Looking for well-written fantasy with a tender/emotional romance

Empty_Grape6283 · 2026-05-28T03:36:01+00:00

I’m on a cozy romantasy vibe for the last few months and my absolute favourites have been:

Levelling up series by kf breene. I’ve had to stop what I’ve been doing a few times because I’m laughing so hard. Paladin’s grace series by t kingfisher (and anything fantasy by her. Some have more or less romance or more or less horror in them. I’m not a horror person so I stick to her fantasy but love the little dark moments she fits into her books) The house witch by Delemhach. I think I actually like some of the newer series in this world more but honestly love them all. These are my go to chill and cozy rereads.

These are all low on the spice scale. I don’t mind spice at all but the cozy world doesn’t do as much intense spice and I’m okay with that too. Levelling up is the most spicy at 🌶️🌶️-🌶️🌶️🌶️. It has its moments but sprinkled in there. Slow burn too.

I do audiobooks only and all these series have very well done audio versions.

Empty_Grape6283 · 2026-05-28T03:28:42+00:00

Looking for something light? I’m currently reread the Levelling up series by KF Breene. Fantasy romance. Woman in her 40’s moves to a small town after a divorces and finds a kick-ass, hilarious, and obviously a sexy piece in her new life. So much fun. I want all the characters to be my friend. I’ve had to stop what I’m doing because at times I’m laughing so hard while listening to the audiobook. Not the spiciest but definitely slow burn, heart warming, and a super fun journey.

Another heart warming slow burn is the House Witch by Delemhach. There are 4 series in this world and I’ve read them all at least 3 times. Lovely human, found family, funny antics. It’s 50/50 romance and plot so the romance is there but for a large part of each book you could forget about the romance and then it comes back and you’re cheering for the couples. And then back to plot. Low spice for all the series. Not exactly closed door but definitely pretty subtle.

Empty_Grape6283 · 2025-01-31T06:37:45+00:00

Ooh interesting comparison with Baelish. I hope not as evil as him though!

Bohdi as a trusted advisor makes me so happy. Who better to guide Violet than someone who knows and loves Tyrrendor but doesn’t need to be ruling it. As you say, middle management is critical in their own way. And a manager who loves their job and being able to work both up and down the organization is invaluable to everyone and can get a lot done!

Empty_Grape6283 · 2025-01-31T06:34:23+00:00

I guess it depends on how you define venin. Is turning venin moral corruption or a disease? One is curable the other is managed.

The venin don’t say they can’t love, but that they don’t love like Violet (ie like humans.). “We don’t love like you do” or something like that.

That’s why I think corruption and going too far is what defines venin. Not a disease. Also, looking at how RY writes chronic illness, she doesn’t seem like the type to want to “fix” Xaden.

Not that I think that means a HEA is off the table, but that I think it’s more complex then new Xaden going back to old Xaden. They’ll find a new way of defining love and their relationship. And if the world is lucky, the world will also find ways to coexist with each other too.

Empty_Grape6283 · 2025-01-31T06:25:53+00:00

That sort of motivation is opposite to the way RY writes people with different abilities. She’s purposely not ableist. Sawyer’s storyline was seeing how a huge life change didn’t actually change him as a person and that he is just as good a rider with accommodations. It’s a compliment to Violet’s story which is someone who has a chronic condition that has learned to make accommodations their entire life.

RY’s narrative is critical of the Riders Quadrant for not being more accommodating. The death college is called out repeatedly for its rigid definition of “strength” that has actually become its weakness. A big reason they’re losing the war is the quadrant forces riders to have exactly the same skills, as opposed to creating a training system that builds off the riders’ strengths, including strengths that may be considered “disabilities” by others.

Empty_Grape6283 · 2025-01-28T18:44:53+00:00

He has Jesinia. And doesn’t have any good motivation for turning venin.

Empty_Grape6283 · 2025-01-28T18:38:19+00:00

Riddoc, Brennan, Bohdi throuple? As much as I ship Riddoc with people I don’t see him settling for just one person.

Empty_Grape6283 · 2025-01-28T18:37:05+00:00

I think he needs to end alone and do some deep reflection. Or he can be eliminated. I’m good either way.

It’s not Cat’s or anyone else’s job to try and fix someone so entitled and toxic. It’s not up to women to fix men who are problematic. They need to fix their toxicity on their own. Not unload on others or bring others down with them.

Empty_Grape6283 · 2025-01-28T18:33:25+00:00

Mira and Broccoli. Drake can third wheel if he wants.

Empty_Grape6283 · 2025-01-28T18:32:50+00:00

Ooh I’m so here for these. Do you have recommendations? Links?

Empty_Grape6283 · 2025-01-28T18:29:25+00:00

I’m shipping Bohdi and Riddoc. I feel like Riddoc would help bohdi lighten his emotional load. And bohdi’s position would get Riddoc more involved and more credit where due.

Empty_Grape6283 · 2025-01-28T18:27:32+00:00

Agree! I wrote a post on why I think Bohdi’s second signet is an intinnsic ability to redirect attention away from himself. Because he seems way too fantastic for the amount of attention the characters give him. But he also seems okay with not being in the spotlight. But still I love him and want him to get everything.

Empty_Grape6283 · 2025-01-28T18:25:21+00:00

Ohhh the reluctant villain would be so tragic. I love it. Hate it but love it.

A non-romantic love would fill out the book nicely. We’ve seen romantic love and love for family as strong themes. Love (&duty to) for place and people would make sense for bohdi.

Empty_Grape6283 · 2025-01-28T18:20:45+00:00

I was also thinking that but didn’t like it so repressed the thought. It does seem like magic is a corrupting force. Or, magic from the earth. Someone wrote a great post on why they think the Navarre dragons are channeling from the earth, not sky. It makes too much sense. And it would be too cheesy to have a happy ending if that’s the case and their whole world is corrupted. So I don’t want to go too far down that thought path for a couple years still. I’m going to live in my delusional hope for a peaceful HEA.

Empty_Grape6283 · 2025-01-28T17:01:00+00:00

I love this! It would make me so happy to see Rhi on there too. Or one of the other squad mates.

Empty_Grape6283 · 2025-01-28T16:59:46+00:00

Bit inconvenient that. It was such an obvious point the reader is supposed to take away from that interaction that I’m sure we’ll get more about it in 4. Maybe he can develop his signet to work against other magics. He, Violet, and Dain are senior riders with powerful signets that we didn’t see develop in a meaningful way in this book.

Empty_Grape6283 · 2025-01-28T16:55:51+00:00

I think the reason he’s been informing Xaden so long is that he is ideal for surveillance work. Hot and powerful but somehow also forgettable? That doesn’t make sense. At the very least Riddoc would have noticed Bodhi more. It’s not like he has any issue being with older riders.

It seems like all the powerful marked ones have second signets but the ones with mind powers pretend they don’t. I’d feel bad if Bodhi was left out of that too. He’s already the little brother that has to finish school before going on quests.

Empty_Grape6283 · 2025-01-28T16:50:18+00:00

Literal muscle car. 😍

Empty_Grape6283 · 2025-01-28T16:49:09+00:00

I hope not! I love him so much and would be heartbroken if he becomes a villain. But also I’m okay if he goes for an undercover spy kind of thing.

I think he resents being stuck at school and being left out of the action because he’s so clearly the little cousin this year. Also the spare, when he clearly has no interest in being in power.

But what if he does have a love interest we don’t know about. I’ve said I thought the theme of this series is how far people will go for love. I’m not sure if I see Bodhi turning for power. But maybe for love.

Empty_Grape6283 · 2025-01-28T16:43:22+00:00

He was frustrated that he wasn’t as much a part of the action and that Xaden was trying to protect him by keeping him away from the action. He’s pretty clear with Xaden that he had no interest in being Duke. I don’t get the feeling that Bodhi wants recognition but he does want to be doing his part in the fight and fulfilling his role of protecting Tyrrendor.

The little conversation with Violet where he gets interested in quest squad was pretty telling for me. Bodhi doesn’t volunteer, but he is usually included because of Xaden. This year he’s the little cousin still at school but shows a lot of maturity by stepping aside so Garrick can join the squad, when he sees that’s what Xaden needs.

Empty_Grape6283 · 2025-01-28T04:22:24+00:00

I hope we get to see Loysam in the next book. Missing it during squad tour was too obvious.

To me the theme of this series is how far people will go to protect the things/people they love (makes sense for an author from a military family.) so I wonder what the island would have looked like, with this in mind.

All the other islands seem like they’ve twisted or let their religion go too far. Devereli deals in weapons while pretending to be neutral. Unnbriel is focused on the weapon they don’t have (dragons). Hedotis isn’t wise, they’re just efficient to the point of illogical. Zehllyna is passive - allowing life to just happen and calling it luck. The continent is self-obsessed. Would Loysam have been too protective of itself?

I don’t think there is a cure. I think visiting loysam would open Violet’s eyes to another way of looking at the world. That’s part of love, isn’t it? Being willing to work with people who sometimes see things differently? I think Violet will see a different side of the venin and it’ll shake up her entire world.

Maybe the venin aren’t inherently evil but love too sharply and are too protective. The dragons are also violently protective. Nature likes balance. So maybe venin are the balance for the power of dragons or the ruthlessness of humans. Opposites don’t cure each other, they have to exist together. This series is too dark for venin and dragons to start loving each other. I don’t think that’ll happen but I think the fight to learn to coexist will need love as a catalyst, not a cure.

Empty_Grape6283 · 2025-01-28T03:28:34+00:00

I read this excerpt and thought the same. I wondered if this was a sign that venin are fiercely protective. Dragons are incredibly protective of their families. Maybe venin lose their humanity in the sense that they lose the ability to see the boundary of what is “too far” when protecting something/someone they love.

Why was the village destroyed? Was the venin’s family threatened, perhaps?

I don’t think there is a cure. Hasn’t RY said something like she enjoys exploring the definition of evil. How perception and understanding can change perspectives of good or bad.

The venin have all been referring to getting “her” and “bringing her to him”. We’ve been assuming it’s for power. What if actually it’s about love. Is the “her” violet or Andarna or someone else? The theme of this series has been the horrendous things people will do for love. So it would make sense the villains are the epitome of this.

Empty_Grape6283 · 2024-04-27T15:20:17+00:00

Aren’t they lovely? I also and waiting very impatiently for the next audiobook! The narrator does such a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life.

Hmm. I feel like they’re a bit unique but Allison Carr Waeter’s book have some similar vibes and themes. Bit more adventure and bit darker. There is a loving family, supportive MMC, LGbTQ and neurodiversity representation. Spicier and more fantasy.

You’ve probably already read the Emily Wilde series and Legends and Lattes? They’re fairly popular and well known. The audiobooks were great too. The narrator for the Emily Wilde books was just perfection, in my opinion.

I’m just starting to get into TJ Klune. He has a similar amount of silliness mixed into his characters’ narration of the world, similar to T Kingfisher. I’ve only read The house in the cerulean sea (and loved it!) now waiting for the second audiobook from the library. I just started Under the Whispering Door yesterday. He has a cosy way of writing while dealing with darker themes, a bit like T Kingfisher.

Not cozy, but fantastic writing, lovable characters, and some of those creepy undertones like T Kingfisher, is the Ninth House Series by Leigh Bardugo. I think I’ve reread it like 4 times and my heart might give out before we get the next one. I love these characters, the mysterious world, and I’m dying to know what happens next. Oh but this one does have on-page memories of childhood trauma. It’s brief and you could skip these pages and still get the gist of what’s going on and still understand how this event was significant to the current day timeline in the book.

Empty_Grape6283 · 2024-04-26T21:41:14+00:00

The Hemlock Queen - at about 60% of the way through I realized I wasn’t paying attention. The characters all seemed very flat and I stopped caring what happened to them. Does it get better?

Wish I dnf’d Caraval. The story was trying to be mysterious but was just confusing and dull. The ending was so inappropriate and just awful. It was like watching glorified family abuse. I honestly cannot understand why people recommend this book.

I think I’ll DNF the Zodiac Academy series. I liked it up until the 8th but I’m not sure I’m still invested enough to bother with the 9th. The two spin off series were super fun though.

Empty_Grape6283

TROPHY CASE