by CJ Holmes
As a Brit, I'm obsessed about the weather, and winter has set in here. The nights are dark, the evenings are cold, and the mornings are frostbitten but the ice looks rather beautiful in the sunrise. It's the perfect season for snuggling up inside with at least one good book, and I'm spending my evenings curled up in front of a fire with some spectacular reads.
It's also the time of year for gifting, and with Christmas on the horizon (where did the year go??!!?? And how are my kids growing up this fast??!!??), I thought I'd focus this month's column around some fantasy romance gift recommendations that will make the dreams of fantasy and paranormal romance readers come true. You can expect captivating worlds, enthralling plots, and romance that'll sweep you off your feet and leave you more than a little breathless from all of these series - and they're a guaranteed hit with any romantasy reader. They're also a great place to start if you're dipping your toe into the water or want something to try.
I own a lot of these books and I'm a huge fan of many of these authors... so just in case my husband happens to be reading this column, you can add any of these books that are missing from my shelf to my Christmas list and I'll be exceptionally happy!
THE PLATED PRISONER series
Raven Kennedy has written a six book series that is based on the Midas legend, but told from a female point of view. Auren lives with golden flesh, a girl saved from poverty and traffickers by a king who promises her love. She shows him gratitude as he locks her in a gilded prison and reminds devoted even when he marries another and uses her as bait for other greedy kings. She steps out of her gilded cage and her path to self fulfilment and realization begins, with some very questionable men and political intrigue.
The sixth and final book in this series dropped this year and it is a series that is so well crafted it's unbelievable. There a so many little hints and clues to the plot twists that hit you later on, and yet the story catches you by surprise. I want the limited edition of this series when it comes out and GILD, GLINT, GLEAM, GLOW, GOLD, and GOLDFINCH are books that are filled with all the emotions and the development and writing are sublime.
THRONE OF GLASS series
This is undoubtedly a classic and many fantasy romance readers grew up on these books. In a land without magic, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She has no love for the vicious king who rules from his throne of glass, but she has not come to kill him. Caelaena is here to win her freedom by defeating twenty-three murderers, thieves, and warriors to win her freedom and serve as the King's Champion.
This series... It will make you cry. It will make you swoon. It will make you scream at the books and the characters in it. You'll hate the villains, pray for the safety of those you love, and hang on to the edge of your seat as the final battle draws near. This series is life blood to fantasy romance readers and the quote 'Live, Manon. Live' will make us cry every time (you can try it but I advise you to have the box of tissues ready to hand). You too, once you've got to the end of this spectacular series.
THE VAMPIRE CHRONICLES series
Okay, so if you're of a certain age you'll remember these books - or maybe the movie with Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE is the book that turned me into a paranormal romance fan, and it is seriously delicious and decadent. It's gothic horror and the erotic nature to the relationship between the almost immortal characters is what moves this into paranormal romance for me.
Lestat is the character on who many of the more recent morally grey men who delight fantasy romance readers is based - and I'll never tire of him. It's a story of sin and acceptance, of moral corruption and the agony of love. Gift this series to readers who prefer darker stories, and those who don't mind a little bit of gore.
FOLK OF THE AIR series
The Folk of the Air is a young adult fantasy book series by Holly Black and it follows the journey of a mortal girl, Jude Duarte, and the faerie prince, Cardan Greenbriar, as they navigate a world that’s filled with hate, betrayal, and contempt, along with the feelings they develop for each other. There’s a strong political edge to the world-building in this series – and you might find yourself falling in love with Jude too.
The writing is tight too, and readers will find themselves drawn in by the heart-racing romance, danger, humor, and drama that has enchanted thousands of readers. Many of the characters are wicked, all are compelling, and you’ll be sad to leave them behind. I’d also place this series well within the young adult category, so it’s a safe book to gift to younger readers who love romantasy.
NEVER AFTER series
Emily McIntire write this series of fairytale retellings, and book six HEXED was released at the beginning of November. This is perfect if you want to read The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Wizard of Oz and other well-known stories reimagined, focused around the villains. Each book is a standalone in the series, so they can be read in any order – but this is definitely dark romance as well as romantasy, and while that might appeal to some, it doesn’t strike the right notes for everyone (so be sure of your intended recipient’s preferences)
Book one is HOOKED, a dark fantasy that is based around Peter Pan. James has always had one agenda: destroy his enemy, Peter Michaels. When Peter’s twenty-year-old daughter Wendy shows up in James’s bar, he sees his way in. Seduce the girl and use her for his revenge. It’s the perfect plan until things in James’s organization begin to crumble. He wants revenge, but he wants her more.
ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART series
Once Upon a Broken Heart is a series of three books written by Stephanie Garber. They take place in the Caraval universe with a new set of characters and new settings. Evangeline Fox has always been a strong believer in true love. So, when the person she loves becomes engaged to her stepsister, she strikes a deal with the Prince Of Hearts to call off the wedding. In return for helping her, Evangeline owes him three kisses. But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that bargaining with an immortal is dangerous—and that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’d pledged. He has plans for Evangeline, plans that will either end in the greatest happily ever after or the most exquisite tragedy...
These books are enchanting, whimsical, and unputdownable, and simultaneously dark and mysterious fairy tale with a fast-paced plot and intriguing twists. There’s tension, tension and more tension, but no explicit scenes, and the small touch of murder, a few dark prophecies, and vampire or two are also safe for younger readers.
Limited and Special Editions
If you're not sure about any of these series, or want to do something a little bit different, then a limited or special edition makes a great present. This trend is huge in fantasy romance and romantasy at the moment, and there are lots of publishers are producing limited editions with some beautiful covers and sprayed edges. Honestly, I love a hardback special edition and they look very pretty on my bookshelf after I've finished reading them. Most companies sell by the book, although some bundle them together so you have to buy the series.
I'll warn you now that this can be an expensive, if rewarding and beautiful, habit. Some big names producing special editions include Illumicrate, FairyLoot, OwlCrate, Lace and Dagger, The Locked Library, and Lilac Library’s, and all these books are magnificent. Romantasy books made into special editions and sold by these companies are bestsellers - and if you're looking for a gift that continues throughout the year, most of them run a subscription where you get sent a surprise book at the specified interval. Handily, most let you choose the kind of book (so you can opt for young adult if you want to avoid spice).
So hopefully, there are a few gift ideas for readers and lovers of fantasy romance, romantasy, and paranormal romance. Now that I’ve penned my column, I’m really hoping that my husband reads it in time for the festive season, and I might just copy the webpage link and drop him a few rather unsubtle hints!!!
Dark and Devilish
The man I’m forced to marry is everything I despise. Henry’s reputation makes men tremble in fear and women quake with something else. He demands complete obedience and his deals are as sordid as his past. He gets exactly what he wants, and what he wants is me.
My father sold me to him, but I’m not an obedient type of girl.
Henry won’t get what he wants this time. Not from me. Not even when he looks at me with longing and his touch makes me burn. Not when I’m going to make him pay for everything he’s stolen from me.
He's about to discover that even he can’t buy my heart–unless the price he's willing to pay is far higher than I ever thought a man like Henry would.
_ _ _ _ _ _
This is a dark and spicy paranormal romance featuring an anti-hero, a strong heroine, and contains scenes and references of abuse/assault that some readers may find triggering, along with graphic sex scenes and violence. This is a dark book, suitable for 18+ readers only.
Paranormal - Supernatural | Romance Dark [Author Self-Published, On Sale: November 30, 2024, e-Book, ISBN: 9781917559010 / ]
CJ Holmes writes paranormal and fantasy romances with sizzlingly hot heroes and strong, sassy women. Her first two series have reached the top ten category bestseller lists on Amazon and she has recently signed a four-book deal with City Owl Press. You can expect a strong dash of dry British humor, enough action and adventure to keep you turning the pages, and spice that might be too hot to read in public.
You’ll find CJ hanging out in one of her local cafes or walking somewhere in the UK countryside, invariably inappropriately dressed for the weather. If she isn’t there, she’ll be in a bookshop adding to her TBR list and book collection, and she considers herself fortunate that her husband is also an avid reader.
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