12 Romance Books Inspired By Celtic Lore
Celtic mythology is a tapestry of misty moors, enchanted forests, and star-crossed lovers bound by fate. Tales of selkies longing for the sea, warriors cursed by love, and mystical realms hidden just beyond mortal sight have captivated readers for centuries. Now, these age-old legends find new life in modern romance novels, where love is as fierce as the wild landscapes that shape it.
If you yearn for stories steeped in Celtic magic, where passion intertwines with prophecy, here are 12 romance books inspired by Celtic lore that will transport you to a world of enchantment.
1. The Falconer by Elizabeth May
🦅 A Highland Lady Turned Fae Slayer
Lady Aileana Kameron is no ordinary debutante—she’s a warrior bent on avenging her mother’s murder at the hands of the fae. But when she teams up with the mysterious and devastatingly handsome fae warrior Kiaran, duty and desire clash in unexpected ways. This electrifying mix of Scottish folklore and romance will leave you breathless.
2. The Bridei Chronicles by Juliet Marillier
🌿 A Druid’s Destiny and a Forbidden Love
Steeped in ancient Pictish legend, this trilogy follows Bridei, a druid-trained prince, and Tuala, a mysterious girl raised among the fae. Their love defies political ambition, prophecy, and supernatural forces, making for an epic, slow-burn romance wrapped in historical fantasy.
3. Sevenwaters Series by Juliet Marillier
🌊 Swan Maidens, Forest Magic, and Fated Love
This beloved series begins with Daughter of the Forest, a retelling of the Celtic Children of Lir myth. Sorcha, the youngest daughter of a noble family, must endure a painful journey of silence to save her cursed brothers—all while falling for a man from an enemy land. Marillier’s lyrical prose weaves romance, folklore, and breathtaking adventure.
4. The Wild Hunt by Elspeth Cooper
🏹 A Warrior’s Vow and a Love Tested by Fate
Inspired by the spectral hunt of Celtic legend, this series follows warriors bound to an eternal chase. Gair, a knight exiled from his home, possesses forbidden magic, and his love for a woman caught between two worlds threatens to alter the fate of the realm.
5. Heart of the Fae by Emma Hamm
🧚 Beauty and the Beast Meets Irish Myth
A retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but with an Irish twist—Saoirse, a healer, must venture into the cursed fae lands to save her father. There, she meets a monstrous yet alluring fae prince who has secrets of his own. Hamm’s reimagining of fae courts and Celtic magic makes for an utterly enchanting romance.
6. The Dark Is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper
⚡ Ancient Magic, Celtic Myths, and Star-Crossed Romance
Though more fantasy than romance, this series is infused with Celtic mythology, particularly Silver on the Tree, where destiny and love intertwine. Will Stanton and Bran Davies are drawn into an age-old battle between Light and Dark, with echoes of Arthurian legend shaping their fates.
7. Deerskin by Robin McKinley
🌕 A Haunting Fairy Tale of Transformation and Love
Inspired by Celtic folklore and the Tam Lin legend, Deerskin follows a princess who, after great suffering, seeks refuge in the wild. Her journey toward healing—and the quiet love she finds along the way—is as heartbreaking as it is beautiful.
8. The Stolen Child by Lisa Carey
🏝 An Irish Island Where Love and Magic Collide
On a remote Irish island, twin sisters, one wild and one duty-bound, become entangled with a man rumored to be a selkie. With lush prose and an atmosphere dripping in Celtic mysticism, Carey’s novel explores love, loss, and the lure of the sea.
9. The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley
❄ A Love Story Lost in Time
Blending Scottish history with echoes of Celtic myth, this dual-timeline romance follows a writer who uncovers the story of a tragic 18th-century love affair—one that seems to call to her across time. A tale of fate, memory, and the ghosts of love that never fades.
10. The Kelpie’s Heart by Signe Pike
🌊 A Dangerous Bargain with a Sea Spirit
Inspired by the eerie Celtic legends of water horses, this novel follows a woman who strikes a desperate deal with a kelpie—a creature both captivating and deadly. As she becomes entangled in his world, the line between captor and beloved blurs.
11. Hush by Dylan Farrow
🌬 A World Where Words Hold Magic
Rooted in the ancient Irish belief in the power of spoken words, Hush follows a girl in a land where magic is tied to silence and truth is dangerous. As she fights for her voice and discovers forbidden love, the echoes of Celtic storytelling shape her journey.
12. The Lost Queen by Signe Pike
🔥 The Untold Love Story Behind Merlin’s Legend
Telling the story of Languoreth, a forgotten queen of early Scotland and sister to the man who inspired Merlin, this novel intertwines history and legend. Torn between duty and passion, Languoreth’s love for a warrior-poet defies war, betrayal, and the pull of destiny.
Love as Wild as the Celtic Winds
Celtic romance is woven with longing, magic, and the unbreakable ties between lovers and fate. Whether drawn to the mysterious fae, the haunting pull of selkies, or the fierce passion of warriors and queens, these stories bring the myths of old into dazzling new life.
Which of these Celtic-inspired romances calls to your heart? Or do you have a favorite mythic love story that should be added to the list? Let me know! 🍀✨
