To “go medieval” on someone usually means to be savagely violent (though many historians would argue that’s an outdated stereotype). Medieval romance doesn’t usually indicate intense violence in the same way as the idiom, but there’s some interesting resonance there. A medieval romance usually includes very intense circumstances: war and knighthood, divides between nobility and serfs, plague and famine. The intensity of the setting leads to intense, highly dangerous, and exciting romances.

A lot of millennials like me grew up rewatching The Princess Bride, A Knight’s Tale, and Ever After, so maybe that is part of my affinity for the medieval romance subgenre. Medieval romance generally refers to the Middle Ages: the fifth century to the early fifteenth century C.E., the pre-Renaissance years when feudal lords dominated the European continent, and the unquestioned divine right of kings reigned. Stories of traveling knights and maidens dominated. Scottish highlander romance also takes up a noticeable share of medieval historical romance (although this is true of all historical romance). Recent years have seen an uptick in more diverse stories from around the world set in time periods that overlap with the medieval era, and more stories about queer relationships in this subgenre, too. Get your chain mail and travel back to the past with these love stories.

Chivalry, Nobility, and More: Medieval Romances

The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri

Set in a magical, mythology-soaked version of Britain, two women fight against the colonial structures that seek to erase them. Vina and Simran are a knight and a witch, doomed to play out the same story on an isle that disappears over and over again. Instead of getting chewed up by the narrative, they seek out a way to break the cycle with the help of other witches and monsters fighting against the rule of the British monarchy.

Bridget & Gabe Are Not Okay (The Camelot Disasters #2) by Lex Croucher

In the follow-up to Gwen & Art Are Not in Love, the young nobility and knights of Camelot are still somewhat disastrous. Following up with all the characters from the first book after its dramatic ending is a gift. In this installment, we get more focus on Bridget’s aspirations as a knight and Gabriel’s struggle to be the ruler his kingdom needs. Pulling many of the best moments from Arthurian legends keeps the adventures moving alongside the couples’ drama.

A Vow Made Twice by Emma Denny

This title in Denny’s Oxfordshire-set, 14th-century romance series follows fan favorite Ash Barden’s love story (I’m the fan). As Earl, he’s expected to find a wife and start a family. Thankfully, he unites with Agnes Forrett, who similarly doesn’t want to follow the expected pathways for a woman of noble blood. In the midst of their plan to marry, Ash is unexpectedly reunited with a past love. The question becomes not if, but how the three of them will coexist in their relationship.

My Fair Concubine (Tang Dynasty #3) by Jeannie Lin

Jeannie Line’s entire Tang Dynasty series is fun, but I have particular affection for a My Fair Lady-inspired plot. This historical period of the Tang Dynasty covers the years 618 to 907 C.E. Yan Ling is stuck in the position of tea girl, and the expectation that she always be quiet is grating on her. Fei Long sees an opportunity to turn her into the picture of nobility. These etiquette lessons quickly turn into something more, and then they figure out how to be together under the dynastic social structure.

Lady’s Knight by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Gwen the blacksmith and Lady Isobelle are both stuck in roles they’d rather not play out. Gwen has to pretend to be the perfect daughter, devoid of knightly ambitions and a desire to be with women. Lady Isobelle has to give herself up to any knight who wins the tourney. Instead of falling victim to her fate, she recruits Gwen to join under the name “Sir Gawain,” but victory is far from guaranteed. Like all schemes in romance novels, love grows while chaos reigns supreme.  

Bonus Visit to the Renaissance

Graceless Heart (The Spellbound History Quartet #1) by Isabel Ibañez

The shift from “Medieval” to “Renaissance” is a bit sticky by location, but in Italy, the Medici family’s takeover of Florence is an absolute turning point. In the first installment of this new romantasy anthology series, Ravenna Maeffi is a budding sculptor in Volterra. She wins a competition to free her brother, but she’s taken as the official in-house sculptor for the Luni family in Florence. Their eldest son, Saturnino, immediately recognizes her magical abilities. The Luni family is full of secrets and scheming, and so is Florence in general. The wrinkle of magic makes this an exciting adventure, alongside the romance between Ravenna and Saturnino.

If you’ve still got the medieval itch, explore this long list of medieval historical fiction novels. For more romance, check out these must-read historical romance novels, and also this list of romances that focus on people other than nobility.