Recs if you like A Heart of Blood and Ashes...

Every year we pick 10 books that we think rise above the rest. These are the 70 we've picked since 2019.

Updated to include our Best of 2025 picks.

Sixty-nine (that’s right, 69, by pure unplanned luck!) recommendations for you — everything from bonkers to bloody to blazing hot…naughty bits that we believe deliver the whole banana (and sometimes no banana at all, if you know what we mean). If you're looking for something specific (or trying to avoid it), you can find this list with subcategories on our site.

Romances with Vikings, Barbarians, Berserkers and other warlords as the mmc.

Books where he maybe…invades her country, is a feared warlord in their armies, is given to him as a warprize, or she is put into an arranged marriage with him as part of a alliance or peace negotiations…or maybe he is a alien race that actually goes beserk when he’s angry 🤷‍♀️.

I've been reading genre romance for going-on-30 years now and I wanted to highlight some of the books that I've enjoyedbut that have either faded into obscurity or never made it big to begin with. Be Aware! Some of these books are going to be pretty dated! Please check the original publishing dates so you know what you're getting into. I'm also happy to provide any CWs/TWs/heat levels for any book listed if you ask in the comments! (Note: I've also included some romantic fantasy/scifi in this list.)

A [blank] of [blank] and [blank]. Literally just a list of fantasy books with a title structure like this

Books where the story is brought to another level by the character development, be it in the complex character building or the multi layered character arc. The writer made the characters like facets, every angle and every relation gives them yet another aspect to further deepen the dynamic between characters. Every little bit of past revealed shows us the way they became who they are now. Leaving us with characters arcs that feel like an entire story on their own that impacts the greater plot.

Fantasy romance books from before the coining of Romantasy.

Love it or hate it, some of the best loved books of the genre go all in on hero (because let’s face it, it’s almost always the hero) on his knees…and we are here. for. it.

when one thing isn't enough

A classic among classics, we’re talking enemies to lovers! We get to the bottom of what we think of as “enemies,” and how it differs from “rivals-to-lovers” and “friends-to-enemies-to-lovers” and “friends-to-lovers” (jk, we’ll never understand friends-to-lovers). We revisit some of our very favorite romances, talk about stakes, about impossible situations, and about how sexy hating someone can be.

Romances so good that we're jealous of people who haven't read them yet, because we know what they're in for.

List of books that @thebookbaron talks about and recommends on her YouTube channel.

A list of the Top 100 Romances of the past 50 years as voted on by the Magnificent Firebird community.

Save a shirtless, bare-chested man! Each one is in dire need of a shirt! 👕 Those covers of romance novels are not very warm, although under the covers, it could be hot. Steaming, in fact. Maybe even scorching. 🥵❤️‍🔥

(Other editions exist where the book cover has a shirtless man, but this list only includes those shirtless on PB. ) Enjoy! 😉

Some authors are able to take you to a fantasy world with just their words, dialogs, dialects, culture and languages.

This one is for alien lovers, medieval warlord stans, and everyone who’s ever messaged us to ask for a Viking interstitial. We’re talking about fur in all its function—luxury, warmth, competence, and historical necessity. It’s not the mojo dojo casa house vibe, but it sure is something. Proceed with caution…these Viking books are a lot.

Stories that deliver high to medium fantasy or sci-fi with a hint or a good dash of romance to keep our hearts warm 💘 (recs of similar books are very welcome!)

For stern, principled men built out of duty, discipline, and inconveniently strong morals. The kind who will make brutal choices when they believe they’re necessary, put responsibility before desire, and hold themselves to impossible standards, until someone earns a place in their heart and discovers just how gentle all that iron can become.

Top 100 Romantasy series challenge from Celegreat scratch-off poster.