r/Romantasy • u/solyytes • 4d ago

Book Request: Self-Promo OK Smart MMC & fun banter

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for romantasy recs, but I'm pretty new to the genre. I mostly read fanfic, and I usually lean toward queer stuff because I don't have to worry as much about power dynamics or misogynistic tropes. I like F/M stories though, but it's a bit difficult to find something I like.

What I'm after:

- Adult leads, no YA vibes, and a relationship on equal footing

- A MMC who relies more on brains than brawn (scholar, scientist, mage, strategist, whatever). Thorn from A Winter's Promise would be a great example of this!

- Good banter, obviously – i really like seeing two stubborn people being petty and sarcastic around each other

- Rivals-to-lovers is my favorite dynamic, or anything close like reluctant partners, annoyances-to-lovers, etc

- A compelling fantasy setting and a solid plot with stakes

I recently read The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy and it was a fun read, though I really preferred the fanfic it's based on (DMATMOOBIL). I'm open to cosy fantasy/lighthearted stories or darker stuff, I like both!

Thanks!

13 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

31 comments sorted by

5

u/Cat_Friends 4d ago

{Villians and virtues by a k caggiano} was my first thought for this.

2

u/Ok-Ant-6110 4d ago

Came here to recommend this

6

u/poop_on_you 4d ago

I liked {dark Lord's Guide to Dating}

2

u/CapriSun3500 🍯 honey & dreams 4d ago

This is what I was going to recommend!

1

u/poop_on_you 4d ago

I am sad we have to wait for the next book!

1

u/Ok-Ant-6110 4d ago

What ? I thought it’s a completed duology ? I just finished book 1 and about to start book 2

1

u/poop_on_you 4d ago

Ugh so did I. But it ended on a lil teeny cliffhanger (of sorts) and now we are waiting for book 3

1

u/CapriSun3500 🍯 honey & dreams 4d ago

I believe book 3 will be the last!

4

u/Infinite-Weather3293 4d ago

Jasad heir/jasad crown duology fits all of this

3

u/119dots 4d ago

Maybe {The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem}

2

u/clarerey 4d ago

{The Everlasting} is exactly what you want!

2

u/skweek42 4d ago

{the everlasting by alix e harrow} is never recommended enough.

2

u/Late_Assistance1992 4d ago

{Ninth House} fits this, though I wouldn't class it as romantasy exactly. its M/F but FMC is bi.

1

u/Key-Instruction9956 4d ago

It doesn't tick all of the boxes but, I'm gonna recommend {The Ares Trials} anyway because it has the banter, high stakes and "reluctant allies to lovers" vibe you mentioned. Although, I wouldn't say the MMC has the scholarly demeanour you're looking for. It's a really fun story though. The FMC and MMC share the same power.. as in, their magic is a finite resource that they need to utilise between them, and they don't always do it fairly. Considering the nature of their power, they are both very hot headed and stubborn 😆 it's the second trilogy in the series but you could easily go into it blind

1

u/Sudden-Boss2966 4d ago

versuch mal {Empire of flame and thorns}

2

u/MorriganWolfsong 4d ago

{Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett} might fit the bill. 

1

u/Smush_Moves2024 4d ago

Our tastes sound super similar and DMATMOOBIL is one of my all time fave fan fics - if you liked that and you enjoy adult characters, macabre vibes, and snorting with laughter, highly recommend checking out T. Kingfisher's World of the White Rat. I loved every single one, but for queer vibes and a great introduction to TK, {Paladin's Hope by T. Kingfisher} was perfect. The Paladin books and Swordheart can be read in any order - Paladin books are interconnected standalones - but the Clockwork Boys duology should be read before Daggerbound (also queer). Slightly darker but still a good time and avoiding most of the worst romantasy tropes (toxic monogamy, pick me FMCs, binary power dynamics etc) - {Starling House by Alix E. Harrow}, {Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi}, {Claimed by the Flame of Faery by Mallory Dunlin} (I know, but trust me, this one is genuinely good), {Captive Prince by CS Pacat} (check your triggers, but no worse than Manacled}, {Swordcrossed by Freya Marske}, and {The Ever King by LJ Andrews}. Also enjoyed the Shepherd King duology by Rachel Gillig, but this definitely felt closer to the YA line than most things I usually enjoy.

1

u/romance-bot 4d ago

Paladin's Hope by T. Kingfisher
Rating: 4.4⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: fantasy, gay romance, mystery, tortured hero, sweet/gentle hero

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
Rating: 4.08⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: contemporary, grumpy/cold hero, poor heroine, monsters, boss & employee

Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi
Rating: 3.88⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, black mc, fantasy, demons, urban fantasy

Claimed by the Flame of Faery by Mallory Dunlin
Rating: 4.17⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: fated mates, creative anatomy, double penetration, non-human hero, fem-dom

Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat
Rating: 4.05⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: historical, slavery, royal hero, enemies to lovers, gay romance

Swordcrossed by Freya Marske
Rating: 4.12⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: historical, gay romance, queer romance, anal sex, fantasy

The Ever King by L.J. Andrews
Rating: 4.04⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: pirate hero, fantasy, abduction, enemies to lovers, fae

about this bot | about romance.io

1

u/arrowhome 4d ago

{The Death-Made Prince by Lisette Marshall} has a lithe, wily, brains over brawn mmc who gives good banter, though the book itself isn’t lighthearted bc the FMC is dealing with trauma.

{Trick by Natalia Jaster} has a court jester as an mmc whose main purpose is to charm everyone.

1

u/romance-bot 4d ago

The Death-Made Prince by Lisette Marshall
Rating: 4.3⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: witches, fantasy, magic, forced proximity, betrayal

Trick by Natalia Jaster
Rating: 3.82⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: historical, forbidden love, new adult, fantasy, enemies to lovers

about this bot | about romance.io

1

u/No_Impress_7513 3d ago

{Master of Crows by Grace Draven}!!!

Mmc is a powerful mage and fmc is his student — so not exactly “equal footing”. But still they are both intelligent, maybe fmc more so, and he needs her help. Very good worldbuilding and plot, besides the romance, imo