Well, most of what I read, anyway. I got really into romantasy books this year, and WOAH—I had no idea what I was missing out on! This genre is packed with series full of badass main characters who have beautiful steamy and sexy sex in the middle of wars and violent conflicts. I get it—the world is gonna end so you need to have sex while you still can. I love it. Same, girls, same. And I think this is why this is such a popular category for so many people—women in particular. We want to be these main characters! (Well, I do at least.)
I also read some witchy series, because I’m a huge fan of Zoraida Cordova’s Brooklyn Brujas Series and Incendiary Duology. I wanted to get lost in magical worlds, and in the minds of normal people having magical experiences, so I did. One of the series had very sexy scenes, the other was YA, so it did not, but I still loved it so much.
Anyways, I’m eager to dive in deeper with you all about these books series, so let’s get to it, besties!
01. The Witch Walker Series by Charissa Weaks
Raina Bloodgood, a bad bitch witch whose mute links up with ancient warrior hottie Alexus Thibault to fight against the Prince of the Eastland Territories. He’s trying to take over all the lands, burning villages and killing whoever stands in the way of his rule, but it turns out, he’s actually being manipulated by a god whose been waging a secret revenge war against our main character baddie, Raina for reasons she just does not know. This foo is over 300 years old, why is he fucking with her and her loved ones? Anyways, during their journey across the land warning others of the looming war whilst preparing to fight this monster of a Prince, Raina and Alexus fall in love and have a lot of sex—hot, hot sex—and come together romantically as a beautiful couple.
I heard The Witch Collector on audio from my local library, and I was hooked. Not only was I panting for the audio actor who read from Alexus’s point of view, but the end of the story literally had me in tears—happy tears. I loved it so much, I had to buy the physical copy and the following two books in the series, City of Ruin and The Wolf and The Witch.
What I like most about this series is the sex scenes don’t feel forced and are always consensual, and the way the story unfolds through the viewpoints of various characters gives this series a well-rounded feel. We’re not just isolated in Alexus’s and Raina’s world, we also get Raina’s sister (Nephele), a god, a king, a prince, and a godling’s point of view of what’s happening in this world. There’s a war brewing that stemmed from a god’s old grudge and the peace the world experienced is now under threat. These characters are determined to protect their homeland, their loved ones, and will do anything to see that through. I think it’s quite beautiful the way these characters live, laugh, and love-haha-even while facing certain death and destruction.
I won’t spoil the series for you, but I will tell you there’s a scene towards the end of The Wolf and The Witch that completely snatched me. Like, I was literally gasping and struggling for air during that scene. Let’s just say, 3 are better than 1 for Nephele Bloodgood. I, for one, was cheering her on the whole time. You’ll know what I mean when you read that part. 😉
There are 4 books currently published in the Witch Walker series and, 1 waiting to be published and the last is probably close to being ready for publishing.
Personally, I can’t wait to keep reading the main story of how Alexus and his team of badass Northlanders will defeat the Prince of the East. I think Kingdom of the Forgotten will be published in early 2025, but I hope I don’t have to wait too long to read A Gods’ War!
I’m a little torn about reading Tales of Tiressia because it’s a collection of spicy stories that likely to keep me reading in bed for an entire weekend. Not that that’s terrible, I just don’t want to neglect my responsibilities, but I just might with this book. ;p
Moving on.
02. The Gifts Series by Caroline O’Donoghue
To say this series holds a special place in my heart is an understatement. This was the first series I read in 2024 and it all started with my lover picking it up for me and saying, “Babe, I saw this book and it seems like something you’d really like.” I was reluctant, but he was right. I turned out to LOVE the entire series.
Our narrator is a hot-headed tender Irish teen named Maeve who basically brings back her best friend from the dead with the help of her reluctant friends. When the bestie in question goes missing, Maeve believes it was an evil spiritual entity and stops at nothing to bring down the evil doers she believes stole her best friend. Maeve is messy af, but damn do I love her.
My favorite things about this series is that the perceived villians are this group of white American Christians and that the story takes place in Ireland. Other favorites include the hot queer band where non binary babe Roe is the lead singer and Maeve naturally starting a coven to go up against the Christians. There’s also a diverse group of characters including non binary, Filipino, Black, and hard-of-hearing characters. The author did a great job of not tokenizing any of these characters, too, which I really appreciated.
There are 3 books total in The Gifts Series.
03. Saga Of The Unfated by Danielle L. Jenson
Anyone who knows me knows I love mythology. Doesn’t matter what country the mythology comes from, I am absolutely down to learn everything about it. And A Fate Inked in Blood is bursting with Norse mythology and steamy sexy romance.
I heard this book on audio, only after contemplating reading the physical book shortly after finishing the ACOTAR series. I needed to scratch my romantasy itch (as many of you have coined the term) and this book seemed like the perfect way Segway to continuing the romantasy genre. I can tell you without a doubt that this book was perfect for that reason. But also, the main characters Freya and Bjorn are “god-touched” which means they have supernatural powers in the modern world. A war is brewing, there’s political turmoil, and sexy cave sex. I was hooked from start to finish. I will mention that the audio actress has a Northern European accent, can’t tell from where, but she sounds Irish and/or Scottish and some of it was hard to understand since I speak American English, but I loved the story nonetheless.
There is only one book out in the saga right now and the second book, A Curse Carved In Stone, comes out in May 2025.
04. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Girls, I’m sorry, okay? I let y’all down. I caved. This book came recommended by so many people, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
After I read books 1-5 (all of them), I learned that the author was not someone I would’ve supported by buying their books because of their icky behavior. Reading is political, my friends, and we do vote with our dollars, so buying books from a problematic author made me feel icky and now i’m just adding my name to that waitlist at my local library once the final book(s) in the series are published. I simply must know the end of the story!
This series was my introduction (my like you all) to the entire romantasy genre, and the first book, A Court of Thorns and Roses, was ridiculous to me! The writing was easy to consume, there were clear metaphors in the story, and ruling faeries of Prythian are hunky and horny apparently. It was my first time reading very descriptive sex scenes in a book ever, so that kind of had me in a chokehold. Not before I cackled at Tam Tam pinning Feyre on a wall and dropping her cookie. That passage had me rolling! But Feyre was a stubborn b*, and we like that, so I kept reading and reading, especially because things got really violent at the end, I had to see where this story was going to go.
And though I quite enjoyed the very steamy sexy parts, like thoroughly enjoyed them, I did not really enjoy some of the stereotypical male and female behaviors. There were some behaviors the author breezed through nonchalanty like when the main male love interest assults the main female love interest (Feyre) and then justifies it because “it was an act to protect you”. It’s giving gaslighting and predatory behavior, but oh no, he’s charming and loving and protective. Yes, I was hot for Rhysand like all you feral bitches, too, but putting on a show like that should have been consensual always.
I’m glad I read the entire series, because when I was done with all the books, I googled similar series to read, and that’s how I came across The Witch Walker series by Charissa Weaks, which I personally think is much better pound for pound. (No pun intended). They both have hunky male love interests well over 100-years old, but Raina is at least in her 20s, whereas Feyre is literally still a teenager. I know compare all romantasy books to the ACOTAR standard and I will say that SJM set the bar pretty low with lazy writing and plots with glaring holes. I would not read these books again, but I am excited to finish the story once those books are published.
05. Wild Magic Series by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
As I mentioned a million times, I love stories about witches in the modern world. There’s something very Practical Magic and Charmed about them that I just can’t get enough of. And the Wild Magic series is just like that.
Witch of Wild Things was my first romance book I bought and read in its entirety. Girls, I was not impressed. I felt the main character was too naïve, and it felt like she deserved better in terms of how she thought about herself. I was not pleased with the writing at all, but the story was pretty interesting. The main plot is romance, but the subplot is about love and all the pain and loss that comes with it. It turned out to be a beautiful story about three magical sisters and I actually cried at the end.
Given how unimpressed I was by the first book, you’d think I’d leave it there, but I didn’t. I bought the second book, Lightning In Her Hands, and I was so much more impressed by this story. We get much more of the sisters and the writing significantly improves. Yes, I related to this book much more, but it was a much better improvement from the first. Both stories are actually quite beautiful and magical. There are no weird subplots, nothing stereotyped, and everything about the story makes sense. I even started following the author on Threads to know when the third book comes out because I’m actually really looking forward to it!
Series I’ve Started, But Haven’t Finished
In the Fall, I got really into Romance books and I read two that actually turned out to be part of a series! You can read each book as a standalone, but turns out they’re part of a bigger universe. Knowing I could listen to and read multiple books by these authors in those worlds has me beyond excited to continue reading and collecting these books.
“Yours Truly” by Abby Jimenez
Fake relationships, forced proximity and all that jazz. This romance book was so cute, I could not stop crushing on the MMC. Take me out already, dang!
Part of: Part of Your World Series. Other books include:
- Part of Your World (#1)
- Just For Summer (#3)
“Swift and Saddled” by Lyla Sage
Never thought I’d be into cowboys but damn, Ms. Sage makes it so easy to fall for the rancher kind of guy.
Part of: Rebel Blue Ranch Series. Other books include:
- Done and Dusted (#1)
- Lost and Lassoed (#3)
- Wild and Wrangled (#4)
For 2025, I want to read more romantasies like The Witch Walker series and more romance stories from authors like Abby Jimenez. I’m still getting into this genre, so I’m excited where these books will take me. I can’t wait to follow up in 12 months about where this year took me in reading.
Till then, cheers and happy reading homies!
xoxo,
Nikki 💖
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