Fantasy Books With Little To No Romance

David Mogo, Godhunter by Suyi Davies Okungbowa

The gods have fallen to earth and taken up residence in Lagos, Nigeria. David Mogo, a demigod, makes a living by capturing gods and godlings that roam the city. After capturing a particularly strong god for one of his clients, he is pulled into a sinister plan that would leave Lagos destroyed. He decides to right his wrongs with the help of a wizard, a high god, and a speech-impaired teenager.

As you can guess, dealing with hostile gods in a deserted city doesn’t really leave time for romance, so we only get a small hint of one between side characters.

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A Thousand Nights by E. K. Johnston

A retelling of the One Thousand and One Nights tale, this novel follows a lady who decides to offer herself up to a wife murdering king in place of her sister. She is ready for death, but as she tells the king stories each night, she lives to see the next day and sets out to find a way to end his reign of terror.

There’s barely any romance in this book, and I loved that this book focused mainly on the strong bond and love between the sisters, and the magic and symbolism of the story.

The Poppy War Trilogy by R. F. Kuang

Rin is a war orphan who defies all odds and gets into Sinegard, an elite military academy. There, she discovers she has the ability to commune with and get power from vengeful gods. But as war spreads across the land, that power demands a terrible price. With enemies closing in and alliances crumbling, Rin must decide how far she’s willing to go to win this brutal war.

Brutal and dark, this trilogy blends Chinese history-inspired conflict with mythic magic, high stakes, gore, political intrigue and unpredictable characters, leaving little room for romance.

A Song of Legends Lost by M. H. Ayinde

In the Nine Lands, only those of noble blood can summon the spirits of their ancestors to fight in battle. But when Temi, a commoner from the slums, accidentally invokes a powerful spirit, she finds it could hold the key to ending a centuries-long war. But not everything that can be invoked is an ancestor. And some of the spirits that can be drawn from the ancestral realm are more dangerous than anyone can imagine. This book has no romantic subplot.

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This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

In a city fractured by violence and monsters, Kate & August are heirs with opposing views. Kate wants to be like her father who lets monsters roam free and charges humans for protection. August wants to be as kind-hearted as his father and protect the innocent, but he has a secret; he’s a monster who can steal souls through music. After a failed assassination attempt, the two must team up to survive and save their city, while facing their own inner demons.

This book has no romance, but the second book in the duology has a little romance. Another book by this author with no romance is Vicious.

The Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin

One of the greatest fantasy series, the Earthsea Cycle is a sweeping tale of power, identity, and transformation. A reckless young mage who sets free a terrible shadow. A girl raised to serve darkness who dares to claim her own destiny. A scarred child who holds a quiet, world-altering truth. Their stories unfold across the islands of Earthsea, where magic and magical creatures abound.

The first three books in this series (A Wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan, & The Farthest Shore) have no romance. But there is some romance in the later books.

The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Mererid is the last living water diviner in the kingdom and has spent years running from the prince. When she gets caught by her old handler, he gives her a choice: use her powers to bring down the prince who abused them both or be imprisoned or worse.

With a motley crew of allies, including a fae-cursed young man, the lady of thieves, and a corgi that may or may not be a spy, Mer sets out on a quest to destroy a magical well that keeps the prince’s land safe. There is a little romance in this YA fantasy novel, it’s very subtle.

The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

Carolyn has always been different. Raised in an infinite library by a man who might be god, she’s spent her life learning dark secrets and seeing terrible things. Steve just wants to live an ordinary life, but that changes when Carolyn shows up with a strange offer and a lot of cash. He soon finds himself swept up into a grand conflict, as powerful forces clash over the fate of the library and the universe itself. This book is a mix of urban fantasy, horror and satire with some sci-fi elements thrown in.

The Poet Empress by Shen Tao

Wei Yin is prepared to do anything to save her family in a kingdom experiencing famine and unrest. Even if that means becoming a concubine to a cruel prince. But instead of relief, Wei Yin finds herself in the middle of a civil war as she enters the palace.

To survive, she’ll have to master forbidden magic and be very cautious, because women are not meant to know how to read, much less practice magic in this dynasty. This book has no romance.

The Scarlet Throne by Amy Leow

Binsa is worshipped as a living goddess, chosen to deliver mercy and judgment. But her power hides a dark truth: it comes from a demon, not a deity. When the priests conspire to replace her, Binsa makes a dangerous bargain, sacrificing her people in exchange for power. But as her ambition grows, Binsa must decide if this power is worth becoming the very thing she was meant to control.

This book has no romance. If you like fantasy where the MC is a villain or does a lot of questionable things, this is right up your alley.

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Piranesi lives in a vast, mysterious house of endless halls, flooded chambers, and countless statues. There is one other person in the house, a man called the Other who visits Piranesi from time to time, seeking his help in uncovering a secret knowledge. But as Piranesi continues to explore the house, he finds signs of another presence, leading him toward a disturbing truth that challenges everything he believes about his world. There is no romance in this book.