Maybe it stemmed from my early obsession with Romeo and Juliet, but forbidden romance has always been one of my favorite tropes. There’s something about going against destiny and fighting for a love that’s been cursed from the start that gets me every time!
It’s just so deeply romantic.
Then add in warring realms, hot fae lords, dragon riders, shapeshifters x vampires, and I AM SOLD. If you you’re a fan of these vibes, here are 11 fantasy books with forbidden romance to add to your TBR—plus a peek at the couples!—all released with the last seven years 🙌🏼
A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen
Blurb: Shield maiden Freya is blessed by the gods and battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king—while also fighting her growing desire for his fiery son, Bjorn—in this Norse-inspired fantasy romance from the bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom series.
Couple: Shield Maiden x Warrior Prince
Age category: NA
Release date: February 2024 | Goodreads | Amazon
“You are mine, Born-in-Fire. Even if only the two of us know it.”
A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows by Holly Renee
Blurb: Adara’s union to the crowned prince will determine the fate of the kingdom, but it isn’t her betrothed she dreams of—it’s Evren, who stands at his side. When the kingdom is attacked, she is forced to make choices she’s not prepared for: betray a kingdom or betray her heart.
Couple: Starblessed Human x Captain of the Guard
Age category: Adult
Release date: July 2022 | Goodreads | Amazon
“It doesn’t matter that you are destined to be his. Every part of you is begging to be mine.”
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margeret Rogerson
Blurb: Isabol, a skilled painter sought after by the fair folk, must stand up to the ancient power of the faerie courts, even as she falls in love with Rook, the autumn prince—a forbidden emotion that would violate law and render both their lives forfeit.
Couple: Mortal Artist x Fae Prince
Age category: YA
Release date: September 2017 | Goodreads | Amazon
“Why do we desire, above all other things, that which has the greatest power to destroy us?”
Angel of Water & Shadow by Tory Guyon
Blurb: Surfer girl, River, discovers she’s half-angel and with the help of elusive hunter Ryder, must invoke her untapped elemental powers before a demon siphons them out of her and uses them to enslave humanity.
Couple: Supernatural Hunter x the Hunted
Age category: Upper YA / NA
Release date: May 2023 | Goodreads | Amazon
“Survival wasn’t worth it. Not if it meant destroying everything that mattered. Not if it meant living without her.”
Daughter of the Drowned Empire by Frankie Diane Wallis
Blurb: Lyr has seven months to train as a warrior and pass the Emperor’s brutal test of strength—without magic. But when she’s forced to train with Rhyan, the man she’s secretly loved since she was a girl, she’s in danger of losing far more than her family, life, and country.
Couple: Warrior x Trainer
Age category: NA
Release date: February 2022 | Goodreads | Amazon
“Hello, lover.“
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Blurb: Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, the entire kingdom’s future rests on Poppy’s shoulders. But when Hawke, a guard honor bound to ensure her Ascension, enters her life, destiny and duty become tangled with desire and need.
Couple: Maiden x Royal Guard
Age category: NA
Release date: March 2020 | Goodreads | Amazon
“You’re an absolutely stunning, murderous little creature.”
Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
Blurb: A wicked stunt forces Lou into an impossible situation—marriage with Reid, a huntsman of the church, whose been trained to kill witches like her. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, she must make a choice. And love makes fools of them all.
Couple: Witch x Witch Hunter
Age category: YA
Release date: September 2019 | Goodreads | Amazon
“Love makes fools of us all, darling.”
The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen
Blurb: When Lara is sent as a bride to the enemy kingdom under the guise of peace, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to fracture its defenses and take down their king, Aren. Yet as she infiltrates her new home, her feelings transform. She must choose which kingdom she’ll save… and which kingdom she’ll destroy.
Couple: Warrior Princess x Rival King
Age category: NA
Release date: June 2020 | Goodreads | Amazon
“The woman he’d goddamned fallen in love with was a spy.”
The Memory Puller by Kris K. Haines
Blurb: When Cassandra teams up with Tristan to find her missing Sisters, their reluctant alliance turns into a passionate, yet forbidden attraction. And during the investigation, they uncover a conspiracy that threatens to dismantle the five-centuries-long peace between their two species.
Couple: Magical Nun by Day, Thief by Night x Winged Fae Guard
Age category: NA
Release date: June 2023 | Goodreads | Amazon
“Careful, call me Officer like that again and I might start giving you orders.”
When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker
Blurb: Raeve’s job is to kill. When a bounty hunter is employed by The Crown to capture a member of her rebellion group, she ends up in a notorious prison—where Kaan, killer of the king and keeper of his own secrets, stumbles across her, and they start to unravel the mystery of their world together.
Couple: Rebel Assassin x Tormented Warrior
Age category: Adult
Release date: January 2024 | Goodreads | Amazon
“I pray your bloodlust brings you the same sense of peace I feel just knowing you exist.”
White Horse Black Nights by Evie Marceau
Blurb: After being locked away for years, Sabine is sold as a bride to an evil high lord, trading one prison for another. Basten has been assigned to transport her, and she’s determined to break his loyalty so he can help her escape. On the course of their journey, he is torn between his duty and his desires—until a forbidden attraction becomes an obsession.
Couple: Godkissed Bride x Loyal Huntsman
Age category: Adult
Release date: November 2023 | Goodreads | Amazon
“I could kill every last one of them for what they did to you.”
Make sure to go to Goodreads for the full blurbs—I condensed as best I could 🙈
Do you have any other forbidden romance recommendations you’d add?
Thank you so much! I love forbidden romance too and am always looking for more.
You’re welcome! I’m happy I could help contribute to your TBR 😎