If you're on BookTok you'll have heard of Silver Elite and Shield of Sparrows, the two latest romantasy books to go viral on the platform. Both novels hit shelves on May 6, and since their releases, have sparked a lot of buzz and debate among readers about which book is better. The two technically sit under separate genres, with Dani Francis' Silver Elite labeled as a dystopian romance, and Devney Perry's Shield of Sparrows a traditional romantasy. However, the high praise and discussion of these books often happen in tandem. 5k1dh

While I love most romantasy books, I wish that more of them took the clever approach that Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworlddid when adapting this one MMC trope to its narrative. The best Discworld books are not just the ones with amazing jokes and moments of slapstick, though their presence is never unwelcome to me when I am rereading Pratchett's works. Rather, what makes Discworld work so well is its ability to blend that satirical and comedic tone while still telling a more serious story that old and new fantasy readers can enjoy.

Silver Elite by Dani Francis is the latest novel to blow up on BookTok, and the dystopian romantasystory is sparking controversy on the heels of its May 6 release. Although Silver Elite is poised to become BookTok's next big hit — it's receiving plenty of praise in certain corners of the internet — it's also proving somewhat divisive. The discussions surrounding the novel are even getting the attention of those who don't typically read its genres.

For much of 2025, Booktok has been inundated with videos surrounding Rebecca Yarros' romantasy series, Fourth Wing, and her latest sequel, Onyx Storm. This is understandable given Yarros has once again closed out her book with a jaw-dropping cliffhanger — which in itself has led to a surge in content and fan theories about the Fourth Wing sequel.

BookTok is largely responsible for the success of several romantasy novels in the past few years — like Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses novels, and Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing series — and I'm predicting one dystopian romance will take the BookTok reins next. Silver Elite by Dani Francis has already garnered countless five-star reviews and plenty of attention ahead of its May 6 release, and with so much buzz surrounding the book, it's on track to rise in popularity similarly to how previous BookTok sensations got their start.

The romantasy genre is getting its moment in the spotlight on the heels of books like Fourth Wing, and many recent releases deserve just as much attention as Rebecca Yarros' 2023 novel. It's easy to see why Fourth Wing has become such a phenomenon, rising to become one of the most popular books on BookTok and other social platforms. It's immersive and easy to fall into, and it offers the perfect blend of romance and fantasy, delivering as much on its central relationship as it does on the action and dragons.

There are many romantasybooks that have similarities to Fourth Wing, but it's harder to find ones that feature human-creature bonds on par with The Empyrean Series' dragons and their riders. Fortunately, one 2025 release scratches that itch — and it's the perfect mash-up between Fourth Wing and Game of Thrones. Surprisingly, it doesn't center dragons, despite that being the biggest commonality between the two fantasy novels. However, it has great magical bonds between the characters and another creature.

It's difficult to find books that compare to Fourth Wing, but readers will no doubt be looking for some after finishing Onyx Storm — and one indie romantasy book makes a surprisingly great replacement. There are lots of underrated romantasy books that deserve more love, and many utilize tropes that readers will be searching for afterOnyx Storm's ending. Plenty of stories feature enemies-to-lovers romances, and there are lots of fantasy books about dragons and military academies. Unfortunately, all these elements don't always go hand-in-hand.

The shadow daddy trope is ubiquitous in romantasy, but some brooding baddies stand out far more than others. It's a common trope that a romantic shadow daddy has to put on a dark, menacing front to hide his caring nature, or to survive a brutal world. A proper romantasy shadow daddy is unrealistic: unrealistically competent, unrealistically skilled, able to be soft and romantic, but ruthless enough to defeat his foes in battle, but also smart and strategic enough to lead armies and kingdoms. In other words, the quintessential romantasy shadow daddy is an impossibility.

For those who love Xaden and Rhysand's power set, there is a book that flips one of the best recentfantasy tropes. While romantasy as a genre has been steadily on the rise due to BookTok's growing popularity, some series and standalones get more attention than others, including Rebecca Yarros' The Empyrean Series and Sarah J. Maas' A Court Of Thorns & Roses. Even so, many of these underrated romantasy books deserve more attention, especially as some feature the tropes BookTok has come to adore.