Historical fantasy Puns

Heya all! I'm hoping to self-pub my novel some time later this year/early next, and I figure it's time to get a cover put together. I've collected some examples of the kinds of styles I tend to favor that will be linked at the bottom of this post, although I'm willing to look at other options as well!

The protagonists are a human and a fae, both black men (a very quick and messy reference for them should be at the bottom of the link below). Clothing style would be late 1700s/early 1800s English upper class fashion. Since this is a romance novel I'd love it if the characters were being affectionate in a PG kinda way, although the actual specifics can be discussed more once I've settled on an artist. I am favoring a semi-realistic style over the cartoon-y look I draw them in, so please keep that in mind!

Alternatively: I really dig silhouette style covers, so something featuring the silhouettes of the characters and/or a coach (since the title of the novel references a coach) would be neat! That'd be more of an "Artist's choice" type thing than the first idea, since my concepts for this one are admittedly a little vague.

I am also not afraid to say that I really dig those old fashioned painterly romance novel covers and that's honestly most of the vibe I'm angling for.

I don't have a hard deadline for this since I'm still editing the second draft of my novel, and intend on putting it through a third round of edits before I feel confident enough to publish it, so there'll be plenty of time to hash things out/do the work itself. I'm easy to please and honestly just excited to see someone else rendering these characters I've spent so much time with. If the piece is something you're happy with, that'll definitely make me happy!

Hopefully this is enough information to start with, although I'll happily answer any other questions if need be. Thanks for taking a look!

https://imgur.com/a/eHVx4ly assorted covers I happen to like the general style of + a reference for the characters

Hi! So, I want to start reading romance books. I've spent hours looking around this subreddit and checking out samples from the library, but haven't found anything to scratch the itch. I'm hoping you can help me out! Below I've listed what I like, some things I don't like, and two romance books that I tried and didn't like.

MUST: be well-written and SLOW BURN.

PREFER: historical (any period), fantasy, enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, smut is OK but not necessary. Romantic misunderstandings like in Pride & Prejudice are GREAT! :)

NO: BDSM, strong sub/dom relationships, sex-heavy, sex from the beginning (unless there is a reasonable, non-attraction explanation for it)

Female main characters: I prefer them to be independent, earthy, not super sweet, and not overly sexualized. Socially awkward FMC are fine. I dislike the dainty tiny female stereotype. (Would love to read about a tall FMC because I'm tall haha.)

Male characters: rogues yes, but I dislike overly sexual male characters. When I think of MMC I've liked in TV shows, I think of two different types. Good Guy is like Mr. Darcy the Rogue Guy is like Loki (from Marvel). I prefer MMC that are resistant to fall for the FMC for some reason, but end up falling in love anyway.

Two books I tried: Based on similar recommendation threads I read on here, I picked up "A Week to be Wicked" by Tessa Dare and "The Perfect Rake" by Anne Gracie. They were not my cup of tea, mostly because the male characters were too sexualized from the beginning. And "The Perfect Rake" had a writing style that I really disliked (almost like a young adult novel).

I have read Jane Austen and I like the slow burn in her books, but want something more fun/easy to read with some more sexual tension.

If you can recommend some books for me, THANK YOU SO MUCH!

It’s hard to explain this type but the best I can think of is Uprooted by Naomi Novik. The story is not centered around the romance and in fact there are very few romantic interactions. However romance is a clear element in the story and when things do happen the author isn’t afraid to be more explicit with the description. I guess I wouldn’t mind if there was more romance than Uprooted, but I hate books that are too smutty. I read the Winternight trilogy a long time ago so I don’t remember well but I think it’s an example of what I’m looking for as well.

Other aspects that would be great are slow burn romances. I also love male characters who are like the Dragon. Maybe not as verbally abusive, but who are kind of distant, mysterious, and initially the “enemy”.

The people of r/romancebooks have spoken and we want more discussion posts! And I’ve been thinking about this for a while now, because it’s endlessly entertaining to me for whatever reason:

Tropes that are great/appropriate in fantasy or historical (or anything not contemporary really) that would be total red flags in real life/ a contemporary romance.

For me the obvious ones are

1. Murder- I low key love it when H (or h) is a warrior or assassin and just decimates their enemies. I think it’s hilarious how I don’t even bat an eye at death in most fantasy novels but if it were in a realistic fiction novel (or real life) it would be a total “WTF he just killed that guy!”

2. More traditional gender roles- I identify as a feminist, and in real life I wouldn’t ever date anyone who expected me to conform to traditional gender roles. And I don’t want to say it would RUIN a contemporary for me, but I would really find it a big red flag if the H thought that way. HOWEVER, I read a fantasy/HR book and it doesn’t bother me at all. It’s like my inner feminist took the day off. I still appreciate it if there’s more equality in fantasy worlds, but it’s just a bonus, tbh. I will just as readily enjoy a book where women are the top warriors of a tribe as I will enjoy a book where the women need to be protected.

For example: It’s funny how quickly I can get on board with the regency mindset when reading HR, despite how many issues I would have ACTUALLY living that way.

Ah the cognitive dissonance. It really is all about context! There is very little black and white.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this has already been discussed on here before but I could not find a matching post so here we are!

What are your favorite fantasy/HR/sci-fi/etc tropes that would so not fly in today’s world?

Monkey's paw, etc. etc.....

Its my birthday pretty soon and I'm probably going to splurge a bunch of cash on some romance books. Any recommendations for me?

Looking for:

• historical or fantasy setting, open to science fiction
• male and female couple
• doesn't matter if it's a new or old book, I'll still eat it up!
• I like a super steamy book, also lots of tension
• am ok with enemies to lovers, secret love, rescue me, arranged couples, thrown together, misadventure brings them together etc
• considerate male leads, strong, protective
• outcast main character/seems odd to others

Probably more I can't think of right now but if you know something along these kind of lines please tell me! I'll be heading to the second hand book store after lockdown too as they have a nice big pile of romance books with my name on them 😉

So I'm looking for fantasy/scifi/historical romance books that meet a couple key requirements:

1. The relationship covers more than just initial infatuation through first kiss/first time sleeping together/a hasty proposal. I want to sink my teeth into all the details that come with more mature relationships and how the main characters deal with more than just petty jealousy and basic miscommunications. It doesn't have to include sex, but I do generally consider that a plus and am not at all averse to works that get very explicit.
2. Both romantic partners are interesting characters. A lot of romance titles have strong, independent, and compelling female leads, but then a male lead that has no personality beyond being an asshole to everyone, but that's ostensibly justified because the female lead magically knows that he actually cares about her and is just protective. Riiiight.
3. The romantic leads interact for a large portion of the book. I'm not interesting in characters pining away or chasing after some other absent character for the entire book and only getting together (or back together, as the case may be) at the end.
4. A more lighthearted tone. I'm not opposed to things being serious or dark, but I don't want broody, depressing, uncommunicative leads.
5. No love triangles. Maybe willing to make an exception if the book is good enough, but as a general rule, just no.
6. No urban fantasy. Just not my cup of tea, but I guess I'd be willing to make an exception in dire circumstances.

Qualifying books/series I really enjoyed and why in particular:

• Bujold's Komarr/A Civil Campaign/Captain Vorpatril's Alliance - big fan of how she handles romance here and how much time you get to spend with the involved characters simply interacting and getting to know one another
• Kingfisher's everything from the World of the White Rat - shit's hilarious, more like this please
• Draven's Radiance/Entreat Me - >!I really enjoy how she plays with expectations of your typical beauty/beast story and quickly establishes the romantic pairing as allies with a common goal rather than spending half the book being adversaries!<
• Shinn's Elemental Blessings and Twelve Houses series - love her mellow and contemplative approach to romance (excluding The Thirteenth House)
• Wilson's The Winter King - one of the few romances with angry leads that I've enjoyed, primarily because they're angry at something other than each other
• Atwater's Regency Faerie Tale

Looking for books or short story collections with some or all of the following elements:

• mmf, mfm, even reverse harem would be cool

• fantasy, paranormal or historical

• insta lust or love

• super steamy, lots of intimate scenes, or short stories that get to the action quickly (I really don’t want to wait until after 100 pages to get to the good stuff)

*some dark romance is ok but nothing extreme.

• Warrior and/or adventurer types

• bonus if it somehow has a scene specifically where one M is giving another M orders on how to please the F

I’ve done a search and so far have collected the following on my “to read” list:

Rough, Raw and Ready by Lorelei James

The Dark Orchid series

Chosen by Stacy Jones

Thank you so much!

I never truly read books before as a kid. And I really want to get started. I really enjoy stories like game of thrones and Harry Potter. And I want to start reading some stories closer to a Indian style of stories. Not Hindu mythology stories. But new fresh stories. Anyone got any suggestions?

I've searched this sub and haven't seen anyone mention books by Kathryne Kennedy before and I think that's a shame! She was the author who introduced me to romance genre and I feel like it's my duty to pay it back by getting more people to read her books. If you like historical romance with all the genre trappings; balls, aristocracy, eligible marriages, preserving your reputation, carriage rides, but want everyone to have magical powers, these are the books for you. Unlike a lot of epic and intense fantasy books, these are on the campier side. Is the writing amazing and groundbreaking? No. Do some characters have cringy cockney accents? Yes. But are there a ton of ridiculous hijinks, steamy romance, and a unique setting with solid world building? Absolutely. If any of this sounds like your cup of tea I highly highly highly recommend you check her out.

She has 2 series that are very different but fit this cross-genre mashup. The Relics of Merlin series is an alternate Victorian England where everyone has magical powers and your rank in society is decided by how strong your powers are. There are also "baronets" which is the rank given to people who shapeshift into animals and are the natural 'enemies' of the magic users. Each book focuses on a different couple and the third one in the series is an age gap where the woman is older. Also, if you are a fan of Swordheart by T. Kingfisher then run, do not walk to the fourth book Everlasting Enchantment. It's not as funny but has a very similar premise where the FMC gets an enchanted bracelet magically stuck on her with a cursed knight trapped inside it.

The other is the Elven Lords where it is also an alternate England but instead of magic stemming from Merlin, everyones magic comes from immortal Elven Kings who invaded England centuries ago and now their descendants have a touch of their power. There are, of course, Elves, but also Dragons and everyones power stems from different elements. Each book also focuses on a different couple but there is an overarching plot about the world that effects each stories characters. TW for book 3 >!The FMC is a survivor of sexual abuse.!< Great series, a little darker than the first but still very solid overall.

I love these books, they're a little older from around the 2010's and

I want to create characters based off other fantasy characters, though I fear they may be too similar. Has anyone else done this?

Hello! I've been trying to find a manhwa where a male mc gets reincarnated into a historical fantasy world like most shoujos with nobles and royalty. One I've found similar to what I'm asking is 'The Emperor Reverses Time' or if the mc is in a similar situation like 'Daughter of the Emperor' either way I'm fine with anything if it involves a male mc reincarnated into a historical fantasy world. If anyone has any recommendations or found a similar book, please write them down below !

Thanks in advance!

I’m looking for a series to read after The Once and Future King am curious whether or not the books are decent genre fiction or well written and worth the time?

I read Fantasy Romance (and some historical) of any gender combo, m/m, m/f and f/f is all enjoyable to me. I care way more about the dynamics between the characters than I do about the genders of the people involved. I tend to prefer gay/lesbian stuff for the rarity of it, but then again like m/f because it's easier to find the tropes that I love since there's just more of it.

But while I've read a bunch of steamy and explicitly sexy gay and straight stuff, I notice that the books with f/f romance I've come across are usually on the sweet and loving side. Which is perfectly fine of course, but does the other stuff also exist?

Are there books with wlw relationships that are explicitly sexy, high steam level, preferably kinky in some way, and perhaps even not very healthy or sweet but sort of "I shouldn't, but I want to"?

I've read some great m/m stuff like that, most recently The Magpie Lord by KJ Charles, but also The Captive Prince series and to some degree Seven Summer Nights by Harper Fox. I would say the only thing I know that fits what I'm looking for is Kushiel's Dart, where the f/f relationship is between MC and villain, and very explicit and kinky, but the main romance of the series is m/f.

I would much rather read Fantasy or Historical, but if you have good contemporary recs, feel free do try and convince me 🙈

For reference, some Fantasy books I've read with f/f relationships that were well done but didn't exactly scratch this itch: The Tiger's Daughter, Ashes of the Sun, Priory of the Orange Tree, The Traitor Baru Cormorant, Dreadnought

Thank you in advance!

Hey y'all. Whether it's YA or Adult Fiction I'm looking for something romance but mixed with a good bit of fantasy. Bonus points if it's quite character-driven!

The title pretty much sums it up. I'm looking for something that's a longer series focusing on either historical or urban fantasy (bonus points if it's both!)

Preferably books that are around 300 pages or more and have a few books to devour in the series. It doesn't need to focus on the same characters, but I always enjoy good world building and plot.

Some book series I've really enjoyed:

The Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat Calluvia's Royalty by Alessandra Hazard Silk and Steel by Ariana Nash Beautiful Monsters by Jex Lane Fire and Brimstone by Nikole Knight Tales From Verania by T.J. Klune

Feed my obsession and I'll be eternally in your debt.

Does anyone else notice this? When English words that are only relevant because of Earth history apart in fantasy books, that they have no business knowing about.

I have two recent examples I've come across:

Six Sacred Swords by Andrew Rowe. One of the foreign attunements is called the Legionnaire attunement. When standing near others with the same attunement, they can form a shield that gets stronger the more of them they are. But the word Legionnaire comes from the ancient Roman legions. There is no Rome in that world.

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner. At one point in the story the main character says 'the magus knew Archimedes' Principle as well as I did'. But Archimedes was a real person who existed in ancient Greece, is not just a random scientific name.

These things don't ruin a story for me, but I find them jarring, and they definitely pull my focus away.

What is everyone else's thoughts on this phenomenon?

I've been working on a fantasy setting in the Iberian Peninsula. I'm primarily working on the period after the Islamic Conquest, equivalent to sometime around the 10th to 12th century, when there's some parity between the two religions and you get interesting men like El Cid.

I have some of the mythological aspects worked out, with Alani centaurs who invaded after the fall of Rome with other Germanic peoples, and that the elves and cyclopes formed pagan holdouts in the mountains, where they practice the Black Sabbath. I also have some ideas about the goddess Mari and her odd family, and various notes about mythological creatures and trends in Spanish folklore I could find.

I'm studying the communities of Spain, and would like to do something interesting for each region. It would be a lot of help if I could discuss the matter with people familiar with the subject. For example, I was wondering what area the might make sense for a Pagan stronghold, for the giants and the like.

Would anyone be interested in discussing this subject? I can of course go into more details about the setting and its factions, if people would like to hear more.

Thank you for your interest.

I'm an 18 year old trans woman DM (so being LGBT friendly is a must) already running one weekly game, but I felt like starting another. The setting is historical with lots of mythological elements, and I would like to have players that are interested in those topics, but you don't need to know everything about history or mythology to join. That's my job as the DM.

We'll be starting at level 15, somewhere around the year 1250 BC. Heroes such as Moses, Ramses/Ozymandias, Heracles and Jason, and the youths who will later win glory in the Trojan War, are all living, and figures such as Gilgamesh, Abraham, and Perseus have already passed into legend. Your characters will also be great heroes, and they will have magic items, influence, and resources, whether in goods, a small to mid-sized kingdom, an army, farms, herds, land, or something else (but not enslaved workers because I'm not that kind of DM). You can start thinking about a few concepts and stats for your character before you learn more about the lore, but please don't have a character written before I accept you into the game and tell you some more details. This campaign will be roleplay heavy and it's very important that your character is tailored to the world. There will be some up-close interaction with the gods as the campaign progresses.

This setting bears very little resemblance to a typical DnD world. There is no currency, alignment as a mechanic does not exist, most of the world's people live nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyles, and there is only one plane of existence (the Underworld and heavens are demiplanes). What it is a bit more like is the real world in the late Bronze Age. This particular setting focuses on Europe, along with most of North Africa and West Asia. Anything farther south than Sudan or farther east than Iran is still interesting, but it's not what I've developed material for. Although it never really existed and Plato insisted it sank much earlier, Atlantis is part of this setting and is one of the great powers of the mortal world along with Hattusa and Egypt. This setting's version of Northern Europe is heavily fictionalized according to my own decisions, but still tries to be accurate to what archaeological evidence we have from the time period. Races are used to represent the ethnicities of the bronze age world for flavor, but I encourage players to use customized origins like in Tasha's to improve their characters.

Platform: Discord/DNDBeyond/Theater of the Mind. Using

As the title says, I have a fond interest in stories where either real historical figures or just fictional characters who lived during a historical period are brought into a fantasy world. Any recommendations?

Some examples of what I'm looking for would be either Into the Storm by Taylor Anderson or The Misplaced Legion by Harry Turtledove.

I really like the look of The Companions of the Dusk but I can't find an English copy of it anywhere either in print or digital, thorgal has already been recommended to me although it looks interesting I prefer something with a continuous plot

I do believe I have yet to find any other fantasy author better at what I call "melancholic hope" than Guy Gavirel Kay - by that I mean that his books fill me with feelings of melancholy and happiness in a way that no one else quite manages to replicate. I'm not sure what it is, but some combination of what he does just works for me. He's quickly become one of my favorite fantasy authors.

The Lions of Al-Rassan is set in the land called Al-Rassan, formerly called Esperana. It is ruled by the Asharites, a people who came from from desert across the straits and conquered the land many centuries ago from the Jaddites. Caught between these two groups is the other religious peoples of the area: the Kindath, the wanderers, who wherever they go will be rained on.

Sound familiar? If you've ever read up on Medieval Spain, it will. This novel is based on Moorish Spain, when the country was under the influence of Islam. This here lies one of the novels biggest strengths, and one of Kay's: the ability of his works to parallel the real world without being in your face about it, allegorical, or "based on true events". Here the Asharites are clearly the Muslims, the Jaddites are the Christians, and the Kindath are the Jews. But it's not quite as simple as a one to one translation, and no historical knowledge is required to enjoy this work. Here, Kay has found a way to write historical fiction without being constrained by the real world.

The novel focuses on a core number of protagonists: Jehane, a kindath doctor, Ammar ibn Khairan, a famous poet, Rodrigo Belmonte, a Jaddite captain, and Alvar de Pellino, a young soldier in Belmonte's company. Their stories are set against the backdrop of the struggle between the three Jaddite northern kingdoms and the crumbling, waning strength of the Asharites.

Kay's work with character is top notch. Each one of these people felt alive and breathing, with their own core hopes and struggles. Their relationships with each other kept this book going, as there is not a lot of action at all. I especially love the character of Jehane. I feel as though she's one of the most interesting female protagonists I've read recently.

There are some people who could fill the role of a traditional antagonist, but none of them are the center of any real focus. As such, this is a book without any real bad guy. It's a story about people from all three religions and "sides", and about those religions as a whole. Neither side is presented in any mor

I am currently reading Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows duology and I am looking for similar historical / historical-inspired fantasies, preferably also with a great ensemble cast and witty dialogue. Ideally, the books will not shy away from the harsh reality of what life was like during the historical era (eg Six of Crows showed the brutality of gang dynamics / sex trafficking), without being gratuitous tortureporn (👀 game of thrones).

When before Warhammer 1 was released, I always want CA to make a game with Warhammer Fantasy. I am mostly a historical TW fan, but I also was a fan of Warhammer Fantasy setting even before TW: Warhammer. I played the hell out of the Medieval 2 warhammer mod, I spent hours searching for warhammer artworks. And then TW: Warhammer was out, I was happy.

A bit disappointed with WH2, due to bad performance and less "dark" atmosphere, but happy about everything else. After a while, now I think I have enough of warhammer, and want CA to make Medieval 3 or Empire 2, or a new game set in the Renaissance or Warhammer 40K or something. Then 3 kingdoms was out, I was still happy because I like the story. Don't really care for the Saga titles.

But then I found out there is a war between Historical and Fantasy fans. The reason is: CA is (or should be) focusing too much (or more) on one genre, and neglecting the other!

Oh folks!

Even if the bias is true, then it is CA's action. The games and the fans has nothing to do with it! There are historical fans like me that like warhammer, but we think it's time for historical games to come back too. Why fantasy fans have to hate historical games and their fans for that, and vice versa?

Moreover, this war will NOT affect CA's attitude in anyway. It's useless, it creates hostile and hate.

It should stop, NOW.

*edit: The title should be "is", not "if"

• Blurb:
  • Kit was left behind without answers—the sole survivor of a high society Boston cult. But when eleven pacts brought her, reeking of cigarettes, grease, and aether, to the precipice of demanding those answers, it wasn't worth it. Instead, betrayal and sabotage. So, what in Abraham's hell to do with eleven pacts now? Be rid of them.
  • Intended to be a standalone novel somewhere in the 100k area. Unsure how to change the "Novelette" flair.
  • Edit: May of interest to anyone who studies or enjoys Spiritualism and the Fox Sisters.
• Content Warning:
  • Violence, language, alcohol/drugs
• Preferred Feedback & Timeline:
  • General readability & style
  • Plot setup
    • e.g. I'm following! | Some things are hazy. | Something something demons and cigarettes?
  • World building/setting learning curve:
    • e.g. Feeling oriented already.| I'm often lost, but keeping up. | Um, what?
  • Did you stop reading? If so, where and why?
• Critique swap availability:
  • Currently available to give style, readability, setting, etc critiques for short stories and unfinished longer works. Less available for line edits, but may be in the future. Open to building critique relationships with like-minded writers.
• Google Docs link to Nu11

Thank so much for taking the time--any and all feedback is welcome.

Hey everyone, so I love a lot of Choice of Games's books that take place in a historical setting. "Tally Ho!" and "Jolly Good!" are two of my favourites, but I also loved "Hollywood Visionary" and "The Road To Canterbury." But I really love games that take a historical setting (with real countries, historical figures, ideas and so on) and add some fantasy. Some examples: "The Magician's Workshop," "Ironheart," or "A Midsummer Night's Choice" (which I guess is more literary than historical, but that's fine). I'm also a huge fan of White Wolf games in general, so I love what CoG has done with franchises like "Vampire: The Masquerade" and "Werewolf: The Apocalypse."

Can any of you recommend some good CoG games which fit into these genres? Thanks!!

What do you prefer for historical fantasy, worlds set on Earth with magic, or fantasy earths with different names (even if they are slim name changes like Albion or Gallia)?

What do you think the benefits of both are?

Personally I prefer the fantasy earth since it lets me play with history and timelines more, even if I struggle to name things.

Looking for a fantasy where the hero finds a large amount of money or treasure and uses it to gain power.

Lots of fantasy books nowadays are set in the modern world and current(ish) time, but I'm a real fan of the books set in an early world (I'm not very good at explaining things 😅). Some examples of this are Eragon and Belgariad. I am obsessed with that sub-genre, and am looking for some books that fall into that category (preferably with romance too 👀). Any ideas?

(P.S. If anyone anyone has any idea what to call this sub-genre, I would really like to know for future reference)

Hey, I'm Matthew. I'd like to DM some Dominion Rules. You do not need to have read the rulebook before play, though skimming over it might help. I'd like to DM a game this coming week, sometime between monday-thursday, but another time might work too. If you'd be interested in playing, send me a message with a quick introduction, your timezone, and on which days you are able to play.

Many thanks

I had about 100 hours in Warhammer 1 and now have over 250 hours in Warhammer 2. I have adored them and historical total wars look really fun, I just don't know where to start. Can anybody point me to a good first historical total war?

As for tradition, I always like to have at least one new and good book to read over the summer. As a big fan of the fantasy genre, I ironically am not a big fan of magic. I despise books that write off every plot hole or explains everything with “magic”. Instead, I enjoy fantasy books that are set in a different world, maybe they have different cultures, languages, and even species, but have a very similar structure and are more realistic. I also like when the book goes deep into the history of that world, the lineage of kings and queens in that world, and the complicated relationship between duchies, kings, and emperors. Are there any Fantasy books that you know of that kind of fits what I am looking for?

I'm looking for historical fiction with a hint of fantasy which doesn't focus solely on the fantasy element.

I'm thinking, something similar to Oulander that goes deep into social history and shows how people lived in the past etc.

I basically have a craving for pre-20th century social history but in fiction form.

So I'm looking for fantasy/scifi/historical romance books that meet a couple key requirements:

1. The relationship covers more than just initial infatuation through first kiss/first time sleeping together/a hasty proposal. I want to sink my teeth into all the details that come with more mature relationships and how the main characters deal with more than just petty jealousy and basic miscommunications. It doesn't have to include sex, but I do generally consider that a plus and am not at all averse to works that get very explicit.
2. Both romantic partners are interesting characters. A lot of romance titles have strong, independent, and compelling female leads, but then a male lead that has no personality beyond being an asshole to everyone, but that's ostensibly justified because the female lead magically knows that he actually cares about her and is just protective. Riiiight.
3. The romantic leads interact for a large portion of the book. I'm not interesting in characters pining away or chasing after some other absent character for the entire book and only getting together (or back together, as the case may be) at the end.
4. A more lighthearted tone. I'm not opposed to things being serious or dark, but I don't want broody, depressing, uncommunicative leads.
5. No love triangles. Maybe willing to make an exception if the book is good enough, but as a general rule, just no.
6. No urban fantasy. Just not my cup of tea, but I guess I'd be willing to make an exception in dire circumstances.

Qualifying books/series I really enjoyed and why in particular:

• Bujold's Komarr/A Civil Campaign/Captain Vorpatril's Alliance - big fan of how she handles romance here and how much time you get to spend with the involved characters simply interacting and getting to know one another
• Kingfisher's everything from the World of the White Rat - shit's hilarious, more like this please
• Draven's Radiance/Entreat Me - >!I really enjoy how she plays with expectations of your typical beauty/beast story and quickly establishes the romantic pairing as allies with a common goal rather than spending half the book being adversaries!<
• Shinn's Elemental Blessings and Twelve Houses series - love her mellow and contemplative approach to romance (excluding The Thirteenth House)
• Wilson's The Winter King - one of the few romances with angry leads that I've enjoyed, primarily because they're angry at something other than each other
• Atwater's Regency Faerie Tale

So I'm looking for fantasy/scifi/historical romance books that meet a couple key requirements:

1. The relationship covers more than just initial infatuation through first kiss/first time sleeping together/a hasty proposal. I want to sink my teeth into all the details that come with more mature relationships and how the main characters deal with more than just petty jealousy and basic miscommunications. It doesn't have to include sex, but I do generally consider that a plus and am not at all averse to works that get very explicit.
2. Both romantic partners are interesting characters. A lot of romance titles have strong, independent, and compelling female leads, but then a male lead that has no personality beyond being an asshole to everyone, but that's ostensibly justified because the female lead magically knows that he actually cares about her and is just protective. Riiiight.
3. The romantic leads interact for a large portion of the book. I'm not interesting in characters pining away or chasing after some other absent character for the entire book and only getting together (or back together, as the case may be) at the end.
4. A more lighthearted tone. I'm not opposed to things being serious or dark, but I don't want broody, depressing, uncommunicative leads.
5. No love triangles. Maybe willing to make an exception if the book is good enough, but as a general rule, just no.
6. No urban fantasy. Just not my cup of tea, but I guess I'd be willing to make an exception in dire circumstances.

Qualifying books/series I really enjoyed and why in particular:

• Bujold's Komarr/A Civil Campaign/Captain Vorpatril's Alliance - big fan of how she handles romance here and how much time you get to spend with the involved characters simply interacting and getting to know one another
• Kingfisher's everything from the World of the White Rat - shit's hilarious, more like this please
• Draven's Radiance/Entreat Me - >!I really enjoy how she plays with expectations of your typical beauty/beast story and quickly establishes the romantic pairing as allies with a common goal rather than spending half the book being adversaries!<
• Shinn's Elemental Blessings and Twelve Houses series - love her mellow and contemplative approach to romance (excluding The Thirteenth House)
• Wilson's The Winter King - one of the few romances with angry leads that I've enjoyed, primarily because they're angry at something other than each other
• Atwater's Regency Faerie Tale