26 Insanely good Fantasy books with royalty

Recently updated on July 1st, 2024 at 10:30 am

Looking for Fantasy books with royalty? Here are 26 magical fantasy books you’ll want to read over and over again

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

High society, court intrigue and balls. Something is enchanting about fantasy books with royalty. Especially when it includes a good romance.

Looking for Fantasy books with royalty? Then you’re in luck! As a huge Fantasy fan, I’m going to recommend the best Fantasy books with royalty.

Whether you’re looking for fantasy royal romance books, dark royalty books or ya princess books. This post has got you covered!

This post is all about Fantasy books with royalty

What are the best Fantasy books with royalty?

1. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

There is a reason this series is first on my list. If you’re looking for fantasy books with royalty then you need to read  Folk of Air Trilogy. It has a twisty plot and an amazing enemies to lovers romance.

We follow Jude. As a child, she gets kidnapped with her two sisters and is taken to live with the fae in the woods.  She grows up wanting to be like the wicked fae she lives with.

The series opens with a bang and keeps you hooked throughout.

2. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

If we’re talking about fantasy books with royalty then you need to Throne of Glass. This is binge-worthy. The first book is more ya but it becomes more adult later in the series.

We follow Celaena Sardothien who is imprisoned in a horrific prison called Endovier. She is an assassin. And one day the Prince summons her to fight in a competition. The winner will become the king’s personal assassin.

3. Malice  by Heather Walter

Malice is an incredible fantasy book. With royalty, fae and morally grey characters. This sleeping beauty retelling also features an adorable grumpy/sunshine romance.

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.

4. A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth

A Dark and Hollow Star is one of the top Fantasy books with royalty!  An urban fantasy with fae, queer main characters and an enticing mystery. It also has a seriously adorable 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.

5. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

A unique retelling set in a future dystopian society. This is fast-paced with androids, a deadly plaque and an evil queen.

The main character Cinder 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.

If you’re a fan of retellings like A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Cruel Prince or a Curse so Dark and Lonely – then you need to read this one.

6. A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

A Curse so Dark and Lonely is an enchanting retelling featuring a Prince trying to break a curse. The well-paced plot keeps you hooked throughout.

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.

7. Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan

Magic, mythology and a dystopian society. This features a corrupt king, a fast-pace and a romance. This is dark, make sure you read the trigger warnings before reading.

Girls of Paper and Fire follows Lei. She is a member of the Paper Caste. And the people of Ikhara persecute her.

 She sees the royal guards take her mother. Afterwards, Lei suffers with trauma. But the guards return and try to take Lei. She has to learn skills fitting of a King’s Consort. But she falls in love.

8. The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska

An underrated romance with a witch queen. The premise of this book is unique. And the worldbuilding is moody and atmospheric.

We follow Lina. She lives on a small island where the dark tide could cause it to sink. So, every year the Witch Queen lures a boy back to her palace and sacrifices her on the full moon. And so keeps the island city from sinking.

Lina is convinced her brother is going to be taken. She asks Thomas Lin to help. Thomas is the only person to survive the sacrifice. But they draw the Queen’s attention. And instead, Thomas is taken.

9. Cinderella is dead by Kalynn Bayron

A Cinderella retelling with a sapphic romance.  This features a corrupt king, a cabin in the forest and a dystopian patriarchy.

The premise is that teen girls are now required to appear at an annual ball where men select wives. But Sophia wants to marry her childhood best friend Erin. And isn’t a fan of the whole parade in front of suitors thing.

She decides to flee and decided to take down the king once and for all.

10. Princess Princess Ever After by Kay O’Neill

This is an adorable graphic novel. A fairytale with two princesses and a pink unicorn. Kay O’Neill writes and illustrates the most beautiful, cosy and enchanting graphic novels.

Princes Princess ever after is about two princesses who fall in love. We follow Sadie who is locked in a tower. She is rescued by another princess -Amira. Also, Amira rides a pink unicorn.  It’s just as queer and lovely as it sounds.

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

One of the best enemies to lovers romances. This technically includes high lords, but I’m counting it as royalty.

A Court of Thorns and Roses is a Beauty and the Beast retelling. We follow Feyre. She is 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.

12. Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

Six Crimson Cranes features a princess and a royal family. It also has dragons, magic and a curse.

Shiori is the only princess in Kiata. Shiori lives in a land where magic is banned. And demons are locked away inside a mountain. But forbidden magic runs through her veins.

Shiori normally conceals it. But on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, she loses control. And she attracts the attention of her stepmother Raikama.

13. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S Lewis

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is a childhood classic. It features an evil queen. And the magic she wields is enchanting.

We follow four children evacuated to a country house. They find a magical kingdom called Narnia at the back of a wardrobe.

But Narnia has been enchanted by a White Witch. And it is frozen in an eternal winter.

Highly recommend if you’re searching for fantasy books with royalty.

14. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Children of Blood and Bone is a magical fantasy adventure book with a royal main character. It combines magical West-Africa worldbuilding with darker themes such as racially charged violence.

There used to be magic in Orïsha. Zélie remembers how powerful her reaper mother was. But one-night magic disappears and Zelie is left without hope.

She now has to bring back the magic with the help of a runaway princess. Orïsha is full of danger everywhere. But Zeéie’s greatest danger is herself.

15. An Enchantment of Ravens by Magaret Rogerson

An enemies to lovers romance with fae, crafts and magical worldbuilding. It features an autumn prince and beautiful autumnal worldbuilding.

We follow Isobel, she paints stunning portraits for the dangerous fair folk. One day she creates a portrait of the Autumn Prince. But she makes a deadly mistake. She paints humanity in his eyes. And for that, she has to be punished.

16.  The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

The Iron King is a few years old now but still an incredible fantasy book with romance, fae and a King. Perfect for fans of the Cruel Prince.

We follow 16-year-old Meghan Chase. Her father disappeared mysteriously when she was six years old. And ever since, something has been off.

But things start to change drastically. And Meghan will have to learn just how far she’ll go to save someone she truly cares about.

17. Ash by Malinda Lo

Ash is adorable. This Sapphic cinderella retelling features a cute romance, cozy imagery and depiction of grief. It also has fae and excellent lore around them.

We follow Ash. She is dealing with the grief of losing her parents. And she falls in love with the King’s Huntress.

The world-building in this book is beautiful. I loved the descriptions of the woods and the fae. If you’re looking for cottagecore worldbuilding then this is an excellent book. to pick up.

 18. The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

A fast-paced dystopian fantasy with trials and superpowers. This features a corrupt royal family and rebellion.

In this dystopian novel, blood defines your status. Reds are commoners. But silvers are the elite and have superpowers. The main character is red. But she has superpowers.

The Red Queen has received over a million reviews on GoodReads, and is still rated 4 stars. Fans love the fast-pace, plot twists and dystopian worldbuilding.

19. The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen

The Bridge Kingdom features a badass warrior princess.

A warrior princess trained in isolation, Lara is driven by two certainties. The first is that King Aren of the Bridge Kingdom is her enemy. And the second is that she’ll be the one to bring him to his knees.

The only route through a storm-ravaged world, the Bridge Kingdom enriches itself and deprives its rivals, including Lara’s homeland. So when she’s sent as a bride under the guise of peace, Lara is prepared to do whatever it takes to fracture its impenetrable defenses

20. These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan

A fantasy romance with fae and trials. This has a royal family and a sadistic king. Quick warning, this does include a love triangle.

Brie hates the Fae and refuses to have anything to do with them, even if that means starving on the street. But when her sister is sold to the sadistic king of the Unseelie court to pay a debt, she’ll do whatever it takes to get her back—including making a deal with the king himself to steal three magical relics from the Seelie court.

21. Powerless by Lauren Roberts

A fantasy romance with a prince and a sassy street thief. This book is perfect for fans of the Red Queen or the Hunger Games. It has magic, trials and rebellion.

We follow Paedyn. She lives in the Kingdom of Ilya. Only the exceptional, powered Elites belong in the Kingdom. These powers were gifted to them by the Plague. Those born Ordinary are banished to preserve an Elite society. This makes Paedyn Gray a felon by fate and a thief by necessity. When Paeydn unsuspectingly saves one of Ilyas princes, she finds herself thrown into the Purging Trials.

22. Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling

A new adult fantasy with royalty, dragons and romance.

We follow Elowen Atarah, Princess of Imirath. She is a princess with a link to five dragons. It should have been a blessing but it became her curse. The little girl in shackles became a knife-wielding woman with a thirst for retaliation.
Now, Queen of Aestilian, a secret kingdom she forged through strength and survival, Elowen needs a way to feed her rising population.

Highly recommend if you’re after fantasy books with royalty.

23. Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a Sapphic Sleeping Beauty retelling with a cursed Princess, poisonous to the touch.

Soraya is a cursed princess, poisonous to the touch. She is only safe hidden away and apart from her family.

As the day of her twin brother’s wedding approaches, Soraya must decide if she’s willing to step outside of the shadows for the first time. Below in the dungeon is a demon holding the knowledge she craves.  The answer to her freedom.

Find on: Good Reads Buy on:    Amazon | Waterstones |

24. A Dawn of Onyx by Kate Golden

A Dawn of Onyx is a new adult romantasy with royalty, dragons and romance. Plus it has an enemies to lovers romance.

We follow Arwen Valondale. She never expected to be the brave one, offering her life to save her brother’s. Now she’s been taken prisoner by the most dangerous kingdom on the continent, and made to use her rare magical abilities to heal the soldiers of the vicious Onyx King.

Searching for fantasy books with royalty? You need to read this book.

25. Fireborne by Rosario Munda

Fireborne is a compelling fantasy romance with dragons.

Annie and Lee were just children when a brutal revolution changed their world, giving everyone–even the lowborn–a chance to test into the governing class of Dragonriders. Now they are both rising stars in the new regime, despite backgrounds that couldn’t be more different.

An incredible fantasy romance with royalty and dragons.

26. Criers War by Nina Varela

This is more science-fiction than fantasy. But this urban fantasy features automate and and royalty.

Set in the Kingdom of Rabu and follows Ayla. A War has ravaged the kingdom of Rabu. The Automae took over the estates of their owners and bent the human race to their will.

Ayla is a human servant rising the ranks at the House of Soverign. She dreams of avenging the death of her family… by killing the Sovereign’s daughter – the beautiful Lady Crier.

This post was all about fantasy books with royalty

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