As a professional tarot reader, you’d think I’d spend all my free time reading books about tarot.
Ironically, I don’t.
But give me a fantasy romance with magical cards, ancient prophecies, fortune tellers, divination, or a tarot-inspired magic system, and I’ll happily lose an entire weekend to it.
There’s something about seeing the symbolism I work with every day transformed into an entirely new world. Tarot has always been about archetypes, choice, destiny, and transformation, so it lends itself beautifully to fantasy.
The only problem?
There aren’t nearly enough books that do it well.
If you’ve been searching for fantasy romance novels where tarot or divination is more than just an aesthetic, here are the ones I recommend.
Arcana Academy by Elise Kova
Perfect for: Magical academies, tarot lovers, slow-burn romance, card magic
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️
I’ve been a huge fan of Elise Kova for quite some time. One thing I’ve always admired about her writing is her ability to create immersive worlds that feel alive. Her worldbuilding is detailed, intentional, and full of little elements that make you want to stay inside the story long after you’ve finished reading.
So imagine my excitement when I discovered that she actually knows how to read tarot.
As a tarot reader myself, that made Arcana Academy even more special.
This isn’t a book that simply borrows tarot imagery because cards look mysterious or magical. The tarot influences feel thoughtful because they come from an understanding of what the cards represent.
Arcana Academy is one of the few fantasy romances where tarot isn’t just referenced. It’s woven into the magic itself. Inspired by the Major Arcana, the cards influence the world, the characters, and the story in meaningful ways.
What I especially appreciated is that the tarot symbolism feels intentional rather than decorative. The archetypes, themes, and meanings behind the cards add another layer to the storytelling.
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like if tarot cards were an actual source of power, this book comes very close to that fantasy.
Why tarot readers will love it:
✔ Major Arcana-inspired magic
✔ Thoughtful use of tarot symbolism
✔ Immersive worldbuilding
✔ Magical academy setting
✔ Romance, secrets, and adventure
Where to get: Amazon
Prince of Swords by Elise Kova
Perfect for: Tarot-inspired fantasy, romance, magical secrets, and readers who love immersive worlds
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
After Arcana Academy, I was excited to continue exploring Elise Kova’s tarot-inspired universe with Prince of Swords.
What I enjoyed about returning to this world is seeing how the story continues to build upon the foundation introduced in the first book. The tarot elements remain an important part of the story, but the focus shifts toward deeper mysteries, more complex relationships, and the consequences of wielding this kind of power.
As a tarot reader, I always find it fascinating when authors take a symbolic system and imagine how it could exist beyond the cards themselves.
In Prince of Swords, tarot is not simply an aesthetic choice. It is connected to the magic, the characters, and the challenges they face. The cards become part of the larger conversation about identity, choices, power, and destiny.
What I appreciate most is that the tarot influence feels natural within the fantasy setting. The story doesn’t rely on tarot only as a mysterious object or a way to predict the future. Instead, it explores the idea of symbols carrying meaning and how those meanings can shape the way we understand ourselves and the world around us.
And that is one of the reasons tarot has remained fascinating to me for so many years.
The cards have always been more than predictions.
They reflect choices.
Patterns.
Possibilities.
The parts of ourselves we are still learning to understand.
For fantasy romance readers, Prince of Swords delivers the elements that make romantasy so addictive: emotional tension, danger, secrets, and a world filled with magic.
For tarot lovers, it offers something extra: the joy of seeing a familiar symbolic language transformed into an entirely new fantasy experience.
Why tarot readers will love it:
✔ Tarot-inspired magic woven throughout the story
✔ A deeper exploration of the world introduced in Arcana Academy
✔ Romance filled with tension and emotional stakes
✔ Fantasy themes of power, choice, and transformation
✔ A creative interpretation of tarot within romantasy
If Arcana Academy feels like opening a new tarot deck and discovering its mysteries, Prince of Swords feels like learning the deeper meanings hidden within those cards.
Where to get: Amazon
The Towerfall Series by Kristin Cast
Perfect for: Adult romantasy, tarot magic, portal fantasy, magical kingdoms
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
If you’re searching for a fantasy romance where tarot is more than just a mysterious aesthetic, The Towerfall Series by Kristin Cast deserves a place on your list.
This is one of the few romantasy series where the Major Arcana is truly woven into the foundation of the world. The kingdoms, magic, and conflicts are inspired by tarot cards, creating a setting where the symbolism of the deck becomes part of the story itself.
Rather than using tarot as a passing reference, the series builds an entire fantasy world around the cards. Each book follows a new couple who is pulled into a tarot-inspired kingdom, where they must navigate magic, danger, romance, and the challenges connected to that world.
As a tarot reader, I love seeing authors explore the cards beyond simple fortune-telling. Tarot has always been filled with powerful themes: transformation, choices, challenges, endings, and new beginnings. A world built around the Major Arcana has so much storytelling potential, and this series embraces that idea.
With its combination of romance, adventure, magical kingdoms, and a higher spice level, The Towerfall Series is a fun choice for readers who want their tarot mixed with romantasy.
Where To Get:
✦ The Empress (Book 1) – Amazon
✦ The Lovers (Book 2) – Amazon
✦ Fortune (Book 3) – Amazon
✦ Death (Book 4) – Amazon
Why tarot readers will love it:
✔ A fantasy world inspired by the Major Arcana
✔ Tarot is central to the magic and worldbuilding
✔ Adult romantasy with higher spice
✔ Portal fantasy with magical kingdoms
✔ A creative exploration of tarot symbolism through storytelling
If Arcana Academy feels like learning tarot in a magical academy, The Towerfall Series feels like stepping inside the Major Arcana itself.
Swords Tarot Towerfall Series by Kristin Cast
Perfect for: Adult romantasy, tarot suits, spicy portal romance, magical kingdoms
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
If you love the tarot-inspired world of Towerfall and want something even more focused on the cards themselves, the Swords Tarot Towerfall novella series is a fun addition.
While the main Towerfall series explores different tarot-inspired kingdoms and Arcana themes, this novella series zooms in on the Suit of Swords and brings readers into another corner of that world.
The stories blend portal fantasy, romance, magic, and the kind of high-heat tension that romantasy readers love. Each novella follows a different romance while keeping the tarot-inspired setting at the center.
For tarot readers, the Swords suit is especially interesting because it carries themes of intellect, conflict, truth, decisions, and challenges. Seeing those ideas translated into fantasy romance makes this a fun companion read for anyone who enjoys symbolic storytelling.
Where To Get:
✦ King: A Swords Tarot Towerfall Novella – Audible
✦ Two: A Swords Tarot Towerfall Novella – Audible
Why tarot readers will love it:
✔ Focuses on tarot suit symbolism
✔ Part of the larger Towerfall universe
✔ Adult fantasy romance with higher spice
✔ Portal fantasy and magical kingdoms
✔ A creative take on tarot-inspired romance
If the main Towerfall series feels like stepping into the Major Arcana, Swords Tarot Towerfall feels like exploring one specific suit and the energy it represents.
The Tarot Kings Series by Amy Kuivalainen
Perfect for: Adult fantasy romance, fated mates, magical Venice, tarot-inspired worldbuilding
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
If you enjoyed the tarot elements in Elise Kova’s books, I highly recommend The Tarot Kings series.
And don’t let the horrible tacky covers fool you.
This series takes a different approach to tarot. Rather than making tarot the magic system itself, it uses tarot as the foundation for its worldbuilding.
Set in a magical version of Venice where magic has replaced technology, each novel follows one of the Tarot Kings while blending romance, political intrigue, sorcery, shifters, and fated mates.
One of my favorite details is that the heroine in the first book is an illegal tarot deck creator. That alone immediately caught my attention. It makes tarot feel like a living, breathing part of the world’s culture instead of simply being used as a mystical prop.
If you’re looking for an adult fantasy romance with a higher spice level, compelling worldbuilding, and a unique tarot-inspired setting, this series is absolutely worth picking up.
Where To Get:
✦ King of Swords (Book 1) – Amazon
✦ King of Wands (Book 2) – Amazon
✦ King of Cups (Book 3) – Amazon
✦ King of Coins (Book 4) – Amazon
The Tarot Witches by S.M. Reine
Perfect for: Paranormal romance, witches, fated mates, tarot magic
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
If you’re open to paranormal romance rather than traditional high fantasy, The Tarot Witches is another series worth adding to your TBR.
What immediately intrigued me about this series is its premise. Seventy-eight witches are each chosen by a tarot card, and with that card comes extraordinary power… but also a dangerous challenge. Succeed, and they unlock their potential. Fail, and they risk losing everything they hold dear.
I love when authors build an entire story around tarot rather than treating it as a mysterious prop, and that’s exactly what drew me to this series.
Blending witches, werewolves, romance, and tarot magic, The Tarot Witches offers a darker, more paranormal take on divination. While it’s different from the epic fantasy settings of Arcana Academy or The Towerfall Series, tarot remains at the heart of the story, shaping both the characters and their journeys.
If you’re looking for a series with higher spice, supernatural romance, and a unique interpretation of tarot, this is definitely one to check out.
Why tarot readers will love it:
✔ Each witch is connected to a tarot card
✔ Tarot influences the magic and the story
✔ Paranormal romance with witches and werewolves
✔ High-stakes magical challenges
✔ Adult romance with a higher spice level
Where To Get: Amazon
The Arcana Chronicles by Kresley Cole
Perfect for: Post-apocalyptic fantasy, Major Arcana, enemies-to-lovers, supernatural conflict
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Kresley Cole has been one of my go-to authors ever since I discovered her Immortals After Dark series, so picking up The Arcana Chronicles was an easy decision.
If you’re looking for a series where the Major Arcana aren’t just symbols but living characters, this is one you shouldn’t overlook.
Rather than using tarot as a tool for divination or building a magic system around the cards, Kresley Cole brings the Major Arcana to life as powerful individuals caught in an ongoing supernatural conflict. Characters embody familiar archetypes like Death, The Fool, The Lovers, The Empress, and many more, giving tarot readers plenty of symbolism to recognize throughout the story.
While the setting leans more toward post-apocalyptic fantasy than traditional romantasy, romance still plays a significant role. Expect high stakes, supernatural adventure, emotional tension, and a love triangle woven into the larger battle between the Arcana.
One of the things I enjoy most about this series is seeing a completely different interpretation of tarot. Instead of focusing on readings or divination, it explores what the archetypes themselves might look like if they existed as living, breathing characters.
If you enjoy stories where tarot symbolism shapes the mythology rather than simply appearing in the background, The Arcana Chronicles is definitely worth adding to your reading list.
Where To Get:
✦ Poison Princess (Book 1) – Amazon
✦ Endless Knight (Book 2) – Amazon
✦ Dead of Winter (Book 3) – Amazon
✦ Day Zero (Book 4) – Amazon
✦ Arcana Rising (Book 5) – Amazon
✦ The Dark Calling (Book 6) – Amazon
✦ From the Grave (Book 7) – Amazon
Why tarot readers will love it:
✔ The Major Arcana are central to the mythology
✔ Familiar tarot archetypes reimagined as characters
✔ Fantasy, romance, and supernatural adventure
✔ Rich symbolism throughout the series
✔ A fresh and imaginative take on tarot
The Shepherd King Duology by Rachel Gillig
Perfect for: Gothic fantasy, magical cards, slow-burn romance, mysterious worlds
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️
Although The Shepherd King duology does not feature tarot specifically, it deserves a place on this list for anyone who loves the idea of magical cards with deeper meanings.
The series begins with One Dark Window, introducing a world where powerful cards known as Providence Cards grant supernatural abilities. Each card carries its own unique power, creating a magic system built around symbolism, mystery, and consequence.
As a cartomancer, I immediately found myself drawn to the idea of cards being more than simple objects. Much like tarot, these cards represent different energies and possibilities, adding another layer of meaning to the story.
What makes this series so enjoyable is the atmosphere. It is dark, gothic, and filled with secrets, with a romance that develops alongside the larger mysteries of the world.
While it isn’t a tarot-based fantasy, readers who love symbolic systems, divination themes, and magical cards will likely appreciate what Rachel Gillig created.
Where To Get:
✦ One Dark Window – Amazon
✦ Two Twisted Crowns – Amazon
Why tarot readers may enjoy it:
✔ Magical card-based system
✔ Symbolism woven into the world
✔ Gothic atmosphere
✔ Slow-burn romantic tension
✔ A unique take on cards as sources of power
If you enjoy the feeling of pulling a mysterious card and wondering what hidden meaning it holds, this duology captures that same sense of curiosity and discovery.
The Fortune Teller by Gwendolyn Womack
Perfect for: Prophecy, reincarnation, destiny, historical fantasy
Spice Level: 🌶️
While this isn’t technically romantasy, I couldn’t leave it off the list.
The story blends fortune telling, ancient mysteries, reincarnation, and fate into a beautifully written novel exploring how our lives may be connected across centuries.
If you’re fascinated by prophecy and the idea that our choices ripple across lifetimes, this is a beautiful read.
Where to get: Amazon
The Tarot Trials by Katee Robert
Perfect for: Spicy romantasy, tarot-inspired magic, fantasy romance
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Expected)
This is one that’s already sitting at the top of my TBR.
If you’ve read Katee Robert before, you already know they’re known for writing bold, unapologetically spicy fantasy romance. So when I found out they were writing a series centered around tarot, I immediately added it to my list.
While the series is still new, the premise alone has me excited. Tarot is set to play a central role in the world and story, making it one of the most anticipated releases for readers who have been searching for fantasy romance that goes beyond using tarot as a simple aesthetic.
I’m hopeful this becomes one of those series that finally helps fill the gap for tarot-loving romantasy readers. We have plenty of books featuring witches, dragons, fae, and vampires, but surprisingly few where tarot is woven into the heart of the worldbuilding.
It’s definitely one I’ll be reading, and if it lives up to its premise, I have a feeling it’ll earn a permanent spot on this list.
Why I’m excited for it:
✔ Tarot-inspired fantasy world
✔ Spicy romantasy from a well-known author
✔ Magic and symbolism centered around the cards
✔ A promising addition to the growing tarot fantasy niche
Note: At the time of writing, this series is on my TBR, so I’ll update this section once I’ve had the chance to read it.
Where To Get: Amazon
Why I Wish There Were More Tarot Fantasy Romance Books
Considering how much both tarot and romantasy have grown in popularity, I am honestly surprised there aren’t more fantasy romance books that explore divination.
Because tarot already has everything a fantasy writer could dream of.
Archetypes.
Heroes and villains.
Hidden powers.
Prophecy.
Transformation.
Love.
Loss.
Death.
Rebirth.
The Major Arcana alone contains an entire journey of growth and self-discovery. The Court Cards explore personalities, relationships, and different ways we move through the world. Beyond tarot, there are so many other symbolic systems waiting to be explored, from Lenormand and oracle cards to astrology, tea leaf reading, and other forms of divination.
As both a tarot reader and a fantasy reader, I would love to see more authors treat these traditions as more than mysterious aesthetics.
I want to see worlds where divination has history.
Where symbols carry meaning.
Where cards are not just objects, but tools for understanding power, identity, and destiny.
Because at its heart, tarot has always been about stories.
And what is fantasy if not the art of telling extraordinary stories?
✦ How I Rate the Spice
No 🌶️ or 🙅🏻♀️ — Little to no romance, or romance without on-page intimate scenes. Any intimacy is fade-to-black or implied.
🌶️ — A romance subplot with kissing and romantic tension, but little to no explicit content.
🌶️🌶️ — Some open-door intimacy, but the fantasy or overall story remains the primary focus.
🌶️🌶️🌶️ — Several explicit intimate scenes that are well integrated into the story. Romance is a significant part of the reading experience.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ — Frequent, explicit intimate scenes alongside the fantasy plot. Expect a steamier romantasy.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ — Very explicit romance with numerous on-page intimate scenes. The romance and spice are central to the overall reading experience.
Spice ratings are based on my own reading experience and are intended as a general guide. Every reader’s definition of “spicy” is a little different.
✦ My Ever-Growing TBR
I’m always searching for fantasy romance that treats tarot and divination as more than just beautiful imagery.
I want stories where the cards matter.
Where symbolism shapes the world.
Where prophecy creates possibilities rather than simply predicting an ending.
Where archetypes become unforgettable characters.
Where magic feels connected to something deeper.
If you’ve read a fantasy romance featuring tarot, cartomancy, Lenormand, astrology, tea leaf reading, or another divination system, I would genuinely love to hear your recommendations.
My TBR is always growing, and I have a feeling there are still so many hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
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