Writing and Storytelling | 23 May 2025

Steel, Spells, and Sweaty Palms: 5 Romantasy Hits TikTok Can’t Shut Up About

portrait-smiling-young-afro-american-man Michael Adams
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Steel, Spells, and Sweaty Palms: 5 Romantasy Hits TikTok Can’t Shut Up About

If you’re wondering why your feed is full of fae princes, dangerous quests, and heroines with attitude, it’s not a glitch in the algorithm—it’s a full-blown literary takeover of the romance series.

TikTok’s BookTok community is loud, emotional, and extremely persuasive. A single video of someone sobbing over a book’s last chapter or gushing about a morally gray love interest can send a previously unknown title straight into Amazon’s top charts. And in 2025, romantasy books are ruling that space—one slow-burn kiss and magical cliffhanger at a time.

So, if you’re new to this, no worries. This list will catch you up. Below are five of the best romantasy books that BookTok won’t shut up about, each with a unique flavor of love, loss, magic, and betrayal. Grab your annotated tabs—you’re going to need them.

Key Takeaways

  1. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros: A girl is forced into a tough dragon school where she’s not expected to survive. She fights smart, builds trust slowly, and the romance builds like a storm.
  2. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas: This story starts like a fairytale but turns into something deeper. It’s about learning the difference between love and control—and finding the strength to choose better.
  3. The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent: A human joins a deadly vampire contest to take back her power. The world is dark, the trust is fragile, and the love grows from pain and respect.
  4. From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout: It’s about a girl who was told to stay quiet and follow rules—until she fights back. Secrets come out, feelings grow, and everything starts to fall apart. It’s wild, quick, and hard to stop reading.
  5. The Plated Prisoner by Raven Kennedy: Behind golden walls and pretend love is a story about control. When the truth breaks through, she starts to fight for herself, with no one there to save her.

But What Is Romantasy?

It’s not just a fantasy novel that happens to have a romantic subplot. It’s a genre of its own, where the romance is just as important as the world-building. We’re talking ancient magic, curses, dragons, rebel queens—and yeah, probably some mutual pining along the way.

These aren’t just stories you read—they’re the kind you obsess over, annotate like a sacred text, and maybe even re-read just to feel the heartbreak again.

And TikTok? It’s become the battleground for fan theories, quote edits, and those reaction videos where someone says, “THIS BOOK RUINED ME” with mascara running down their cheeks.

Why Does Romantasy on TikTok Feel Like a Whole Mood?

If you scroll through BookTok for even a minute, you’ll see it: popular romantasy books everywhere. One second, you’re watching a book haul, the next you’re in a full spoiler video about chapter 42. This genre exploded, and TikTok was the spark. Fans post dramatic edits, wild reactions, and quotes that make people cry—and it works. People go from curious to obsessed really quickly.

So, why is romantasy such a hit? Easy: the tropes. You know, the ones that mess with your emotions. “Enemies to lovers” that make you scream. “Touch him and die” lines that hit way too hard. And those forbidden romances that are full of danger and tension. These books aren’t just fantasy with some romance—they’re packed with emotion, big moments, and magic that actually means something.

And it’s not just big publishers winning here. Indie romantasy books are doing amazing too—loudly. That’s thanks to affordable book editing services, which help self-published authors make their books clean, exciting, and just as good (sometimes even better) than the ones from big-name publishers. The writing is sharp, the stories flow well, and the drama never stops.

People who think romantasy is just “fun fantasy with kissing” are missing the point. These stories go deep. They deal with trauma, self-worth, rebellion, and found families. That’s why readers don’t just read them—they feel them. They cry, they write long reviews, and they preorder the sequel while still wiping away tears.

5 Best Romantasy Hits on TikTok That You Shouldn’t Miss

1. Fourth Wing

  • Writer: Rebecca Yarros
  • Series: The Empyrean
  • Ranking: ★★★★★
  • Book Count So Far: Two (with more on the way)
  • Theme: Dragon riders, forbidden love, war, rebellion, disability representation.

It’s been quite some time since we’ve seen a fantasy series take over social media the way Fourth Wing has. Think Twilight-level obsession meets Hunger Games intensity—but with dragons. Rebecca Yarros has managed to create a world that feels gritty, romantic, dangerous, and completely addictive. And BookTok? They can’t stop talking about it.

I wasn’t ready. That’s the first thing I’ll admit. I’d seen the TikToks, the edits, the swoony posts about Fourth Wing, and I thought, “Okay, it’s probably overhyped.” But I was wrong. This BookTok series hooked me from chapter one and left me breathless by the end.

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    Here’s the setup: Violet Sorrengail was supposed to join the Scribe Quadrant, living a soft life full of scrolls and silence. But her iron-willed general of a mother has other plans, throwing her straight into Basgiath War College to train as a dragon rider. The problem is, Violet’s fragile body isn’t exactly built for combat or survival. But this girl? She adapts. She fights smarter. And she bleeds for every win.

    What immediately hooked me was how real she feels. Violet’s not magically good at anything. She struggles. She doubts. But she also refuses to quit. Her determination feels so human, so familiar, it’s hard not to root for her.

    And then there’s Xaden Riorson—the broody, emotionally-armored rebel with knives in his eyes and secrets buried deep. He’s giving major Shadow and Bone General Kirigan vibes but with way better boundaries and a slow-burn romance that actually respects Violet’s voice. Every glance between them feels like a spark ready to light the world on fire.

    One of the best parts of Fourth Wing? The dragons aren’t just pets. They’re fully developed characters—sarcastic, proud, and fiercely loyal. Think Eragon meets How to Train Your Dragon, but with adult stakes and deadly consequences. You bond or you die. It’s that simple.

    If you’re wondering just how big this book is getting: within 72 hours of release, Fourth Wing sold out on Amazon and Book Depository, and the special edition started reselling for hundreds on eBay. That’s not luck—that’s a movement. According to Barnes & Noble, Fourth Wing became one of the fastest-selling romantasy titles in 2023, second only to ACOTAR.

    2. A Court of Thorns and Roses

    • Writer: Sarah J. Maas
    • Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses
    • Rating: ★★★★★
    • Status: Ongoing (spinoffs and continuation books in progress)
    • Book Count: Five core novels, with a sixth confirmed
    • Theme: Faerie politics, healing from trauma, and redefining love and power

    If you loved Twilight and wanted something more grown-up, ACOTAR is the perfect next romantasy read.

    This book made me understand why people re-read a series five times and still lose sleep over fictional fae. With over 740,000 copies sold in 2023 alone, Sarah J. Maas’ fan-favorite saga has carved out a permanent place in both fantasy and romance circles alike.

    A Court of Thorns and Roses (aka ACOTAR) starts like a fairytale retelling, with a mortal girl named Feyre who accidentally kills a fae in the woods and ends up being taken across the wall into the Spring Court. You think you know where this is going—curses, a beast-turned-prince, enemies-turned-lovers.

    But then Sarah J. Maas does what she’s best at: flips everything upside down.

    Feyre is not your soft, gentle heroine. She’s scrappy. She’s been keeping her family alive through sheer will and dirty boots. So, when she’s thrown into a world of magic, monsters, and fae who smile like they want to eat you, she doesn’t fall apart. She sharpens up.

    Her initial captor, Tamlin, seems noble and kind, and for a while, it’s easy to root for him. But something’s off. The romance is there, but so is control. And as Feyre learns more about the curse wrapped around the court, her understanding of love and power starts to shift.

    That’s when Rhysand walks in.

    I know we all have favorite book characters, but Rhys? He’s a game-changer. Smart, complex, emotionally layered, and shockingly respectful. Their dynamic doesn’t explode right away—it simmers. It’s thoughtful.

    TikTok’s been flooded with edits of Feyre whispering “I am not broken,” videos of her court outfits, and that one quote that lives rent-free in our heads: “I would rather lose this war than live without you.” You’ll find readers crying in the comments, arguing about scenes, and making moodboards that honestly deserve awards.

    From the intense emotional swings to the carefully built world, every chapter feels tight and clean. That’s not easy to pull off in a fantasy series with so many moving parts. A lot of that credit goes to the best professional editing services behind the scenes, because emotional chaos is great, but only when it’s polished to hit exactly where it hurts.

    So yeah, it broke us. And we loved it for that.

    3. The Serpent and the Wings of Night

    • Writer: Carissa Broadbent
    • Series: The Nightborn Duet (Book 1)
    • Rating: ★★★★1/2
    • Status: Completed
    • Book Count: Two core novels
    • Theme: Bloodthirsty vampire trials, survival, slow-burn romance, and finding strength in darkness.

    “You can’t kill a girl who’s already clawed her way out of hell.” — One of the many quotes from this book that’s gone viral on BookTok.

    Okay, I’ll be honest—I didn’t expect much when I heard vampires were popular again. I thought that phase ended after Twilight and all the sparkly drama. But once I started reading The Serpent, I was hooked in just a few chapters. This isn’t a typical vampire love story. It’s bold, intense, and full of real emotion.

    We start with Oraya, a human, who is raised by the vampire king in a world where mortals are prey. She’s trained to survive, trained to fight, and when a deadly tournament hosted by ancient gods opens up, she enters. Not for fame. For power. For control over a life that’s always tried to control her.

    Then, there’s Raihn. Vampire. Rival. Problem.

    He’s one of those morally gray heartthrobs who makes you question your standards. He flirts, but he’s serious. He’s deadly, but he listens. When he and Oraya are forced into a fragile alliance, every moment drips with tension. Not just romantic tension—emotional tension. Trust is earned the hard way, and you’ll be hooked from their very first scene together.

    Yes, the romance is there. But it’s never the whole story. What’s more important is the trust, the growth, and the respect they build from the battlefield up. That slow, deliberate tension is what BookTok is absolutely losing it over.

    What really makes this story stand out is the world itself. The lore is rich. The magic system has rules. The vampire courts are steeped in history, power, and danger. The gods? They meddle. The politics? Messy. It’s all written in a way that feels clear and alive—probably thanks to professional book editing services that helped sharpen every scene, every beat, every moment of heart-pounding tension.

    Carissa Broadbent brings vampires back with depth, grit, and real emotional stakes. Oraya’s journey isn’t clean or easy. It’s powerful. And by the end, you won’t just root for her—you’ll believe in her.

    This one isn’t just a trending romantasy hit. It’s taking over.

    Hint: You’re about to meet your next favorite fictional character. Yes, it’s Raihn. (Well, it was for me.)

    4. From Blood and Ash

    • Writer: Jennifer L. Armentrout
    • Series: Blood and Ash
    • Rating: ★★★★½
    • Status: Expanding universe, with multiple spin-offs
    • Book Count: Seven books and counting
    • Theme: Destiny, forbidden love, ancient magic, rebellion.

    “We’re getting married. Or I’m killing you. Either way, you’re mine.”

    (Yeah, that line lives rent-free on BookTok.)

    From Blood and Ash isn’t here to gently guide you into a romantasy world—it grabs you by the collar and pulls you straight into danger, secrets, and the kind of chemistry that could probably shatter a glass window.

    The story starts with Poppy, a young woman known as “the Maiden”—a role that sounds holy but feels more like a prison. She’s not allowed to talk to anyone, show her face, or even choose how to spend her day. She’s meant to stay pure until something called the Ascension, a mysterious event wrapped in tradition. But Poppy? She’s not waiting quietly. She’s sneaking out with a dagger hidden under her dress.

    Then we meet Hawke, the new royal guard with charm so smooth you’ll side-eye him on page one. He’s flirty. He’s sharp. And—plot twist—you just know he’s hiding something. Their connection isn’t instant fireworks. The chemistry builds slowly, tightly, electrically, and is impossible to ignore.

    Every conversation, every brush of a hand, every challenge between them pulls tighter. It’s addictive.

    But the book doesn’t just lean on romance. The world around them is layered with danger. Sacred leaders hold twisted secrets. The kingdom’s rules feel more like cages. The deeper Poppy digs, the more you realize this isn’t just about one girl breaking rules. It’s about tearing down a broken system.

    Here’s the part that really works: the pacing. The dialogue snaps. The action keeps moving. The emotional beats land with force. It’s clear this wasn’t just good writing—it was clean, purposeful storytelling, likely sharpened by affordable professional editing services that helped tighten every chapter. No fluff, no wasted scenes—just pure impact.

    BookTok? Fully unhinged in the best way. There are memes about Poppy’s dagger obsession. There are crying reviews from readers who thought they were picking up a fun romantasy and ended up emotionally wrecked. Yes, there are 3 a.m. videos of people gasping during that final reveal.

    Poppy’s journey is bold, messy, and powerful. She’s not a damsel. Hawke isn’t a one-note hero. And their world? It’s dripping in tension, blood, and rebellion.

    By the last page, you won’t just want book two—you’ll need it.

    5. The Plated Prisoner

    • Writer: Raven Kennedy
    • Series: The Plated Prisoner
    • Rating: ★★★★☆
    • Status: Active (final book releasing in 2025)
    • Book Count: Five books published, sixth and final book upcoming
    • Theme: Power, toxic love, transformation, survival, and taking back control.

    I didn’t expect The Plated Prisoner Series to hit this hard.

    When I started reading Gild, I thought it would be a fun twist on the Midas story—some gold, maybe a love triangle, something light. But what I got was something much deeper. A raw, emotional story about a woman figuring out her worth—and it kept me hooked from the first page.

    We meet Auren, a girl literally living in a golden cage. Her skin is covered in gold, and she belongs to King Midas, who says he saved her. He gives her everything… except freedom. Auren believes he loves her. She believes she’s lucky to be his. And for a while, we even believed it, too.

    Here’s where this series stands out: Auren’s growth is gradual and messy, full of doubts, relapses, and hard lessons. But she keeps going. And eventually, she starts to believe she deserves more.

    What makes this so gripping isn’t just the transformation—it’s the honesty. Kennedy exposes emotional abuse in a way that feels authentic, and she redefines survival as something earned, not given. She does it without making Auren a passive victim or an instant badass.

    The romance? It’s slow. But it feels safe, honest, and earned. When Auren starts to trust someone who doesn’t want to control her—someone who sees her as a person, not property—it feels like a breath of fresh air.

    This isn’t a romantasy about a prince saving a girl. It’s about a girl saving herself.

    The world-building is rich but never heavy. There are multiple kingdoms, all distinct, with politics that make sense and power players who don’t just exist to move the plot. The magic is subtle, symbolic, and always tied to identity and freedom, not just flashy spells or glowing swords.

    The world in this series is big and detailed—different kingdoms, politics, magic—but it’s not confusing. It’s built in a way that’s easy to follow, and every part of it helps Auren’s story. The magic isn’t flashy—it’s tied to freedom, identity, and choice.

    If you liked Circe, Lore Olympus, or The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, this will give you the same emotional punch—but with more spice and more fire.

    And BookTok? Totally obsessed. Readers are talking about how this story handles emotional abuse, healing, and learning to take back control. Auren’s journey doesn’t feel like fiction—it feels real.

    But Is It Just Hype? Why These Books Actually Stay with You

    Some people think romantasy is just another trend. But if you spend even a few minutes on BookTok, you’ll see it’s way more than that. Readers aren’t just reading—they’re staying up all night, crying over characters, re-reading favorite parts, and even getting tattoos inspired by the books.

    What makes these stories so powerful is how they mix emotion with adventure. The romance gives us sweet moments, long looks, and slow-building love that feels real. But the fantasy side brings big risks—battles, ancient curses, betrayals, and tough choices.

    A lot of these stories come from indie authors, not huge publishing companies. But they still feel super professional. That’s because writers now have access to affordable book editing services that help make their books clean, strong, and exciting. Indie authors can take risks and write bold stories that don’t hold back, and readers love that.

    This is what keeps people coming back:

    • The emotional payoff that doesn’t feel forced.
    • The characters that feel like friends, enemies, and lovers all at once.
    • The fantasy settings that ask you to believe in something bigger, but make it personal.

    Whether it’s the emotional weight in A Court of Thorns and Roses or the deadly trials in The Serpent and the Wings of Night, these books know exactly what they’re doing. And the hype? It’s more than deserved.

    Wrap Up: Add These to Your TBR, Now!

    We get it—your reading list is probably already full. But these five romantasy favorites? You need to move them to the top. Whether you love slow-burn love, battle scenes, heartbreak, or characters who live in the gray area, these books give you everything.

    They’re not just popular romantasy series. They’re the kind that steal your heart, keep you up at night, and leave you staring at the wall when you finish.

    And thanks to more indie authors using affordable professional editing services, these books are better than ever—tight writing, strong pacing, and all the drama you could want.

    So go ahead—light a candle, pour your favorite drink, grab some snacks, and get your tab stickers ready.

    Once you meet these characters… there’s no going back.
    Happy reading—and may your favorite fictional crushes never break your heart (too much).

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Do I need to read the books in order?

    Yes, it’s better to start from the beginning. Most romantasy books are part of a series, and reading in order helps you understand the story, the characters, and all the important moments as they grow and change.

    What’s the difference between romantasy and fantasy?

    Romantasy gives equal time to both the love story and the magic. In other books, romance is just a side thing—but here, both the love and the fantasy matter a lot. That’s why these stories feel so deep and powerful.

    Why do indie romantasy books feel so well written?

    Many indie authors use affordable writing and editing services to make their books clear, exciting, and emotional. That’s one big reason why some of the best romantasy series today are self-published—they still read just as well as the big ones.

    I don’t usually read fantasy—should I try these?

    Yes! These books focus more on feelings and relationships than on complex worlds. Even if you’re new to fantasy, you’ll enjoy the strong characters, emotional moments, and love stories that keep you turning the pages.

    What should I look for when choosing the best romantasy books?

    Look at the themes like enemies to lovers, magic schools, or forbidden romance. Check reviews to see if it’s part of a series, and how readers feel about the characters and pacing.


    About Author

    Hi My name is Micheal Adams, When I am not watching horror movies and helping my kids with homework or reading my favorite fantasy/supernatural novels – I’m writing to guide aspiring authors. I focus on exploring and simplifying both the technical aspects and the often-overlooked details of book writing and publishing so I can empower new writers to climb the Amazon bestseller list and connect with more readers.

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