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Fallen out of love with Romantasy

92 replies

CoubousAndTourmaIet · 20/08/2025 14:42

Does anyone else feel they've reached saturation point with romantasy?

Having been an avid fantasy reader when I was young, I moved away from the genre for many years. I came back to it during the pandemic, when I seemed to need escapism. I started with Throne of Glass and the Grishaverse then ACOTAR and it went from there. I've read hundreds and some of them I did enjoy (notably Samantha Shannon).

Now, I'm suddenly having a lot of DNF's and they're all starting to feel a bit samey; pretty dresses, enemies to lovers, marrying princes and lots of kissing. Stephanie Garber was the final straw.

So, I'm looking for recommendations for recent fantasy series with relatable females please. I've done all the old ones - Tolkien, Ursula Le Guin, the three Terry's (Brooks, Goodkind & Pratchett), Anne McCaffrey, Katherine Kerr, Robin Hobb etc. But there must be plenty of modern writers that have slipped under my radar and this is what I'm looking for.

I know there are more recent male authors - Brandon Sanderson, Jay Kristoff, John Gwynne to name but three, but I don't know what sort of female characters they create... Don't want glamour or sexism cause I'm an old thing of 61.

Grateful for any recommendations. Thank you.

OP posts:
BalalaikaBalaclavaBaklava · 27/08/2025 19:17

Seconding what someone else said about Brandon Sanderson and his Mistborn series, although I don't think the writing of the female lead is a bit lacking. It's a fab series and he does excellent world building.

He also writes a Skyward series with a female lead but I'd say that's heavily YA-skewed.

The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan is very good, written from a number of different character perspectives, male & female. I think it's a 12-13 massive book series and around books 8-10ish it DRAGS, as if the author was losing his way a bit. The series was finished by Brandon Sanderson - Jordan's widow chose him to do it when her husband passed away. The books pick up again from then and rattle along, despite their mammoth size.

Magpiecomplex · 23/08/2025 19:23

Possibly also David Eddings if you haven't already read them. Disclaimer, I haven't re-read them in years and I have a nasty feeling they might not be as good as I thought they were when I was a teenager.

Magpiecomplex · 23/08/2025 19:14

Not new, but you might want to look at Sheri Tepper.

BasicBrumble · 23/08/2025 19:00

Oh Tigana by GGK is wonderful. Lions of Al Rassan too.

outerspacepotato · 22/08/2025 17:28

I just thought of another who could sort of fit into this category, Guy Gavriel Kay. My favorites of his are The Lions of Al Rassan and A Song For Arbonne.

Zofloramummy · 22/08/2025 12:01

I’m reading the Wandering Inn at the moment, it is massive and still ongoing but I’m enjoying it. Also can’t stand romantasy particularly as most of the relationships are toxic as hell.

DorotheaDiamond · 22/08/2025 11:55

janny wurts (try the empire trilogy with Raymond Feist first maybe then the curse of the mistwraith series but avoid the audiobook that is not how the hero should sound in my head at least)

Jacqueline Carey (bdsm in fantasy renaissance France…sounds terrible is brilliant)

Katherine kurtz deryni series

old school Roger zelazny amber series

and yes I am utterly totally fed up with the only stuff seemingly being published being romantasy!!!

YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME · 22/08/2025 11:50

Another Anne Bishop recommendation and start with The Black Jewels Trilogy. Read all her books, a cut above imo.

TabbyM · 22/08/2025 11:48

Bit older: all of Patricia McKillip, Robin McKinley (except Deerskin)

Newish : Katherine Addison - The Goblin Emperor, the Witness for the Dead, The Grief of Stones and Tomb of Dragons (not a female MC but v good)
T Kingfisher - not her horror ones (The Twisted Ones is total nightmare fuel)
The Library of The Dead by TL Huchu

The Rook by Daniel O'Malley
Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson
Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
Dragonfall by Laura Lam

More sci fi but Arkady Martine's A Memory Called Empire

outerspacepotato · 21/08/2025 17:26

Robert Jackson Bennett.

He's got two trilogies, iirc, but my favorites of his are the Shadow of the Leviathan series, a mystery fantasy smashup. The Tainted Cup is the first. A Drop of Corruption, the second, was one of my favorites of the year. There's also the Divine Cities trilogy and the Founders trilogy. He writes strong women characters.

Confuuzed · 21/08/2025 16:29

They're aimed at young adults but if you liked uprooted you might enjoy Frances Hardinge's books. They might be a little childish for your tastes but they're beautifully written and no romance.

CoubousAndTourmaIet · 21/08/2025 13:27

I've just found it on the shelves upstairs and brought it down to read, @FizzingAda It's dated 1986, which is probably when I first read it.

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BasicBrumble · 21/08/2025 10:01

Mark Lawrence had an early successful trilogy which sparked some complaints due to lack of diversity and the hero being a rapist. He used to get quite defensive about it online which put me off. But I have enjoyed his later works.

Romantasy isn't for me at all but I did spend many years reading fantasy. Robin Hobb is of course excellent. Bujold is great, but I actually fell in love with her SF series more. But yes now that you mention it, they're older books and authors (though Hobb keeps publishing, and both authors are so good they should be read).

Hmm in recent years I've enjoyed books by Novik and VE Schwab. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison was good.

Shamefully, for someone who considers myself a big SF/F fan, I've just realised I've read far more SF over the last decade.

IfYoureLeavingTakeMeToo · 21/08/2025 09:57

Marcus Lee as well - chosen trilogy and the other ones he's done are also good

CoubousAndTourmaIet · 21/08/2025 09:38

FizzingAda · 21/08/2025 09:31

Have a look at The Unlikely Ones by (Mary Brown I think - not at home so can't check name). Down to Earth unsentimental fantasy.

Good call - I have that somewhere on my bookshelves. I read it thirty odd years ago, but it's definitely worth a revisit. Thanks.

OP posts:
FizzingAda · 21/08/2025 09:31

Have a look at The Unlikely Ones by (Mary Brown I think - not at home so can't check name). Down to Earth unsentimental fantasy.

PestoHoliday · 21/08/2025 09:31

A agree with the Brandon Sanderson Mistborn trilogy, it's a really interesting concept and a good story arc.

CoubousAndTourmaIet · 21/08/2025 09:28

Wow! Thanks all, amazing response to this thread and I see I'm not alone in this. Checking everything out, but please keep suggestions coming.

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PestoHoliday · 21/08/2025 09:27

lowkeygirl · 21/08/2025 08:31

Naomi Novik - Spinning Silver & Uprooted
Katherine Arden - the Winternight trilogy

They were going to be my suggestions as well!

CoubousAndTourmaIet · 21/08/2025 09:25

lowkeygirl · 21/08/2025 08:31

Naomi Novik - Spinning Silver & Uprooted
Katherine Arden - the Winternight trilogy

Thanks - I've read all of these and absolutely loved them. Folklore is very much my thing. Also read Hannah Whitten and Ava Reid which are in the same vein.

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Confuuzed · 21/08/2025 08:48

uprooted by naomi novik it's a stunning book.

Marmite27 · 21/08/2025 08:48

Just read the realm of elderlings again. It can’t be beaten!

stackhead · 21/08/2025 08:46

The Morgan series by Sophie Keetch is also good, taking the story of Morgan Le Fay so historic fantasy. Starts with "My Name is Morgan".

Pashazade · 21/08/2025 08:44

Oh Anne Bishop’s World of the Others is so good, love her alternate setting. Wish she’d write more of them. (Haven’t read the Black Jewels series)
If you like Urban Fantasy then the Jane Yellowrock series by Faith Hunter are good fun, they get a bit silly towards the end but still a satisfying story with good characters and a sensible balance of sex and storyline!
Also the Hollows series by Kim Harrison are fun again get a bit silly towards the end but an enjoyable read nonetheless.

DoverWight · 21/08/2025 08:42

Tamora Pierce the Alanna books are great