It’s Orctober, and that means it’s time to fill your TBR with orc books. I got through a good chunk of my TBR for this list, but I added even more to it while exploring. Also, there are many new releases coming out this month. So, at the very end, I will add my updated TBR to give you more ideas for your list.
I’m sure J.R.R. Tolkien would be turning in his grave if he saw the modern use of orcs in monster romance and fantasy romance novels. They’re a far cry from his ugly, brutish beasts. But modern orcs are here to stay and it’s all about size difference, with big, hulking muscles and tusks that both get in the way and enhance the sensory experience of intimate moments.
One thing I noticed when perusing orc books is that there aren’t enough queer orc books. I like to include a balance of romantic pairings and include sapphic, achillean, and polyamorous pairings along with male-female pairings. The majority of orc books are MF, and the Why Choose and menage groups are typically MFM rather than MMF (aka, there is no sword-crossing). So, this is a curated list with a balance of romantic pairings.
I like to divide my lists into categories, and I found it challenging with the orcs. I originally thought to divide them into vicious orcs and teddy bear orcs, but it wasn’t as clear-cut as that. It turns out orcs contain multitudes, and many have a tough exterior with a gooey soft inside. So, I’ve divided the list based on the main pairing. We have: Orcs & Elves, Orc & Orc, and Orcs & Humans.
If you’d like recommendations based on vibes or other criteria, here you go:
✨My favorites: The Orc from the Office by Kate Prior, Steel & Thunder by Dominic Ashen, Monsters & Mind Games by Emily Brandish, and The Orc and the Manny by Chloe Archer.
✨Enemies to Lovers: Sins of the Orc by Finley Fenn, The Orc and Her Bride by Lila Gwynn, and Orc’s Unwilling Bride by Kayla St. James (but note this is a romantic fantasy and not a fantasy romance, so the romantic elements are more of a subplot).
✨Fantasy Adventure: Monsters & Mind Games by Emily Brandish, Steel & Thunder by Dominic Ashen, Orc’s Unwilling Bride by Kayla St. James, Olivia and the Orc by Honey Phillips, and Orc Tested by Cady Austin.
✨LGBTQ+ Reads: The Orc and Her Bride by Lila Gwynn (FF), Monsters & Mind Games by Emily Brandish (MM), Sins of the Orc by Finley Fenn (MM), The Ghost in the Hall by KM Avery (MM), Steel & Thunder by Dominic Ashen (MM), and The Orc and the Manny by Chloe Archer (MM). Girls Weekend by CM Nascosta is mainly MF but has one FFM scene.
✨Books with a fiery female lead: The Orc from the Office by Kate Prior, Olivia and the Orc by Honey Phillips, and Orc’s Unwilling Bride by Kayla St. James.
✨If you like your orcs nerdy/studious, you’ll love: The Ghost in the Hall by KM Avery, The Orc from the Office by Kate Prior, and The Orc and the Manny by Chloe Archer.
✨If you like books with magic: Monsters & Mind Games by Emily Brandish, Sins of the Orc by Finley Fenn, Steel & Thunder by Dominic Ashen (but the main pairing does not use it), Starshine by Alethea Faust, and Orc Tested by Cady Austin.
✨For books that feature body positivity, check out: Games with the Orc by Kathryn Moon and The Orc and the Manny by Chloe Archer.
✨If you fancy laugh-out-loud moments and banter: Steel & Thunder by Dominic Ashen, The Orc from the Office by Kate Prior, and The Orc and the Manny by Chloe Archer.
Affiliate Disclaimer: I participate in the Amazon Affiliate program. As such, if you make a purchase through one of my links below, I’ll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Books with Orcs & Elves
Girls Weekend by CM Nascosta
🥭🥭🥭🥭.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
[MF Monster Romance (with a hint of FFM) — Multi POV, third limited, past tense — Elves, Orcs, Nudist Resort]
Three elves travel to an orc nudist resort for a wild and dirty weekend. Spirited Ris is ready to make her wildest dreams come true. Lurielle is open to temptation. Silva isn’t so sure. But what happens at the orc nudist resort stays at the orc nudist resort… Except it doesn’t. (You can read my full review here.)
The Orc and Her Bride by Lila Gwynn
🥭🥭🥭🥭.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
[FF Fantasy Romance — Dual POV, third limited, past tense — Elves, Orcs, Royalty, Arranged Marriage]
Elketh, the elvish princess of Branwen, spends her days as she pleases—usually between a rotating set of women’s thighs. To forge an alliance with the orcs and improve his daughter’s character, the King promises Elketh’s hand in marriage. It doesn’t matter that orc princess Ruga is kind and gentle, Elketh won’t stand for it. She’ll do anything to return to her carefree lifestyle. The orcs of Torden aren’t prepared for Hurricane Elketh. (Check out my detailed review.)
The Orc and Her Bride by Lila Gwynn (The Sapphic Orcs of Torden Book 1)
Monsters & Mind Games by Emily Brandish
🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
[MM Fantasy Romance, Science Fiction — Single POV, third limited, past tense — Elf, Orc, Alien Invasion, Mind Control, Magic, Forbidden Romance]
The world is in chaos. Humanity is on the verge of extinction after an alien invasion by the gyle—parasitic squid-like creatures who can control minds. When the king pushes up half-elf mage Ambrose Fairday’s graduation so he can save the world, Ambrose is sure there’s been a mistake. But with his boyhood orc crush Kilgore the Conqueror by his side, he forges ahead, even though it means teaming up with a nefarious gyle traitor. Grist is cruel and cunning, and always one step ahead. (You can find my detailed review here.)
Monsters & Mind Games by Emily Brandish
Orc’s Unwilling Bride by Kayla St. James
🥭🥭🥭🥭
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
[MF Romantic Fantasy — Single POV, third limited, past tense — Half-Elf, Orc, Warring Clans, Arranged Marriage, Enemies to Lovers]
Mae and her sister, Edyra, have no love for orcs. The vile creatures raid their land, steal their sheep, and cause mayhem wherever they go. When they visit the overseeing Lord with their father to lodge their complaints, the last thing Mae expects is for their father to marry Edyra off to an orc in the name of peace. But when Edyra is kidnapped before the wedding, Mae is given to the orcs instead. (Read my full review here.)
Orc’s Unwilling Bride by Kayla St. James (Orc Warlord Book 1)
Orc/Orc Romance
Sins of the Orc by Finley Fenn
🥭🥭🥭🥭
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
[MM Fantasy Romance Romance — Single POV, third limited, past tense — Orcs, Enemies to Lovers, Healer/Patient, Magic, Forbidden Romance]
From the moment they meet Kesst and Healer Efterar butt heads, trading barbs and saying things they can’t take back. But shortly after, Kesst is mortally wounded and at the healer’s mercy. He expects retaliation but finds kindness instead—kindness he doesn’t deserve. The healer’s magic is intoxicating, his bedside manner addictive, and despite the dangers, Kesst is falling for his enemy. (Check out my full review.)
Sins of the Orc by Finley Fenn (Orc Forged Book 1)
Orc Books featuring: Orcs & Humans
Olivia and the Orc by Honey Phillips
🥭🥭🥭🥭
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
[MF Alien Romance — Single POV, third limited, past tense — Human, Alien, Alien Abduction, Language Barrier]
When Olivia, Quinn, and Pandora get together for a weekend trip, it’s supposed to be filled with hot chocolate, nail polish, and funny stories. The last thing Olivia expected was to be abducted by aliens. But then they crash-land on an alien planet and are captured by traders intent on selling them as slaves. A large orc guards them, and Olivia can’t ignore the way he looks at her, nor how that makes her feel. (Read my full review here.)
Olivia and the Orc by Honey Phillips (Alien Abduction Book 15)
Starshine by Alethea Faust — Novella
🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭
🌶️🌶️🌶️
[MF Fantasy Romance — Single POV, third limited, past tense — Human, Half-Orc, Sex Worker, Prejudice, Magic]
After his human father’s death, half-orc Garrett flees his clan, seeking a fresh start elsewhere. But humans aren’t kind to orcs or half-orcs, seeing them as vicious beasts unworthy of common decency. After saving courtesan Bridgitte from a nasty encounter, she gets him a job working security at the brothel. Madam Monika insists they keep their distance from one another, but they can’t deny the spark between them. (Read my full review here.)
Starshine by Alethea Faust (A Sex Wizards Prequel)
Steel & Thunder by Dominic Ashen
🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
[MM Fantasy Romance — Single POV, first person, past tense — Human, Orc, Master/Pet, BDSM, Humor]
tw: dubcon
When David and his friends embark on an adventure, the last thing they expect is to be imprisoned by orcs. Vying for their freedom, David challenges an orc to a fight to the death—or so he thinks. Despite his talent in the arena, things don’t go according to plan and David winds up as the orc’s new pet. Khazak feeds David, dresses him up in lacy thongs, and spanks him when he misbehaves. The trouble is, David kind of likes it. (You can find my full review here.)
Steel & Thunder by Dominic Ashen (Book 1)
The Ghost in the Hall by KM Avery
🥭🥭🥭.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
[MM Romance/Urban Fantasy — Single POV, first person, past tense — Human, Orc, Post-Apocalyptic World, Ghosts, Seances, Mystery]
—
I may have given this a 3.5 rating, but it’s a very enthusiastic 3.5 mangoes. It’s got pacing issues, but I LOVE the world-building, the characters, and the whole premise. This is a series I’m going to continue for sure. (Check out my detailed review here.)
The Ghost in the Hall by KM Avery (Beyond the Veil Book 1)
The Orc from the Office by Kate Prior — Novella
🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
[MF Monster Romance — Single POV, first person, present tense — Human, Orc, Accidental Bonding, Fated Mates, Office Romance, Grumpy/Sunshine (she’s grumpy)]
When Janice goes to war with a malfunctioning filing cabinet, the last thing she expects is to find herself mate-bonded to her orc co-worker, Khent. Monster Resources advises they keep their distance until the Blood Fever wears off. But as the fiercely independent Janice’s body becomes wracked with fever and the intensity between her legs grows, she seeks out and finds solace in Khent. This is not a good idea. (Read my full review.)
The Orc from the Office by Kate Prior (Claws & Cubicles Book 2)
Orc Tested by Cady Austin — Novella
🥭🥭🥭🥭
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
[Why Choose (no MM) Fantasy Romance — Single POV, third limited, past tense — Human, Orcs, Riches to Rags, Revenge, Found Family]
Alana Brighton comes from noble blood. But winning the birth lottery doesn’t stop her misfortune following the death of her parents. A nefarious businessman takes her under his wing, and soon he all but owns her. To turn the tables, she risks it all and ventures into the forest to seek the help of the dangerous orcs. But they have other plans for her… (Full review here.)
The Orc and the Manny by Chloe Archer
🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
[MM Monster Romance — Dual POV, first person, present tense — Human, Orc, Single Dad, Age Gap, Small Town, Found Family, Body Positivity]
Reclusive orc author Targan Wildethorne’s life is turned upside-down when he unexpectedly becomes the guardian of his late best friend’s twin orclings. Vastly underqualified for his new parental role, life is chaos and Targen can’t breathe. Until Max, the manny, comes onto the scene. Max is kind, vibrant, and knows exactly what the household needs—and Targen can’t keep his eyes off him. (Read my full review here.)
The Orc and the Manny by Chloe Archer (Monsters Hollow Book 1)
Games with the Orc by Kathryn Moon
🥭🥭🥭🥭.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
[MF Monster Romance — Dual POV, first person, past tense — Human, Orc, Sex Worker, Exploring Fantasies, BDSM, Body Positivity]
Reeling from a break-up and no longer satisfied with her vanilla love life, Sunny hires a professional through the Monster Smash Agency. Buff orc Khell’ar is good at his job and soon unleashes and explores Sunny’s darkest desires. It’s supposed to be a business transaction—five days only. Neither Sunny nor Khell’ar expected to catch feelings. (Check out my detailed review here.)
Games with the Orc by Kathryn Moon (Monster Smash Agency Book 1)
More Orc Books — My Orc TBR
So, here’s the thing. I made it through a good chunk of the orc books I’d had my eye on, but I added even more to my TBR! But that’s okay; it’s how it goes. My priority is continuing series I’ve started, starting with Steel & Thunder book two, but then I’ve got my eye on these. Check them out and add them to your Orc TBR if they speak to you.
Previous Rec Lists
If you like creature-themed book recommendations, check out my previous rec lists:
~ Mermay: Books with Mermaids, Sirens and Mermen ~
~ Tentacle-tember: Spicy Tentacle Books ~
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