The irresistible appeal of the "he trains her" trope: 22 romantasy books you need to read

Prince Lorenzo is forced to train Elara as a weapon against the tyrannical Stars, but their star-crossed attraction threatens everything. After Elara escapes her cursed fate in the Kingdom of Night, she finds herself in the arms of an enemy prince who must prepare her for battle against Ariete, Star of Wrath, War and Chaos. The training scenes in this book are charged with the kind of tension that makes you hold your breath, especially as Elara discovers the ancient magic sleeping in her veins. Lorenzo's dark past and Elara's hidden power create an explosive dynamic where every training session could end in death or something much more dangerous to their hearts.

Heavenly Bodies reading order:

1. Heavenly Bodies
2. Fallen Stars

Achilles and Patro as mentors? Yes, please. When a shy, stammering foster child discovers she's actually a Spartan, one of the immortal elite, she's thrown into the Spartan War Academy where she must prove herself worthy of immortality. The training here is brutal, the stakes are deadly, and the dark obsession from her mentors and professors will leave you breathless. With Kharon, the ferryman of death, and Augustus, the son of war, as professors, every lesson could be her last. The villains surrounding her are smothering her with their hate, obsession, and dark possessiveness, but they have no idea who they're really messing with.

Villains of Lore reading order:

1. Blood of Hercules
2. Bonds of Hercules

Wilder Hawthorne as an unwilling warrior chaperone is everything we could want in this trope. Althea Zoltaire has secretly trained with blades her entire life, a forbidden practice for women, and now she's racing against a death prophecy to become a warrior legend. When she fights to secure her place in the elite guild protecting the five kingdoms, Wilder becomes her assigned chaperone through deadly sparring and hazing that pushes every boundary. Their training sessions border on lethal as Althea battles not just the other trainees trying to kill her, but her growing attraction to the brooding, tortured hero who's supposed to keep her alive. The tension between maintaining distance and needing each other's trust creates some of the most swoonworthy training scenes in romantasy.

The Legends of Thezmarr reading order:

1. Blood & Steel
2. Vows & Ruins
3. Fate & Furies
4. Shadow & Storms

A legendary monster hunter training a princess who was never meant to fight? This is slow burn perfection. When our heroine is forced to seal an ancient treaty with her own blood, she finds herself bound to a future she didn't choose and crossing treacherous lands beside a warrior who despises her. The training here isn't just about combat, it's about survival in a world where gods send monsters to remind mortals to kneel. As she learns to reach for power she never knew she had, every lesson becomes a battle of wills. The exquisite slow burn develops as our underestimated princess discovers that being underestimated might be her greatest weapon, and her reluctant trainer realizes she might be more dangerous than any monster they face.

Shield of Sparrows reading order:

1. Shield of Sparrows
2. Rites of the Starling

The terrifyingly powerful Hellbringer kidnaps Revna, but instead of killing her, he trains her for the brutal Bloodshed Trials. Known for his ability to rend souls with a flick of his wrist, the general of her country's greatest enemy should be her worst nightmare. Instead, he becomes her dark salvation. As the only royal without magic, seen as an embarrassment and mistake, Revna must compete against her own siblings for the throne in a deadly competition. The Hellbringer's training is merciless, pushing her past every limit, but there's something almost tender in his brutality. There's deliciously dark chemistry as he reveals there are other parties who want her on the throne, and she begins to wonder if there's humanity left in this legendary killer, especially when his dark eyes reveal glimpses of the heart behind the monster.

Blood & Souls reading order:

1. Blood Beneath the Snow
2. Gods Beneath the Ice

When light and shadow collide, the result is pure magic and devastating attraction. Talasyn has spent her life hiding her light magic while fighting for freedom against the ruthless Night Empire. Prince Alaric is his father's weapon, wielding shadow magic to obliterate any threats to the empire. Their powers should destroy each other, but instead, they merge to create something entirely new and forbidden. Now Alaric must train Talasyn to control this dangerous new magic, leading to training sessions that are a deadly dance of attraction and repulsion. Set in a lush Southeast Asian inspired world, their lessons become a battle between duty and desire, where every touch could mean destruction or salvation.

The Hurricane Wars reading order:

1. The Hurricane Wars
2. A Monsoon Rising

Tisaanah's apprenticeship with the reclusive fire wielder Maxantarius Farlione is complicated by their growing feelings and his dark past that he desperately wants to forget. After barely escaping with her life while trying to buy her freedom, Tisaanah journeys to the Orders, the most powerful magic organizations in the world. To save the friend she left behind, she must complete her training under Max, a handsome recluse who despises everything the Orders represent. The magic training here is intense and intimate, with Max teaching her to wield power that could be their salvation or downfall. Watching these two broken souls train together while trying to keep their distance is beautifully painful, especially as Tisaanah realizes his bloody past might be the key to her future, if it doesn't destroy them both first.

The War of Lost Hearts reading order:

1. Daughter of No Worlds
2. Children of Fallen Gods
3. Mother of Death and Dawn

When Wren is forced into the enemy's elite training program, her commanding officer, the ruthless Cross Redden, becomes both her greatest threat and her most forbidden temptation. As one of the most powerful Mods in existence in a world where being Modified means death, Wren has spent her life hiding. One careless mistake lands her in Silver Block, the deadliest training program on the Continent. Cross doesn't miss anything when it comes to her, making every training session a dangerous game of deception. The close quarters of the program mean she can't escape his penetrating gaze or the tension that crackles between them. The training here is deadly, testing not just her physical limits but her ability to hide her true nature while her attraction to her commanding officer threatens to expose everything.

Silver Elite reading order:

1. Silver Elite
2. Broken Dove

A ruthless mercenary helping her learn to wield her forbidden dark power in exchange for her help? The training sessions here are charged with danger and desire in equal measure. When our heroine's corrupt power is discovered, magic that should see her burned, she makes a desperate bargain with the mercenary who once left her for dead. He'll teach her to wield the strange, dark power she's always kept hidden if she helps him and his mysterious friends infiltrate the city. Every lesson is a dance with death as she learns magic is more than just power, it's the key to uncovering secrets that could tear the kingdom apart. The mercenary's own hidden past threatens everything, making their training sessions as much about trust as they are about survival. The chemistry builds with each dangerous lesson until the line between teacher and student, between enemy and ally, completely disappears.

Kingdom of Lies reading order:

1. A Court This Cruel & Lovely
2. A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty
3. A Crown This Cold & Heavy
4. A Queen This Fierce & Deadly

Lord Rhyan Hart training Lyr for the Emperor's brutal test of strength without magic creates the perfect storm of yearning and impossibility. As third in line to the Seat of Power, Lyr has spent years protecting her sisters' forbidden magic, but when her own power is revealed, she faces death in exile. Her only chance is to survive seven months of warrior training and pass the Emperor's test, all without using magic. Rhyan Hart, a feared warrior in exile himself and the man she's secretly loved since childhood, becomes her trainer. He's forbidden to her in every way, making each grueling session an exercise in torture. The political stakes couldn't be higher with rebel forces destabilizing the empire, and every moment of contact during training threatens to expose not just their feelings, but deadly family secrets that could destroy everything.

Drowned Empire reading order:

1. Daughter of the Drowned Empire
2. Guardian of the Drowned Empire
3. Solstice of the Drowned Empire
4. Lady of the Drowned Empire
5. Song of the Drowned Empire
6. Warrior of the Drowned Empire
7. Traitor of the Drowned Empire

Cassian training Nesta is the gold standard for this trope done right. After the war with Hybern, Nesta is drowning in trauma and self destruction when she's given an ultimatum to train with Cassian or lose everything. Their training sessions on the House of Wind's rooftop are battles of will as much as body. Cassian pushes her physical limits while she pushes every one of his emotional buttons. The Valkyrie training becomes about so much more than combat, it's about Nesta reclaiming her power, finding sisterhood, and learning to live again. Watching Nesta find her strength while Cassian battles his own desire and his need to protect her creates absolutely intoxicating tension. Every morning run up those stairs, every sword lesson, every moment where they're both sweaty and furious and trying not to give in to their attraction is pure romantasy gold.

A Court of Thorns and Roses reading order:

1. A Court of Thorns and Roses
2. A Court of Mist and Fury
3. A Court of Wings and Ruin
4. A Court of Frost and Starlight
5. A Court of Silver Flames

While Xaden isn't technically Violet's assigned trainer, their dynamic throughout dragon rider training at Basgiath War College embodies everything we love about this trope. Violet was supposed to live quietly among books as a Scribe, but her mother forces her into the Riders Quadrant where death waits at every turn. Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader who has every reason to want her dead, becomes an unlikely source of protection and challenge. He pushes her to survive when everyone else expects her to die, seeing strength in her that she doesn't see herself. The way he helps her navigate the deadly trials while maintaining that delicious enemies to lovers tension is absolutely perfect. Every flight lesson, every combat training session, every moment where he's teaching her to survive while pretending not to care creates the kind of romantic tension that makes this book impossible to put down.

The Empyrean reading order:

1. Fourth Wing
2. Iron Flame
3. Onyx Storm

Three 6'5" roommates who don't think she's strong enough for war? The prove them wrong energy combined with the training dynamic creates incredible tension. After growing up with nothing, our heroine discovers she's a shifter, an elite soldier who transforms into a monster. But surviving means convincing Jax, Ascher, and Cobra that she belongs. These aren't just any men. They're covered in tattoos, jeweled, and horned, and they're determined to break her during training. Every combat session is a test not just of strength but of will. They don't think she can fight, don't think she belongs, don't think she'll survive the war. But they're about to discover that she's hiding secrets about her past and her shifted form that will devastate them. The training here is brutal, the tension is scorching, and the power dynamics shift constantly as she proves herself worthy of being their equal.

Cruel Shifterverse reading order:

1. Psycho Shifters
2. Psycho Fae
3. Psycho Beasts
4. Psycho Academy
5. Psycho Devils
6. Psycho Gods

The Silent Death sparing Emelin's life to train her in using her forbidden magic for his own mysterious game? The danger and attraction create an irresistible combination. When the empire's deadliest fae murderer catches twenty year old Emelin wielding forbidden magic, she expects death. Instead, this inhumanly beautiful killer carries her off on velvet wings to the treacherous Crimson Court. He's supposed to be the Mother's loyal servant, ruthless and soulless, but he needs Emelin's magic to win a shadow game against his own queen. The training he provides is as dangerous as he is, teaching her to wield power that could free humanity or destroy them both. Every lesson brings them closer to treason and to each other, as his smoldering dark eyes and dangerous secrets reveal glimpses of the heart behind his murderer's mask. Can she trust a fae male with so much blood on his hands? More importantly, can she trust herself when she's falling for death incarnate?

Fae Isles reading order:

1. Court of Blood and Bindings
2. Lord of Gold and Glory
3. Ruins of Sea and Souls
4. Queens of Mist and Madness
5. With Wing and Claw

Mare being trained to play the role of a lost Silver princess while harboring her own dangerous abilities creates layers of deception and attraction that make every training scene electric. When Mare, a Red commoner with the power of the elite Silvers, is discovered, the king forces her into an impossible charade. She must learn to walk, talk, and fight like a Silver princess while betrothed to one prince and drawn to another. Cal, the perfect prince, helps her navigate court and combat training, while his brother Maven offers a different kind of education in deception. Every lesson in protocol, every training session in controlling her lightning, every moment where she must pretend to be something she's not while learning to wield power she shouldn't have, it all builds to create incredible tension. The training here isn't just physical, it's about survival in a world of betrayal where one wrong move means death.

Red Queen reading order:

1. Red Queen
2. Glass Sword
3. King's Cage
4. War Storm

Silla must win over Axe Eyes, the brooding leader of the Bloodaxe Crew, while avoiding the Wolf, his distractingly handsome right hand man. When warriors from the Queen of Íseldur come to kill Silla, her dying father's last words send her on a perilous quest down the Road of Bones, a thousand mile stretch haunted by warbands and creatures of darkness. After barely surviving, a desperate Silla sneaks into a supply wagon belonging to the notorious Bloodaxe Crew. The training for survival on this treacherous road adds life or death stakes to every lesson. Axe Eyes becomes her reluctant teacher in the brutal ways of the road, while the Wolf provides a different kind of dangerous distraction. The Viking inspired world makes every training session feel epic and primal, with the constant threat of the queen's assassin hunting them adding urgency to every skill she must master.

Ashen reading order:

1. The Road of Bones
2. Kingdom of Claw
3. Dawn of the North

The third Throne of Glass book gives us one of the most iconic training arcs in romantasy. Celaena Sardothien travels to Wendlyn where she must train with the legendary warrior Rowan Whitethorn to master her fire magic. Rowan is harsh, unforgiving, and absolutely ruthless in his training methods. He pushes Celaena past every breaking point, forcing her to confront not just her magic but her deepest traumas. Their training sessions in the mountains are raw and intense, involving everything from shifting into Fae form to controlling devastating magical power. The evolution from Rowan's cold brutality to grudging respect to something much deeper is expertly crafted. Every morning run, every magical exercise, every moment where he forces her to face her demons while battling his own creates the perfect enemies to lovers training dynamic.

Throne of Glass reading order:

1. The Assassin's Blade
2. Throne of Glass
3. Crown of Midnight
4. Heir of Fire
5. Queen of Shadows
6. Empire of Storms
7. Tower of Dawn
8. Kingdom of Ash

When Rorax Greywood is chosen by the Gods to compete in the deadly Choosing competition, the only House strong enough to protect her is the House of Death, the very people she once helped slaughter. The brutally handsome lieutenant becomes her trainer, preparing her for a competition that will likely kill her. Rorax was trained from age ten to fight, kill, and steal for the House of Ice's special forces, but now she needs different skills to survive. The training here is complicated by the fact that she's committed unforgivable atrocities against the very people now teaching her. Every lesson is weighted with guilt, tension, and an undeniable attraction to someone who should hate her. The lieutenant must train her to be worthy of becoming the Realms' Guardian, even as they both know she isn't worthy of redemption.

The half fae bastard who stands at the crowned prince's side becomes more than just a temptation when he must help our heroine navigate her awakening powers. Bound to marry the prince to save the kingdom, she finds herself drawn instead to his dark, sinful companion. The training here involves not just combat but learning to navigate court politics and hidden magic. Every lesson in controlling her newfound abilities is complicated by the fact that her trainer is the one man she can't have. He whispers wickedness in her ear while teaching her to harness power that makes her a traitor to everything she's sworn to protect. When the kingdom is attacked, the training becomes crucial for survival, forcing her to choose between duty and desire.

Stars and Shadows reading order:

1. A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows
2. A Kingdom of Blood and Betrayal
3. A Kingdom of Venom and Vows
4. A Kingdom of Fire and Fate

When Fia Riftborne's hidden power erupts, killing two daughters of nobility, the elusive Sidhe General Laryk Ashford offers her a chilling choice to join the Sidhe Guard or face execution. Twenty years after being branded an outcast, Fia has survived through careful control, but her power is growing beyond her ability to hide it. General Ashford is building a unit of powerful wielders to face the Wraiths devouring the Western border, and Fia might be their only hope. The training under the General is intense, not just in learning to control her devastating abilities, but in resisting her growing feelings for the man who holds her life in his hands. The magic system, heavily inspired by X-Men, makes every training session about learning control while fighting the chaos within.

Esprithean reading order:

1. Riftborne
2. Duskbound

Arken Asher's enrollment at the prestigious Arcane Studium leads her straight into the shadows of Kieran Vistarii, the Scouting & Reconnaissance Captain of the Elder Guard. Driven by an insatiable need to understand her dangerous arcane secrets, Arken finds herself drawn to Kieran's expertise. The spymaster deals in shadows, blood, and subterfuge, maintaining his isolation behind charm and cocksure energy. Their training sessions involve not just magic but espionage, strategy, and the delicate art of information gathering. Every lesson brings them closer to uncovering a dark prophecy that binds their fates together. The sizzling tension and addictive banter during training makes it impossible for either to maintain their distance, even as strange disappearances and ancient magic threaten everything they hold dear.

Quill Callon agreeing to train Lena Daelyra in weaponry becomes a safe way for a hidden Mage to defend herself and a dangerous dance of deception and desire. In a world where Mages are hunted for sport with no legal protection, Lena has kept her true nature hidden her entire life. Quill, a handsome resident of the Inner Ring, becomes her weapons instructor, never knowing that his student is exactly the kind of being society teaches him to fear. Every training session is an exercise in control, not just learning to fight, but hiding the magic that threatens to expose her with every touch. The forbidden nature of their relationship is doubled because not only is she a Mage in hiding, but when circumstances separate them for five years, their reunion reveals that everything has changed. The training dynamic shifts dramatically when Crown Prince Silas enters the picture, and the fate of all Magekind rests on Lena's shoulders.

The Otacian Chronicles reading order:

1. The Lies of Lena
2. The Sins of Silas