Cozy fantasy romance
By Emily Jane Buehler
By Emily Jane Buehler
I'm on a quest to find romance novels set in a fantasy world that don't center on fighting or contain graphic violence. This is like the "cozy mystery" of the fantasy genre. It's different from the usual fantasy romance. For example,
- it's light-hearted and fun
- the characters are not constantly in peril
- there's little to no violence or it's not super graphic
- for the most part, nobody really gets hurt
- there might be less world-building, in favor of the plot and character development
- the plot might be more "every day," like dealing with friends and jobs, as opposed to saving the world
- the protagonist might be ordinary, not the Only One who can save the world.
I'll note any concerns in the annotation. Let me know anything I miss—sometimes I read right over violence without realizing it.
So This Is Ever After
F. T. Lukens
$19.99 $18.59The opening scene is comically gory, but after that, this is just adorable. It’s labeled as YA, but definitely a fantasy and a romance novel.
The Dragon of Ynys
Minerva Cerridwen
$12.99 $12.08This book is labeled “for all ages” but feels like a middle-grade book to me. It does not center on a developing romance.
Forged by Magic
Jenna Wolfhart
$16.99An author note explains that she doesn’t consider the book cozy because of the hint of danger and the explicit love scenes, but in my mind those don’t prevent it from being a cozy fantasy.
A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon
Sarah Hawley
$17.00 $15.81Not a fantasy world, but set in a highly magical town.
Ten Thousand Stitches
Olivia Atwater
$18.99 $17.66Mostly set in historical London, with a parallel faerie realm, but the tone felt like fantasy.
Twelve: A Retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses
Joan Marie Verba
$15.95Technically this is set in 1700s Asia, and it references real-world cities and religions, but the story takes place in an enchanted town that’s separated from the outside world.
The House Witch
Delemhach
$24.99 $23.24There are some homophobic characters and the use of homophobia for humor, as well as some references to child abuse that happened in the past.
The Ocean Girl: A Fairy Tale with Benefits
Jane Buehler
$14.99This one is mine! There is a patriarchal merperson society and mentions of injustice that occur there.
Only One Coffin: A Paranormal MM Romance
A. J. Truman
$11.24This is set in the real world, not a fantasy world, but you can almost overlook this because most of the action happens in a remote vampire hotel in Iceland.
How to Get a Girlfriend (When You're a Terrifying Monster)
Marie Cardno
$15.99 $14.87The setting might be Earth, but with all the portals and dimensions, who even knows.
Magpies & Mayhem
Elsie Winters
$17.99 $16.73There’s a bit of violence and fighting, but mostly the story is about the couple and the heroine’s rescued baby dragon. It’s “contemporary fantasy” but mostly set in the fantasy realm.
Half a Soul
Olivia Atwater
$18.99 $17.66Mostly set in historical London, with a parallel faerie realm, but the tone felt like fantasy.
How Not to Marry a Prince
Megan Derr
$8.99There’s a bully, but you never have to tolerate him for very long.
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy
Megan Bannen
$19.99 $18.59There are some tense and emotional moments toward the end, but it has a happy ending, I promise.
Snowspelled: The Harwood Spellbook Volume I
Stephanie Burgis
$10.99There’s a menacing elf but nothing bad comes of it.
Nice Dragons Finish Last
Rachel Aaron
$13.99There are some scenes with shooting and characters get injured. Set in a future America with magic.
Between
L. L. Starling and Rebecca Morse
$26.44Between is supposedly a terrible place with assassins and sinkholes and monsters, but everything that happens there somehow seems adorable. Contemporary fantasy with both America and a fantasy world.
In the Shadow of a Wish: A Fareview Fairytale, Book 1
Maci Aurora
$15.99There are some, uh, weird things that happen in this book, that might push it out of cozy territory; they were okay for me, but read the author's content warnings to decide for yourself.
Hunt the Stars
Jessie Mihalik
$18.99 $17.66This is sci-fi, not fantasy, but it has a great love story and I loved it so much I wanted it on this list. Some serious/deadly things happen, but most of the story is about the characters learning to trust each other, and it feels cozy and safe.
Strange Love: An Alien Abduction romance
Ann Aguirre
$12.24This is sci-fi, not fantasy, but it’s totally adorable. There is one scene at a party with unpleasant things happening, and one side character dies suddenly.
Mistlefoe: A Mead Realm Tale
Kimberly Lemming
$10.99Note, the author includes content warnings for sex.
Other books I'd like to add, that are not yet available here:
Eliot Grayson, Deven and the Dragon
Erin Vere, How to Train Your Goblin King
A.C. Dawn, The Invisible Goddess: A Mythological Retelling
Elsie Winters, Leviathan's Song
Celia Lake, Eclipse
S.E. Robertson, The Healer’s Road
AJ Sherwood and Jocelynn Drake, Ruins
Lee Colgin, Stray
Sarah Honey, The King's Delight