In a setting inspired by Mughal India, this book excels at actually everything, whether it’s dancing magic or navigating different cultural heritages. There are no easy choices in this book, and Tasha Suri does absolutely stunning work with consent under oppression.

Grace Draven is my go-to for fantasy romance. She’s particularly good with the nuances of cultural exchange in this book, and whether it’s in the midst of battles or feasts or private jokes, the protagonists take pains to be respectful and gentle with each other despite their obvious external differences.

This is an m/m gaslamp fantasy murder mystery between a mage doctor in hiding and the most gorgeous fae he’s ever seen. Their romance is the sweetest, but they find time to also fundamentally challenge the entire oppressive system their world operates under, as one does.

This book starts out slow and immersive and just builds and builds. The entire series is brimming with political intrigue, and I adore this heroine who will literally move oceans to save people, heedless of propriety. As a bonus, this series is perfect for readers looking for romance without explicit sex on the page!

This is the rogue space princess adventure romance we all need in our lives. The heroine is incredibly self-aware and competent, she does not compromise for alpha male bullshit, and it’s the best.