Ask r/books for the novel that emotionally destroyed them and Song of Achilles is in nearly every thread. It's the Iliad retold from Patroclus's point of view, an awkward exiled prince who falls into orbit around the golden, impossible Achilles, and the devotion between them becomes the whole story. You already know how the Trojan War ends, and Miller makes you fall in love anyway, which is exactly why it wrecks people. You don't need to know any Greek mythology going in; readers say the prose teaches you everything you need. The most common piece of advice in the threads: do not read the last 50 pages in public.
Curated from real reader threads on Reddit (r/Romantasy, r/RomanceBooks, r/Fantasy) and cross-referenced against Goodreads and BookTok. Updated regularly.
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by Madeline Miller
Circe, daughter of the sun god Helios, discovers her gift as a witch, and spends centuries navigating gods, monsters, and mortals in a world that would prefer she didn't exist. Mentioned in 18 of 20 "books like Song of Achilles" threads on Reddit (278 comments, massive signal). Same author, same luminous prose, same Greek mythology reimagined with emotional depth.
by Hanya Yanagihara
Four friends meet at a small Massachusetts college and follow each other to New York, where one of them, quiet, damaged, extraordinary Jude St. Francis, carries a childhood no one is allowed to ask about. 6 of 20 TSOA threads on Reddit. One of the most emotionally demanding novels ever written.
by TJ Klune
4 of 20 TSOA threads on Reddit. A caseworker investigating a magical orphanage discovers found family in the most unexpected place. Same heart, lighter weight.
by Donna Tartt
Richard Papen transfers to a small Vermont college and falls in with an elite, secretive group of classics students who seem to live by rules only they understand. The novel opens with a murder, the mystery is only why. 4 of 20 TSOA threads on Reddit. Dark academia at its finest.
by Susanna Clarke
Piranesi lives in a vast, impossible house of infinite halls where statues fill the upper tiers and tides pour through the lower ones. He believes only two people exist in the world. He is wrong. 2 of 20 TSOA threads on Reddit. Quiet, profound, devastating in its own way.
by Sally Rooney
3 of 20 TSOA threads on Reddit. Connell and Marianne orbit each other from school to college. Same painful intimacy in a contemporary setting.
No. Miller assumes nothing. If you've heard of the Trojan War vaguely, you're overqualified. The book teaches you what you need to know.
Yes. This is universally agreed on r/RomanceBooks and r/books. Have tissues. Don't read in public. The last 50 pages are particularly brutal.
No, they're companion novels set in the same mythological world. Read in either order. Many readers prefer reading TSOA first because Circe's prose feels even more luminous in comparison.
It starts with what romantasy readers actually recommend to each other, the books that come up again and again in Reddit threads (r/Romantasy, r/fantasyromance), Goodreads 'readers also enjoyed,' and BookTok. For popular titles those lists are hand-curated with a reason for each pick; for everything else, 90books matches on tropes, pace, spice and vibe. Connect your Goodreads and books you've already read get filtered out. Affiliate buy links support the site but never affect which books are recommended.
Want personalised picks? Connect your Goodreads to filter out books you've already read and get recommendations tuned to your taste.
Every romantasy book Booky has featured, all in one shelf. Great for finding your next read after you finish the puzzle.
Browse the Booky Library →Booky is the free daily romantasy word game from 90books, made by a romantasy reader for other romantasy readers like me. If you've been looking for a booky wordle, this is it: a word game where you guess a 5-letter word tied to a fantasy romance book, then meet that book after you solve it. New puzzle every day, no login, totally free.
You get 6 tries to guess a hidden 5-letter word. Purple means the letter is correct and in the right spot, yellow means it is in the word but a different spot, gray means it is not in the word. Solve it and Booky shows you the romantasy book behind the word.
Yep. That's Booky. Search “booky wordle” or “romantasy wordle” and you land here: six guesses, one romantasy-coded word a day, made for people who live in Fourth Wing / ACOTAR / FBAA tabs. Free forever.
There are a few book wordle games out there, but this booky game is built just for romantasy. If you love Fourth Wing, A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR), or From Blood and Ash, it's the wordle for book lovers made for you. Every answer ties back to a hand-picked romantasy read.
Booky is completely free with no login needed. A brand new romantasy word goes live every day, so you can build a daily streak and discover a new fantasy romance book each time you play.
Every puzzle maps to a reader favorite from r/Romantasy and BookTok, from Fourth Wing and ACOTAR to From Blood and Ash and dozens more. You can browse them all on the Booky Library.
Yep. If you're searching how to promote a romantasy book or how to get your book featured without shouting into the void, Booky can help with that. Your book becomes the daily word: readers guess it, then land on your cover, author name, and a buy link. You also get a shareable graphic for BookTok and Bookstagram, plus a mention in the reader newsletter. It works for indie and more established authors alike, whether you're launching a new release or just promoting your book to romantasy readers who already care about this genre, not a random crowd. It's $79 for a feature day, or $199 for a 3-day launch pack, and the details are on the authors page.
Only so many open days a month.
Questions, or a date in mind? Just email hello@90books.com.
90books syncs your shelves, Read, Want to Read, and Currently Reading, to filter what you've already read and personalize your recommendations.
Only so many open days a month.
Questions, or a date in mind? Just email hello@90books.com.