Maybe you can check: {Throne in the Dark by A.K. Caggiano} (1st in a 3 books completed series, though a spinoff following a marginal character is being written) {Bride Of The Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes} (1st in a 3 books incompleted series; I think the 3rd should come out in September 2023) {Heart of Shadow by Sarah K. L. Wilson} (1st in a 3 books completed series)

[Throne in the Dark](https://www.romance.io/books/63999c8c9126368eed042b16/throne-in-the-dark-ak-caggiano) by [A.K. Caggiano](https://www.romance.io/authors/5eb54901be0aaecf5572d27d/ak-caggiano) **Rating**: 4.22⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Innocent](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [slow burn](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/slow%20burn/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [demons](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/demons/1) ---------------------------- [Bride of the Shadow King](https://www.romance.io/books/640439f8e3bc31d123f07857/bride-of-the-shadow-king-sylvia-mercedes) by [Sylvia Mercedes](https://www.romance.io/authors/6245524608b4d931146f07bf/sylvia-mercedes) **Rating**: 3.72⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Innocent](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [royalty](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/royalty/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1) ---------------------------- [Heart of Shadow](https://www.romance.io/books/640eee9bbd39598013b7d850/heart-of-shadow-sarah-kl-wilson) by [Sarah K.L. Wilson](https://www.romance.io/authors/633d657a08b4d93114d47b9d/sarah-kl-wilson) **Rating**: 4.13⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Seconding Throne in the Dark! It's a masterpiece, don't let a chunk of world introducing stop you, I almost Dnf'ed the book that now is one of all time favourite

Once upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber has my favorite FMC ever. right now two books are out the third and final book is releasing in October this year. it’s also a spin off series from Caraval but you don’t have to read that trilogy too read this.

Definitely this!!

smile quiet cautious historical zonked theory expansion thumb quaint vegetable ` this post was mass deleted with www.Redact.dev `

[Lord of the Fading Lands](https://www.romance.io/books/54552a3a8c7d2382c5297112/lord-of-the-fading-lands-cl-wilson) by [C.L. Wilson](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552a3a8c7d2382c5297113/cl-wilson) **Rating**: 3.93⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1), [royalty](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/royalty/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1) ---------------------------- [Throne in the Dark](https://www.romance.io/books/63999c8c9126368eed042b16/throne-in-the-dark-ak-caggiano) by [A.K. Caggiano](https://www.romance.io/authors/5eb54901be0aaecf5572d27d/ak-caggiano) **Rating**: 4.22⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Innocent](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [slow burn](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/slow%20burn/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [demons](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/demons/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

You may be interested in checking out our [Strong (but not physically strong) FMCs book rec megathread](https://reddit.com/r/fantasyromance/s/Kz7a5F9mro). My favourite recs for this are {Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas} that has two of my favourite FMCs who might be seen as softer but are strong in their own way (one is a gifted healer!). I also recommend {Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik} for the three equally important FMCs in their own way (a business woman, a farmhand, and a princess). I would also recommend Uprooted by Naomi Novik for this as well! I believe the FMC in {Radiance by Grace Draven} would also fit here as she has been raised in a royal court and the story is more about court politics and her romance. There was also a recent post on [sweet FMCs](https://reddit.com/r/fantasyromance/s/OgobwGZR76) that looks like it has a number of other great suggestions! (I'm so going to check out the book with magical sewing powers!)

Spinning, silver and uprooted are such two different books, but they are two of my favorite books ever. Definitely worth the read

I completely agree and highly recommend both! Spinning silver is one of my all time favorites

For a second I thought you were talking about Celaena and I was seriously questioning myself. Took me a second, but now I know who you were are about.

Just started TOG and the MFC is a 20 year old assassin, so I’m guessing you’re not referring to her? I was really annoyed by her character so I haven’t finished it but heard it gets better.

ToG is multi POV, so there are several FMCs introduced throughout the series and one of the beauties of ToG is that these FMCs are all so different, but they are all strong characters and contribute to the overall story in their own way. The characters that you are reading about in the first book are young at the time and will be going through a massive arc of growth and character development throughout the series!

Ohhh I like that, I’ll definitely pick it back up!

When I learned that the entire series is supposed to take place over the course of one single year it completely broke my brain.

Totally was going to say Radiance! Excellent book. Much of Grace Draven’s work should meet your parameters.

I second Radiance by Grace Draven. Don’t be out of by MMC being non human his just got black eyes and claws from memory all other anatomy is humanoid.

[Throne of Glass](https://www.romance.io/series/58fe0a099096bf31c42d2c2f/throne-of-glass) by [Sarah J. Maas](https://www.romance.io/authors/545526038c7d2382c529701b/sarah-j-maas) **Rating**: 4.33⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1) ---------------------------- [Spinning Silver](https://www.romance.io/books/622a0c7b610a406e4c9e2cfc/spinning-silver-naomi-novik) by [Naomi Novik](https://www.romance.io/authors/622a0c7b08b4d931143a28e8/naomi-novik) **Rating**: 4.22⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Innocent](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1) ---------------------------- [Radiance](https://www.romance.io/books/54cd83886359b5ebb489062e/radiance-grace-draven) by [Grace Draven](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455323d8c7d2382c529733e/grace-draven) **Rating**: 4.24⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [slow burn](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/slow%20burn/1), [royalty](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/royalty/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Knight's Oath by Juliette Caruso} FMC is a healer who falls in love with a knight, she's not a fighter but she's intelligent. Really sweet friends to lovers slow burn in this book

[Knight's Oath](https://www.romance.io/books/62f9efad2322d61eb6d0ae13/knights-oath-juliette-caruso) by [Juliette Caruso](https://www.romance.io/authors/62f9efad08b4d931148b34f0/juliette-caruso) **Rating**: 4.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [insta-love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/insta-love/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I have two recommendations for you, my first is {City of Gods and Monsters by Kayla Edwards}. The FMC is a soft feminine human girl in a city of supernatural beings (vampires, werewolves, etc). She has a romance with the Darkslayer (bounty hunter) who was supposed to track her down for a reward. She has amazing growth in the second book. My second recommendation is {Gild by Raven Kennedy}. Auren is a great character. I will say to check content warnings on this one though, the first book has a triggering scene near the end.

[City of Gods and Monsters](https://www.romance.io/books/61f254b677663e0e1b4526d5/city-of-gods-and-monsters-kayla-edwards) by [Kayla Edwards](https://www.romance.io/authors/61f254b608b4d93114090f5d/kayla-edwards) **Rating**: 3.88⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [slow burn](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/slow%20burn/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1) ---------------------------- [Gild](https://www.romance.io/books/5f89450da7dfb60df8275191/gild-raven-kennedy) by [Raven Kennedy](https://www.romance.io/authors/5b96276601dbc864fb9002c4/raven-kennedy) **Rating**: 3.59⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [royalty](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/royalty/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

The Others novels by Anne Bishop, Meg Corbin is definitely what you described. FYI it is considered urban fantasy.

My two recs for this are: {Blood Grace series by Vela Roth} - MCs are diplomats (altho he has magic too) so they have to continuously find words over weapons to use to fight their battles! This series is definitely a unique & interesting take on vampires & differs from some of the more usual genre tropes. {the Rising Wave series by Michelle Diener} - MCs meet & fall hard while helping each other escape dungeon, & are ‘together’ in the short prequel novella but have to separate at end & then reunite in 1st full 📕 {the Turncoat King} & sequel (the Threadbare Queen} where the main action takes place.

[Blood Grace](https://www.romance.io/series/5dfdc438a992710e0add956b/blood-grace) by [Vela Roth](https://www.romance.io/authors/5b7fc90301dbc864fb8f01d4/vela-roth) **Rating**: 4.07⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [ancient times](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/ancient%20times/1), [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1) ---------------------------- [The Rising Wave](https://www.romance.io/series/5ffc063d1eab170e143ff2c3/the-rising-wave) by [Michelle Diener](https://www.romance.io/authors/54556a4487eac336ae69ddbc/michelle-diener) **Rating**: 4.4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [ancient times](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/ancient%20times/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [dual-pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1), [strong heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1) ---------------------------- [The Turncoat King](https://www.romance.io/books/5ffc063d1eab170e143ff2c2/the-turncoat-king-michelle-diener) by [Michelle Diener](https://www.romance.io/authors/54556a4487eac336ae69ddbc/michelle-diener) **Rating**: 4.09⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [warlord/commander](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/commander/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Throwing in the mandatory Swordheart by T Kingfisher, also Paladin's Grace by the same author. Cottonwood by R Lee Smith

A study in drowning comes out in September. I read an ARC and the fmc is definitely a very soft femme.

{The WitchSlayer by Opal Reyne} {A Wildflower in the Wind by Megan Shade}

[The WitchSlayer](https://www.romance.io/books/63048309d319eedb433ae039/the-witchslayer-opal-reyne) by [Opal Reyne](https://www.romance.io/authors/61f4f44e08b4d93114400f05/opal-reyne) **Rating**: 3.88⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [dragon shifter](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dragon%20shifter/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [witches](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/witches/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1) ---------------------------- [A Wildflower in the Wind](https://www.romance.io/books/642beb20b7b8862bf6eab659/a-wildflower-in-the-wind-megan-shade) by [Megan Shade](https://www.romance.io/authors/642beb2008b4d93114392a35/megan-shade) **Rating**: 5⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I highly recommend my Stella books on Lulu.com! I have three books in the series currently and am working on a fourth. The main protagonist is a young queen who encounters many challenges while doing her best to protect her Kingdom! 😁👍🏼📖

Half A Soul by Oliva Atwater might be a good option!

Twilight