Romantasy has kind of always been a thing, but there was just something about officially putting the portmanteau together that really made the subgenre take off in the last few years. And I mean really take off—some of the most popular and bestselling books are romantasies, and books that cater to this popularity are being released left and right. Which is great! Romantasy has a very dedicated following, both online and off, but it does feel at times like the genre suffers from what many other genres suffer from: a lack of diversity.
Scrolling through the latest #romantasy books on BookTok, you’ll find plenty of delicious enemies-to-lovers or grumpy-sunshine pairings, but if you are hoping to find something with a different mythological basis for the magic system, or queer love interests, things can get a little tricky, which is why task #9 of the 2026 Read Harder Challenge is “Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character.” These diverse romantasies have magical heists, Chinese and Hindu mythology-inspired magic systems, and much more.
 The Legend of Meneka by Kritika H. RaoThe Legend of Meneka uses Hindu mythology to reimagine a famous celestial dancer whose allure comes with a side of danger. Meneka begrudgingly carries out her duty as an enchanting apsara who seduces according to the king of heaven’s will. But she may finally meet her match in one particular mark. Kaushika is as captivating as he is empathetic and passionate, and despite the deal Meneka made to seduce him for Lord Indra and gain her freedom, she finds herself sucked into Kaushika’s orbit instead. —Erica Ezeifedi |
 The Feywild Job by C. L. PolkSaeldian is a thief who made a magical oath to never fall in love. Kell is a charming bard and also Saeldian’s ex. Now, the two are forced to team up for a lucrative job to steal a gem called “The Kiss of Enduring Love.” Seems straightforward enough, and they’ll be able to part ways again soon without ever thinking of this awkward mission again. But it turns out their chemistry hasn’t cooled over the years, and the job isn’t nearly as simple as they thought. There are some very powerful players interested in the fey gem, and it may take more than couple’s therapy to make it out of this mission with the objective and their lives. —Rachel Brittain |
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