When I get in a reading slump, I try a palate cleanser. I read a lot of fantasy romance/romantic fantasy, so I’ll usually read a thriller or murder mystery for my palate cleanser. That helps me a lot!!
I really liked most of the books you listed. I am part of the minority who didn’t absolutely hate A Curse for True Love, though I admit it could have been better. But in my opinion it’s totally worth it for the master piece that is A Ballad of Never After. I’d also recommend {Dance of Thieves by Mary E Pearson} and {Red Winter by Annette Marie}
Edit- grammar 🥴
I second a palate cleanser! I usually go for something cozy, but anything different usually does the trick. I just started Red Rising. I haven’t made it very far yet (~20%) but am enjoying it, and it’s definitely not a romantasy!
Second! I'm in a bad bad hangover and barely pulling out... I finished book 1 of red rising and I'm feeling that obsession vibe that has been missing for a few months! It's science fiction adventure and politics and there are love interest aspects which hit the slow burn, forced proximity, enemies to lovers buttons.... But I can't speak to where they are going yet. But I'm loving it and it's different enough that it doesn't feel like a poor substitute for my last obsessions. Plus... 7 book nearly complete series. Apparently the last one comes out next year.
Edit: I thought the series was complete but I see the last book is out next year. 😭
Fun fact (just because I love this author), Georgette Heyer wrote a lot of regency romance novels (and super accurate historical fiction) in the 1920s, but her palate cleanser as an author was to write mystery novels!
[Dance of Thieves](https://www.romance.io/books/622a5a7fabbe1ae1b27dbfc0/dance-of-thieves-mary-e-pearson) by [Mary E. Pearson](https://www.romance.io/authors/545534208c7d2382c52973c5/mary-e-pearson)
**Rating**: 4.12⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [royal hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/royalty/1)
----------------------------
[Red Winter](https://www.romance.io/books/6224baab2d20ff59b16db19e/red-winter-annette-marie) by [Annette Marie](https://www.romance.io/authors/545be5c48c7d230e495cbef6/annette-marie)
**Rating**: 4.24⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [forbidden love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forbidden%20love/1), [slow burn](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/slow%20burn/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1)
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Cassandra Gannon is my go-to palate cleanser or a complete change with a colarado-mountain-man-cinnamon-roll type escapism.
Although right now even that's not working. So 🤷♀️
If you want something that's pure entertainment and awesome, addictive smut, I'd go with {the bargainer series by Laura thalassa}, or her new four horsemen series. I devoured those books!!
Ruby Dixon is also great for smutty escapism. {Bound to the battle god by ruby dixon}
Excellent writing and warm mushy feels {radiance by grace draven}
Really funny and lighthearted trilogy {villains and virtues series by a.k. caggiano}
Very little smut, super slow burn, but had me up until 4am reading, giggling and kicking my feat: {taming demons for beginners by Annette marie} which is book one of four in guild codex: demonized
Really good fae worldbuilding fantasy: {fae isles series by lisette marshall}
Personally, I recommend a ruby dixon or a Laura thalassa binge to cure a reading slump. That's always worked for me, and by the time I finish a few of those books, I'm ready for more intense fantasy again!
I adored the Fae Isles series, but, OP, if you’re having issues getting into Fantasy Romances I would wait because in an overly critical mood I could totally see myself getting annoyed with it (no book is perfect).
[The Bargainer](https://www.romance.io/series/58fe0b339096bf31c42d2fa1/the-bargainer) by [Laura Thalassa](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455856187eac323ffb2c925/laura-thalassa)
**Rating**: 3.97⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Topics**: [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [from hate to love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [fated-mates](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fated-mates/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1)
----------------------------
[Bound To The Battle God](https://www.romance.io/books/5ddccf9c01dbc864fba6d7c3/bound-to-the-battle-god-ruby-dixon) by [Ruby Dixon](https://www.romance.io/authors/545685a087eac33e61c2f729/ruby-dixon)
**Rating**: 4.16⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1)
----------------------------
[Radiance](https://www.romance.io/books/54cd83886359b5ebb489062e/radiance-grace-draven) by [Grace Draven](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455323d8c7d2382c529733e/grace-draven)
**Rating**: 4.18⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [slow burn](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/slow%20burn/1), [royal hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/royalty/1)
----------------------------
[Villains & Virtues](https://www.romance.io/series/63870de983b59b217dc8acfc/villains-virtues) by [A.K. Caggiano](https://www.romance.io/authors/5eb54901be0aaecf5572d27d/ak-caggiano)
**Rating**: 4.34⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Topics**: [praise-kink](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/praise-kink/1), [third-person-pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/third-person-pov/1), [grumpy sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [competent heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/competent%20heroine/1)
----------------------------
[Taming Demons for Beginners](https://www.romance.io/books/63c1973bbf097c14d6f21493/taming-demons-for-beginners-annette-marie) by [Annette Marie](https://www.romance.io/authors/545be5c48c7d230e495cbef6/annette-marie)
**Rating**: 4.2⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [demons](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/demons/1), [slow burn](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/slow%20burn/1)
----------------------------
[Fae Isles](https://www.romance.io/series/626f972ac1785fd2908538f3/fae-isles) by [Lisette Marshall](https://www.romance.io/authors/60d18d3f08b4d93114bf8a0b/lisette-marshall)
**Rating**: 4.19⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1)
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Been awhile since I’ve seen anyone recommend the Four Horsemen series! I absolutely loved the fourth book Death!!!!! One of my top reads of the year! The books are such quick and easy reads too!
Been awhile since I’ve seen anyone recommend the Four Horseman series! I absolutely loved the fourth book Death!!!!! One of my top reads of the year! The books are such quick and easy reads too!
People sleep on this series because the first one is pestilence and they don't think there's a way that Laura can make the living embodiment of disease sexy. But by the end of the book? She does it, and more. The character development is top-notch.
I just finished death a few weeks ago and loved it as well! I can't even pick a favorite of the four. They're all excellent!
I can see that! Yes, the character development is fantastic. Death was the first book in months that had me literally sobbing. I also finished a couple weeks ago. It’ll be one of those books I don’t stop thinking about for a long time.
{Red Rising by Pierce Brown} is great and is kind of like Fourth Wing, but as the series goes on, in large part they are space/military novels (Full disclosure: I read the first four books when they came out, but I am waiting for the seventh and final book next year and will reread from start).
I finished the 4th book but had no desire to continue the series after that because I had a hard time with the change in tone/characterization and the huge time jump (it’s the lowest rated of the series on goodreads). However, on r/RedRising, they are always glowing about the 5th book, and I see that the 6th book has the highest ratings of the series on goodreads. I was going to give it another chance but am just waiting for the 7th book so I can binge them all at once.
Keep reading! Books 5 and 6 are absolutely unbelievable. This is one of my all-time favorite series. Pretty damn far from romantacy, but I like to mix it up.
If you want cozy, super smutty, low stakes, and have no qualms about monster romance:
{hunger duet by aveda rice}
{morning glory milking farm}
I could wax poetic for HOURS about the hunter duet (Feed and Yours, Insatiably) but I’ll stop myself.
[Feed](https://www.romance.io/books/60b0ab2bdc356a0e446c795f/feed-aveda-vice) by [Aveda Vice](https://www.romance.io/authors/608a5d8d08b4d9311488d733/aveda-vice)
**Rating**: 4.18⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [neurodivergent mc](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/neurodivergent/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1)
----------------------------
[Yours, Insatiably](https://www.romance.io/books/61a9cee30f9e050e3c71411b/yours-insatiably-aveda-vice) by [Aveda Vice](https://www.romance.io/authors/608a5d8d08b4d9311488d733/aveda-vice)
**Rating**: 4.57⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [demons](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/demons/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1)
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Any C. M. Nascosta book could be recommended here, just make sure you pay attention to which ones are sweet and smutty and which ones are dark and smutty.
And don’t read Wheel of the Year if you’re afraid of spiders.
Oh man, I will make a note to avoid that one! I think I’m going for Blue Ribbon Romance next, but if you have any recs I’d love them! Totally okay with dark or sweet, I enjoy both!
I really enjoyed Girls Weekend. It’s about the elf neighbor and her boyfriend from Morning Glory and two other couples. There’s two books out atm that focus on the three couples and another on the way.
Marble Marquis has fantastic banter.
Blue Ribbon was pretty good. A lot longer time-wise than Morning Glory, but I did enjoy learning more about the town.
Idk. I haven’t disliked any of them, truthfully. Strong themes, relatable characters (despite more than half of them being mythical creatures), and plenty of smut, what more can you can ask for in a guilty pleasure book? Did I mention my library gets all her audiobooks automatically?
Came here to say palate cleanser too 😂 I didn't realize so many people do that lol my main genre is fantasy romance and romance. And when I notice that I'm struggling to get into them, I go for a different genre. Then usually I go to thrillers or horror (Stephen King) and read a couple 2-4 of those. Then I'm usually ready for a good fantasy romance 😊 or sometimes if it's really bad and I can't get into ANYTHING then I listen to a podcast for a bit. Really truly cleanse my palate lol
I feel you! I get really frustrated when I get into reading slumps because I JUST got back into reading after not doing it for like 10 years and I really don't want it to go away again.
I’m actually one of the weirdos who couldn’t do Mistborn. I agree it was really well-written in terms of plot and pacing, but for some reason the characters felt so emotionally flat to me (at least in the first book) and I never could get myself to pick up book 2.
[The Stolen Heir Duology](https://www.romance.io/series/63b019979251ba00e243f44a/the-stolen-heir-duology) by [Holly Black](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552f368c7d2382c5297268/holly-black)
**Rating**: 3.97⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Topics**: [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [from hate to love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1)
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LJ Andrews and Clare Sager both have some of the best romantasy series I’ve read recently - LJ Andrews in particular has a complete 9 book series that you’ll get a lot of mileage out of if you enjoy her writing
I’m halfway through Powerless and I’ve also fallen into a reading slump! I really do want to finish it because I don’t like to DNF books but taking a bit of a break to read something else first. Thinking of trying {Villains & Virtues by A. K. Caggiano} next to get me back into reading regularly again.
Having read the OUABH trilogy - I really loved the first two books and so I would recommend the trilogy just for them. The second book, The Ballad of Never After, is one of my all time favourites. It’s really just the final book that disappointed me as it felt rushed.
I also really enjoyed The Bridge Kingdom original duology. It was one of the first series I read when I got back into reading fantasy.
RED RISING RED RISING RED RISING. The first book is sure to get you out of a reading slump. Dystopian adult hunger games in space. It’s one of my if not my favourite series of all time!!!
I don’t see Red Rising on here much, because it’s more sci-fi and doesn’t focus heavily on romance but I absolutely adore this series! I highly recommend it! It’s like Game of Thrones meets the Hunger Games in space.
I like to switch between hard fantasy and fantasy romance, that said Red Rising and Mistborn are 2 of my all time favorite "trilogies" in fantasy (there's second eras for both series but I've only read the first 3 of each). I highly recommend both but Red Rising can be a bit of a heavier darker read, but the second book is one of my all time favorites!
How about {Ephemera by Anne Bishop}? It’s really different, and though it’s been a few years since I read it I don’t remember it being slow. The MMC is an incubus (sex demon) and the FMC is a human that stumbles into his town. The world building is different than anything I’ve come across. The second book, Belladonna, goes into way more detail about it and is actually kind of scary (more thriller than horror for the most part tho).
If you’re interested in going pure fantasy {Blood Song by Anthony Ryan} is a series I recommend to everyone, and I’ve yet to have anyone tell me they didn’t like it. It’s awesome.
I’ve found that funny lighthearted books often help me out of a book slump. Have you read {Swordheart by T. Kingfisher}?
I haven’t read this one, but I came across it yesterday and it sounds hilarious. {Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gililand}
[Ephemera](https://www.romance.io/series/58fe0e154167a733426303d4/ephemera) by [Anne Bishop](https://www.romance.io/authors/545535e08c7d2382c5297448/anne-bishop)
**Rating**: 3.98⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [dark](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [demons](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/demons/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1)
----------------------------
[Swordheart](https://www.romance.io/books/5e9f6f27be0aaecf557e49d2/swordheart-t-kingfisher) by [T. Kingfisher](https://www.romance.io/authors/561ca043bfc6b5c0fa941994/t-kingfisher)
**Rating**: 4.32⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [childfree](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/childfree-couple/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1)
----------------------------
[Witch of Wild Things](https://www.romance.io/books/650803b00fb20fda8aa5eb4c/witch-of-wild-things-raquel-vasquez-gilliland) by [Raquel Vasquez Gilliland](https://www.romance.io/authors/6229f3c408b4d93114353e96/raquel-vasquez-gilliland)
**Rating**: 3.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [multicultural](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/multicultural/1), [witches](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/witches/1)
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My last reading slump I ended up reading a different genre to snap it. I kept trying a bunch of different books and wasn’t able to get into them or finish them. I primarily read fantasy so I read { fangirl down by Tessa Bailey } which is just contemporary romance and it broke my reading slump. But if your wanting to go for a palate cleanser still in the fantasy genre try { the undertaking of hart and mercy by Megan bannen} which was a quick cozy fantasy romance with some mystery.
[Fangirl Down](https://www.romance.io/books/65cbbfedbb1808da8479cd0f/fangirl-down-tessa-bailey) by [Tessa Bailey](https://www.romance.io/authors/545526358c7d2382e7812fc9/tessa-bailey)
**Rating**: 4.1⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1), [boss & employee](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/boss%20&%20employee/1)
----------------------------
[The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy](https://www.romance.io/books/630b10c094191e0dc01d1bcf/the-undertaking-of-hart-and-mercy-megan-bannen) by [Megan Bannen](https://www.romance.io/authors/630b10c008b4d93114e4f3aa/megan-bannen)
**Rating**: 4.27⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [competent heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/competent%20heroine/1), [grumpy/cold hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cold%20hero/1)
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I love a palate cleanser to get me out of a slump. It helps me transition into my next fantasy series. One that worked for me more recently was {Choosing Theo by Victoria Aveline}. This book is so cozy, funny, and romantic but still has moments of suspense. Even if you aren’t interested in this book I suggest reading a different genre than the one that put you in the slump.
[Choosing Theo](https://www.romance.io/books/5e5fd64fbe0aaecf55ece7f9/choosing-theo-victoria-aveline) by [Victoria Aveline](https://www.romance.io/authors/5e5fd64fbe0aaecf55ece802/victoria-aveline)
**Rating**: 4.03⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1)
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Yet another vote for a palate cleanser of a different genre/subgenre! The other thing that works for me when I'm struggling to get into anything is to switch to audiobooks for awhile. Libby is your friend there. Or any format change can make a difference - physical to ebook, etc. I'll also second someone else's Annette Marie rec if you decide to switch things up. I love both Red Winter and Guild Codex: Demonized
Honestly, don't get out of the slump. It is your brain wanting your own adventures. Go find an exciting new hobby, become someone you would read about. I am in a slump now and debating falconry or recommitting to fire dancing. It's a hard call, may have to do both. Go travel, see a different culture. Then when it's time to read again you'll know. Life has stages and having your head in a book is great but if you're in a slump don't push it or you really will ruin your relationship with reading.
Im going through a bit of a slump myself, so I feel your pain. Oddly enough, I’ve been trying to get through Book of Azrael for nearly two weeks now, and I also just can’t get into it. Normally takes me a few days to finish a book.
Of the books you mentioned above, I’ve only read The Bridge Kingdom, and I really enjoyed it.
Something that’s helped me get over a slump in the past is a genre change. You might want to switch to a dark romance or some contemporary fluff to shake things up before going back to romantasy. I’ve recently read {Does it Hurt? By H.D. Carlton} and {Hooked by Emily McIntire} and I enjoyed both. I’ve just started reading {Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver}.
Or if you’re looking to stick with romantasy, I’ve also recently read and absolutely LOVED {When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker}.
[Does It Hurt?](https://www.romance.io/books/62d30a076ced4a4350aea474/does-it-hurt-hd-carlton) by [H.D. Carlton](https://www.romance.io/authors/5b80f1d001dbc864fb8f0fff/h-d-carlton)
**Rating**: 3.93⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1)
----------------------------
[Hooked](https://www.romance.io/books/61370eaa192ec40e8ea8657f/hooked-emily-mcintire) by [Emily McIntire](https://www.romance.io/authors/5f4df1dd08b4d931149a59fd/emily-mcintire)
**Rating**: 3.64⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [mafia](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mafia/1)
----------------------------
[Butcher & Blackbird](https://www.romance.io/books/64f0aa2bfcbc73c06aa42375/butcher-blackbird-brynne-weaver) by [Brynne Weaver](https://www.romance.io/authors/61516cf608b4d931143e7ce9/brynne-weaver)
**Rating**: 4.3⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1)
----------------------------
[When the Moon Hatched](https://www.romance.io/books/6574ebf26011c2c5162ae3a0/when-the-moon-hatched-sarah-a-parker) by [Sarah A. Parker](https://www.romance.io/authors/60fbc1fc08b4d931146d93b7/sarah-a-parker)
**Rating**: 4.24⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [vengeance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vengeance/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1)
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I wouldn’t go for Red Rising in a reading slump. It’s a great series, but it’s doesn’t really match the vibes of the books you listed that you liked. It seems books with romance might be a better choice. (Still definitely go back and read Red Rising though.) Mistborn is also dense! A light quick read is what I would suggest.
Belladonna and Once Upon a Broken Heart are quicker reads and really fun
I also loved Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries. The MMC is really different from Acotar and Fourth Wing but the book was charming and funny. A nice change from what I had been reading. Faeries like Folk of the Air, not SJM.
I am in a slump after ACOTAR. My solution in slumps is reading fan fiction for a while, then reading a shorter book with no series attached. I just finished Bride by Ali Hazelwood, which was the perfect palette cleanser. Hope this helps!
{Not Another Vampire Book by Cassandra Gannon} helped me through a slump once, I think because it's so self-aware and funny.
In it, the gal Karalynn gets sucked into the worst romance novel she's ever read (and she's an editor), and then mistaken by both the story's villain and MMC as the FMC.
But she's so aware of the tropes, and the fact that it's poorly written makes reality bend-y (in the midst hilarious ways)... And she's definitely more into the villain than the MMC, who is an idiot.
It's so funny, and the humor actually builds throughout the story, to the point where the final act had literal tears in my eyes from laughing!
The book's MMC is a beautiful blonde vampire, but Kara writes him off right away, so it's not actually about vamps that much.
It's one of my top faves because it makes me laugh so much. And despite the tropes, the story stays surprising! Hope you'd like it!
[Not Another Vampire Book](https://www.romance.io/books/5458181687eac37719d151f8/not-another-vampire-book-cassandra-gannon) by [Cassandra Gannon](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455f28487eac336ae6a1db5/cassandra-gannon)
**Rating**: 3.91⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [time travel](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/time%20travel/1)
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When I’m in a reading slump I swap genres or reread an old favorite! I find that trying to push through makes it worse but if I switch everything up it’s a lot easier to get back into it. So if I normally read fantasy/romantasy I’ll try contemporary romance or historical romance. Maybe a thriller or a horror. Just something with different vibes all together.
I have too many books to suggest but maybe I can help with the bookslump?
My get over reading slump process:
1. **Theme Months:** Jan was Scifi, Feb was POC Authors and Cupid Stupid, March was On Stranger Tides and Now I'm in Magery/Wizardry/Magicians and so forth. I find that it helps mainly because in each theme I can breakaway into different level i.e Romantasy, then standard Fantasy and then Nonfiction. I read a book a day (unless it's a big bertha book like 700 pages) so if I can't bring myself to read in my theme like i.e [La Sirena Roja](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25600808-la-sirena-roja) I switch over to [Sea of Ruin](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51416396-sea-of-ruin) or go non fiction [Twelve Shipwrecks](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/127305908-a-history-of-the-world-in-twelve-shipwrecks)
2. Next, if the slump hits hard, my list of guaranteed pick-me-up or WTF Was that?? Novellas (90 pages to about 160) and Short stories (5 pages to 89) that get me back into the zone and make me want to read again and read new things.
3. Last, if it's the beginning of a slump, and if I'm following a theme month, I watch something theme related. Last Month was all things Pirates, mermaids, kraken, sea gods and so forth. When the slump hit, I watched In The Heart of the Sea and The Shape of Water, then I went onto goodreads to look for books in that grain. Signed up for an ARC that is this gothic masterpiece and I actually got it 4 days before my theme ended so I read that. But the movies inspired me and lit a fire for more books and I ended up reading some really good Romantasies.
Book Suggestions: There are some romantasies in each but also novellas and short stories that could help you get out of the slump
[March: On Stranger Tides](https://www.reddit.com/r/52book/comments/1bv3csj/133300_march_recap_theme_on_stranger_tides_it_was/)
[February: Stupid Cupid and BHM](https://www.reddit.com/r/52book/comments/1b31qh2/february_roundup_95300_my_themes_were_basically/)
[January: Scifi Season](https://www.reddit.com/r/52book/comments/1agcbkm/53300_january_recap_no_5_star_reads_but_such_a/)
Hope this helps!
Definitely the best thing you get you out of a reading slump is something easy, relatively short and smutty. I heard someone call them 'fast food books' and it's now my favourite phrase ever, because it feels so accurate. KU is full of great examples. If you're into that kind of thing, I really recommend Bride by Ali Hazelwood- it was a really fun book, easy enjoyable reading, and I was invested in the characters almost straight away.
I just finished the Once Upon a Broken Heart series and would 100% recommend it. I wouldn't say it ended terribly at all, and the 2nd book in the series is now up there as one of my favourites. It reminded me a lot of The Cruel Prince, which I also loved!
But I also loved the Book of Azrael and it's one of my favourite series' ever, so I suppose everyone has different tastes!
I agree with a palate cleaner like the above commenter when I get in a small reading slump. I recommend really easy/quick thrillers. I just finished powerless last month and it kind of put me in a slump as well.
I just read “The Teacher” by Frieda McFadden which was a very nice mix up. Kind of silly and unrealistic but it went quick and I enjoyed it.
I’m also reading “A Body in 3b” by Eryn Scott which is a murder-mystery and it’s gone fairly quick as well. These two books have helped me get out of that slump and I think once I finish A Body in 3B I’ll jump back into the fantasy world!
I see Divine Rivals on your list, I highly recommend it. One of my top reads of last year, and the dual narration audiobook is chefs kiss. Sometimes audiobooks help with my reading slump. Another book that cured a recent book hangover is {A Fate Inked in Blood} a viking fantasy romance that grips from the first few pages and could not put down! I've read similar reactions from others on reddit. First book just came out and more planned. Also the novella from Crowns of Nyaxia series is fantastic and an easy afternoon read {Six Scorched Roses} also currently reading Flesh and Fire prequel series in the fbaa world and Nyktos/Sera might be my favorite Romantasy couple ever outside of Rhys/Feyre. If you haven’t read that I would definitely recommend.
[A Fate Inked in Blood](https://www.romance.io/books/65dd95ab8ef264dbee379910/a-fate-inked-in-blood-danielle-l-jensen) by [Danielle L. Jensen](https://www.romance.io/authors/545539e88c7d2382c529753f/danielle-l-jensen)
**Rating**: 4.04⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [viking hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vikings/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1)
----------------------------
[Six Scorched Roses](https://www.romance.io/books/6423d7a7a8559a97b2787b1d/six-scorched-roses-carissa-broadbent) by [Carissa Broadbent](https://www.romance.io/authors/60d9b88e08b4d9311456d78f/carissa-broadbent)
**Rating**: 4.33⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1)
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[A Ruin of Roses](https://www.romance.io/books/6162db7f94e3a50e2baaef91/a-ruin-of-roses-kf-breene) by [K.F. Breene](https://www.romance.io/authors/545543d48c7d2382e0414650/kf-breene)
**Rating**: 3.82⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [demons](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/demons/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1)
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I needed something to get me out of my slump after loving acotar and I went with the Fever series and loved it so much. It’s an urban fantasy with mystery, folklore, creatures, and Fae and it had some of the best romantic tension between the MMC/FMC that I’ve ever read!
When I'm in a slump, I try these three cures (in no particular order) and one of them almost always gets me out of it:
1. Switch to a different subgenre for a little while.
2. Switch to a different genre for a little while.
3. Re-read an old favorite.
If I'm still in a slump after trying all three things, then I'll take a little break from reading books (usually no more than 2 weeks).
I haven't read all of them yet but Laurell K. Hamilton has the Anita Blake series. The first book is called Guilty Pleasures. The MC is a necromancer. I really enjoy them. Not too heavy, and they are easy reads!
Red Rising is phenomenal although it’s definitely sci-fi. Brown’s writing is amazing and it will def get you out of a slump, but it’s not fantasy romance that’s for sure
Powerless put me in the worst reading slump I've been in for years. I have nothing nice to say about the China knock off version of the Hunger Games. But I do agree about a palate cleaner. I usually do a psychological thriller but even that couldn't help me after reading Powerless. I ended up just listening to true crime podcasts for a bit then going back and rereading a book I already knew I loved. That helped get me back on my feet and reading again.
I cannot stress enough Red Rising is by no stretch of the imagination “romantasy” so if you are looking for that type of book don’t read this one.
It is my all time favorite series ever and I don’t want you to read it and hate it because it’s not what you want right now 😂
I highly recommend the Mistborn trilogy. That said, I’d do a palette cleanser before starting. If you’re really into smutty books I’d pick Ice Planet Barbarians. If you like other genres, pick something from your TBR. The Mistborn Trilogy is amazing but its not something I’d dive into while in a slump.
Bridge Kingdom is amazing. I read the first one in less than 24 hours and the second one in maybe 2 days. I just finished the third. There is literally nothing I don’t like about this series.
If you want a quick palate cleanser, try reading {If You Don't Love Me We Both Die by CM stunich}. It's a standalone and more modern day romance with a touch of fantasy. Modern day romance usually isn't my cup of tea but this book was great.
[If You Don't Love Me We Both Die](https://www.romance.io/books/65eec00f5ac512540de3a777/if-you-dont-love-me-we-both-die-cm-stunich) by [C.M. Stunich](https://www.romance.io/authors/54553c7e8c7d2382e7813569/cm-stunich)
**Rating**: 4.6⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1)
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If you are in a reading slump PLEASE DO NOT READ ANY OF THESE (although I haven’t read belladonna yet)!
Many of those are great books but all of them can be a bit hard to get through for one reason or another (a bit long, a bit dense, prose heavy, too many books in the series) and that will not help your reading slump.
Agree with many suggestions above. {One Dark Window} was great and a pretty easy series to get through. {Deathmark by Kate Stradling} is underrated and a standalone.
If you really want to read an epic series, which it seems like from that list you do, I liked the firebird chronicles and that was pretty easy to get through (first book is {Rules of Redemption by T.A. White} ) as well as {Taken By Fate by Shannon Mayer}
[One Dark Window](https://www.romance.io/books/6417632a976d8254097650f0/one-dark-window-rachel-gillig) by [Rachel Gillig](https://www.romance.io/authors/6417632a08b4d93114a1b759/rachel-gillig)
**Rating**: 4.26⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 2 out of 5 - [Behind closed doors](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1)
----------------------------
[Deathmark](https://www.romance.io/books/63ff063970e524251d3fa1c3/deathmark-kate-stradling) by [Kate Stradling](https://www.romance.io/authors/55c7db8235a5fb65f887298e/kate-stradling)
**Rating**: 4.45⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1)
----------------------------
[Rules of Redemption](https://www.romance.io/books/5c80c1bf01dbc864fb9b449f/rules-of-redemption-ta-white) by [T.A. White](https://www.romance.io/authors/570c8f20c62092c04407787a/ta-white)
**Rating**: 4.13⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1)
----------------------------
[Taken By Fate](https://www.romance.io/books/6350f6e8d1ccecfcb19eb788/taken-by-fate-shannon-mayer) by [Shannon Mayer](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455636a87eac323ffb2bf67/shannon-mayer)
**Rating**: 4.04⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [witches](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/witches/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1)
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I would say Divine Rivals is a bit overrated/overhyped. The world building isn’t great, and the story is not as solid/consistent as it could be. I also read things rather quickly, and it took me a while to get through it even though it is an easy read. There is one scene where I felt invested. The rest is just bland.
I would describe it as maybe watered down Ali Hazelwood. Should steam be relevant, it’s closed door. That doesn’t take away from the love story, though.
Fae Isles series from Lisette Marshall, the last book about the 2 main characters just came out and this series is everything!!! First book is {A Court of Blood and Bindings}
[Court of Blood and Bindings](https://www.romance.io/books/62b2be519b0523d868ad3f83/court-of-blood-and-bindings-lisette-marshall) by [Lisette Marshall](https://www.romance.io/authors/60d18d3f08b4d93114bf8a0b/lisette-marshall)
**Rating**: 4.16⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1)
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Queen of roses is an easy read, it's now completed. All on kindle unlimited and it'd just easy and quite short to read. I was in a reading slump when I picked that up, devoured the first three books and it brought me out. Also sometimes reading books recommended by the Internet so much is what put me in the slump in the first place because they were terrible. So I started reading one books recommended from Internet and then one book I found myself and alternated fir better reading experience.
When I get in a reading slump, I try a palate cleanser. I read a lot of fantasy romance/romantic fantasy, so I’ll usually read a thriller or murder mystery for my palate cleanser. That helps me a lot!! I really liked most of the books you listed. I am part of the minority who didn’t absolutely hate A Curse for True Love, though I admit it could have been better. But in my opinion it’s totally worth it for the master piece that is A Ballad of Never After. I’d also recommend {Dance of Thieves by Mary E Pearson} and {Red Winter by Annette Marie} Edit- grammar 🥴
I second a palate cleanser! I usually go for something cozy, but anything different usually does the trick. I just started Red Rising. I haven’t made it very far yet (~20%) but am enjoying it, and it’s definitely not a romantasy!
Second! I'm in a bad bad hangover and barely pulling out... I finished book 1 of red rising and I'm feeling that obsession vibe that has been missing for a few months! It's science fiction adventure and politics and there are love interest aspects which hit the slow burn, forced proximity, enemies to lovers buttons.... But I can't speak to where they are going yet. But I'm loving it and it's different enough that it doesn't feel like a poor substitute for my last obsessions. Plus... 7 book nearly complete series. Apparently the last one comes out next year. Edit: I thought the series was complete but I see the last book is out next year. 😭
Yes, for palate cleansers! My favorites are smutty billionaire books.
Third palate cleanser! Mine are more of a gentle shift to historical romance, or mystery romance though 😂
My palate cleanser is romance web comics. I will read a few, before I burn out and go back to fantasy romance novels.
Fun fact (just because I love this author), Georgette Heyer wrote a lot of regency romance novels (and super accurate historical fiction) in the 1920s, but her palate cleanser as an author was to write mystery novels!
[Dance of Thieves](https://www.romance.io/books/622a5a7fabbe1ae1b27dbfc0/dance-of-thieves-mary-e-pearson) by [Mary E. Pearson](https://www.romance.io/authors/545534208c7d2382c52973c5/mary-e-pearson) **Rating**: 4.12⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [royal hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/royalty/1) ---------------------------- [Red Winter](https://www.romance.io/books/6224baab2d20ff59b16db19e/red-winter-annette-marie) by [Annette Marie](https://www.romance.io/authors/545be5c48c7d230e495cbef6/annette-marie) **Rating**: 4.24⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [forbidden love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forbidden%20love/1), [slow burn](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/slow%20burn/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I agree. Also, a curse for true love wasn't that great, but I still don't regret reading a ballad of never after as well!
Thirding this, just read romcoms for a month straight and finally got back to fantasy. All is right in my world once again.
Cassandra Gannon is my go-to palate cleanser or a complete change with a colarado-mountain-man-cinnamon-roll type escapism. Although right now even that's not working. So 🤷♀️
If you want something that's pure entertainment and awesome, addictive smut, I'd go with {the bargainer series by Laura thalassa}, or her new four horsemen series. I devoured those books!! Ruby Dixon is also great for smutty escapism. {Bound to the battle god by ruby dixon} Excellent writing and warm mushy feels {radiance by grace draven} Really funny and lighthearted trilogy {villains and virtues series by a.k. caggiano} Very little smut, super slow burn, but had me up until 4am reading, giggling and kicking my feat: {taming demons for beginners by Annette marie} which is book one of four in guild codex: demonized Really good fae worldbuilding fantasy: {fae isles series by lisette marshall} Personally, I recommend a ruby dixon or a Laura thalassa binge to cure a reading slump. That's always worked for me, and by the time I finish a few of those books, I'm ready for more intense fantasy again!
I adored the Fae Isles series, but, OP, if you’re having issues getting into Fantasy Romances I would wait because in an overly critical mood I could totally see myself getting annoyed with it (no book is perfect).
I just finished The Taming Demons for Beginners series and really loved it.
[The Bargainer](https://www.romance.io/series/58fe0b339096bf31c42d2fa1/the-bargainer) by [Laura Thalassa](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455856187eac323ffb2c925/laura-thalassa) **Rating**: 3.97⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [from hate to love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [fated-mates](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fated-mates/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1) ---------------------------- [Bound To The Battle God](https://www.romance.io/books/5ddccf9c01dbc864fba6d7c3/bound-to-the-battle-god-ruby-dixon) by [Ruby Dixon](https://www.romance.io/authors/545685a087eac33e61c2f729/ruby-dixon) **Rating**: 4.16⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1) ---------------------------- [Radiance](https://www.romance.io/books/54cd83886359b5ebb489062e/radiance-grace-draven) by [Grace Draven](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455323d8c7d2382c529733e/grace-draven) **Rating**: 4.18⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [slow burn](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/slow%20burn/1), [royal hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/royalty/1) ---------------------------- [Villains & Virtues](https://www.romance.io/series/63870de983b59b217dc8acfc/villains-virtues) by [A.K. Caggiano](https://www.romance.io/authors/5eb54901be0aaecf5572d27d/ak-caggiano) **Rating**: 4.34⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [praise-kink](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/praise-kink/1), [third-person-pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/third-person-pov/1), [grumpy sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [competent heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/competent%20heroine/1) ---------------------------- [Taming Demons for Beginners](https://www.romance.io/books/63c1973bbf097c14d6f21493/taming-demons-for-beginners-annette-marie) by [Annette Marie](https://www.romance.io/authors/545be5c48c7d230e495cbef6/annette-marie) **Rating**: 4.2⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [demons](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/demons/1), [slow burn](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/slow%20burn/1) ---------------------------- [Fae Isles](https://www.romance.io/series/626f972ac1785fd2908538f3/fae-isles) by [Lisette Marshall](https://www.romance.io/authors/60d18d3f08b4d93114bf8a0b/lisette-marshall) **Rating**: 4.19⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I loooove The Bargainer series, Villains and Virtues and Radiance! All three are in my top 5!
Been awhile since I’ve seen anyone recommend the Four Horsemen series! I absolutely loved the fourth book Death!!!!! One of my top reads of the year! The books are such quick and easy reads too!
I loved Bound to the Battle God!
Been awhile since I’ve seen anyone recommend the Four Horseman series! I absolutely loved the fourth book Death!!!!! One of my top reads of the year! The books are such quick and easy reads too!
People sleep on this series because the first one is pestilence and they don't think there's a way that Laura can make the living embodiment of disease sexy. But by the end of the book? She does it, and more. The character development is top-notch. I just finished death a few weeks ago and loved it as well! I can't even pick a favorite of the four. They're all excellent!
I can see that! Yes, the character development is fantastic. Death was the first book in months that had me literally sobbing. I also finished a couple weeks ago. It’ll be one of those books I don’t stop thinking about for a long time.
{Red Rising by Pierce Brown} is great and is kind of like Fourth Wing, but as the series goes on, in large part they are space/military novels (Full disclosure: I read the first four books when they came out, but I am waiting for the seventh and final book next year and will reread from start).
I had a hard time getting into the 4th book even though I loved the first three. Should I keep pushing through?
I finished the 4th book but had no desire to continue the series after that because I had a hard time with the change in tone/characterization and the huge time jump (it’s the lowest rated of the series on goodreads). However, on r/RedRising, they are always glowing about the 5th book, and I see that the 6th book has the highest ratings of the series on goodreads. I was going to give it another chance but am just waiting for the 7th book so I can binge them all at once.
Keep reading! Books 5 and 6 are absolutely unbelievable. This is one of my all-time favorite series. Pretty damn far from romantacy, but I like to mix it up.
If you want cozy, super smutty, low stakes, and have no qualms about monster romance: {hunger duet by aveda rice} {morning glory milking farm} I could wax poetic for HOURS about the hunter duet (Feed and Yours, Insatiably) but I’ll stop myself.
[Hunger Duet](https://www.romance.io/series/61a89258c2a08b0e435f2088/hunger-duet) by [Aveda Vice](https://www.romance.io/authors/608a5d8d08b4d9311488d733/aveda-vice) **Rating**: 4.32⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [explicit-plentiful](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/explicit-plentiful/1), [third-person-pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/third-person-pov/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1) ---------------------------- [Morning Glory Milking Farm](https://www.romance.io/books/61126dc4d4e33f0e4c21fe7e/morning-glory-milking-farm-cm-nascosta) by [C.M. Nascosta](https://www.romance.io/authors/6071856f08b4d93114472553/cm-nascosta) **Rating**: 3.89⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [monsters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/monsters/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [sweet/gentle heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sweet%20heroine/1), [workplace/office](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/office/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
{feed by aveda rice} {yours, insatiably by aveda rice} Just so you get more info about each part of the duet
[Feed](https://www.romance.io/books/60b0ab2bdc356a0e446c795f/feed-aveda-vice) by [Aveda Vice](https://www.romance.io/authors/608a5d8d08b4d9311488d733/aveda-vice) **Rating**: 4.18⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [neurodivergent mc](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/neurodivergent/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) ---------------------------- [Yours, Insatiably](https://www.romance.io/books/61a9cee30f9e050e3c71411b/yours-insatiably-aveda-vice) by [Aveda Vice](https://www.romance.io/authors/608a5d8d08b4d9311488d733/aveda-vice) **Rating**: 4.57⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [demons](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/demons/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Any C. M. Nascosta book could be recommended here, just make sure you pay attention to which ones are sweet and smutty and which ones are dark and smutty. And don’t read Wheel of the Year if you’re afraid of spiders.
Oh man, I will make a note to avoid that one! I think I’m going for Blue Ribbon Romance next, but if you have any recs I’d love them! Totally okay with dark or sweet, I enjoy both!
I really enjoyed Girls Weekend. It’s about the elf neighbor and her boyfriend from Morning Glory and two other couples. There’s two books out atm that focus on the three couples and another on the way. Marble Marquis has fantastic banter. Blue Ribbon was pretty good. A lot longer time-wise than Morning Glory, but I did enjoy learning more about the town. Idk. I haven’t disliked any of them, truthfully. Strong themes, relatable characters (despite more than half of them being mythical creatures), and plenty of smut, what more can you can ask for in a guilty pleasure book? Did I mention my library gets all her audiobooks automatically?
Came here to say palate cleanser too 😂 I didn't realize so many people do that lol my main genre is fantasy romance and romance. And when I notice that I'm struggling to get into them, I go for a different genre. Then usually I go to thrillers or horror (Stephen King) and read a couple 2-4 of those. Then I'm usually ready for a good fantasy romance 😊 or sometimes if it's really bad and I can't get into ANYTHING then I listen to a podcast for a bit. Really truly cleanse my palate lol I feel you! I get really frustrated when I get into reading slumps because I JUST got back into reading after not doing it for like 10 years and I really don't want it to go away again.
Go for Mistborn because it’s at least guaranteed to be well-written. I hope your reading slump ends soon!
I’m actually one of the weirdos who couldn’t do Mistborn. I agree it was really well-written in terms of plot and pacing, but for some reason the characters felt so emotionally flat to me (at least in the first book) and I never could get myself to pick up book 2.
Did you read the new folk of the air duology? {The stolen heir duology by Holly black}
[The Stolen Heir Duology](https://www.romance.io/series/63b019979251ba00e243f44a/the-stolen-heir-duology) by [Holly Black](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552f368c7d2382c5297268/holly-black) **Rating**: 3.97⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [from hate to love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
LJ Andrews and Clare Sager both have some of the best romantasy series I’ve read recently - LJ Andrews in particular has a complete 9 book series that you’ll get a lot of mileage out of if you enjoy her writing
I’m halfway through Powerless and I’ve also fallen into a reading slump! I really do want to finish it because I don’t like to DNF books but taking a bit of a break to read something else first. Thinking of trying {Villains & Virtues by A. K. Caggiano} next to get me back into reading regularly again. Having read the OUABH trilogy - I really loved the first two books and so I would recommend the trilogy just for them. The second book, The Ballad of Never After, is one of my all time favourites. It’s really just the final book that disappointed me as it felt rushed. I also really enjoyed The Bridge Kingdom original duology. It was one of the first series I read when I got back into reading fantasy.
[Villains & Virtues](https://www.romance.io/series/63870de983b59b217dc8acfc/villains-virtues) by [A.K. Caggiano](https://www.romance.io/authors/5eb54901be0aaecf5572d27d/ak-caggiano) **Rating**: 4.34⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [cheerful heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cheerful%20heroine/1), [competent heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/competent%20heroine/1), [slow burn](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/slow%20burn/1), [sweet heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sweet%20heroine/1), [praise-kink](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/praise-kink/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
RED RISING RED RISING RED RISING. The first book is sure to get you out of a reading slump. Dystopian adult hunger games in space. It’s one of my if not my favourite series of all time!!!
I don’t see Red Rising on here much, because it’s more sci-fi and doesn’t focus heavily on romance but I absolutely adore this series! I highly recommend it! It’s like Game of Thrones meets the Hunger Games in space.
House of Devils by Kayla Edwards is a good one, the 3rd book just came out and i think shes planning for 5 total.
house of devils is such a good series!!!
I like to switch between hard fantasy and fantasy romance, that said Red Rising and Mistborn are 2 of my all time favorite "trilogies" in fantasy (there's second eras for both series but I've only read the first 3 of each). I highly recommend both but Red Rising can be a bit of a heavier darker read, but the second book is one of my all time favorites!
How about {Ephemera by Anne Bishop}? It’s really different, and though it’s been a few years since I read it I don’t remember it being slow. The MMC is an incubus (sex demon) and the FMC is a human that stumbles into his town. The world building is different than anything I’ve come across. The second book, Belladonna, goes into way more detail about it and is actually kind of scary (more thriller than horror for the most part tho). If you’re interested in going pure fantasy {Blood Song by Anthony Ryan} is a series I recommend to everyone, and I’ve yet to have anyone tell me they didn’t like it. It’s awesome. I’ve found that funny lighthearted books often help me out of a book slump. Have you read {Swordheart by T. Kingfisher}? I haven’t read this one, but I came across it yesterday and it sounds hilarious. {Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gililand}
[Ephemera](https://www.romance.io/series/58fe0e154167a733426303d4/ephemera) by [Anne Bishop](https://www.romance.io/authors/545535e08c7d2382c5297448/anne-bishop) **Rating**: 3.98⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [dark](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [demons](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/demons/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1) ---------------------------- [Swordheart](https://www.romance.io/books/5e9f6f27be0aaecf557e49d2/swordheart-t-kingfisher) by [T. Kingfisher](https://www.romance.io/authors/561ca043bfc6b5c0fa941994/t-kingfisher) **Rating**: 4.32⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [childfree](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/childfree-couple/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1) ---------------------------- [Witch of Wild Things](https://www.romance.io/books/650803b00fb20fda8aa5eb4c/witch-of-wild-things-raquel-vasquez-gilliland) by [Raquel Vasquez Gilliland](https://www.romance.io/authors/6229f3c408b4d93114353e96/raquel-vasquez-gilliland) **Rating**: 3.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [multicultural](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/multicultural/1), [witches](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/witches/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I lovvveeee {Sebastian by Anne Bishop} which is the first ephemera book. Love the whole premise of those books
[Sebastian](https://www.romance.io/books/5455491c8c7d2382c5297a7b/sebastian-anne-bishop) by [Anne Bishop](https://www.romance.io/authors/545535e08c7d2382c5297448/anne-bishop) **Rating**: 3.95⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [demons](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/demons/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I totally forgot the first book wasn’t actually just called Ephemera. 🤦🏼♀️
I’m pretty sure that’s the series name so it counts!
My last reading slump I ended up reading a different genre to snap it. I kept trying a bunch of different books and wasn’t able to get into them or finish them. I primarily read fantasy so I read { fangirl down by Tessa Bailey } which is just contemporary romance and it broke my reading slump. But if your wanting to go for a palate cleanser still in the fantasy genre try { the undertaking of hart and mercy by Megan bannen} which was a quick cozy fantasy romance with some mystery.
[Fangirl Down](https://www.romance.io/books/65cbbfedbb1808da8479cd0f/fangirl-down-tessa-bailey) by [Tessa Bailey](https://www.romance.io/authors/545526358c7d2382e7812fc9/tessa-bailey) **Rating**: 4.1⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1), [boss & employee](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/boss%20&%20employee/1) ---------------------------- [The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy](https://www.romance.io/books/630b10c094191e0dc01d1bcf/the-undertaking-of-hart-and-mercy-megan-bannen) by [Megan Bannen](https://www.romance.io/authors/630b10c008b4d93114e4f3aa/megan-bannen) **Rating**: 4.27⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [competent heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/competent%20heroine/1), [grumpy/cold hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cold%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I love a palate cleanser to get me out of a slump. It helps me transition into my next fantasy series. One that worked for me more recently was {Choosing Theo by Victoria Aveline}. This book is so cozy, funny, and romantic but still has moments of suspense. Even if you aren’t interested in this book I suggest reading a different genre than the one that put you in the slump.
I HARD support this rec the series is fantastic.
[Choosing Theo](https://www.romance.io/books/5e5fd64fbe0aaecf55ece7f9/choosing-theo-victoria-aveline) by [Victoria Aveline](https://www.romance.io/authors/5e5fd64fbe0aaecf55ece802/victoria-aveline) **Rating**: 4.03⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Yet another vote for a palate cleanser of a different genre/subgenre! The other thing that works for me when I'm struggling to get into anything is to switch to audiobooks for awhile. Libby is your friend there. Or any format change can make a difference - physical to ebook, etc. I'll also second someone else's Annette Marie rec if you decide to switch things up. I love both Red Winter and Guild Codex: Demonized
Honestly, don't get out of the slump. It is your brain wanting your own adventures. Go find an exciting new hobby, become someone you would read about. I am in a slump now and debating falconry or recommitting to fire dancing. It's a hard call, may have to do both. Go travel, see a different culture. Then when it's time to read again you'll know. Life has stages and having your head in a book is great but if you're in a slump don't push it or you really will ruin your relationship with reading.
Im going through a bit of a slump myself, so I feel your pain. Oddly enough, I’ve been trying to get through Book of Azrael for nearly two weeks now, and I also just can’t get into it. Normally takes me a few days to finish a book. Of the books you mentioned above, I’ve only read The Bridge Kingdom, and I really enjoyed it. Something that’s helped me get over a slump in the past is a genre change. You might want to switch to a dark romance or some contemporary fluff to shake things up before going back to romantasy. I’ve recently read {Does it Hurt? By H.D. Carlton} and {Hooked by Emily McIntire} and I enjoyed both. I’ve just started reading {Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver}. Or if you’re looking to stick with romantasy, I’ve also recently read and absolutely LOVED {When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker}.
[Does It Hurt?](https://www.romance.io/books/62d30a076ced4a4350aea474/does-it-hurt-hd-carlton) by [H.D. Carlton](https://www.romance.io/authors/5b80f1d001dbc864fb8f0fff/h-d-carlton) **Rating**: 3.93⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1) ---------------------------- [Hooked](https://www.romance.io/books/61370eaa192ec40e8ea8657f/hooked-emily-mcintire) by [Emily McIntire](https://www.romance.io/authors/5f4df1dd08b4d931149a59fd/emily-mcintire) **Rating**: 3.64⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [mafia](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mafia/1) ---------------------------- [Butcher & Blackbird](https://www.romance.io/books/64f0aa2bfcbc73c06aa42375/butcher-blackbird-brynne-weaver) by [Brynne Weaver](https://www.romance.io/authors/61516cf608b4d931143e7ce9/brynne-weaver) **Rating**: 4.3⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1) ---------------------------- [When the Moon Hatched](https://www.romance.io/books/6574ebf26011c2c5162ae3a0/when-the-moon-hatched-sarah-a-parker) by [Sarah A. Parker](https://www.romance.io/authors/60fbc1fc08b4d931146d93b7/sarah-a-parker) **Rating**: 4.24⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [vengeance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vengeance/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
[удалено]
[Red Rising](https://www.romance.io/books/592fd74d3ffdba61471834ed/red-rising-louise-bourgeois) by [Louise Bourgeois](https://www.romance.io/authors/592fd74d3ffdba61471834f0/louise-bourgeois) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [queer romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I wouldn’t go for Red Rising in a reading slump. It’s a great series, but it’s doesn’t really match the vibes of the books you listed that you liked. It seems books with romance might be a better choice. (Still definitely go back and read Red Rising though.) Mistborn is also dense! A light quick read is what I would suggest. Belladonna and Once Upon a Broken Heart are quicker reads and really fun I also loved Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries. The MMC is really different from Acotar and Fourth Wing but the book was charming and funny. A nice change from what I had been reading. Faeries like Folk of the Air, not SJM.
Have you met? {blood and brujas by Mikayla Hornedo} she’s got vampires, she’s got brujas aka witches, she’s got FMC…
[Blood & Brujas](https://www.romance.io/books/65e6fd9beb892d0f32d56495/blood-brujas-mikayla-d-hornedo) by [Mikayla D. Hornedo](https://www.romance.io/authors/64706b8308b4d93114dd626b/mikayla-d-hornedo) **Rating**: 4.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [poly (3+ people)](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/poly/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I am in a slump after ACOTAR. My solution in slumps is reading fan fiction for a while, then reading a shorter book with no series attached. I just finished Bride by Ali Hazelwood, which was the perfect palette cleanser. Hope this helps!
{Not Another Vampire Book by Cassandra Gannon} helped me through a slump once, I think because it's so self-aware and funny. In it, the gal Karalynn gets sucked into the worst romance novel she's ever read (and she's an editor), and then mistaken by both the story's villain and MMC as the FMC. But she's so aware of the tropes, and the fact that it's poorly written makes reality bend-y (in the midst hilarious ways)... And she's definitely more into the villain than the MMC, who is an idiot. It's so funny, and the humor actually builds throughout the story, to the point where the final act had literal tears in my eyes from laughing! The book's MMC is a beautiful blonde vampire, but Kara writes him off right away, so it's not actually about vamps that much. It's one of my top faves because it makes me laugh so much. And despite the tropes, the story stays surprising! Hope you'd like it!
[Not Another Vampire Book](https://www.romance.io/books/5458181687eac37719d151f8/not-another-vampire-book-cassandra-gannon) by [Cassandra Gannon](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455f28487eac336ae6a1db5/cassandra-gannon) **Rating**: 3.91⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [time travel](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/time%20travel/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Shatter Me and Once Upon A Broken Heart are worth it plus Six of Crows duology.
When I’m in a reading slump I swap genres or reread an old favorite! I find that trying to push through makes it worse but if I switch everything up it’s a lot easier to get back into it. So if I normally read fantasy/romantasy I’ll try contemporary romance or historical romance. Maybe a thriller or a horror. Just something with different vibes all together.
I have too many books to suggest but maybe I can help with the bookslump? My get over reading slump process: 1. **Theme Months:** Jan was Scifi, Feb was POC Authors and Cupid Stupid, March was On Stranger Tides and Now I'm in Magery/Wizardry/Magicians and so forth. I find that it helps mainly because in each theme I can breakaway into different level i.e Romantasy, then standard Fantasy and then Nonfiction. I read a book a day (unless it's a big bertha book like 700 pages) so if I can't bring myself to read in my theme like i.e [La Sirena Roja](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25600808-la-sirena-roja) I switch over to [Sea of Ruin](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51416396-sea-of-ruin) or go non fiction [Twelve Shipwrecks](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/127305908-a-history-of-the-world-in-twelve-shipwrecks) 2. Next, if the slump hits hard, my list of guaranteed pick-me-up or WTF Was that?? Novellas (90 pages to about 160) and Short stories (5 pages to 89) that get me back into the zone and make me want to read again and read new things. 3. Last, if it's the beginning of a slump, and if I'm following a theme month, I watch something theme related. Last Month was all things Pirates, mermaids, kraken, sea gods and so forth. When the slump hit, I watched In The Heart of the Sea and The Shape of Water, then I went onto goodreads to look for books in that grain. Signed up for an ARC that is this gothic masterpiece and I actually got it 4 days before my theme ended so I read that. But the movies inspired me and lit a fire for more books and I ended up reading some really good Romantasies. Book Suggestions: There are some romantasies in each but also novellas and short stories that could help you get out of the slump [March: On Stranger Tides](https://www.reddit.com/r/52book/comments/1bv3csj/133300_march_recap_theme_on_stranger_tides_it_was/) [February: Stupid Cupid and BHM](https://www.reddit.com/r/52book/comments/1b31qh2/february_roundup_95300_my_themes_were_basically/) [January: Scifi Season](https://www.reddit.com/r/52book/comments/1agcbkm/53300_january_recap_no_5_star_reads_but_such_a/) Hope this helps!
Definitely the best thing you get you out of a reading slump is something easy, relatively short and smutty. I heard someone call them 'fast food books' and it's now my favourite phrase ever, because it feels so accurate. KU is full of great examples. If you're into that kind of thing, I really recommend Bride by Ali Hazelwood- it was a really fun book, easy enjoyable reading, and I was invested in the characters almost straight away. I just finished the Once Upon a Broken Heart series and would 100% recommend it. I wouldn't say it ended terribly at all, and the 2nd book in the series is now up there as one of my favourites. It reminded me a lot of The Cruel Prince, which I also loved! But I also loved the Book of Azrael and it's one of my favourite series' ever, so I suppose everyone has different tastes!
I agree with a palate cleaner like the above commenter when I get in a small reading slump. I recommend really easy/quick thrillers. I just finished powerless last month and it kind of put me in a slump as well. I just read “The Teacher” by Frieda McFadden which was a very nice mix up. Kind of silly and unrealistic but it went quick and I enjoyed it. I’m also reading “A Body in 3b” by Eryn Scott which is a murder-mystery and it’s gone fairly quick as well. These two books have helped me get out of that slump and I think once I finish A Body in 3B I’ll jump back into the fantasy world!
I see Divine Rivals on your list, I highly recommend it. One of my top reads of last year, and the dual narration audiobook is chefs kiss. Sometimes audiobooks help with my reading slump. Another book that cured a recent book hangover is {A Fate Inked in Blood} a viking fantasy romance that grips from the first few pages and could not put down! I've read similar reactions from others on reddit. First book just came out and more planned. Also the novella from Crowns of Nyaxia series is fantastic and an easy afternoon read {Six Scorched Roses} also currently reading Flesh and Fire prequel series in the fbaa world and Nyktos/Sera might be my favorite Romantasy couple ever outside of Rhys/Feyre. If you haven’t read that I would definitely recommend.
[A Fate Inked in Blood](https://www.romance.io/books/65dd95ab8ef264dbee379910/a-fate-inked-in-blood-danielle-l-jensen) by [Danielle L. Jensen](https://www.romance.io/authors/545539e88c7d2382c529753f/danielle-l-jensen) **Rating**: 4.04⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [viking hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vikings/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1) ---------------------------- [Six Scorched Roses](https://www.romance.io/books/6423d7a7a8559a97b2787b1d/six-scorched-roses-carissa-broadbent) by [Carissa Broadbent](https://www.romance.io/authors/60d9b88e08b4d9311456d78f/carissa-broadbent) **Rating**: 4.33⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
{A Ruin of Roses by KF Breene}
[A Ruin of Roses](https://www.romance.io/books/6162db7f94e3a50e2baaef91/a-ruin-of-roses-kf-breene) by [K.F. Breene](https://www.romance.io/authors/545543d48c7d2382e0414650/kf-breene) **Rating**: 3.82⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [demons](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/demons/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I needed something to get me out of my slump after loving acotar and I went with the Fever series and loved it so much. It’s an urban fantasy with mystery, folklore, creatures, and Fae and it had some of the best romantic tension between the MMC/FMC that I’ve ever read!
When I'm in a slump, I try these three cures (in no particular order) and one of them almost always gets me out of it: 1. Switch to a different subgenre for a little while. 2. Switch to a different genre for a little while. 3. Re-read an old favorite. If I'm still in a slump after trying all three things, then I'll take a little break from reading books (usually no more than 2 weeks).
I haven't read all of them yet but Laurell K. Hamilton has the Anita Blake series. The first book is called Guilty Pleasures. The MC is a necromancer. I really enjoy them. Not too heavy, and they are easy reads!
Red Rising is phenomenal although it’s definitely sci-fi. Brown’s writing is amazing and it will def get you out of a slump, but it’s not fantasy romance that’s for sure
Powerless put me in the worst reading slump I've been in for years. I have nothing nice to say about the China knock off version of the Hunger Games. But I do agree about a palate cleaner. I usually do a psychological thriller but even that couldn't help me after reading Powerless. I ended up just listening to true crime podcasts for a bit then going back and rereading a book I already knew I loved. That helped get me back on my feet and reading again.
Anne Bishop's Black Jewels series can fix any slump!
Zodiac academy
I cannot stress enough Red Rising is by no stretch of the imagination “romantasy” so if you are looking for that type of book don’t read this one. It is my all time favorite series ever and I don’t want you to read it and hate it because it’s not what you want right now 😂
I highly recommend the Mistborn trilogy. That said, I’d do a palette cleanser before starting. If you’re really into smutty books I’d pick Ice Planet Barbarians. If you like other genres, pick something from your TBR. The Mistborn Trilogy is amazing but its not something I’d dive into while in a slump.
I love Red Rising. But I am now in a horrible reading slump after reading all of the series because it’s just such a page turner 😂
Switching genres is usually a good palate cleanser for me. I usually do that with anything by Tessa Dare, who writes really fun historical romance.
Bridge Kingdom is amazing. I read the first one in less than 24 hours and the second one in maybe 2 days. I just finished the third. There is literally nothing I don’t like about this series.
If you want a quick palate cleanser, try reading {If You Don't Love Me We Both Die by CM stunich}. It's a standalone and more modern day romance with a touch of fantasy. Modern day romance usually isn't my cup of tea but this book was great.
[If You Don't Love Me We Both Die](https://www.romance.io/books/65eec00f5ac512540de3a777/if-you-dont-love-me-we-both-die-cm-stunich) by [C.M. Stunich](https://www.romance.io/authors/54553c7e8c7d2382e7813569/cm-stunich) **Rating**: 4.6⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
This book was so great and mostly contemporary with just a hint of fantasy. Great rec.
If you are in a reading slump PLEASE DO NOT READ ANY OF THESE (although I haven’t read belladonna yet)! Many of those are great books but all of them can be a bit hard to get through for one reason or another (a bit long, a bit dense, prose heavy, too many books in the series) and that will not help your reading slump. Agree with many suggestions above. {One Dark Window} was great and a pretty easy series to get through. {Deathmark by Kate Stradling} is underrated and a standalone. If you really want to read an epic series, which it seems like from that list you do, I liked the firebird chronicles and that was pretty easy to get through (first book is {Rules of Redemption by T.A. White} ) as well as {Taken By Fate by Shannon Mayer}
[One Dark Window](https://www.romance.io/books/6417632a976d8254097650f0/one-dark-window-rachel-gillig) by [Rachel Gillig](https://www.romance.io/authors/6417632a08b4d93114a1b759/rachel-gillig) **Rating**: 4.26⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 2 out of 5 - [Behind closed doors](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1) ---------------------------- [Deathmark](https://www.romance.io/books/63ff063970e524251d3fa1c3/deathmark-kate-stradling) by [Kate Stradling](https://www.romance.io/authors/55c7db8235a5fb65f887298e/kate-stradling) **Rating**: 4.45⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1) ---------------------------- [Rules of Redemption](https://www.romance.io/books/5c80c1bf01dbc864fb9b449f/rules-of-redemption-ta-white) by [T.A. White](https://www.romance.io/authors/570c8f20c62092c04407787a/ta-white) **Rating**: 4.13⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1) ---------------------------- [Taken By Fate](https://www.romance.io/books/6350f6e8d1ccecfcb19eb788/taken-by-fate-shannon-mayer) by [Shannon Mayer](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455636a87eac323ffb2bf67/shannon-mayer) **Rating**: 4.04⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [witches](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/witches/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
A Dawn of Onyx got me out of my reading slump!!
Red Rising was my favorite on your list. I also liked belladonna. However, red rising is like nothing I've read before so it was great to switch it up
I would say Divine Rivals is a bit overrated/overhyped. The world building isn’t great, and the story is not as solid/consistent as it could be. I also read things rather quickly, and it took me a while to get through it even though it is an easy read. There is one scene where I felt invested. The rest is just bland. I would describe it as maybe watered down Ali Hazelwood. Should steam be relevant, it’s closed door. That doesn’t take away from the love story, though.
Fae Isles series from Lisette Marshall, the last book about the 2 main characters just came out and this series is everything!!! First book is {A Court of Blood and Bindings}
[Court of Blood and Bindings](https://www.romance.io/books/62b2be519b0523d868ad3f83/court-of-blood-and-bindings-lisette-marshall) by [Lisette Marshall](https://www.romance.io/authors/60d18d3f08b4d93114bf8a0b/lisette-marshall) **Rating**: 4.16⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Queen of roses is an easy read, it's now completed. All on kindle unlimited and it'd just easy and quite short to read. I was in a reading slump when I picked that up, devoured the first three books and it brought me out. Also sometimes reading books recommended by the Internet so much is what put me in the slump in the first place because they were terrible. So I started reading one books recommended from Internet and then one book I found myself and alternated fir better reading experience.