I always circle back to 'A Discovery of Witches' for this exact vibe. It's not just the romance between Diana and Matthew that pulls you in, but the way Harkness builds an entire secret society of witches, vampires, and daemons with its own rules and politics. The magic feels academic and historical, deeply woven into alchemy and old manuscripts, which gives the romance this weighty, timeless feel.
For something with a sharper, more modern edge, 'The Once and Future Witches' by Alix E. Harrow is phenomenal. It's less about a singular romance and more about sisterhood and collective power, but the romantic threads there are fierce and supportive. The magic is literally woven into suffrage movements and folk spells—it feels powerful because it's tied to real struggle.
Honestly, a lot of paranormal romance can lean toward the witch being a love interest's magical sidekick. The best ones, for me, are where her craft is central to her identity and the plot's conflict. 'The Witch of Willow Hall' had a quieter, gothic atmosphere that made the romantic tension simmer, but the magic was almost a character itself, tied to the family's land and secrets.