#2 Rebel Witch (The Crimson Moth #2) by Kristen Ciccarelli

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Goodreads 4.2 185,522 ratings / 27,729 reviews

Quick take: A punchy, romantic finale that trades ballroom intrigue for open rebellion as Rune’s uneasy alliance with Queen Cressida collides with Gideon’s witch-hunter loyalties. Love, lies, and revolution—turned up to eleven.

What works:

• High-stakes scope: the map widens (foreign courts, shifting alliances) while the central romance stays combustible.
• Enemies-to-lovers under pressure: Rune/Gideon chemistry crackles; banter and “we might have to kill each other” tension are well balanced.
• Smart sequel moves: political marriage gambits and assassination missions keep the plot motoring and the choices messy.

What might not:

• Darker tone & heavier politics: less masquerade sparkle, more war planning; some readers may miss book one’s glam disguises.
• Morally gray whiplash: betrayals and reversals are the point—if you want clear white-hat/black-hat lines, brace yourself.

Vibe & tropes: Enemies-to-lovers • witch × witch-hunter • forced alliance • political engagement • rebellion against a regime • dual POV cat-and-mouse.

Intensity & peril: ⚔️⚔️⚔️(call it 3.5, moderate-high). Frequent skirmishes, assassination attempts, and captivity sequences; romance stays integral but doesn’t eclipse the war stakes.

Content notes: War violence, blood, death; torture; kidnapping/imprisonment; on-page sex (moderate detail).

Verdict: A satisfying, high-momentum capstone to a buzzy duology—spikier, steam-touched, and ambitiously political. Fans of forbidden romance amid revolution will eat it up.

Book-Critic Score 4.3/5

#3 Metal Slinger (Fire & Metal, #1) by Rachel Schneider

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Goodreads 4.26 87,222 ratings / 17,207 reviews

Quick take: A splashy romantasy kickoff that blends seafaring adventure, secrets of identity, and a slow-building attraction between a duty-bound soldier and a heroine whose loyalties are about to be tested.

What works:

• Cinematic set pieces (storm-tossed seas, knife fights) keep the pace brisk.
• Romance under pressure: sparks fly as oaths, capture-or-protect dilemmas, and fate tug the leads in opposite directions.
• Series runway: as book one of a duology, it lays strong emotional and plot foundations while teasing bigger magic to come.

What might not:

• Cliffhanger energy: the arc saves payoffs for book two by design.
• Worldbuilding terms and politics arrive fast; some readers may want a slower on-ramp. (Inference from early series entries)

Vibe & tropes: Sea-quest romantasy • enemies-to-reluctant-allies • oath-bound soldier × hidden-past heroine • rebellion rumblings.

Intensity & peril: ⚔️⚔️⚔️ (3.5, moderate-high) — frequent skirmishes, shipboard danger, and pursuit.

Content notes: Violence and peril at sea; threats of capture; identity revelations; romantic tension.

Verdict: Propulsive and kiss-charged—an energetic series opener that should hit the sweet spot for romantasy fans who like danger with their desire.

Book-Critic Score 4.4/5 stars.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

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#4 The Knight and the Moth (The Stonewater Kingdom #1) by Rachel Gillig

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Goodreads 4.33 107,489 ratings / 25,723 reviews

Quick take: A mist-soaked, gothic romantasy about a Diviner who drowns for visions and the irreverent knight she can’t predict—an atmospheric series opener that pairs yearning with quest-driven momentum.

What works:

• World & mood: wind-lashed moors, a cathedral that demands a decade of service from foundling girls, and an eerie magic system built around six Omens.
• Character pairing: Sybil (“Six”), an isolated prophetess, and Roderick, the skeptical knight whose future is hidden from her—instant friction, slow trust.
• Quest hook: disappearances among Sybil’s cohort and a kingdom-spanning journey with royal stakes keep pages turning.

What might not:

• Cliffhanger energy / series setup: some emotional and plot payoffs are reserved for later books.
• Pacing bumps: the blend of politics, lore terms, and travel can feel dense in the middle for readers craving constant romance beats. (Synthesis of multiple reviews.)

Vibe & tropes: Gothic romantasy • reluctant allies → slow burn • skeptic knight × seer heroine • found family (ragtag company) • royal/political intrigue • sacred-ritual magic.

Intensity & peril: ⚔️⚔️⚔️ (3.5, moderate–high) — recurring danger (ritual drowning, skirmishes, abductions), steady tension; romance simmers beneath the quest.

Content notes: Ritualized drowning/near-death visions; kidnapping/disappearances; violence in battle; religious control/coercion of teens; grief/trauma.

Verdict: Lush, haunting, and emotionally tuned—this delivers big atmosphere and a compelling duo while setting the chessboard for the series. If you like yearning + knives in a fog-draped world, it’s a strong start.

Book-Critic Score 4.1/5 stars.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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#5 Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Goodreads 4.04 82,166 ratings / 18,824 reviews

Quick take: A dark, centuries-spanning tale of hunger, desire, and becoming that traces three sapphic vampires across eras—from 1827 London to modern day—told with Schwab’s lush, incantatory prose.

What works:

• Big canvas, intimate stakes: braided timelines and shifting locales give the story sweep while keeping the women’s inner lives razor-clear.
• Gothic atmosphere for days: estates, shadowed alleys, and clandestine invitations (hello, beautiful widow) set a moody, irresistible tone.
• Focused themes: feminine rage, appetite, and the cost of freedom recur in satisfying, haunting ways.

What might not:

• Nonlinear structure and time jumps can feel elliptical; some readers may want more on-page connective tissue between centuries.
• The book is more literary gothic than action-driven fantasy; expectations of nonstop plot may need tuning.

Vibe & tropes: Gothic romantasy • immortality & identity • monstrous beauty • sapphic longing • predator/prey inversion • found-family edges, but mostly intimate tri-character focus.

Intensity & peril: ⚔️⚔️ (low to moderate). Periodic violence, predation, and menace; distressing turns, but not grimdark.

Content notes: Blood/feeding; death and stalking peril; coercive dynamics; queer relationships; references to societal repression across eras. #1 Best Seller in LGBTQ+ Fantasy

Verdict: Lyrical, eerie, and emotionally sharp. If you want a vampire novel that feels mythic and intimate rather than splashy and battle-heavy, this one lingers.

Book-Critic Score 3.6/5 stars.

#6 Katabasis by R.F. Kuang

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Goodreads 4.0 21,019 ratings / 7,030 reviews

Quick take: Dark-academia fantasy with a razor smile. Two rival grad students descend into Hell to retrieve their late adviser’s soul, and the book gleefully skewers ambition, mentorship, and the machinery of academia along the way.

What works:

• Academic satire with bite. Kuang turns campus politics and exploitation into a hellscape that feels pointed and funny.
• Inventive worldbuilding. “Analytic magick,” chalk as conduit, and 1980s Cambridge give the story a fresh texture.
• High-concept quest, tight focus. The underworld journey keeps momentum while the rivals-to-partners dynamic carries the heart.

What might not:

• Heady and dense. Heavy theory, long debates, and a talky magic system will thrill some readers and exhaust others.
• Tonally polarizing. The mix of satire and horror, plus an intentionally “academic” pacing, has split critics.

Vibe & tropes: Dark academia • rivals to reluctant allies • underworld odyssey • mentor worship deconstructed • 1980s campus setting • bureaucratic Hell.

Intensity & peril: ⚔️⚔️⚔️(moderate). Trials and menace in the underworld, more psychological and satirical than gore-driven.

Content notes: Death and a lab accident; grief and depression; suicide and chronic illness referenced; coercive academic power dynamics; occult imagery; episodic underworld violence.

Verdict: Ambitious, sharp, and knowingly thorny. If you want a campus novel that literalizes “academic hell” and argues with itself out loud, this delivers big ideas and barbed fun, even if the discourse sometimes slows the fire.

Book Critic Score 3.9/5 stars

#7 Arcana Academy (Arcana Academy #1) by Elise Kova

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Goodreads 4.04 10,741 ratings / 3,465 reviews

Quick take: A tarot-driven dark-academia romantasy where a thief with forbidden “inking” magic enters a fake engagement with the academy’s headmaster to pull off a high-stakes heist. Expect intrigue, courts, and slow-burn tension.

What works:

• Fresh magic system: tarot cards, “inking,” and Major Arcana lore give the world distinctive rules and visuals.
• High-concept setup with momentum: Clara Graysword’s prison sentence, Eclipse City underworld roots, and the headmaster’s deal create immediate stakes.
• Academy + heist blend: secret identities, court politics, and a simmering partnership keep pages turning; the tone fits adult dark-academia romance.

What might not:

• Length & density: at ~576 pages, lore terms and political threads can slow the mid-book for readers craving constant romance beats.
• Power dynamics: the headmaster/royal angle inside a fake engagement may not work for everyone. (Based on premise details.)
• Series setup: some reveals are saved for later installments, leaving a few threads open.

Vibe & tropes: Dark academia • fake engagement • headmaster/prince × thief • heist/steal-the-card quest • secret identity at an elite academy • political intrigue.

Intensity & peril: ⚔️⚔️⚔️ (moderate). Prison threat, academy hazards, heist stakes, and periodic skirmishes; not grimdark.

Content notes: Imprisonment/coercion; class hierarchy and academic hazing; magical violence; court politics; deception/forced proximity within a faux engagement.

Verdict: Stylish, trope-savvy, and immersive—a strong series opener with a distinctive tarot system and plenty of intrigue. If you’re into academy heists and slow-burn authority/rogue dynamics, this deals a winning hand.

Book-Critic Score 4.5/5 stars

#8 The Night Ends with Fire (The Dragon Spirit #1) by K.X. Song

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Goodreads 3.79 14,359 ratings / 3,392 reviews

Quick take: A girl destined for an arranged marriage flees her abusive home by disguising herself as a soldier, only to discover a forbidden dragon spirit awakening within her. Expect Mulan-inspired rebellion, morally gray choices, and a brush with dangerous magic.

What works:

• Ambitious heroine: Meilin isn’t motivated by duty alone but by anger and a hunger for freedom, giving the retelling sharp emotional edges.
• Dark mythic undercurrent: The dragon spirit and whispers of forbidden power raise the story beyond a simple war epic.
• Themes of loyalty vs. ambition: Family, identity, and betrayal clash against the backdrop of a kingdom at war.

What might not:

• Uneven pacing: The first half meanders with training and setup before the stakes sharpen in the latter sections.
• Romance threads: Some relationships feel rushed or underdeveloped, distracting from the stronger political and magical arcs.
• Magic system clarity: The rules around the dragon spirit can feel vague, leaving some readers wanting more definition.

Vibe & tropes: War fantasy • girl-disguised-as-boy soldier • forbidden spirit companion • prince’s army intrigue • morally gray power • betrayal and loyalty tests.

Intensity & peril: ⚔️⚔️⚔️ (moderate). Warfare, imprisonment, and supernatural danger; the tone grows darker mid-book, but not full grimdark.

Content notes: Domestic abuse and arranged marriage; patriarchal oppression; battle violence; hints of torture; morally corrupt magic; manipulative romance dynamics.

Verdict: A bold retelling that swaps honor for ambition, The Night Ends with Fire offers a heroine with bite, layered conflicts, and a simmer of dark magic. Not flawless in execution, but it shines when it leans into its mythic intensity and moral ambiguity. A strong pick for readers who want their Mulan-style tales with grit and shadows.

Book-Critic Score 3.8/5

#9 Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Goodreads 3.83 13,145 ratings / 3,133 reviews

Quick take: A princess bound by duty, a kingdom on the edge of ruin, and an immortal enemy who might become something more. Immortal blends mythic fantasy with slow-burn romance, weaving a tale of betrayal, vengeance, and desire that tests the boundaries between mortal and divine.

What works:

• Strong heroine with conviction: Liyen’s loyalty, ambition, and grief give the story emotional heft.
• Rich worldbuilding: Immortal realms, enchanted lotus, and divine politics add grandeur and atmosphere.
• Romantic tension: The enemies-to-lovers arc with Zhangwei, the God of War, carries sparks and emotional stakes.
• Layered themes: Duty vs. desire, freedom vs. oppression, and loyalty vs. betrayal resonate throughout.

What might not:

• Pacing dips: The middle sometimes lingers too long or rushes key events.
• Trope predictability: Familiar beats (forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers) may feel overly expected for seasoned romantasy readers.
• Relationship swings: Liyen and Zhangwei’s dynamics can shift abruptly, undercutting tension.
• Exposition balance: Some lore is told rather than shown, occasionally slowing immersion.

Vibe & tropes: Romantic fantasy • enemies-to-lovers • forced proximity • immortal vs. mortal stakes • kingdom on the brink • vengeance and betrayal • forbidden magic.

Intensity & peril: ⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️ (high). Political intrigue, immortal wrath, magical peril, and emotional betrayal drive the tension. Violence and betrayal weigh as heavily as romance.

Content notes: Death of family members; war violence and bloodshed; betrayal and manipulation; patriarchal constraints; supernatural battles; mild romantic intimacy (closed-door).

Verdict: Immortal is lush, romantic, and myth-steeped—a story that thrives on big stakes and bigger emotions. While some pacing and trope reliance may keep it from perfection, Sue Lynn Tan delivers a sweeping tale that will satisfy romantasy fans who crave enemies-to-lovers tension in a world brimming with gods, duty, and dangerous desire.

Book-Critic Score 4.1/5

#10 Silver Elite (Silver Elite #1) by Dani Francis

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Goodreads 4.09 95,222 ratings / 19,272 reviews

Quick take: A dystopian romantasy debut that blends elite military training, psychic gifts, and forbidden attraction. Silver Elite delivers high tension, emotional stakes, and addictive tropes—perfect for readers who enjoy fast-paced, high-risk romances in oppressive worlds.

What works:

• A heroine with layered stakes: Wren, secretly gifted as a Mod, is forced into the enemy’s elite Silver Block program. Her constant balancing act—hiding her powers, surviving brutal training, and infiltrating the very system built to destroy her—creates compelling tension.
• Relentless stakes: The danger of exposure, the harshness of the training, and the political backdrop of Mod persecution give the story urgency.
• Romantic slow burn: Wren’s push-pull relationship with Cross Redden, her commanding officer and the son of the regime’s leader, keeps the tension sharp and the emotional core intense.
• World with moral complexity: The divide between Mods and Primes, the legacy of toxins, and the brewing rebellion give the narrative weight and raise difficult questions about power and survival.

What might not:

• Familiarity in tropes: Military academies, hidden powers, and enemies-to-lovers dynamics are well-worn ground. While the story is engaging, it doesn’t always break new territory.
• Pacing shifts: The middle portion leans heavily on training and secrecy, which can slow momentum before the plot kicks into higher gear.
• Romantic imbalance: The power difference between Wren and Cross occasionally feels uneasy, and some moments of their attraction move quickly without enough buildup.
• World-building gaps: While the core conflict is gripping, certain aspects of the larger regime and its systems could use more fleshing out to feel fully realized.

Vibe & tropes: Dystopian militarized world • psychic powers kept secret • enemies to lovers • commander × recruit • secret identity • training trials • rebellion brewing beneath the surface.

Intensity & peril: ⚔️⚔️⚔️ (moderate-high). Between the ruthless training, constant threat of exposure, and political oppression, the danger feels ever-present. The romance raises the stakes further, tying survival to emotional vulnerability.

Content notes: Contains frequent violence, from brutal military training to the persecution of Mods who face execution if discovered. Death and betrayal are recurring themes, with characters put in life-threatening positions and secrets that shatter trust. The romance includes moments of lust and intimacy, with a notable imbalance of power between a commander and his subordinate that may not sit comfortably with everyone.

Verdict: Silver Elite is a fast-paced, tension-driven start to a new dystopian romantasy series. While it leans on familiar tropes and sometimes lingers too long in setup, the strong heroine, constant danger, and emotionally charged romance make it an addictive read. For fans of series like Divergent or Fourth Wing who want a fresh spin on hidden powers and forbidden attraction, this delivers a satisfying and dramatic opener.

Book-Critic Score 4.3/5