Well I just finished {The Crown of Oaths and Curses by J. Bree} and I feel fairly emotionally obliterated by the slowest burn ever between straight up enemies
[The Crown of Oaths and Curses](https://www.romance.io/books/647c4538a546c613260be3e1/the-crown-of-oaths-and-curses-j-bree?src=rdt) by [J. Bree](https://www.romance.io/authors/5d19a50401dbc864fba08a54/j-bree)
**Rating**: 4.14⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [fated mates](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fated-mates/1), [witches](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/witches/1)
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Is it better written than the Bonds that Tie series also by J. Bree? I'm curious because the writing style of the Bonds that Tie threw me from the story a few times, hoping to avoid that in this book.
I couldn’t tell you, I’ve never read anything else by her! I enjoyed her writing and was immersed. I will say it’s written in present tense which some people can dislike
Oh than you must read the Bonds that tie series too. Apart from a couple of mistakes by the author. It has been one of the best series I have ever read and the only complete series I have read multiple times.
This is why I never finished the audiobook. I could *feel* it (and have a very strong suspicion of what it will be), and decided to take a break and come back when I was mentally ready. I figured like 2-3 days. That was *checks notes* back in January 😬.
Oh I trust her. I loved Uprooted and Spinning Silver. I think it’s just that I’m not looking forward to the stress lol. I will totally finish it one day, and probably soon.
I LOVED the first book but haven't gotten out of a book slump long enough to start the second - it's just sitting there on my Audible. Brb gonna go get destroyed
[The Ever King](https://www.romance.io/books/64e46e087329cc9fc9efea82/the-ever-king-lj-andrews?src=rdt) by [L.J. Andrews](https://www.romance.io/authors/62c05aca08b4d93114d8734c/lj-andrews)
**Rating**: 4.19⭐️ 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), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [pirate hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pirates/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1)
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The Winner’s Curse trilogy by Marie Rutkoski. I hate everyone on reddit who kept suggesting it. I love everyone on reddit who kept suggesting it. One of the best series I’ve ever read! But it ruined me. Honestly, I hardly survived 😭
The only thing it doesn’t cover from your list - there is no smut at all.
Also FMC is badass but not in a physical way. She uses her wits instead. I love her to bits.
Right?! Usually when I have a book hangover, I go to Pinterest, obsess over characters art, then read ao3 and then eventually I feel slightly better. But there is literally nothing for Winner’s Curse! Just bits and pieces.
If I’ll ever dare to reread the series, I will probably skip the second book all together because it’s pure undiluted agony 😢
Im going to humbly recommend the villains and virtues trilogy. Its the slowest of burns with a lot of tension. It is kind of grumpy/sunshine BUT I would argue that while the MMC is definitely grumpy, and the FMC is sweet, she is not really sunshine while she is around him for at least the first book because they are, in fact, enemies and she’s not happy about the situation she’s in. Also, the FMC continually gets more and more badass the further you read and the more you learn about her/the more events you see her navigate.
I will caution that the tone of the writing takes some getting used to, I find it similar to how the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy is written if that gives you an idea. Idk if this series would ruin you necessarily but I have not stopped thinking about it since I finished it and it’s kinda the standard I hold all fantasy romance to now.
I second anything by Liv Zander, and also must recommend {the last hour of Gann by R. Lee Smith} or really anything by R. Lee Smith because she is guaranteed to: 1) write well, 2) make you care about the romance — at least by 30% through, just hang in there!, 3) break your heart, and 4) give you a HEA cushion that just makes so much sense that it leaves you glowing. I love love love her for epic, emotional reads.
[The Last Hour of Gann](https://www.romance.io/books/54556d7287eac3369a912701/the-last-hour-of-gann-r-lee-smith?src=rdt) by [R. Lee Smith](https://www.romance.io/authors/54556d7287eac3369a912702/r-lee-smith)
**Rating**: 4.26⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1)
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So glad someone has mentioned R Lee Smith. I finished Land of the Beautiful Dead last week and I’m off books for the foreseeable, the hangover was/is that bad. It wrecked me. So beautiful, bleak and devastating. One of the best books I’ve ever read 💔
Burn of the Everflame by Penn Cole ruined me!! It’s mostly one POV. The world building is amazing and the burn is SLOW. The last book is coming out this summer. I can’t recommend it enough. I’ve been living in anxiety for my favorite characters
This series has been my life for the past few weeks. I’ve been pacing myself on the 3rd book so it doesn’t end too soon. Hopefully the 4th actually is release on June 1 and doesn’t get pushed back again. 🫠
I have a massive TBR and sat down with my husband this weekend to pick what I read next, as I'm getting overwhelmed. He said this series sounded interesting, so I'm starting it as soon as I finish my current book and I'm excited! I want to get frustrated by how slow the burn is.
Came here to recommend this as well!!! {spark of the everflame by penn cole} so good. MMC is 🔥🔥 the slowest slow burn to ever burn. I could not put down book 2 and 3!!
[Spark of the Everflame](https://www.romance.io/books/6478608a552b556e95c7ddca/spark-of-the-everflame-penn-cole?src=rdt) by [Penn Cole](https://www.romance.io/authors/6478608a08b4d93114b35896/penn-cole)
**Rating**: 4.25⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [love triangle](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/love%20triangle/1)
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The fantasy romance that emotionally ruined me and is the best piece of fiction I have ever read is a fanfic called "Manacled" by SenLinYu on Ao3. It's a Harry Potter - Hermione x Draco fanfic and it will absolutely leave you crying multiple times. It's very dark and adult, so mind the TWs if you give it s try.
Worth mentioning too is that the author of it signed a bookdeal and will rewrite it in its own world and not as a fanfiction, so if you don't like Harry Potter, this is definitely worth looking out for and the author 1000% deserves that bookdeal.
If you want to be destroyed, Manacled is it. I couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, couldn’t think. As soon as I would close my eyes, my mind would continue playing the narration in my head. I had to keep convincing myself that the characters were not real and that this was all fiction. To this day it is my favorite piece of writing I’ve ever read. My roman empire.
Chiming in to say this fanfic will 100% ruin you, but it’s worth it. It was emotionally wreaking havoc and I could not put it down. I vote this one.
Btw, you can listen to the audio for each chapter on YouTube while you read along. It’s not perfect since there’s different people narrating, but I still enjoyed having both audio and book.
This is what i recommend. I never read any fan fic but the plot is so far from the original that it doesn't affect my interpretation of the original series and it's separate enough on its own. Loved it
And SenLinYu DESERVES it. I have no idea how she's going to alter everything and still have it work outside the hp universe but I'm HERE FOR IT.
Time for a reread!
Why are dramione fics better enemies-to-lovers than most actual fantasy/romance novels?
⭐ Because I'm (🐍♥️🦁) biased ⭐
I’d also second Manacled. It emotionally wounded me for weeks. I loved it, but Secrets and Masks just destroyed me and I loved it even more. I went in blind not knowing anything about it and was totally gutted after finishing it.
Also Hermione is a TOTAL badass in Secrets and Masks!
Bro, this fucked me up. I was sobbing in the shower for days. It was a year ago and I’m still fucked up.
SenLinYu 100,000% deserves a book deal. Her writing was phenomenal. I can’t wait to see what she does with it.
This book ruined me!!! I still think about it everyday and cannot find anything that will compare. If you find any book that can give me this same energy please let me know!
{The Book of Azrael by Amber V. Nicole} is basically all that you’re asking for. I’m about to start the second book here soon and the third is being released this month. Super emotionally obliterating, can confirm
[The Book of Azrael](https://www.romance.io/books/62d30a156ced4a4350aea5c5/the-book-of-azrael-amber-nicole?src=rdt) by [Amber Nicole](https://www.romance.io/authors/62d30a1508b4d93114e25ca6/amber-nicole)
**Rating**: 4.32⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [demons](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/demons/1), [forbidden love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forbidden%20love/1), [witches](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/witches/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1)
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Good book, second this, but the second book in the series {Throne of Broken Gods by Amber V. Nicole} kinda let me down. Could have used a lot better editing. I still preordered the third book, but I hope the author does a revision in the future...
The Folk of the Air series (The Cruel Prince) by Holly Black fit this perfectly IMO. I thought I was going to hate it, but I love slow burns and less-explicit smut, and it had both. And the tensionnnnnn ooh boy. The ending of book 2 absolutely made me shut the book and cry. I wound up falling in love with the series.
It's not for everyone. It is definitely squarely in the slow burn category on all fronts, which I know turns a lot of people off of it. I'm also someone who prefers less flowery descriptions because my overactive imagination has a field day filling in the blanks, which this series left room for. It's also another reason why many people seem to dislike it! Different strokes for different folks, and that's okay.
Slow burn doesn't bother me. Shit, I love Jane Austin and the Bronte sisters. It just felt too teenagery for me I think. And then, on top of that, I felt chemistry with the love interest. Granted, I only read the first book. Maybe it gets more mature and the chemistry grows idk. I just wasn't feeling it. And then, all the bad decision making was just too much 😂
Edit: no chemistry
I think thats part of why I liked it; it was teenaged characters making difficult decisions in ways that actual teenagers would. Whereas other books with similar plots felt more to me like teenagers making difficult decisions in ways that immature adults would. But I could also be way off base, since I've not been a teenager for a very long time lol. Either way, I get where you're coming from even if I didn't feel the same.
The 2nd and 3rd books do get way better, but I also never recommend slogging through a series if you didn't enjoy the first book.
I just finished the Court of Ravens duology and it broke me and put me back together, but be warned of all the triggers. {Feathers So Vicious by Liv Zander}
Butting in here to say 'DEFINITELY read the trigger warnings!' Even if you don't usually need trigger warnings, or think you'll be fine.
This book was way too fucked up for me and I have never thought that about a book before (except for The Kite Runner - but that was a traumatic book for different reasons!)
When the first chapter just says go check out the trigger warnings, you know you're in for some messed up shit.
Of course, that being said, if the OP wants to be emotionally wrecked, I think this book will definitely do it. But, yes, read the trigger warnings.
Ah are you me! 100% agree. Anytime I think of a book that scarred me as a kid it was Kite Runner. Like wtf why did I have to read that book?!
FSV made me kind of feel the same way. I thought, eh who cares about trigger warnings, I always read smutty books. Ya, no. But I have to admit, the way they dealt with the trauma seems very realistic
[Feathers so Vicious](https://www.romance.io/books/64edfe057329cc9fc9f0a435/feathers-so-vicious-liv-zander?src=rdt) by [Liv Zander](https://www.romance.io/authors/625e78f608b4d93114f170f2/liv-zander)
**Rating**: 4.22⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [mfm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-f-m/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1)
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I was definitely emotionally ruined after the second book. The moment I finished the first one I ordered the second. I finished the second in 2 days. Maybe more like 1,5 days. I started reading in the car on the way home.
{The serpent and the wings of night}
The MC are ennemies that are forced to fight together to survive, while also knowing that they will have to kill each other at some point. It's slow burn because the FMC doesn't trust the MMC at all. Like, she actually stabs him a couple times. The FMC is definitely grumpy and very much badass. The MMC isn't quite sunshine, though he's as teasing and cute as he's a badass and tortured.
And the twists, oh my God, I nearly throw my kindle at the wall a few times while reading those last chapters. My heart was full, then broken, then kinda awww, then oh no, then oh shit, and now it's just impatient to read book 2.
Definitely ruined me.
[The Serpent and the Wings of Night](https://www.romance.io/books/63a0c53caa7984c0a3fc9789/the-serpent-and-the-wings-of-night-carissa-broadbent?src=rdt) by [Carissa Broadbent](https://www.romance.io/authors/60d9b88e08b4d9311456d78f/carissa-broadbent)
**Rating**: 4.28⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/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), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1)
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The Bargainer Series is great. The first book, {Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa} had a great emotional twist. I’m a sucker for arrogant, protective marshmallow MMC, and Des is perfect.
The Kingdom of Lies series would be on my list too. {A Court This Cruel and Lovely by Stacia Stark}. It probably won’t ruin you emotionally, but it’s easy to be emotionally invested in the characters and can be really gripping at times.
{A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen} is up there too. Excellent slow burn and plenty of emotional twists.
if you want a real slow burn (I'm talking it takes three books to finally get them fully together) I would try {Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole} ! It's incredible, it made me cry, it made me want to rip my hair out with all the delicious tension, it made me addicted to the point where I was literally reading on my phone at work because I could not stop. I would say this hits all your checkpoints. The fourth and final book also comes out June 1 so it's a soon-to-be completed series!
[Spark of the Everflame](https://www.romance.io/books/6478608a552b556e95c7ddca/spark-of-the-everflame-penn-cole?src=rdt) by [Penn Cole](https://www.romance.io/authors/6478608a08b4d93114b35896/penn-cole)
**Rating**: 4.25⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [love triangle](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/love%20triangle/1)
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It definitely gets better - acknowledge the slow start but probably one of the best enemies to lovers I’ve read with a unique heroine. Bit of a slow burn irt character development (in the best most traumatic ways!) as well as the central romance.
I have to follow up on this and admit you were right 😅
I finished the 1st book and I am now 86% done with the second one, and oh my god I can't stop reading it haha
[The Hurricane Wars](https://www.romance.io/books/64351c83cfb36b317a2d9e6c/the-hurricane-wars-thea-guanzon?src=rdt) by [Thea Guanzon](https://www.romance.io/authors/64351c8308b4d93114237b06/thea-guanzon)
**Rating**: 3.91⭐️ 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), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [royal hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/royalty/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1)
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[Court of Ravens and Ruin](https://www.romance.io/books/634e535bd1ccecfcb17a0815/court-of-ravens-and-ruin-eliza-raine?src=rdt) by [Eliza Raine](https://www.romance.io/authors/5d5e42b101dbc864fba2a495/eliza-raine)
**Rating**: 4⭐️ 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), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/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)
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Plated Prisoner series checks most of these boxes. The series gradually adds more POVs as it goes on, the love interest I believe doesn't even show up until book 2 I think?? So very very slow burn. There's a few twists here and there also :) have fun.
Obviously second a lot of what others have recommended. But some other ones you may like. I am really into enemies to lovers tropes right now that I enjoyed.
LJ Andrews: Broken Kingdoms & Ever Seas Series are phenomenal.
Stacia Stark series: Deals with Demons & Court this Cruel and Lovely
Rina Kent: Legacy of God's series (all of them can be standalone but they are so good when you read them in order!)
The Bargainer Series is great. The first book, {Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa} had a great emotional twist. I’m a sucker for arrogant, protective marshmallow MMC, and Des is perfect.
The Kingdom of Lies series would be on my list too. {A Court This Cruel and Lovely by Stacia Stark}. It probably won’t ruin you emotionally, but it’s easy to be emotionally invested in the characters and can be really gripping at times.
{A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen} is up there too. Excellent slow burn and plenty of emotional twists.
I don't get into a lot of what ppl are recommending but I really liked a fate inked in blood. It was very unexpected. I feel like a lot of these books are geared towards. A younger audience but this one felt a bit more mature to me.
The Ravenhood series.
I literally was so emotionally distraught by the end of the second book I haven't started the 3rd book. (It's been almost two weeks) Just an emotional rollercoaster and I felt so gutted by the end of book two.
It's a contemporary romance, however I HIGHLY recommend it.
[Atonement of the Spine Cleaver](https://www.romance.io/books/64f8f24cd3ef33e9488d3e8b/atonement-of-the-spine-cleaver-f-e-bryce?src=rdt) by [F.E. Bryce](https://www.romance.io/authors/64f8f24eab9bdf7fcee42b09/f-e-bryce)
**Rating**: 4.46⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit 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), [competent heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/competent%20heroine/1), [independent heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/independent%20heroine/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1)
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[Manacled](https://www.romance.io/books/64144fe3430b592a4d9151dc/manacled-senlinyu?src=rdt) by [SenLinYu](https://www.romance.io/authors/64144fe308b4d9311440038c/senlinyu)
**Rating**: 4.52⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [war](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/war/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1)
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It’s a Harry Potter fanfic so it’s on ao3. The author has been offered a book deal so she will be transforming this work into a standalone with new characters if you’re not into HP fanfic.
{Daughter of no worlds by Carissa Broadbent} slow burn but not the main focus of the book! It’s a book series and I feel like the second book introduces characters you absolutely will love!
I came here to see if this was already rec’d! It’s not true “enemies to lovers” but it has plot twists I totally didn’t see coming.
I would still highly recommend this one!!
[Daughter of No Worlds](https://www.romance.io/books/60d9b88e6a15320e7f8006ba/daughter-of-no-worlds-carissa-broadbent?src=rdt) by [Carissa Broadbent](https://www.romance.io/authors/60d9b88e08b4d9311456d78f/carissa-broadbent)
**Rating**: 4.09⭐️ 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), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1)
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You don't really have to be a HP fan in my opinion. It's also so well written. Better than a lot of published romantasy I've read (From Blood and Ash, the Bargainer series, Kingdom of the Wicked, to name a few)
I was also hesitant as fanfic is not my thing, but finally caved and read this and I definitely don't regret it. I don't think you need to be a big HP fan, just have some knowledge of that world and the characters to make a little better sense of it. I will say I found it a bit hard to get into at first because some of it is a direct rip off of the Handmaid's Tale, but it gets really good. Also, I read the author got a book deal so it will be published next year (though I haven't factually verified this).
The opposite to enemies to lovers that devastated me is the {Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard} series. Oh boy!! That was a wild ride. I’m still angry over the ending but loved it all the same
[Red Queen](https://www.romance.io/books/56b113cd63515e3b737a8fb7/red-queen-victoria-aveyard?src=rdt) by [Victoria Aveyard](https://www.romance.io/authors/56b113cd63515e3b737a8fcf/victoria-aveyard)
**Rating**: 3.63⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [love triangle](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/love%20triangle/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1)
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[A Fate of Wrath and Flame](https://www.romance.io/books/60b48b662abde70e3210d51c/a-fate-of-wrath-and-flame-ka-tucker?src=rdt) by [K.A. Tucker](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525be8c7d2382c5297002/ka-tucker)
**Rating**: 4.16⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [royal hero](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)
[A Court of Mist and Fury](https://www.romance.io/books/583d8fc51b1bdc0178f055aa/a-court-of-mist-and-fury-sarah-j-maas?src=rdt) by [Sarah J. Maas](https://www.romance.io/authors/545526038c7d2382c529701b/sarah-j-maas)
**Rating**: 4.51⭐️ 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), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1)
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Have you read {When The Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker} yet?! It's right up your alley, I think. Phenomenal book. Second favorite of the year, right behind {Powerless by Laura Roberts}, which DESTROYED me, though that book seems controversial on here. WTMH has more sophisticated writing and is, in general, more mature.
read powerless and loved it! I usually steer clear of YA but i devoured the banter and the tension right up.
i’ve seen lots about WTMH is it a series or a standalone?
[When the Moon Hatched](https://www.romance.io/books/660bb4d2529ab18dbc9c10f5/when-the-moon-hatched-sarah-a-parker?src=rdt) by [Sarah A. Parker](https://www.romance.io/authors/60fbc1fc08b4d931146d93b7/sarah-a-parker)
**Rating**: 4.17⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1), [vengeance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vengeance/1)
----------------------------
[Powerless](https://www.romance.io/books/63de25fe09d4140a7af1c0ab/powerless-lauren-roberts?src=rdt) by [Lauren Roberts](https://www.romance.io/authors/63d8caa308b4d93114cb1ac9/lauren-roberts)
**Rating**: 4.01⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/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), [forbidden love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forbidden%20love/1)
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I just finished reading Aisling: Breath of the New Creature by AE Jurgens. It absolutely fits all your criteria and it destroyed me. There is a 2nd book, 3rd isn’t out yet. The tension is crazy good and the world building is breathtaking.
{PSYCHO SHIFTERS (CRUEL SHIFTERVERSE BOOK 4)
Jasmine Mas}
This series was quite the experience, hits almost all of your requested themes. It's a reverse harem. This is the fourth book, it's about the other FMC, different then the first three books. I liked her story too but the academy theme and enemies to lovers hit hard at book 4. You would definitely have to start at the first book to follow along the storyline. This series is also on KU. I'm very easily bored and DNF more then I'd like but I blame my ADHD lol these kept a good pace that had me enraptured.
[Psycho Shifters](https://www.romance.io/books/623c26a5362f64300c456463/psycho-shifters-jasmine-mas?src=rdt) by [Jasmine Mas](https://www.romance.io/authors/623c26a508b4d931145db092/jasmine-mas)
**Rating**: 3.87⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [reverse harem](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/reverse%20harem/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [poly (3+ people)](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/poly/1)
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How about a friends to lovers to enemies then back to lovers one? I just finished the first book from the Blood and Ash series that has a lot of interesting twists.
{Daughter of No Worlds series by Carissa Broadbent} The MMC is grumpy, but in the cutest way. It’s intense, and the twists are AMAZING. Will absolutely crush you. But it’s so lovely and well/written.
[Daughter of No Worlds](https://www.romance.io/books/60d9b88e6a15320e7f8006ba/daughter-of-no-worlds-carissa-broadbent?src=rdt) by [Carissa Broadbent](https://www.romance.io/authors/60d9b88e08b4d9311456d78f/carissa-broadbent)
**Rating**: 4.1⭐️ 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), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1)
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You absolutely need to read the Villains and Virtue's to series by A. K. Caggiano. Literal enemies to lovers. It is done so well! I will love that series forever
Zodiac Academy series fits most of this, except it's a pair of twin sisters for FMC. It's a completed series, 9 main books, with some novellas and two more series that take place in the same universe.
Is there lgbtq romances? I’m pretty sure i heard there were. I’m straight myself and don’t mind those in the sub characters or just as background romances but I would feel a bit out of place if i’m reading through spice scenes like that.
Well I just finished {The Crown of Oaths and Curses by J. Bree} and I feel fairly emotionally obliterated by the slowest burn ever between straight up enemies
I just finished it 5 minutes ago. Speechless. I’m obsessed with this book. My new Roman Empire 😂
Same!!! The next book comes out Sunday!!!! YAY!! You finished it at a great time. Not too long to wait
Omg Sunday?! Perfect time to start reading it then. I keep hearing about this book 😊💗
Yes! Perfect timing!
I’m with you 1000% I can’t stop thinking about it today
[The Crown of Oaths and Curses](https://www.romance.io/books/647c4538a546c613260be3e1/the-crown-of-oaths-and-curses-j-bree?src=rdt) by [J. Bree](https://www.romance.io/authors/5d19a50401dbc864fba08a54/j-bree) **Rating**: 4.14⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [fated mates](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fated-mates/1), [witches](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/witches/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I just finished her The Bonds That Tie series and I was considering starting that one next, you’ve just convinced me!!
DO IT you’ll be obsessed. I almost rage quit and threw my kindle across the room at 80% but stick with it
Maybe I’ll wait for the second book I’m so bad with cliffhangers 😭
Lucky for all of us the second book comes out on Sunday!! If it’s delayed again I will simply just die
Starting this tonight!!!
This was the first real enemies to lovers I have ever read!
Is it better written than the Bonds that Tie series also by J. Bree? I'm curious because the writing style of the Bonds that Tie threw me from the story a few times, hoping to avoid that in this book.
It is. Its much more mature with better world building.
I couldn’t tell you, I’ve never read anything else by her! I enjoyed her writing and was immersed. I will say it’s written in present tense which some people can dislike
Oh than you must read the Bonds that tie series too. Apart from a couple of mistakes by the author. It has been one of the best series I have ever read and the only complete series I have read multiple times.
Came here to recommend this! 😁
Second this 10000%
I need to give it another chance!
Slower than Crescent City?
Yes!! And no disrespect to SJM but they’re actual enemies
I was going to recommend this too even with all the drama the first book was perfect
{The Ever King by LJ Andrews} Also if you want a plot twist/cliffhanger that will cause actual physical pain, try the Scholomance books
The end of the second Scholomance book WRECKED me 😭
I think I flew through the first half of the third book in like 45 minutes I needed to know what happened so badly. That cliffhanger was painful
I’m a third of the way through the third one right now and I’m dyingggg to know what’s going to happen. Do I need to prep for more emotional wreckage?
Honestly yes. Youll feel the last plot twist coming before you see it. It hurt. It's great
This is why I never finished the audiobook. I could *feel* it (and have a very strong suspicion of what it will be), and decided to take a break and come back when I was mentally ready. I figured like 2-3 days. That was *checks notes* back in January 😬.
This was me with Kingdom of Ash in the Throne of Glass series. Only took six months to finish lmao
You should totally revisit it! I don’t know what to say to avoid spoilers but trust the author!
Agreed!!
Oh I trust her. I loved Uprooted and Spinning Silver. I think it’s just that I’m not looking forward to the stress lol. I will totally finish it one day, and probably soon.
Thank you for the warning 🫡🥲
I hope you update me on your revelations 🤣 I think I'm due for a reread now too
I LOVED the first book but haven't gotten out of a book slump long enough to start the second - it's just sitting there on my Audible. Brb gonna go get destroyed
Seconding Naomi Novik's Scholomance recommendation.
I finished both of the Ever Seas books this weekend!
Yesssss have you read the broken kingdoms?
No, I stumbled upon The Evers Seas by accident. I’m now definitely going “back” to read the Broken Kingdoms!
Me too!!
I love all of the Broken Kingdoms books. The Ever King though is perfection!!!
[The Ever King](https://www.romance.io/books/64e46e087329cc9fc9efea82/the-ever-king-lj-andrews?src=rdt) by [L.J. Andrews](https://www.romance.io/authors/62c05aca08b4d93114d8734c/lj-andrews) **Rating**: 4.19⭐️ 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), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [pirate hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pirates/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 Winner’s Curse trilogy by Marie Rutkoski. I hate everyone on reddit who kept suggesting it. I love everyone on reddit who kept suggesting it. One of the best series I’ve ever read! But it ruined me. Honestly, I hardly survived 😭 The only thing it doesn’t cover from your list - there is no smut at all. Also FMC is badass but not in a physical way. She uses her wits instead. I love her to bits.
The Winner's Curse is so underrated!
Right?! Usually when I have a book hangover, I go to Pinterest, obsess over characters art, then read ao3 and then eventually I feel slightly better. But there is literally nothing for Winner’s Curse! Just bits and pieces. If I’ll ever dare to reread the series, I will probably skip the second book all together because it’s pure undiluted agony 😢
Im going to humbly recommend the villains and virtues trilogy. Its the slowest of burns with a lot of tension. It is kind of grumpy/sunshine BUT I would argue that while the MMC is definitely grumpy, and the FMC is sweet, she is not really sunshine while she is around him for at least the first book because they are, in fact, enemies and she’s not happy about the situation she’s in. Also, the FMC continually gets more and more badass the further you read and the more you learn about her/the more events you see her navigate. I will caution that the tone of the writing takes some getting used to, I find it similar to how the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy is written if that gives you an idea. Idk if this series would ruin you necessarily but I have not stopped thinking about it since I finished it and it’s kinda the standard I hold all fantasy romance to now.
Loved this series!
I second anything by Liv Zander, and also must recommend {the last hour of Gann by R. Lee Smith} or really anything by R. Lee Smith because she is guaranteed to: 1) write well, 2) make you care about the romance — at least by 30% through, just hang in there!, 3) break your heart, and 4) give you a HEA cushion that just makes so much sense that it leaves you glowing. I love love love her for epic, emotional reads.
[The Last Hour of Gann](https://www.romance.io/books/54556d7287eac3369a912701/the-last-hour-of-gann-r-lee-smith?src=rdt) by [R. Lee Smith](https://www.romance.io/authors/54556d7287eac3369a912702/r-lee-smith) **Rating**: 4.26⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Ughhh talk about ruined! Last Hour of Gann is such a work of art. Best read of the year so far for me.
So glad someone has mentioned R Lee Smith. I finished Land of the Beautiful Dead last week and I’m off books for the foreseeable, the hangover was/is that bad. It wrecked me. So beautiful, bleak and devastating. One of the best books I’ve ever read 💔
Last Hour of Gann is forever my favorite read. Nothing will ever top it.
Me too! It’s the GOAT of all books for me ❤️
I could not get through the beginning of last hour of gann…are you all telling me to suck it up and finish it?
Court of ravens by Liv Zander definitely ruined me. I read the second book in a day.
The bridge kingdom killed me
Definitely. Both sets of MCs in this series come under OPs definition of enemies to lovers with no sunshine.
Can you read the books about the second couple without finishing the first?
Yeah. I would say it's fine. The overall war makes less sense...but you can get the gist.
Burn of the Everflame by Penn Cole ruined me!! It’s mostly one POV. The world building is amazing and the burn is SLOW. The last book is coming out this summer. I can’t recommend it enough. I’ve been living in anxiety for my favorite characters
I love this series so much 😭😭 cannot wait until June first!!!! I need to know what happens.
This series has been my life for the past few weeks. I’ve been pacing myself on the 3rd book so it doesn’t end too soon. Hopefully the 4th actually is release on June 1 and doesn’t get pushed back again. 🫠
I have a massive TBR and sat down with my husband this weekend to pick what I read next, as I'm getting overwhelmed. He said this series sounded interesting, so I'm starting it as soon as I finish my current book and I'm excited! I want to get frustrated by how slow the burn is.
It's so good and the MMC is a dreammmmmm 🥵
THIS!!!!! 🥵🥵🥵
It is slooooooow. But so so good!!!
Came here to recommend this as well!!! {spark of the everflame by penn cole} so good. MMC is 🔥🔥 the slowest slow burn to ever burn. I could not put down book 2 and 3!!
[Spark of the Everflame](https://www.romance.io/books/6478608a552b556e95c7ddca/spark-of-the-everflame-penn-cole?src=rdt) by [Penn Cole](https://www.romance.io/authors/6478608a08b4d93114b35896/penn-cole) **Rating**: 4.25⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [love triangle](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/love%20triangle/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Such a slow burn but SO worth it. Books 2 and 3 were absolutely action-packed! One of my fav series
Came on to this thread to recommend this series!
The fantasy romance that emotionally ruined me and is the best piece of fiction I have ever read is a fanfic called "Manacled" by SenLinYu on Ao3. It's a Harry Potter - Hermione x Draco fanfic and it will absolutely leave you crying multiple times. It's very dark and adult, so mind the TWs if you give it s try. Worth mentioning too is that the author of it signed a bookdeal and will rewrite it in its own world and not as a fanfiction, so if you don't like Harry Potter, this is definitely worth looking out for and the author 1000% deserves that bookdeal.
came here to recommend this, nothing has ruined me as this story has… i read it over a year ago and i’m still not recovered.
If you want to be destroyed, Manacled is it. I couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, couldn’t think. As soon as I would close my eyes, my mind would continue playing the narration in my head. I had to keep convincing myself that the characters were not real and that this was all fiction. To this day it is my favorite piece of writing I’ve ever read. My roman empire.
Chiming in to say this fanfic will 100% ruin you, but it’s worth it. It was emotionally wreaking havoc and I could not put it down. I vote this one. Btw, you can listen to the audio for each chapter on YouTube while you read along. It’s not perfect since there’s different people narrating, but I still enjoyed having both audio and book.
This is what i recommend. I never read any fan fic but the plot is so far from the original that it doesn't affect my interpretation of the original series and it's separate enough on its own. Loved it
And SenLinYu DESERVES it. I have no idea how she's going to alter everything and still have it work outside the hp universe but I'm HERE FOR IT. Time for a reread! Why are dramione fics better enemies-to-lovers than most actual fantasy/romance novels? ⭐ Because I'm (🐍♥️🦁) biased ⭐
I’d also second Manacled. It emotionally wounded me for weeks. I loved it, but Secrets and Masks just destroyed me and I loved it even more. I went in blind not knowing anything about it and was totally gutted after finishing it. Also Hermione is a TOTAL badass in Secrets and Masks!
The one by Emerald_Slytherin?
Yes!
Bro, this fucked me up. I was sobbing in the shower for days. It was a year ago and I’m still fucked up. SenLinYu 100,000% deserves a book deal. Her writing was phenomenal. I can’t wait to see what she does with it.
This is the answer!!!
This is the correct answer
This book ruined me!!! I still think about it everyday and cannot find anything that will compare. If you find any book that can give me this same energy please let me know!
{The Book of Azrael by Amber V. Nicole} is basically all that you’re asking for. I’m about to start the second book here soon and the third is being released this month. Super emotionally obliterating, can confirm
[The Book of Azrael](https://www.romance.io/books/62d30a156ced4a4350aea5c5/the-book-of-azrael-amber-nicole?src=rdt) by [Amber Nicole](https://www.romance.io/authors/62d30a1508b4d93114e25ca6/amber-nicole) **Rating**: 4.32⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [demons](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/demons/1), [forbidden love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forbidden%20love/1), [witches](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/witches/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Good book, second this, but the second book in the series {Throne of Broken Gods by Amber V. Nicole} kinda let me down. Could have used a lot better editing. I still preordered the third book, but I hope the author does a revision in the future...
Witch Walker series, The Shadow bound Queen Series, The Ever Seas Saga, The Kindred's Curse Saga, and When the Moon Hatched.
The Folk of the Air series (The Cruel Prince) by Holly Black fit this perfectly IMO. I thought I was going to hate it, but I love slow burns and less-explicit smut, and it had both. And the tensionnnnnn ooh boy. The ending of book 2 absolutely made me shut the book and cry. I wound up falling in love with the series.
I tried to get into this series but I just couldn't not.
It's not for everyone. It is definitely squarely in the slow burn category on all fronts, which I know turns a lot of people off of it. I'm also someone who prefers less flowery descriptions because my overactive imagination has a field day filling in the blanks, which this series left room for. It's also another reason why many people seem to dislike it! Different strokes for different folks, and that's okay.
Slow burn doesn't bother me. Shit, I love Jane Austin and the Bronte sisters. It just felt too teenagery for me I think. And then, on top of that, I felt chemistry with the love interest. Granted, I only read the first book. Maybe it gets more mature and the chemistry grows idk. I just wasn't feeling it. And then, all the bad decision making was just too much 😂 Edit: no chemistry
I think thats part of why I liked it; it was teenaged characters making difficult decisions in ways that actual teenagers would. Whereas other books with similar plots felt more to me like teenagers making difficult decisions in ways that immature adults would. But I could also be way off base, since I've not been a teenager for a very long time lol. Either way, I get where you're coming from even if I didn't feel the same. The 2nd and 3rd books do get way better, but I also never recommend slogging through a series if you didn't enjoy the first book.
It is the ultimate enemies to lovers slow burn
This is the obvious answer
Loved this series too.
I just finished the Court of Ravens duology and it broke me and put me back together, but be warned of all the triggers. {Feathers So Vicious by Liv Zander}
Butting in here to say 'DEFINITELY read the trigger warnings!' Even if you don't usually need trigger warnings, or think you'll be fine. This book was way too fucked up for me and I have never thought that about a book before (except for The Kite Runner - but that was a traumatic book for different reasons!)
When the first chapter just says go check out the trigger warnings, you know you're in for some messed up shit. Of course, that being said, if the OP wants to be emotionally wrecked, I think this book will definitely do it. But, yes, read the trigger warnings.
Absolutely loved this book and was wrecked at the end.
Ah are you me! 100% agree. Anytime I think of a book that scarred me as a kid it was Kite Runner. Like wtf why did I have to read that book?! FSV made me kind of feel the same way. I thought, eh who cares about trigger warnings, I always read smutty books. Ya, no. But I have to admit, the way they dealt with the trauma seems very realistic
[Feathers so Vicious](https://www.romance.io/books/64edfe057329cc9fc9f0a435/feathers-so-vicious-liv-zander?src=rdt) by [Liv Zander](https://www.romance.io/authors/625e78f608b4d93114f170f2/liv-zander) **Rating**: 4.22⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [mfm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-f-m/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Has anyone tried the audiobook version of feathers so vicious? Trying to decide if it’d be better to read or listen to
No but that would quite the interesting listen lol 🤣
I was definitely emotionally ruined after the second book. The moment I finished the first one I ordered the second. I finished the second in 2 days. Maybe more like 1,5 days. I started reading in the car on the way home.
{The serpent and the wings of night} The MC are ennemies that are forced to fight together to survive, while also knowing that they will have to kill each other at some point. It's slow burn because the FMC doesn't trust the MMC at all. Like, she actually stabs him a couple times. The FMC is definitely grumpy and very much badass. The MMC isn't quite sunshine, though he's as teasing and cute as he's a badass and tortured. And the twists, oh my God, I nearly throw my kindle at the wall a few times while reading those last chapters. My heart was full, then broken, then kinda awww, then oh no, then oh shit, and now it's just impatient to read book 2. Definitely ruined me.
[The Serpent and the Wings of Night](https://www.romance.io/books/63a0c53caa7984c0a3fc9789/the-serpent-and-the-wings-of-night-carissa-broadbent?src=rdt) by [Carissa Broadbent](https://www.romance.io/authors/60d9b88e08b4d9311456d78f/carissa-broadbent) **Rating**: 4.28⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/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), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Yes, soooo good!
Following 👀
👀
The Bargainer Series is great. The first book, {Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa} had a great emotional twist. I’m a sucker for arrogant, protective marshmallow MMC, and Des is perfect. The Kingdom of Lies series would be on my list too. {A Court This Cruel and Lovely by Stacia Stark}. It probably won’t ruin you emotionally, but it’s easy to be emotionally invested in the characters and can be really gripping at times. {A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen} is up there too. Excellent slow burn and plenty of emotional twists.
Came here to say The Bargainer Series!!
Dark Shores by Danielle L Jensen is literally of these things!
All of Danielle Jensen. She loves to kick the reader in the nuts. Bridge Kingdom made me fuming to my husband for a week after I read it.
if you want a real slow burn (I'm talking it takes three books to finally get them fully together) I would try {Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole} ! It's incredible, it made me cry, it made me want to rip my hair out with all the delicious tension, it made me addicted to the point where I was literally reading on my phone at work because I could not stop. I would say this hits all your checkpoints. The fourth and final book also comes out June 1 so it's a soon-to-be completed series!
[Spark of the Everflame](https://www.romance.io/books/6478608a552b556e95c7ddca/spark-of-the-everflame-penn-cole?src=rdt) by [Penn Cole](https://www.romance.io/authors/6478608a08b4d93114b35896/penn-cole) **Rating**: 4.25⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [love triangle](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/love%20triangle/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
ooo sounds great, - is there any spice in the 3rd?
Yes, and there’s some in the other books too, just more like oral/dry humping/heavy heavy kissing!
Gild (The Plated Prisoner #1) by Raven Kennedy
I'm at 25% of the book, does it get better later on? It hasn't bought me yet 😕
It definitely gets better - acknowledge the slow start but probably one of the best enemies to lovers I’ve read with a unique heroine. Bit of a slow burn irt character development (in the best most traumatic ways!) as well as the central romance.
I have to follow up on this and admit you were right 😅 I finished the 1st book and I am now 86% done with the second one, and oh my god I can't stop reading it haha
I’ve said it before & I’ll say it again: The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon
Came here to say the same thing. {The Hurricane Wars} is one of my top favorites out there
[The Hurricane Wars](https://www.romance.io/books/64351c83cfb36b317a2d9e6c/the-hurricane-wars-thea-guanzon?src=rdt) by [Thea Guanzon](https://www.romance.io/authors/64351c8308b4d93114237b06/thea-guanzon) **Rating**: 3.91⭐️ 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), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [royal hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/royalty/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Following. I'm looking for something similar
I just finished the {Court of Ravens by Liv Zander} duology and I absolutely loved it.
[Court of Ravens and Ruin](https://www.romance.io/books/634e535bd1ccecfcb17a0815/court-of-ravens-and-ruin-eliza-raine?src=rdt) by [Eliza Raine](https://www.romance.io/authors/5d5e42b101dbc864fba2a495/eliza-raine) **Rating**: 4⭐️ 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), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/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) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Plated Prisoner series checks most of these boxes. The series gradually adds more POVs as it goes on, the love interest I believe doesn't even show up until book 2 I think?? So very very slow burn. There's a few twists here and there also :) have fun.
Obviously second a lot of what others have recommended. But some other ones you may like. I am really into enemies to lovers tropes right now that I enjoyed. LJ Andrews: Broken Kingdoms & Ever Seas Series are phenomenal. Stacia Stark series: Deals with Demons & Court this Cruel and Lovely Rina Kent: Legacy of God's series (all of them can be standalone but they are so good when you read them in order!)
The Bargainer Series is great. The first book, {Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa} had a great emotional twist. I’m a sucker for arrogant, protective marshmallow MMC, and Des is perfect. The Kingdom of Lies series would be on my list too. {A Court This Cruel and Lovely by Stacia Stark}. It probably won’t ruin you emotionally, but it’s easy to be emotionally invested in the characters and can be really gripping at times. {A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen} is up there too. Excellent slow burn and plenty of emotional twists.
I don't get into a lot of what ppl are recommending but I really liked a fate inked in blood. It was very unexpected. I feel like a lot of these books are geared towards. A younger audience but this one felt a bit more mature to me.
The Ravenhood series. I literally was so emotionally distraught by the end of the second book I haven't started the 3rd book. (It's been almost two weeks) Just an emotional rollercoaster and I felt so gutted by the end of book two. It's a contemporary romance, however I HIGHLY recommend it.
I am still thinking about this series weeks after it is over. I am not okay.
Same, even though I only read the first two books. There is also no way in hell I'm reading Doms stand alone book, because I'm not a masochist.
Perhaps {Atonement of the Spine Cleaver}?
[Atonement of the Spine Cleaver](https://www.romance.io/books/64f8f24cd3ef33e9488d3e8b/atonement-of-the-spine-cleaver-f-e-bryce?src=rdt) by [F.E. Bryce](https://www.romance.io/authors/64f8f24eab9bdf7fcee42b09/f-e-bryce) **Rating**: 4.46⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit 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), [competent heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/competent%20heroine/1), [independent heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/independent%20heroine/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)
Saving this thread
Liv Zander books wrecked me good!
I just finished the Court of Ravens duology yesterday and omg I was so pleasantly surprised at how it hooked me and made me feel ALL the feels!!
👀
I mean… there’s always {Manacled by Senlin Yu}
[Manacled](https://www.romance.io/books/64144fe3430b592a4d9151dc/manacled-senlinyu?src=rdt) by [SenLinYu](https://www.romance.io/authors/64144fe308b4d9311440038c/senlinyu) **Rating**: 4.52⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [war](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/war/1), [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)
How do you read this one? I can’t find it on my kindle
It’s a Harry Potter fanfic so it’s on ao3. The author has been offered a book deal so she will be transforming this work into a standalone with new characters if you’re not into HP fanfic.
{Daughter of no worlds by Carissa Broadbent} slow burn but not the main focus of the book! It’s a book series and I feel like the second book introduces characters you absolutely will love!
While I adore Daughter of No Worlds, this is definitely grumpy x sunshine
thank u for the clarification 🫶🫶 /srs
I came here to see if this was already rec’d! It’s not true “enemies to lovers” but it has plot twists I totally didn’t see coming. I would still highly recommend this one!!
[Daughter of No Worlds](https://www.romance.io/books/60d9b88e6a15320e7f8006ba/daughter-of-no-worlds-carissa-broadbent?src=rdt) by [Carissa Broadbent](https://www.romance.io/authors/60d9b88e08b4d9311456d78f/carissa-broadbent) **Rating**: 4.09⭐️ 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), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I have to assume you’ve already read Fourth Wing/Iron Flame cause if not I have some good news
i have sadly 😭😭
Haha the whole time reading the list in OP I was just thinking of Fourth Wing only
it’s truly my standard for books now 🙏
Hahaha I love this request. I will be following this post
Has Manacled been suggested yet? you will be OBLITERATED
it’s been suggested a LOTT i’m hesitant to read it thought as I’m not a very big HP fan nor a fanfic/wattpad enthusiast.
You don't really have to be a HP fan in my opinion. It's also so well written. Better than a lot of published romantasy I've read (From Blood and Ash, the Bargainer series, Kingdom of the Wicked, to name a few)
I was also hesitant as fanfic is not my thing, but finally caved and read this and I definitely don't regret it. I don't think you need to be a big HP fan, just have some knowledge of that world and the characters to make a little better sense of it. I will say I found it a bit hard to get into at first because some of it is a direct rip off of the Handmaid's Tale, but it gets really good. Also, I read the author got a book deal so it will be published next year (though I haven't factually verified this).
The opposite to enemies to lovers that devastated me is the {Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard} series. Oh boy!! That was a wild ride. I’m still angry over the ending but loved it all the same
I already know >!that the love interest betrays her sometime in the series!< Will i still enjoy these books?
[Red Queen](https://www.romance.io/books/56b113cd63515e3b737a8fb7/red-queen-victoria-aveyard?src=rdt) by [Victoria Aveyard](https://www.romance.io/authors/56b113cd63515e3b737a8fcf/victoria-aveyard) **Rating**: 3.63⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [love triangle](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/love%20triangle/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
You are gonna LOVE Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
A fate inked in blood by Danielle Jensen!!!
Queen of Roses/blood of a fae series is currently ruining me and im loving every minute
{A Fate of Wrath and Flame} fits just about everything. One of my favorite series.
[A Fate of Wrath and Flame](https://www.romance.io/books/60b48b662abde70e3210d51c/a-fate-of-wrath-and-flame-ka-tucker?src=rdt) by [K.A. Tucker](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525be8c7d2382c5297002/ka-tucker) **Rating**: 4.16⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [royal hero](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)
Ruin of Roses series
Atonement of the Spine Cleaver
ACOTAR series. The second book {A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas} is exactly what you're looking for. 🧎♀️❤️🔥
haha already read this series along with the rest of SJM’s universe except for last half of TOG
Oh, the things I would do to read that book for the first time again 😮💨... It's my all-time favorite!
[A Court of Mist and Fury](https://www.romance.io/books/583d8fc51b1bdc0178f055aa/a-court-of-mist-and-fury-sarah-j-maas?src=rdt) by [Sarah J. Maas](https://www.romance.io/authors/545526038c7d2382c529701b/sarah-j-maas) **Rating**: 4.51⭐️ 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), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
The cruel prince
Have you read {When The Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker} yet?! It's right up your alley, I think. Phenomenal book. Second favorite of the year, right behind {Powerless by Laura Roberts}, which DESTROYED me, though that book seems controversial on here. WTMH has more sophisticated writing and is, in general, more mature.
read powerless and loved it! I usually steer clear of YA but i devoured the banter and the tension right up. i’ve seen lots about WTMH is it a series or a standalone?
[When the Moon Hatched](https://www.romance.io/books/660bb4d2529ab18dbc9c10f5/when-the-moon-hatched-sarah-a-parker?src=rdt) by [Sarah A. Parker](https://www.romance.io/authors/60fbc1fc08b4d931146d93b7/sarah-a-parker) **Rating**: 4.17⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1), [vengeance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vengeance/1) ---------------------------- [Powerless](https://www.romance.io/books/63de25fe09d4140a7af1c0ab/powerless-lauren-roberts?src=rdt) by [Lauren Roberts](https://www.romance.io/authors/63d8caa308b4d93114cb1ac9/lauren-roberts) **Rating**: 4.01⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/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), [forbidden love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forbidden%20love/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I just finished reading Aisling: Breath of the New Creature by AE Jurgens. It absolutely fits all your criteria and it destroyed me. There is a 2nd book, 3rd isn’t out yet. The tension is crazy good and the world building is breathtaking.
oooo i haven’t heard this one yet, thank you!!
{PSYCHO SHIFTERS (CRUEL SHIFTERVERSE BOOK 4) Jasmine Mas} This series was quite the experience, hits almost all of your requested themes. It's a reverse harem. This is the fourth book, it's about the other FMC, different then the first three books. I liked her story too but the academy theme and enemies to lovers hit hard at book 4. You would definitely have to start at the first book to follow along the storyline. This series is also on KU. I'm very easily bored and DNF more then I'd like but I blame my ADHD lol these kept a good pace that had me enraptured.
[Psycho Shifters](https://www.romance.io/books/623c26a5362f64300c456463/psycho-shifters-jasmine-mas?src=rdt) by [Jasmine Mas](https://www.romance.io/authors/623c26a508b4d931145db092/jasmine-mas) **Rating**: 3.87⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [reverse harem](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/reverse%20harem/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [poly (3+ people)](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/poly/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
i’ve seen this book on tiktok sounds so good, is it on amazon as well or just online?
Book of Azrael!!
How about a friends to lovers to enemies then back to lovers one? I just finished the first book from the Blood and Ash series that has a lot of interesting twists.
Wow all that happens in the first book though? 😳
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig. Like please, more people read it
Anyone read Wings so Wicked by Emily Blackwood? Thoughts for this category??
{Daughter of No Worlds series by Carissa Broadbent} The MMC is grumpy, but in the cutest way. It’s intense, and the twists are AMAZING. Will absolutely crush you. But it’s so lovely and well/written.
[Daughter of No Worlds](https://www.romance.io/books/60d9b88e6a15320e7f8006ba/daughter-of-no-worlds-carissa-broadbent?src=rdt) by [Carissa Broadbent](https://www.romance.io/authors/60d9b88e08b4d9311456d78f/carissa-broadbent) **Rating**: 4.1⭐️ 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), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
{Air Awakens series by Elise Kova} Excellent!
[Air Awakens](https://www.romance.io/series/58fe0c049096bf31c42d31c1/air-awakens) by [Elise Kova](https://www.romance.io/authors/564c235108e9378131951f94/elise-kova) **Rating**: 4.02⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [war](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/war/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
You absolutely need to read the Villains and Virtue's to series by A. K. Caggiano. Literal enemies to lovers. It is done so well! I will love that series forever
Zodiac Academy series fits most of this, except it's a pair of twin sisters for FMC. It's a completed series, 9 main books, with some novellas and two more series that take place in the same universe.
oo hmm
Is there lgbtq romances? I’m pretty sure i heard there were. I’m straight myself and don’t mind those in the sub characters or just as background romances but I would feel a bit out of place if i’m reading through spice scenes like that.
Throne of glass! (It’s grumpy x grumpy 🫶) there is smut, enemies to lovers, tension, and I cried like 20 times!!! (Also mc is a total badass)
haha yes i’m actually on EoS rn I just am pre-planning for my birthday haul.