There is something uniquely intoxicating about a romance that unfolds one heartbeat at a time. Where stolen glances linger longer than kisses and unspoken longing crackles beneath whip-smart banter as we slowly watch the tension build on the page.

Layering world-building with yearning, epic stakes with quiet intimate moments, our list of slow-burn romantic fantasies will do everything and more to satiate your need for a romance that unfolds at a deliciously agonising pace.

Throne of Nightmares by Kerri Maniscalco

Discover the perilous, romantic and action-packed fantasy standalone from bestselling author, Kerri Maniscalco. With a gorgeous slow-burn romance at its heart, a book of dangerous magic draws two readers into a perilous quest to find it – and their own happy ending.

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Strange Familiars by Keshe Chow

Two scholars of magical veterinary science must put aside their lust and loathing to save the world in the first instalment of this whimsical, romantic, dark academia duology.

All Gwendolynne Chan needs is to get through final year at Seamere College, where she is on track to graduate top of her class - as long as the pretentious Harrisford Briggs doesn’t beat her to it.

Harrisford Briggs was born into privilege. His father, the Chief Financial Officer of Magecorp, a major global distributor of magic, expects nothing less than the best from him. Harrisford, though, can't help but notice that his father has been acting odd. And there are strange whisperings, too, of uncontrollable surges of excess magic.

When these magical surges begin to rock London, causing chaos and explosions and animal familiars going feral, Gwen and Harrisford, along with Gwen’s snarky cat familiar, must team up to diagnose the problem. But as the two academic rivals fight their burgeoning feelings, they quickly realise that magic is not the only thing surging.

Strange Familiars is a delightful contemporary fantasy  that you won't be able to put down, with plenty of spice, magical animals, dark academia and a fight for justice against a corrupt corporation.

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The Faithful Dark by Cate Baumer

If you’re looking for an especially slow, zero spice, but achingly romantic slow-burn dark gothic fantasy with a trans-masculine priest, a divine being and a conflicted mercy worker, The Faithful Dark is the one for you.

In a holy city, Csilla – a girl born without a soul – is worth little to the Church that raised her. But when a series of murders corrodes the faithful magic that keeps the city safe, the Church sees a use for her flaw: she can assassinate their prime suspect without risking the stain of sin.

But their suspect makes Csilla a counteroffer: clear his name and he'll use his divine powers to grant her very own soul. Meanwhile, ruthless Ilan, desperate to earn back his position as Church Inquisitor, sees the case as his chance to regain his title, hunting both Csilla and the suspect for answers.

As the death toll rises, and their task pits them against the all-powerful and callous Faith, Csilla finds herself torn. Will her salvation come at the cost of everything – and everyone – she believes in?

Full of dark magic, torturous love, and a holy war, The Faithful Dark is epic in its scope and immensely rewarding in its gothic mystery – perfect for readers wanting an immersive read.

Tropes:

• Slow-burn romance 🔥❤️
• Queer romance 🌈❤️
• Forced proximity 🤏🔒
• Religious Intrigue ✞🤨

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Idolfire by Grace Curtis

Step into the absolutely swoon-worthy, slow-burn sapphic fantasy inspired by the fall of Rome.

ON ONE SIDE OF THE WORLD, Aleya Ana-Ulai is desperate for a chance. Her family have written her off as a mistake, but she's determined to prove every last one of them wrong.

ON THE OTHER, Kirby of Wall's End is searching for redemption. An ancient curse tore her life apart, but to fix it, she'll have to leave everything behind.

Fate sets them both on the path to Nivela, a city once poised to conquer the world with the power of a thousand stolen gods. Now the gates are closed and the old magic slumbers. Dead – or waiting for a spark to light it anew . . .

Idolfire is a charming, tender fantasy with a beautifully told sapphic romance that is sure to capture your heart.

Tropes:

• Sapphic Romance 🌈❤️
• Forced proximity 🤏🔒
• Chosen One👆 
  
• Slow-burn romance 🔥❤️

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A Dance With a Fae Prince by Elise Kova

Longing for the days of fairytales past? Inspired by the tales of Cinderella and Psyche and Eros, Elise Kova’s slow-burn fantasy romance is brimming with fae magic and courtly intrigue.

Katria swore she'd never fall in love. She's seen what 'love' means through the cruelty of her family. So when she's married off to the mysterious Lord Fenwood for a handsome price, all Katria wants is a better life than the one she's leaving. Feelings are off the table. Aren’t they?

As their attraction begins to grow, so too do the oddities within her new life: strange rules, screams in the night, and attacks by fae that Katria never thought were real. When she witnesses a ritual not meant for human eyes, Katria finds herself spirited away to the land of Midscape.

Surviving the fae wilds as a human is hard enough. Katria must survive as a human who accidently pilfered the magic of ancient kings. The power to save the fae is in her hands. But who will save her from a love she vowed never to feel?

A Dance with the Fae Prince is a standalone romantasy with a beautiful slow-burn romance, a swoon-worthy couple, and steaminess that ranges from simmering to sizzling.

Tropes:

• Marriage of convenience 💍
• Slow-burn romance 🔥❤️
• Fairy Tale retelling 🪄🌟
• Forced proximity 🤏🔒
• Fated Mates 💞
  

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What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

The Mummy meets Death on the Nile in this lush, immersive historical romantasy set in 19th century Egypt, filled with adventure, laugh-out-loud banter, a slow-burn rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race.

In the glittering society of nineteenth-century Buenos Aires, Inez Olivera has everything, except the one thing she really wants: her parents, who frequently leave her behind on their globetrotting adventures.

Then she receives a terrible letter: her parents have passed away in mysterious circumstances. Determined to uncover the truth, she sets sails for their last port-of-call, Cairo, bringing only her sketch pads and an ancient ring that her father sent to her for safekeeping.

But upon her arrival in Egypt, the ring flares with ancient magic, and Inez is thrust into a treacherous game that could threaten her life – and into the path of her new guardian's infuriatingly handsome assistant, who seems determined to thwart her at every turn . . .

A divine exploration, a deadly secret and a desire you can’t escape – in this brilliant novel by Isabel Ibañez. The final instalment in the duology, Where the Library Hides, is available now.

Tropes:

• Rivals-to-lovers ⚔️❤️
• Marriage of convenience 💍
• Forced proximity 🤏🔒
• Slow-burn romance 🔥❤️
• Banter 🗣️🤭

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Jade Fire Gold by June CL Tan

Witness a stunning collision of East Asian mythology and folk tales in Jade Fire Gold that will leave you on the edge of your seat! 

In an empire on the brink of war. Ahn is no one, with no past and no family.

Altan is a lost heir, his future stolen away as a child.

When they meet, Altan sees in Ahn a path to reclaiming the throne. Ahn sees a way to finally unlock her past and understand her lethal magical abilities.

But they may have to pay a far deadlier price than either could have imagined . . .

Jade Fire Gold is the stunning first book from June CL Tan, full of ferocious action, shadowy intrigue, rich magic, and a captivating slow-burn romance.

Tropes:

• Chosen one 👆
• Blood feud 🩸🗡️
  
• Slow-burn romance 🔥❤️

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Beneath These Cursed Stars by Lexi Ryan

From the bestselling author of These Hollow Vows, indulge in a romantic fantasy in which a human princess armed with death's kiss, and a fae shifter on the run become unlikely allies.

When the stars promise ruin, will love be worth the risk?

Princess Jasalyn seeks revenge. Armed with an enchanted ring bestowing death's kiss, she's been sneaking away at night to assassinate her enemies.

Felicity needs a miracle. Fated to kill her father, she's been using her ability to shape-shift to evade a fatal prophecy.

But when rumours begin circling that the evil king Mordeus is still alive, Jasalyn teams up with the handsome Kendrick – a rebel once imprisoned alongside her. While Felicity must take Princess Jasalyn's form, and her place at court – drawing irresistibly closer to the Wild Fae King, Misha.

Soon enough . . . their mission is at risk right alongside their hearts.

First in a duology, Beneath These Cursed Stars brings all the conspiracy, conflict and court politics of the These Hollow Vows duology but with even more romance! The second book in the duology, Between These Broken Hearts, is available now.

Tropes:

• Forbidden love 🚫❤️
• Slow-burn romance 🔥❤️
• Fated Mates 💞
• Forced proximity 🤏🔒
  

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Dragonfall by L.R. Lam

Escape into a smouldering forbidden romance, a dangerous heist and a world full of magic and DRAGONS.

The last male dragon. A desperate thief. A bond that will save the world . . . or shatter it.

Long ago, humans betrayed dragons, stealing their magic and banishing them to a dying world. Now their descendants worship dragons as gods. But the 'gods' remember, and they do not forgive.

So when thief Arcady casts a spell to steal a powerful artefact and accidentally traps Everen – the last male dragon – in the human world, the consequences are deadly.

Everen soon realises the key to his destiny, and to regaining his true power, lies in Arcady. All he needs to do is convince them to bond with him completely – and then kill them . . .

The first in an epic fantasy series Dracon Scales, Dragonfall combines sizzling romance with epic fantasy that we just know you'll love. Book two in the series, Emberclaw, is available now!

Tropes:

• Forbidden love 🚫❤️
• Slow-burn romance 🔥❤️
• Enemies-to-lovers ⚔️❤️
• Magical Bond 💞
• Queer normative world 🌈

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The Forest King’s Daughter by Elly Blake

A forest princess and a demon boy collide in this slow-burn, friends-to-enemies-to-forbidden-lovers romantic fantasy.

Once upon a time, a young forest princess became friends with a lonely demon boy. He gifted her a ring, a worthless trinket . . . or so he thought. Because no sooner did he slide it onto her finger than the demon queen and forest king declared war.

Years later, Cassia is a crucial force in her father's army, wielding her ring of light against hundreds of demons at a time. Then battle-hardened Zeru abducts her, planning to steal back the ring to fix his childhood mistake.

Terrified, and more than a little mistrusting, Cassia is forced to travel with Zeru to a place they both believed only existed in storybooks, one where their friendship slowly rekindles into something much more. But it's only a matter of time before the war they've escaped comes for them, and a hidden threat to forest folk and demon alike grows in the shadows.

Sweetly romantic, a majestic tale awaits you in the first instalment of the Thirstwood trilogy, and book two The Cursed Queen's Daughter is available now.

Tropes:

• Friends-to-enemies-to . . . 👥💏🗡️
• Forbidden love 🚫❤️
• Slow-burn romance🔥❤️
• Forced proximity 🤏🔒
• Banter 🗣️🤭

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