In the best fantasy romance books, the authors craft attractive characters that pull you in. Whether the traditional Prince Charming tropes in a classic love story or a suitor from a new world in a paranormal romance, fantasy heroes bring passion, drive and emotion to the stories they inhabit. Here are our top 15 best romance fantasy audiobooks that have been elevated from must-read romantic fantasy books to must-listen audiobooks.
A Court of Thorns and Roses is a highly emotional romance fantasy series written by New York Times best-selling author Sarah J. Maas. The story follows a young huntress named Feyre, who is brought to the fabled realm of the Fae after killing a wolf in order to provide for her family. She soon learns that a mysterious plague threatens the land of the Fae - and discovers her heart is in danger too.
Alina Starkov grew up in an orphanage with her best friend Malyen Oretsev, or Mal. The once-great nation has been torn in two, divided by a great darkness crawling with monsters known as the Shadow Fold. Alina, an insignificant cartographer in the First Army of the Tsar of Ravka, reveals unexpected power when their regiment comes under attack crossing the fold and Mal's life is in danger. Since the release of the Netflix adaptation of Shadow and Bone, Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse series has inspired a growing fan base. The story features sophisticated worldbuilding, unconventional protagonists and a sense of impending danger that will keep you gripped throughout.
For 26 years, Sasha Duncan has been able to hide the fact that she is not the stone-cold businesswoman she claims to be. Inside her powerful mind, wild passions rage. If Sasha’s weakness came out, she would have to pay for it with her freedom. Things get dicey when the hunt for a serial killer brings her together with a shape-shifter, Lucas. The attraction between her and the handsome leader of the Dark River Leopards is palpable—and it could be fatal. Suspense, romance, sex and humour - in Slave to Sensation, you get a taste of everything. Nalini Singh, born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand, has been writing imaginative romance novel series since 2003. Her Psy-Changeling series which kicks off with this novel, includes 19 titles.
Nevada Baylor is a powerhouse. She is a private detective who takes on life-threatening assignments while supporting her family. She ends up on a mission that brings her together with Connor 'Mad' Rogan, a powerful billionaire who is searching for the same suspect. As menacing as the stone-rich killer seems to Nevada, his allure is irresistible. Burn for Me is the prelude to Ilona Andrews's six-part Hidden Legacy series. This series offers thrilling entertainment somewhere between romance and dark romance. Renee Raudman’s sensual voice fits the hot plot perfectly, and she brings every twist and turn to life.
The phenomenally successful vampire romance marked the beginning of the fantasy romance boom and has inspired countless authors, including E. L. James, who originally wrote Fifty Shades of Grey as fan fiction. Ilyana Kadushin brings the love triangle between the beautiful mortal Bella, vampire Edward and werewolf Jacob to life. in the unabridged audiobook version. Deeply sensuous and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a YA fantasy love story with bite...
Sci-fi meets romance fantasy in Soulstar, the final instalment of C. Polk’s The Kingston Cycle series narrated by Robin Miles. For years Robin Thorpe has kept a low profile, staying close to her people in the Riverside neighbourhood and hiding the magic that would have her imprisoned. When Grace Hensley comes knocking, Robin’s days of hiding are over. As freed witches flood the streets of Kingston, scrambling to reintegrate with a kingdom that destroyed their lives, Robin begins to plot to establish a freer land. At the same time, she has to face her bottled-up feelings for the childhood love that vanished into an asylum 20 years ago.
Fans of paranormal romance titles need look nolook to no further than The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. Orphaned at a young age and raised by strangers, Mika is used to being alone, and she doesn't mind her own company. One day she receives a message summoning her to the mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches. Mika, an isolated witch, jumps at this opportunity to start fresh. Samara MacLaren brings this warm and uplifting novel to life. Listeners of all ages will fall in love with this standalone novel about a lonely witch who embraces a quirky new family and finds a new love.
In Stephanie Garber’s Caraval nothing is quite what it seems. Scarlett, who has never left the tiny isle of Trisda, dreams of the wonder of Caraval, a week-long performance that happens once a year, where the audience participates in the show. Caraval is an opportunity for magic, mystery and adventure to take place. Scarlett and her sister Tella see it as an opportunity to escape their father’s abuse. Their dreams come true when they receive an invitation to Caraval. But when they arrive Tella is kidnapped by Legend, the show’s mastermind organiser. Scarlett has been told everything at Caraval is only an elaborate magician’s performance. What follows is a story of slow-burn romance, magic, and heartbreak.
Written and performed by Travis Baldree, Legends & Lattes brings high fantasy and low stakes, served with a double shot of coffee. Viv, the orc barbarian, is finally hanging up her sword after decades of chaos. Armed with hope and a big secret, she pursues her new dream of opening the first coffee shop in Thune. In need of a crew to assist her, she enlists a gruff hob builder, a shy baker, and a charming succubus. But Thune’s shady underbelly and new enemies keep threatening Viv’s new venture and provoking her to pick up the sword again. Fans of TJ Klune, Katherine Addison and T. Kingfisher will want to add this heartwarming fantasy tale to their libraries.
Another title from the iconic American fantasy author Sarah J. Mass earns a spot on our best fantasy romance audiobooks list. Fans of fantasy and romance need to look no further than Throne of Glass, the first title from the series of the same name that has taken the world by storm which focuses on 18-year-old Celaena Sardothien, a dangerous assassin. Stuck serving a life sentence in a dark salt mine she is offered the chance of freedom by becoming the King’s champion. But first, she must battle the other contenders. If she loses, she will die. With characters you can’t turn away from, a gripping love triangle and a fierce female lead this one thrilling fantasy adventure.
The first audiobook of Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series takes listeners to the dark city of New York City and reveals the dangers of forbidden love. Drawn towards irresistible demon hunters, 15-year-old Clary Fray sees vampires in Brooklyn and werewolves in Manhattan. One day, she witnesses a murder committed by teenagers with strange tattoos and weapons. The body vanishes into thin air, leaving no trace. This odd encounter is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, a group of warriors working to rid the world of demons. This exhilarating fantasy takes listeners on a wild ride of demon hunting, vengeance and romance.
This iconic Disney tale from Elizabeth Rudnick and the Disney Press is a classic example of a true fantasy romance. Belle, a beautiful young woman, wants more from life than her small town can offer. Unlike most of her peers, she has a unique point of view, is fiercely independent, and loves to read. She longs for a life of adventures and experiences. Belle’s life changes when her father gets imprisoned by a beast in a castle. She volunteers to take his place, risking her freedom, future and life. As time passes by in the enchanted castle, she realises there is more to the Beast’s story than she first thought. What unfolds is a heartwarming tale of unexpected affection and understanding.
Radiance, from Grace Draven’s Wraith Kings series, introduces listeners to Brishen Khaskem the prince of Kai, spare heir to the throne. As part of an alliance agreement between the human Gaur kingdom and the Kai Bast-Haradis kingdom, Brishen must marry a Gauri woman to seal the deal. His bride-to-be Ildiko, niece of the Gauri king, is as ugly as Brishen expected but more beautiful than he could ever imagine. Two people forced together by politics and duty discover they might just be destined for each other, even if the kingdom tries to tear them apart.
New York Times best-selling author Marissa Meyer returns to the world of fairytales with Gilded, a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin from her Gilded Duology series. Serilda, a poor miller’s daughter, develops a talent for telling spellbinding and untrue stories - or so everyone believes. When one of her outlandish tales draws the attention of Erlking and his undead hunters she gets swept away into a world of ghouls and phantoms. Serilda is ordered to spin straw into gold or she will be killed for telling stories that aren’t true. A mysterious boy agrees to help her for a price. Serilda realises there is more than one secret hidden in the castle walls.
TJ Klune’s New York Times best seller The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the enchanting experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place and realising that family could be yours. 40-year-old Linus Baker lives in a tiny house with his cat and monitors orphanages at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. One day, Linus get he is asked to work on a classified assignment. He travels to an orphanage where six dangerous children live, including the Antichrist. He bonds with the guardian, Arthur. Linus must choose between duty and his dreams in this heartwarming fantasy listen.
