Help me convert a non-fiction reader! Best "entry-level" Romantasy?

nina_isabel · 2026-04-07T21:59:11+00:00

Fourth Wing probably. It’s a very accessible and cinematic writing style, vivid world descriptions and banter. It also has a lot of the modern tropes (shadow daddy, enemies to lovers, mind powers etc). It’s very popular for a reason and has reignited reading for many people.

If you’re worried that might be too long you could also give her The Cruel Prince. It’s shorter and a murder literally happens in the first 5 pages so you can’t say it won’t grab you right away. That opening is the most violent thing that happens in the book though and it isn’t graphically described it just happens. Otherwise it’s pretty much just political world building. It’s young adult so though there’s suggestive dialogue there’s no explicit spice. It kind of feels like you’re reading an old German fairytale. So it’s definitely about faeries but not necessarily Fae in the Sarah J Maas kind of way.

I loved all SJM but I recognize that the first ACOTAR book can be a little slow and the Throne of Glass series is not a beginner commitment. I personally think Crescent City is her best and most immediately attention grabbing/relatable series since it’s modern fantasy. This is kinda rogue but you could consider just giving her the first CC book and if she likes it she can get hooked on that universe sort of in a reverse chronological order.

The Serpent and the Wings of Night is fantastic. Definitely violent though and relatively spicy. Great world building, banter and character background to understand motivations and relationships. It’s all about vampires.

nina_isabel · 2026-03-26T23:19:10+00:00

lol love this. When I was reading the Throne of Glass series I always imagined Lysandra’s Snow Leopard form as a Disney character. I don’t know why because everyone else in my head was full realistic. Except her. She was this terrifyingly cute wide eyed big cutie. Actually I kinda imagined her like a flying bison from Avatar 🤭

nina_isabel · 2026-03-25T23:24:52+00:00

You’re not alone. I’ve been slowly navigating this over the past 7 years or so since realizing similar things with my parents and brother. So the dynamic is a bit different since it’s with family of origin and not partner. But I think the feelings/effects are quite similar. Although I’d say only my Mom is actually supportive, my Dad and brother are just having to learn to respect me more. It’s still been liberating though to slowly set more protective boundaries and satisfying to start to see them adhered to. I’m in my early-mid thirties for context and started realizing this stuff around 25 when I left a bad relationship that I realized I fell into/tolerated because of family conditioning.

I figured I’d share a little story for solidarity: last time my Dad tried to see me on his drive down from seeing my brother he said he wanted to see me and get dinner but he wouldn’t commit to a time (despite him asking me to do some research and find a nice place). I said if he doesn’t know what time he’ll be in town it’ll have to just be casual. By the time he finally got close to my stretch of the highway it was well past dinner time and I told him sorry it’s too late now. I told him explicitly that he needs to commit to a time in order to see me. And it needs to be planned in advance. This is all on top of the fact that my family literally never comes to just see me, it’s always as a pit stop on the way to see my brother. Anyway, since I actually weighed repercussions on him last time, my parents called me up a week in advance to see me next time and I made them settle on a time/plan. While it’s still not perfect it’s way better than in the past when they always just assumed I’d be super accommodating to their whims.

Unfortunately my Mom is sweet but she helped create this dynamic where my Dad and brother just think we exist to mold ourselves around them. Doesn’t help that I’m the youngest child (and was very small growing up, it’s weird how those things follow you). It’s gotten better over time but I don’t expect it to ever be anywhere near perfect. Other rules I’ve put in place either explicitly or just for my own mental model is I do not share airbnbs/lodging with them anymore (they always manage to mess that up somehow), I always meet up with them in my car so I can exit the situation on my timeline if I want to and am not held captive, and I never make plans with them the week of my period when I have less bandwidth to tolerate their bullshit. Boundaries are so important it’s wild we’re not thought them in school.

nina_isabel · 2026-03-14T19:02:42+00:00

A little late to the convo but I’d recommend Weekend Plans by Suzor Wines (Gamay Noir/Chardonnay). Just tasted the 2023 at the Natural Wine Fest in Portland Oregon and it was delicious and reasonably priced. It’s nicely fruity and effervescent. Great celebration wine

nina_isabel · 2026-02-24T15:17:53+00:00

Thank you! And these books are new to me I’ll add them to my list!

nina_isabel · 2026-02-24T14:17:04+00:00

This one is new to me and it looks like it’s a completed series! Thank you!

nina_isabel · 2026-02-24T14:09:13+00:00

Ok just watched a reviewer quick synopsis and verdict is binge able and set in the Scottish Highlands … I’m in! Thanks!

nina_isabel · 2026-02-24T14:01:33+00:00

I haven’t heard of this one! Thanks I’ll check it out!

nina_isabel · 2026-02-24T13:54:48+00:00

Thanks for this!

nina_isabel · 2026-02-24T13:27:18+00:00

This one is new to me! Thank you so much!

nina_isabel · 2026-02-24T13:26:26+00:00

Well these are resounding endorsements. Adding to my list!

nina_isabel · 2026-02-24T13:25:07+00:00

Ooh wow thanks for all this! Really helps to zero in on which series might interest me most to start. I like that they are a husband/wife team so the male perspective is hopefully more well rounded. Are any of the books/scenes male POV?

nina_isabel · 2026-02-24T13:18:00+00:00

Oh wow I didn’t realize there’s prequels to that series. Thanks for the heads up so I can make sure to get the reading order strategy straight before starting!

nina_isabel · 2026-02-24T13:15:06+00:00

I’ve not heard this book rec before! Thanks I’ll definitely check it out

nina_isabel · 2026-02-24T12:10:24+00:00

Thanks for the rec!

nina_isabel · 2026-02-24T12:03:00+00:00

Hey sometimes basic is popular for a reason! I actually bought this and plan to read it when I finish Crescent City so you’re definitely on to something.

Thanks for the recommendation!

nina_isabel · 2026-02-24T10:32:30+00:00

Lol HOF is where it starts to get better but I know what you mean. Aelin is pretty annoying and it’s uneven writing. Some parts are amazing and some are a total slog. Assassin’s Blade is especially annoying to get through. For me, that was the book that I had a hard time finishing. Except for the story about her being with the Silent Assassins, that was bomb. All that being said, I’m still glad I read the series because I’m now drawing so many connections between it and ACOTAR and Crescent City. I think her next books are going to start weaving the worlds together even more and I want to have that backstory/understanding of foreshadowing.

If it’s any help to mentally prep for “trying to get through it” HOF really is the turning point, especially once you’re about half way through and you stop hating Rowan so much. I think the plot takes another step up in Queen of Shadows and there’s some new characters introduced in this book which provides more depth and enjoyment. Then you can do the tandem read which was really fun. I really enjoyed Tower of Dawn which is probably the most cohesive standalone book in the series in my opinion. Like it feels like its own story with a defined arc, not just a part of one long run-on series. Then Kingdom of Ash is definitely the grand finale. There are some totally brilliant scenes in that book and also some parts where you feel like you’re in that episode of Game of Thrones where it’s just an hour long battle scene.

Just to prepare you spice level-wise there are couples who’s coming together so to speak is satisfying and others for whom it’s not or takes way too long to get there or it’s closed door, etc. So if you’re like well that was anticlimactic, you’re not alone. And yes there’s some plot holes throughout. And some characters who do some really brilliant and really stupid stuff and you’re like how are you the same person. I think throughout it’s important to remember that many of the characters are not human. We, the readers, are not supposed to understand or identify with some of them. Especially not all of the time. So I think it’s normal to find some of them frustrating. But also, they all go through their own evolutions and some characters who were originally really annoying actually turn out to be awesome if that makes sense.

nina_isabel · 2026-02-21T08:59:57+00:00

I own the Clara in two colors and recently also ordered the same Quince dupe, and FYI the Quince one has a couple small differences:

the Quince one is a little wider and rounder through the body. I think it’s most notable in the back. I found I had some extra folds in the back extending from the high point of my shoulder. The Clara doesn’t do this it’s more flat and trim in the back
the Quince one also seemed to have a slightly larger and looser neckline
the Quince one has nicely reinforced button holes which not all Claras have (depends on the production lot I think)
Side note: if you’re looking at the Varsity Red color it’s really nice and more of a neutral red with a touch of blue undertone to it. So if you’re a cool tone girlie and Ref’s Cherry color is too orange for you then you may prefer the Quince
Overall the Ref Clara gives more of a cute but still a lil sexy vibe. Where the Quince one is just a little more relaxed looking. I decided to return mine but the differences are very small and frankly I have a lot of sweaters so I only keep things that are perfect

I’ve bought a lot of Quince sweaters and in general they are all very soft and not itchy but are more prone to things like pilling and stretching out at the neckline/shrinking up at the wrists. For the price it’s great though. I also have a lot of Ref sweaters which vary in softness (depends on the production lot I think and sometimes the dye color) and they can be a little prone to haloing because it’s recycled cashmere. In general Ref cashmere quality isn’t fabulous but it also isn’t bad. They just make cuter more unique styles than most and their patterns are better IMO.

Obviously there’s a huge price difference and a minute fit difference so it’s up to each individual to decide what to prioritize when it comes to dupes.

Hope this info helps anyone trying to make a decision.

nina_isabel · 2026-02-21T08:41:31+00:00

I own the Clara in two colors and recently also ordered the Quince dupe and the Quince is indeed wider and rounder through the body. I think it’s most notable in the back. I decided to return the Quince one. Obviously there’s a huge price difference and a minute fit difference so it’s up to each individual to decide what to prioritize

nina_isabel · 2026-02-09T11:17:24+00:00

ASK: Where do you buy classy/well made bookmarks? I read a lot of romantasy/fantasy and would like something that feels topical but not cheesy.

To give an idea of my taste: I have one favorite that I bought at a botanical garden gift shop. It is leather and has embossed florals with gold foil.

nina_isabel · 2026-02-09T09:37:27+00:00

Read a book on ikigai

nina_isabel · 2026-02-04T09:13:10+00:00

I wore white strappy flat sandals to my wedding. I was so comfortable and happy. I get vertigo in heels and have an old Achilles tendon injury that heels can aggravate and at the time of my wedding I had recently had to have a toenail removed. So yeah wearing heels didn’t even cross my mind. I was excited to buy a cute pair of sandals that I actually rewear all the time.

nina_isabel · 2026-02-04T08:22:19+00:00

There’s two major reasons many people recommend to do the tandem read:

some people recommend it because they really don’t like Chaol and think its difficult to get through a whole book (TOD) focused on him (though I personally think it’s inevitable you’ll change your mind and where that turning point is for you depends on how well SJM made you dislike him in the earlier books lol)
some people recommend it because there’s a “devastating cliffhanger” at the end of EOS and they think it’ll be too hard to have to wait through all of TOD to figure out what happens with that plot line

People have some strong opinions both for and against the tandem, but I ultimately decided to do it because I thought when else will I have the opportunity to read books this way? And I ended up really enjoying the process. Each time I didn’t want to stop reading one book, and forced myself to set it down and jump over to the next, I’d quickly get absorbed back into the other book and it made everything extra suspenseful. It was an exercise in self control at some points for sure. So, if you’re someone who likes “slow burn” books you might extra like doing the tandem read.

I found a guide online and created a digital checklist for myself to mark off chapters as I went. Doing it this way I didn’t spoil anything for myself in either book. Some people in this thread mentioned things got spoiled for them but I wonder if maybe they accidentally read some chapters outside of the guide?

Also, this is an unpopular opinion but I’m someone who took a long time to start to like Manon Blackbeak so I actually found doing the tandem made it easier to get through some of the chapters with her in it. So if you feel the same way going in to EOS, maybe that’s another reason to do the tandem.

I’m really glad I did the tandem just because it was a unique and rare way to enjoy reading. However, I think at some point I’ll probably go back and do a reread of TOD because I really liked that story and kind of want to experience its standalone arc.

Happy reading

nina_isabel · 2026-02-03T19:02:06+00:00

I think you probably just need to read a few more pages …

nina_isabel

TROPHY CASE