Calling all fantasy bookworms!
Stuck in a reading slump? Have you been reading book after book only to find that the plot, players, and worlds all feel a bit repetitive? Experiencing difficulty engaging and connecting to the characters? Or are you craving for pages that will make you really feel—even if they break your heart? Look no further!
We’ve curated this list of stories that will give you the rush of emotion you need. They’re all thought-provoking tales of characters falling in love, getting their heart broken, experiencing betrayal, loss and grief, and overcoming immense obstacles—stories that are bound to stay with you for a long time. Not only are these a gut punch, but they’ll give you a major book hangover!
Grab your favorite blanket and a lot of tissues and cozy up! You’re going to be doing a lot of ugly crying with these 13 extraordinary and emotional titles. Don’t worry—there are no spoilers in the discussion below!
Devastating Fantasy Books
1. Lies We Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood
Prepare to cry your heart out! Lies We Sing to the Sea will leave you emotionally wrecked. This is queer story inspired by Penelope’s twelve maidens that touches on potent themes of imbalances of power, violence against women, and feminine rage. This debut is beautiful and complex, with a plot that is enthralling and fleshed-out characters who will stay with you long after you close the book shut.
This dazzling sapphic fantasy inspired by Greek mythology will captivate fans of Circe and The Song of Achilles.
Each spring, Ithaca condemns twelve maidens to the noose. This is the price vengeful Poseidon demands for the lives of Queen Penelope’s twelve maids, hanged and cast into the depths centuries ago.
But when that fate comes for Leto, death is not what she thought it would be. Instead, she wakes on a mysterious island and meets a girl with green eyes and the power to command the sea. A girl named Melantho, who says one more death can stop a thousand.
The prince of Ithaca must die—or the tides of fate will drown them all.
2. A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass
A Thousand Heartbeats is a standalone novel by the same author who graced our bookshelves with The Selection series. This romance will sweep you off your feet…and clear you of every single tissue inside your home. The main character will quickly become one of your all-time favorite heroines and inspire you with her strength and determination. Political intrigue, betrayals, slow-burn romance, action, a star- crossed love who finds itself ripped apart by war—this story has everything a fantasy reader could want.
“Love has a sound. It sounds like a thousand heartbeats happening at the same time.”
Princess Annika has lived a life of comfort—but no amount of luxuries can change the fact that her life isn’t her own to control. The king, once her loving father, has gone cold, and Annika will soon be forced into a loveless marriage for political gain.
Miles away, small comforts are few and far between for Lennox. He has devoted his life to the Dahrainian army, hoping to one day help them reclaim the throne that was stolen from them. For Lennox, the idea of love is merely a distraction—nothing will stand in the way of fighting for his people.
But when love, against all odds, finds them both, they are bound by its call. They can’t possibly be together—but the irresistible thrum of a thousand heartbeats won’t let them stay apart.
Kiera Cass brings her signature sparkling romance to this beautiful story of star-crossed lovers and long-held secrets.
3. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Six of Crows is set in the Grishaverse, the world of the Shadow and Bone series, taking place in an alternate Netherlands instead of Russia. It features main characters who are convicts and thieves, and each of them is fleshed out and vividly brought to life with their own individual and beautiful backstories. You’ll grow to immensely care for each of them, as if they were your IRL friends and they’ll easily make their way into your heart. They all come together as a team throughout these pages, which will for sure leave you emotional and heartbroken.
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price–and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone. . . .
A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.
Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction–if they don’t kill each other first.
4. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
For fans of second chance romance! This fantasy novel is a Romeo and Juliet retelling filled with longing and yearning that’ll leave you screaming, crying, and quickly picking up the sequel.
“You destroy me and then you kiss me. You give me reason to hate you and then you give me reason to love you. Is this a lie or the truth? Is this a ploy or is your heart reaching for me?”
The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery.
A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang—a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette’s first love…and first betrayal.
But when gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing their own throats out, the people start to whisper. Of a contagion, a madness. Of a monster in the shadows. As the deaths stack up, Juliette and Roma must set their guns—and grudges—aside and work together, for if they can’t stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.
Perfect for fans of The Last Magician and Descendant of the Crane, this heart-stopping debut is an imaginative Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, with rival gangs and a monster in the depths of the Huangpu River.
5. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
Bree, the protagonist of Legendborn, is an inspiring lead whose story unfolds in a world featuring a unique magic system on a campus with some serious dark academia vibes. With fleshed out characters, this tale touches on themes of racism, oppression, generational trauma, and grief.
After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC-Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape–until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus.
A flying demon feeding on human energies. A secret society of so called “Legendborn” students that hunt the creatures down. And a mysterious teenage mage who calls himself a “Merlin” and who attempts–and fails–to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw.
The mage’s failure unlocks Bree’s own unique magic and a buried memory with a hidden connection: the night her mother died, another Merlin was at the hospital. Now that Bree knows there’s more to her mother’s death than what’s on the police report, she’ll do whatever it takes to find out the truth, even if that means infiltrating the Legendborn as one of their initiates.
She recruits Nick, a self-exiled Legendborn with his own grudge against the group, and their reluctant partnership pulls them deeper into the society’s secrets–and closer to each other. But when the Legendborn reveal themselves as the descendants of King Arthur’s knights and explain that a magical war is coming, Bree has to decide how far she’ll go for the truth and whether she should use her magic to take the society down–or join the fight.
6. Only a Monster by Vanessa Len
Only a Monster is a mesmerizing and unpredictable time travel saga that will stir up endless emotions. Monsters, rich world building, a love triangle, revenge, and time thieves—you’ll need a few days (or weeks) to sort out all your feelings after getting done with its final page. On her quest, the heroine finds her true self (and steals a piece of your heart).
The sweeping romance of Passenger meets the dark fantasy edge of This Savage Song in this stunning contemporary fantasy debut from Vanessa Len, where the line between monster and hero is razor thin.
Don’t forget the rule. No one can know what you are. What we are. You must never tell anyone about monsters.
Joan has just learned the truth: her family are monsters, with terrifying, hidden powers.
And the cute boy at work isn’t just a boy: he’s a legendary monster slayer, who will do anything to destroy her family.
To save herself and her family, Joan will have to do what she fears most: embrace her own monstrousness. Because in this story…she is not the hero.
Dive deep into the world of Only a Monster: hidden worlds dwell in the shadows, beautiful monsters with untold powers walk among humans, and secrets are the most powerful weapon of all.
7. The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth
Five years ago, Evelyn and Philippa Hapwell cowered from air strikes in a London bomb shelter. But that night took a turn when the sisters were transported to another realm called the Woodlands. In a forest kingdom populated by creatures out of myth and legend, they found temporary refuge.
When they finally returned to London, nothing had changed at all—nothing, except themselves.
Now, Ev spends her days sneaking into the woods outside her boarding school, wishing for the Woodlands. Overcome with longing, she is desperate to return no matter what it takes.
Philippa, on the other hand, is determined to find a place in this world. She shields herself behind a flawless exterior and countless friends, and moves to America to escape the memory of what was.
But when Evelyn goes missing, Philippa must confront the depth of her sister’s despair and the painful truths they’ve been running from. As the weeks unfold, Philippa wonders if Ev truly did find a way home, or if the weight of their worlds pulled her under.
Content Warnings
The Light Between Worlds portrays characters dealing with depression, self-harm, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideation, illness and disordered eating, and the loss of a loved one. It refers to possible suicide, contains scenes of violence and war, and brief mentions may be unsettling to readers with emetophobia. If you have any questions about these warnings, or require more details, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via the contact page on the author’s website.
8. Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
Once Upon a Broken Heart is a spinoff of the Caraval series, but it can be read as a standalone series of its own. Throughout your reading, you’ll want to both devour and savor this tale, full of new wonders and marvelous plot twists until its very end. Be prepared for quotes like the following to break you into pieces:
“Heroes don’t get happy endings. They give them to other people.”
“He was a thousand cuts happening all at once. Devastation made of hair as blue as dark ocean waves, and lips sharp as cracked glass that would delightedly cut her.”
How far would you go for happily ever after?
For as long as she can remember, Evangeline Fox has believed in true love and happy endings… until she learns that the love of her life will marry another.
Desperate to stop the wedding and to heal her wounded heart, Evangeline strikes a deal with the charismatic but wicked Prince of Hearts. In exchange for his help, he asks for three kisses, to be given at the time and place of his choosing.
But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that bargaining with an immortal is a dangerous game—and that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’d pledged. He has plans for Evangeline, plans that will either end in the greatest happily ever after or the most exquisite tragedy…
9. This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi
Tahereh Mafi completely spellbinds and enchants you in This Woven Kingdom. Her prose is devastatingly beautiful with dialogue that is utterly mesmerizing—you can’t help but lose yourself. This novel is driven by both plot and character, with worldbuilding that’ll make you forget about your own world.
New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller! Clashing empires, forbidden romance, and a long-forgotten queen destined to save her people—Tahereh Mafi’s first in an epic, romantic trilogy inspired by Persian mythology.
To all the world, Alizeh is a disposable servant, not the long-lost heir to an ancient Jinn kingdom forced to hide in plain sight.
The crown prince, Kamran, has heard the prophecies foretelling the death of his king. But he could never have imagined that the servant girl with the strange eyes, the girl he can’t put out of his mind, would one day soon uproot his kingdom—and the world.
Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Tomi Adeyemi, and Sabaa Tahir, this is the explosive first book in a new fantasy trilogy from the New York Times bestselling and National Book Award-nominated author Tahereh Mafi.
10. Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
A definite must-read for fans of the enemies-to-lover trope, this fantasy centers on a romance between a witch and witch hunter. It’s fast-paced, heart wrenching, angsty, and absolutely satisfying and won’t be able to be pried from your hands until you reach the last page. Be prepared to be swept away with the undeniable chemistry in this tale of forbidden love.
Bound as one, to love, honor, or burn.
Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.
As a huntsman of the Church, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. But when Lou pulls a wicked stunt, the two are forced into an impossible situation—marriage.
Lou, unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, must make a choice. And love makes fools of us all.
Set in a world of powerful women, dark magic, and off-the-charts romance, this stunning fantasy will leave readers burning for more.
11. Master of One by Jaida Jones and Dani Bennett
Told through multiple POVs, Master of One unfolds as a slow-burn soft romance, taking you on an emotional, fantastical quest. You’ll become immersed in the prose, impeccable world building, and characters, and the ending will have you screaming.
Rags the thief has never met a pocket he couldn’t pick, but when he’s captured by a sorcerer with world-ending plans, he realizes even he is in over his head. Forced to use his finely honed skills to nab pieces of an ancient fae relic, Rags is stunned to discover that those “relics” just happen to be people:
A distractingly handsome Fae prince,
A too-honorable Queensguard deserter,
A scrappy daughter of a disgraced noble family,
A deceptively sweet-natured prince,
A bona fide member of the Resistance,
And him. Rags.
They may all be captives in the sorcerer’s terrible scheme, but that won’t stop them from fighting back. And, sure, six unexpected allies against one wicked enemy doesn’t make for generous odds, but lucky for him, Rag’s not generous—he’s smart. And he has a plan that just might get them out of this alive.
With the heist and intrigue of Six of Crows and the dark fairy tale feel of The Cruel Prince, this young adult fantasy debut will have readers rooting for a pair of reluctant heroes as they take on a world-ending fae prophecy, a malicious royal plot, and, most dangerously of all, their feelings for each other.
12. The Shadow Between Us (The Shadow Between Us, #1) by Tricia Levenseller
Read this if you love a heroine who is unapologetically herself and stays true to what she values most. In Shadow Between Us, she’s all these things, as well as smart, passionate, ruthless, and evil. But don’t let the synopsis fool you, this book is so much more than a romance—it’s about betrayal, twisted politics, power, and vengeance. It is guaranteed to make your heart burst.
Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power:
1) Woo the Shadow King.
2) Marry him.
3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.
No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it.
But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen?
13. Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
Six Crimson Cranes gives off fairytale vibes, but don’t be mistaken because the princess doesn’t wait around to be saved in this one—she gets it done herself. This heroine relies on her wits to get herself through. With family and siblings who would do anything for each other, curses, dragons, demons, and sorcery, you’re guaranteed to stay up all night. Oh, and the yearning—it will rip out your heart.
Shiori’anma, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret. Forbidden magic runs through her veins. Normally she conceals it well, but on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, Shiori loses control. At first, her mistake seems like a stroke of luck, forestalling the wedding she never wanted. But it also catches the attention of Raikama, her stepmother.
A sorceress in her own right, Raikama banishes the young princess, turning her brothers into cranes. She warns Shiori that she must speak of it to no one: for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die.
Penniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers, and uncovers a dark conspiracy to seize the throne. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in a paper bird, a mercurial dragon, and the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. And she must embrace the magic she’s been taught all her life to forswear–no matter what the cost.