The Best New Romantasy Books of August 2026

There was a time not so long ago when August was a dead zone in the world of publishing. The calm before the storm of big-name Fall releases, which start hitting shelves to prime the proverbial pump for the all-important Christmas shopping season that is inching ever closer to us all. But that conventional wisdom doesn't hold so much anymore. With so many great new titles hitting shelves on what feels like an almost daily basis, the release calendar is more crowded than ever, and things like seasonal schedules mean less and less.

Sure, some of the heaviest hitters (those with names like Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros) are holding their releases until the Fall proper. But there are still many great romantasies hitting shelves as summer winds down, including the latest in Carissa Broadbent's megapopular Crowns of Nyaxia series, new titles from T. Kingfisher and Alexandra Bracken, and the tradpub debut of indie smash hit The Poison Daughter.

Here are the best romantasy books hitting shelves in August.

Immortal Game by Allison Saft

Release Date: August 4 from Wednesday Books

Why You Should Read It: Allison Saft's backlist contains a delightful array of very different kinds of fantasy stories, from the fairytale feel of Wings of Starlight to the moody academia of A Dark and Drowning Tide and the Gothic vibes of Down Comes the Night. Her latest, Immortal Game, is in a class all its own, mixing Irish folklore and fae court intrigue with sapphic romance and...competitive chess. (Yes, you read that right.)

The story follows Shea Fury, who enters a magical tournament, hoping to win the single wish that's granted as a prize to rescue her sister, who vanished into the fae realm six years earlier. But things get complicated the more she gets to know her biggest rival, a captivating fae prince named Ciara, and learns more about the complicated morals and shifting loyalties of the Otherworld and its residents. If she doesn't play her cards (pieces?) right, she stands to lose a lot more than just a game.

Publisher's Description: Six years ago, Shea Fury’s sister was whisked away by the High King of the Otherworld, the ruler of the treacherous land of fae. Although Shea has spent the years since dreaming of rescuing her sister from captivity, the Iron Veil that separates the human world from that of the fae has made it only a wish. That is, until an invitation to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime chess tournament in the Otherworld arrives on Shea’s doorstep. The winner of the tournament may ask the High King to grant one wish, and Shea is finally within reach of hers.

But entering the tournament and winning it are two different matters. Dark magic lurks around every corner in the Otherworld, and Shea’s cutthroat opponents are willing to bend the rules to make their own wishes come true. To make it to the end—and to find her sister—she is forced to strike an alliance with her longtime rival, the sharply beautiful fae princess, Ciara of Bri Leith. One wrong move, though, and Shea could lose more than just the competition: She’d lose her sister, her dignity, and maybe even her life.

The Lion and the Deathless Dark by Carissa Broadbent

Release Date: August 4 from Bramble

Why You Should Read It: Carissa Broadbent's outstanding Crowns of Nyaxia series continues with The Lion and the Deathless Dark, the penultimate installment in the fantasy franchise, and perhaps the author's darkest effort yet. This novel kicks off the "Bloodborn Duet," which is set ten years after the events of the previous novel, The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk.

This time around, the story follows Kyrene, a bounty hunter for the goddess of justice, a fabulously unhinged antiheroine on a quest for vengeance. But to get it, she'll need the help of the vampire prince Septimus, who has a dark goal of his own: Kill the gods themselves. What follows is a deliciously entertaining genuine enemies-to-lovers romance, where both halves are morally gray and honestly kind of unhinged, and subsequently perfect for one another. It all leads to the kind of cliffhanger that will leave you begging for the series' conclusion.

Publisher's Description: Under an eternal night, the world has been ravaged by ten years of war between humans and vampires. Kyrene scrapes by as a bounty hunter, bearing a blessed sword from the goddess of justice. But in the wake of a devastating loss, Kyrene commits a crime that makes her a target for mortals and gods alike – and she is still desperate for vengeance.

Her only chance at survival – and revenge – is making a deal with her enemy, the silver-tongue vampire prince, Septimus, who offers her one final job: to slay the gods themselves.

Together, Kyrene and Septimus must hunt the ultimate marks, all while navigating a web of prophecies and curses. Septimus is calculating and mysterious, masking secrets bloodthirsty enough to consume them both. Yet, most dangerous of all, Kyrene finds an unexpected kinship in him.

But their growing attraction is deadly in a world where the only currency is blood. And Kyrene will stop at nothing to fulfill her ultimate goal: to kill the goddess of vampires, even if it means sacrificing love for revenge.

To Dance with Death by Brittney Arena

Release Date: August 4 from Del Ray

Why You Should Read It: The conclusion to Brittney Arena's Edge of Glass duology, To Dance with Death sees Vasalie journey to the realm of the dead to restore Anton's memories and save the world. Told across dual perspectives – including Anton's — and with a ticking clock in the background that gives the narrative an increasingly propulsive feel, it's a satisfying exploration of love and connection. (And, for what it's worth, Arena pulls off the memory loss trope so well.)

Publisher's Description: Once a spy for the ruthless King Illian, Vasalie sacrificed herself to kill him and prevent a prophesied war. But Illian’s brother, Anton—the king she allied with and began to love—struck a deal with Moranya, the goddess of the underworld, to bring Vasalie back. The cost: his compassion, his memories of her, and all the events of the past six weeks.

Now stripped of the truth, Anton believes his friends betrayed him and accepts Moranya’s offer to rule the kingdom of the dead. But with the kingdom he leaves behind on the brink of civil war, and her cruel father threatening to invade, Vasalie realizes only Anton can reunite a fractured realm.

To save her world and the man she was coming to love, Vasalie must journey to the underworld and reclaim him. But the Anton she finds is the worst version of himself: the arrogant, debauched king she once thought he was. To restore him, she’ll have to restore his memories first… even if it means sacrificing her own heart.

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Steelborn by Taylor J. LaRue

Release Day: August 4 from Requited

Why You Should Read It: Steelborn ticks almost every box of a must-read romantasy. It's got a feisty heroine willing to do anything to survive, a cursed immortal general who needs her help despite himself, a slow burn attraction between them, and a race to save not just his life, but the fate of all magical beings in their kingdom.

Reya Connery is the most notorious thief in Rhiterria, otherwise known as the Crimson Dagger. But when she helps save a Sage from being human (magical being?) trafficked, she finds herself stuck in an impossible situation, and owing more to her dangerous boss than she'll ever likely be able to repay. A last-ditch shot at freedom arrives in the form of Caelan, a powerful warrior who needs her help to pull off a heist to save his life, but she'll have to face her own hidden secrets and family history to do so.

Regular readers of the genre will see most of Steelborn's twists coming, but an intriguingly fractious central relationship, an appealing cast of supporting characters, and lots of secrets about who and what Reya is still keep the pages turning.

Publisher's Description: Reya Connery became the Crimson Dagger, the most notorious thief in Rhiterra, by following a strict set of rules. One: There is no honor among thieves. Two: A good blade is key to any negotiation. Three: Only the dead keep secrets. And Reya has a secret that must be kept at all costs. But when a heist goes wrong on the eve of paying off her debt to a ruthless crime lord, Reya may need a new set of rules. And lots of coin. Fast.   

Enter Caelan Halcyon, an immortal warrior whose magic makes him a valuable target—if the curse inching closer to his heart doesn't kill him first. There's just one person who might be desperate enough to try and get their hands on the fabled cure in time to save his life, someone whose legend claims they can steal anything: the Crimson Dagger. A male of honor, Caelan loathes everything the beautiful, cocky thief represents, yet knows that Reya is his last hope for survival.    

Their search takes them to the edge of the known world, where Reya discovers that there is far more at stake than her and Caelan’s own lives. Now, Reya must confront deadly foes, her growing attraction to the immortal who is as lethal as his jawline is perfect, and the rage she's spent a lifetime trying to bury. This time, her daggers aren’t going to cut it, and the fate of all magic-born hangs in the balance.  

The Witch in the Dead of Night by Charlotte Buckley 

Release Date: August 13 from Magpie

Why You Should Read It: A chambermaid hiding her true identity as a witch is discovered by her employer, who happens to be the vampire king. Offered the chance to live if she can master her powers, she's thrown together with the (handsome, frightening) king's (handsome, arrogant) younger brother to train and finds herself drawn to them both. A rare love triangle that's compelling from all sides, with plenty of court politics and treachery on top.

Publisher's Description: Finn Erramun hides a perilous secret. One of the last witches in the kingdom, she was cast out from her village, leaving whispers of an unleashed otherworldly terror in her wake. Now a maid in the opulent court of the vampire King Mordric, Finn conceals her arcane powers, dreading the day they might be uncovered.

But destiny has other plans. When Mordric uncovers Finn’s talents, he offers her a chance for redemption: master her magic by the summer solstice, and she may earn a coveted seat on his council. Assigned to guide her is Prince Enhart, the king’s captivatingly arrogant younger brother and one of the rare souls with the skill to train her. As Finn is drawn into a whirlwind of courtly intrigue, power plays, and dangerous temptation, she finds herself at a crossroads. To secure her place among the king’s elite – and perhaps win his heart – she must navigate a labyrinth of treachery and unearth a centuries-old conspiracy.

The vampires of Valen may not crave blood, but their thirst for power is no less consuming. As Finn delves deeper into their seductive and perilous realm, she will need every ounce of her strength and cunning to survive – and to uncover the true nature of her heart’s desires.

Immortal Rose by Alexandra Bracken

Release Date: August 18 from Avon

Why You Should Read It: The adult fantasy debut from Alexandra Bracken, the bestselling author of such YA favorites as the Passenger and The Darkest Minds series, Immortal Rose is almost entirely unlike any romantasy we've seen this year. A Regency-era romantasy set in a world where perfumes are imbued with magic, it follows the story of Violet Lockbourne, last living heir of the Rosebourne family—who, thanks to a faerie ancestor, is one of the few left who can create such fragrances. After the King of Albion is poiosined, she's forced to join forces with the royal spymaster to concoct a perfume to save him (and keep herself out of prison).

As Viola and Hugh scour the kingdom for an array of fairy relics, they discover there’s more to each other than they expected—and that Albion has plenty of dark secrets of its own. A deliciously slow-burning central romance ensues.

Publisher's Description: Members of the ancient House Rosebourne have a strange gift born of a fairy ancestor: the ability to infuse fragrance with magic capable of manipulating mind, body, and emotion.

When a shocking murder leaves the kingdom of Albion vulnerable to a coup, royal spymaster Hugh Thornton seeks the one person who can help: Viola Lockhart, the last living Rosebourne and secret heir to a fraught legacy.

Livid at the silver-eyed aristocrat who had her thrown in jail to force her compliance, Viola nevertheless comes to an agreement with him. In exchange for crafting Immortal Rose, the singular perfume capable of saving Albion, illegitimate Viola can seize the life—and fortune—that should have been hers.

As Hugh and Viola race to find the perfume’s lost fairy ingredient, hidden deep in Albion’s dark underbelly, neither can deny the scorching attraction building between them—especially as the attempts on Viola’s life grow increasingly brazen.

But a terrible truth lurks in the heart notes of their kingdom—and while every bargain has a cost, Immortal Rose may demand more than Hugh and Viola can ever pay.

The Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterson

Release Date: August 18 from Slowburn

Why You Should Read It: A sprawling doorstopper (nearly 700 pages!) of a novel, The Poison Daughter was such a hit as a self-published release that it's now getting the full traditional publishing treatment, complete with a hardcover release with fancy sprayed edges. (Which is how you know that any title has truly arrived.)

The story follows a woman named Harlow, who has a very specific — and very dark — kind of magic: Any man she kisses will die immediately. Her assassin parents are eager to take advantage of her gift by using it against their various enemies and political rivals, but Harlow has grander ambitions. At night she's secretly a vilgilante who targets the city's abusive men and brings them to the justice the law is uninterested in betstowing.

But when Harlow kisses a target named Henry Havenwood and he lives, things get complicated, quickly. Particularly because Henry not only knows her secret — he's also now her betrothed. Dark and spicky romantic hijinks ensue. (And no small amount of murder.) (Take the trigger warnings seriously, though.)

Publisher's Description: Every person Harlow Carrenwell kisses dies immediately, and that’s the way she likes it. The poison-lipped youngest daughter of Lunameade’s magical founding family has used her power to annihilate their opposition.

Her first husband is in the ground. Her mysterious new betrothed is next.

But Harlow has a secret. When she’s not acting as an assassin at her parents’ whims, she moonlights as a vigilante hunting abusive men in their walled-off city.

Meet a man. Lure him in. Kill him with a kiss. Until one night Harlow kisses a mark and he doesn’t die.

Worse, the man immune to her kiss is her new betrothed, Henry Havenwood, and now he knows about her double life. The only way to protect her secret and her city is get close enough to Henry to figure out why the Havenwoods have reappeared after years of silence and what they have planned.

Cursed with a husband she can’t kill and trapped in a fortress surrounded by vampire-infested woods, Harlow’s survival requires her to do the impossible: Make the man who knows she’s a killer fall in love with her anyway.

The Dark in Her Veins by M.K. Lobb

Release Date: August 25 from Sourcebooks Casablanca

Why You Should Read It: Author M.K. Lobb, known for writing fast-paced YA fantasy adventures like Seven Faceless Saints and To Steal From Thieves, ups the ante with her adult debut, The Dark in Her Veins. A dark, atmospheric romantasy set in a world where sin literally writes itself onto the human body, there's no cure for the disease known as bloodrot, which eventually leads to madness and then death. The poor sell themselves to take on the sins of the rich and, well...you can probably guess how well that goes for most of them.

Talin is a "sinner", employed by the holy man known only as the Prophet, who is secretly one of the city's most devious and controlling figures. (Let's put it this way: Her Bloodrot is already fairly advanced.) But when she's sent to gather information on the shadowy figure called the Warden, Talin sees a chance at escape, if she can manage to trade his life for hers. The only problem is, she's unexpectedly drawn to the Warden, an attraction which could ruin all her plans.

Lobb's gift for unique worldbuilding shines in a story that's full of the unexpected.

Publisher's Description: In Valestadt, everything has a price. Sin leaves its mark in the form of the Bloodrot, a slow-creeping disease that leads to madness, then death. The rich outsource their violence. The poor sell theirs and suffer the cost. 

Talin Keller is a sinner. Employed by the holiest man in the city, the Prophet, she stains her hands so his can stay clean. But with her Bloodrot rapidly advancing, Talin knows her next job could be her last. 

Then a new assignment puts Talin on a collision course with the Warden, a shadowy figure whose name is spoken like a warning. If she can get close, she can trade his life for her own freedom—and escape the death her sins have promised. That is, if she can stay steady on the knife's edge. 

Because Talin is dangerously drawn to the Warden. He is sharp, cruel, and whatever blazes in him sparks against every dark part of her. If she isn't careful, her plans will burn.

As savior and sinner tangle, Talin uncovers a conspiracy tied to the past she thought dead. And in Valestadt, where sin is currency, she'll have to decide what she's willing to pay to survive.

Daggerbound by T. Kingfisher

Release Date: August 25 from Bramble

Why You Should Read It: T. Kingfisher is one of the best fantasy writers that far too many people are unaware of, the author of both delightfully subversive fairytales (Thornhedge, A Sorceress Comes to Call) and darker-edged, lyrical adventures (Nettle & Bone). Daggerbound is the long-awaited follow-up to her cozy low-stakes fantasy Swordheart, a standalone that tells the story of one of the other enchanted swords from this universe and features another achingly romantic slow-burn.

Publisher's Description: Learned Edmund, a disillusioned scholar, is transporting yet another precious relic from one stuffy temple to a different stuffy temple. Another great adventure for the ages…

But when Edmund is set upon by bandits, in desperation, he breaks the cardinal rule and grabs for the relic, an ancient sword. To his surprise, instead of unsheathing a rusty, ancient weapon, an alarmingly handsome man appears, wielding daggers of blue steel and cutting the thieves down.

This man is the Dervish, an immortal warrior who’s been trapped for centuries in a sword of enchanted steel, and is angry as hell about it. He hates the curse that put him there, and he wants to hate Edmund, just as he has hated every wielder before him.

But the damned scholar is just so sweet and clever and kind. And while the Dervish may be able to protect Edmund from bandits, cultists, dragons, and strange inhuman diplomats, he may find it much harder to protect his own heart.

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