Romantasy reached new heights in audio this year, delivering breathtaking world-building, fierce heroines, and unforgettable love stories shaped by more than just fate. These listens transported us to war-torn kingdoms and dystopian realms, where passion and desire become their own forms of magic. With performances that breathe life into every spell, battle, and whispered promise, this list celebrates the titles we couldn't stop talking about. Whether you crave morally gray heroes, enchanted adventures, or love that rewrites destiny, these are the stories that captured our imaginations from the first chapter to the final vow.
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I went into Alchemised expecting something dark and immersive, but what I got was a story that completely consumed me in the greatest possible way. This is not a light listen. It’s brutal, emotionally relentless, and beautifully written (check trigger warnings, and please be kind to yourself as you listen). Helena Marino is a former Resistance healer now imprisoned in a world ruled by corrupt necromancers and fractured by war. Her memories are missing, and the truth she’s forgotten may be more dangerous than anyone realizes. Saskia Maarleveld’s performance was the icing on top of this riveting debut. And that ending? I clapped while I cried because I couldn’t believe the journey we had just taken. To hear more from SenLinYu, listen to our interview. —Patty R.
Australian BookTok sensation Stacey McEwan has crafted a genre-bending, slow-burn tale (think Hunger Games plus magic plus Peaky Blinders) that uniquely taps into all the themes that make romantasy so addictive. Nina Harrow and Patrick Colson are 12 when they first meet in Belavere City to have their magical potential evaluated. Both are from mining towns, but both hope for very different outcomes from their tests. Together, they discover that people aren’t born with magic—they’re chosen by those in power. In the years that follow, a resistance takes shape, and they find themselves on different sides until fate forces them back together. Billie Fulford-Brown and Joshua Riley as Nina and Patrick deftly capture the grit, high stakes, and compelling world-building that has thrust a very deserving McEwan onto a global stage. Bring on book 2! —Katie O.
I’ve been waiting for Brimstone since the moment I finished Quicksilver, and this was worth every second. Saeris is navigating the weight of power, the ache of distance, and the kind of decisions that change everything. The journey feels bigger this time, riskier and sharper, and I had no idea where we’d end up. The emotional tension, the slow-burn momentum, the knife’s edge choices—I couldn’t stop listening. Stella Bloom and Anthony Palmini bring it all to life in a duet performance that captures every twist, shift, and simmer. —PR
With Shield of Sparrows, Devney Perry steps into romantasy for the first time, bringing with her the emotional depth and layered character work that listeners know from her contemporary romances. In a world where political alliances are forged in blood and monsters wear crowns, a forgotten princess must learn to wield power on her own terms. Odessa’s journey is less about destiny and more about choosing herself, even when the world expects her to disappear. Where do I even begin with the performance? Samantha Brentmoor not only made this an immediate favorite from the first few chapters but added a layer of depth to the story that set the tone for the rest of the series. To hear more from Devney Perry, read our interview. —PR
OH, MY—what a ride! Even before pressing play on one of my most anticipated romantasies of the year, I knew Onyx Storm would be intense, but I wasn’t ready for everything it delivered. The story picks up right where Iron Flame left off. Determined to protect their cause even as everything around them unravels, Violet, Xaden, and their closest allies embark on a mission to the Isle Kingdoms. Officially, they’re there to gather support for Navarre’s fight; secretly, they have their own plan. Rebecca Soler and Teddy Hamilton were joined by Justis Bolding and Jasmin Walker to deliver exceptional performances that not only made this an unpauseable listen but upped the emotional stakes. And those last few moments of the story? Ms. Yarros, ma’am, the group chat and I, we are not okay. —PR
I love an enemies-to-lovers, nerdy, academia-set rom-com. But a fantasy twist on these favorite tropes wasn’t even something I thought to hope for. Thankfully, author Sara Raasch’s imagination went there, and we’ve all been blessed with the end result: The Entanglement of Rival Wizards. Seb is a human, and the first in his family to go to college. Thio is half-elf and a legacy at their shared university. They are both finalists for a research grant they desperately don’t want to share but may be forced to. You can guess what happens from there—or maybe you can’t, because Raasch is skilled at subjecting the listener to a roller-coaster of emotions. Sam Stark shines as Seb, and I hope Raasch continues to play in this world! —KO
Venessa Vida Kelley delivers an unforgettable, achingly tender story blending historical fantasy, queer identity, and epic romance in 1910s New York. When Benny, a Boricua blacksmith searching for belonging, joins the dazzling world of Luna Park, he never expects to find Río, a living merman held captive behind glass. What begins as curiosity becomes a love story rooted in dignity, hope, and a longing to choose freedom over fear. Performed beautifully by Lee Osorio and Joel de la Fuente, the audio brings every emotion, every quiet plea, and every moment of wonder to life. Hearing Spanish woven through the performance stopped me in my tracks, in the best way. This is a story about love, liberation, and finding home in another soul, and it will stay with me for a long time. —PR
A dystopian, enemies-to-lovers tale with a powerful heroine and a dash of fantasy? Dani Francis, did you write this for me? Needless to say, I inhaled this debut, which hooked me from the outset with its air of mystery and surprising humor. Wren Darlington has spent her life hiding—both her true identity (which even she doesn’t know) and her powerful psychic abilities that would mean death by execution. Both by chance and by her own mistakes, she lands herself in the Continent’s military training program where she now has the opportunity to join the rebellion of Modifieds (like herself) and cause chaos from inside enemy lines. One problem (among many): Her attraction to her commanding officer. Amanda Dolan (Red Queen) is perfectly cast as Wren, and the twists that come in the final third of the book already have me aching for a sequel. —KO
Set in a glittering, glass-towered future where bloodlines are controlled and love is never free, Conform had me hooked from the very first chapter. Emeline has spent her life alone until she’s chosen to compete for a procreation contract with one of the most powerful men in the world. What follows is a twisted, high-stakes love triangle set against a backdrop of secrets, surveillance, and rebellion. The fast pace, paired with Amanda Leigh Cobb’s stellar performance, made this an immersive listening experience that I am still not over. And that ending! Let’s just say I’ll be keeping an eye out for the next in the series. To hear more from Ariel Sullivan, read our interview. —PR
I love a fantasy that starts in our modern world. A new trope obsession for me. Our heroine Izzy is desperate for change when she heads to her late parents’ cabin for some quiet and reconnection with herself. Instead, she accidentally enters the world of the Fae, encounters a gorgeous stranger, and discovers there are things about her past that may change her future. Bound by Fire held me captive with its rich world-building and titillating romance. Imogen Wilde was her own spark in this audiobook, delivering a layered performance of a story that was quite literally made for audio. I’m eager to see what debut author Elli J. Morrigan does next. —KO
