only one of the lethal, immortal faeries but also the lord of the Spring Court. What unfolds is a story of curses, ancient evil, and a love that transcends lifetimes. Maas’s series shows rich world-building, complex characters, and steamy romance.
- “Shadow and Bone” by Leigh Bardugo
Starting with: “Shadow and Bone”
Overview: Alina Starkov, a soldier in the war-torn land of Ravka, discovers she has a power that could be the key to setting her country free from the darkness of the Shadow Fold. As she trains with the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling, Alina uncovers secrets about her past and the true nature of her power. Bardugo’s series is a captivating mix of magic, mystery, and romance set against the backdrop of a richly imagined world.
- “The Selection” by Kiera Cass
Starting with: “The Selection”
Overview: America Singer is one of thirty-five girls chosen to compete in the Selection—a chance to escape the life laid out for them since birth and live in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. But being with Prince Maxon means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, a caste below her. “The Selection” is a tale of societal divisions, royal intrigue, and the discovery of true love.
- “The Wrath & the Dawn” by Renée Ahdieh
Starting with: “The Wrath & the Dawn”
Overview: Inspired by “A Thousand and One Nights,” this series follows Shahrzad, who volunteers to marry Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan, known for killing his brides at dawn. Vowing to end his reign of terror, Shahrzad discovers that not all is as it seems within the palace walls, including the truth about Khalid’s heart. Ahdieh weaves a spellbinding story of love, revenge, and the choices that define us.
We hope this adventure has warmed your heart and shelves with new worlds to explore. Each story we’ve ventured through offers its unique blend of magic, mystery, and the timeless quest for love, reminding us that even in the most unbelievable of worlds, the heart’s desires remain universal.
As you set these books down and look towards your next adventure, remember that the magic of reading is never-ending. There are always more quests to undertake, more spells to cast, and more love to discover. So, keep your maps unfolded and your compass pointed toward the next horizon, for the world of YA Fantasy Romance is vast and filled with endless possibilities. Until our next enchanting journey, happy reading, and may your dreams be filled with the magic of love and adventure!
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