How my exploration of romantic fantasy has gone this month.
I made a conscious effort this month to explore more romantic fantasy books. I had delved into ACOTAR at the beginning of the year and while I enjoyed the books it wasnt life changing for me you know? I have also read the likes of fourth wing which i feel are more fantasy with a romantic subplot. As much as I enjoyed the first book and got through the unnecessarily long 2nd book, Onyx storm has been the most difficult for me to read and I’m still only about half way through with a low likelihood of finishing.
My Issues with Romantic Fantasy
I think the part I find most difficult about writing (or even reading) romantic fantasy is the challenge of merging two genres that both demand such intense worldbuilding, deep lore, and rich, immersive description. On one hand, you have the fantasy element, which needs a fully realized world with rules, history, and texture.
On the other hand, romance also requires depth, especially emotional depth, with layered character development, palpable yearning, and a believable connection. Blending these two without one overshadowing the other is really difficult. Authors often lean on the “fated mates” trope, and while I do enjoy it in supernatural settings, it can sometimes feel like a cop out, an easy way to force a connection without doing the work to build real emotional depth.
That’s exactly how I felt about the Fourth Wing trilogy. The romance never quite landed for me. It felt more like a subplot that didn’t get the same level of care or emotional weight. I wasn’t convinced by their love story, it seemed driven more by the concept of the mating bond and physical attraction than by any real emotional development. I never fully understood why they were together beyond those surface-level connections.
While ACOTAR, for example, wasn’t the most spellbinding story. I was absolutely convinced by the love story. We got to see it build gradually, and while I wouldn’t fully classify it as a true enemies-to-lovers arc, it definitely had elements of that dynamic. I could see and understand why the characters ended up together, it felt earned. It also utilised the fated mates trope but a relationship was definitely built here. That said, while I enjoyed parts of the fantasy world, the universe itself didn’t really resonate with me.
What I Read this Month
So this month, I said let me try again. The first thing I did was look for recommendations of standalone romantic Fantasy books only because I did not have it in me to commit myself to three or four Book series. I simply don’t have the time for that. I did get a couple of recommendations for standalones from friends and I had a little foray through TikTok recommendations, but when I read the blurbs of these books they just weren’t really doing anything for me and I wasn’t completely swayed by them.
Our Infinite Fates
I noticed Our Infinite Fates by Laura Stephen was rated very highly on BookTok, but had a much more average rating on Goodreads. Usually, anything around a 3.5 to 3.6 on Goodreads is a red flag for me, I tend to see that as a sign the book might not be that strong. However I really like the premise, so I gave it a shot. I haven’t finished it yet, and honestly, I’m struggling. I’m bored. It just hasn’t been a great reading experience so far. I like the premise, but the execution isn’t convincing enough to keep me engaged.
The fantasy elements remind me more of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, it’s set in a version of our world with a supernatural twist, rather than a fully immersive fantasy universe. I actually like that approach because it usually requires less intense worldbuilding, which should allow more space to focus on the romantic arc. But with Our Infinite Fates, it’s just not clicking for me.
The premise of the book is that two lovers are destined to both fall in love and kill each other by their 18th birthday—a cycle that’s repeated for hundreds of years. But in this timeline, one of them finally has a reason to try and break that pattern, to stay alive beyond 18. It’s an intriguing concept.
What made the book difficult for me, though, is that we’re told these two are fated to love each other, but I never felt it. They’re in love because the story says they are, we get glimpses into their past lives and the tragedies they’ve endured together, and while I could understand the intended emotional weight, I just didn’t feel it.
In this current reincarnation, they’ve known each other for a long time, but only truly entered each other’s lives later on, as one of them deliberately kept their distance. And yet, I’m expected to believe in this all-encompassing, fated love, but I just don’t see where it’s coming from. I understand the idea of your heart recognizing someone on a soul-deep level, but in this case, they don’t even seem to like each other. One of them didn’t even recognize the other as their supposed lover, despite being around them for years. So, yeah – I’m not convinced. The romance just doesn’t work for me.
So I’m having a bit of a difficult time with that one, but it’s not a very long book so I am hoping to finish it before my round up on Friday.
Gods & Monsters
The second fantasy series I’ve been reading is Gods and Monsters, and since I’ve already done a review on it here, I won’t go too deep into it in this post. I’m currently on book three and have really been enjoying it. The second book was my absolute favourite; I felt it struck a great balance between the romantic and fantasy elements, which I really appreciated. It’s clearly shaping up to be a long series, but because I’m reading it as it’s being released, it doesn’t feel overwhelming, like I’m not committing to eight books all at once.
Other Explorations
I do have a few other books on my radar. One that’s been sitting on my TBR for weeks is A Song of Wraiths and Ruin. It’s a West African–inspired fantasy, with Nigerian influences, definitely right up my alley. I absolutely loved Raybearer when I read it, which also draws from West African mythology and culture. For some reason, I just haven’t had the energy to start Wraiths and Ruin yet, but I will. As for fantasy in general, though, I think I’m taking a bit of a break for now.
Why is it Genre of the Month?
Therefore, Romantic fantasy has been my genre of the month, not because it’s been the best reading experience lately, but because it’s the genre I committed to exploring. I do still plan to keep exploring the genre, just maybe not right away.
If you have any recommendations you’re absolutely convinced by, I’d love to hear them! I’m especially drawn to supernatural elements – vampires, werewolves, witches – that kind of vibe really appeals to me. I also tend to enjoy books set in the real world but with magical or supernatural twists. I’m still committed to the journey of expanding our horizons, so romantic fantasy will definitely be revisited.
Thanks for reading!
Signed,
