Cassandra James ’23 Recommends Romantasy Novels

The Wrath and the Dawn

By Renée Ahdieh

In this retelling of One Thousand and One Arabian Nights, a teenage Shahrzad agrees to marry the murderous Caliph of Khorasan, infamous for killing a new bride each night, in order to avenge the death of her dearest friend. She manages to keep herself alive by telling the Caliph a new, intriguing story each night, but in the process, she begins to fall for the Caliph himself. Secrets, magical curses, and lush writing abound in this gorgeous tribute to a classic tale.

Together We Burn

By Isabel Ibañez

Think Spanish bullfighting — but with dragons instead! Set in the fictional world of Hispalia, this story follows Zarela Zalvidar, who must save her family’s struggling dragon-fighting arena by working with disgruntled dragon hunter Arturo Díaz de Montserrat. This book has everything you could want in a YA romantasy: immersive prose, action, plot twists, and, of course, swoon-worthy romance.

An Ember in the Ashes

By Sabaa Tahir

Tahir draws from ancient Rome to craft a rich fantasy world packed with intrigue, magic, and jaw-dropping betrayals. When main character Laia’s brother is taken captive by a rebel group, she strikes a deal with them to infiltrate the empire’s military academy as a spy in exchange for his freedom. To accomplish her mission, she must team up with top soldier-in-training Elias, a young man with secrets and motivations of his own.