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If you’ve got a fantasy reader in your life (or, let’s be honest, you are the fantasy reader in your life), this list is for you. These are the books that absolutely did it for me this year. The ones that had me ignoring my adult responsibilities and reading until 2 a.m.
Some of them are new this year (2025), and some of them are new-to-me this year. Either way, they’re all magical, emotional, and beautifully written. Basically, you’ve got ten guaranteed five-star gifts for any book lover’s stocking.
5 Star Reads of 2025
Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer
New this year | Adult Fantasy Romance | Read my review
A fierce princess. A deadly secret. A mission that could rewrite her kingdom’s fate. Kemmerer’s latest blends high stakes, heart, and just enough danger to keep you turning pages past midnight.
A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan
New this year | Adult Fantasy Romance | Read my review
Magic meets forbidden love in this lush, atmospheric fantasy about power, loyalty, and what you’d risk for the one person you’re not supposed to want. Equal parts peril and passion — perfect for readers who love tension-filled slow burns.
The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig
New this year | Dark Fantasy Romance | Read my review
Haunting, romantic, and utterly unforgettable. Gillig delivers an aching tale of devotion and doom that will leave you wrecked in the best way. For fans of tragic love and gorgeously written worlds.
Amid Clouds and Bones by Ella Fields
Standalone | Adult Fantasy Romance | Read my review
A beautifully twisted standalone with true enemies to lover that will have your jaw on the floor with how much the enemies are enemy-ing. Surprising and a little twisty, this one’s a damn good time any fan of enemies to lovers fantasy romance will thank you for.
Phantasma by Kaylie Smith
Standalone | Adult Fantasy Romance | Read my review
Part ghost story, part mystery, all magic. With its haunting action and eerie undertones, Phantasma is the kind of book that lingers long after the last page. Perfect for readers who love their fantasy with a side of chills…and spice.
The Sacred Stones series by Kate Golden
Completed Trilogy | Adult Fantasy Romance | Read my review (book 1)
I read this trilogy this year and loved every minute. Golden wraps her tale of gods, power, and forbidden love in equal parts danger and devotion making this the perfect binge gift for fantasy romantics who crave chaos and closure with a completed series.
The Lost Girl series by T.A. Lawrence
Completed Romance Arc | Dark Fairytale Retelling | Read my review (book 1)
Dark, elegant, and completely captivating. Lawrence’s morally gray world is brimming with political intrigue, sharp wit, and characters who bleed emotion. Perfect for readers who love a dark twist on the classic Peter Pan story.
This Woven Kingdom series by Tahereh Mafi
Ongoing Series | Fantasy Romance | Read my review (book 4)
Mafi’s newest saga is a masterclass in lyrical writing and emotional depth. With her signature blend of beauty and heartbreak, she crafts a world that feels both otherworldly and intimate. Not complete yet — but already five-star worthy from beginning to end.
Rose In Chains by Julie Soto
New this year | Dark Fantasy Romance | Read my review
A sizzling, emotional rollercoaster with Dramione vibes to perfection! This book delivers dual timelines, unique magic systems and an enemies to lovers romance that sizzles. Soto balances heartbreak and heat with her signature sharp banter and tender honesty. Perfect for readers who crave intensity and vulnerability in equal measure.
Broken Bonds by J Bree
Completed Series | Why Choose Fantasy Romance
The explosive start to the The Bonds That Tie series—part found family, part enemies-to-lovers chaos, all tension. Expect secrets, power, and slow-burn connections that turn into full-on obsession. A great gift for anyone who loves fast-paced fantasy romance with a dark edge and addictive series energy.
🎁Gift Shopping Made Easy
Shopping for your best friend, your book club bestie, or yourself (self-care counts as gifting), these stories are guaranteed to deliver. They’ve got all the magic, romance, and emotional chaos that make fantasy the best genre to escape into. So go ahead, wrap one up, slap on a bow, and thank me later.
Building your TBR? Pin this post and come back anytime you need bookish inspiration.⬇️
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