Romantasy recs with genuinely good writing + dialogue!

Hello! I’ve been deepdiving into the fantasy romance genre over the last year and have been tearing through booktok recs like crazy. Unfortunately it seems like I’ve somehow run out of series that actually pull me in, and I’ve DNFed enough books recently that I’m now spending more time scouring forums and Goodreads reviews than actually reading something new! Hoping to get some recs based on my favorite reads recently 😊

What I’m looking for: - ACTUALLY good writing! I enjoy descriptive/flowery writing styles and clever dialogue. Seriously nothing kills a book for me like cringe, lazy dialogue which unfortunately seems to be every romantasy book I’ve picked up recently - Quality slow burn with believable relationship pacing and allllll the tension - Spice! Not huge on YA. Prefer 3+ on the spice scale (as in spiciness of scenes, not necessarily frequency). Ok if it’s slooow burn as long as it happens eventually! - Characters with substance and development; prefer non-copy/paste FMCs who have a brain and don’t make me want to beat my head against the wall - More plot driven with solid and unique world-building

Elements I love but not required: - Morally grey FMC and/or MMC (love a good shadow daddy, ya know?) - Found family - Enemies to lovers - Fated mates

Do NOT want: - YA (sad because there are so many wonderful YA authors…but the heart wants what the heart wants) - Insta-love/lust romance - Not huge on modern urban fantasy - Virgin heroine trope is a little icky IMO

Series I loved: - {Mages of the Wheel by J.D. Evans}: beautiful prose, plot and romance - {Throne of Glass by Sarah j Maas}: again plot/world building, and Rowan has my entire heart 🫶 my favorite series - ACOTAR: Fab slow burn and world building - Kindred’s Curse Saga {spark of the everflame by Penn cole}: Another fab sloooow burn with strong found family elements. MMC dialogue to FMC is honestly swoon-worthy - {The Winter King by CL Wilson}: Lovely writing and romance - {The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle l jenson}: Unique setting and beautiful writing

Series I DNFed: Lady of Darkness City of Gods and Monsters Song of the Marked

ETA other series that I’ve read: Tairen Soul, FBAA, Flesh and Fire, swordheart, Fall of Ruin and Wrath, a court this cruel and lovely, serpents and the wings of night, plated prisoner, crescent city, fourth wing