15 Insanely epic fantasy books with slow burn romance

Looking for fantasy books with slow burn romance? Here are 15 slow burn romance books that'll leave you on the edge of your seat!

This post contains affiliate links. That said, I won’t ever recommend a book I haven’t read and loved myself.

If you look on my bookshelves, you will find so many fantasy books with slow burn romance. There is something so achingly good about a romantic attraction that builds slowly over time. And it makes that moment when they get together so much more satisfying. 

This post is for anyone who also loves the waiting and yearning.  I've compiled the absolute best fantasy books with slow burn romance.

This post is all about fantasy books with slow burn romance

In a hurry? Here are my top picks

I browsed the r/suggestabook subreddit, Facebook groups and polled Instagram users to round up a list of the absolute best fantasy books with slow burn romance.  I've also read and loved each of the books recommended on this list! Here are the top books like fantasy books with slow burn romance:

• A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
• A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth
• Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
• The Guildhunter Series by Nalini Singh
• Cinder by Marissa Meyer
• An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Keep reading for more in depth information on each book. Plus for each book I've included a rating, a summary and positives & negatives

But if you want a quick summary scroll down to find a handy comparison chart ( includes content warnings for each book)

Best fantasy books with slow burn romance

1. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Say what you want - Sarah J Maas KNOWS how to write a super satisfying slow burn romance. While all of her books contain excellent romances - my top pick for slow burn fantasy romance would be the ' A Court of Thorns and Roses' series.

A Court of Thorns and Roses is a Beauty and the Beast retelling. It follows Feyre. She is really poor and lives with her father and two sisters. She has to hunt to care for the family.

One day she sees a deer and can’t resist killing it to sell. But it was actually a faerie she murdered. And the owner comes to kidnap her to live at the castle as punishment.

It is a bit slow. Sarah J Maas does dump a lot of information about the fantasy world on you. But stay with it – I promise you it gets so much better. The second book is definitely the best in the series where many of my favourite characters are introduced.

If you enjoy slow burn romance then you'll love this trilogy. It has one of the best fantasy slow burn enemies to lovers romances. (Check out this blog post for books similar to A Court of Thorns and Roses)

2. A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth

If you’re a fan of a slow burn romance you definitely need to read a Dark and Hollow Star.   It's an urban fantasy with fae, queer main characters and an enticing mystery. It also has a seriously adorablenslow burn wlw romance.

A series of gruesome murders threatens to expose the faerie world to humans.  Four queer teens – Nausicaä, Arlo, Vehan, and Aurelian – each hold a piece of the truth. And they must track down the mysterious killer.

There are not one but two romances in this book. And the characters are what make them so perfect. Arlo and Nausicaä have such amazing chemistry. Nausicaä is a grumpy, chaotic and sarcastic lesbian. Arlo and Nausicaä have a perfect grumpy/sunshine slow-burn vibe.

I listened to the audiobook version which you can find on audible. It features a full cast of narrators which made it really engrossing.

The voices of Vehan and Nausicaä are so spot on! And you can listen to it on Audible with a free trial.  It's a great audiobook to put on  if you're looking for some escapism while you're cleaning or relaxing before bedtime.

3. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

If you like morally grey characters, a city setting and a slow burn romance then you should read Six of Crows. It's a fantasy heist novel with a compelling mystery, magic and an excellent slow burn romance.

Six of Crows is like a fantasy version of Oceans Eleven. And there is so much to love about Six of Crows – magic found family and super sassy banter. The morally grey characters,  criminal mastermind and enemies to lovers romance remind me of Throne of Glass. 

It six teenagers living in Ketterdam. Kaz Brekker, a criminal prodigy, is one of the teens. He is offered a deadly heist for a huge payout.

But it’s an impossible heist. And Kaz will need all the help he can get to pull it off. So he assembles five other teens to help him.

People rave about this fantasy duology online and it's for a good reason. It features a fast paced plot, a diverse cast and hilarious banter.

4. The Guild Hunter Series by Nalini Singh

If you like a slow burn enemies to lovers romance and an urban fantasy novel then this is the series for you. This adult fantasy romance features a slow burn romance angels, vampires and a vampire hunter.

It follows Elena. She's a vampire hunter and she knows she's the best. But the Archangel Raphael hires her for a job. And it's clear failure is not an option - even if the task is impossible. 

There are so many similarities between Crescent City! It's a dark urban fantasy with angels and vampires. It features a romance between an angel and someone who is not quite human. It even references wings a lot! 

If you're looking for a fantasy romance book like Crescent City then you will absolutely love this book. It has a great romance but there is still a mystery and strong plot. The heroine is also a strong female main character reminscent of the heroines in Sarah J Maas' books. 

5. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder is seriously one of the most unique retellings. It's a Cinderella retelling in a future dystopian society featuring an android It also mentions a deadly plague (sound familiar)

The main character Cinder is an android. She had an accident when she was younger. And she now has a cyborg hand and ankle. But the world she lives in shuns androids. 

She meets and falls in love with the Prince. But she can’t tell him that she’s an android. 

This one of the most enthralling ya fantasy books. It features so many intriguing elements: an enemies to lovers romance, androids, a deadly plague  and an evil queen. You'll want to keep reading to find out what happens.  

If you're looking for books like Crescent City then  you need to read this one.  Especially if you're a fan of retellings like A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Cruel Prince or a Curse so Dark and Lonely.

6. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Oh Ember in the Ashes is such an incredible ya fantasy book. And guess who was an emotional mess while reading this? ME!  Any excuse to recommend this incredible book and I'll take it. 

It's a ya fantasy series with world building inspired by Ancient Rome. It also features a strong female heroine, an adventure plot and a dystopian society.

It also has one of the BEST slow burn enemies to lovers romances. Perfect if you're looking for books like Crescent City.

An Ember in the Ashes opens with Laia. She has found an illegal sketchbook belonging to her brother.  The empire comes and takes away her brother. So she must locate the resistance and go on a perilous mission to save him.

The book opens with a punch and it’s fast-paced throughout. The opening makes you really emotionally invested. Laia goes to extraordinary lengths and becomes a slave in order to save her brother. There is so much at stake that it leaves you on the edge of your seat.

7. Malice  by Heather Walter

Let me tell you - Malice is one of the best books I have read this year. It was an instant 5 stars from me. It has an excellent slow burn romance and it also uses the grumpy/sunshine trope. 

Malice is a Maleficent retelling. The book is set in a Kingdom called Briar. Once upon a time, a wicked fairy cursed a line of princesses to die. Only true love’s kiss can break the curse.

The book follows Alyce – the dark grace. She was left abandoned in Briar from a dark kingdom. The dark magic that runs in her veins abhors residents in Briar.

Except for Princess Aurora who accepts her. And she encourages Alyce to accept herself.

If you're looking for books with fae  then you should absolutely pick up this duology. You will absolutely love the dystopian world building, morally grey main character and grumpy/sunshine romance.

This book is almost a cross between Wicked and The Hunger Games. But with fae. The world building is darkly magical. And the residents of Briar reminded me of the residents of the Capitol. I LOVED the depiction of the Imps and goblins in Misrule. Plus both books reference fae.

 8. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

If you love a fast paced fantasy romance book or a twisty plot - then you absolutely need to read the Folk of Air Trilogy.  It's a ya fantasy romance trilogy featuring fae, royals and an enemies to lovers romance.

Holly Black is seriously amazing at writing a killer plot twist. The Cruel Prince and Wicked King both open with a bang and keep you hooked throughout.  

The Cruel Prince follows Jude who is a human. As a child, she gets kidnapped with her two sisters. She's taken to live with the hidden world of the fae. They live in the woods in a secret world concealed from humans. 

Jude grows up wanting to be like the wicked fae she lives with. 

There are also only 3 books in the series. And none of them are too long. So it makes the series more manageable. It also features an incredible enemies to lovers trope. If you like books with fae and forest vibes then you should read this. Definitely a great choice if you're looking for books about hidden worlds

9. The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven Cycle is a YA Paranormal Fantasy series featuring a cursed romance. And the series has an adorable slow burn mlm romance later on in the series. 

Each year in the churchyard, Blue watches her psychic mother see those who are going to die that year. Blue never actually sees them herself. Until this year. When she speaks directly to a boy.

He is called Gansey and is a student at Aglionby school. The students there are known locally as Raven Boys.

I had so many recommendations to read this and for good reason. The characters and the relationships are what make this one of the best fantasy book.

The premise and worldbuilding is really unique. And it also has a great friendship group and witty banter. Plus there are several slow burn romances in the series. Perfect for dans of A Court of Mist and Fury and Heartstopper

10. Shatter me by Tahereh Mafi

Superheroes, angsty roomance and dysptian fiction. Shatter me has SO many amazing tropes. Plus it contains an excellent slow burn romance.

Shatter me opens with the main character locked up for murder. She is unable to touch anyone. And she falls in love with the first person she is able to touch.

The writing style in Shatter me is unlike anything else I’ve ever read. It’s very prose heavy. And consequently, it seems to be a book people either love or hate. I love it.

It’s set in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic world. But it’s definitely more of a romance. And an ansgty one at that. There was a definite ‘will they, won’t they vibe. Similar to Kaz and Inej for me.

Juliette is an excellent main character. She has been dealt an awful hand in life. And yet she still perseveres and looks for the best in everyone.

The plot behind the series is excellent. And it particularly picks up towards the end. Trust me when I say – you will instantly want to read the next book.

11. A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

A Curse so dark and Lonely has one of the most BADASS main characters! The main character has cerebral palsy but she is most definitely not in need of any sympathy. It also features an adorable enemies to lovers romance.

A Curse So Dark And Lonely is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Prince Rhen is the Heir of Emberfall.

Emberfall is under a curse and the kingdom is enchanted into an everlasting winter. Prince Rhen needs to make a girl fall in love with him to break the curse.

Harper has cerebral palsy. And she struggles to look after her dying mother. She tries to save a stranger and is pulled into the world of Emberfall.

The plot is really well paced and keeps you engaged throughout. It also has the perfect slow burn romance. If you're a fan of The Cruel Prince or Sarah J. Maas then you should definitely read this fast paced fantasy book.

12. A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

There is so much to love about A Marvellous Light. It's a slow burn mlm romance about magic, a mystery to solve and a secret magical society. And it also has serious dark academia vibes.

It follows Robin Blyth. Due to an administrative error, he is named liaison to a secret magical society. So, he is forced to  contend with magic's dangers and a deadly curse while he searches for his missing predecessor.

To do this, he'll need the help of Edwin Courcey. Edwin Courcey is his prickly magical society counterpart but he clearly wishes Robin were anyone else.

I love the secret society of magicians. And the Edwardian setting and mlm romance sets it apart from other books including secret magical societies.

This is ideal if you're looking for cosy fantasy books. Especially if you like historical fiction or dark academia. It's fantastic to read about gay men in an Edwardian setting.

 13. Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh

If you're looking for fantasy books with slow burn romance - then you should definitely read Silver in the Wood. It's a cozy lighthearted fantasy book with a mlm romance. And it's set in a magical forest full of mythological creatures such as dryads and faeries.

It follows Tobias who is a forest guardian. He is tasked to look after the forest. One day Henry Silver moves into Greenhollow Hall and everything changes. Silver starts to dig up old secrets that are best left forgotten. Plus they have an adorable mlm romance.

If  you like the cottagecore aesthetic then you'll enjoy this book. The forest imagery is absolute gorgeous. It was filled with imagery about mythical creatures such as dryads in the forest.  And definitely made me want to live in a cottage in the woods. It's really whimsical and enchanting.  

This is also such a short and easy read. I listened to the audiobook. And the whole duology is only 5 hours. So you can easily binge read this in one setting. If you have a long journey this would also be the perfect audiobook to listen to because you can finish it in 5 hours. You can listen to the audiobook on Audible

14. Under the whispering door by T.J. Klune

If you're looking for cosy fantasy books then I highly recommend T.J Klune's work. The writing is easy to read. While it includes fantasy elements, it reads as more of a YA Contemporary. It also heavily features tea which made it feel really warm and comforting.

 It follows Wallace Price. A reaper comes to collect him from his own funeral. But instead of taking him directly to the afterlife, leads him to a tea shop in a small village.

Hugo runs the teashop but is also the ferryman to souls who need to cross over. But Wallace isn't ready to abandon the life he barely lived. 

This book deals with so many heavy topics such as death, grief and loss. But despite such heavy topics this is such a light-hearted, comforting read. T.J. Klune uses laughter,  emotions and romance to it. 

If you're looking for fantasy books for beginners, you should definitely pick up some of T.J Klune's work. His writing is fantastic - easy to follow and simplistic with no purple prose.

15. Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin

Serpent and Dove is an excellent pick for anyone looking for fantasy books with slow burn romance. It features a slow burn enemies to lovers romance between a witch and a witch hunter. 

Serpent and Dove follows Louise - a witch.  She lives in Cesarine where witches are hunted and burned. Reid is a witch hunter who has always lived by the same principle - thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

But Lou pulls a stunt and it forces them into an impossible scenario - holy matrimony.

This has so many tropes that I enjoy - enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience and  morally grey characters. And it's topped off with an well developed magic system and easy to read writing. 

If you like Nina from Six of Crows then you'll really enjoy this book. It's such a perfect book to read in fall - the witchy imagery and city setting is excellent.

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