20 must read romantasy books with arranged marriages

Lara has been trained her whole life to be a weapon, and now she's being sent to marry her enemy, King Aren of the Bridge Kingdom. The alliance is a lie, and Lara's true mission is to infiltrate his kingdom and bring it to ruin. But as she navigates political intrigue and uncovers secrets about the war and Aren himself, she starts to question everything she's been taught. With her heart and loyalty torn in two, Lara must decide what kind of queen, and woman, she wants to be.

Why you should read this: With enemies to lovers tension, political intrigue, and a marriage built on deception, this book delivers all the arranged marriage drama you could want. Lara and Aren's relationship is fiery, layered, and so satisfying to watch unfold.

Skadi met her future husband on the battlefield with blades drawn and blood spilled. After her defeat, she's handed over in a political marriage to Prince Jonas of the fae realms, a union meant to strengthen alliances against their shared enemy. Skadi is determined to keep things cold and calculated. This is war strategy, not love. But her new husband isn't just infuriatingly kind, he's also disarmingly charming and falling for him might just be her greatest mistake.

Why you should read this: If you love morally gray royals, enemies to lovers vibes, and arranged marriages that turn unexpectedly tender, this one delivers. It's a standalone with high stakes fantasy, soft hearted fae, and a broken heroine learning how to trust again.

Brishen, a Kai prince and the overlooked spare heir to the throne, agrees to an arranged marriage with a human noblewoman to secure an alliance between their two kingdoms. Ildiko, a Gauri royal with no real standing, has accepted her fate as a political pawn, until she meets her new husband, a non-human prince whose appearance both startles and fascinates her. Neither expected love, and neither finds the other physically attractive by their own people's standards, but mutual respect, humor, and affection begin to bloom against all odds. As tensions rise between kingdoms, their bond may be the only thing strong enough to withstand what's coming.

Why you should read this: This is the ultimate “marriage of mutual weirdness and respect” story, with a refreshingly gentle and wholesome slow burn. If you're tired of insta-lust and want a story where love grows through kindness, banter, and shared vulnerability, Radiance is a total gem.

Misery Lark, the estranged daughter of a powerful Vampyre councilman, is forced back into the political world she's tried to escape. To maintain peace between Vampyres and Weres, she agrees to an arranged marriage with Lowe Moreland, the intimidating Alpha of the Were pack. Neither trusts the other. Lowe sees Misery as a manipulative outsider, and Misery has secrets that could destroy everything. But as tensions rise and truths unravel, their marriage of convenience becomes something far more dangerous and possibly more real.

Why you should read this: If you love fated vibes with a twist, forced proximity, and a romance wrapped in secrets and political tension, Bride delivers. It's moody, slow burning, and full of enemies to lovers energy with just the right amount of bite.

Torn from her world and thrust into the Court of Ravens, a young woman becomes the reluctant bride of not one, but two raven shifters, brothers consumed by vengeance, desire, and secrets. One is cold and cruel, the other deceptively gentle, but both see her as a pawn in their dangerous game. What starts as an arranged union soon twists into something darker as she's caught between pleasure and pain, loyalty and betrayal, love and destruction. With her fate hanging in the balance, she must decide if she'll fight the monsters or become one.

Why you should read this: If you're into morally gray villains, dark fantasy, and villainous love interests who toe the line between obsession and devotion, this one is for you. It's gritty, seductive, and full of twisted tension, plus, who can resist the chaos of an arranged marriage to two raven shifters?

Seraphena Mierel was never meant to live a normal life. As part of a centuries old bargain, she's been promised to the Primal of Death as his Consort, a union meant to preserve peace and protect her realm. But beneath her silken gowns and Maiden mask lies a deadly secret: Sera is an assassin, tasked with seducing and destroying the god she's been bound to. What begins as a calculated mission slowly unravels as she discovers the Primal of Death is far more than a feared immortal. He's also the one man who sees her for who she truly is.

Why you should read this: If you're into deadly girls, divine husbands, and arranged marriages layered in secrets and betrayal, this prequel delivers everything you loved in From Blood and Ash, but darker, steamier, and even more intense. It's a perfect blend of slow burn romance, political stakes, and god tier chemistry.

In a world where the gods have vanished and Death rules over what's left, Princess Deyanira is trained to be a killer—one destined to take life rather than heal it. When she's forced into an arranged marriage meant to broker peace, she sees a glimmer of purpose beyond bloodshed. But nothing goes to plan. Tricked into wedding the wrong man and trapped in Death's seductive, deadly court, Deyanira must navigate a twisted world of lies, power plays, and forbidden desire while hunting for the only person who can restore balance—the missing Life Maiden.

Why you should read this: This dark romantasy blends high stakes, sensual danger, and a hauntingly unique world. If you loved the lush theatrical vibes of Caraval or the dark romantic pull of Kingdom of the Wicked, this story of enemies bound by fate and betrayal will absolutely pull you in.

To end a devastating war and save her people, Princess Una of Issos agrees to the unthinkable, marriage to the terrifying Wraith King, her kingdom's greatest enemy. Gollaya Verbane demands her submission as part of a dark prophecy that could reshape the fate of the fae realms. But as they navigate their forced union, something deeper sparks between them. Something that blurs the line between sacrifice and desire. When betrayal threatens the crown and hidden powers awaken, Goll will do anything to protect the woman who was meant to be his pawn but has become his everything.

Why you should read this: This one is dark, delicious, and filled with enemies to lovers tension. If you're into ruthless kings, powerful heroines, and an arranged marriage that turns unexpectedly all-consuming, The Wraith King will absolutely scratch that itch.

Vaasa Kozár has always known death was her destiny, especially once dark magic awakened inside her. To rid himself of the threat she poses, her brother, the power hungry king, arranges her marriage to Reid of Mireh, a cold and calculating ruler of a rival nation. The plan is simple: marry her off, let her die, and start a war. But Reid offers Vaasa a deal instead. Help him gain political power, and she'll earn her freedom. As dangerous alliances form and the sparks between them grow harder to ignore, their carefully calculated partnership begins to look a lot more like something real.

Why you should read this: This book brings high stakes political games, slow burn tension, and a heroine who refuses to be anyone's pawn. If you love arranged marriages rooted in strategy that spiral into undeniable chemistry, this one absolutely delivers.

Misaki Matsuda gave up everything, her identity, her sword, and her past, to become a proper wife in an arranged marriage that was never about love. But as war creeps closer to their isolated mountain village and her son starts questioning the world around him, the fighter inside Misaki begins to stir once more. With the weight of a family legacy and a crumbling empire pressing in, both mother and son must reckon with who they were meant to be and who they want to become. What unfolds is a heart wrenching, powerful tale of duty, sacrifice, and the pain of rediscovering your true self too late.

Why you should read this: This is a beautifully written, emotionally devastating standalone that explores arranged marriage from a fresh perspective, one of regret, resilience, and buried strength. If you're looking for complex characters, family dynamics, and a blend of lyrical prose and intense action, The Sword of Kaigen is unforgettable.

In a vibrant world where magic is powered by breath and color, two sisters are thrust into political chaos, one through duty, and the other by surprise. Princess Vivenna was raised her whole life to marry the powerful God King of Hallandren, but when her younger sister Siri is sent in her place, both are forced to navigate a court full of secrets, divine beings, and deadly schemes. As Siri grows closer to the enigmatic God King and Vivenna grapples with her own beliefs and power, the fate of their kingdom hangs in the balance. Arranged marriage, divine politics, and hidden magic all collide in this unique standalone fantasy.

Why you should read this: If you're craving a smart, character driven fantasy with a twist on the arranged marriage trope, Warbreaker delivers. With witty banter, slow burn romance, and one of Sanderson's most accessible magic systems, this book is both richly imaginative and emotionally satisfying.

Marra has spent her life in the shadows, raised in a convent while her royal sisters were sacrificed to politics. But after witnessing years of abuse at the hands of a cruel prince, she decides enough is enough. To save her surviving sister, Marra must complete three impossible tasks, kill a prince, and confront the deeply buried magic that still lingers in her bloodline. What begins as a quiet rebellion transforms into a darkly whimsical quest, complete with a demon possessed chicken, a grumpy fairy godmother, a brave knight, and a witch who deals in bones.

Why you should read this: While the arranged marriage in this story is off page, it's central to the plot and Marra's journey to destroy it is filled with eerie fairy tale vibes, found family, and quiet but fierce feminism. If you want a short, sharp, and beautifully weird romantasy with heart and teeth, this one's a standout.

Lou is a witch hiding in a city where her kind is hunted and burned. Reid is a Chasseur, a devout witch hunter sworn to the Church. When a chaotic turn of events forces them into a reluctant and very public marriage, neither is prepared for the collision of magic, faith, and desire that follows. But as Lou's secrets threaten to unravel and ancient enemies close in, the line between love and betrayal grows dangerously thin.

Why you should read this: This book delivers all the arranged marriage angst, complete with enemies to lovers tension, sizzling chemistry, and a richly woven world of witches vs. witch hunters. If you love chaotic heroines, grumpy heroes, and forced proximity done right, Serpent & Dove is a must read.

Princess Faraine has always been overlooked, shunned by her court and cast into the background due to her chronic illness, while her younger sister shines in the spotlight. So when the powerful and brooding Shadow King arrives seeking a bride, it's no surprise he chooses her sister. But fate has other plans. When tragedy strikes, Faraine is forced to take her sister's place in a marriage meant to secure peace, stepping into a role she was never meant to play and a love she never expected to find.

Why you should read this: This book brings slow burn romance, dual POV tension, and the emotional ache of falling for someone who thinks you betrayed them. If you love hidden strength, misunderstood heroines, and reluctant husbands who can't stop thinking about the woman they weren't supposed to want, this is one to add to your TBR immediately.

Velasin vin Aaro never expected to marry, especially not a woman, and certainly not under political pressure. But when a scandal exposes his preference for men, the alliance between his kingdom and the neighboring Tithena shifts. Rather than cancel the engagement, the Tithenai envoy offers an unexpected solution: Vel will marry the bride's brother, Caethari, instead. What begins as an awkward, reluctant union quickly deepens as political enemies close in and the pair must rely on each other not just to survive, but to navigate their growing bond in a world where love is the most dangerous game of all.

Why you should read this: This beautifully written queer romantasy blends arranged marriage tension with heartfelt character growth, political scheming, and emotional healing. If you're looking for a tender but high stakes slow burn that explores identity, consent, and hard won trust, this one will stay with you long after the final page.

When Luna is forced into an arranged marriage with the vampire prince of a rival kingdom, she expects a cold, political union, not to be magically bound to him in a ceremony gone horribly wrong. Now literally tethered to Sebastian, the brooding and reluctant prince who follows his queen's every command, the two are trapped in a forced proximity nightmare neither of them wanted. But as tensions rise and secrets unravel, what begins as a survival pact may just spark something neither of them saw coming.

Why you should read this: If you're a fan of magical bonds, grumpy/sunshine dynamics, and arranged marriages that turn into unexpected slow burn romances, Tethered delivers the angst and forced proximity vibes you're craving. Plus, vampires. Enough said.

Princess Isolde de Lara agrees to marry the feared vampire king, Adrian Aleksandr Vasiliev, to end a brutal war, but she considers it a death sentence. Her true plan is to kill him. When her attempt fails and Adrian threatens to turn her into the very thing she loathes, Isolde is forced to navigate a deadly court, an even deadlier husband, and the tangled pull of desire that threatens her resolve. As passion flares and secrets unravel, she begins to question everything, including why Adrian really chose her.

Why you should read this: This book is dark, spicy, and packed with enemies to lovers tension set against a gothic fantasy backdrop. If you love arranged marriages that start with daggers drawn and end in fiery chemistry, this one's an absolute ride.

As the half fae daughter of a human king, she's spent her life hidden away until her father trades her in marriage to Atakan, the feared Seelie prince, in exchange for an alliance. Cold, cruel, and infamous for his brutality, Atakan makes it clear he wants nothing to do with her, except to make her life a living nightmare. But instead of breaking, she learns to play his games and starts to crave the monster she was meant to fear. Just as their enemies to lovers bond begins to spark, fate rips her from his arms and throws her into the clutches of an even greater evil.

Why you should read this: This book is the definition of dark, twisted romantasy with brutal fae politics, sizzling tension, and a heroine who refuses to cower. If you love morally gray characters, hate to love intensity, and arranged marriages that flirt with ruin, this one's for you.

In Luella's world, being chosen by the Elf King means being ripped from your home and likely never returning. She thought she'd escaped that fate, building a quiet life as her town's healer. But when the Elf King himself arrives and claims her as his destined bride, everything changes. Thrust into a realm of wild magic and courtly danger, Luella must navigate her unexpected role as queen while grappling with the icy ruler she was never meant to love and the burning connection between them that refuses to be ignored.

Why you should read this: With Hades and Persephone vibes, slow burn romance, and a magical kingdom in peril, this cozy yet tension filled romantasy is perfect for fans of reluctant brides, cold monarchs, and quietly powerful heroines. It's a standalone that delivers heart, heat, and an enchanting world.

Princess Lia refuses to be a pawn in a political game, especially when her arranged marriage is based on a gift of prophecy she doesn't even have. On the day of her wedding, she escapes to a quiet coastal village, determined to live life on her own terms. But when two mysterious strangers arrive, one the prince she was supposed to marry, the other an assassin sent to kill her, Lia becomes entangled in a web of secrets, lies, and unexpected feelings that threaten to unravel everything she thought she knew.

Why you should read this: This slow burn romantasy is full of mystery, hidden identities, and a love triangle that'll keep you guessing. If you enjoy runaway princesses, dangerous strangers, and the thrill of not knowing who to trust, The Kiss of Deception is a must add to your list.