Star-Crossed: 8 Fantasy Books With Forbidden Romance

There is a lot of exploration of and reflection upon what society deems “forbidden” in this book. I read it last year, and I still think about it at random moments. In Terre d’Ange, the deity Elua says “Love as thou wilt.” As such, love — all the pleasures therein, in all forms and all relationships — is considered sacred.

Phèdre nó Delaunay, a young woman born with scarlet mote in one eye, is a rarity in this world: blessed and cursed to experience pain and pleasure as one. Of all of Phèdre’s lovers and suitors, the most forbidden romance is with that of Joscelin, a Cassiline warrior-priest sworn to celibacy, and Phèdre’s sworn protector.

There is no greater forbidden romance in literature than that of Romeo and Juliet, and there have been many retellings and remixes since. These Violent Delights ranks toward the very top for me. Set in 1920s Shanghai, it follows Juliette Cai, proud heir of the Scarlet Gang, and Roma Montagov, heir to the rival White Flowers. They are each other’s first love and first betrayal.

When those from both gangs start to turn up dead — either from a contagion, madness, or monster — both must set aside their differences to try to solve the mystery together. Otherwise, there will be no city left to rule.

Of all the fantasy romance out right now, this one takes up the most rent-free space in my mind. This captures enemies-to-lovers more accurately and emotionally than much of the romantasy genre. (I said what I said.) Growing up in a nation under siege by the colonizing Night Emperor, Talasyn has known only war. With rare light magic running through her veins, Talasyn has no idea the weapon she really is.

When she meets Prince Alaric, heir to the Night Empire and wielder of shadow magic, on the battlefield, their fight is ruthless, but a stalemate. Fate continues to place Alaric and Talasyn together, and while each cannot help but fall for the other, their pasts and future intentions pull them apart. Talasyn, in particular, is well aware of the violence and death the Night Empire has caused, with Alaric at the helm. She feels for him, but cannot forgive the atrocities. Whew, what an emotional rollercoaster this is.

When I think of books that really make it hurt, this one, surprisingly, pops up. On the surface, it doesn’t seem like a forbidden romance option, but hear me out: While vampyre Misery Lark and Alpha Lowe Moreland’s marriage isn’t forbidden — as they’re literally a match formed by each other’s factions to prevent war — their growing emotions toward each other, and the alliance they form and grow, 100% feels forbidden.

Both are aware of the harm their factions have caused each other; the baggage and prejudices they both carry. Lowe is extremely careful around Misery, knowing her past and emotional trauma. Because of this, each step forward in their relationship is fraught, with events that truly wrecked me in how they wrecked each other.

There are few things more forbidden than falling for your stepson. This book takes the reigns on forbidden romance and rides it through the gauntlet. It follows Freya, blessed with a goddess’s blood, who is wed to a fanatical jarl after showing her powers in a battle of life and death. The jarl’s grown son, Bjorn, is also blessed with a god’s blood, and prophecy foretells their fate as intertwined. Loving Bjorn is not only forbidden due to her marriage, but also for the fact that the jarl holds Freya’s family hostage, with their safety entirely dependent on Freya’s support and complicity.

As Skaland stands on the precipice of all-out war, Freya must hone her powers while navigating the rising emotions between her and Bjorn.

A tale as old as time, the story surrounding Persephone and Hades surpasses even Romeo and Juliet. Is theirs a true forbidden love story?

In St. Clair’s retelling, Persephone disguises herself as a mortal journalist, hiding from the fact that though she is the Goddess of Spring, any flower shrivels at her touch. Soon, Persephone finds herself in a contract with the God of the Dead to do the one thing she can’t: create life in the underworld. As she tries to free herself, she realizes she has growing feelings for her captor.

This was listed in fellow Rioter Laura Sackton’s list of the best M/M historical fantasies, and rightly so. It’s a powerful historical fantasy that follows Aqib bgm Sadiq, fourth-cousin to the Royal Family, as he falls in love with a Daluçan soldier named Lucrio.

Defying his family and expectations, Aqib is swept into a whirlwind romance, willing to risk his position and expectations for the love of Lucrio. While only 160 pages, this is a stunning book of raw emotion, with a breathtaking love story.