April 2026 Reading Wrap-Up: 6 Fantasy and Romantasy Books I Read
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April was a month of demons, romance, magic, and a few long-awaited series continuations. I finished six books this month, and my reading leaned heavily into fantasy romance, paranormal romance, and emotionally immersive stories that kept me hooked from one book to the next.
This month’s stack included three books from Aurora Ascher’s Hell Bent series, another installment in Stacia Stark’s Kingdom of Lies series, Bonds of Hercules by Jasmine Mas, and finally Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross.
By the end of April, I had read 25 books in 2026, which means I am well on my way toward my original goal of reading 30 to 40 books this year.
My April 2026 Reading Stats
Books read in April: 6
Books read so far in 2026: 25
Original 2026 reading goal: 30 to 40 books
Series continued this month: 3
Main April reading mood: demons, tension, magic, and emotionally compelling fantasy worlds
After reading 4 books in January, 8 in February, and 7 in March, these 6 April books brought my yearly total to 25. At this point, I am already well past the halfway point of my original reading goal.
The 6 Books I Read in April 2026
1. My Demon Hunter by Aurora Ascher
I started April with My Demon Hunter, which immediately set the tone for the month. This book pulled me into Aurora Ascher’s Hell Bent series, and from there I was all in.
The title alone tells you what kind of energy this month had. It was playful, paranormal, and full of chemistry. I always enjoy a reading month where one book opens the door to an entire series binge, and that is exactly what happened here.
Read this if you enjoy:
- paranormal romance
- demons and supernatural characters
- fast, addictive reads
- strong romantic tension
- series that are easy to binge
2. Demon with Benefits by Aurora Ascher
After My Demon Hunter, I continued straight into Demon with Benefits.
At that point, it was clear that April had become a Hell Bent month. Once I found the tone and energy of this series, I wanted to stay in that world and keep following the characters, the humor, and the paranormal romance elements.
There is something so satisfying about finding a series that feels fun and bingeable while still giving you enough plot and tension to stay fully invested.
Continue with this series if you enjoy:
- demon romance
- witty, playful titles with strong payoff
- character chemistry
- connected romance series
- paranormal worlds with heart
3. Guardian Demon by Aurora Ascher
I finished my April mini-binge of the Hell Bent series with Guardian Demon.
Reading three books from the same series in one month always tells me something important: I found a world I did not want to leave yet. This trio gave April a very clear identity and made the month feel cohesive in a way I always love when I look back at my reading.
The Hell Bent books added a lighter paranormal romance thread to my year so far, which had previously leaned more heavily into fantasy and romantasy.
Add this to your list if you enjoy:
- paranormal romance series
- reading several connected books back to back
- supernatural romance
- addictive series momentum
- a fun change of pace from epic fantasy
April’s Unexpected Theme: A Demon Series Took Over My TBR
I did not go into April expecting to read three demon-themed books from the same series, but once I started the Hell Bent series, I clearly was not interested in stopping after one.
That is one of my favorite things about tracking my reading by month. I can see when a series or a mood quietly takes over my TBR and gives the month its own personality. March was the month of my Ashen Series obsession. April became the month of demons and supernatural romance.
4. A Queen This Cruel and Deadly by Stacia Stark
I also continued Stacia Stark’s Kingdom of Lies series with A Queen This Cruel and Deadly.
At this point, this series has become one of the major threads running through my 2026 reading life. I started it earlier in the year, and I love seeing it continue to show up in my monthly wrap-ups. There is something especially satisfying about watching a fantasy romance series unfold over time instead of reading it all in a blur and never recording the journey.
If you have been following my previous wrap-ups, you already know this series has become a regular part of my reading year.
Read the Kingdom of Lies series if you enjoy:
- fantasy romance
- court intrigue
- dangerous alliances
- high emotional stakes
- bingeable romantasy
- continuing character arcs across multiple books
5. Bonds of Hercules by Jasmine Mas
Next up was Bonds of Hercules by Jasmine Mas.
This one brought another strong fantasy romance element into the month and fit well with the overall dramatic, magical, and tension-filled mood of my April reading. By this point in the month, I had clearly committed to stories with big emotions, strong relationships, and immersive worlds.
It also helped balance out the more paranormal side of my reading month with another fantasy-forward title.
Add this to your TBR if you enjoy:
- fantasy romance
- bold character dynamics
- dramatic stakes
- mythology-inspired vibes
- emotionally intense reads
6. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
I ended April with Divine Rivals, which gave the month a slightly different note to finish on.
This book has been so widely loved in the fantasy and romantasy space, and I was excited to finally fit it into my reading year. After a month that included demons, magical battles, and series continuations, Divine Rivals added a more emotional, atmospheric, and reflective energy to the lineup.
It felt like a strong way to close out the month.
Read Divine Rivals if you enjoy:
- atmospheric fantasy
- emotional storytelling
- romantic tension
- beautifully written fantasy worlds
- books with a strong emotional core
April’s Reading Theme: Demons, Magic, and Continuing Series
Looking back at the month, April had a very clear identity.
My April reading included:
- three books from Aurora Ascher’s Hell Bent series
- one continuation of Stacia Stark’s Kingdom of Lies series
- one fantasy romance from Jasmine Mas
- one highly anticipated read from Rebecca Ross
This was another month where I spent more time deepening my connection to ongoing series instead of bouncing between unrelated standalones. That seems to be one of the biggest themes of my reading life in 2026 so far: once I find a world I enjoy, I want to stay there.
My 2026 Reading Challenge Progress
| Month | Books Read |
|---|---|
| January | 4 |
| February | 8 |
| March | 7 |
| April | 6 |
| Total | 25 |
To reach my original minimum goal of 30 books, I now need to read only 5 more books during the remaining eight months of the year. To reach 40 books, I need 15 more.
So yes, I may need to admit that my original reading goal was a little conservative.
Complete April 2026 Reading List
- My Demon Hunter by Aurora Ascher
- Demon with Benefits by Aurora Ascher
- Guardian Demon by Aurora Ascher
- A Queen This Cruel and Deadly by Stacia Stark
- Bonds of Hercules by Jasmine Mas
- Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
What Did You Read in April?
Did you read more fantasy, romantasy, or paranormal romance this month? And have you read Divine Rivals yet, or is it still waiting on your TBR?
Tell me which book from this list you would pick up first, and save this April 2026 reading wrap-up for the next time you need a fantasy or romantasy recommendation.