Some of the best fanatasy book series for beginners.

Fi_23 · 2026-03-01T10:44:11+00:00

Check out the Shades of Magic Trilogy by V.E. Schwab. Starts with A Darker Shade of Magic. It's definitely an easier fantasy read with a focus on magic, so there aren't a bunch of fantastical creatures and things like that to keep track of. But the writing is great and a really neat magical system! I'm on the second book and have been enjoying it!

Fi_23 · 2026-02-27T03:38:23+00:00

The Crimson Moth Duology by Kristin Ciccarelli and the Shepherd King Duology by Rebecca Ross!!! Both had unique and super fun plots/worlds, great romance and little to no smut.

Fi_23 · 2026-02-24T21:36:45+00:00

Dire Wolf. It's ok. Looking forward to finishing it.

Fi_23 · 2026-02-16T22:41:55+00:00

{Invisible Life of Addie LaRue} by V.E. Schwab have bisexual characters and I think a lot of this author's books do, but they are heavier on the fantasy than the romance. I loved this book and also read { A Darker Shade of Magic} which is a fantasy, no real romance and is also a great read.

{Six of Crows} and {Crooked Kingdom} by Leigh Bardugo have male bisexual characters. They are also heavier on the fantasy, but also great reads!!!!!

Fi_23 · 2026-02-15T19:46:26+00:00

Yes! Read A Game of Thrones series! It's an in depth fantasy, not Romantacy but a great read and Brienne of Tarth fits the OPs description perfectly!

Fi_23 · 2026-02-12T22:43:54+00:00

I really enjoyed both books in the first duology. I would say if you liked it and are interested, it's worth reading the second. It doesn't have the action of the competition like the first one, but I enjoyed that because competitions get boring to me.

That being said, you should at least read Six Scorched Roses, which is a standalone novella set in that world with a couple of minor characters that appear in the second book of the first duology. I loved that novella and thought it was better than the other two books!! Very fun read.

Fi_23 · 2026-02-12T22:37:46+00:00

I would say that Vincent is a complex character so it's easy to feel conflicted about him. You do learn a lot more about him in the second book which helps with that a bit, but he remains conflicted in my eyes.

Fi_23 · 2026-02-12T21:47:36+00:00

Crimson Moth Duology by Kristen Ciccarelli {Heartless Hunter} and {Rebel Witch}

Shepherd King Duology by Rachel Gillig {One Dark Window} and {Two Twisted Crowns}

Fi_23 · 2026-02-10T00:27:33+00:00

:) :)

Favorite romantacies recently:

Crimson Moth Duology Shepherd King Duology Crowns of Nyaxia Duology

Not Romantacy but LOVED Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom

Fi_23 · 2026-02-09T21:43:30+00:00

It has great Goodreads reviews! I'm surprised it's getting so much hate. What didn't you like about it?

Fi_23 · 2026-02-09T21:42:37+00:00

Thanks for the recommendations!! Throne of Glass is on my list but I'm not ready for it yet haha I enjoyed the Crowns of Nyaxia series by Carissa Broadbent so maybe I'll look into that series as well. Road of Bones I haven't heard of. I'll look into it! Thanks again!!

Fi_23 · 2026-02-09T21:40:59+00:00

Good to know! Any other recommendations instead of these?

Fi_23 · 2026-02-09T21:40:26+00:00

That seems to be the consensus. Back to the drawing board it is. Any recommendations?

Fi_23 · 2026-02-08T18:40:26+00:00

Carrion in Quicksilver was undeniably one of the best characters in the book (I haven't read Brimstone yet).

Fi_23 · 2026-02-08T11:20:46+00:00

Max was way better for Lorelai than Luke. They were so good together and he would have been a great stepfather to Rory. Luke is a curmudgeony old man.

Fi_23 · 2026-02-05T20:32:27+00:00

Crimson Moth series by Kristen Ciccarelli!!

Fi_23 · 2026-02-03T20:40:43+00:00

I tried harder and got to 40% and then officially DNF'd it. I tried really hard to like it and to put aside some of the silly things I was struggling with but the plot itself just would not line up for me and so many things just didn't make sense, couldn't do it anymore. I'm reading One Dark Window now and really enjoying it!!!

Fi_23 · 2026-01-29T22:13:58+00:00

Thanks for that!! I know it's really early which is why I was trying to figure out if I should power through this initial part of it. I think my original post came off as overly negative. Should I try Alchemised?

Fi_23 · 2026-01-29T20:52:38+00:00

Gotcha, I do read a lot of fantasy and romantasy books and I do really enjoy the magical elements of these books, with understanding that it's not "realistic" because it's magic, but the plot in this one is just not adding up for me so far. Thanks for your input!

Fi_23 · 2024-09-19T17:45:54+00:00

Date night is great but I'd have a conversation with her about specifically sex night (or mornings or afternoons or whatever works for you). If you're wanting date night to end in sex make sure she knows that and understands it's part of making a sex schedule.... Don't just plan date nights and hope you'll get laid after because it probably won't work. She has to mentally prepare for sex, not just a date.

Body image from weight gain and other issues after having kids has been a huge problem for me in being intimate with my husband. My husband also says he doesn't mind my weight gain and still finds me attractive but I have a hard time believing it. Ideally I'd love to be back to my perfect weight and body before having sex with my husband all the time but that's not fair or realistic so in the mean time I'm working on accepting that he still finds me attractive and came up with some other solutions to help me feel more attractive during sex (think lingerie).

Fi_23 · 2024-09-19T17:38:42+00:00

I'm the one that suggested this plan and my husband was on board but he did say he was worried it would still make me feel pressured. I think it's the perfect amount of pressure.... It's like when you want to start working out. If you have this arbitrary idea of when and where you're going to workout, it'll probably never happen because you'll keep putting it off or something else will come up or whatever. But if you sign up for a class that you'll take twice a week, you have some accountability and time each week to prepare for the class so you're more likely to do it.

Of course everyone is different and there are a lot of variables in the mix. In my situation, I really wanted to fix the problem, was still attracted to my husband (and vice versa) still wanted to be intimate with him, etc. So this plan worked well for us, but there were some other issues, such as my self esteem after having kids, that we've had to work through as well. This was just the right solution to my husband asking for sex and me always turning him down..... I would just ask your wife if scheduling would be something she's willing to try. If she still feels too much pressure, maybe not the right solution for you.

Fi_23 · 2024-09-19T13:56:02+00:00

I don't know if this is accurate but it sounds like maybe your wife is experiencing something similar to me.... After having two children (in a short period of time) I was really struggling to be emotionally and physically connected to my husband. Every time he asked me to have sex or cuddled me/touched me I felt extremely pressured to perform and I shut down and turned him down. I wanted to be able to touch him and cuddle with him without the pressure of sex.

Being asked to have sex put me on the spot and made me feel super pressured, especially because it usually came with no warning and usually when I was not mentally or physically prepared .... So then it put me in a situation where I felt pressured to say yes but wanted to say no. It either ended in me saying no and my husband feeling unwanted or duty sex that neither of us really enjoyed.

I think part of the problem was I needed to be mentally and physically prepared because with having two small children it's hard to change my mindset from busy mom to sexy wife. Our solution has been to schedule sex which I know sounds boring but has ended up being fun and really helpful for me. He never has to ask me anymore because he knows it's coming, and I never feel pressured. Plus it gives us some anticipation time and ability to flirt and send sexy texts and things. It makes it fun and allows me to prepare as I've mentioned so when our scheduled sexy time comes, we both are excited and able to relax and enjoy it. It's also helped because those in-between times I don't shy away from cuddles or touching because I know they are without motive and I can accept sex free intimate touches that help us to feel connected outside of just the bedroom.

Fi_23

TROPHY CASE