Penguin Random House Announces New D&D Romantasy Book

Penguin Random House has announced The Feywild Job, a new D&D novel written by World Fantasy Award and Nebula-winning writer CL Polk. The new book is a romantasy novel, a popular and wildly growing book genre. The book features a rogue tasked with stealing a gem called "The Kiss of Enduring Love" and is teamed up with their ex-lover, a bard. The twist to the novel is that the rogue has a magical pact granting them powers in exchange for never falling in love.

The new novel is written by CL Polk, a writer with serious bonafides in the fantasy community. Polk's debut novel Witchmark won the World Fantasy Award in 2019 and their 2022 novella Even Though I Knew The End won the Nebula Award for Best Novella that year. Based on their website, this appears to be Polk's first foray into licensed media.

Below is the full description for The Feywild Job. The book will be released on June 30, 2026.

Sparks fly when bitter exes are forced to team up for an elaborate Feywild heist, in this cozy fantasy romance by the bestselling author of the Kingston Cycle and Even Though I Knew the End.

Saeldian has sworn never to fall in love. That oath isn’t just a personal promise, but rather a magical pact, granting them powerful abilities. The only catch? They must never give their heart away—a deal that Saeldian is perfectly content with. They’ve seen firsthand how messy love can get.

Saeldian prefers their no-strings-attached life as a con artist, pulling off heists and leaving a trail of broken hearts behind them. But when a grift goes horribly wrong, they catch the eye of a mysterious patron with a job offer they can’t refuse.

The mission? Steal a gem called “The Kiss of Enduring Love” and return it to the Feywild. Simple enough, until Saeldian discovers their ex-partner, Kell—a charming bard—is part of the team.
The last time Saeldian saw Kell, things hardly ended on good terms. A kiss became a betrayal, leaving Kell hurt and confused for almost a decade. But Kell can’t just walk away—not when this job might finally be his ticket back to the Feywild.

Forced to work together again, their adventure takes them from high-society parties to Feywild couple’s therapy. But as Saeldian and Kell rekindle their chemistry, they realize the gem is much more than a fey bauble, and their simple heist has summoned powerful enemies. . . .

 

[Scribe]

I think its going to do poorly. Where is the fun trashy romance novel cover? Where's a Fabio?

Thats not the target demo.

 

[Parmandur]

I think its going to do poorly. Where is the fun trashy romance novel cover? Where's a Fabio?

The 90s called, they want their trope back.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Thats not the target demo.

This has a target Demo? Who?

 

[Scribe]

This has a target Demo? Who?

I can tell you its not straight women looking for a Fabio type build lol

 

[FoolishFrost]

I mean... I LIKE romanticy... but, that's some seriously crossed genre wires? Maybe they're trying to bridge some player bases?

I can say without Wizards backing, most agents and publishers would likely skip it due to that mixture. They like sure things that stay in their literary lane.

 

[GarrettKP]

This has a target Demo? Who?

Two of my players (both women) immediately asked if we could add this to our fantasy book club we do on the side.

Women and LGBTQ+ D&D players are the target demo.

 

[slobster]

This has a target Demo? Who?

I mean like, I'm a straight-as-they-come male and I'm incredibly excited for this. I will say my sister in law, who is queer, is also squarely in the target demographic, so that would probably be the demo most people associate with romantasy stuff like this, but don't put us boring dudes in a genre box either!

 

[aco175]

I'll catch it when its on the Hallmark Channel, although one might need to be a chocolatier and the other a prince(ess) in hiding.

 

[slobster]

I'll catch it when its on the Hallmark Channel, although one might need to be a chocolatier and the other a prince(ess) in hiding.

Definitely hoping that Netflix picks up the rights instead, their Hallmark knockoff romance things tend to be way more unhinged.

 

[Charlaquin]

I mean... I LIKE romanticy... but, that's some seriously crossed genre wires? Maybe they're trying to bridge some player bases?

Huh? What genre wires are being mixed? D&D is fantasy. Romance and fantasy are a combination proven to sell incredibly well. WotC wants some of that BookTok money.

I can say without Wizards backing, most agents and publishers would likely skip it due to that mixture. They like sure things that stay in their literary lane.

What mixture? This seems to entirely fit within an extremely marketable lane.