Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl
Happy (early) Valentine’s Day/Galentine’s Day/Singles Awareness Day! Today’s TTT is a love freebie, and anyone who knows me at all knows I don’t really care for romance in books. There are a few that I love, but they have to be done just a certain way for me to enjoy them. So, for those who are like me and would rather have plot over romance, I wanted to share some books where romance takes a backseat to the story!
- The Lotus War by Jay Kristoff (very little romance): There are two sort-of love interests (also be aware there is an View Spoiler » trope involved, too), but the first one doesn’t last long and the second doesn’t come in until later, and there’s really not much of it. Yukiko is too busy being badass, and her bond with Buruu overshadows everything else (which has to be THE SINGLE most beautiful platonic relationship I’ve ever read!!) This can go for just about every Jay Kristoff book: there’s always just a tad bit of romance, but it ALWAYS takes a backseat to the plot and world. There is usually more focus on found family and platonic relationships.
- Red Rising (very little romance): There are romantic pairings in the series, but not much in the first book and it’s always just a side plot, never interfering with the fantastic world building, plot, and politics. TONS of A++ character relationships and found family, though!
- Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törz (very little romance): The small amount of romance in this one absolutely takes a backseat to the action and epic world.
- The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland (very little romance): There is only a little smidge of romance (and it’s LGBT!), and it takes the whole book to develop.
- The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher (no romance): If I remember correctly, the MMC is gay. Only friendship here!
- The Ninth Rain by Jenn Williams (no romance): There could possibly be a set up for a romance in book 2, but I haven’t read it yet, oops. *hides in shame*
- The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning (very little romance): There is intermittent sexual content throughout the series, and a little bit of romance a few of books in, but almost no romance overall compared to the plot.
- Skyward by Brandon Sanderson (no romance): While there is a teeny tiny hint of romance the further you go in, the first book has none.
- Crownchasers by Rebecca Coffindaffer (very little romance): It’s almost not even romance, just really great friendship hinting at more in the second book.
- Written in Red by Anne Bishop (very little romance): There is a tiny hint of developing romance a few books in, but in the first one or two there is nothing romantic at all.
What books did you love that had little to no romance?
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