Which Popular Romantasy Books Have LGBTQ+ Lead Characters?

I can’t give a definitive catalogue of romantasy books that came out in 2025 because my reading horizon ends in June 2024, but I can walk you through how to find them and what to expect. If you want to track releases like a pro, I keep a running Goodreads list and follow a handful of publishers (Orbit, Tor, Bloomsbury, HarperVoyager) plus indie imprints. Also follow authors you love—big romantasy names often have newsletter sign-ups where they announce release windows months in advance. For broader discovery, BookTok tags like #romantasy and #fantasyromance, NetGalley ARCs, and publisher spring/fall catalogs are goldmines. If you’re hunting specifically for "popular" titles from 2025, check Goodreads 2025 lists, Amazon bestsellers by year, and Library Journal or Publishers Weekly starred picks. Personally, I like to cross-reference: Goodreads ratings to gauge reader buzz, BookTok virality to spot trends, and professional reviews to catch quality picks. If you want, I can suggest how to set up alerts or a template list you can use to populate a 2025 romantasy reading list—I enjoy tinkering with those little spreadsheets.

My current book-crush list for queer romantasy is embarrassingly long, and I'm here for it. If you want lush, slow-burn m/m with mystery and a dash of gaslamp charm, pick up 'Witchmark' — the world building is cozyly sinister and the chemistry between the leads crackles in a way that feels both novel and comfortingly classic. For an Edwardian magical romance with heartfelt domestic scenes, 'A Marvellous Light' gives a sweet, queer-core love story wrapped in polite intrigue. On the sapphic side, 'The Priory of the Orange Tree' is massive, feminist, and romantic in a way that blooms through epic politics and dragon lore; it's not a short read but the payoff is gorgeous. If you like YA tones with darker stakes and queer identity explored amid rebellion, try 'Girls of Paper and Fire' or 'Crier's War' — both hit hard emotionally and have intense sapphic relationships. For something wildly original and queer-forward, 'Gideon the Ninth' is grim, queer-coded, and weirdly romantic in its own abrasive way. If you're picky about consent, pacing, or trigger content, check blurbs and tags before diving; some of these books are tender, others brutal. Personally, I rotate between comfort romantasy like 'Witchmark' and bolder coups like 'Gideon' depending on my mood.

Honestly, when I want a standalone romantasy that hugs me and then lets me breathe, I reach for books that feel like secret rooms—intimate, self-contained, and ruined if spoiled. Two that always top the list are 'Uprooted' and 'Spinning Silver' by Naomi Novik. Both are neatly wrapped tales of magic and slow-burn feelings without dangling threads; 'Uprooted' leans folkloric and atmospheric while 'Spinning Silver' flips fairy-tale expectations with luminous character work. If you want something lush and theatrical, 'The Night Circus' by Erin Morgenstern is a must: it reads like stepping through velvet curtains into midnight magic, and the romance is woven into the whole spectacle. For mythic retellings that feel like warm blankets, try 'The Witch's Heart'—its Norse roots and aching love make it hard to put down. If you like your romantasy a little bittersweet and modern, 'The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue' gives a long, atmospheric deal-with-the-devil arc with quiet, devastating payoff. I also love recommending 'The Priory of the Orange Tree' when friends want epic scope in a single volume—it's big but complete, with queer romance and dragon politics. For classic romance-meets-adventure, you can't go wrong with 'The Princess Bride'. Each of these stands alone, so you can pick the vibe and not worry about cliffhangers—perfect for a weekend escape or a slow, thoughtful re-read.

If you love getting lost in lush worlds and swoony tension, I can’t help but gush about a few listens that stuck with me. For sheer performance that made me binge while doing chores, 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' by Sarah J. Maas is top-tier—Jennifer Ikeda brings such warmth and bite to the characters that the emotional swings actually hit harder than reading for me. Her pacing during romantic beats and fight scenes made long drives feel like cinematic moments. Another audiobook that lives rent-free in my head is 'The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue'—Julia Whelan’s narration turns every small, quiet scene into something intimate and aching. I also adored the cadence and sass in 'The Cruel Prince'; the narrator there gives the court characters distinct textures so I never mixed them up while commuting. Honestly, the right narrator can transform a good romantasy into an unforgettable audio experience—so sample the prologue before you commit, and you’ll know if the voice vibes with you.

Okay, this is my jam — I love books where the city smells like coffee and car exhaust and then a secret leyline hums underfoot. If you want romantasy that blends modern life with real magic, start with 'City of Bones' by Cassandra Clare. It sneaks demons and shadowhunters into New York subways, and the romance is messy in the best YA way. Then there's 'Magic Bites' by Ilona Andrews, which is a grittier, adult take: think urban streets with techno-edges and a slow-burn that actually earns its beats. If you crave something moodier and mythic, try 'Daughter of Smoke and Bone' by Laini Taylor — Prague and LA backgrounds get tangled with angels and a tender, impossible love. 'Rivers of London' by Ben Aaronovitch is lighter but brilliant at making policework and sorcery coexist in present-day London. For something darker and campus-set, 'Ninth House' by Leigh Bardugo folds occult societies into Yale night-life and a tense, adult romance. Each of these plays with the overlap: secret societies, hidden magic, or curses bleeding into modern tech and routine, so the fantasy never feels separate from daily life. Pick one based on whether you want YA spark, adult grit, or atmospheric myth, and enjoy getting lost between two worlds.

Okay, if you’re craving that breathless mix of grim stakes, slow-burn romance, and steamy chemistry like Sarah J. Maas delivers, I’ve got a little reading map for you. I tend to chase books where the fantasy world is almost a character itself and the romance slowly sneaks up and punches you in the chest — so my top picks all scratch that itch in different ways. Start with 'The Cruel Prince' and the rest of 'The Folk of the Air' by Holly Black if you want political backstabbing, poisonous court intrigue, and a love that’s equal parts toxic and inevitable. For lush, lyrical prose and star-crossed tension, read 'Daughter of Smoke and Bone' by Laini Taylor — the worldbuilding is dreamy and the romance is aching. If you like darker, morally messy heroes and a very sensual vibe, try 'From Blood and Ash' by Jennifer L. Armentrout. For witchy vibes and enemies-to-lovers that feel visceral, 'Serpent & Dove' by Shelby Mahurin hits hard. I could keep going — 'The Wrath and the Dawn' for fairy-tale romance, 'The Shadows Between Us' for scheming, sexy power-play, and 'An Enchantment of Ravens' for artful, bittersweet romance. Each of these scratches that same romantasy itch but brings its own flavor: court politics, lyrical prose, or high heat. If you tell me which Maas book you loved most, I’ll narrow it down to an exact match for your mood.

Oh man, if you like the slow-burn stretch that lets tension simmer and characters change in front of your eyes, then a few favorites always bubble to the top for me. I usually start folks off with 'The Wrath & the Dawn' — it's a retelling with gorgeous prose where the romance unspools slowly amid political danger and revenge, so you get a lot of emotional weight before any spark really lands. Another go-to is 'Spinning Silver' by Naomi Novik. It has multiple threads and relationships that build patiently; the romance emerges as characters grow and bargain with things older than themselves, which feels satisfying rather than rushed. If you want fae politics and painfully slow tension, 'The Cruel Prince' trilogy gives that prickly court-feeling though the romance is more of a long, messy climb than an immediate connection. For a darker, more ritual-haunted slow-burn, 'Wicked Saints' pulls you into morally gray choices and a romance that creeps along under war and prophecy. Finally, I always nudge people toward 'Uprooted' if they like an autumnal, folklore-heavy vibe — the romance there is gentle, unfolding with small, honest moments. All of these lean into atmosphere and character change, so if you prefer heat over heart, be warned — these are about the slow crack of feelings, not fireworks at page one.

I get wildly excited talking about enemies-to-lovers in romantasy, so here's a cozy roundup that kept me up reading late into the night. 'Serpent & Dove' by Shelby Mahurin is an immediate grab — witch and witch-hunter married by circumstance, full of sparks, banter, and cultural friction. If you love snappy dialogue and slow-burn heat, this one scratches that itch. 'The Cruel Prince' by Holly Black leans darker: political cruelty, fae politics, and a love that blooms from manipulation and wariness into something messier and real. It's thorny and addictive. For a retelling vibe, try 'The Wrath and the Dawn' by Renée Ahdieh — think scheming bride and mysterious caliph, emotional payoffs, and a lush setting. 'A Curse So Dark and Lonely' by Brigid Kemmerer turns the Beauty and the Beast template into enemies-to-ally-to-lover territory with modern sensibilities. If you want adult-level tension with a forced-marriage twist, 'The Bridge Kingdom' by Danielle L. Jensen is a favorite: political chessboard, two people learning to read each other across lies. Each of these plays the trope differently — some are bite-sized YA, others heavier and romantic — so pick what matches your late-night reading mood and a nice cup of tea.