Introduction
First of all, I need to apologise to all of you. I’m going to trigger your next obsession , the one you didn’t know you needed. Fantasy romances with the same vibes as Pursuit of Jade.
Pursuit of Jade is a new C-drama (like Korean dramas, but Chinese) that is literally blowing up the internet as I write this.
Ā
If there were a romantasy book made into a series, Pursuit of Jade would be it.
Ā
And after watching it, I NEEDED fantasy romances that made me feel the same yearning and tension.
Without further ado, let’s get into the post!
Fantasy Romances Books ith Tropes like Pursuit of Jade
Table of Contents
Click the links to jump to the section in the post you're more interested in.š
DISCLAIMER
All the contents of this blog , from curated book lists tu text and opinions are generated enterely by an human ( me! Alessa šĀ
Pursuit of Jade: What You Need to Know
Pursuit of Jade is a new Chinese drama that premiered in March 2026 and is taking the internet by storm.
Chinese television is famous for historical dramas with settings to die for and costumes so real you feel transported there , they make productions like Game of Thrones look low budget.
Ā
C-dramas have always been there, but something special happened with Pursuit of Jade. And here’s why it exploded outside of China this time.
The Story Feels Like a Fantasy Romance Book Made Into a Series
Pursuit of Jade follows a girl whose parents are killed by bandits, forcing her to provide for her little sister by working in her father’s trade , a butcher. She is fierce, street-smart, and the furthest thing from a pick-me girl you will find in any western production.
Ā
One day, on her way home, she finds a man buried and wounded in the snow, almost dead. She rescues him and brings him home to nurse him back to health.
You can probably see where this is going. hehe
Ā
And yes , we have ALL the tropes we love and more. Hidden identities, he falls first and harder, protective MMC, ARRANGED MARRIAGE, and the slowest of slow burns. Done so well it hurts.
Why Is the Internet Obsessed With Pursuit of Jade?
It really is a combination of things. The story appeals to the female gaze: everything we love in romantasy books is packed into this 40-episode series. YES. SORRY. BYE BYE PRODUCTIVITY FOR THE NEXT WEEK.
Ā
The slow burn, the yearning, the tension , they are the real protagonists here. Honestly, it has been a long time since I watched something that captured so well what we all look for in a love story.
Western productions are so empty of this… selling us the muscular gym bro with zero personality as the romantic ideal.
Ā
Meanwhile, China just took over the world with the exact opposite.
Ā
Which brings us to the other reason this production went viral.
Xie Zheng from Pursuit of Jade or How to Write a Male Character for Television
Meet your new obsession. If you haven’t seen his TikTok with the walk , please, be my guest.
Ā
Zhang Linghe’s popularity has crossed borders. He is the male lead of Pursuit of Jade and even in China people complained he was too handsome for a medieval series. On the western side of the planet,Ā we are not complaining. At all.
Ā
But a pretty face doesn’t carry a series. What makes his character so compelling ( beyond the glorious long hair and the looks ) is his personality. Watching this feels like reading an 800-page fantasy romance where you know the next book isn’t coming until next year.
Xie Zheng hides his real identity from Fan Changyu. He appears self-controlled and stoic , but melts around her. He is so aware of her when she is near and the shots make you notice it. A hand. A glance. The camera freezes for seconds. ARGHHH.
Ā
Picture that for 40 episodes. Welcome to your next obsession.
So Here Is What Is Going to Happen to You
If you already watched Pursuit of Jade:
Ā
I’ve got you. You need a fantasy romance that makes you feel the same way. You want princes who fall in love with a common girl, arranged marriages, and a hero so devotedly in love with her he falls first , inevitably. All of this packed into 800 pages or a 3-book series where he finally kisses her in the third book. haha xD
Ā
If you haven’t watched Pursuit of Jade: here is what you need to do:
Ā
1. What are you doing here? GO watch the Series on Netflix NOW haha xD
2. Watch 3 episodes. Confirm obsession.
3. Come back here complaining why this man is not real and desperately needing books with the same vibe to add to your TBR.
4-. Rinse and RepeatĀ
Slow Burn Fantasy Romances that Physically Hurt Like Pursuit of Jade
Pursuit of Jade is THE definition of slow burn that hurts. One glance and you are already off the sofa and when they actually touch or look at each other? IT HITS HARD.
Ā
If you are looking for that EXACT feeling, check out these fantasy romances I curated for you.
This Woven Kingdom
A servant girl and a prince who falls in love with her, not knowing she is the prophesied queen destined to destroy his kingdom.
THE definition of slow burn. Four books of pure cosmic yearning.
No man has ever yearned for a woman the way he does.
The Bone Season
She has forbidden powers. The Crown arrests her and assigns her a keeper to train her as their weapon..
Perfect for when you want to punish yourself with a painfully SLOW slow burn with forbidden keeper-trainee romance.
This is the heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Tormented and Devoted Heroes Like Xie Zheng from Pursuit of Jade
Xie Zheng is torn between his duty and his feelings for a girl of the lowest social class.
And when he agrees to marry her, he happily accepts a ruzhui marriage taking her surname instead of his own.
In ancient China, this meant voluntarily giving up your name and status for her.
Social suicide.
A bigger deal than anything in western medieval tradition. This is HUGE.
Ā
These fantasy romances have that exact same vibe. Heroes so devoted they will go to war, die, and resurrect again just to be with the heroine.
The Prision Healer
She is in a prision, he tries to protect her.
THE definition of slow burn. Four books of pure cosmic yearning.
No man has ever yearned for a woman the way he does..
Roman Kitt from Divine Rivals
Iris and Roman work together and she can't stand him. Iris's letters to her brother magically end up in his hands. He starts answering them as her secret friend without revealing his identity. He falls first. Of course..
Sweet, devoted and tormented by his feelings. Roman Kitt loves in silence like Yan Zheng and would die a thousand times for her. What a book.
Jinshi from the Apotechary Diaries
She is the court's poison taster. He is not who he says he is, and is completely fascinated by her..
Jinshi is SO similar to Xie Zheng it hurts. Both hide who they really are. Jinshi is divided between his rank and his feelings. A tormented and devoted hero who yearns for the heroine in the shadows. I love these two.
Hidden Identities Like Pursuit of Jade: He Is the One Hiding Who He Really Is
90% of hidden identities fantasy romances portrait HER as the one going undercover and hiding who she really is.
Bleh.
Ā
Here is the real deal. Fantasy romances with the exact same trope as Pursuit of Jade. The one hiding his real identity is HIM , and he is of very high rank. He cares for her but knows that if he reveals who he really is, everything is over. (SCREAMS IN FANGIRL MODE)
The Kiss of Deception
Princess Lia's parents arrange a marriage with a man she has never met. She flees on her wedding day and meets two strangers ā an assassin and the prince she left at the altar...
This one has everything. Hidden identities, arranged marriage, and a quiet but overly protective love interest. Please avoid spoilers at all costs for this one. Once you finish it, you will understand why.
The Winner's Curse
She is the daughter of a high-ranking general and buys a boy as a slave at an auction..
One of my favourites. Hidden identities, fierce heroine with ZERO pick-me vibes. And Arin , he HATES everything she represents but can't help falling in love with her. (DIES)
The Serpent & the Wings of Night
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Arranged Marriage With Forced Proximity Just Like Pursuit of Jade
The Poison Daughter
He is her betrothed, immune to her powers, and knows she is an assassin. She needs him to fall in love with her to survive and protect her family..
For all the girls who like a bit of spice in the mix. This one has banter, spice and arranged marriage. With forced proximity of course , he kidnaps her. Nice guy, innit?
The Bridge Kingdom
Lara marries the king of the enemy kingdom with a hidden agenda : kill him. They both hate each other. At first.
Putting it here because everybody and their mum loves this one. And it is THE political arranged marriage by excellence of the last 5 years ā or more. Not my favourite, but trying to be neutral here. š
The Kiss of Deception
Princess Lia's parents arrange a marriage with a man she has never met. She flees on her wedding day and meets two strangers ā an assassin and the prince she left at the altar...
This one has everything. Hidden identities, arranged marriage, and a quiet but overly protective love interest. Please avoid spoilers at all costs for this one. Once you finish it, you will understand why.
2026 Fantasy Romance Releases
Fierce Heroines Who Aren't Pick-Me Girls Like Fan Changyu from Pursuit of Jade
This is the heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
This is the heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
This is the heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
More Fantasy Romances with Princes falling in love with a common girl
Jealous and possessive alpha male with a heart of gold
Read the Blurb
Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she’s struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can’t seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.
The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre’s Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta’s orbit. But her temper isn’t the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.
Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.
Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance – and healing – in each other’s arms.
Best Quotes
“You looked like a queen , and it was painfully obvious that you should be with a princeling like Eris and not a low-born nothing like me! Because I couldnāt stand the sight of it, right down to my gods-damned bones! But go ahead, Nesta. Go ahead and fucking marry him and good fucking luck to you!:
Ā
You are everything I have never been and will never be good enough for. … I do not deserve you, and I never, ever will (Nesta)
Ā
“Iāll be with you every step of the way. Just donāt lock me out.”
I used to hate Cassian. But with time and a reread, I now love his personality and how protective he was with Nesta all along.
Ā
I put him under the jealous alpha male hero in fantasy romance books because, albeit he is utterly possessive, his actions are often driven by jealousy. Nesta dances with other Fae and KNOWS that being near other males makes him totally crazy. And well… it sure does.Ā
“I get a little too close and you shove me away again. Back to where it’s safe. Better to marry a viper like Eris than be with me.”
What I love about him though is his goofy personality. He is a total golden retriever who teases Nesta constantly and uses his larger physique to block her path or haul her up to face him when she’s trying to escape (spoiler: she doesn’t really want to, and she knows exactly how he’ll react.) Let’s just say she kind of enjoys his caveman behavior.Ā
Ā
Pick this one if you want a jealous alpha male with golden retriever energy who is also a fierce protector and delivers top tier banter. Bodyguard trope vibes x100.
Ā
A Court of Silver Flames is the 4th book in the ACOTAR Series. It follows a different couple than the previous 3 books and the novella, but you will lose a lot of context if you haven’t read the ones before. Trust me though, the payoff IS WORTH IT.
Final Thoughts: Fantasy Romances like Pursuit of Jade
This series is everything I love in a romance. Sadly, western productions are years away from understanding the female gaze and what we actually look for in this type of genre.
Ā
Luckily for us, we have romance and fantasy romance authors who are so many steps ahead , and they know their readers very well. We can trust their books and immerse ourselves in stories with the exact same vibe as Pursuit of Jade with full confidence.
Ā
Thank you to all those women who know that we love heroes who will tear a kingdom to pieces just for the heroine , and who are soft and devoted only to her. The world would be a gloomy place without all of you.,<3
My Top picks
Have you watched Pursuit of Jade? Let me know in the comments!
Like this post? Pin it for later!. Thank you!
