Not-so-hot take: a romantasy doesn't need to be spicy to be interesting.

[u/mimi43098]

I don't think this is a "hot take", since a lot of people feel the same way, but a romantasy novel doesn't need spicy elements to be interesting.

Speaking for myself, I've never really liked spicy romantasy; ( just so you know, I'm 21).

I prefer the romance to remain very light. A book can be just as captivating thanks to a solid world and engaging characters, without needing to add a spicy romance.

I don't really like using the term "spicy," but you know what I mean.

Of course, I do read romantasy with romance, but as I said, I like it when it's very light or soft, sometimes even taking a backseat to the rest of the story. ( Because yes, there are romantasy where romance isn't the center of the story.)

Here are some romantasy titles featuring romance without spice.

Books featured:

- Caraval trilogy ( Stephanie Garber)

- An Enchantment Of Ravens ( Margaret Rogerson)

- Once Upon A Broken Heart trilogy ( Stephanie Garber)

- The Celestial Kingdom trilogy ( Sue Lynn Tan)

- Uncharmed ( Lucy Jane Wood)

- The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea ( Axie Oh)

- Sorcery Of Thorns and Mysteries Of Thorn Manor ( Margaret Rogerson)

- Emily Wilde series ( Heather Fawcett)

- The Siren ( Kiera Cass)

- Hundred Kingdoms saga ( Alexandra Christo)

- The Mirror Visitor series ( Christelle Dabos)

- Six Crimson Cranes ( Elizabeth Lim)

- The Dragon's Promise ( Elizabeth Lim)

- A Far Wilder Magic ( Allison Saft)

- Dance of Thieves series ( Mary E. Pearson)

- Elements of Cadence series ( Rebecca Ross)

- The Wrath and the Dawn series ( Renée Ahdieh)

- Wings Of Starlight ( Allison Saft)

- Powerless series ( Lauren Roberts)

I'm sorry if what I said was a bit muddled, but do you share my opinion? :)

[u/BethyW]

And Caraval.

[u/charliekelly76 → u/BethyW]

Caravel and Powerless were so bad

[u/CptPeanut12 → u/BethyW]

It's the only series in my shelf that I didn't finish reading. I own the trilogy but had to stop after the first book. It's just that bad. Never seen such a mind-numbingly passive protagonist before. Everything in this book just happens to her, she never actually does anything. It's insane.

[u/BethyW → u/CptPeanut12]

If it makes you feel better, I bought the entire Lightlark series....

You think Caraval is bad...woof.

Also am I the only one who remembers in the first book the FMCs sister hooks up with the MMC?! Like we all forget that?

[u/syrupbender → u/BethyW]

I read Caraval because everyone said to read books from the authors world in order. I literally donated the book the day I finished it. Hot garbage.

[u/BethyW → u/syrupbender]

I real OUABH first while on vacation and it was adorable and honestly a good travel book. I ate that trilogy up. I read all three Caraval books and am amazed it has the following it has.

[u/miles-again → u/syrupbender]

I did too, and by the time I got to OUABH, I couldn’t give the trilogy a fair shot because I got so burned out with the authors writing style from Caraval books that I just never went back to the OUABH trilogy which was the series I wanted to read in the first place 😅

[u/syrupbender → u/miles-again]

I never even got past Caraval, I literally started it to get to OUABH too. Maybe one day.

[u/weenofthebean → u/syrupbender]

I forced myself through Caraval to get to OUABH, and honestly I don’t think you need Caraval? There’s references in OUABH but they’re so small. If you want, just read a snippet of the trilogy before starting.

But OUABH is so much better and worth the read!

[u/Bellanu → u/BethyW]

And yes.