BookTok's enthusiasm skews towards a younger audience sometimes, but the romantasy that resonates with adults often has a grittier edge or more intricate political scheming. Take 'The Serpent and the Wings of Night' by Carissa Broadbent. It’s pitched as a competition, but the tension and world-building feel substantial. The leads are older, their motivations are complex, and the romance develops alongside real survival stakes. It avoids the feeling of a high school drama masquerading in fantasy clothing.
Another one that stood out for me is 'Daughter of No Worlds' by Carissa Broadbent again. The protagonist is a former slave, and her journey is one of acquiring power and agency, not just falling in love. The romance is a slow, burning component of a larger plot about war and oppression. It demands more patience, but the payoff feels earned, not just a foregone conclusion from a tropes checklist.
I'd steer an adult reader away from some of the more viral, purely trope-driven series if they’re looking for depth. For instance, a lot of the fae romance books can feel repetitive. Something like 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' has its moments, but the later books sometimes sacrifice character consistency for dramatic twists. Adult-focused readers might find more satisfaction in Katee Robert's 'Neon Gods', which, while modern, blends Hades and Persephone with explicit, consensual power dynamics and a contemporary political angle that feels surprisingly sharp.