Fantasy Romance Novels to Check out

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What Are "Fantasy Romance Novels"?

You've heard of fantasy novels, and you've heard of romance novels... Well, these stories are a combination of the two. You've got a love story that's either set in a made-up fantasy world or here on earth with "fantasy" elements (magic, paranormal creatures, etc.).

These types of novels usually have more adventure (and, dare we say it, more plot) than traditional romance novels. They can be a great choice for those who enjoy magic, adventure, and excitement, but also like to see a pair of heroes come together and live "happily ever after" in the end.

Encrypted: A High Fantasy Romance in an Era of Steam

A $2.99 ebook fantasy novel

Encrypted Science Fiction Fantasy RomanceProfessor Tikaya Komitopis isn't a great beauty, a fearless warrior, or even someone who can walk and chew chicle at the same time, but her cryptography skills earn her wartime notoriety. When enemy marines show up at her family's plantation, she expects the worst. But they're not there to kill her. They need her to decode mysterious runes, and they ask for help in the manner typical of a conquering empire: they kidnap her, threaten her family, and throw her in the brig of their fastest steamship.

Her only ally is a fellow prisoner who charms her with a passion for academics as great as her own. Together, they must decipher mind-altering alchemical artifacts, deadly poison rockets, and malevolent technological constructs, all while dodging assassination attempts from a rival power determined the expedition should fail. As if Tikaya didn't have troubles enough, her new ally turns out to be exiled fleet admiral, Federias Starcrest, the man who recommended taking over her nation. To trust him could be a mistake; to fall in love with him would be a betrayal to her people, her family, and the fiancé she lost in the war. Those runes cloak more than mysteries, however, and he may be the only one who can help her unravel them before their secrets destroy the world.

$2.99 at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords

Moon Called (1st in Mercy Thompson Series)

By popular paranormal romance writer Patricia Briggs

Mercy Thompson's life is not exactly normal. Her next-door neighbor is a werewolf. Her former boss is a gremlin. And she's fixing a VW bus for a vampire. But then, Mercy isn't exactly normal herself....
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An Accidental Goddess

A science-fiction/fantasy romance by Linnea Sinclair

Linnea Sinclair is known for her space opera romances (all enjoyable reads), and this one is in space, too, but it's got magic, and there's no SF techno-babble. The premise is original and the love story is sweet, so give it a try if you enjoy fantasy!

Raheiran Special Forces captain Gillaine Davré has just woken up in some unknown space way station, wondering where the last three hundred years have gone. The last thing she remembers is her ship being attacked. Now it seems that while she was time-traveling, she was ordained a goddess. Gillaine's only hope of survival rests with dangerously seductive Admiral Mack Makarian, who suspects her of being a smuggler-or worse. But he can't begin to imagine the full extent of it. For Gillaine is now Lady Kiasidira, holy icon to countless believers, including Mack-a man who inspires feelings in her that are far from saintly--feelings she knows are mutual. But when their flirtation is interrupted by a treacherous enemy from the past, Gillaine's secret-and secret desires-could destroy them both....
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Lois McMaster Bujold's Sharing Knife Series

A four-book fantasy romance series

I have to admit I'm more of a fan of Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan (science fiction) series, but the Sharing Knife books are a good example of fantasy romances. There's action and magic throughout the series as well as romance between the two main characters. Here's the blurb for the first book, Beguilement:

"Compelling characters lift this first of a two-book romantic fantasy from Hugo-winner Bujold (The Hallowed Heart), set in a dangerous land without a name, though individual towns, villages and hamlets are specified. Dag, a Lakewalker patroller with a dry wit, is dedicated to destroying the evil "malices" that blight the countryside. Fawn, a runaway farm girl, helps him kill a malice and its zombie-like mud-men, but not before the malice destroys her unborn child by taking its "ground" or life force. Fawn slays the malice with Dag's sharing knife, a bone blade created to carry the spirit of a dying patroller, but Dag's formerly empty knife now carries the baby's ground. Dag and Fawn fall in love while he helps her recover from her miscarriage. Bujold hints at an epic past of mighty kingdoms and ancient sorceries-a past that will hopefully be fully detailed in the sequel."
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The Dark Side of Light: A Medieval Time Travel Fantasy

A fantasy romance novel by Susan D. Kalior

Shallee, a PhD social activist in the twenty-first century, has disrupted the harmful social programming instigated by Raymond Mackelvie, a powerful business magnate who has been controlling the masses for decades. Hence, Mackelvie sets out to destroy her. Interestingly, her circumstance parallels a ninth-century past life that has always haunted her.In that life, her royal family, trying to unite Denmark, was overthrown and slaughtered by the Curonian, Droghan. Tumbling through time, Shallee finds herself in that past, two years after she died. She meets up with the Viking warrior, Shokane, who once secretly loved her. Together they plot to restore Denmark, fighting for heart on a perilous adventure into the dark side of light....
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What Are Your Favorite Fantasy Romance Novels?

Chime in!

We've only listed a few fantasy romances here. Share your favorites with us, and give us something new to read!

Jenséa, an Angel's Touch: Into the World of Johnny (The Chaos Dragon Dark Fantasy/Horror Series) by Susan D. Kalior

Jenséa, an Angel's Touch: Into the World of Johnny (The Chaos Dragon Dark Fantasy/Horror Series) by Susan D. Kalior

Enter the darkness in Book Two of the Chaos Dragon more...0 points

Fantasy Lover (Dark-Hunter, Book 1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Fantasy Lover (Dark-Hunter, Book 1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Dear Reader, Being trapped in a bedroom with a wom more...0 points

Warriors in the Mist: A Medieval Dark Fantasy by Susan D. Kalior

Warriors in the Mist: A Medieval Dark Fantasy by Susan D. Kalior

Medieval Dark Fantasy: An epic romance is featured more...0 points

Demon Lover: Fairytale Fantasies, Book 2 by Bonnie Dee, Marie Treanor

Demon Lover: Fairytale Fantasies, Book 2 by Bonnie Dee, Marie Treanor

<p>Rumplestiltskin is <em>not</em&g more...0 points

Lost and Found Lovers: Facts and Fantasies of Rekindled Romances by Nancy Kalish

Lost and Found Lovers: Facts and Fantasies of Rekindled Romances by Nancy Kalish

Ever wonder what might happen if you rediscovered more...0 points

Are you a fan of romance in your fantasy novels?

Tell us what you think!

  • kajohu Dec 23, 2010 @ 7:12 am | delete
    These look just what I'd like to settle down with after the craziness of the holidays is past! They all look intriguing, but especially the time travel ones -- the Accidental Goddess sounds very enjoyable!
  • BookMama Dec 6, 2010 @ 5:51 am | delete
    I had never even heard of 'fantasy romance novels' till I visited this lens. Put it on lensroll for http://www.squidoo.com/how-to-write-a-romance-novel which you visited the other day. Actually you have a lot of very interesting lenses. I'm heading off now to check out your litter box and dog crate lenses since we have to old boring kind for both of those.
  • WritingforYourWealth Dec 6, 2010 @ 11:11 am | delete
    Thanks, BookMama!

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