Picking the next listen to check off your never-ending TBR can be a tough decision. What if you can’t decide which adventure to have next?!
Maybe you want romance—the butterflies, the tension, the swoon-worthy declarations? But what about the thrill of fantasy—magical realms, epic quests, supernatural beings with extraordinary powers?
Like Hannah Montana, you can “have the best of both worlds” with romantasy.
Exploding in popularity since sparkling vampires graced the silver screen, romantasies weave spellbinding love stories into fantastical settings where anything is possible. From fae courts teeming with dangerous politics to dragon riders finding unexpected love, these stories transport you to realms where love is as powerful as any magic system.
Romantasy audiobooks are particularly special – calling on skilled narrators to bring these magical worlds and passionate romances to life. A skilled voice can make you feel the crackle of magic in the air or the electricity of a forbidden touch… all while commuting, folding the laundry, or waiting in line at the DMV.
Below is our curated selection of NEW romantic fantasy audiobooks we think you should listen to right now!
This Vicious Dream
Book #1 in the Kingdom of Death series
Written by Stacia Stark, narrated by Meg Sylvan and Tim Paige
Once, I helped save a kingdom.
Now, I’m trapped in a prison of thorns and nightmares.
Madinia is charged with safeguarding a powerful grimoire while being relentlessly hunted by its original owner––a vengeful god determined to reclaim his ancient power and settle an age-old grudge.
Her only choice? To make a fragile, temporary alliance with a man she can never trust. Because there’s more at stake than just a stolen grimoire or an ancient grudge.
Beneath his mask of allure, he’s hiding something far more dangerous than a thirst for power. Something that could destroy everyone.
This Vicious Dream is set in the same world as Kingdom of Lies, but can be read as a standalone series.
The Floating World
Book #1 in the The Floating World series
Written by Axie Oh, narrated by Eden Jun
A sword-for-hire seeks a girl who wields silver light in this romantic fantasy that re-imagines a Korean legend.
Sunho lives in the Under World, a land of perpetual darkness. An ex-soldier, he can remember little of his life from before two years ago, when he woke up alone with only his name and his sword. Now he does odd jobs to scrape by, until he comes across the score of a lifetime—a chest of gold for any mercenary who can hunt down a girl who wields silver light.
Meanwhile, far to the west, Ren is a cheerful and spirited acrobat living in an idyllic mountain village with her adoptive family. But everything changes during one of their festival performances when the village is attacked by a horrific humanlike demon. In a moment of fear and rage, Ren releases a blast of silver light—a power she has kept hidden since childhood—and kills the monster. But her efforts are not in time to save her foster father’s life, or to save her adoptive uncle from being grievously wounded.
Determined to save her uncle from succumbing to the poisoned wound, Ren sets off over the mountains, where the creature came from—and from where Ren herself fled ten years ago. Her path sets her on a collision course with Sunho, but he doesn’t realize she’s the girl that he—and a hundred other swords-for-hire—is looking for. As the two grow closer through their travels, they come to realize that their pasts—and destinies—are far more entwined than either of them could have imagined…
Reign of Cinders and Glass
Book #1 in the Fated Fairytales series
Written by Linsey Hall and Veronica Douglas, narrated by Daniel Henning and Jesse Vilinsky
In a world ruled by immortals, her only hope may lie in the heart of their darkest prince.
When my sister Belle goes missing, I venture deep into the cursed woods to find her. Ruthless vampires rule over our kingdom, and I’m terrified she’s been murdered like so many others.
As I’m searching, I’m caught by the worst immortal of them all: Prince Cassius, dark Lord of the Bloodvale. I barely escape with my life, and the memory of his cruel beauty haunts me. So does the thought that Belle might be in his castle.
When I join the mortal resistance, I get the chance to infiltrate his stronghold. I’ll find Belle and fight the vampires from within. It’s not easy. I’m worked to the bone by a pair of wicked sisters and danger abounds, but the secrets I discover are worth it.
The castle is filled with magic… and so am I.
I’ll have to keep my mission and power hidden if I want to survive, but the prince’s stormy gaze follows me everywhere. When he chooses me as his personal servant, can I hide the truth? Or will the magnetic pull between us drag me to my doom?
Reign of Cinders and Glass is a standalone Cinderella romantasy with vampires, a dark prince, and a powerful heroine who will endure any risk to save the people she loves. Prepare for action, danger, and a steamy romance with a HEA.
Song of the Dark Wood
Book #1 in the Fable Song series
Written by Sheila Masterson, narrated by Aoife McMahon and Dermot Magennis
This atmospheric, dark and spicy romantasy is perfect for fans of feminine rage, strong female friendships, unique magic systems, angsty romance, and ominous mysteries.
For centuries, the people of remote Ballybrine have kept the peace with their gods by sacrificing a Red Maiden to ferry souls from the Mother’s realm of the living, through the Dark Wood, to the Wolf’s realm of the dead. Soon it will be Rowan’s turn.
Ripped from her family as a young girl, Rowan Cleary has been forced into a cloistered life learning to please the wolf and wield her spirit-enchanting voice. Though none of the previous maidens have survived their five-year term, Rowan is determined to beat the odds and protect the women who have become family to her.
When a deathly blight breaks out in the Dark Wood, and the acting maiden is murdered, Rowan vows to strike a new bargain with the god of death to ensure her survival. The Wolf has always been someone to fear—even more so now that the townspeople blame him for the blight—but he’s far from the vengeful death god she expects.
To unravel the mystery, Rowan must seduce the Wolf. Soon, the attraction between them grows into a relentless magical force, threatening to shatter the delicate balance between realms and unleash a darkness eager to swallow their world.
Song of the Dark Wood is a standalone gothic fairy tale fantasy romance that blends a fractured Red Riding Hood retelling with a hint of Hades and Persephone. This “coming of rage” romantasy is for readers looking for feminine rage, strong female friendships, unique magic systems, angsty romance, and ominous mysteries and is perfect for fans of Rachel Gillig’s One Dark Window and Hannah Whitten’s Foxglove King.
The Goddess Of
Book #1 in the The Fragile Divine series
Written by Randi Garner, narrated by Abigail Reno and Benjamin Crow
No gods or curses will keep them from each other.
Naia, the daughter of the High Sea Goddess, is an embarrassment. She holds no title and no power but is the key to a curse placed centuries ago on her mother: Naia must form a union with a god from an opposing family.
When the day arrives for her arranged marriage, she turns to the High God of Death and Curses for help.
He assists Naia under one condition—she must accept a curse, blindly. Willing to do whatever it takes to escape her mother’s kingdom beneath the sea, Naia agrees and flees to the Mortal Land.
When she wakes up in Ronin Kahale’s childhood home, she’s greeted by the warm, welcoming twenty-eight-year-old mortal. Distrustful of Ronin and his selfless hospitality, she’s convinced there’s more to him than what he’s sharing.
However, he’s her one-way ticket into Hollow City, an ominous concrete jungle infested with witches. Somewhere among its streets lies Finnian, Naia’s younger brother and the only one capable of helping her hide from their cruel mother.
Naia desperately tries not to care for another mortal, but as her life intertwines with Ronin’s, she questions the lengths she will go to keep him safe from the gods who hunt her down—and the curse that looms over her.
With gods, though, everything comes with a price.
Want to explore romantasy subgenres further? Read our other blog post:
From Whimsical Wishes to Deadly Desires: A Deep Dive into the Cozy, Epic, and Dark Romantasy Subgenres>
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