Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Fantasy (sub-plot romance) Masterlist
30
items Updating as we speak! Hope everyone can find something that piques their interest, I'll be updating this whenever I can 💛 Please bare in mind that some of these are part of a series and the romance varies book to book.
Sections
2
Adult
YA/NA
Adult
Islamic inspired, historical fantasy, mythology — The City of Brass tells a story of magic, segregation and royalty set in the magical city of Daevabad. It draws upon Muslim and Islamic history, with some fantastical mythological elements.
The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty
Dragons, sapphic romance, high fantasy, good vs evil — The Priory of the Orange Tree is a 2019 fantasy novel. Shannon describes the novel as a "feminist retelling of Saint George and the Dragon."
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Epic/high fantasy, heist, found family — The Final Empire is a tale of a subjugated people known as the Skaa, and their fight for freedom against a seemingly invincible God known as the Lord Ruler.
The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
Ancient mysteries, queer, thieves — An action packed fantasy series with a corrupt city and a rich history full of almost godlike beings. Sancia Garbo is a master thief in the city of Tevanne who is on her way to her latest job, which might just prov...
Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett
Inspired by indigenous cultures of the pre-Columbian Americas, queer, pirates, forbidden romance — An epic fantasy novel that focuses on Indigenous characters, settings, and mythologies. The book is a secondary world fantasy; its setting is distinct ...
Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
High fantasy, found family, ancient enemy — When eccentric explorer, Lady Vincenza 'Vintage' de Grazon, offers Tormalin employment, he sees an easy way out. Even when they are joined by a fugitive witch with a tendency to set things on fire, the pros...
The Ninth Rain by Jen Williams
Dystopian, rebellion, corrupt government, caste systems, magic — A secret rebellion rages. Generations ago a plague ravaged the world. Grey-Stars rose from the ruins, formed the country of Pangaea, and created a society of peace and order. The caste ...
Hope and Lies by C. H. Lyn
ZERO romance (I'm just delusional), ancient China inspired, gods, female rage, CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS — When an orphan gets into an elite military school, she develops a gift for shamanism that lets her call upon the fire powers of a vengeful Phoenix...
The Poppy War by R.F Kuang
Queer, magic school, urban fantasy, mystery, thriller — Estranged sisters, one magically talented and one just a talented private investigator — who gets called in to solve a crime at her sister's school for magic.
Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey
Mughal India-inspired, arranged marriage, elements of romantasy — A nobleman's daughter with magic in her blood. An empire built on the dreams of enslaved gods.
Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri
Quest, horror and sci-fi elements — Kingfisher's latest, Nettle & Bone, Marra is a princess in reserve, sent off to live out her days at a convent in case both her sisters die before giving the all-powerful prince of the neighboring kingdom the h...
Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
(This is not sub-plot romance in a classic sense the style and character relationships are incredibly unique, it's not ‘tropey’ at all) High-stakes, mysterious ancient beings, CHECK TRIGGERS – The Fifth Season is set on a supercontinent called the St...
The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin
High/epic fantasy, arranged marriage — Warbreaker tells the story of two sister princesses, Vivenna and Siri, of the country Idris.
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
Steampunk, mystery, urban fantasy — Amaranthe Lokdon is one of the few female enforcers in the history of the Empire – and an excellent one. After a chance meeting with the young emperor, she is given a difficult assignment: find and eliminate the in...
The Emperor's Edge by Lindsay Buroker
4
Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
YA/NA
Magic school, powerful fmc, black cat/golden retriever romance sub-plot.
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
Ancient Rome inspired, tyrannical empires, spies, slaves, soldiers.
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Queer, found family, historical.
Dark Rise by CS Pacat
Urban fantasy, secret society, King Arthurs Round Table (a bit love-triangle-ish in second book)
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
Unique world, objects with souls, forced marriage.
A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos
Indian inspired, female centred, sapphic romance.
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
Heist, found family, enemies to lovers.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Dystopian, Sci-fi elements, coming-of-age.
Scythe by Neal Shusterman (Arc of a Scythe)
Supernatural dystopian, urban & sc-fi elements.
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
1
Rebellion, elemental magic.
The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
Epic journey, slow burn romance
The Naming by Alison Croggon (Books of Pellinor)
Queer, fairy tale re-tellings, survivors.
Little Thieves by Margaret Owen
Urban fantasy, action, historical fiction.
A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab
Dragons, fairy tales, high-fantasy
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Minimal fantasy, mythology, friendship, identity, a quest.
Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller