Zero Smut, All Plot: Books That Don’t Get Down, But Still Slap
I recently had a friend tell me that her young daughter wants to read fantasy romance books, but she currently has to screen them in order to find a good, appropriate read. Sometimes, even I just want the deep plot, good character development, and the romance without the smut scenes. Let’s be real, sometimes they can be a detraction from the story, especially if they aren’t done well.
There are so many fantastic books that are still (truly) YA. I’ll walk you through this list of my favorite books I’ve read that have no sex scenes, but still absolutely slay.
TheList
Powerless series by Lauren Roberts (completed trilogy)
Powerless
Reckless
Fearless
Half a Soul (Regency Faerie Tales series #1) by Olivia Atwater (standalone in a completed set)
Letters of Enchantment series by Rebecca Ross (completed duet)
Divine Rivals
Ruthless Vows
The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black (completed trilogy)
The Cruel Prince
The Wicked King
The Queen of Nothing
Red Rising saga by Pierce Brown (completed trilogy)
Red Rising
Golden Son
Morning Star
TheDetails
#1. Powerless series by Lauren Roberts
Powerless
Reckless
Fearless
We are starting off with my current FAVORITE series. It’s a completed trilogy and every book in the series S.L.A.Y.S.
Our FMC is born Ordinary (lacking any powers) into a world where only the Elite (the most powerful people) thrive. She hides in the slums posing as a psychic, a lesser power that is easy to fake. After accidentally saving the prince from a rogue band of thieves, she is elected by her town to participate in the “honorable” Trials - a deadly game of tasks where the participants must fight to survive. Held within the castle itself, the prince also participates this year, making the Trials even more risky and dangerous.
Some people say that this book is overhyped but I wholly disagree. I wasn’t even expecting to have a new favorite series but alas, here I am. It’s completely YA with no smut and next to no bad language. It is a story about being powerful even when everyone tells you that you are powerless. Being fearless in the face of danger. Standing tall and proud even when the world pushes you down.
As I said it’s a completed trilogy and the books are not too long, averaging about 500 pages per book. Easy reading, and a beautiful ending.
#2. Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater
Half a Soul
The most adorable, sweet romantasy book I’ve ever read. Set in the early 1800s in Regency England. This is book one in a completed trilogy. Although the series is a trilogy, each book is a standalone - different characters and storylines in every book but set in the same world.
The FMC had half of her soul stolen when she was a child and cannot feel emotions, causing all manner of social situations to go awry. She meets the MMC at a ball, where he reveals that he is investigating a sleeping curse afflicting children across the land. The FMC offers her assistance and the two set off to find the solution.
This is one of the sweetest books I’ve ever read. It is one of the first fantasy romance books I read when I got into reading. And it was definitely the first one that had absolutely zero sex scenes. Set in the 1800s, the setting itself wouldn’t necessarily allow for “bedroom alone time.” Ladies were courted and dates were chaperoned. It’s all about the FMC accepting who she is as a person and finding the love that also accepts her for who she is. In my review of this book I called it “charming” and that is truly the best way to describe it. Sweet. Charming. Wholesome. But not boring whatsoever.
A fairly short read, just about 300 pages, I was engrossed the entire time. However, I did stop after this one in the series. I never continued on to the next two books. Granted, each book is a standalone, so you can read one without reading the others and not be lost. Each book is about its own set of characters. Ten Thousand Stitches, the second book in the series, just didn’t seem all that interesting to me. Longshadow, the third and final book in the series, is an LGBTQ+ romance, and that just isn’t my jam when reading a romance. So I can only vouch for Half a Soul, but vouch for it I will!! It was an amazing love story. I was in a total book slump once it was done because it’s so hard to find such a sweet, romantic, innocent romantasy book that still has all the best elements.
#3. Letters of Enchantment series by Rebecca Ross
Divine Rivals
Ruthless Vows
Along the same lines as Half a Soul, the Letters of Enchantment series is also set in the 1800s, but later in the century. Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows are a completed duet.
Set in the late 1800s, our FMC and MMC are rivals at a newspaper during the time of a war between two gods. In a happy accident, the two start exchanging letters to one another when they realize that they have magically connected typewriters. While the MMC knows to whom he is writing, the FMC does not. During their correspondence, they form a special bond. At the height of the war, both MCs are sent to the front lines to report on the war effort.
Now, to be transparent, the first book, Divine Rivals, is fairly slow and the romance doesn’t start to take shape until much later in the book. But even with the slow pace, I couldn’t put it down. I needed to know what would happen next. In terms of romance, their relationship growth is sweet and timid. The main characters aren’t anything special. They are just normal people trying to live through this war and do their jobs - no special powers or “being the chosen one.”. This one ends on a cliff hanger and while it was a good book, the second was even better.
Ruthless Vows, the second in the duet, focuses more on the war between the gods. So, the action is front and center in this one. While the MCs’ relationship is secondary to the war, you get to see such a natural progression of their love. Both MCs also believe in the greater good, which is quite a change of pace from the general “he-will-burn-the-world-down-for-her” love that we get in other romantasy books.
Both of these books I would venture to call more fantasy than romance. So if that’s what you’re looking for - you will find it here. Given the setting, but also the focus of the book, there are zero sex scenes. Each book is around 400 pages and the reading is not difficult but it is slightly more intellectual than a simple YA.
#4. Red Rising saga by Pierce Brown
Red Rising
Golden Son
Morning Star
Here we have a major turn from romantasy into sci-fi. This series is also a completed trilogy, technically. However, after the end of Morning Star, there are three more books that occur a decade later. More books are also being released in this same series. But the original trilogy was completed with Morning Star. You could end here and be perfectly satisfied without having to read seven or ten total books.
Red Rising follows our MC as he becomes a part of a rebel movement to infiltrate the elite of society in order to help bring the government down. Golden Son takes place two years after the end of the last book, where the MC has completed the first step of his government infiltration. Morning Star is a continuation of the MC still trying to bring down the system, but more openly so.
Full disclaimer: I was not the biggest fan of these books for the sole reason that I am not a huge sci-fi lover. But if that was my jam, I would have loved these. I still found them extremely entertaining, thrilling, and action-packed. The “love story,” which is really a side story, is very secondary to everything else going on. Since it’s not a romance, there is certainly no smut. But the main characters (and a few side characters) do develop very interesting relationships.
This saga is very intense reading and it’s all about government overthrow, so take that as you will. If it’s your jam - great. If it isn’t - just ignore this portion of the blog. Each book is around 400-500 pages, so not too long but be prepared that it is all intense.
#5. The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black
The Cruel Prince
The Wicked King
The Queen of Nothing
This series is one of the first I read when I entered my fantasy era. It is a completed romantasy trilogy with its focus in politics.
After the murder of her parents, the FMC is forced to navigate the High Court of Faerie in order to save her sister. Focused on political conflict and court scheming, the FMC is pushed into a dangerous alliance. The MMC is super horrible to her, making it a perfect enemies-to-lovers romance. But this series is very light on the romance, hence part of the reason for the no smut in the storyline. In The Wicked King, there is a sharp power shift and the dynamics of the MCs’ relationship completely changes. This one focuses on power, manipulation, and sacrifice. After a deep betrayal in The Wicked King, The Queen of Nothing has the FMC trying to plan a rescue attempt and deal with her feelings for the MMC, all while dealing the the betrayal from the previous book and a new threat that emerges.
Mainly focused on the political side of the story, the romance here is secondary. That being said, the romance still hits! So hard! There are some seriously heartbreaking moments. I love the way the romance is mixed in with such a solid storyline. Also, enemies to lovers is 100% my favorite trope, so that makes the whole romance fantastic! For a romantasy with no smut, this hits the top of my list, for sure.
All three of these books are easy to read, the storyline flows, and the romance takes you on a rollercoaster right alongside the characters. They are all under 400 pages, so they are pretty quick, easy books.
TheConclusion
All these books are fantastic reads with good plots, characters, and romance - all without the smut! If you’re looking for a more wholesome read, look into any of these. For the most romance, Powerless and The Folk of the Air are going to be the best ones. If you want more storyline and minimal romance, Red Rising and The Letters of Enchantment. The Folk of the Air and Half a Soul are both great romances but it is fully mixed in with the plot, so they have a good balance. However, the Powerless series is hands down the best of both worlds. No plot is sacrificed for the romance. No romance is sacrificed for the plot. But any of these five recommendations are great for books that are all plot (and romance), but no smut!