Shelf Life: Romantasy
Published on 18th July 2025
Welcome to our new book blog, Shelf Life! We will bring you the best of our library catalogue and help you find your next great read.
Romantasy is a captivating blend of the bestselling romance genre with fantasy. It combines the emotional depth and swoon-worthy relationships of romance with the high stakes worldbuilding, magic systems and epic plots of fantasy. You’re not just rooting for love to win; you’re hoping the whole world doesn’t fall apart in the process! I’m still relatively new to the genre, I picked up Fourth Wing after seeing the hype online and have been hooked ever since. If you’re looking for romance with dragons, magic, political intrigue, and unforgettable character arcs, here are my top romantasy reads.
The Empyrean Series by Rebecca Yarros
The Empyrean Series is a fast paced, emotionally intense romantasy that blends dragon riding, deadly trials and forbidden love with high-stakes political intrigue. Fourth wing stole my heart (and my sleep!) and as my first venture into the genre, this series will always set the standard for me with romantasy.
The first book in the Fae & Alchemy series, we meet Saeris Fane, a sharp-witted thief surviving in a desert ruled by a tyrannical queen. When a botched heist leads to her facing Death himself, Saeris accidentally opens a portal to another world and finds herself entangled in a world of fae. Packed with action, dry humour and enemies-to-lovers romance, this romantasy delivers a thrilling ride through icy kingdoms and shadowy secrets. I am eagerly awaiting book number two!
Eighteen-year-old Sarai is determined to uncover the truth and seek revenge against the person who tried to end her life four years ago. When the chance arises to return to the scene of the crime, she doesn't hesitate, despite not remembering who her attacker was. I devoured this Roman Empire inspired romantasy in a day. A fantastic debut novel for this author, it was full of political intrigue, legal drama and of course romance and magic. This one was a slow burn that I could not put down.
Kingdom of The Wicked Series by Kerrie Maniscalo
The Kingdom of the Wicked series follows young witch Emilia as she searches for answers in the wake of a string of brutal murders targeting other young witches, including her beloved twin sister. Her quest for vengeance leads her into the path of Wrath, one of the infamous seven princes of sin, who claims allegiance to her cause. As their uneasy alliance deepens, together they unravel the sinister mysteries surrounding the killings.
Aisling Earley, Library Assistant, Coolock Library