Books like 'The Dread Descendant'
Readers who enjoyed The Dread Descendant by Lauren Cate Leake also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical fantasy dark romance paranormal from hate to love witches magic new adult possessive hero horror
-
Reign of Stars and Fire by L.J. Andrews
Nothing is as it seems. It never was. With darkness spreading across the fae isles, the reluctant raven queen seeks the aid of Calista, the storyteller, and unwittingly falls into a dark tale of twisted fates. To save Ari from being lost in a fae sleep, Saga will reach into the past and uncover deadly secrets left behind by her brother, the last fate king...Categorized as:
new adult magic m-f from hate to love sassy heroine strong heroine abduction political-intrigue -
Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier
Beautiful Sorcha is the courageous young woman who risked all to save her family from a wicked curse and whose love shattered generations of hate and bridged two cultures. It is from her sacrifice that Sorcha's brothers were brought home to their ancestral fortress Sevenwaters, and her life has known much joy... -
Sponsored links / Remove ads
-
Crown of Blood and Ruin by L.J. Andrews
War begins. But secrets have the power to end. .. everything. Fallen princess. Traitor. Queen. Forsaking her people and her birthright, Elise Lysander takes her place at the side of the new fae king of a broken land. Revered by some, hated by many, Elise’s fight for her love and freedom is only beginning...Categorized as:
magic from hate to love new adult witches suspense m-f competent heroine aristocratic heroine -
Between the Moon & Her Night by Jaclyn Kot
“It was like he had lifted the lid to a small locket box, because a soft, beautiful melody began to play—happy and sad, and filled with love and loss. It was the song of us. The song of Life and Death. ”. Centuries before the events of Between Life and Death and Between Sun and Moon . . . Centuries before she was Sage . . . She was Aurelia, the Goddess of Life...Categorized as:
magic from hate to love horror m-f competent heroine sassy heroine possessive hero fantasy -
-
Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 70 ratingsSet in Colonial New England, Slewfoot is a tale of magic and mystery, of triumph and terror as only dark fantasist Brom can tell it. Connecticut, 1666. An ancient spirit awakens in a dark wood. The wildfolk call him Father, slayer, protector. The colonists call him Slewfoot, demon, devil... -
The Burning Sea by A.E. Rayne
IN A WORLD RULED BY MEN, ONE WOMAN WILL RISE. As the kingdoms prepare for war, unexpected visitors and a horrifying murder, throw everyone’s plans into disarray. Amidst the chaos, Jael must find a way to lead her men to victory against King Haaron and his sons, watching as Eadmund drifts away from her, powerless to save him... -
Enchantra by Kaylie Smith
Return to the world of USA Today bestselling BookTok favorite Phantasma in this spicy, stand-alone romantasy, where seven immortal siblings are trapped in a deadly game of hide and seek . . . until one mortal woman changes the rules. The print edition includes custom silver foiling on the cover. Welcome to Enchantra. There’s only one rule: Never, ever trust your heart... -
Heir to Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier
The chieftains of Sevenwaters have long been custodians of a vast and mysterious forest? and a new heir has been born. But the family? s joy turns to despair when the baby is taken, and something unnatural is left in his place. To reclaim her newborn brother, Clodagh must enter the shadowy Otherworld and confront the powerful prince who rules there? -
Kissed by the Gods by Caty Rogan
Leina has spent a lifetime submitting. Kneeling. Enduring. Then soldiers come for her brother, and divine fury surges through her veins. She expects execution for the bodies she left in her wake. Her people have met bloody ends for far, far less. Instead, Ryot, a godsworn warrior born to privilege and raised in order, drags her into a world that was never meant for her... -
Between Soul and Vessel by Jaclyn Kot
Dangerously addictive and deeply romantic, Between Soul and Vessel is a gripping page-turner that proves all darkness needs a little light, a must-read for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout, Raven Kennedy, and Sarah J. Maas. “I had lost her. My mate. My Sage. But I would get her back. ”... -
The Half-Hearted Queen by Charlie N. Holmberg
In this spellbinding dark fantasy from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg that concludes the Shattered King duology, Nym must escape the clutches of her captors and find her way back to Renn even as forbidden love, magic, and secrets collide with the weight of the crown and the war between kingdoms. Nym never told Prince Renn she loved him... -
Thorns of Frost by Krista Street
Being entered into the Rising Queen Trial is equivalent to death. If I win, I’ll marry my enemy. If I lose, I’ll marry another fae of the king’s choosing. Either way, my freedom is lost unless I find a way to escape. Intent on fleeing, I train my new affinities and learn what’s needed to survive while pretending to vie for the throne... -
Bite The Terror That Feeds by Penelope Barsetti
He gave me his word—and he broke it. Kingsnake promised me he would let me go once he found the cure, but he’s known this entire time and never once shared it with me. And now that I know the truth, that there is no cure, he still won’t let me go. Now I’m his prisoner once again. He asks to feed from me several times, but I refuse all his advances... -
Wit'ch Star by James Clemens
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsThe three deadly Weirgates are destroyed but the threat of the Dark Lord remains. And so Elena and her companions have gone their separate ways to prepare for what is yet to come. Elena herself has journeyed to the beautiful city of A'loa Glen, there to recover her strength and spirit. Enter Harlequin Quail. Some might call him a fool, but the little man in the jester's suit claims to be a spy... -
-
To Poison a King by S.G. Prince
S. G. Prince's new standalone is a breathtaking fantasy about sacrifice, self-discovery, and a girl tasked with saving the very man she aimed to kill. Selene is the youngest daughter in a gifted line of healers, born to serve as the king's royal physician. Yet when Selene's mother Persaphe embroils her in a plot to kill the king, Selene finds herself poisoning the very man she is sworn to protect...Categorized as:
witches magic forbidden love from hate to love new adult slow burn m-f political-intrigue -
Coven of Ill Repute by S.L. Prater
Trapped in a haunted castle with my immortal enemy …. The Duke of the Damned is dead. When my coven is blamed for his murder, I’m desperate to clear their name before my sisters are arrested and I lose the only family I’ve ever known. But I only have one week to find the culprit, and the new heir to the duchy is none other than Detective Liam Rorick, my enigmatic ex-partner and archenemy...Categorized as:
witches suspense magic m-f competent heroine non-human-hero strong heroine new adult -
Death's Master by Tanith Lee
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsRediscover her classic, most popular fantasy series, Tales from the Flat Earth, where demons and gods grant wonders and wreak havoc. Visit the Upperearth, where dwell the gods; the Underearth, the realm of nightmarish demons; the Innerearth, the domain of the dead; and the Flat Earth itself, the home of mortals... -
남편을 내 편으로 만드는 방법 1 by Spice&Kitty
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 11 ratings판타지 소설 속 남편의 손에 죽는 악역 조연, ‘루드베키아’가 되었다. 이 세계의 망할 아버지는 내 정략결혼 상대를 또 물어왔다. 문제는 그 상대가 바로 날 죽이게 될 남편이라는 것! 일단은 살길을 찾아야 한다. 시댁 식구들에게 최대한 무해하게 보이면서 원작에서 내가 죽일 남편의 여동생도 지키고, 남편에겐 사랑에 빠진 척하면 목숨은 살려주지 않을까? “전 당신한테 반해버렸어요! ” 그러니까 제발 살려줘! Episodes 1-15. -
The Hidden Falling by Kelly Cove
We were hidden. For years we have been living in secret, in a safe haven called Eridian for wolves and others alike inside The Deadlands. Hiding from the Highers laws and the eyes of the Elites, I make sure we survive the best we can while we live our simple life. When we collect a female in need to bring her back to Eridian, it was supposed to go as planned, like any other time... -
Honed in Havoc by Albany Walker
They want an heir and I’m the only way they can get it. With or without my cooperation. I thought Cadieux Island would be a new beginning, but the privileged estates and elite college turned into a nightmare... -
Court of Blood and Bindings by Lisette Marshall
They call him the Silent Death, because he kills without sound and leaves none capable of speaking in his wake…. When the empire’s deadliest fae murderer catches her wielding forbidden magic, twenty-year-old Emelin believes her hour has come. Instead, her inhumanly beautiful captor spares her life, but carries her off on his velvet wings – into the one place from which no human ever returns... -
Bitterthorn by Kat Dunn
Blumwald is a town overshadowed by an ancient curse: in a sinister castle in the depths of the wild wood lives a monstrous Witch. Once a generation, she comes to claim a companion to return with her – never to be seen again. Now that time is drawing near once more. .. Mina, daughter of the duke, is grieving and lonely. She has lost all hope of any future for herself in Blumwald...Categorized as:
witches new adult from hate to love magic rich heroine slow burn competent heroine fantasy -
A Dream So Wicked by Tessonja Odette
A vicious rivalry. A forbidden desire. A curse only her enemy can break. After twenty years stuck in a fae convent with no word from whoever abandoned her there, Briony Rose is all out of hope. But when her parents suddenly claim her and reveal she’s a lost fae princess, she’s burdened with the weight of a kingdom on the brink of collapse...Categorized as:
from hate to love competent heroine non-human-hero magic new adult m-f forbidden love betrayal -
The Warlord: An Omegaverse Romance by Jocelyn Montana
Silver Medalist in the On The Far Side Best Paranormal Science Fiction Romance Contest. Enter the omegaverse world inspired by the Greek myths of Kassandra and Achilles from internationally best-selling author Jocelyn Montana. The last citadel has fallen. The Warlord now rules. But he has one last conquest left …... -
-
House of Secrets by Darcy Coates
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsSophie and Joseph’s escape from Northwood is short-lived. The beast survived, and attached itself to Joseph’s young cousin, Elise. Garrett writes to beg for their help. Joseph and Sophie travel to meet him at Kensington, a long-abandoned mansion that overlooks a dead town. The house offers a small hope: its original owner had dedicated her life to researching the monster that possesses Elise... -
Court of Vice and Death by Alexis Calder
The stories about the fae court were true and I’m not sure if any of us will survive. Everything in the fae court wants me dead. The monsters who live here, the royal family, even the other tributes. I’m surrounded by enemies but I won’t forget the cause of all this suffering: The Fae King. If I’m going down, I’m going to take him with me. But nothing is easy in Konos... -
Delusion's Master by Tanith Lee
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsDelusion’s Master is the third book of the stunning arabesque high fantasy series Tales from the Flat Earth, which, in the manner of The One Thousand and One Nights, portrays an ancient world in mythic grandeur via connected tales... -
Warrior of the Drowned Empire by Frankie Diane Mallis
Warrior of the Drowned Empire is the highly-anticipated fourth book in a sensational romantic series. Perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout, Danielle L. Jensen, and Rebecca Yarros. The Guardians have returned. As Moriel's reincarnation nears, Lyr is determined to fulfil her harness the power of the red shard and defeat him...Categorized as:
new adult forbidden love magic horror m-f strong heroine independent heroine gifted heroine -
A Myrmaid's Kiss by Ashleigh Bello
A MYRMAID WITH A THIRST FOR BLOOD. A HUMAN WITH A TASTE FOR FIRE. When their worlds collide, there can be only one survivor. Eloise has been kissed by the Sea, blessed with extraordinary magic and immortality—she is now a myrmaid of Olleb-Yelfra who feasts on the blood of men at night... -
The Soul Mirror by Carol Berg
A scientific young woman probes the mysterious death of her magically gifted sister in this quasi-Renaissance epic fantasy sequel to The Spirit Lens. Anne de Vernase is fighting to hold herself together as scandal and tragedy tear her family apart. Her father remains at large, convicted of treason and murder thanks to her own testimony—and his pursuit of depraved sorcery... -
Bite The Power That Feeds by Penelope Barsetti
Ellasara came at me with a blade—and she defeated me. But my eyes open to my bedchambers and I see Kingsnake sitting at my beside with Fang next to my pillow. I expect to feel the horrible pain of my injury, but I already feel healed. When I sit up, the room doesn’t spin and I don’t feel weak. In fact, I feel better than I ever have…. Kingsnake takes my face in my hands and pulls me close... -
Bloodsinger by Juliette Cross
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsNew York Times bestselling author Juliette Cross returns with a new scorching dark romantasy in her The Fire That Binds trilogy. The fate of a powerful witch who can control men with one taste of their blood and a fierce dragon collide. A spellbinding gift. .. A plea answered by the gods. .. An unforgiving world where dragons rule Rome... -
The Mistress & The Renowned by Alexis Rune, Jeanette Rose
God of the Dead. King of the Underworld. The Unseen. The Renowned…. Trapped. One moment, Hades was next to Persephone, having finally claimed her as his queen. The next, he knows only true void, and roots burrowing into his body, feeding from his power and essence. Every ounce of his abilities is used to keep the roots from taking everything, leaving him a broken shell. The King of the Dead... -
Brutal Rival by Ember Holt
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHe wants his bloodthirsty rival for a wife. She only wants the queen's head on a pike. Scarlett Bloodletter narrowly escaped her own assassination at the tender age of fourteen. Why had her mother, the queen, tried to kill her? Beats Scarlett, but she assumed it was because she was a nomaj. Without a drop of magic in Scarlett’s blood, she was useless to the throne... -
-
Circle of Freaks by Delilah Croww, Carmen Rosales
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSince I was a little girl, I fell in love with the circus. It's all I ever wanted to see up close or be a part of. There was no room for things like that where I grew up. There was no room for anything except bad memories and bad expectations. Every year around Devil's Night, since we moved to Stockbridge, the Circle of Freaks paranormal circus comes to town... -
Bone Rites by Natalie Bayley
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings"I collected the first bone when I was twelve. This fact was not mentioned in court. .. Such a tiny little bone, more like a tooth. I only kept it to keep him safe. ". Kathryn Darkling, imprisoned in Holloway, is facing death by hanging for her vengeance killing... -
The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke
Rated: 4.03 of 5 stars · 32 ratingsDon’t miss the brand-new chilling gothic thriller from the bestselling author . . . ‘Fascinating and enthralling’ Prima. ‘Wonderfully atmospheric and compelling’ Rosamund Lupton. ‘A flawless read’ Elizabeth Lee. ‘Seething with gothic menace’ Caroline Lea. Upon the cliffs of a remote Scottish island, Lòn Haven, stands a lighthouse. A lighthouse that has weathered more than storms... -
Rise of the Cinder Fae by Whitney Dean
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsBorn and raised in the forgotten and broken kingdom of Ashbury, Elora has spent years resenting the royals of Pumpkin Hollow, the kingdom that forced the fall of Ashbury and procured the town as its own... -
Bound in Crimson Cord by Augusta Grey
Brynen Harlow has an impossible choice to make. Betray her country or betray her heart. Born with the power to heal, Brynen is a commoner hiding a deadly secret from the Crown. When the Witch Finder catches her practicing unlawful healing, she's sent to the Tower to be burned. Before Brynen faces the pyre, an ancient enemy attacks from the continent... -
To Hunt a Demon King by Madeleine Eliot
Little Red Riding Hood meets spicy romantasy in this witchy retelling of a classic fairy tale. Elara has only one goal in her life: to convince her mother to treat her like the fully grown witch she is and let her attend a Coven meeting. But on her twenty-fifth birthday, Elara discovers that her mother had good reasons for keeping her away from the Coven and her grandmother, its unfeeling Crone...Categorized as:
from hate to love witches gifted heroine magic forbidden love possessive hero non-human-hero m-f -
Wyrde and Wondrous by Charlotte E. English
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWelcome to the Grand Masquerade Ball for the Wyrde… and Wondrous! It’s time to party like it’s 1820, and you know what that means. Rout cakes and punch, satins and silks, and flirting on the balcony under a star-washed sky. Decorous. Genteel. Lovely. Nobody knows who’s throwing this bash, but who cares? It’s the party of the century, and everyone who’s anyone is going to be there... -
악녀를 죽여 줘 1 [Agnyeoreul Jugyeo Jwo 1] (Kill the Villainess (Webtoon) #1) by Your April, 사월생
소설 속 악녀, 에리스 미제리안. 착하고 사랑스러운 주인공 헬레나를 질투해. 음모를 꾸미다 사형당하는 후작가의 외동딸. 그녀에게 빙의한 '나'의 목표는 오직. 이 세계를 탈출해서 집으로 돌아가는 것. 그것을 위해서라면 죽음도 불사하겠노라 각오했지만. '나'를 옭아맨 세계의 법칙은 끈질기기만 하다. 예전과는 달라진 에리스의 모습에. 에리스를 증오하던 소설 속 세 남주,. 황태자와 대신관, 용사마저 시선을 보내기 시작하는데…. "그렇다고 해도 나는 도저히. 이 세계를 사랑할 수 없다. ". 여기를 나갈 방법이 오직 죽음뿐이어도. 그걸 위해 마녀와 손을 잡는다고 해도. 나는 반드시 이 세계를 탈출하겠어! 운명을 거부하는 악녀 에리스의 이세계 탈출기!Categorized as:
magic witches m-f betrayal political-intrigue independent heroine sassy heroine strong heroine -
Deerskin by Robin McKinley
As Princess Lissla Lissar reaches womanhood, it is clear to all the kingdom that in her beauty she is the image of her dead mother, the queen. But this likeness forces her to flee from her father's lust and madness; and in the pain and horror of that flight she forgets who she is and what it is she flees from: forgets almost everything but the love and loyalty of her dog, Ash, who accompanies her...Categorized as:
magic betrayal competent heroine independent heroine rich heroine new adult m-f political-intrigue -
The Councillor by E.J. Beaton
This Machiavellian fantasy follows a scholar's quest to choose the next ruler of her kingdom amidst lies, conspiracy, and assassination. When the death of Iron Queen Sarelin Brey fractures the realm of Elira, Lysande Prior, the palace scholar and the queen’s closest friend, is appointed Councillor. Publically, Lysande must choose the next monarch from amongst the city-rulers vying for the throne...Categorized as:
political-intrigue magic horror competent heroine betrayal fantasy queer high fantasy -
-
The Warrior Midwife by E.P. Bali
“The fae are no joke, girl. Be wise. Be smart. Be cunning if you can…”. PRINCESS. MIDWIFE. WARRIOR. Her father made a binding agreement with the fae king to protect his kingdom. Now Crown Princess Saraya must pay the price: marry the crown fae prince, go into the monster’s lair and give up her protection of the vulnerable women of her home, Quartz City... -
A Tainted Claim by Zoey Ellis
He will take what he is owed. And she will not escape him. Ana is determined to put her nights with Maddoc behind her, but one thing becomes clear. The Alpha outlaw won’t let her go. Infuriated by Ana’s disobedience, Maddoc uses all his resources to reassert his claim, no matter what violent destruction it causes. But Ana is no longer the Omega she once was...Categorized as:
witches magic abduction from hate to love aristocratic heroine m-f paranormal fantasy -
Caught to Conjure by Kyra Alessy
A powerful witch who escaped a cruel life. Three stubborn enemies who would drag her back. Can they save their world together or will past hatred prove stronger than love? Growing up hated and despised, Vie escaped her uncle and the three men who made her miserable. She vowed never to return to that life nor to let herself be treated like that again. But then they found her …... -
결혼 장사 1 [Gyeolhon Jangsa 1] (Marriage of Convenience (Novel) #1) by Ken, 켄
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratings비앙카 드 블랑쉐포르. 자카리 드 아르노의 아내였지만 그의 사후, 사치와 배덕함, 그리고 음탕함을 명분으로 아르노가(家)에서 내쳐진 여자. 친가인 블랑쉐포르가(家)의 몰락으로 오갈 데 없이 방황한 끝에 초라한 변방의 수도원으로 쫓겨나다시피 한 여자. 그리고 그 끝에 결국 차가운 돌바닥 위에서 죽게 된 여자. 명예를 모르는 악녀. 그것이 바로 비앙카의 회귀 전 생이었다. ***. “이게 현실이라고? 정말, 과거로 돌아온 거란 말이야? ”. 꿈도, 환각도 아니다. 이 배고픔은, 피로는, 생생함은…. 이 모든 것은 현실이었다. 정말, 정말 그렇다면. 신이 나에게 다시 한 번의 값진 기회를 주신 거라면…! ‘나는 장사를 하는 거야. 결혼도 결국 장사니까. 자카리의 아이는 좋은 장사 밑천이 되어 줄 거야... -
The Hemlock Queen by Hannah F. Whitten
In the second installment of New York Times bestselling author Hannah Whitten's lush, romantic epic fantasy series, a young woman who can raise the dead must navigate the dangerous and glamorous world of the Sainted King's royal court. The corrupt king August is dead. Prince Bastian has seized the throne and raised Lore—a necromancer and former smuggler—to his right hand side...Categorized as:
magic new adult m-f love triangle slow burn betrayal disabilities and marks political-intrigue -
In Death We Part by M. Bonnet
My routine was simple - classes, work, repeat - then an unearthed family secret changed everything. Four mysterious men shattered my life and stomped on the pieces until I had nothing left. They were strangers to me, but I was no stranger to them. They had been watching me… waiting until the time was right to strike...
Find out more about romance.io.
Get recommendations by genres & tropes
Use the romance book finder to mix and match over 100 content keywords to find the books that match your preferences
Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.

