12 Historical Fantasy With Romance Elements
Step into worlds where passion ignites amidst ancient spells, courtly intrigue, and destinies written in the stars. Historical fantasy with romance elements is the perfect fusion of grandeur and mysticism—a genre where whispered secrets in candlelit halls carry as much power as the turn of a blade. Whether you’re drawn to the sweeping romance of forbidden love or the heart-stopping thrill of magic entwined with history, these twelve novels promise stories as opulent as they are irresistible.
1. The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
Paris, 1889. Beneath the dazzling lights of the Exposition Universelle, a charismatic treasure hunter, Séverin Montagnet-Alarie, gathers a team of misfits—a seductive dancer, a fierce historian, an enigmatic engineer—to track down a magical artifact. But secrets run deeper than the catacombs, and romance crackles between stolen glances and unspoken words. Chokshi’s lush prose and intricate worldbuilding make this heist full of longing and deception utterly irresistible.
2. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
In the frost-laced forests of medieval Russia, Vasya, a wild-hearted girl, sees spirits that no one else can. When a priest arrives, denouncing the old ways, dark forces begin to stir. The Winter King, a mysterious, otherworldly figure, watches Vasya with an interest that borders on danger—and desire. Arden’s spellbinding storytelling weaves romance, folklore, and the bite of winter into a tale that lingers like a whispered legend.
3. The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec
A Norse myth reimagined through the eyes of Angrboda, the witch who captured Loki’s heart. Exiled and hunted, she finds solace in an unlikely love, but the shadows of prophecy loom over them both. The romance between Angrboda and Loki is one of passion, pain, and devastating inevitability. This is a story of love not as a fleeting indulgence, but as something enduring, raw, and transformative.
4. One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
In a kingdom shrouded in fog and fear, Elspeth Spindle hides a secret—she carries a monster inside her mind. When fate entangles her with a brooding highwayman determined to change their cursed world, their partnership becomes something more—dangerous, intoxicating, and utterly forbidden. With an eerie gothic atmosphere and a romance that burns slow and fierce, this is a book that demands to be devoured.
5. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
A love story unlike any other—Celia and Marco are two rival magicians, bound to a mysterious contest of skill and endurance. Their battleground? A mesmerizing circus that appears without warning, dazzling visitors with impossible wonders. But their love is both a weakness and a weapon, as their competition threatens to consume them. Ethereal and breathtaking, Morgenstern’s prose reads like a dream you never want to wake from.
6. Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
Inspired by Chinese mythology, this tale follows Xingyin, the daughter of the Moon Goddess, as she flees her celestial home to find her place in the mortal world. Along the way, she becomes entangled with a charming prince and a ruthless general, torn between love and destiny. A sweeping saga of sacrifice, longing, and magic as radiant as the moon itself.
7. The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh
New Orleans, 1872. Celine, a dressmaker fleeing a dark past, finds herself drawn to the city’s glittering underworld—a world where secrets lurk beneath silk and shadow. At its center is Sébastien Saint Germain, a mysterious leader with a charm as lethal as it is alluring. Their attraction is undeniable, but something monstrous stalks the city, and love may not be enough to save them. Sensual, decadent, and dripping with intrigue, this book is pure indulgence.
8. For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten
A dark fairy tale where Red, the first daughter in centuries born to be sacrificed to the Wolf of the Wilderwood, discovers that the Wolf is no monster—but a man with a tragic fate. Their connection deepens in the heart of the cursed forest, where magic and passion intertwine like tangled vines. A brooding, slow-burn romance with echoes of Beauty and the Beast and Red Riding Hood.
9. Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
Libraries filled with living grimoires. A sorcerer with a smile as sharp as his magic. And a librarian who was raised to believe sorcery is evil—until she has no choice but to rely on it. As Elisabeth and Nathaniel navigate betrayals, forbidden magic, and dangerous secrets, their chemistry is deliciously intoxicating. With humor, longing, and books literally coming to life, this is a spellbinding must-read.
10. Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh
A tale of ancient magic, forgotten gods, and an unlikely romance between a gruff forest guardian and a bright-eyed folklorist. When Henry Silver arrives in Tobias Finch’s woodland domain, he brings curiosity, danger, and a pull neither can resist. The yearning in this novella is quietly profound, perfect for those who love their romance wrapped in myth and moss-covered ruins.
11. The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
An Arabian Nights-inspired tale brimming with intrigue and peril. Nahri, a con artist in 18th-century Cairo, accidentally summons a djinn warrior who drags her into the dazzling yet deadly world of Daevabad. Courtly politics, ancient grudges, and a smoldering romance unfold in a city where magic is as perilous as it is powerful. Chakraborty delivers a mesmerizing blend of historical fantasy and political intrigue.
12. The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
In an alternate 19th-century London, clairvoyants are hunted—and Paige Mahoney is one of them. Captured and taken to a hidden city ruled by an otherworldly race, she becomes the consort of Warden, her enigmatic captor. Their relationship is tangled in power struggles and defiance, but underneath it all, something undeniably dangerous begins to simmer. A dystopian fantasy with echoes of Beauty and the Beast and a heroine who refuses to be tamed.
Which Magical Love Story Stole Your Heart?
These books prove that romance shines brightest when entwined with history and magic. Whether it’s love defying fate, enemies turned lovers, or quiet devotion blooming in the shadows, there’s something for every reader. But now, I want to hear from you—what historical fantasy romance swept you off your feet? Share your favorites, and let’s revel in the enchantment together!
