Best Romantic Fantasy Books

Romance in fantasy is a common theme. But what differentiates romantic fantasy books as a subgenre is how romance is a major part of the plot and the complexity of the relationships between characters.

There are a lot of bodice rippers masquerading as fantasy, but I've picked books that are a few leaps and bounds above that sort of fluff fantasy.

All the novels/series on this list incorporate realistic romantic plots, strongly realized male and female protagonists, gripping plots, and very well crafted worlds. Basically, the best fantasy books out there with a strong romantic inclination.

For more info about the Romantic Fantasy subgenre, check our A Guide to Romantic Fantasy.

Also make sure you check out our new-ish (still in beta) romance sister site for PURE romance book recommendations, check out the site over here:  Best Romance Books.

This list will appeal to both men and women, though I suspect most of the books will be more appealing to woman than men. Some of you may want to check out the Top 25 Fantasy Books for Women, which is a related list with a slightly different selection (not just romance-based novels).