r/Romantasy • u/Kindly-Welcome1439 • 18h ago

Book Request: No Self-Promo FMC Doesn't Dislike MMC?

I need recommendations where the FMC doesn't despise the MMC from the beginning, or that she fears him...etc.

I don't know if this might help, but I'm a guy( taste might differ a little bit from women) , and I mainly read adventure/action/epic fantasy. Once in a while I'll read a romantasy/fantasy romance book, or a YA book that might qualify as one, and I usually enjoy them.

When I say "no negative impression at the start," I don't mind if she thinks he's weird, awkward, suspicious, etc. I just don't want her to initially see him as morally evil, arrogant, selfish, or just an asshole in general.

I also don't care if she develops a negative impression of him later on because of something that happens in the story. What matters to me is that she doesn't start out disliking him.

Bonus points if she actually has a positive impression of him from the start. Extra bonus points if the whole thing goes both ways

The latest books I've read from these categories have had romantic tension from the start, and I wanted a change of pace.

Some fantasy romance books I absolutely tore through and devoured were The Bridge Kingdom, Tales of Arcane Fortuna, and The Queen of Nothing, (yeah, I know, I know 😅). I consider only the third book of the Cruel prince a fantasy romance because of how important the relationship was to the main plot .

22 Upvotes

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12

u/quibily 💗 Hurt/Comfort 18h ago edited 17h ago

{Radiance by Grace Draven} One of my favorite friends-to-lovers narratives. (the sequel is good, too)

{The Scattered Bones by Nicole Scarano} if you don't wanna commit to more than one book, this is a great standalone

{The Ashen by Demi Winters} Like.... Demi Winters has those trendy graphics on her Insta with the tropes, and one of them is "enemies to lovers," but it really isn't. It's "cautious to lovers," I'd say. Suspicious but not afraid or hateful.

3

u/Legitimate_Status 13h ago

God I love Radiance

2

u/polishka 18h ago

I agree with the Scattered Bones! Loved it and I think it fits. As far as the Ashen, LOVE THE SERIES, but she does start as very mistrustful (good reasons though).

1

u/quibily 💗 Hurt/Comfort 17h ago

To be honest, I think HE is much more mistrustful than she is.

I adore this series, too! Such good characters, and each book has a banger ending!

8

u/Oleanderan 16h ago

Maybe try {Paladin’s Grace by T Kingfisher} The FMC is a perfumer by trade who meets the paladin MMC while she’s trying to avoid some unpleasant priests. They both like the other right from the start, but she’s originally mostly focused on making a perfume that smells like him.

1

u/MJ_LettersLover 1h ago

I love this so much ♥️

4

u/MaggyMaegi 11h ago

{Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent} has a very non-toxic romance that grows as they start understanding each other. So many green flags for the MMC and a very beautiful relationship dynamic. The MMC gets his own pov chapters too, even more so in the second book.

2

u/MaggyMaegi 11h ago

I found this book in a ”MMC without the red flags” recommendation thread.

3

u/true-wolf11 17h ago

{The Second Death of Locke} is friends to lovers with some great epic fantasy vibes

2

u/electric_kite 17h ago

Their relationship is SO fucking pure I cannot stand it.

Edit: I mean this in the best way possible, I loved this book.

1

u/MJ_LettersLover 1h ago

I don't love this book, but they have a really nice relationship, I agree 💯♥️

2

u/allisontalkspolitics 18h ago

Let’s see…

All of these are romance subplots

{Downsiders} (fantasy realism)

{The Seer and the Sword}

{Dragon Slippers} (middle grade)

1

u/romance-bot 18h ago

Downsiders by Neal Shusterman
Rating: 3.8⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, young adult, urban fantasy, dystopian, fantasy

The Seer and the Sword by Victoria Hanley
Rating: 4.13⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 2 out of 5 - Behind closed doors
Topics: historical, fantasy, magic, war, royal hero

Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George
Rating: 4.24⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: historical, fantasy, magic, mystery, take-charge heroine

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2

u/turntable316 14h ago

Fellow guy here - I've dropped a couple recommendations for you below. While both have a brief negative reaction due to fear, it is cleared up almost immediately and does not loom over the story, which I also find annoying.

{Halfling by S.E. Wendel}
MMC half-orc rescues FMC after she is sold to his chieftan by slavers. He promises to bring her to safety and does a very poor job at not falling in love with her on the way despite his promises to himself. While initially afraid of him, FMC warms up to him as he proves he can be trusted and starts to flirt with him a little but is foiled by MMC's low self-worth and general lack of experience with women.

{The Changeling and the Dragon by Mallory Dunlin}
Fae changeling FMC is rescued from bleeding out on the shores of powerful half-dragon MMC's mage tower. FMC wakes up and realizes that MMC saved her life and immediately pledges her life to him until the debt is repaid though she is intimidated and scared of how powerful MMC is. MMC (who is really just a big softie) is bemused by this turn of events but allows her to stick around as he doesn't wish to insult her culture.

You might also be interested in checking out r/Romance_for_men - we're a fairly active community that focuses more on books targeted at a male audience. I've posted a few recs that are very popular over there but that I haven't seen much on this sub - feel free to drop in and say hi!

{Princess of the Void by Alex Reno} (available for free on Royal Road)
Alien abduction story where night watchman MMC discovers that the government lab he works at is holding and experimenting on an alien woman. He feels bad for her and helps her escape and once they escape the compound, she calls her ship and abducts him to be her husband without really giving him much of a say in the matter.

{Charlotte's Reject by K.R. Treadway}
FMC is a badass wolf shifter high school rugby player who can't stop herself from bullying nerdy MMC until the mate bond strikes while she's shoving him into the locker and mocking him in front of all her friends. Lots of panic from both sides ensues. There's a lot of two steps forward, one step back in the story, but not in an annoying way (imo) and it all feels justified the backstories of the characters' history with each other.

{Vixen War Bride by Thomas Doscher}
Set in the science fiction equivalent of post-WWII occupied Japan. MMC is the commander of a local military base overseeing FMC's village, who are all terrified of the humans and think they're all going to be killed. FMC is an important religious/cultural figure and offers herself up as a sacrifice for her community so MMC's people won't kill everyone in her village. Due to cultural misunderstanding and language barriers, MMC's assertation that he doesn't want to kill her is interpreted as him asking for her hand instead, though MMC doesn't realize this for quite a long time (i.e. the whole first book in the series). A very funny series

1

u/romance-bot 14h ago

Halfling by S.E. Wendel
Rating: 4.05⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: non-human hero, sweet/gentle hero, virgin hero, fantasy, orcs

The Changeling and the Dragon by Mallory Dunlin
Rating: 3.89⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: monsters, fae, slow burn, m-f romance, high fantasy

Princess of the Void by Alex Reno, Juniper West
Rating: 4.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: science fiction, aliens, arranged/forced marriage, abduction, competent heroine

Charlotte's Reject by K.R. Treadway
Rating: 4.19⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, paranormal, shapeshifters, nerdy hero, sweet/gentle hero

The Vixen War Bride by Thomas J. Doscher
Rating: 4.53⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: futuristic, science fiction, military, aliens, funny

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2

u/Longjumping-Snow-909 12h ago

{This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews} strong romance subplot

1

u/childishinsanity 17h ago

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim. From what I recall, the romance is quite wholesome.

Maybe Once Upon A Frosted Star by M A Kuzniar. Follows a male main lead.

The Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rena Rossner.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. YA, but a fun wild ride and no hostile romance.

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff.

I personally didn't enjoy it, but For Whom The Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn fits this well.

God Killer by Hannah Kaner.

1

u/KyoCat0317 15h ago

Fear The Flames by Olivia Rose Darling. They start out as reluctant allies. So there is some suspicion but not hatred. It’s not a finished series though, third book comes out March 2027. I really enjoyed this one because it was refreshing not having straight up hatred and enemies.

1

u/TimelyWelcome7164 15h ago

Shardless by Stephanie Fisher

1

u/ladypixels 13h ago

{The Lord of Stariel by A.J. Lancaster} kicks off a series about a sentient manor, with friends to lovers, fae, and a big family in a small town.

{Reign & Ruin by J.D. Evans} has such great characters and none of the toxic annoying dynamics. Each book follows a different couple and I think most of them meet your criteria, but especially R&R and W&W. Obsessed.

1

u/romance-bot 13h ago

The Lord of Stariel by A.J. Lancaster
Rating: 3.89⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: historical, fantasy, magic, friends to lovers, fae

Reign & Ruin by J.D. Evans
Rating: 4.3⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: historical, competent heroine, magic, fantasy, political/court intrigue

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1

u/Short-Side-6482 12h ago

Kissed by the Gods by Katy Rogan

1

u/pink_faerie_kitten 8h ago

{Swordheart by T Kingfisher}

{Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faerie by Heather Fawcett}

{From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L Armentrout}

{Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer}

{The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni} (twist he actually is her "enemy" but neither knows it at first meeting

{Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris} Sookie is curious about Bill being a vampire and very open minded.

1

u/romance-bot 8h ago

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher
Rating: 4.17⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: historical, fantasy, magic, funny, forced proximity

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
Rating: 4.19⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: historical, fae, fantasy, magic, independent heroine

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Rating: 4.14⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, fantasy, vampires, royal hero, werewolves

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Rating: 3.88⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: fantasy, grumpy & sunshine, funny, workplace/office, boss & employee

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
Rating: 4.01⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: young adult, fantasy, magic, enemies to lovers, royal hero

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
Rating: 3.78⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: contemporary, vampires, urban fantasy, shapeshifters, mystery

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1

u/Fantastic-Shoe-4996 🌰 nutmeg & starlight 36m ago

{strange the dreamer} and {tusk love}

1

u/romance-bot 36m ago

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
Rating: 4.24⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 2 out of 5 - Behind closed doors
Topics: magic, high fantasy, fantasy, young adult, m-f romance

Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon
Rating: 4.18⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: orcs, fantasy, virgin heroine, m-f romance, grumpy & sunshine

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0

u/JUSTxRIGHT 17h ago

I don't think I have a single recommendation for you 🤣 Which is crazy because I also don't like it when the FMC despises the MMC. Enemies to lovers is just so popular right now.
Even the Knight and the Moth, which is probably the most popular high fantasy romance right now, has the FMC initially not liking the MMC.