2021 Best of Part 5: Fantasy Romance
I love a good year in review. There’s something so satisfying of seeing it all laid out there, to be able to reflect on the journey, and hopefully to help others find a couple great reads. Like I’ve mentioned I’m approaching 400 titles read this year, which is pretty wild if you ask me, and totally fine if you’re speaking to my therapist.
I’m still reading (🙄obviously) at the time of writing this blog, so we might have a couple late editions, who knows. Below I’m going to call out my fave reads of the year, continuing with (part 1 of 2) the Fantasy Romance sub-genre and will do my best to sell-em’ to y’all.
(Disclaimer: this is *my * best of 2021 reads, not books that were published in 2021!)
When I was putting this list together I wasn’t sure that I would even have enough titles to populate sub-genres that I had been reading. But as it happens I have read so many fantasy romances this year I am breaking it out into two parts. I know, the scandal. I promise it will be worth it.
There are so many great fantasy romances out there, more than I could possibly wax poetic about. I read some of the more traditionally popular titles, and some that my good friends over on the subreddit r/romancebooks graciously suggested. There is really something for everyone, from rich high-fantasy, to fantasy set in the “modern” world, to my most beloved discovery: dragon shifters. Enjoy checking out of reality for a little while to visit the wild worlds of fantasy romance.
Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison
Oh Dragon Bound, how I love you. This was a recommendation from a fellow redditor, and I could not be more thankful to have found this brilliant, 9 book series from Thea Harrison. The lore and world-building in this book is really fantastic, and you get to understand broadly the world, species and specifics of the magic that permeates the wyrkind.
Pia and Dragos (king and most feared dragon of the elder races) meet under stressful circumstances, but their connection and growth together is something to behold. The characters that make up Dragos’ corporation and kingdom are so fantastic, and by the end of this one you’ll be itching to get to their stories too.
Exile in the Water Kingdom by Cassandra Gannon (Free on KU)
Holy f*ck I can’t believe my snooty designer brain slept on Cassandra’s books because their covers are a little wacky. Another Reddit suggestion, had me delving deep into the amazing elemental world that is comprised of magical houses that are imbued with the characteristics and traits of that substance.
Exile in the Water Kingdom (book three in this series) features Ty and Gion. Ty, recently recovering from an assassination attempt, is forced to undergo group therapy (in the human realm) while working on her anxiety. Gion, the most feared and powerful elemental in the universe, has asked to be taken in by the water kingdom. What Ty doesn’t know is that our boy Gion is (and has been) soul-deep in love with her for ages, and is risking everything to live in her kingdom to protect and love her from afar.
This 👏 book 👏 has 👏 everything. Pining. Spice. Humour. Epic world building and magic systems and that perfect soul-mate kind of connection.
The Rogue King by Abigail Owen
I can’t remember if this was an Apple Books auto generated you may also like, or it was from some other source but, my lord am I happy I stumbled upon this brilliant 4 book shifter series from Abigail Owen. The magic and world building in this shifter universe immediately hooked me, right from when Brand meets our girl Kasia, in a treatment hospital for shifters.
As the story evolves we learn what both Brand and Kasia are, who they are to each other and what danger is await them at every turn. I loved the mated bonds, that Abigail created, especially seeing the different types of dragons and their clans. Plus literal 🥵🔥 fire.
The Warrior King by Abigail Owen
Book three in the Inferno Rising series (see book 1 above) has another Amon sister, this time tech savvy Meria and (lowborn) enforcer of the Black Clan Samael. This has ALL the angst and pining across perceived dragon class divides. Will Samael, give Meria up because he is unworthy based on his birthright?
The romance between these two was immensely sweet, and seeing where Meria has been hiding all this time (with gargoyles!) was a really amazing addition to the already brilliant world these characters occupy. These are all highly interconnected stories, so definitely read them in order to get the most out of the overarching storylines.
Storm’s Heart by Thea Harrison
What can I say, I love an angsty, we can’t be together because of class and duty, but I love you so much I need you moment. Storm’s Heart is such a great delve back into the Elder Races world, this time with Thunderbird sentinel Tiago and plucky-but-beloved fae PR princess Thistle “Tricks” Perriwinkle.
After almost being assassinated, Tricks is licking her literal and metaphorical wounds when bossy 300 year old Tiago decides to take charge of Tricks’ personal safety. You’ll love seeing tough-guy Tiago soften for Tricks. And seeing how brave and lonely our gal is, will break your heart a little bit, but trust in the power of the happily ever after friends. It is a great one.
The Harbinger Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout
This was a TikTok find, and my lord am I thankful to have found it! This whole world is so so so great. We have pop-culture references, a heroine with a visual disability, incredible biblical lore storylines, archangels, gargoyles, princes of hell, ghosts, and Trinity: one of the best fantasy heroines I have read this year.
Each of the books in this series is so well crafted and plotted, and you see so much growth, pain, loss and love on both sides. Trinity and Zayne are one my ultimate romance couples, the protective but ultimately playful nature of Zayne, and Trinity always trying to see the stars. Seeing him push her, and in-turn be pushed right back is such a delight. Prepare yourself for MAJOR feelings y’all (I did many a cry during each book), and be thankful this entire trilogy is complete and can be purchased and consumed back to back.