Fae-Bulous BIPOC and/or Queer Romantasies
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Romanticism has always been a thing, but there was something about officially putting together a portmanteau that really pushed the sub-genre forward over the past few years. And I mean really go on – some of the most popular and best-selling books are romantic, and books catering to this popularity are being released left and right. which is great! Romantica has a very dedicated following online and off-site, but it sometimes feels like the genre suffers from the same thing that many other genres suffer from: a lack of diversity.
Scrolling through the latest #romance books on BookTok, you’ll find plenty of delicious enemies-to-lovers or grumpy-sunshine pairings, but if you’re hoping to find something with a different mythological basis to the magic system, or quirky love interests, things might be a little tricky, which is why task #9. Read the 2026 challenge is “Read a romantic book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character.” These diverse romances feature magical heists, magic systems inspired by Chinese and Hindu mythology, and much more.
tale of meneka By Krutika H. Rao
tale of meneka Uses Hindu mythology to reimagine a famous celestial dancer whose allure comes with a side of danger. Meneka reluctantly performs her duty as a charming nymph who seduces the king of heaven as per his wish. But maybe he might finally find his match in a certain niche. Kaushika is as charming as she is sympathetic and emotional, and despite the deal Meneka makes to woo her to Lord Indra and gain her freedom, she finds herself trapped in Kaushika’s orbit. -Erica Ezefedi
the wild job by CL Polk
Seldian is a thief who has taken a magical oath to never fall in love. Kel is a charming bard and also Seldian’s ex-girlfriend. Now, the two are forced to team up for a lucrative job to steal a gem called “The Kiss of Enduring Love”. Seems straightforward enough, and they’ll soon be able to split up again without thinking twice about this strange mission. But it turns out that their chemistry hasn’t cooled over the years, and the job isn’t as simple as they thought. There are some very powerful players interested in the Fey Gem, and it may take more than a couple’s healing to get out of this mission with their objective and their lives intact. -Rachel Brittain
All Access members Continue below for more BIPOC and/or queer romance.
tusk love By Thea Guanzon
This was written at the request of Jester LaVorre of the DnD web series Critical Role. It now follows Guinevere, the daughter of wealthy merchants, who is on her way to some important location when her camp is attacked by bandits. Her guards are killed, and her oxen are freed, and just when it seems the book will be closed on her permanently, she is rescued by a half-orc she knows by the name of Oscar. Oscar is also going somewhere important, and he doesn’t have time to keep up with the princess and her knick-knacks. Except that she’s quite beautiful, and she appears to have good intentions…even if she’s hiding a huge secret. -Erica Ezefedi
a prince among pirates By Katie Abdu
To escape an arranged marriage and the House of Lords, Kit Davenport accidentally joins the crew of the Deliverance. Captain Reggie Sharp is charismatic, handsome, and a pirate. Kit must decide where she and her heart really lie in this wild adventure romance. -Courtney Rodgers
Dominion By Jean Kwok (July 14, 2026)
Ruby Morningtail has little power, no homeland, and a bleak future as an Azure Refugee Ribbon Dancer. She then wounds a war tiger, attracting the attention of Black Exfire, leader of the royal tiger warriors and supreme metal magician. For wounding the creature, Ruby is sentenced to boning: a test where tigers select their riders and the unselected die. Despite all odds, she survives and becomes part of Blake’s team, which reopens the demon realm. Now she must discover the truth behind her magic and escape her attraction to Blake before power or love destroy her life. I can’t wait to be charmed by Kwok’s Chinese-inspired romance. -R. Nassar
bromance By Mayer Roche (May 26, 2026)
Two platonic hijinks fall in love while exploring this cozy quirky romance. Juniper O’Reilly does a great job of maintaining her beauty, her friendship, and more; It’s all left to his far more capable best friend, Moe Elmthorne. So, when Juniper accidentally sets the two of them up to kill a monster she doesn’t have the training or talent to defeat, Moe agrees to accompany her, causing the two of them to fall in love with each other along the way. But when the monster turns out to be a scared little girl, Moe and Juniper must try their best to be the kind of heroes who can save her. -R. Nassar
a vow in vengeance By Jacqueline Rodriguez
This romantic debut features everything from deadly tarot to enemies-to-lovers to dangerous allegiances. We have Rune, who has lost everything because of the immortals. This year, she is determined to get him back, so she makes sure he is chosen to participate in the journey to the immortal realm that humans have to make every year. But now she must escape the dastardly college forge of the Immortal Druids’ intricate tarot magic. The thing is, our girl Rune has a rare form of magic that makes her both a precious object and a target for take-out. The only other person who has magic like hers is Prince Draven, whom she goes to live with. But the prince is not trustworthy. And there is a price to be paid for its protection… -Erica Ezefedi
forever deadly by Brittany Johnson
This YA romance starts on an awesome note. Two very different princesses – the calm, obedient Amala, and the ferocious warrior Khadasia – both die. The first on her wedding night, and the second during the search. They both wake up in a forest where a god gives them a second chance: if they can find their true loves and kiss them, they can live again. The problem is, if they kiss the wrong person, they go back to being dead. It sends the girls on a journey to understand the reality of their lives and their deaths. And of course, they can’t help but get closer…—Erika Ezefedi
If you want even more romance, here it is a beginners guide.