I have a list of fantasy romances that take place in magical worlds, and contemporary paranormal romances where it’s our world but with secret magic… but I also have a sweet spot for fantasy romances where everyone has cell phones but all the rules are different, or the world is. So here’s my list of faves so far! (Disclosure: Amazon links are affiliate links.)
Any book on this list I loved at the time I read it, whether I had a chance to write a review or not. Obviously a re-read years later might reveal a problematic aspect I didn’t pick up on back then. Please let me know via my contact form if you find something yikes in a book I recommend.
Help Wanted by J. Emery (Amazon / Goodreads)
“Em is confused about a lot of things: who she is, what she wants, how she’s going to pass Alchemy when she’s awful at it. The one thing she’s not confused about is how much she wants to buy her best friend (and college roommate) the best birthday present ever. Luckily the local magic supply shop is hiring.
Her plan to get a job there would be working perfectly if not for her coworker Phineas who is in turns aggravating and endearingly awkward. She’s not sure if she wants to date him or wants to be him. The more time they spend together the more she thinks it may be both.
[A] novella with a gender and sexuality questioning f/m romance.”
Drag Me Up by R.M. Virtues (Amazon / Goodreads)
“They say he’s a myth… And Hades prefers it that way. He may do all the work, and Zeus may get all the credit, but at least it allows Hades to preserve the one thing he truly cares to have: his solitude. The mere mention of the Wraith of Khaos Falls is enough to keep order, and he is rarely forced to leave the shadows of Casino Asphodel.
She belongs in the spotlight… And Persephone clawed her way out of Demeter’s shadow to reach it. Now she’s lead in Calliope’s Cirque production but not without great cost, and there is not enough money in the world to pay off the debt accrued for the simple mistake of trusting Zeus. Though it’s easier to ignore the bars when she still has room to fly.
Landing a residency at the legendary Casino Asphodel is everything she trained for. Meeting a man she’d been convinced didn’t exist? She could never be prepared for that. Hades isn’t prepared for her either, but it’s soon evident they’re a force when together. He gives her a soft place to land, and she makes him want to reach for the stars. But when Zeus ups the stakes, they must be willing to go all in, even if it means coming down from the sky. Or stepping into the light.”
Note: I consider this fantasy because it takes place in a city that’s basically an alt-Vegas. No magic.
Improbable Heaven by J.P. Noether (Amazon / Goodreads)
“Messenger angel Kel didn’t want an important assignment any more than her angelic superiors wanted to give it to her. She’s already lost the paperwork and taken an unauthorized shortcut when she falls into a trap that succubus scientist Alba has set on the demonic side of the hinterlands.
Kel’s spotty record can’t take that many more black marks. She negotiates for Alba’s silence: she’ll do anything the demon wants for thirty days. She’s read a book or two about succubi, and the prospect of a month of no-strings sex with Alba beats doing penance hands down. Even when Alba shatters Kel’s lurid hopes, assigning her to organize the library, it’s still better than going back to Heaven. For the first time in her existence, Kel finds out that she’s good at something, and Alba’s no-nonsense encouragement makes her want more than meaningless sex.
Unfortunately, Alba isn’t the only demon in Hell.”
A Demon for Midwinter by K.L. Noone (JMS Books / Amazon / Goodreads)
I could not stop smiling while reading this M/M age gap rock star urban fantasy romance – and I was sick at the time! That’s how warm and fuzzy it is! It begins when Kris Starr, bisexual projective empath and washed-up rock singer, realizes with a start that he’s fallen in love with his manager, Justin Moore, who is the cutest and most adorable and kindest and Kris just wants to touch his hair and make him happy forever. This plan hits a snag when Kris finds out that Justin has a boyfriend. A jerk boyfriend. But when Justin’s biggest secret comes out, he turns to Kris for support. And Kris works so hard to be there for Justin! He has zero experience with a real relationship, but he asks friends for help when he doesn’t know something, and he properly prioritizes Justin’s needs over his own wants! It’s two people connecting who are huge fans of each other for all the right reasons. The world-building is also fascinating, a “contemporary” world so different from our own, where everyone has at least a little magic talent and the existence of parallel magical realms is a given.
Content warnings: Domestic violence, being outed in the press.
If you read it and like it, you should know there are three follow-up stories as well! Two are about Kris and Justin. The other, Lightning in a Bottle, is one of my FAVE short stories, though I don’t know how well it would work if you don’t already know Kris and Justin. A songwriter pining for the lead singer of his band, a little encouragement to share his feelings… so sweet! And the author’s note at the end that says it’s not an epilogue is one of my favorite epilogues in romance.
Smoke Signals by Meredith Katz (Goodreads / Amazon)
Super-nerdy m/m romance about a game company tech support guy and a dragon (yes, the dragon shapeshifts into human form.) A charming love story about learning how to communicate with someone who is very different from you. Wonderful especially if you’re a gamer or have ever worked tech support, or customer service in general.
“Mike St. George’s average life as tech support for a game distribution company becomes unexpectedly eventful when he’s sent to the home of an aristocratic, self-centered dragon and left in charge of installing and protecting the digital side of the dragon’s hoard of games.
But a job’s a job. And while the blue-blooded Zali’thurg might be egotistical and prideful, Mike’s wrangled worse customers. At least this one’s pretty cute, even if it’s in an apex predator sort of way…”
AITA?: A Modern Fairy Tale by Cassie Alexander (Amazon / Goodreads)
“Dear Schmedit:
This past weekend my fiancé (24M) and I (23 F) were at a party at a friend’s and I’ll admit we both got pretty wasted… Apparently sometime that night he asked me if it was okay to summon a demon for a threesome before our wedding, and according to him, I told him, “Yes.”
I don’t actually remember this happening so clearly? But his friends must have heard me—because a week later, they’d all pitched in to have a Delectably Demonic ™ summoning kit delivered to our house for him.
I want to put my foot down, but that would make him sad. I think he was really looking forward to it after I told him it’d be okay—and his friends really did spend a lot of money on this thing. It’s top of the line, and they can’t return it. You know how demons are.
So I kind of feel like a jerk. I mean, I did say yes, and I don’t want to let him down. If I tell him no… AITA?”
The Hidden Legacy trilogy by Ilona Andrews (Amazon / Goodreads)
Nevada Baylor is a private investigator with low-level magical abilities. Connor Rogan is a walking weapon, a heavy hitter magic user and head of one of the most powerful magical families. He’s also a former POW who came out of that experience with a very different moral code than Nevada’s. Their paths collide during one of Nevada’s cases, so they end up working together, and Connor makes it perfectly clear that he’s attracted to Nevada and intends to have her. What follows is a three book thrill ride of suspense, danger, magical attacks, political conspiracies, betrayal, and intricate worldbuilding that made me want at least 20 more books in this universe.
Two things in particular made this series a standout for me.
One, how difficult the path is for Nevada’s and Connor’s relationship. They are very different people in ways that can’t just be shuffled aside because they want to bang. For a decent chunk of the series, Nevada actively rejects Connor because she thinks he’s amoral, and he really cannot wrap his mind around what her problem is. They both have to work so hard at understanding each other and make compromises, especially Connor, because the way they see the world and other people is fundamentally different. Fascinating and quite distinctive among romance novels I’ve read.
Two, Nevada’s amazing family! She lives in a converted warehouse with her mom, grandma, sisters, and two cousins. Every single one of these characters is fascinating and wonderful and should have their own book. It was such a pleasure to read about an ass-kicking female character who isn’t a lone(ly) wolf.
And that’s the list of my favorite fantasy romance novels in modern settings! Hope you found something interesting. If you have any reading suggestions, let me know, and as always, if you found this post helpful, please share it.