Introduction
Having a hard time finding new books to read this year? I’m here to help!
This is my curated list of the most anticipated fantasy romance new releases of the year.
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Each book on the list includes a detailed explanation of why you should read it, along with my expectations.
Some of these are the second book in a series, so if you haven’t read the first one yet, you’ve got even more to add to your TBR, yay!
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Iāll be updating this list periodically as I discover new releases, so stay tuned! (You can check when this post was last updated in the top left corner.)
2025 Fantasy Romance new releases that are must-reads
Table of Contents
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January 2025
Enemies to lovers and forced proximity, High fantasy
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The young heir to a mortal crown, Liyen ascends a precarious throne when her grandfather dies, vowing to end her kingdomās obligation to the immortals and take vengeance against those she feels responsible for his death. When she is summoned to the Immortal Realm, she seizes the opportunity to learn their secrets and to form a tenuous alliance to safeguard her people, all with the one she should fear and mistrust the most: the ruthless God of War. As they are drawn together, a treacherous attraction ignites between themāone she has to resist, to not endanger all she is fighting for.
Ā But with darker forces closing in around them, and her kingdom plunged into peril, Liyen must risk everything to save her people from an unspeakable fate, even if it means forging a dangerous bond with the immortalā¦ even if it means losing her heart.Ā
Why you should read it
From the author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess comes Immortal, an enemies to lovers, reluctant-allies tale with all the ingredients to become an instant bestseller. (Which, of course, it has!! by the time Iām writing this, it has already hit No. 1 on the Sunday Times bestseller list!)
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I need to read this.
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Youāll see a lot of āI need to read thisā phrases in this post because this list consists of my absolute must-read books of 2025. So yesā¦ this fairytale-like Chinese story is a non-negotiable must.
If you love epic fantasy, enjoy watching Chinese dramas based on mythology, and adore stories of humans falling in love with immortal enemies, please give this book a try!
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P.S. As of February, the special edition of Immortal is still available and can be purchased on Amazon!
Steampunk spicy romantasy, reluctant allies
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Hunt the fae. Cage the monsters. Guard the prison.
Aileana Kameron is no ordinary Victorian debutante. By day, she navigates the glittering society of 1844 Edinburgh. By night, she battles the deadly fae that threaten humanity. For centuries, her family has upheld a sacred duty: ensuring the ancient, magical prison beneath the city stays sealed.
But cracks are forming in the barrier. The monsters she once hunted now hunt her, and the fate of the world teeters on the edge. To stand a chance, Aileana must turn to Kiaran MacKay, a breathtakingly dangerous fae assassin whose dark past hides secrets as sharp as his blades.
Their alliance is as treacherous as it is intoxicating. Passion ignites between them, as fiery as the battles raging in Edinburgh’s streets. But every choice comes with a cost, and as the death toll rises, Aileana is forced to confront a harrowing question:
How far is she willing to go to save her city, her loved ones – and herself?
Because if she fails, the fae will break free. And once they do, nothing will stop their vengeance.
Why you should read it
The Falconer is a classic Young Adult fantasy romance series, now reimagined for an adult audience. This rewritten fantasy steampunk tale follows our heroine, Aileana Kameron -a proper Victorian lady by day and a ruthless fae assassin by night- who must form an alliance with a dangerous fae assassin to battle the new monsters threatening her world.
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A perfect read for romantasy fans who love their fantasy romance with a bit more spice!
More Books like this The Falconer Series:
High fantasy with dragons, rivals to lovers
Read the Blurb
After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows thereās no more time for lessons. No more time for uncertainty.
Because the battle has truly begun, and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, itās impossible to know who to trust.
Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she lovesāher dragons, her family, her home, andĀ him.
Even if it means keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything.
They need an army. They need power. They needĀ magic. And they need the one thing only Violet can findāthe truth.
But a storm is coming…and not everyone can survive its wrath.
Why you should read it
One of the juggernauts of 2025, Onyx Storm is theĀ third book in the Empyrean series, but not the last.
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The Fourth Wing series (as most readers like to call it) is a five-book saga, and in this instalment, weāll finally discover what happened to Xaden after the intense cliffhanger in Iron Flame.
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Plus, the stakes have risen significantly since the first two books. The story now expands to the entirety of Navarre, where a new enemy has already demonstrated his strength, and the very real possibility of conquering the continent.
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Curious to know more? Read my complete Onyx Storm guide here.
Fourth Wing related posts
February 2025
Low stakes cosy fantasy with a grumpy heroine and a cinnamon roll love interest
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Emily Wilde has spent her life studying faeries. A renowned dryadologist, she has documented hundreds of species of Folk in herĀ Encyclopaedia of Faeries. Now she is about to embark on her most dangerous academic project yet: studying the inner workings of a faerie realmāas its queen.
Along with her former academic rivalānow fiancĆ©āthe dashing and mercurial Wendell Bambleby, Emily is immediately thrust into the deadly intrigues of Faerie as the two of them seize the throne of Wendellās long-lost kingdom, which Emily finds a beautiful nightmare filled with scholarly treasures.
Emily has been obsessed with faerie stories her entire life, but at first she feels as ill-suited to Faerie as she did to the mortal world: How can an unassuming scholar such as herself pass for a queen? Yet there is little time to settle in, for Wendellās murderous stepmother has placed a deadly curse upon the land before vanishing without a trace. It will take all of Wendellās magicāand Emilyās knowledge of storiesāto unravel the mystery before they lose everything they hold dear.
Why you should read it
My favourite cosy fantasy romance series by far! If you need a break from heroines trying to save the world, this is the perfect series for you.
Thereās already an in-depth review of the first two books on this blog if you need a little encouragement (hehe).
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This is a reverse grumpy-sunshine romance where she is a very nerdy and grumpy professor, while the love interest has an adorable golden-retriever personalityā¦ but he truly transforms when someone dares to threaten Emily. Letās just say he has a wicked side as well.
I love the dynamic between these two and cannot wait to read this final book in the trilogy. Again
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MUST READ, in all caps!
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Double POV, rivals to lovers with fae
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United by war.
Betrayed by destiny.
Cursed by love.
Yeeran was born for war but is unprepared for love. She has left her new lover, the Queen of the fae, to return to her homeland, only to find that her former lover now threatens war against the fae.Ā Ā Ā
Left behind, her sister Lettle is determined to break the curse that binds the fae to their realm. When a stranger appears in the city, Lettle is convinced heās the key. But the Fates that once spoke to her have fallen silent.
Can Lettle and Yeeran discover the secret behind the curseāand unite these two worlds before they destroy each other?
Why you should read it
The first book in this series was a Goodreads Choice Award nominee and took the fantasy romance community by storm.
Two sisters, two POVs, fae, rivals to lovers, and gender-diverse characters. What more could you ask for?
Cursebound is the second and final book in this duology and an absolute must-read if you love fae!
March 2025
Star crossed lovers and past lives
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The Invisible Life of Addie LaRueĀ meetsĀ This is How You Lose The Time WarĀ in this fantastical love story that defies death as two souls reincarnate through the centuries.
They’ve loved each other in a thousand lifetimes. They’ve killed each other in every one.
Evelyn can remember all her past lives. She can also remember that in every single one, sheās been murdered before her eighteenth birthday by Arden, a supernatural being linked to her soul. The problem is that sheās quite fond of the life sheās in now, and her little sister needs her in order to stay alive. If Evelyn wants to save her sister, sheāll have to find the centuries-old devil who hunts her through each life before they find her first, figure out why sheās being hunted and finally break their curse, and try not to fall in love . . . again.
Why you should read it
Oh my god, I need this book right now!
This past month, Iāve really been craving a story like The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, star-crossed lovers, past lives, and the devil in love with the heroineā¦
Then I stumbled upon this title and was about to buy it immediatelyā¦until I realised itās not out until March! T_T
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But I can waitā¦ especially if thereās a special edition with gilded sprayed edges and that absolutely gorgeous cover!
Looking for similar reads? Check these out!
The Cruel Prince meets Kingdom of the Wicked but with vampires and witches
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Bly won the Revenant Games, but she lost everything else.
In her desperation to resurrect her sister, Bly betrayed Kerrigan, the vampire who sheād planned to sacrifice to the witches before she fell in love with himāonly to find out that Elise was never dead. With nothing left, Bly will do whatever it takes to locate her sister.
Her only lead on Elise lies with Kerriganās brother, Donovan, who she turned over to the witches in place of Kerrigan. She spends her nights tracking down witch prisons to rescue him. Meanwhile, Kerrigan is also searching for Donovan, but after Blyās treachery, he refuses her help.
Why you should read it
The last book in this exciting duology!
I wrote an extensive review of book one, which you can find on this blog as well.
Featuring vampires, witches, and an adventure-filled story, this book is a mix between The Cruel Prince and Kingdom of the Wicked but with vampires.
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I totally recommend it if you love cosy fantasies with strong heroines who prefer wearing dresses instead of trousers. š
In depth-review of the first book
April 2025
Over the top banter. Enemies to lovers
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Paedyn and Kai are reunited but face a terrible decision in this thrilling conclusion to theĀ New York TimesĀ bestselling romantic fantasy trilogy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas andĀ The Red Queen.
Paedyn Gray and Kai Azer return to the Kingdom of Ilyaā¦
And Paedyn has a life-altering choice to make. Whatever she decides will determine her fateāand the fate of those around herāforever.
In the ultimate battle of love and loyalty, who wins?
Why you should read it
What can I say about this series that I havenāt said beforeā¦?
Itās certainly a polarising one: you either love it or hate it. Luckily for me, Iām in the love it camp (though Iāve definitely been on the this isnāt my cup of tea side with other books before).
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I love the banter in this series and how it doesnāt try to be anything more than it is: a fantasy romance the likes of the The Cruel Prince, filled with well-known tropes in a fantasy setting.
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But hereās the thing: when a book does things right, it doesnāt matter if the tropes or story feel familiar..you still get attached to the characters and inmersed in the journey.
In depth-review of the first book
Enemies to lovers?? Cat and mouse dinamic
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James Anderson had a plan.Ā Or half of one. All that matters is that he managed to do what his older brother, the famous Aaron Warner Anderson, never did: infiltrate Ark Island, the last refuge of The Reestablishment. In the past decade no outsider has breached the stronghold of the authoritarian regime, but James isĀ in. In a prison cell, sure, but as far as James is concerned, a win is a win.
Itās been ten years since the fall of The Reestablishment. Ten years since the notorious duoāJuliette Ferrars and Aaron Warner Andersonāled a worldwide rebellion and established the New Republic of the West. But after a decade of unsettling quiet, The Reestablishment is ready to make a devastating move, and they have the perfect person for the job.
Rosabelle Wolff had a plan.Ā She always has a plan. On Ark Island, where constant surveillance is packaged as security, even emotions must be experienced with caution. A trained assassin, her every movement is monitored by synthetic intelligenceāand when sheās given an order to kill, she never hesitates.
Brimming with pulse-pounding action and torturous romance,Ā Watch MeĀ is an explosiveĀ journey through a dystopian landscape where enemies-to-lovers has never felt moreĀ impossible. Step into a beloved and breathtaking world that demands an answer to a desperate questionā
Who are we when no one is watching?
Why you should read it
Watch Me is a spin-off continuation of the Shatter Me series.
The author has stated that you donāt need to have read the original series to understand this new spin-off, so new readers of this franchise can read this new installment without any worries.
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The book follows James Warner (brother of Aaron, the love interest in Shatter Me) and Rosabelle Wolff. It seems to be a cat-and-mouse story with strong enemies-to-lovers vibes. This is a dystopian fantasy (not fantasy, following the trend in 2010).
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Be prepared for a super slow burn, possessiveness, and toxic behaviour. Tahereh Mafi excels in these topics. Her new fantasy series This Woven Kingdom is living proof of that.
Looking for similar reads? Check these out!
June 2025
Toxic lesbian vampires
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Santo Domingo de la Calzada, 1532.
London, 1827.
Boston, 2019.
Three young women, their bodies planted in the same soil, their stories tangling like roots.
One grows high, and one grows deep, and one grows wild.
And all of them grow teeth.
Why you should read it
I think this novel is a reckoning ā both with myself and with my work. Itās unapologetic, a tale of hunger and the many shapes it takes. Hunger for life, for freedom, for love for more.ā
VE Schwab
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If you havenāt read anything by V.E. Schwab yet, this is your best chance to begin. She is an absolutely gorgeous writer and the author of the popular book The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.
But believe me when I say her other works are way better than Addie LaRue. The Vicious series, Gallant, A Darker Shade of Magicā¦ sheās the Brandon Sanderson of female writers.
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V.E. Schwab markets this book as toxic lesbian vampires and mentioned being inspired by Louis and Lestat from Interview with the Vampire to write this novel.
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I just canāt wait to read it. Please, give it a try, youāll absolutely love this author!
July 2025
Bully and super toxic high school romance. Hate to love you
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They come from different worlds, and yet they are meant for each other.
Money, glamour, luxury, powerāRuby Bell couldnāt be less interested in these things if she tried. After being awarded a scholarship to one of Englandās most prestigious and expensive private schools, Maxton Hall, all she wants is to keep her head down, work hard, and get accepted to Oxford. She keeps her distance from everyone, especially the arrogant, rich, and extremely handsome James Beaufort, ringleader of the schoolās party boys.Ā
When Ruby discovers a scandalous secret about the Beauforts, she is suddenly on Jamesās radar. It only gets worse when James is forced to work with her to plan the school’s annual gala. Yet the more time they spend together, the more they realize they share much more than they thought.
Falling for James Beaufort was never part of her plan, yet Ruby canāt help but let her feelings sweep her away. But James must make a decision for himself: will he choose whatās expected of him, or what he feels for her?
Why you should read it
Have you seen The Maxton Hall Series?
If your answer is no, go to Amazon Prime Video right now and watch it. Youāre missing one of the most toxic and hate-to-love relationships on television at the moment. Itās so good!
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I watched the series because I was tired of seeing posts all over my book communities and thought, “Why is everyone watching this and Iām not? Am I missing something?”
And YES, I was definitely missing something! Haha, XD
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I immediately bought the German and Spanish editions of the book (itās a German book), but couldnāt find the English editionā¦ alas, there wasnāt one!
But donāt worry! The publishers recognised the flaw, and the book will be released in English this year, yay!
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I can confirm that the TV show is almost a copy-paste from the book. They even use entire passages and popular quotes from the book in the show. So yes, whether youāve seen the series or not, the book is a must-read!
September 2025
Hollywood vibes , murders mystery and paranormal
Read the Blurb
Folklore 517: Local Legends and Urban Myths, taught by a woman called the Professor.
Most students believe the Professorās stories are just fiction. There isnāt a man in Hollywood who you can call to find out the time youāll die. Thereās not a haunted hotel bar in Los Angeles that the devil likes to frequent. Thereās no such thing as magic.
But . . . most students donāt have the same tragic past as Holland St. James.
Now a graduate student, Holland is hoping to use her thesis to rewrite her past by proving that some of the most infamous deaths in old Hollywood were actually murders committed by the devil. She has no idea that this quest will lead her into a deadly world of century-old secrets and unimaginable lies and onto the path of two very dangerous men, both of whom are willing to do whatever it takes to find a magic that will either forever alter Hollandās life or completely destroy it.
Why you should read it
Alchemy of Secrets is the new book by Stephanie Garber, the author of one of my favourite YA series, Once Upon a Broken Heart.
Well… guess what? Sheās releasing her first adult fantasy novel!!
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From what Iāve found on her Instagram, this story has strong dark academia vibes, with a touch of noir, mystery, murder, and romance?
I need this book so badly. I reckon itās the most anticipated release of 2025 for me.
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It seems like a mix of Ninth House, murder mysteries, and romance. I NEED it!
Final Thoughts:
I hope this list gives you new reading ideas for 2025! I’m especially excited for this year because many YA authors are releasing their first adult books, and weāre also getting new releases from popular authors.
Just looking at the upcoming books, I truly believe 2025 is going to be even better than 2024! I wouldnāt want you to miss any of these fabulous releases.
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Let me know in the comments if you’ve added any of them to your TBR!
