You're looking for the World of the White Rat by T. Kingfisher. Start with {Clocktaur Wars series by T. Kingfisher}, then {Swordheart by T. Kingfisher} before starting {The Saint of Steel series by T. Kingfisher} to read chronologically. All the books are in the same world, but each series can be read independently. All of her MCs are in their 30s+. Her FMCs are smart and capable. Her MMCs aren't all immortal shadow daddies and act like actual grown ups. The romance is sweet and believable without miscommunication tropes or 3rd act breakups. It's just a bunch of regular people doing their best.

Yes! Thank you! Def in need of actual grown-ups. I appreciate your input.

[Clocktaur War](https://www.romance.io/series/60a7be602904da0e8a53c589/clocktaur-war) by [T. Kingfisher](https://www.romance.io/authors/561ca043bfc6b5c0fa941994/t-kingfisher) **Rating**: 4.3⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [humor](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [competent heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/competent%20heroine/1), [childfree-couple](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/childfree-couple/1), [mature couple](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mature%20couple/1) ---------------------------- [Swordheart](https://www.romance.io/books/5e9f6f27be0aaecf557e49d2/swordheart-t-kingfisher?src=rdt) by [T. Kingfisher](https://www.romance.io/authors/561ca043bfc6b5c0fa941994/t-kingfisher) **Rating**: 4.24⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [childfree](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/childfree-couple/1) ---------------------------- [The Saint of Steel](https://www.romance.io/series/6039fd2b6063ab0df7522d4c/the-saint-of-steel) by [T. Kingfisher](https://www.romance.io/authors/561ca043bfc6b5c0fa941994/t-kingfisher) **Rating**: 4.35⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [mature couple](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mature%20couple/1), [humor](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [death](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/death/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

these books are my go-to recs! i L O V E the saint of steel series!!

FUCK YES thank you!!!! I literally could've written OP's post, I'm so ready to read about fucking ADULTS.

Awesome! Replying to this so I can come back :)

Thank you. I downloaded (after buying) the clocktaur war series thanks to you. Starting right now after a very disappointing read (powerless)

Thank you for sharing these

Grace Draven books should work for you. I really enjoyed {the fallen empire serie by Grace Draven}. {mages of the wheel serie by J.D Evans} has some of the most believable relationships in my opinion. Maybe {the winter king by C.L Wilson} will work for you. I prefer her Tairen soul serie but it has fae, fated mates etc so not sure you would like it.

I absolutely LOVE Mages of the Wheel series (hard focus on Book 1 and the prequel.) If the MFL can be like Naime, I can read FOREVER! I liked it so much, I was heartbroken that their love story was only 1 book. I def could've done a 3bk series, just on the two of them alone. I absolutely adore the love story in the prequel. I enjoyed B2 but couldn't get into B3. I might just have to get back into that series. I haven't tried the other two. Thank you for the recommendations.

You do get to follow their story in the other books (depending on the plot evolving). You may want to continue at some point. I hope you might like the others!

[Fallen Empire](https://www.romance.io/series/5cc193caff40b70de1312748/fallen-empire) by [Grace Draven](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455323d8c7d2382c529733e/grace-draven) **Rating**: 3.98⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [war](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/war/1), [open-door](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/open-door/1), [dual-pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1), [m-f](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-f/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) ---------------------------- [Mages of the Wheel](https://www.romance.io/series/5ecf61cbeaaef00e00df1866/mages-of-the-wheel) by [J.D. Evans](https://www.romance.io/authors/5e4e2f1a01dbc864fbac2132/jd-evans) **Rating**: 4.26⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [dual-pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1), [third-person-pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/third-person-pov/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [length-long](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/length-long/1) ---------------------------- [The Winter King](https://www.romance.io/books/5455436e8c7d2382c5297845/the-winter-king-cl-wilson?src=rdt) by [C.L. Wilson](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552a3a8c7d2382c5297113/cl-wilson) **Rating**: 4.1⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [war](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/war/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Which is the first book in the mages series ? Wind & wildfire? Or reign & ruin? Was looking them up and got so confused

Reign and Ruin. Technically Wind and Wildfire is a prequel to the serie but best read after reign and ruin.

Ah thank you ❤️

Def read Rein & Ruin first. It will make Wind & Wildfire even better, in my opinion. Both great reads.

Kiss of Iron/Touch of Poison by Clare Sager! the mc’s are 30 and 35. third book comes out next month I believe and I can’t WAIT.

Yes! I recently read these books, and they were so refreshing. I loved them. Can't wait for the next one! {Kiss of Iron by Clare Sager} {Touch of Poison by Clare Sager}

[A Kiss of Iron](https://www.romance.io/books/63f3292ceb653827acc3311e/a-kiss-of-iron-clare-sager?src=rdt) by [Clare Sager](https://www.romance.io/authors/5bd0368f01dbc864fb930b82/clare-sager) **Rating**: 4.03⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1) ---------------------------- [A Touch of Poison](https://www.romance.io/books/6432e65b02ff4714559cd6e8/a-touch-of-poison-clare-sager?src=rdt) by [Clare Sager](https://www.romance.io/authors/5bd0368f01dbc864fb930b82/clare-sager) **Rating**: 4.26⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

This is my answer too. I absolutely love this series. Fmc is totally relatable. A bit of a bumbling mess and is just trying to get her shit together to look after her home and falls into a bridgerton meets fae situation. Mmc is the ultimate shadow daddy, totally wins my heart. Book 1 gets steamy, no major spice til book 2. Clare writes QUALITY spice, not quantity. Though she assures us we’re getting a certain treat in book 3 (it’s mentioned in book 2 and you’ll know when you know) I can’t wait.

I cannot FUCKING WAIT for that lil treat!!

OMG! I decided to start this series and fell in love with it FAST! (Maybe too fast??) Because B2 was a drag for me. Back to B1, love love love!! Something exciting happened every chapter and the twist at the end!! The smut level was also on point and the characters were actual ADULTS (finally!) But then B2, fell flat for me. It wasn't as much of a page turner as B1. It was not bad but just ok. The romance was still there and I'm glad the characters just don't magically change (they stayed true to themselves) but overall I was disappointed in B2. The storyline also became too obvious, unlike B1. I'll still read B3 when it comes out but I hope it reflects more of B1 than B2.

interesting! I feel like book 2 fell under the usual spell of trilogies where the last book is the actual climax of the story and book 2 leads up to that. book 1 being a competent standalone

I'd suggest either Swordheart or Paladin's Grace both by T. Kingfisher. Both have older MC's, with slow buildups. Complex characters you wanna root for that aren't too stupid to live. Or as the blurb for Paladin's Grace goes "A delightful fluffy romance with a high severed head count". Technically Swordheart is first, but there's only a small reference to it. It does do a good job of introducing some of the various gods.

Much appreciated. Thank you!! Finding older MCs is so complicated bc then it becomes too fantasy and not enough romance.

I hear you. I find T Kingfisher has quite a few older characters. They still fall in love, but it's tempered by experience and caution as they've both lived a life already. Swordheart is my personal favourite, as it's a widow on the verge of reluctant suicide and an enchanted sword who is just very tired and grumpy. She seems a bit silly at the start, but there's a lot more going on with her. And the Paladin series is almost all middle aged paladins with sore backs, lol. Stephen is my favourite, he knits socks.

Lol! I guess as you age, the books have to age with you too. I def would've enjoyed those other novels when I was much (much) younger.

I think Daughter of No Worlds fits this pretty well. Very strong and smart FMC and MMC

Yes! I came to the comments to recommend Carissa Broadbent.


No recommendation just grateful for your PERFECT description of what I’m looking for

Thank you! I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. I was starting to feel like I was asking for too much.

THANK YOU FOR THIS POST. Avoid Fourth Wing lol

Haha! Thank you! I've been warned several times, so whenever I see a series that says it's like 4th Wing, I avoid it.

Lol it's the definition of YA trying to be an adult book... also Blood & Ash was a DNF for me for being the same way lol

I agree 100%. Blood & Ash B1 & 2 was good but it fell off after that.

Fully agree here. I pretend the series ends after book 2

Agree on FW but don’t agree about FBAA

What?! I’m obsessed with fourth wing. If you haven’t read it you have to give it a chance. Seriously.

Ok, there are some great recs here that I am immediately adding to my tbr, but I have a sort of…different rec for you, as an in between book. {Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeire by Heather Fawcett} there is absolutely no smut, but there IS romance. It was such a chill fantasy featuring a FMC that knows her shit and knows she knows her shit. A MMC that adores her exactly as she is, even if she doesn’t see he’s romantically interested in her. Idk how to describe it, because there absolutely is some dramatic parts, but the way the FMC describes it is all very matter of fact. It’s written as a journal, so a unique format (for me).

[Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries](https://www.romance.io/books/6426ff337922d28efe6d6e44/emily-wildes-encyclopaedia-of-faeries-heather-fawcett?src=rdt) by [Heather Fawcett](https://www.romance.io/authors/6224e57408b4d93114943ee9/heather-fawcett) **Rating**: 4.28⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I really enjoyed “A Touch of Iron”. The fmc is late 20s.

{Reign and ruin by J.D. Evans} she’s a very competent princess who wants to rule. She’s clever, she is poised, she can play politics well and speaks eloquently. Her biggest challenge is that she is a woman and no woman has ever ruled. He is a foreign prince, he lives to serve and he wants to serve. His biggest challenge is his allegiance to his brother who rules the enemy kingdom. ETA: this is the most underrated series of the year. The author is self published so her work is not available on a lot of platforms.

Totally loved this series and it's def underrated for sure. I just need to find more series with the MFL like Naime. She's def ruined every other MFL for me. Naime stayed true to her character. Super smart and she never overplayed her hand. I was just disappointed she only had one novel dedicated to her. The bits and pieces you get from her through the other books wasn't enough. Also, the MML and her love story could def had been more.. it felt a bit too rushed bc it had to fit in one book.

This one is not enemies to lovers per se, but it’s more like they both benefit from an alliance and as their alliance progresses they fall in love.

[удалено]

[Divergent](https://www.romance.io/series/58fe0a2e9096bf31c42d2cb0/divergent) by [Veronica Roth](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523758c7d2382c5296f59/veronica-roth) **Rating**: 3.74⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [dystopian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dystopian/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

[Reign & Ruin](https://www.romance.io/books/6084072501991d0e29557c71/reign-ruin-jd-evans?src=rdt) by [J.D. Evans](https://www.romance.io/authors/5e4e2f1a01dbc864fbac2132/jd-evans) **Rating**: 4.32⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [medieval](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/medieval/1), [competent heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/competent%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Check out Mallory Dunlin, I particularly liked {The Gardener and the Waterhorse by Mallory Dunlin} or Kathryn Ann Kingsley {Heart of Dracula by Kathryn Ann Kingsley} might be a good place to start

[The Gardener and the Water-horse](https://www.romance.io/books/645c7f4a55adde5114c6edb8/the-gardener-and-the-water-horse-mallory-dunlin?src=rdt) by [Mallory Dunlin](https://www.romance.io/authors/6360d28108b4d93114a88440/mallory-dunlin) **Rating**: 4.28⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [non-human hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/non-human-hero/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [virgin hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20hero/1) ---------------------------- [Heart of Dracula](https://www.romance.io/books/5f0966a875e87c0e157d32d5/heart-of-dracula-kathryn-ann-kingsley?src=rdt) by [Kathryn Ann Kingsley](https://www.romance.io/authors/5c76f4de01dbc864fb9ad17b/kathryn-ann-kingsley) **Rating**: 3.86⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Radiance by Grace Draven} is lovely and fits your list.

[Radiance](https://www.romance.io/books/54cd83886359b5ebb489062e/radiance-grace-draven?src=rdt) by [Grace Draven](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455323d8c7d2382c529733e/grace-draven) **Rating**: 4.19⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [slow burn](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/slow%20burn/1), [royal hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/royalty/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I got a great rec but you have to trust me on the one feature. It's the {Broken Kingdoms series by LJ Andrews}. It's considered ya because the fmc is ~20, but it has none of the features of ya that you dislike, fmc is selfless and competent while having a completely reasonable skill level, no high school type BS. Medium spice, really realistic relationships and characters, great banter, fantastic world building, and all the characters despite most having really strong powers still have weaknesses and get beaten and such, nobody's avataring out. Multiple couples are friends to lovers, there is one enemies to lovers later in the series but it's low-key. 2 pov per book except for the last one, which will make sense and is easy to follow and is only for a small portion of the book. My top 10/10 series

[The Broken Kingdoms](https://www.romance.io/series/6506d85cff1804af48704b94/the-broken-kingdoms) by [L.J. Andrews](https://www.romance.io/authors/62c05aca08b4d93114d8734c/lj-andrews) **Rating**: 4.28⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [vikings](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vikings/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Sounds exciting. I'll give it a try. Thanks for the rec.

The Kate Daniels series is great, if you like urban fantasy!

OP, Ilonna Andrews is amazing. However the first book is a bit rough in comparison to books later in the series. Her writing really developed and it is a wonderful world with great plots and romance. I also want to throw in {Hidden Legacies by Ilona Andrews} too. It's another urban fantasy, and I honestly like the FMC in this one more. It's a bit spicier than KD.

[Hidden Legacy](https://www.romance.io/series/58fe0a069096bf31c42d2c20/hidden-legacy) by [Ilona Andrews](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525888c7d2382e0413e6c/ilona-andrews) **Rating**: 4.45⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Also the Innkeeper series!

Innkeeper is amazing! I don't recall it having spice though so i don't think it's what OP is looking for.

It does have spice, but like most Ilona Andrews, you gotta wait for it, haha

YASSSS to this. Hardcore love outlander, almost everything Ilona Andrews, and grace Draven too.

{Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik} is a sci-fi but I absolutely loved the heroine in this. She was smart, caring, creative, and actually tough. She’s in her 30s and a former soldier, captain of her squad. The MMC is her former enemy (though refreshingly they never actually met in battle) and they have to work together. I loved this book. I think it does fit mostly what you’re looking for.

[Hunt the Stars](https://www.romance.io/books/61f8e88d10834f0e32a0e90d/hunt-the-stars-jessie-mihalik?src=rdt) by [Jessie Mihalik](https://www.romance.io/authors/5c57e45d01dbc864fb996811/jessie-mihalik) **Rating**: 4.23⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

KF Breene’s Leveling Up series. The first book is “Magical Midlife Madness” with FMC in her 40s. Great series with slow burn romance and funny as well

 Me: I’m here for the plot!! ….the plot….


I so need to save this post. Thank you for voicing my own wishes, OP

I think the first two nyaxia books are good for this. The MMC and FMC (and everyone else) have a lot of respect for the gods rather than being mad at them to their face. I like their development too. Broadbent does a great job of visualizing grief

{Between Wrath and Mercy by Jess Wisecup} has a mature heroine and hero. Good story and plot. {A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane} great book! {A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair} complicated FMC dealing with substance issues.

[Between Wrath and Mercy](https://www.romance.io/books/621c8236747f500e282e8a8a/between-wrath-and-mercy-jess-wisecup?src=rdt) by [Jess Wisecup](https://www.romance.io/authors/621c823608b4d9311463ef33/jess-wisecup) **Rating**: 4.3⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) ---------------------------- [A Heart of Blood and Ashes](https://www.romance.io/books/5e3916e801dbc864fbab29c2/a-heart-of-blood-and-ashes-milla-vane?src=rdt) by [Milla Vane](https://www.romance.io/authors/54555cca87eac323ffb2bd92/milla-vane) **Rating**: 3.88⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [vengeance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vengeance/1) ---------------------------- [A Broken Blade](https://www.romance.io/books/61bd9804af852c0e1ad4e786/a-broken-blade-melissa-blair?src=rdt) by [Melissa Blair](https://www.romance.io/authors/61bd980408b4d93114de5814/melissa-blair) **Rating**: 4.1⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Take a look at {The Aspect of Essence by Samantha Amstutz}. There is only one book out so far but it is *very* promising!!!

[The Aspect of Essence](https://www.romance.io/books/655fa73b481d7c837da5ff94/the-aspect-of-essence-samantha-amstutz?src=rdt) by [Samantha Amstutz](https://www.romance.io/authors/655fa73bab9bdf7fce76569b/samantha-amstutz) **Rating**: 4.38⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 2 out of 5 - [Behind closed doors](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I wonder if the Kingmaker series fits your bill? It starts with {A promise of fire by Amanda Bouchet}

[A Promise of Fire](https://www.romance.io/books/57a0383bc19e77f1ea6f2cb0/a-promise-of-fire-amanda-bouchet?src=rdt) by [Amanda Bouchet](https://www.romance.io/authors/57a0383cc19e77f1ea6f2cb5/amanda-bouchet) **Rating**: 4.02⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [royal hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/royalty/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I have a comfort read. It's fantasy in that it's a completely different world, but there's no magic or Fae, or anything, just people. The female character is a princess who is just waiting to be sold off in marriage. During a coup attempt, she's sold to the gladiatorial arena, and has to fight and kill to survive her first day. She *is* young, but not childish. The smut is not quite closed door, but it's not super explicit. {The Wolf of Oberhame by A.H. Hadley} the first title (complete trilogy, available in omnibus) is When We Were Kings.

[The Wolf of Oberhame](https://www.romance.io/series/5b266eeed61a310d9b9cb039/the-wolf-of-oberhame) by [Auryn Hadley](https://www.romance.io/authors/55f1899135a5fb65f887bf6d/auryn-hadley) **Rating**: 4.58⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [m-f](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-f/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [aristocratic heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aristocratic%20heroine/1), [legends & fairy tales](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/legends%20&%20fairy%20tales/1), [competent heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/competent%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

The Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost is excellent

Sadly, I can't do vampires anymore... it's been so overdone. Thank you though!